FILM Awhile back, attorney/film producer Mark Mueller (www.voodoocowboy.com) invited me to see a rough cut of his new movie, The 2 Bobs, directed by Tim McCanlies. Honestly, it wasn’t my kind of movie. I’m a good 30 years older than the target audience for this sort of Bill & Ted meets Revenge of the Nerds meets Porky’s meets Weird Science, and I had grave doubts about whether this movie would even float. So a few days ago, Mueller tells me he has something he wants me to see, and I went to another screening of The 2 Bobs – not at all the same movie I’d seen previously. Though it had the same characters and plot, some mysterious process had occurred, and suddenly The 2 Bobs had become a piece of pure movie magic. PJ Raval‘s cinematography is conceptually riveting, the lighting design is colorfully compelling, the script is tight and funny, and the five main characters (who are all shacked up at Mueller’s for the South by Southwest premiere) are engaging and winsome, all with strong potential. The Frost Tower setting and cameos by Turk Pipkin (as a mustachioed transsexual) and Harry Knowles make this a very Austin movie with universal themes and appeal. I think I smell a hit, but you can decide for yourselves by seeing it Friday, March 13, 6:45pm at the Convention Center or Monday, March 16, 6:30pm at the Paramount. Another Austin film, this one produced by Werner Campbell and directed by Bob Ray (debuted at SXSW 07), Hell on Wheels (www.hellonwheelsthemovie.com) is a searing documentary on the brief return of Roller Derby queens that quickly became a cult favorite. It returns for a rare screening Sunday, March 15, 6pm at the Scoot Inn. The producer and director along with some of the Rollergirls will be in attendance.
SCANDAL Did I really hear the rumor that one local fashion “authority” proclaimed that it was cool to have one signature outfit that you wore to everything? Mother of God, someone needs to send this ravin’ maven back to the kindergarten of fashion pronto!
ANNOUNCEMENT I can’t even begin to extol the virtues of my friends Jack and Carla McDonald, except to say that I count them among my nearest and dearest. Nor can I even begin to tell you why I think Jack McDonald would make a great congressman, except to say that he is the embodiment of the American dream (www.jackforcongress.com). All I know is that even in his private life, he is a shrewd, caring, and compassionate leader. But I also know that having been raised in a family of seven in a 750-square-foot home, this guy is one of us. I urge you to read about him and decide for yourself. Smart, savvy, and with charisma to burn, Jack has a dazzling future in politics.
STYLE I’ve been reading the blog of Neiman Marcus Fashion Director Ken Downing, whom I knew in my fashion school days in Seattle (insite.neimanmarcus.com/nminsite). Funny, clever, and off-the-cuff, Downing’s remarks inform the future of fashion, and you get to read it as it happens. A recent spring preview at NM stressed the fashion importance of pink (in shades from pearl to coral), one-shoulder dressing (you saw it all over the Oscars), snakeskin (reptiles rule handbags and shoes), statement shoes (sky-high heels with just a touch of aggression), ruffles (big or small, they can be used everywhere), carryalls (big unstructured bags that double as storage units), colorful cardigans (a new importance for an old classic), graphics (vivid, brilliant, and optic prints are the most important), and bold jewelry (well, you know how I feel about bold jewelry already).
TELEVISION The phoenixlike return of Michelle Valles has given new life to KEYE‘s morning show. Valles has proven that we like her (multiple “Best of Austin” awards) … we really like her… Weatherman Jim Spencer, Michelle’s former colleague at KXAN (and another “Best of Austin” winner) continues his empire-building by partnering with Edward Flores in Mud Puppies, a doggie wash, grooming, and play-care center (www.mud-puppies.com) out on 620. Not only does Spencer have Austin citizens at his beck and call; now he has the animals, too.
FASHION Cream Vintage hosts the Crème de la Cream fashion show, Thursday, March 12, 7-10pm (2210 S. First). The clothes from the new Whipped Cream collection are made by Cream’s in-store seamstresses. You get to choose a winner and slug down cocktails while listening to the music of DJ French Roast.
Write to our Style Avatar with your related events, news, and hautey bits: style@austinchronicle.com or PO Box 49066, Austin, 78765 or 458-6910 (fax).
This article appears in March 13 • 2009.