Sadly, I won’t be attending this year’s AFI Fest (October 30th-November 7th, 2009), for the lineup is jam-packed with some of the year’s most exciting new work. However, what makes the situation even more enticing this year is that the festival is providing free tickets for audiences (no, that’s not a misprint—details can be found here). Not that you didn’t have any excuses before, but with that glorious news, now you definitely don’t have a choice but buckle up and watch as many movies as you can muster. I’m going to keep things simple and point out those films that I’ve already seen and very much recommend—click on the film title, when applicable, to read a fuller HTN take on it—but before that, let’s start with another mini-list.
FILMS I HAVE NOT YET SEEN BUT WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO
The Fantastic Mr. Fox (10/30, 7pm)
Guy and Madeline On A Park Bench (10/31, 2pm)
The White Ribbon (11/1, 7pm)
I Killed My Mother (11/3, 7pm)
The Road (11/4, 7pm)
Neil Young Trunk Show (11/4, 10:30pm)
Looking For Eric (11/5, 7pm)
PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Friday 10/30:
A Room and A Half (6:30pm)
Everyone Else (9:30pm)
Saturday 10/31:
Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo (10am)
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet (10am)
Red Riding Trilogy (4:30pm, 6:30pm, 8:15pm)
Mother (7pm)
Best Worst Movie (9:30pm)
Sunday 11/1:
City of Life and Death (1pm)
Police, Adjective (4:15pm)
Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” By Sapphire (7pm)
Monday 11/2:
Shorts Program (4pm)
Fish Tank (7pm) [A Conversation With Andrea Arnold]
Tuesday 11/3:
Sita Sings the Blues (10am)
The Messenger (10pm)
Trash Humpers (10pm) [A Conversation With Harmony Korine]
Wednesday 11/4:
The Art of the Steal (7pm)
Easier With Practice (10pm)
— Michael Tully
