The Alamo Drafthouse has quickly garnered a reputation as one of the greatest movie theaters in the history of mankind…or at least the history of movie theaters. With their signature events, ample food and drink selection, and strict no-talking policy, they make obsolete all tawdry multiplexes and completely redefine the movie-going experience. Here’s what they’re up to this week!
Thursday January 19th
The Anchorman Quote-Along
Alamo Ritz 7:00pm
“Ron Burgundy loves scotch. Brick Tamland loves lamp. Champ Kind loves fun. Brian Fantana thought he was in love with a Brazilian girl once...or a Chinese girl...at any rate, it was this girl, and he made out with her. These are the men of the Channel 4 News Team and they’re here to deliver... the news. If you’ve never been to an Anchorman Quote-Along, you’ve missed out on one of the most quote-able, drink-able, enjoyable nights of your life. As always we will have all of your favorite lines subtitled karaoke style for you to belt out as well as mustaches for all and a yazz flute for you to play along with Ron during his melodically intense seduction of Veronica Corningstone. Also we will have a harmonizing sing-along of Afternoon Delight and a drinking competition before the show.”—Greg MacLennan via Drafthouse.com
The Big Lebowski Quote-Along
Alamo Lake Creek 7:00pm
If you love the Cohen Brothers’ tribute to shiftless losers with mad bowling skills and penchants for Creedence Clearwater Revival, this is the place to be. All your favorite one-liners from The Dude will flash across the screen to prompt your collective vocal worship of this masterful comedy.
ABC’s: The River w/Oren Peli
Alamo South Lamar 9:00pm
“ABC’s The River follows the story of famed explorer and TV personality, Emmet Cole, who’s gone missing while on an unchartered mission in the Amazon. Will his family and friends find him alive during their search or will they discover something more sinister, deadly or even supernatural? From Oren Peli, the director of Paranormal Activity, this riveting new thriller takes you deep into the unknown, where the only thing darker than family secrets is the mystery at the heart of the Amazon. THE RIVER PREMIERES TUESDAY, FEB 7 9|8c on ABC.”—Drafthouse.com
Sing-Alongs: Under Pressure
Alamo Ritz 9:45pm
“Everyone has their favorite singers, but chances are you can name at least 5 other artists that sound just like them. We live in a cursed world where there will always be the empty catsuit of the 4 octave wonder that was Freddie Merucry. Thank God we still have David Bowie but there will be a giant pair of sparkled platformed boots that will lay vacant whenever he passes. No man will ever walk in their shoes again and it wasn't until our one-night only Queen Sing-Along this past December that we realized one-night wasn't enough and so we're reaching back into our Action Pack vaults, but this time we're pulling out all of our best David Bowie with our best Queen. So dress on up in whatever gender you feel you most identify with... or as the androgynous David Bowie and get ready to party like a rockstar. As always we'll have props galore as well as all the lyrics to your favorite glam rockers up on the screen for your singing pleasure.”—Greg MacLennan via Drafthouse.com
Skinemax: Last Call
Alamo Ritz 10:45pm
“Many people may take a jaded eye towards taboo content in movies these days. Not us. We still get excited any time boobs appear on screen. The appeal is timeless. And what better cinematic showcase has there ever been for the human anatomy than the late-night erotic thriller? Join us for the SKINEMAX our tribute to that gratuitous era when erotic encounters happened exclusively under neon lights to the sounds of smooth jazz. Get sucked into a world of forbidden passions, sexual betrayals and the unending tribulations of menaced talk-radio hosts. This month we screen Last Call, the sultry and dangerous tale of an exotic performance artist (Shannon Tweed) who becomes the object of obsession for a repressed corporate executive.”—Tommy Swenson via Drafthouse.com
Alamo Survivor’s Tip: Getting to see a sneak preview of a television series before it airs is rare. Getting to see a sneak preview of a television series at the Alamo Drafthouse is lady luck showering you with attention and love. Do not miss this opportunity.
Friday January 20th
Master Pancake: Back to the Future
Alamo Ritz (thru 1/21) 7:00pm; 10:00pm
“FOR TWO WEEKENDS ONLY, Master Pancake lampoons Back to the Future (1985), a film so iconic that for a brief period in the mid-80’s it convinced people that De Loreans, down vests, and Huey Lewis were cool. Michael J. Fox (Family Ties, Teen Wolf) stars as Michael J. Fox -- or Marty McFly as he’s called here -- who travels back in time in order to save his professorial pal “Doc”, played by Christopher Lloyd (Taxi, Star Trek III). Along the way, McFox ends up inventing rock‘n’roll, changing history, and almost dating his own mom. You’ll have 1.21 jigowatts of fun at this Oedipally complex movie, as Master Pancake riffs on Back to the Future!“—John Erler via Drafthouse.com
The Late Show: Alien
Alamo Ritz 11:45pm
“The progenitor of 101 ‘in space no one can hear you scream’ flicks over the past 30 years, and the springboard for one awesome sequel (Aliens) and two terrible ones, this is Ridley Scott's trailblazing 1979 original in all its pulse-pounding, face-hugging, chest-bursting glory. (Oh, and it's also providing the ‘DNA’ for Scott's much-anticipated Prometheus -- just don't call this new one a sequel! ) Not only was Alien the film that proved to the world how brilliantly kick-ass that leggy Mensa member Sigourney Weaver is, but it also featured a rather topnotch supporting cast that included our man of the month HARRY DEAN STANTON!, (Sir) Ian Holm, John Hurt (side note: when's this guy gonna get knighted?), Yaphet Kotto, and your mom's favorite dreamboat, Tom Skerritt.”—Drafthouse.com
Exploision: Deep Red
Alamo Village 11:30pm
“Deep Red--aka Profondo Rosso, aka The Hatchet Murders--is one of the most renowned films from giallo master Dario Argento. The movie follows musician Marcus Daly (Hemmings) as he witnesses the death of a psychic and finds himself in over his head in the course of his investigation.Deep Red is wire-taut and packed with gutsy suspense, as Argento displays striking camera work, a memorable style and shockingly elaborate gore. The film is one of the most beautifully directed horror flicks of all time.”—Meredith Borders via Drafthouse.com
Alamo Survivor’s Tip: Back to the Future boasts a script that is taught in film schools as one of the most perfect ever constructed. It will therefore be exponentially more entertaining to watch the fellas of Master Pancake rip a hole in its time space continuum.
Saturday January 21st
AFS Young Filmmakers Showcase
Alamo South Lamar 11:00am
“Celebrating the best of Austin’s Youth Filmmakers! Since 2004, the Austin Film Society’s Film Club program has been providing afterschool digital media curriculum in partnership with the AISD ACE Austin. Students learn script to screen production techniques, giving them the tools and environment to express their creative spirit. To celebrate the great work our students have produced this semester, AFS will screen a selection of their films, representing the talent of the 14 different AISD campuses that Film Club takes place. Lights, Camera, Action!”—Drafthouse.com
The Late Show: Alien
Alamo Ritz 11:30pm
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Alamo Village 11:55pm
Thrill to all the cheap laughs, cheap women, and cheap production values of one of the world’s premier bad movies. Watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show in-and-of-itself is an event, but it takes on a whole new life when witnessed within the walls of The Alamo Village with loads of audience participation, dressed-up patrons, and general wickedness that has become a vital component to the film’s meteoritic rise to cult film legend.
Sunday January 22nd
Master Pancake: Choose Your Own Pancake XVII
Alamo Ritz 7:00pm
If you thought the Master Pancake troupe had a tough job before, mocking movies they’d seen a million times with pitch-perfect comedic timing, wait until you see them mock films they may never have even heard of! Bring your favorite DVD and the Master Pancake gents will narrow them down by audience vote. They will then adlib quips throughout the whole film and even make up a skit on the fly. Holy Whose Line!
The Anchorman Quote-Along
Alamo Lake Creek 7:00pm
The Late Show: Alien
Alamo Ritz 10:00pm
Asian Invasion: Dreadnaught
Alamo Ritz 10:30pm
“This little-seen classic by Yuen Woo Ping (Drunken Master, True Legend etc.) and his brothers (the Yuen clan) is completely astonishing. The only appropriate response to kung fu action this fast and inventive is slack jawed admiration. While not widely seen, Dreadnaught deserves to occupy a high place in the pantheon of martial arts cinema, what Yuen and his brothers lacked in budget, they more than made up for in endless expertise of combat and cinema. There’s as much Buster Keaton as Bruce Lee in this story of a terrifying, demented maniac, wearing the painted face of a Chinese opera villain, who pits himself against an elderly Wong Fei Hung, the invincible and wise perfect fighter of Chinese folklore, and his students. Everyone who sees Dreadnaught is wildly impressed by it. Don’t miss this opportunity to see a gorgeous 35mm print. Essential!”—Lars Nilsen via Drafthouse.com
Monday January 23rd
Music Monday: ACL Reel Rarities: Leonard Cohen
Alamo Ritz 7:00pm
“’Lord Byron of Rock 'n' Roll.’ ‘Dr. Kevorkian of Song.’ ‘Restless Pilgrim.’ ‘Felonious Monk.’ ‘Montreal Mensch.’ Whatever you like to call him, the titanic wordsmith, troubadour and all-around nickname magnet Leonard Cohen is just shy of 78 years-old and he has a brand new album dropping at the end January. What better time, then, for us to revisit this classic episode from 1988 -- his ‘first major performance on American television’-- featuring renditions of such signature songs as ‘Everybody Knows,’ ‘First we take Manhattan,’ and ‘Joan of Arc.’”—Drafthouse.com
Big Screen Classics: Rear Window
Alamo Lake Creek (thru 1/26) 7:00pm
“Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece Vertigo is a true feat of cinema, a dizzying rebuttal of the traditional films made at the time of its release. Film scholar Robin Wood calls the film "Hitchcock's masterpiece to date and one of the four or five most profound and beautiful films the cinema has yet given us" and the adulation has grown more widely accepted by critics with each passing decade, as Hitchcock's mastery becomes more recognized. James Stewart gives an intense performance as Scottie Ferguson, a San Francisco detective debilitated by acrophobia who finds himself immersed in a twisted and sinister mystery involving the wife of his oldest friend--a beautiful and enigmatic woman (Kim Novak) with whom he grows strangely obsessed. Vertigo is a film meant to be seen on the big screen, with stunning visual tricks and beautifully framed shots, all serving a story that is absolutely thrilling.”—Drafthoouse.com
The Late Show: Alien
Alamo Ritz 9:45pm
The Big Lebowski Quote-Along
Alamo South Lamar 10:15pm
Tuesday January 24th
Girlie Night: Sixteen Candles
Alamo Ritz 7:00pm
“I’m pretty sure that John Hughes is responsible for my survival of high school. Beneath the comic exaggerations and sweet romanticism, the ordinary geeks in his films all gave me the same life-changing advice: “Prepare for the worst, but don’t stop hoping for the best.” And no character exemplifies this wisdom better than Samantha Baker in Sixteen Candles. Whenever I had a particularly rough day in school, or an extremely awkward encounter with my unrequited crush, I always reminded myself that Samantha had it worse. Like, did a freshman guy ever try to dance with me while spastically yelling, “Very hot! Very hot!” Um, no. Did my entire family ever forget my birthday? No way! Did my grandmother ever feel me up? HECK NO. Samantha, on the other hand, endured all of that crap (and more!) and she STILL got to kiss the hottest senior over a tasty birthday cake in a super posh house. In celebration of those tiny (yet monumental) teenage triumphs over adversity and awkwardness, I invite you to join me for Girlie Night, where we’ll pass sex test notes, stare obsessively at Jake Ryan and toast to the wonderful legacy of John Hughes.”—Sarah Pitre via Drafthouse.com
AFS: Faust
Alamo South Lamar 7:00pm
“Pestilence is wreaking havoc on a small German town, and Dr. Faust, an alchemist, sadly fails in his efforts to save a dying woman. He doesn’t realize that he is about to be the subject of a bet between an archangel and the diabolical Mephisto. Will the intelligent mortal choose good or evil when presented with temptation? With powerful, lyrical images and the best special effects (of the time), Faust is an amazing film, holding intact the basic ideas of Goethe’s play while thrilling our eyes through expressionistic compositions.”—Drafthouse.com
TV at the Alamo: Glee
Alamo Village 9:45pm
“We’ll be showing every new episode of the season where you can get giddy with your fellow Gleeks weekly. So start practicing your Schuester dance moves, warm up your vocal chords to out-sing Rachel, and get fabulous like Kurt, ‘cause we’re bringing the Glee.”—Drafthouse.com
Terror Tuesday: Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
Alamo Ritz 9:45pm
“Horror movies incorporate some measure of humor or ‘colorful characters’ to balance their violence. It’s a reliable method that’s existed as long as movies themselves: Destroy the viewer momentarily, but allow them to take their next breath. Henry is a notorious exception to the rule; a fact-based blade in the guts that twists from the opening segment and only builds speed. Shot in Chicago on an impossibly lean budget, the cast of unknowns authentically transform into drifters, junkies, victims and remorseless, humorless, futureless killers. Michael Rooker’s lead performance is so strong that he probably had to strangle kittens on weekends to depressurize from the role. One of the most infamous and effective fright films of all time, Henry was completed three years before any theater would screen it, and the MPAA declared that ‘there could be no amount of edits that would ever allow the film an R rating.’ So tonight, we present a completely uncensored, unrated 35mm print. Ride the darkness.”—Zack Carlson via Drafthouse.com
Alamo Survivor’s Tip: Be forewarned, if the only reason you attend Terror Tuesday is to enjoy an evening of light, mindless schlock, this may be the week to sit out. However if you thrill at the occasional inclusion of a legitimately affecting and incredibly well made title into the Terror Tuesday lineup, you’re in for a brutally dark treat this week.
Wednesday January 25th
Hook Mini-Feast
Alamo South Lamar 7:00pm
“This past December we missed the opportunity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of the best children's films ever....and now we're here to make up for it in a really big way. We all know the classic J.M. Barrie tale of Peter Pan. But when Steven Spielberg stepped in with his unique retelling by questioning the unquestionable by asking: ‘what if Peter Pan grew up?’ we had no idea what we were in for. ‘Have to fly, have to fight, have to crow, have to save Maggie, have to save Jack, Hook is back.’ Captain James T. Hook is back and badder than ever and this time he's kidnapped Peter's kids. Thankfully you don't have to be an expert of make believe to enjoy this event, because Chef John Bullington is pulling out all the stops to create a feast beyond the imagination of any lost boy. Remember that huge imaginary feast the lost boys are chowing down on? Well remember no more because that feast is becoming a reality! By dessert time we will be chowing down on some unnaturally colored fluffy looking custard-like deliciousness. So go ahead and close your eyes and think of what you want more than anything else in the whole world, because anything is possible...all you gotta do is ...believe.”—Greg MacLennan via Drafthouse.com
Celluloid Handbag: Liza with a Z
Alamo Ritz 7:00pm
“It’s Liza with a Z, not Lisa with an S, cuz Lisa with an S goes Ssss not WHUUT! Are ya’ll ready ta’ experience one of tha’ most dazzlin’ and brilliant shows of ya’ LIFE?! For one stank night only, CELLULOID HANDBAG will be screenin’ tha first filmed concert on television ever starring the one and only LIZA MINNELLI at tha’ height of her fame and stank fortune! Start ya’ night out with a pre show involving tha’ first ever “Liza-Off” complete with celebrity judges and ya’ hostess REBECCA HAVEMEYER, then sit back and take in tha’ magic of Kander and Ebb (of Cabaret fame), and the indestructible choreography of Bob Fosse for a powerhouse performance that will leave ya’ foamin at tha mouth for more! Oh Mama….Ohhhh Mama! BRANG IT.”-- Rebecca Havemeyer via Drafthouse.com
The Anchorman Quote-Along
Alamo Village 7:00pm
Weird Wednesday: Messiah of Evil
Alamo Ritz 9:45pm
“The 70s were a period of such astonishing artistic ferment in the American film industry that if we just poke through the junk pile a bit we're bound to turn up some amazing overlooked masterpiece -- and by the director of HOWARD THE DUCK no less. Messiah of Evil is a legitimate horror classic. I'd rank it right up there with I Walked with a Zombie and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I realize that's a provocative statement, but then so is Messiah of Evil.”—Lars Nilsen via Drafthouse.com
Houston
Girlie Night: Sixteen Candles
1/19 7:30pm
Graveyard Shift: Poltergeist
1/19 10:00pm
“Legend has it that West Oaks Mall was built over an abandoned cemetery. OK, that may not be true, but what is true is the fact that Poltergeist, 30 years after its release, remains one of the scariest, most heartfelt horror films to ever be unleashed upon an unsuspecting public. This January, the Graveyard Shift moves to a Thursday night for a screening of Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg's classic family-friendly (?) horror film. Yes, it's true that the film, about a California family haunted by malevolent spirits, is rated PG. Remember, though, this is '80s PG — a special kind of film rating where violent and often extremely scary stuff was OK to share with the younger set.”—Drafthouse.com
80s Insanity: The Road Warrior
1/20 10:00pm
“THE BEST ACTION MOVIE OF ALL TIME!! Before Mel Gibson traded in his post-apocalyptic leatherwear for the flowing cotton robes of Jesus, he was The Toughest Hero in Movie History. Mad Max burned rubber across the scorched highways of the barren Earth, on the hunt for fuel and the blood of criminal marauders. Even in the Australian desert, some shotgun-wielding punk goon needs to be murdered every 30 seconds or so. Easy work for Max, until he runs up against post-nuke sh*tmaster Lord Humungus and his crew of feral mohawked wasteoids. Suddenly, the lone wolf of the wasteland finds himself defending the last outpost of untarnished humanity. What follows is inarguably the single greatest chase/fight/stunt explosion ever captured on film, with more car-flipping and stuntman-smashing than any 1000 American action blockbusters could dream of. Come witness the absolute ultimate in fallen world annihilation with THE ROAD WARRIOR!”—Drafthouse.com
The Big Lebowski Quote-Along
1/21 7:00pm
Only at the Alamo: Anime
1/24 7:30pm
The Alamo Drafthouse provides a welcome haven for fans of Japanese animation. Samurai swords must unfortunately be checked at the door.
Hecklevision: Spice World
1/25 7:00pm
“From the minds of the Spice Girls (seriously: they got a writing credit for the idea), developed and written for the screen by Kim Fuller (From Justin to Kelly) and directed with elegance and grace by Bob Spiers (That Darn Cat), Spice World had every excuse to be a bad movie--except it wasn't. No wait, it was just a terrible, awful film. But it’s so bad, it’s INSANELY ENJOYABLE! Which is why it creates the perfect recipe for The Action Pack’s Hecklevision.”—Drafthouse.com
The Elvis Sing-Along
1/19 7:30pm
“The Action Pack is bringing you one of the most iconic musicians of all time in a show filled with the bluesy, rockabilly riffs of the King himself, Elvis Presley. Sing and shake your hips along to the uptempo backbeats of Elvis' greatest songs, a repertoire that will rock your socks as you howl along to ‘Houndog,’ ‘Heartbreak Hotel,’ ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ and all your other faves. We dug through concerts, music videos, archival footage and his best films to deliver the greatest sing-along to grace the Alamo screen. Don't be cruel, fool.”—Meredith Borders via Drafthouse.com
Lloyd Kaufman Live Featuring Father’s Day & Mr. Bricks
1/21 6:00pm
“We are incredibly lucky to have the legendary Lloyd Kaufman, president and co-founder of Troma Films, dropping by to screen two of his latest films, Father’s Day and Mr. Bricks: A Heavy Metal Murder Musical! Kaufman will intro the films and stick around afterward for a Q&A!”—Drafthouse.com
Big Screen Classics: Vertigo
1/22 6:30pm
San Antonio
Lloyd Kaufman Live Featuring Father’s Day
1/19 7:00pm
Spurs Game
1/21 7:00pm
“Come see the San Antonio Spurs on the biggest Sony HD screen in town! Admission is free and all ages are welcome. Enjoy $3 domestic draft special and full at your seat service throughout the game!”—Drafthouse.com
Only at the Alamo: Anime
1/23 7:30pm
Exploision: Deep Red
1/24 7:00pm; 9:45pm
Exploision: Deep Red
1/23 7:00pm; 10:15pm
Girlie Night: Sixteen Candles
1/25 7:00pm; 9:45pm
Free Family Fun: Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat
1/21 11:30am; 2:00pm
“Sally and Conrad sit at home, bored silly until a talking cat in a dashing chapeau pays them a surprise visit and turns their lives upside down! From the iconic children's book by the legendary Dr. Seuss, the film by director Bo Welch stars comedic giant Mike Myers as the titular cat, and little cuties Spencer Breslin and Dakota Fanning as the kids who should be careful what they wish for. Also starring Alec Baldwin and Kelly Preston and featuring the voice talent of Sean Hayes (Will and Grace) and Dan Castellaneta (The Simpsons), Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat brings a long-cherished book to life in an enjoyable romp to charm all ages. Free Admission and all ages welcome! We will have our very own Cat available for a custom photo for all attendees!”—Drafthouse.com
Hook Mini-Feast
1/22 4:30pm
The Big Lebowski Quote-Along
1/25 7:00pm; 9:45pm
Only at the Alamo: Popular Outcasts Live Comedy
1/19 8:00pm
“The Popular Outcasts are a comedy troupe based out of Winchester and the surrounding northern Virginia area. Known largely for the internet videos they've also built a following from their live stand up shows. The Popular Outcasts will perform in person with a night of multimedia comedy. Are you in or out?”—Drafthouse.com
Big Screen Classics: Rear Window
1/21-1/25 (Check Daily Times)
