Short Cuts

By all rights, this column should be devoted to honoring the memory of Stanley Kubrick, who died in his sleep this week five days after showing the director's cut of his new movie Eyes Wide Shut to his producers at Warner Bros. There is much to say and too little space, but I promise we'll return to the topic at a later date. In the history of cinema, few directors were possessed of a vision as singular and total as that of Stanley Kubrick. With meticulous care, the director applied his vision to a variety of genres and mastered them all. A comment by Steven Spielberg about how Kubrick created complete "environments" with his films strikes me as one of the most astute observations I've heard in recent days. With sadness we must note that the loss of Kubrick now diminishes our environment at large One of the most star-studded events of the year is sure to be the premiere of Ron Howard's new movie EDtv, which is being presented by the Austin Film Society, SXSW Film, Universal Pictures, and Imagine Entertainment on Wednesday, March 17 at the Paramount Theatre. The screening is a benefit for the Texas Filmmakers' Production Fund. Attending the screening will be Howard and producer Brian Grazer, and stars Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Ellen DeGeneres (and traveling companion Anne Heche), Martin Landau, Sally Kirkland, and Clint Howard. McConaughey stars in this TV culture comedy about a video store clerk who is plucked from obscurity and becomes the blockbuster hit of the season when he agrees to have his life aired on cable TV 24 hours a day. Tickets are $150 and $200 and include orchestra or mezzanine seating, Q&A, and entree to an after-party with Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Ely, and other entertainment, hosted by Universal Pictures. Call the Film Society at 322-0145 to purchase tickets...

Newly added this week to the SXSW Film lineup is writer-director Nancy Savoca (The 24 Hour Woman) and the film Happy Texas, which was an audience favorite and the movie most fought over by distributors at the Sundance Film Festival...

Numerous other film screenings are happening around town as the SXSW Festival gets underway. Check out this week's "Film Listings" for details. They're all listed under the heading: "Our cup runneth over." Additionally, several other non-screening-related film events are scheduled for this week. Tesoros Trading Co. (209 N. Congress) is hosting an opening reception on Friday, March 12, 6-9pm, for a special show and booksigning by Rogelio Agrasanchez Jr. and Charles Ramirez Berg of their recent book Poster Art From the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema. The book features beautiful reproductions of 200 classic Mexican movie posters and was featured in a Chronicle story this past summer, which is available online at http://www.auschron.com/issues/vol17/issue45/screens.cinedeoro.html. Also on exhibit is a collection of Cuban movie posters from the Seventies and Eighties. Graphic artist Julio Eloy will be on hand for discussion...

Those of you who were enchanted with the loquacious, audacious philosophy of New York City tour guide Timothy "Speed" Levitch in the documentary The Cruise will delight in learning that in addition to his appearance on a SXSW Spoken Word showcase, Levitch will be appearing at Frontera@Hyde Park Theatre, Monday, March 15-Wednesday, March 17, at 10:30pm. Tickets are $8 (or $4 with SXSW badges or wristbands). Call 452-6688 for reservations...

Instead of a regular meeting this month, Reel Women and Her Domain is hosting a mixer during SXSW on Monday, March 15, 6-8 pm at Club DeVille. Music will be by Bethany Miller and Buttahfly. Admission is free; cash bar.