I have many many people checking stuff out for me here at the Austin Film Festival, this one is by Rogue, our stunning untouchable invincibly fragile member of our team hear in Austin. She’s been catching some films that I haven’t been able to catch. So much to see so little time. So onto Rogue’s report....
Saw the utterly entrancing "Waking Ned Devine" this evening at the Arbor. Once we got through yet more technical problems (did they hire all brand-new projectionists for this festival?), I was completely captured by this movie. It is sweet but not sticky, funny, wise, the scenery is gorgeous, the performances are magical, the music is dead on, it has a few completely wacko moments of semi-surreal humor, some suspense, and there is a little twist at the end that made me draw in my breath in joyful surprise. It's a radiant little movie, don't miss it.
Also saw "Went to Coney Island...", which was also pretty good. Again, some really solid performances and some very good writing. It runs a little long, but it covers some serious stuff. The ending is probably not Hollywood enough for major distribution, which is a shame, because this movie deserves to be seen. And an AMAZING fifteen or so minutes of acting by the incomparable Peter Gerety (currently playing Detective Gahrty on "Homicide"). As a side note, Peter Schenkman & Jon Cryer were charming and warm & funny in their Q & A. Cryer went so far as to make a blanket apology to everyone who had been waiting in line before the film (which started about 45 minutes late due to the glitches during the first film) and told everyone standing in line that their concessions were on him. Seems like a cool guy. I hope someone picks this up. It's not a great film, but it's a pretty good one, and it obviously came from the heart.
The short "The Perfect Pitch," about a little boy whose own personal hell is a Little League team -- really funny. The kid who played the lead is an absolute riot. He cracked me up just LOOKING at him. The EXTREMELY short "Call Me Fishmael" -- also very funny.
And those seats at the Arbor -- they're almost as comfy as my couch! I want to take my cat and my chenille throw and see all my movies there...
So in general, festival's lookin' up on my end. Hope the "Blood Simple" evening was a blast.
