You really can’t miss at SXSW Film – it’s O.K. to take a chance and pop into the nearest theater. Chances are you will not be disappointed. We managed to catch five or six flicks the first weekend of the festival – and you have all the way till Saturday to do the same. All the movies we saw were good – but two were absolute winners.
Austin.- You really can’t miss at SXSW Film – it’s O.K. to take a chance and pop into the nearest theater. Chances are you will not be disappointed. We managed to catch five or six flicks the first weekend of the festival – and you have all the way till Saturday to do the same. All the movies we saw were good – but two were absolute winners.
By Angela Covo
angela.covo@gmail.com
The film “Trash Dance” is a must see. Yes it is a documentary, but truly, this one sings! It is a joyful, exuberant tale that starts with the vision of choreographer Allison Orr and then beautifully filmed and packaged by Andy Garrison.
Orr sees beauty where others don’t see a thing, and she worked long and hard to bring her vision to the big screen. With great determination, she convinced the City of Austin and its sanitation workers to join her in an adventure – and the culmination of her dancing trucks, and the splendid music score and the wonderful cast – real, working people, creates moments that are transformational – for the audience, the cast, the choreographer and even the filmmakers.
As they explained at the Red Carpet Premier: “Trash is not who we are, it’s what we do."
And that is the truth – these hard-working men and women are stars, not just at work, or at home, or at their second jobs – they danced with grace, and created beauty – and now it will be forever art.
One of the best screenplays all year is the basis for “Safety Not Guaranteed” – a superior film that somehow achieves the perfect balance of quirkiness and confidence, without ever missing a beat. Sharp dialogue, superior character development, a story that keeps you intrigued to the very last minute – and fabulous performances all around.
I have no doubt that this film will be a box office darling if it gets the chance. Don’t miss this one if you are at SXSW – and keep an eye out for it if you are not. This movie is all that.
A quick mention for “Extracted” which is a sci-fi thriller about a man who develops a way to see memories, and worth watching. This was more than a solid effort for Director Nir Paniry, who should now be on everyone’s radar - clearly he loved this film. So much so, I think, the editing may have suffered a little, but overall, another film that deserves your time.
Photo: Choreographer Allison Orr flanked by cast members onstage at the Paramount Theater in Austin answers audience questions after "Trash Dance" Red Carpet premiere. (Photo by Frederic Covo)
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