Today, WLBOTT’s esteemed film critic, Clementine DuCinema, is looking into her favorite movies filmed in and round Austin, Texas.
Blood Simple
Blood Simple is a 1984 American independent neo-noir crime film written, edited, produced and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, and starring John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya and M. Emmet Walsh. Its plot follows a Texas bartender who is having an affair with his boss’s wife. When his boss discovers the affair, he hires a private investigator to kill the couple. It was the directorial debut of the Coens and the first major film of cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld, who later became a director, as well as the feature-film debut of McDormand.
Wikipedia
Reasons to Watch
- One word description: Hitchcockian
- You get to see a Volkswagen Beetle on top of Mount Bonnell
- Loren Visser’s (played by M. Emmet Walsh) Yellow Leisure Suit
Madam DuCinema’s Rating: 3.84 / 4.00
Elder G: Blood Simple is such a moody, iconic debut for the Coen brothers. That Mount Bonnell view really sets the tone—beautiful, eerie, and just a little ominous.
WLBOTT Ministry of Virtue and Vice: Not for the children.
Mr. Roosevelt
Mr. Roosevelt is an American comedy film written, directed by, and starring Noël Wells. The film marks her directorial debut….
The plot follows Emily Martin (Noël Wells) as she returns to her hometown to say goodbye to her cat, and attempts to come to terms with her past while staying with her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend.
Mr. Roosevelt premiered at South by Southwest on March 12, 2017 and was released by Paladin on November 22, 2017. The film received positive reviews from critics.
Reception
Wikipedia
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 100% Tomatometer rating based on 34 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The critical consensus states: “Mr. Roosevelt offers an existential exploration of an entire generation through the microcosm of one woman’s relationship with her cat.”
Noël Wells is a University of Texas at Austin alum, and she returned to the city to shoot the film. Her love for Austin’s weirdness and authenticity is woven throughout the movie.
Roosevelt is… a cat.
Yes, Mr. Roosevelt is the name of the protagonist’s dearly departed cat. The story kicks off with the lead character, Emily, returning to Austin for his funeral. It’s bittersweet and a little absurd—just like Austin.
Elder G’s One Word Review: Tenderpunk.
(A mash-up of “tender” and “punk”—because it’s emotionally raw, indie-spirited, quietly rebellious, and undeniably Austin.)
Madam DuCinema’s Rating:
3.67 / 4.00
The movie offers one of my favorite on-screen quotes. You’ll know it when you hear it….”It’s just….”
WLBOTT Ministry of Virtue and Vice: Not for the children.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?
Actually filmed in about 25 miles outside of Austin, this bittersweet movie brings together a group of everyday people with extremely stressful family dynamics.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is a 1993 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Lasse Hallström, and starring Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, Leonardo DiCaprio, John C. Reilly and Darlene Cates. It follows a grocery store clerk, living with his dysfunctional family including his morbidly obese mother, his mentally disabled younger brother and two sisters, in the fictional rural town of Endora, Iowa.
Peter Hedges wrote the screenplay, based on his 1991 novel of the same name. Filming took place from November 1992 to January 1993 in various parts of Texas.
The film was well received, with Depp and DiCaprio’s performances garnering critical acclaim. At age 19, DiCaprio received his first nominations for the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Wikipedia
Elder G: A timeless melancholy:
The dusty, sun-bleached palette of the film blends beautifully with the Texas landscape. If Mr. Roosevelt is tenderpunk, then Gilbert Grape is melancho-realist—a quiet meditation on family, loss, and staying put.
The Water Tower:
The iconic water tower Arnie climbs wasn’t just a plot point—it was a real (and climbable!) structure in Manor. Local residents were warned in advance about Leonardo DiCaprio scaling it over and over again.
Madam DuCinema’s Rating:
3.72 / 4.00
WLBOTT Ministry of Virtue and Vice: Not for the children.
Whip-It
Bliss Cavendar is a teenager in the small town of Bodeen, Texas. She has lost interest in the beauty pageants her mother, former beauty queen Brooke, pressures her to win.
While shopping in Austin with her mother, Bliss is intrigued by three roller derby team members she encounters. She and her friend Pash attend a roller derby bout where they see the “Holy Rollers” defeat the “Hurl Scouts”. Bliss lies about her age and tries out for the Hurl Scouts, who give her the derby name “Babe Ruthless”, and she becomes friendly with teammates “Maggie Mayhem”, “Bloody Holly” and “Smashley Simpson”. The Hurl Scouts, while enthusiastic and close knit, rarely win, but chant, “We’re number two!” after losing a match, to the frustration of their coach, Razor.
Wikipedia
Madam DuCinema’s Rating:
3.49 / 4.00
Whip It is a fierce, funny coming-of-age roller derby riot that laces up Austin’s indie soul with eyeliner, elbow pads, and just the right amount of teenage rebellion.
WLBOTT Ministry of Virtue and Vice: Not for the children.
Whip It should not be confused with the 1928 film The Whip.
Directed by: Charles Brabin
Release date: September 16, 1928
Running time: 70 minutes
Plot: Probably involves horses
A Word from the WLBOTT Ministry of Virtue and Vice
The Academy Award nominated move “Teenage Catgirls in Heat” was also filmed in Austin. Unfortunately, the WLBOTT Ministry of Virtue and Vice won’t allow Madam DuCinema to review this film.
However, Elder G reached a compromise with MVV.
Ah yes, Teenage Catgirls in Heat (1993)—the feline fever dream of low-budget cinema. But of course, with the WLBOTT Ministry of Virtue and Vice monitoring all morally ambiguous tail-swishing, we must tread with… paws for reflection.
Let’s try this approach:
Film Title: Teenage Catgirls in Heat
Approved Summary (Ministry Redacted Version):
An avant-garde examination of cross-species diplomacy, suburban anxiety, and independent retail economics—featuring strong opinions about collars and curious transformations, all set against the charming urban decay of early ’90s Austin.One-Word (Sanitized) Review: Purrposterous.
WLBOTT Rating:
Conditionally Approved for Study in the Department of Feline Affairs, with strict supervision and a signed waiver.
