sxsw 2012

Maron, Benson and Earwolf, oh my! SXSW Comedy announces this year’s live podcastline-up

SXSW Comedy has announced this year’s line-up of live podcast recordings, a series of eight tapings that feature some of the biggest names in digital broadcasting alongside top comics (and, of course, plenty of surprise celebrity guests).

As previously announced, WTF with Marc Maronwill tape an episode with guest Jeffrey Tambor (The Larry Sanders Show, Arrested Development), who will be presenting his wildly popular acting workshop at this year’s Interactive conference.

Here are the rest of the shows you’ll be able to catch:

Doug Loves Movies: Doug Benson (of Super High Me and The Benson Interruption) brings comics, actors, directors and writers together to talk about new releases and favorite films. Since it’s SXSW, expect at least a few cameos from the Film conference.

You Made It Weird: Hosted by Pete Holmes, YMIW is equal parts absurd and academic, with interviews that dive into all the, well, weirdest parts of performing comedy alongside discussions on process and practice.

The Smartest Man In The World: The title’s not just hyperbole; host Greg Proops (best known for his long-running stint on Whose Line, and his biting wit) delivers monologues that feel more like a fireside chat than a scripted bit. You never know what’ll come up on his “Proopcast.”

Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show: Yes, that Kevin Pollak (The Usual Suspects, Casino, A Few Good Men). The actor-slash-comic is also a prolific talk show host; every week, fans tune in online for this live interactive webcast.

Plus, SXSW is teaming up with podcasting powerhouseEarwolf to will host several live recordings:

Comedy Bang! Bang!: CBB is to many comedy fans what Jay-Z is to hip hop enthusiasts (or Oprah to moms, or Vonnegut to lit snobs — y’know, the best). It seems IFC agrees, because the network is turning the popular podcast into a TV talk show this fall. Hosted by Scott Aukerman (Mr. Show, Between Two Ferns), CBB always features fun guests, many of whom happen to be mind-blowingly brilliant improvised characters (from comics like James Adomian, Paul F. Tompkins and Eddie Pepitone, among others).

Sklarbro Country: If you haven’t seen Jason and Randy Sklar perform stand up, take a second and check out their act (go ahead, we’ll wait). This show’s a little different: Each week, the brothers welcome guests for sports talk that’ll appeal to casual fans and die-hards alike.

Who Charted?: Recently expanded to two weekly broadcasts, Who Charted? is hosted by Howard Kremer (stand-up and former star of Austin Stories) and Kulap Vilaysack, who count down and comment on new music and film releases.

It’s a big year for SXSW Comedy, which will run eight full days this year, from March 10 to 17. They’re also expanding to include more venues; while last year’s shows took place exclusively at Esther’s Follies, this year you’ll be able to catch comedy at The Velveeta Room as well as on the Next Stage at the SXSW Trade Show (from March 12 to 15). Plus, SXSW Comedy is teaming up to present showcases with partners like the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, Funny or Die and Gotham Comedy Club.

There are also five comedy-focused panels debuting as part of the SXSW Interactive Festival, which will host podcasters, writers and performers in conversation about everything from breaking into the business to leveraging new media.

This announcement comes just as The New York Times takes a close look at comedy podcasts, exploring the recent trend towards topics that are more heartbreaking than humorous. Judging by past years, we know to expect a raucous good time at this year’s live tapings, but we also can’t wait to hear the incredibly revealing conversations that always result when hosts like Maron, Aukerman and Holmes are in charge. (Last year’s live Comedy Bang! Bang!, featuring Paul Ruebens, Dave Foley and ~~Thomas Lennon~~ Lil Gary, stands out as an example.)

SXSW Comedy doesn’t have its own dedicated badge or wristband, but if you’re interested in attending, good news: Comedy events are open, at no additional cost, to all SXSW attendees. Shows taking place during the Film and Interactive conferences (March 10 to 13) will be open to those with Platinum, Gold and Film badges. Shows during the Music festival (March 13 to 17) will be open to those with Platinum and Music badges and Music wristbands.

The full SXSW Comedy line-up will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Movie Review

Daniel Craig shines in Queer, an unapologetic tale of love and loss

Photo courtesy of A24

Drew Starkey and Daniel Craig in Queer.

As recently as the late 2010s, if a movie was made about an LGBTQ+ character, it was more than likely about their coming out experience. Romance, if it existed, was typically chaste, and actual sex was almost completely out of the question. Things have changed dramatically in the 2020s, to the point that a major movie star has no issue starring in a film called Queer.

Based on the 1985 novella by William S. Burroughs, the film features William Lee (Daniel Craig), whom everyone calls just Lee, a writer living in 1950s-era Mexico City who spends most of his time haunting local bars with friends like fellow writer Joe Guidry (Jason Schwartzman) and hitting on younger men. His early interactions in the film seem to indicate that Lee has a bad reputation within the local gay community, as multiple people avoid him or give him odd looks.

Lee senses an opportunity when he encounters a newcomer, Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey). Despite some awkward interactions, the two of them start spending time together, although Lee has much more invested in the relationship than Eugene does. Their hit-and-miss bond continues until Lee, who’s starting to get into drugs in addition to the booze, convinces Eugene to accompany him on a trip to South America.

Directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Justin Kuritzkes (making their second straight film together after Challengers), early on the film seems to be mostly about the divide between an older person who’s grown comfortable in his ways and a younger person who’s living a relatively carefree life. The introduction of drugs into the plot changes things, though, with Lee searching out more ways to open his eyes to what the world has to offer.

Guadagnino and his team use some interesting visual storytelling techniques to introduce ideas that may not be present in the actual script. The most successful, demonstrated in multiple scenes, is the superimposition of movements by Lee over what’s actually taking place in the scene. The subtle overlay gives the audience insight into Lee’s true feelings, showing what he can’t or won’t say out loud.

Music also plays a big part in how the plot is perceived, with the use of anachronistic songs from Nirvana and Prince serving to heighten certain moments. The score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is not as in-your-face as the one they did for Challengers, but it complements the film well, especially when the plot starts to get trippy in its final half hour.

Craig, who appears sweaty and disheveled for much of the film, is about as far from the suaveness of James Bond as you can get in this role. He takes multiple risks with his performance and almost all of them pay off. Starkey’s character is subdued by comparison, but still comes off well. Schwartzman and Lesley Manville are given showy roles, with both using altered appearances that make them nearly unrecognizable to deliver memorable performances.

Queer is not as accessible as Challengers was storytelling-wise, but the fact that it tells a story about gay men living their lives as they see fit with no interference or questions shows how far the film world has come in a short period of time. It also continues Guadagnino’s streak of making audacious films in a way that few other filmmakers are willing or able to approach.

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Queer is now playing in theaters.

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Movie Review

Daniel Craig shines in Queer, an unapologetic tale of love and loss