The Texas Film Hall of Fame ceremony, the unofficial kickoff to South by Southwest, might be the best of Austin’s many awards shows.
At least it was this year. Staged in a labyrinth of buildings and tents at Austin Studios, the party attracted its share of celebrities and nightlifers.
No Ann Richards — always a highlight when she was with us — and no superstars.
Yet the gathering felt “present,” at turns serious and lighthearted. And the program proved short and entertaining. The live auction — clustered around a few vacation and event packages — was blessedly short and sweet. It also raised many tens of thousands of dollars.
(Also see my tablemate Kathy Blackwell’s recap of the night at the Austin Movie Blog.)
Meredith Pardue and Stefania Bellini
We endured no long, self-indulgent speeches this year. No slurred jibes at elected officials.
Truth be told, nobody would order that dry breaded chicken again, but the drinks flowed freely and the service remained alert to the end.
Dana Wheeler-Nicholson made a glamorous and tuneful master of ceremonies for Texas Film Hall of Fame.
Austin Film Society’s Rebecca Campbell looked and sounded GREAT! Not many executive directors pass for movie stars.
Lilting Julie Hagarty appeared stately as she introduced multifaceted actor Stephen Tobolowsky.
Big-time director Rob Reiner cheered actress Robin Wright — “the most beautiful girl in all the land” — a la “Princess Bride.” Gotta pay more attention to her career, especially “House of Cards.”
Sissy Spacek recalled the open call that made Henry Thomas a movie actor in “Raggedy Man” before his move over to “E.T.”
He accepted with undue modesty. Stop it, Henry Thomas! You belong up there accepting a Texas Film Hall of Fame Award. And you still look good.
I love actor Annette O’Toole, introduced by husband Michael McKean. Just never learned her name. Until now. She’s aging into a Meryl Streep look-alike.
In the evening’s critical masterstroke, Quentin Tarantino deemed “Dazed amd Confused” the best film of the ’90s. He told how Richard Linklater’s Austin-shot honoree turned its cast into his imaginary ’70s friends.
Linklater, of course, accepted the honor with the warmth and generosity that make him the avuncular oracle of the Austin film community.