I hadn't been to Cinespia for a movie in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery all summer. This was primarily due to scheduling conflicts and sometimes due to the movie that was being shone when I was available. I've heard all summer that the Cinespia screenings have been packed, and I tend to have a sense for what films are really going to bring out the crowds. MBF's never been, and I really didn't want to go and have it be a nightmare.
Last night "Paper Moon" fell on an available Saturday, and I knew I had a winner. I was thinking that it's August, so many Cinespia fans have probably been more than once by now, so there's some fatigue setting in. More importantly, it's not a horror film or a cult classic. No, it's a solid American classic, one I hadn't seen, and a film with a kid in it. I guessed that the crowd would be slightly less crazy, and MBF and I made plans to go.
Total success. I have a drive-on system that I executed near perfectly. As expected, sitting in the car while people walk by and by drove MBF and I both a little crazy. (Particularly when the car in front of you lets two cars in who are illegally trying to merge in from the left lane while holding up traffic that's simply trying to get down Santa Monica Blvd.) But once you're sailing by the walkers, parking, and getting a good space on the lawn, it's all good. I never get super close, which I imagine takes a walk-on plan that begins long before I even leave my house), but I'm rarely on the far sides either (see pic above).
We had a nice little picnic. I brought cheese and crackers and cookies; MBF brought strawberries, sweet biscuits, and a great wine. And we enjoyed the film thoroughly. The crowd *was* slightly less than I've seen in the past, and I'd also say ran slightly older than other times I've been.
I should also mention that youngest-ever Oscar winner Tatum O'Neal came out to say hi to the crowd and watched the film with us. First class. All the performances are so great in "Paper Moon," but I have to say that I *loved* P.J. Johnson as Imogene. Hysterical! It's also kind of mind-bendy that Ryan O'Neal is Max Keenan on Bones. Love him!
I suspect we won't get back to Cinespia this summer, but I am *so* thankful we made it this once.
"Paper Moon is one of my favorite movies of all time. I put it up there with Tender Mercies. I like them both for the same reason. I could not say what that reason is, but there is something about both of them in their quietness that really catches at my heart.
Posted by: ~M~ | August 16, 2009 at 05:14 PM
Paper Moon definitely had a beautiful tone and pacing. Great film!
Posted by: lizriz | August 18, 2009 at 11:29 PM