Austin Film Fest - Day One - Ernest (W.) Goes To Washington

Festivus

One of my favorite film events in the country, the Austin Film Festival, kicked things off with Oliver Stone's W. or what I call "Ernest Goes to Washington". Josh Brolin wasn't all that bad as the lame duck prez, even if the depiction was anything but flattering. But a meandering script and some poor portrayal decisions (Thandie Newton playing Condoleezza Wright as a cartoon character comes to mind) leads to another weak Stone film about an historical figure (Remember Alexander?).

Song Sung Blue

On the other hand, the real-life biography and documentary of Milwaukee's musical duo "Lightning and Thunder" in Song Sung Blue is as fascinating as it is tragic. Mike Sardina was already doing his Neil Diamond tribute show when he met singer Claire and the two of them fell in love and became a minor singing sensation. Covering more than 20 years, the film chronicles the couple's ups and downs in show business, from performing with Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam for 30,000 people to playing in an empty dinner theater. Director Greg Kohs gives a brutally honest look behind the scenes -- in their small home with their children, being booed off stage, hospital visits and funerals. A wonderful little film about reaching for dreams and falling to earth.

Max Payne

Years ago I had seen my son playing the video game this film is based on. And, paraphrasing the old adage that "the book was better", I believe the "fanboys" will feel the same way about the game. Mark Wahlberg plays the title character with plenty of disdainful arrogance and willful aggression. But without the direction of a Martin Scorsese (The Departed) the performance falls flat. Fortunately, the eye candy was impressive with the standard slo-mo effects being enhanced by macro close-ups of bullets and giving us other-worldly, fiery flying demons. Most of us non-gamers, however, can expect to be vilified for just not "getting it".