Richard Whittaker

Austin

Culture Editor at The Austin Chronicle

Award-winning journalist and reviewer. Rotten Tomatoes critic. Vice-president, Austin Film Critics Association. Yes, I married above me.

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Articles

Art, Eggs, Kink, and Sleaze in This Weekend’s Art Events

1 week ago | austinchronicle.com | James Scott |Katherine McNevins |Lina Fisher |Richard Whittaker

Recommended happenings for you calendar consideration "Peek A Boo" by Autumn Mae Through May 3, Bolm ArtsIndeed a reference to Aldous Huxley’s renowned 1931 dystopian novel, Bolm Arts’ latest multi-artist exhibit tackles the ever-evolving questions of naturalism, commercialism, and personal and national identity reflected in the contemporary fiber world.
Austin Filmmakers Head to Tribeca

1 week ago | austinchronicle.com | Richard Whittaker

Local films Leads and Man Finds Tape are NYC bound Justin Arnold in Leads. The Austin-made film, directed by Bryan Poyser and starring Heather Kafka, will be screening as part of the narrative feature competition at this year's Tribeca Festival New York's Tribeca Festival has just announced its 2025 lineup, and it's big news for the Austin film scene as two movies made in and around Austin by Austin filmmakers are heading to the Big Apple.
Warfare - Movie Review - The Austin Chronicle

1 week ago | austinchronicle.com | Richard Whittaker

When Stanley Kubrick released Full Metal Jacket, one of the most common criticisms was that it was so bifurcated that it felt like he’d glued two scripts together. The first half was a military training movie about how armies dehumanize recruits. The other was a gruelingly accurate depiction of a firefight, informed by the experiences of veterans.
Misericordia - Movie Review - The Austin Chronicle

1 week ago | austinchronicle.com | Richard Whittaker

If the movie version of small-town America can be a hotbed of repressed desire, one would expect such one-stoplight burgs to be buried by the sinister layers of carnal corruption in rural France. Or, at least in the fictional commune in Southern France concocted by Alain Guiraudie for Misericordia, a miniscule village that seems to have barely changed in centuries except for its slow decay back into the hillsides.
Weekday Events to Make It a Craft Night, Movie Night, Trivia Night, and More

2 weeks ago | austinchronicle.com | James Scott |Katherine McNevins |Richard Whittaker |Carys Anderson

There's also some events during the day Monday 14, We Luv VideoRevolutionary Girl Utena is the best anime of all time. I’ll accept arguments otherwise – you know my email – but I believe this story’s mix of surreal imagery, emotional catharsis, and girls with swords ascends beyond most other magical girl material due to how hard it freakin’ goes.
Squirrels, Girls, and Other Pearls in This Weekend’s Recommended Events

2 weeks ago | austinchronicle.com | James Scott |Katherine McNevins |Caroline Drew |Richard Whittaker

Acro-Cats, Earth Day, and all manner of arts and culture happenings Thursday 10 - Sunday 13, Indra’s AwarehouseWho said the circus is always looking at the past? Well, maybe that’s a little true with Ventanas, a new revival of contemporary circus troupe Cirque Vida’s show that first premiered in 2023. Think of it as an acrobatic twist on Only Murders in the Building, as the show looks through the window at the lives performed in a strange, beautiful, and familiar apartment block.
All Aboard Again for Interactive Play Overheard on a Train

2 weeks ago | austinchronicle.com | Richard Whittaker

Rebecca Maag's rolling stock theatre hops on Austin’s Red Line Rebecca Maag, your onboard host for interactive play Overheard on a Train, taking place on select Red Line trips through May 10. Ever been commuting and made up stories about your fellow travelers to break the boredom? That’s why Rebecca Maag created innovative interactive play Overheard on a Train. “It brings a brightness to something that can be quiet and isolating,” she says.
STAPLE! Comes Back Home to St. Ed’s

2 weeks ago | austinchronicle.com | Richard Whittaker

The revived indie media expo settles into its second year The 2025 Staplegator, the official mascot of STAPLE! The Independent Media Expo, as designed for this year's event by Kazu Kibuishi. There's a new 20-year-old sophomore at St. Edward's University, and its name is STAPLE! The Independent Media Expo. Yes, the big-name comic conventions come and go, but there are few media mainstays in Austin like STAPLE!, which came and went ... and then came back again.
Another Classic Summer of Films at the Paramount

2 weeks ago | austinchronicle.com | Richard Whittaker

Casablanca and Breathless open the season May 22 Opening night for this year's Paramount Summer Classic Film Series: a double bill of Casablanca and Breathless Rebels, oil tycoons, and great big sharks are all coming to the Paramount as the Grand Dame of Congress has announced the opening week of screenings for its annual Summer Classic Film Series.
CAMP Film Fest Brings Online to the IRL Theatre

2 weeks ago | austinchronicle.com | Richard Whittaker

New event designed to break down career divides comes to the Paramount Online content creation is filled with storytelling innovation, but there's no money in it. Hollywood has the money, but it's being stifled by IP mania. The new CAMP Film Fest, coming to Austin later this month, aims to bridge that divide.