As a small-time pot salesman, Nate is following in the foot steps of  his father, a legendary drug lord who is nearing his inevitable demise. Dealing with a plethora of problems, including a little brother who won't stay still, a girlfriend he's loved since he was a child, and the memory of the tragic death of his mother, Nate is desperately looking for a way to escape. Opportunity presents itself in the form of a big time drug deal that could set him free--or leave him trapped in a life he doesn't want to live.

I've got a soft spot for movies shot in Austin and Dance With the One is the first movie made by the University of Texas Film Institute, a nonprofit arm of the college of communications that aims to give students the opportunity to be a part of a project with the aim of creating a feature film. Most of the people who helped on the 22-day shoot were UT students, and the script is co-written by a Michener Center for Writing grad who was in school when he wrote it.

You could say director Mike Dolan is like the Colt McCoy of UT filmmaking.

The world premiere is March 15 at 7:30 at the Alamo Ritz. The film can also be seen March 16 at 2:30 at Alamo South Lamar and again March 20 at 2:30 p.m. at The Paramount.

--Mark Collins
 
 
Dirty Pictures is Etienne Sauret's documentary about Dr. Alexander 'Sasha' Shulgin, the rogue chemist who discovered the effects of MDMA (Ecstasy) and more than 200 other mind-altering drugs. Shulgin's alchemy has earned him the title 'The Godfather of Psychedelics' and a reputation as one of the great chemists of the 20th century.

The trailer makes it look like the documentary will avoid focusing on the shitty techno music and kandi kids of the drug culture legacy leftover from Shulgin's work and instead concentrate on the doctor's intense studies in neuroscience and the human psyche--all while tripping balls with his friends and family as test subjects. Here's hoping the doc lives up to its thoughtful and almost innocent depiction of him and his fascinating experiments. If the nerdy chemistry stuff doesn't float your boat, remember that this doc is all about drugs! Even if you've never tried them, you're at least curious about 'em, and it's high time you admit it.

Dirty Pictures premieres at the Hitachi G-Tech Theater on Saturday, March 13th at 9:30pm.

--Jessica Hixson
 
 
The world is aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark is the armored Super Hero Iron Man. Under pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military, Tony is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armor because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands. Supporting cast is top notch, Favreau seems to have not lost a step and the trailer is action packed! What do you guys think? Iron Man hits screens May 7th of this year.

If that wasn't enough for you we have HD trailer for Tron Legacy HERE. Sam Flynn, the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years.The film will be released Dec. 17th.

--Greg MacLennan
 
 
Having been orphaned by a land mine, and then years later barely surviving a bullet to the brain, Bazil doesn't have much luck with weapons. He is turned to the streets after getting out of the hospital and is taken in by a band of second hand dealers with a vast array of talents. One day Bazil recognizes two logos of the weapons dealers that wronged him and vows revenge. The synopsis alone is enough, but it being the new film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie, A Very Long Engagement, Delicatessen), I simply cannot miss this film.
 
 
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We don't know about you, but this year's Oscars was boooooooring. It had to sucked to have been nominated for anything other than Best Lead Actor or Actress as they got to walk on stage, have friends chat about them, and then have their clips played.  There were no big surprises at all, and the hosts (sorry Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin) were dreadful. The ceremony was hella long and the only thing that caught my eye was those weird cervical cancer ads. While we don't necessarily agree with Sandra Bullock's win, or Up's win over The Fantastic Mr. Fox, we knew this was coming...we just wish it could have at least been more entertaining.

Read more for the entire list of winner's, including Best Picture Winner. 

--Darcie Duttweiler
 
 
I love IMAX films, especially 3D ones. They are just so much fun that I could watch one about rain falling and still be enthralled. So, an IMAX film in 3D about space and astronauts? SOLD.

Plot Synopsis: Hubble 3D will enable moviegoers 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 seventh film from the award-winning IMAX Space Team, Hubble 3D will offer an inspiring and unique look into the Hubble Space Telescope's legacy and highlight its profound impact on the way we view the universe and ourselves.

Hubble 3D premieres Sunday, March 14th at 5pm at the Bob Bullock Theater

--Darcie Duttweiler
 
 
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Yesterday, I talked about the women I am almost 2000% positive will win an Academy Award before their (hopefully timely) demises. Today, I’m weeding through the men I’m willing to make bets on will waltz away with that bald statue sometime in the future.

Note: Much like the ladies list, I also shied away from the men that I was ABSOLUTELY positive will win one of these things, so Liam Neeson, Robert Downey, Jr., Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, I salute you; but you guys are not on this list.
Christian Bale: Of the men on my list, I feel like Bale is the absolute lock. Why? Considering his Method-style acting and extreme measures taken for a role (hello, can of tuna and apple diet for Machinist) a la Daniel Day-Lewis, Bale is a total shoo-in for an Oscar. The only thing he needs to work on is getting rid of his Russell Crowe-like antics. Once Crowe stopped throwing things and shouting at people, he finally nabbed a statue. Take note, Bale. Take note.

Leonardo DiCaprio: Leo is probably almost a shoo-in as well, considering his collaborations with both Scorsese and Christopher Nolan. But homeboy wasn’t even nominated for Titanic when he was thought of nothing more than a pretty boy, so perhaps that stigma could hurt him. I’m thinking one day when he plays a super whacked out role he’ll snag an award.

Ryan Gosling: For me Ryan Gosling is the Laura Linney of men in that he tends towards the awesome roles in the small, indie movies. If he should ever branch out and star in something a little more grandiose—like a biopic—he’ll definitely up his chances for grabbing a statue. But Gosling definitely has the range to win one day.

Peter Sarsgaard: Out of all the men on this list, Sarsgaard is perhaps the biggest toss-up, but I’m gonna step out on a limb here. With his knack of playing odd, quirky characters, I’m not sure Sarsgaard has much of a chance to walk away with a Best Actor Academy Award. Instead I think his greatest chances lie within the Supporting Actor category, and he should definitely keep pushing for intense smaller roles. Look at Christoph Waltz, Peter. That could have been you!

Jude Law: Okay, so Law has been nominated twice before, so that wouldn’t make him much of a surprise if he actually one of these damned things. But considering his recent decline of truly exceptional roles—umm, remember The Holiday?—it’s no wonder he hasn’t cinched an Oscar yet. He needs to die more in his films or have a dying kid. I bet that would do it.

What about you, folks? Which actors/actresses do you think WILL DEFINITELY win an Academy Award before they die? Also, make sure to tune in Monday when we report this year’s Oscar winners!

--Darcie Duttweiler
 
 
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With the Oscars literally right around the corner, I got to thinking about all the amazing actresses of our day who are incredibly talented but have never won a golden statue. Below is a list of the ladies who WILL win an Oscar before their demise—or hey, even Heath Ledger won one after his death, so we can extend the deadlines just a little.

Note: I tried to steer clear of the super obvious ladies. Come back tomorrow for the fellas who will nab an Academy Award before their deaths!
Laura Linney: Laura Linney’s problem is probably the fact that she picks movies that are so small and independent that the voting Academy has never heard of the film, let alone seen the damned thing. If she eventually wants to win a statue, she might want to go for something a little bit showier. The Oscars are not about subtlety (cough cough if Sandra Bullock wins cough).

Naomi Watts: Naomi Watts seems to only pick Oscar bait movies, but homegirl can’t seem to win one of those things. It’s seriously not for lack of trying on her part. Perhaps being BFFs with Nicole Kidman is missing one perk.

Julianne Moore: Having been nominated a gazillion times, Julianne Moore has left the ceremony empty-handed every time. She just has some shitty luck. She lost to Kim Basinger for L.A. Confidential, Hilary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry, and even losing twice in one night to Nicole Kidman and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Maggie Gyllenhaal: This may be the first year Gyllenahaal has been nominated for an Oscar, but she has been nominated for a slew of other awards for years. I even thought she had an Oscar nom already before I realized this was her first—that’s how talented she is. Plus she picks lead roles that are gritty and raw, which the Academy loves. And she doesn’t shy away from nudity either.

Scarlett Johansson: I’m going out on a limb with this one considering that the typical bombshell beauty doesn’t tend to win Oscars (see Marilyn Monroe), and because Johansson has steered towards some poopy movies as of late. But Johansson definitely has the acting chops to procure herself a trophy one day. Perhaps she can pull a Charlize and uglify herself a bit.

--Darcie Duttweiler
 
 
I've enjoyed Rys Ifans since he exploded on screen in Notting Hill as Hugh Grant's weird-as-fuck flatmate. While he still isn't huge on this side of the pond, he still manages to make quite a little name for himself by turning out great performances. This year he comes to South by Southwest in Mr. Nice.

The film is about Howard Marks, a former teacher, nuclear physicist, travel agent, tour promoter, and one of the largest dope smugglers on the planet. Mr. Nice takes a look at his rise and fall in drug dealing, in which he is said to have never used violence, including his connections with the Mafia, IRA, MI6, and the CIA. It also stars Chloe Sevigny and David Thewlis.

Mr. Nice premieres at The Paramount Theater Sunday, March 14th at 6:30pm.

--Darcie Duttweiler
 
 
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There's so much casting news today that we had to bundle it all together in one tasty nugget.

Color this awkward: Justin Timberlake has just been cast in ex-girlfriend Cameron Diaz's film Bad Teacher as the object of her desire. Diaz plays the gold-digging 7th grade teacher who falls for the substitute teacher (Timberlake) who's dating her rival (Lucy Punch). Jason Segel, Molly Shannon and Modern Family's Eric Stonestreet are also starring.

On the heels of reports that Woody Allen has cast Owen Wilson in his untitled Parisian film is news the that Oscar winner Marion Coitllard is joining the film. No word on plot or characters.

Tim Burton is taking on Abraham Lincoln...as a vampire hunter. Seth Grahame-Smith's novel Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter will get a big screen adaptation produced by Burton. The novel was released yesterday. You may remember that Natalie Portman is set to portray Elizabeth Bennett in the film version of Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

James McAvoy is out and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in! McAvoy has dropped out of the untitled comedy based on the book I'm With Cancer. The film, which is being directed by Jonathan Levine, had already started shooting when McAvoy left the picture for undisclosed reasons. Gordon-Levitt has stepped up to the plate (meaning probably no Spider-Man for him, folks...) with a cast that includes Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston, and Philip Baker Hall.

Any of these casting scooplets whet your whistles, folks?

--Darcie Duttweiler