weekend event planner

Here are the top 8 things to do in Houston this weekend

Dive into The Watters this weekend at the Fall Concert.

Photo courtesy of The Watters

This weekend promises to be quite political. The third Democratic debate will be held on Thursday night at Texas Southern University. (There will also be a Trump campaign event five miles away.) There will be watch parties held at various spots, as well as a midnight rally with guests Julian Castro and Cory Booker.

For those tired of the elephant and donkey show, fear not (although, there actually is a Donkeeshow on Saturday). These diverse offerings vie for your weekend vote.

Thursday, September 12

Kevin Farley at The Secret Group
Kevin Farley followed in the footsteps of his big brother, the late, Saturday Night Live cast member Chris Farley, by studying at Chicago's Second City and even appearing in some of his brother's films. Over the years, he's done plenty of guest work in everything from Curb Your Enthusiasm to Drunk History to Hawaii Five-O. But the man has been also known to get a little bit nuts (just like his brother) while doing stand-up, which he'll be doing at The Secret Group this weekend. 8 pm.

Abundantly Queer! at Pearl Bar Houston
It appears that there has been a very interesting, possibly fabulous LGBTQ+ talent show going on right under our noses. This monthly queer showcase, hosted by synth-pop duo Space Kiddettes and "part-time rock star" Stoo, has performers and artists of all mediums hitting the stage and doing their thing. DJ HYPERFEMME, Hank Honey, and She Rex are scheduled to perform. The theme for this month's show is "Sleepover!," so wear your best jammies. Cocktails will be available, as well as vegan food from Sinfull Kitchen. 9 pm.

Friday, September 13

JLF Houston at Asia Society Texas Center
Last year was the first time the two-day, Jaipur Literature Festival came to Texas and with its success, they're doing it again this year. Attendees will have the opportunity to listen in on conversations about diverse topics like mystics and mythology, women’s issues and concerns, America’s medical industry, politics, and more. There will be a ton of internationally recognized authors, plus local favorites like Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, Lacy M. Johnson, Rekha Muddaraj, and Rich Levy. 10 am.

Fall Concert at Market Square Park
The Houston Downtown Management District will host this fun, down-home evening, where event-goers can enjoy lawn games and live music from regional musicians. Austin singer-songwriter Nakia, a fan favorite from NBC’s The Voice, will headline the show, performing with his band The Blues Grifters. Husband-and-wife duo The Watters will open with a set featuring their signature blend of Americana soul, backed by musicians from Texas groups Band of Heathens and Shinyribs. 7 pm.

Saturday, September 14

Donkeeshow Art Exhibit at The Union HTX
It's adorable that there is a mother-and-son team here in Houston making art and showing it off to people. What are their names, you ask? Why, it's Donkeeboy and Donkeemom. These two will be exhibiting a one-day immersive experience that displays their artwork at a Victorian bungalow in the heart of the Houston Arts District. This event celebrates the influences in the artists' creative world, giving a glimpse into their respective childhoods and the pop-culture icons deeply woven into the fabric of their work. 3-9 pm.

Margaret Smithers-Crump: Breaking Point Opening Reception at Rudolph Blume Art/ArtScan Gallery
With this exhibit, Houston-based Canadian artist Margaret Smithers-Crump investigates a holistic approach to the health of our planet and the human impact on the vulnerability and interconnectedness of diverse life forms and ecosystems. Smithers-Crump uses recycled plexiglas, paint, and found materials to create these artworks. Throughout the exhibition, the artworks display a tension between the freedom of natural processes and their subordination by physical or chemical means. This will run through Saturday, October 26. 6-8 pm.

Sunday, September 15

Mexican Independence Day at Picos
Mexican Independence Day is on Monday, a time to celebrate the "cry of independence" that started a revolt against the Spaniards. Picos will be celebrating this day early with a special feast. The restaurant will be throwing a Mariachi Brunch to kick off the holiday, so expect a banquet-style smörgåsbord consisting of omelette and waffle stations, strolling mariachi music, impressive paella displays, and the signature, holiday Chile de Nogada dish. 10:30 am to 3 pm.

Rear Window at Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra
Who doesn't like a good Alfred Hitchcock movie on a Sunday night? You can't go wrong with this voyeuristic 1954 classic, with Jimmy Stewart as a temporarily injured photographer (with a stylish Grace Kelly as his boo) who spends his days looking through binoculars and peeking in on his neighbors, until he begins to suspect one of them has committed a murder. Admission is free for members of Alamo's Victory program, but you can reserve your seat in advance with a $5 food and beverage voucher. 5:30 pm and 8:45 pm.

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Movie Review

Over-the-top acting and incoherent plot drag down Her Private Hell

Photo courtesy of Neon

Sophie Thatcher in Her Private Hell.

Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn is not someone who plays nice with the general film world. His 2011 film Drive introduced him to American audiences in a big way, but that pulsating thriller was followed up with artier films like Only God Forgives and The Neon Demon that eschewed coherent plots in favor of moody, atmospheric pieces.

Winding Refn, who hasn’t made a feature film in 10 years, has gone fully down the rabbit hole with Her Private Hell. Taking place in a liminal space that kind of resembles Earth but also feels like someone’s dreams/nightmares, the film focuses on Elle (Sophie Thatcher), an actor currently starring in a sci-fi film. Staying at a hotel with newcomer Hunter (Kristine Froseth), the two bond over their shared passion and the legend of Elle’s father, Johnny Thunders (Dougray Scott), who’s now married to Elle’s friend Dominique (Havana Rose Liu).

After spending a good amount of (mostly incomprehensible) time with that group, Refn introduces Private K (Charles Melton), who seems to be living in post-World War II Japan. He is looking for his daughter, who might have been taken by a mysterious figure known as “Leatherman,” and he will stop at nothing to find her, fighting whoever stands in his way.

It becomes clear almost right away that Winding Refn has no desire to engage in traditional storytelling in this film. The main characters wander through neon-drenched streets and buildings, which are often surrounded by a mist that is referred to on multiple occasions but never explained. Everyone speaks as if in a constant state of wonderment, and there are many moments where it’s unclear if events are actually happening, part of a movie-within-a-movie, or something else entirely.

Unlike his previous films, Winding Refn has taken the characters in this film completely out of the real world, with every scene taking place in a sparsely decorated room or street that is obviously a movie set. While there are moments where this decision really works, especially the striking first shot of a human-like figure mixed in with a cityscape and clouds, most of the time it only adds to the stilted nature of the film as a whole.

In fact, the entire movie has the feel of an avant-garde theater exercise. Every actor seems to be trying to outdo the others with awkward performances and out-sized reactions. Two very specific characters make appearances in both sides of the story for seemingly no reason other than to inject their weirdness into both spaces. The shocking violence that crops up on occasion would have more of an impact if it was related to anything intelligible.

Thatcher (Companion) and Liu (Tuner) are among the young stars who have had breakout moments in recent years, but neither of them is served well by this hot mess of a movie. They, along with Melton, still demonstrate the talent they possess, but the oddity of the film weighs them down. Scott makes an impression for all the wrong reasons, while Froseth is called upon to play a character who might as well not be there at all.

If there’s any kind of message that Winding Refn was trying to convey with Her Private Hell, it’s lost among the flashing lights, overload of pink, and jewel-like structures. Filmmakers who try to make art for art’s sake have a place in the world, but this film too often feels like people are making things up as they go, with no real goal in mind.

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Her Private Hell opens in theaters on July 24.

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