Movie Going


Last night, I was planning on attending the silent cinema screening of WITHNAIL & I with director Bruce Robinson. I don't know why it didn't occur to me before, but around 4pm I yesterday I thought to myself, "Maybe I should pre-order tickets." Bear in mind, this was on my calendar for over a week. Of course I go to the ticket site and learn it is sold out. I call the Silent Cinema. Sold out. No waiting list. Man, am I a retard.

In penance, I decide to try this supposedly awesome Lebanese spot on Westwood and rent the Criterion Collection DVD instead. (if I were a girl, I'd probably buy shoes). I figure Vidiots will have it. It was rented. Right now I'm just annoyed with myself. I have delicious Lebanese food waiting for me and no funny movie. I go to the Peter Sellers section and consider watching THE NAKED TRUTH. I wander over to the Hal Ashby section and consider BEING THERE. I also see COMING HOME and THE LAST DETAIL. In a ridiculous act of over-compensation, I decide I'm having a Hal Ashby week and rent all three. At the counter, it turns out they don't have BEING THERE in stock. Then I realize - WTF am I thinking - I don't have time to watch two movies in two days, let alone, three movies in three days.

I exit with THE LAST DETAIL and go home. It was still a nice night. Although renting a single DVD for one night at Vidiots costs $5. That's five Redboxes. Fortunately one LAST DETAIL is worth 5 Redbox DVDs.

And by the way, this is how I watch movies...I get in the mood for a good movie and I seek it out. I want to see WITHNAIL but can be satisfied with THE LAST DETAIL. I think others view movies the same way - or at least they should. The theater experience could work this way - but instead it caters to the quandrants. Generally, there are only one or two movies out at a time I could imagine spending my time and money on.