Spending time with Edgar Wright at the New Beverly

I've made no secret what my favorite movie theatre in Los Angeles is. It's the New Beverly. Repertory programming utilizing film prints in the format of double features for only $8. Let me say that again--double features on film for $8. In Los Angeles. How much do I love New Beverly? When SJ and I were on a whirlwind search for a new apartment, the main reason I wanted to live in the place we chose was because it was .4 miles from the New Beverly. How do I know it was .4 of a mile? I measured it in the car. Twice. I wasn't sure the math was correct on the first attempt, so, we repeated the route to make sure I was getting the accurate distance.

I've already seen some great things there, but starting on December 9th will be eight nights programmed by English director Edgar Wright. Dubbed "The Wright Stuff III", Wright [Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World] is choosing sixteen movies that he's never seen as the theme of this festival. Wright got suggestions from famous friends over what to show ranging from Quentin Tarantino [the New Beverly's landlord], Joe Dante, John Landis and even fellow Okie Bill Hader. Go here to read why he chose the scheduled films and who tipped him to watch them. All the movies will, of course, be film prints and Wright plus guests will appear each night to host the particular screening.

I'm going to seriously nerd out and go to see eight films over four nights. Actually, I might toss in a midnight movie in there too, but that's undecided. Plus, a film geek friend from Tulsa [David] will be visiting and we might go see something on one of the early nights [The Girl Can't Help It/Get Crazy?] Maybe!]. My double features: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg/Chungking Express, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance/Ride the High Country, To Be or Not to Be/The Bad News Bears, Hickey & Boggs/Cutter's Way. It's hard to choose which night I'm most excited about. At first glance, the pairing of John Ford and Sam Peckinpah westerns would clearly be the night I would have a quickening pulse for. But, for those of you who really know me see a beloved movie on that list that I can not miss: The Bad News Bears.

I had a real quandary on the night of December 15th. When I first saw the schedule, I was thinking of passing on The Bad News Bears, even though it is a favorite movie of all-time for me. I've wanted to see it in a theatre again since I saw it as a seven year old in Muskogee. Problem is, that same night is the third live script read at LACMA [The Princess Bride]. I've been writing about Jason Reitman's live read series on CineRobot and those posts have been generating a fair amount of traffic to the blog. Then the more I thought about how much I love The Bad News Bears and how I truly believe it is one of the greatest films ever made, I changed my mind and bought my ticket for that night too. I can not miss The Bad News Bears in that lively, festive atmosphere that will be in the New Beverly.

***Post-script: I did get tickets to see The Girl Can't Help It/Get Crazy with David. Midnight screenings look likely too.***