We at the Alamo have, for about seven months now, behaved like giddy little children the night before Christmas- sleepless wee believers with visions of Mickey Rourke dancing through our heads. Santa may be a little late this year, but we forgive him, because in just one week, he’s bringing us the one gift we’ve wanted this year- Darren Aronofsky’s THE WRESTLER. It’s got more hype behind it than a pay-per-view pro-wrestling smack-down (especially Mickey Rourke’s career-defining performance)…but it’s looking like this one’s actually going to live up to every ounce. Critics across the board are calling the film a marvel, and Rourke the master.

THE WRESTLER opens for a full run at the Alamo Ritz on Friday, January 9 (tickets are now on sale) but we are so excited for this film that a simple screening alone could never satiate our overwhelming lust for sweet, sweet brutality. So, we’re teaming up with The Texas Wrestling Federation to bring you ACTUAL LIVE PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING preceding the Thursday, Jan 8 midnight opening of THE WRESTLER! For the price of your ticket, you’ll have a seat for Austin’s premiere screening of this flawless cinematic suplex, PLUS you’ll have a top-notch seat for an exclusive pre-screening, full-scale, white-knuckle WRESTLING EVENT to take place nearby, where REAL LIVE PRO WRESTLERS will be having a no-holds-barred BRAWL for your entertainment! This is clearly the only way to experience the greatest thing to happen to wrestling since the Hulkster slammed Andre the Giant!

Award winning cinematic brilliance + live bone-crunchingly extreme physical spectacle makes for the best damn day we’ll have all ‘09. Be there.

Act fast to get your ticket to the show. Click here.

Winter fills me with giddy childlike enthusiasm.  It’s not Christmas, Hanukkah or a big Thanksgiving turkey that does it for me.  I get excited around this time because it’s SUPER HAPPY FUN MONKEY BASH time.  Each year for the past 7 years we’ve assembled a new collection of the strangest oddities that we can cull from Japanese television.  You’ll see A-list American celebrities pimping themselves out for cheap Japanese products, bawdy situation comedies, extreme pro-wrestling, bizarre anti-flatulence products, nonsensical English phrases, supreme goofiness, and lots and lots of foam rubber costumes! Back by popular demand, we are showcasing a new clip from Gomez, the primate anchor of the much-beloved Chimpanzee News Network (CNN) as well as extended clips from the professional wrestling debut of Hard Gay. As with past editions of Super Happy Fun Monkey Bash we’ll feature prizes and giveaways at every show.

Check out our YouTube Channel for teaser clips from this year’s show as well as trailers from current and past Monkey Bash shows.  Start marking the days in your pocket calendar until the happiest time of the year, Super Happy Fun Monkey Bash Day!  The first show is this Saturday, January 3 and tickets are on slae now!

Christmas is over, and we sure hope you got everything you wanted. If you didn’t, don’t worry your pretty lil’ heads about it because we still have a million things going on that will make you just as happy as finding that Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle behind that desk (okay, so I may have gotten sucked in to the Christmas Story marathon for a solid 6 hours… or more). For starters, we still have all the HIGH FOR THE HOLIDAYS shows in full swing, and (if you read this in the next hour or so) we’re showing A CHRISTMAS STORY one last time with a ROAST DUCK & MORE FEAST! Lastly, New Year’s Eve is in a few days. New Year’s plans are the hardest to make for me, so we’ve narrowed down your options…

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO RITZ ::

- A CHRISTMAS STORY: Roast Duck N’ More Feast! -
: Alamo Ritz : Sunday, Dec 28 :

Think about the double dog dare, the Chinese caroling, the Red Ryder bb gun, those creepy elves and of course that “fra-jee-lay” Italian imported leg lamp. There is more timeless iconography packed into this perfect little gem than any other Christmas film since the birth of Jesus. Included with your ticket is a multi-course meal themed to A CHRISTMAS STORY, including mashed potatoes and Chinese roast duck. The mashed potato course will be served exactly when it hits the table for Ralphy, and we encourage each and every one of you to snort along and enjoy your plate just like the piggy does. See the menu HERE.

- High for the Holidays: POOTIE TANG -
: Alamo Ritz : Sunday, Dec 28 : Monday, Dec 29 :

This Holiday season, come together at the Ritz to celebrate Pootie by indulging in an ice-cold Pootie’s Malt Liquor or to kapa-chow down on a mouth-watering, fast-foodified Pootie’s Bad-Time Burger while watching Pootie sine pitties all over the Alamo screen. Louis C.K.’s cult classic put back where it should be…in theaters! Merry Christmas to all you tine Tanies! Sah dah tay!

- High For The Holidays / Music Monday: WONDERWALL -
: Alamo Ritz : Monday, Dec 29 :
The head-tripping surreal madness of Joe Massot’s WONDERWALL tells the tale of an eccentric scientist (Jack MacGowran) who stumbles upon a secret window into the sex life of gorgeous nymph (and longtime Serge Gainsbourg muse) Jane Birkin. Overflowing with psychedelic flashbacks, dream sequences and plenty of free love, the classic film features a shimmering, sitar-laced instrumental soundtrack by former Beatle George Harrison. An outrageous journey back to the Age of Altered Consciousness. Get to the theater early for a Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg Preshow!

- High For The Holidays: DARKSIDE OF THE RAINBOW -
: Alamo Ritz : Tuesday, Dec 30 :

Did Pink Floyd intend to synch up the Dark Side of the Moon with the classic the WIZARD OF OZ? Some say VCRs were $10000 at that time and it would be impossible to synch a phonograph to the film, change sides on the album and keep synch. Regardless, come to the Alamo, get properly stimulated and maybe bring some earplugs, because when the tin man’s heart is thumping to the heartbeats in Eclipse (track 9), we’d like you to feel it in your chest as well.

- High For The Holidays: BEERFEST with BEERLYMPICS! -
: Alamo Ritz : Tuesday, Dec 30 :

How did this film become an Alamo holiday tradition? When brothers Todd and Jan Wolfhouse travel to Germany to spread their grandfather’s ashes at Oktoberfest, they stumble upon a centuries old underground beer games competition — “Beerfest,” the secret Olympics of beer drinking. To be honest, we can never really remember the ending because we’re always trying to keep up with the drinking onscreen. We’re starting this show with live Beerlympics, featuring Beer Pong and great food and beer specials!

- AFTER THE THIN MAN New Year’s Eve Party! -
: Alamo Ritz : Wednesday, Dec 31 :

The response to our first Cinema Cocktails screenings of the classic screwball romantic mystery THE THIN MAN was so great that we just knew we had to return to the wonderful chemistry of Nick and Nora Charles, their adorable dog Asta, their crime-solving savvy and, maybe best of all, their love of distilled spirits. In addition to the film itself, we’ll be serving a multi-course feast, enjoying a champagne toast after a countdown to midnight that could only be done by the Alamo, and more!

- THE BIG LEBOWSKI with WHITE RUSSIANS -
: Alamo Ritz : Thursday, Jan 1 :

The Coen Brothers have described THE BIG LEBOWSKI as their Raymond Chandler story, and it contains all the trappings of the author’s hardboiled mystery novels, including the alcohol. Secondly, as a bowling-themed comedy, liquor is a given. Finally and most importantly, THE BIG LEBOWSKI is the ultimate movie for White Russian fans. The Dude fuels his detective work with numerous helpings the sweet drink, which he often refers to as “Caucasians.” As long as there is ‘half and half’ dripping from his mustache, the Dude abides. (Booze Movies)

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO SOUTH LAMAR ::

- THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

David Fincher and Brad Pitt team up for a third time with this adaptation of a F. Scott Fitzgerald short story. Pitt plays a man who is born 80 years old, but instead of aging, he grows young. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett costars, along with Taraji P. Henson and Tilda Swinton. “The film represents a richly satisfying serving of deep-dish Hollywood storytelling. This odd, epic tale of a man who ages backwards is presented in an impeccable classical manner, every detail tended to with fastidious devotion.” – Todd McCarthy, Variety

- BEDTIME STORIES -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

Adam Sandler stars as a man whose nighttime tales do more than just put his nephew to sleep; instead, his imaginative stories become reality. This fantasy comedy for the whole family is directed by HAIRSPRAY helmer Adam Shankman.

- THE SPIRIT -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

Down these mean streets a man must come. A hero born, murdered, and born again… Rookie cop Denny Colt returns from the beyond as The Spirit, a hero whose mission is to fight against the bad forces in Central City. Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller (creator of 300 and Sin City) and starring Samuel L. Jackson as “The Octopus,” Eve Mendes as “Sand Seref,” and Scarlett Johansson as “Silken Floss.”

- DOUBT -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

Set in 1964, Doubt centers on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him abusing a black student. He denies the charges, and much of the play’s quick-fire dialogue tackles themes of religion, morality and authority. Starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams.

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO VILLAGE ::

- YES MAN -
: Alamo Village : Now Playing :

This film marks the triumphant return of Jim Carrey to comedy! With Peyton Reed (MR. SHOW, UCB) in the director’s chair, YES MAN guarantees to be brilliantly sharp, with just enough drops of nonsense to make it fun for laughers of all thresholds. Oh, and if you’re one of the approximately 80 million people who currently has a total crush on Zooey Deschanel, she’s in the film too.

- MARLEY AND ME -
: Alamo Village : Now Playing :

John Grogan’s bestselling book about his Labrador retriever bounds onto the screen with MARLEY AND ME. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star as a couple who adopts the badly behaved but much-loved dog.

- VALKYRIE -
: Alamo Village : Now Playing :

Just in time for Christmas comes the most anticipated, heartwarming film ever made about the attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler! Helmed by the mighty Bryan Singer (USUAL SUSPECTS, X-MEN, SUPERMAN RETURNS) and starring Tom Cruise with an even mightier eye-patch, this true tale of treason and revenge is destined for acclaim-town. Best part- no fake German accents.

Song this time around is a remix of Cut Copy’s Hearts on Fire by Gooseflesh. The awesomeness is Chuck Norris.

After last night’s 7pm Christmas Pops Sing-Along, we went on a Renegade Caroling mission that led us to the big windows at Esther’s Follies. I figured they couldn’t hear us in there, but the site of a lot of carolers all singing behind the performers would at least be a funny distraction.

For some reason, though, Esther’s decided to be kind enough to invite our poor ragtag group of carolers out of the “cold” and inside… to their stage. “You guys wanna do one song before we go to intermission?” they asked me.

“Yes. Yes I do.” And I knew exactly what song I wanted to sing: Dick In A Box

Keep in mind that these aren’t trained carolers, and that we hadn’t rehearsed AT ALL. This is the audience from the 7pm show, and that’s it. I don’t think the people at Esther’s realized that, until they heard how incredibly bad our singing actually was.

They probably will never invite me inside there again, but we’ll be going on more Renegade Caroling missions after the Christmas Pops shows this Sunday, 12/21 as well. You can still get tickets to one of those shows and come join us if you want.

Prepare to be chilled to the bone before bursting into a flaming ball of rage.

As if the state of things wasn’t bad enough, movie-obsessed website Den of Geek has just released a pretty-damn-official listing of 55 (FIFTY FIVE!!) movies that are slated for Hollywood remake treatment over the next three years. That list is HERE, but before you click on that link, consider how much you care about what you hold close to your heart. If you’re at all faithful to the ones that you love — like your mom, your wife, Ray Harryhausen’s CLASH OF THE TITANS — gird your loins for some blazing fury. The enemy is approaching in the guise of “re-imaginings” of untouchable favorites including THE DIRTY DOZEN, THEY LIVE, POLTERGEIST, RED DAWN, THE THING (again), SHORT CIRCUIT and…METROPOLIS!!??!!! The anti-creativity levy has broken and we’re about to face an apocalyptic tidal wave of limp, CGI-laden retreads of the films that made us love movies in the first place, many of which will be helmed by 22-year-old music video directors who weren’t even in training pants yet when the original films swept the world up in a frenzy of ambition, imagination and that bygone Hollywood Magic.

There may be some out there who consider remake-haters as a bunch of overly nostalgic cinema fogeys who can’t step forward into the “modern age of entertainment.” But that dismissal could only come from people who prefer the comforting whiteness of a cucumber “wrap” over a delicious, steaming burrito. It’s become the national standard to be intimated by traditionalism, originality and — most tragically — quality.

So, if you’re one of these easily placated schlubs who readily embrace the increasingly furious avalanche of recycled concepts…your life will surely be beautiful. When you back over the family cat in your 2009 model PT Cruiser, you can buy another one from the Petco and not feel the sting of loss. When grandma dies, just go on Craigslist and find grandpa a newer, shinier wife, maybe even with breast implants. And at the very end of your years, when every shred of the past has been erased from your world, you can at last lay down peacefully — unfettered by the clunky ugliness of things that actually mattered — and disappear into the eternal sleep of the equally forgotten.

Damn, I hate remakes.

TICK TOCK, tick tock, the time for Christmas shopping is running out. Hurry up and go out there and start buying Lexuses you can tie big red bows on and other expensive stuff like that so you can singlehandedly save the economy of the entire planet. Then reward yourself with some affordable entertainment and great times at the Alamo. You can feel like a million bucks no matter how much money you spend when you come down to the South Lamar theater for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. You can feel the holidays all around you when you’re on a caroling sabotage mission after THE CHRISTMAS POPS SING-ALONG at the Ritz. And you can just say YES to Jim Carrey over and over and over again at the Alamo Village, just be careful what you say yes to.

- ALAMO GIFT CERTIFICATES -
: Mondo Tees : Any Alamo : drafthouse.com :

“Well, it’s that time of year again – crowds, shopping, lugging the presents around… I love it.” But what Lizzie Montgomery loves even more is getting Alamo Gift Certificates for her family and friends, because as she knows, it’s an investment in freedom. You can invest in that same freedom and set up your family and friends with movies and food and drinks for next year by picking up your own Alamo Gift Certificates either in one of our stores or online.

- AFTER THE THIN MAN New Year’s Eve Party! -
: Alamo Ritz : Wednesday, Dec 31 : 7pm

The response to our first Cinema Cocktails screenings of the classic screwball romantic mystery THE THIN MAN was so great that we just knew we had to return to the wonderful chemistry of Nick and Nora Charles, their adorable dog Asta, their crime-solving savvy and, maybe best of all, their love of distilled spirits. In addition to the film itself, we’ll be serving a multi-course feast, enjoying a champagne toast and a countdown to midnight, 1937!

- HENRI’S ROCKIN’ NEW YEAR’S EVE SING-ALONG -
: Alamo Ritz : Wednesday, Dec 31 : 10:15pm

Screw you, Dick Clark! This year, for the first time ever, we’re hosting our very own New Year’s Eve Sing-Along Extravaganza, and it promises to be the best movie theater dance party ever. Your ticket includes a champagne toast, and my promise to have the most official countdown to midnight EVER, because I hate hate hate it when you’re at some party and a dweeb with a watch that’s set wrong starts making everybody countdown early. Grr. Plus! I’ll be throwing out more confetti than anywhere else in town for sure… If you miss this, you’ll be stuck in 2008 foooorrreeeevvveeerrrrr.

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO RITZ ::

- The CHRISTMAS POPS SING-ALONG! -
: Alamo Ritz : Sunday, Dec 21 :

Please Note: While the holiday season is a magical time for everyone, this show may not be. Some of the videos included in this collection are decidedly PG-13. Which is to say there may be some singing about private parts in boxes… We’ll have trivia, videoke, a host of new videos along with favorites from last year, and of course, carolling down 6th Street. Don’t be left out of our reindeer games this year; get your tickets early, and come on down to the Ritz for the greatest holiday party of the year. No matter your religion, the XMAS POPS SING-ALONG will have you holding your neighbor’s hands, singing in unison, and celebrating Festivus with the rest of us.

- Master Pancake Theatre CHRISTMAS SHOW -
: Alamo Ritz : Fri, Dec 19 : Sat, Dec 20 :

After a 2-year absence, it’s the return of the famous Alamo Christmas Clip Show featuring Master Pancake Theater! Join us as we channel surf A.D.D.-style through a blizzard of clips from your favorite holiday TV specials and some weird holiday programs you never dreamed existed. Owen Egerton returns to team up with regulars John Erler and Joe Parsons for all the fun. We’ll also have an audience sing-along, some holiday snacks, and who knows, maybe even a little pudding and butter! Come join us at the Alamo this December as THE HOLIDAYS GET SLEIGHED!!

- Hey Homo! Presents: WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF BRUNCH! -
: Alamo Ritz : Sunday, Dec 21 :

By popular demand, the fine folks at Hey Homo! are reprising WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? for a special Brunch show!! HEY HOMO! has decided to give ya’ll the very best Christmas Ham in the whole world to chew upon! What better way to ring in the holidays than with extreme alcoholism, disastrous verbal sparring, sexual retaliations, fried chicken and lonely fantastical seclusion! Top all that shit off with brunch, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton and you’ve got one helluva morning! Sponsored by Austin’s best upscale gay lounge, RAIN!

- High For The Holidays: DARKSIDE OF THE RAINBOW -
: Alamo Ritz : Mon, Dec 22 : Wed, Dec 24 :

Did Pink Floyd intend to synch up the Dark Side of the Moon with the classic the WIZARD OF OZ? Some say VCRs were $10000 at that time and it would be impossible to synch a phonograph to the film, change sides on the album and keep synch. Regardless, come to the Alamo, get properly stimulated and maybe bring some earplugs, because when the tin man’s heart is thumping to the heartbeats in Eclipse (track 9), we’d like you to feel it in your chest as well.

- High For The Holidays: HAROLD & KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE-
: Alamo Ritz : Tuesday, Dec 23 :

TICKET INCLUDES OUR NEW AND IMPROVED ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT WHITE CASTLE-STYLE BURGERS! ** Please note regular food menu service is not available during these shows. It’s burgers or bust! ** To prove who REALLY has an excessive appreciation of fine cuisine, we’ll be having a WHITE CASTLE SPEED EATING competition before the screening! Yep, a select few bold ingestors from the audience will join each other on stage to shove down some burgers for fun/prizes/fun prizes!! We’d love to see you up there, but remember: if you wanna compete, pace yourself on the burgers beforehand. All’s fair in burgers and war!

- High For The Holidays: BEERFEST with BEERLYMPICS! -
: Alamo Ritz : Tuesday, Dec 23 :

How did this film become an Alamo holiday tradition? When brothers Todd and Jan Wolfhouse travel to Germany to spread their grandfather’s ashes at Oktoberfest, they stumble upon a centuries old underground beer games competition — “Beerfest,” the secret Olympics of beer drinking. To be honest, we can never really remember the ending because we’re always trying to keep up with the drinking onscreen. We’re starting this show with live Beerlympics, featuring Beer Pong and more, so come prepared to drink heavily!

- High For The Holidays: CHRISTMAS ON MARS -
: Alamo Ritz : Wed, Dec 24 : Thurs, Dec 25 :

ULTRA-RARE 35MM THEATRICAL SCREENING! NEW FEATURE FILM, NOT ON DVD! Psychedelic rock band the Flaming Lips present CHRISTMAS ON MARS: A FANTASTICAL FILM FREAKOUT FEATURING THE FLAMING LIPS, a glorious science fiction film that marks the directorial debut of the Lips’ visionary frontman Wayne Coyne. It’s Christmastime, and the colonization of Mars is underway. When an oxygen generator and a gravity control pod malfunction, Major Syrtis (the Lips’ Steven Drozd) and his team (including the Lips’ Michael Ivins) fear the worst. There’s a lot of crazy stuff going on in this movie – take the appropriate precautionary measures to prepare your mind…

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO SOUTH LAMAR ::

- SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

From director Danny Boyle (28 DAYS LATER, TRAINSPOTTING) comes a surprising and brilliant excursion into Bollywood. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is the story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is just one question away from winning on India’s “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” Police arrest him on suspicion of cheating, so desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. With an all new Bollywood preshow, Indian menu specials and of course Indian beer favorites, the Alamo is the only place to see SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE.

- Saturday Morning Kids Club: EMMET OTTER’S JUGBAND CHRISTMAS -
: Alamo South Lamar : Sat, Dec 20 :

Christmas is approaching in Frogtown Hollow, and Emmet Otter and his Ma hope to buy gifts for each other. Unfortunately, Emmet doesn’t make enough from the odd jobs he does, and Ma doesn’t make enough as a laundress. They decide to compete in the Frog Town Hollow Talent Contest in order to win money, but Ma will have to hock Emmet’s tool chest to buy a costume, and Emmet will have to put a hole in Ma’s washtub for his band! Kermit the Frog hosts this classic Muppet musical Christmas tale! WITH LIVE JUG COMBO THE ROGUE RIVER STRING BAND PLAYING BEFORE THE FILM!

- THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON -
: Alamo South Lamar : Opens Thursday, Dec 25 :

David Fincher and Brad Pitt team up for a third time with this adaptation of a F. Scott Fitzgerald short story. Pitt plays a man who is born 80 years old, but instead of aging, he grows young. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett costars, along with Taraji P. Henson and Tilda Swinton.

- YES MAN -
: Alamo Village : Opens Friday, Dec 19 :

This film marks the triumphant return of Jim Carrey to comedy! With Peyton Reed (MR. SHOW, UCB) in the director’s chair, YES MAN guarantees to be brilliantly sharp, with just enough drops of nonsense to make it fun for laughers of all thresholds. Oh, and if you’re one of the approximately 80 million people who currently has a total crush on Zooey Deschanel, she’s in the film too.

- PARENTS’ AFTERNOON OUT! -
: Alamo Village : Saturday, Dec 20 :

If finding a babysitter makes it difficult for you to come to the movies, The Alamo Drafthouse Village has a deal for you! Every third Saturday of the month (from 2:30 to 6:30pm), you can see one of our regularly featured afternoon movies without calling around town looking for someone to watch your children, thanks to our friends at BodyBusiness. Child care vouchers are $10 and good for one child each. VOUCHER DOES NOT INCLUDE MOVIE ADMISSION. REMEMBER TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS SEPARATE FROM YOUR VOUCHER!

- MARLEY AND ME -
: Alamo Village : Thursday, Dec 25 :

John Grogan’s bestselling book about his Labrador retriever bounds onto the screen with MARLEY AND ME. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star as a couple who adopts the badly behaved but much-loved dog.

- VALKYRIE -
: Alamo Village : Thursday, Dec 25 :

Just in time for Christmas comes the most anticipated, heartwarming film ever made about the attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler!

Helmed by the mighty Bryan Singer (USUAL SUSPECTS, X-MEN, SUPERMAN RETURNS) and starring Tom Cruise with an even mightier eye-patch, this true tale of treason and revenge is destined for acclaim-town. Best part – no fake German accents.

The Austin Film Critics Association recently named its favorites of 2008, and wouldn’t ya know it, some of our very favorite films of the year were on there too, many of which had their premieres at the Alamo Drafthouse!

Beloved titles LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (currently showing at South Lamar) and TIMECRIMES (opening in January) both rolled into town via Fantastic Fest and have been building a devoted following ever since. Also on the list was the documentary CRAWFORD, which made its theatrical debut at the Drafthouse a few months back.

Of course, there are tons more great titles on their list that we’ve been proud to screen, from THE DARK KNIGHT to MILK and about three fistfuls of others. So take a look if you wanna see what a bunch of fellow movie nuts with great taste think of the year in review:

* * * * * *

December 16, 2008 (Austin, TX) — The Austin Film Critics Association announces its 2008 end-of-the-year awards in 16 categories.

In a city known for its population of over 1 million bats, the Austin Film Critics Association honored the Batman thriller THE DARK KNIGHT with 5 awards, including the top honor, Best Film. Christopher Nolan won for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay (with his brother Jonathan) and Heath Ledger was posthumously awarded Best Supporting Actor. The film was also honored in the Best Original Score category.

Sean Penn took Best Actor for his performance as gay rights activist Harvey Milk in MILK, and Anne Hathaway won Best Actress as a recovering drug addict in the indie hit RACHEL GETTING MARRIED. Taraji P. Henson clinched Best Supporting Actress as the title character’s mother in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON.

Charlie Kaufman’s script for his directorial debut SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK wrapped up Best Original Screenplay, while the critics fell for Colin Watkinson’s cinematography in THE FALL.

WALL*E won Best Animated Film, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN won Best Foreign Language Film, and MAN ON WIRE won Best Documentary.

The group chose Danny McBride as their Breakthrough Artist for his comedic roles in PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, THE FOOT FIST WAY and TROPIC THUNDER. Best First Film went to Nacho Vigalondo for the Spanish time-traveling thriller Timecrimes (Los Cronocrímenes).

CRAWFORD won the award for best film made in the Austin-area or by an Austinite. After making its world premiere in the capital city during the 2008 South by Southwest Film Festival, director David Modigliani chose to distribute the documentary through Hulu.com after being picked up by B-Side Entertainment.

Top 10 Films:
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
Milk
Synecdoche, New York
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Wrestler
WALL*E
Frost/Nixon
Let the Right One In
Gran Torino

Best Picture:
The Dark Knight

Best Director:
Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight

Best Actor:
Sean Penn, Milk

Best Actress:
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married

Best Supporting Actor:
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Best Supporting Actress:
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Original Screenplay:
Charlie Kaufman, Synecdoche, New York

Best Adapted Screenplay:
The Dark Knight, Jonthan Nolan & Christopher Nolan

Best Cinematography:
The Fall — Colin Watkinson

Best Original Score:
The Dark Knight, James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmerman

Best Foreign Language Film:
Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in) – Sweden

Best Documentary Film:
Man on Wire

Best Animated Feature:
WALL*E

Breakthrough Artist Award:
Danny McBride, Pineapple Express/The Foot Fist Way/Tropic Thunder

Best First Film:
Nacho Vigalondo, Timecrimes (Los Cronocrímenes)

Best Austin Film:
Crawford

I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that the Chronicle’s Marc Savlov gave SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE four stars, calling it “brilliant”.

It seems like all the critics are falling all over themselves to shower this film with superlatives. And awards voters aren’t far behind. The only films in recent memory that have gotten this kind of across-the-board adulation have been NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, THERE WILL BE BLOOD and PAN’S LABYRINTH. So I think we’re in for a pretty good movie here.

Come see it at the Alamo South Lamar starting tonight at midnight.

The Hollywood Foreign Press woke up very early this morning to announce the 2008 Golden Globe nominees. A few surprises and a few upsets, but mostly, the Foreign Press seems to know what they’re doing. Regardless, the fine people at the Academy will surely right any wrongs come February.

What’s most exciting is that all 5 of the Best Picture (Drama) nominees haven’t even come out yet!

Best Picture – Drama

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
FROST/NIXON
THE READER
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

FROST/NIXON and BENJAMIN BUTTON both open on Christmas Day and SLUMDOG opens tomorrow(!) at South Lamar. We had a chance to see SLUMDOG in Dallas last week, and it lives up to every bit of the hype- it should be noted that director Danny Boyle (TRAINSPOTTING, 28 DAYS LATER, SUNSHINE) also got the nod for Best Director.

As expected, Sean Penn was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Harvey Milk in Gus Van Sant’s landmark biopic MILK (currently playing at the Alamo Ritz) and Heath Ledger got the Supporting Actor nod for THE DARK KNIGHT. Also in the Supporting Actor arena is Tom Cruise for his ragingly nuanced performance in TROPIC THUNDER. The Joker vs. Les Grossman? Who’s setting the odds? Most unsurprising, though, is that James Franco got nominated for PINEAPPLE EXPRESS.

Well done, Foreign Press, give the baby its bottle, but we simply can’t overlook the insolent omission of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN from the Best Foreign Film category- come on, Academy, you know which to let in, right?