I saw an un-color-corrected, temp-scored version of Matthew Vaughn's Kick-Ass at BNAT11 in December, and most of my difficulty in posting about it before now came from the fact that the screening had to stop and re-start due to a tech issue. When you have an abrupt 20-minute intermission during a movie and chat with friends about how much you're all enjoying it, that can unfairly skew where you sit on it. Now that South by Southwest 2010 has announced it as their opening night movie, I'll get something up later today that's more substantive than "it's far better than your average post-modern superhero movie on its way to huge return business".
Even more interesting to me are the additional announcements, pasted below from the press release with running commentary:
Cold Weather - SXSW Alum Aaron Katz directs this feature about a former forensic science major and avid reader of detective fiction, who, after making a mess of his life in Chicago, returns to his hometown of Portland, Oregon. There, he, his sister Gail, and new friend Carlos become embroiled in something unexpected. [Katz is very much a "handmade"-style filmmaker. I've regretted missing previous features he's done that friends have had good things to say about. This one sounds interesting, so here's to hoping I get a shot at seeing it.]
Elektra Luxx - Following the successful world premiere of Women In Trouble at SXSW 2009 [successful I'll agree to, everybody dug that they were giving women more varied roles than they usually get to play], writer/director Sebastian Gutierrez returns with the world premiere of its hotly anticipated sequel [I only "hotly anticipate" it because it's a passion project for all involved. the original didn't set me on fire like it did various people who went out of their way to act like it was an English-language masterwork at the level of Almodovar (though stylistically it's similar)]. The film follows a hectic day in the life of former adult film superstar Elektra Luxx as she tries to survive in the straight world. The film stars Carla Gugino in the title role, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Timothy Olyphant, Emmanuelle Chriqui and Malin Akerman. [The main selling point of the original and this sequel is that the actors all gravitated toward being able to play against type and stretch their acting muscles in ways their day jobs don't let them. I can't say that I loved Women in Trouble, but the bit with Josh Brolin as a Brit rocker was sufficient for me to trust Sebastian Gutierrez with another hour and a half of my life.]
Hubble 3D - SXSW will present the first public screening of Hubble 3D at the Bob Bullock IMAX Theater. [I guess this means that I'm going to my first SXSW screening at the Bob Bullock IMAX] Through the power of IMAX 3D, Hubble 3D will enable movie-goers to journey through distant galaxies to explore the grandeur and mysteries of our celestial surroundings, and accompany space-walking astronauts as they attempt the most difficult and important tasks in NASA's history. The film is directed and produced by Toni Myers.
Lemmy - A documentary from director Wes Orshoski, the film delves into the personal and public lives of heavy metal icon and Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister. Nearly three years in the making, and featuring appearances by such friends/peers as Metallica, Dave Grohl, Billy Bob Thornton and pro wrestler Triple H, the film follows Kilmister from his Hollywood bedroom to the hockey arenas of Scandinavia and Russia. [I love music docs, but am not usually interested in ones that cover metal or metal stars, but Anvil! The Story of Anvil! has turned me around on that a bit.]
SATURDAY NIGHT - Directed by actor James Franco, the documentary looks at what it takes to create an episode of the legendary comedy show, Saturday Night Live. Follow behind the scenes as the actors, writers and producers go through one frenetic week of trials and tribulations as each volley to get sketches on air. [Franco's hosting job on SNL recently was up there with the best in recent memory. This has rocketed to the top of my must-see list not only because I love the frantic pace of live TV production, but because I wonder what the inner workings of SNL look like.]
Now off to the doctor with me.