Tonight at the Alamo South Lamar, we’re opening a very provocative documentary that chronicles the controversial California vote that revoked the right for gays to be married. At the forefront of this crusade against same-sex love is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, known colloquially as The Mormons. 8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION examines the role of the Mormon Church on this historic and much-maligned civil rights reversal, and the ties and conclusions it draws will shock and disgust you.

Shedding light on the structure of repression and shame that the Mormon Church has practiced against homosexuals for years, the film is a strong case against religious involvement in legal affairs and its destructive influence on the lives of millions of gay men and women. Its a highly emotional film that is not afraid to take a much-needed stance on this issue. It passionately fights against prejudice, judgment, and hate to present an educational and forward-thinking film.

We’re very proud to co-present this film with the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival tonight at 7:40 at the Alamo South Lamar. Advanced tickets available here.

Cinema Club Presents: Two nights of film noir with film writer/noir expert Eddie Muller
Sunday July 11: THE PROWLER
Monday July 12: CRY DANGER

On Sunday July 11 and Monday July 12, the Alamo Cinema Club will be bringing author Eddie Muller to Austin to present two spectacular noir discoveries. In glorious black and white 35mm prints, the recently restored film noir classics THE PROWLER and CRY DANGER will surely wow all film fans and noir aficionados in attendance.

Muller is the authority on this genre we call film noir, he’s even earned the undisputed nickname “The Czar Of Noir”.  Not only does he know all about the films, the stars, the writers, directors and the production history of these movies; he also has a knack for surprising you with bits of insight that place the films and their social contexts in a surprising and enlightening focus. Plus, he’s funny.

This week the Austin Chronicle features an interview with Eddie about the genre and this week’s Cinema Club presentations.

Eddie’s also a pretty connected guy, and he has gathered his knowledge from many sources, including the people who made and starred in the films, as in this clip with Marsha Hunt:

Muller is the founder of the Film Noir Foundation, an organization that hosts the annual Noir City film festival and helps to restore old films noir like the two we’ll be showing this weekend. Here is an interview with Muller discussing the festival.

This piece from Twitch film, shows Muller’s remarks about restoring CRY DANGER and how, if we don’t celebrate these older films, our cinematic heritage may be lost.

This very cool video shows one of Muller’s books, a collection of Film Noir posters:

It demonstrates one of Muller’s many contributions to the literary world of this type of film. In addition to founding the Film Noir Foundation and hosting numerous events with Hollywood stars of yesterday, Muller is also a fantastic and prolific writer. Muller is the author of Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir, Dark City Dames: The Wicked Women of Film Noir, The Art Of Noir: The Posters & Graphics From The Classical Era Of Film Noir, and Tab Hunter Confidential.

He also writes short articles detailing minor histories of the genre. In this, one of his best, he argues that, no matter what the first film noir was, DOUBLE INDEMNITY is the most important.

Here is an article Muller composed about the origin of film noir and what exactly the genre is. His informative and funny style clearly carries over from his hosting to the written word.

This Sunday and Monday are sure to be some of the most memorable Cinema Club presentations of the year. Be sure to come early and often to see film noir expert-extraordinaire Eddie Muller chat with us about THE PROWLER on Sunday and CRY DANGER on Monday.

We all had a great time at THE APARTMENT for our New Year’s Eve Feast.  Props should go to chef John Bullington for putting together one of the greatest menus our theatre has every provided.  The film looked pristine and was a great way to ring in the new year in style.

If you enjoyed the show last night, or if you just like THE APARTMENT, than you are in for a real treat at the end of the month.  Billy Wilder, the director of THE APARTMENT, wrote the screenplay for one of the great comedy classics of the 1930s, Ernst Lubitsch’s NINOTCHKA.  Starring the always beautiful Greta Garbo as a Soviet bureaucrat in gay Paris, the film is a delightful comic yarn about the seductive qualities of Europe…and Europeans!  We are actually playing NINOTCHKA at the Ritz on January 31 as part of a new series called Cinema Club.  The film will be introduced by UT film professor Dr. Charles Ramirez Berg and will be followed by a discussion.  It’s a little intellectual, but as far as I’m concerned there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.

Remember, NINOTCHKA: Don’t pronounce it – - See it!

(Austin, TX)–The Austin Film Society, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Ain’t It Cool News and SXSW are pleased to present the World Premiere of Miramax Films’ EXTRACT, a new film by Mike Judge starring Jason Bateman, on August 18 at The Paramount Theater (713 Congress Avenue). Judge and Bateman will attend the screening, which is a benefit for the Texas Filmmakers’ Production Fund.

EXTRACT is the latest comedy from writer/director and Austinite Mike Judge (OFFICE SPACE, KING OF THE HILL, IDIOCRACY). Joel, played by Jason Bateman (JUNO, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT), is one step away from selling his flavor extract factory and retiring to easy street when a freak workplace accident sets in motion a series of disasters that puts his business and personal life in jeopardy. The film also stars Kristen Wiig (SNL, GHOST TOWN), Mila Kunis (FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL) and Ben Affleck (HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU). Miramax Films will open this film nationwide on September 4th, 2009.

Red carpet arrivals will begin at 7:30 PM. Press wishing to cover the red carpet MUST obtain credentials by emailing Agnes Varnum at agnes@austinfilm.org. No admittance to the red carpet area without credentials.

Ain’t It Cool News, Fantastic Fest and SXSW will conduct ticket giveaways via their websites–must be a 2010 SXSW or Fantastic Fest badge holder to win. Remaining tickets will be available through the Austin Film Society. AFS members will be able to purchase tickets during a preview window starting Tuesday, July 28^th at Noon at www.austinfilm.org.

Tickets for the general public will go on sale at Noon on Monday, August 3 through GetTix (866-443-8849), gettix.net or The Paramount Theatre box office. Pricing as follows:

$100 VIP seating and official after-party with Judge and Bateman

$30 (Mezzanine) and $17 (Upper Balcony) for the screening including a Q&A

Special thanks to Miramax Films, Marc English Design and The Austin Chronicle.

The SXSW Film Conference and Festivall is a uniquely creative environment featuring the dynamic convergence of talent, smart audiences and industry heavyweights. A hotbed of discovery and interactivity, the event offers lucrative networking opportunities and immersion into the art, business and rapidly evolving world of independent film. Over the first five days, the Film Conference buzzes as world-class speakers, creative minds, and notable mentors tackle the latest filmmaking trends amidst the unmatched social atmosphere of the SXSW experience. Simultaneously, the internationally acclaimed, nine-day Festival celebrates raw innovation and emerging talent, with a truly diverse program ranging from provocative documentaries to subversive Hollywood comedies. For more information, visit http://www.sxsw.com.

Austin Film Society promotes the appreciation of film and supports creative filmmaking by screening rarely seen films, giving grants and other support to emerging filmmakers, and providing access and education about film to youth and the public. Through Austin Studios, which AFS opened in 2000 in partnership with the City of Austin, AFS helps attract film development and production to Austin and Texas. Gala film premieres and the annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards raise funds as well as awareness of the impact of film on economy and community. The Austin Film Society is ranked among the top film centers in the country and recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and Directors Guild of America. For more information on Austin Film Society, visit www.austinfilm.org.

How to win tickets from Fantastic Fest!
Fantastic Fest has been allocated a small number of ticket pairs to this event. To win tickets, visit the Fantastic Fest Facebook Page and RSVP to win. Winners will be announced on Monday, August 10 at noon CST on the Fantastic Fest Facebook Page and on the Fantastic Fest blog. You must be a 2010 SXSW or 2009 Fantastic Fest badge holder to win tickets.

We wrangled artist and punk rock superfan Zach Hobbs to make this poster for the cult megamovie Repo Man! 24″ x 36″ screenprint, hand-numbered, printed by D&L Screenprinting. This poster will be for sale tonite at the Repo Man screening at Alamo Drafthouse Ritz!

Repo Man Poster

click on image to take you to Mondo’s store page!

This glorious poster was hand crafted by the one and only Print Mafia for a special screening of Rock n Roll High School! Poster measures 13″X20″
Get yours while they last!

Spacesick, fresh off the viral success of his internet movie poster series, works up his first Alamo Drafthouse poster for a Terror Tuesday screening of Blacula. This one is a 2 color, 18″ x 24″ screenprint hand numbered by the artist & lovingly produced at D&L in Seattle.

Terror Tuesday - Blacula Poster

Get yours now at Mondo Tees!

Also, get all the Mondo poster updates with Twitter!

Twitter is a free service that lets you keep in touch with people through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

To check out our Twitter page click here: https://twitter.com/mondonews