theater experiences

Every once in a great while I have a perfect theatergoing experience. This means the film is epic, the setting is epic; basically the film was made for the big screen. A few that have reached this bar are "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Taxi Driver," "There Will Be Blood," "The Departed," but there are few others. Most of these had the advantage of being screened in the historic Castro Theatre in San Francisco. They just don't make them like they used to. This theatre is all class and old-fashioned glamour. This evening I once again experienced a worthy theater going experience. "Manhattan" was screened in all its black and white glory. Now, I'm a bit biased as Woody Allen is my favorite of all favorites, but even still, of all his films this one screamed "Big!" more than any other. This is Mr. Allen's love letter to his beloved city. Gordon Willis, the Director of Photography, captured this love in every frame. It's anamorphic, giving it an even more panoramic feel. The print was actually quite good; very few scratches. But, oh the shivers! The opening sequence, with Mr. Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" pulsating the very innards of the theater, brought celluloid tears to my eyes. This is why films are made! This is why we can never rid ourselves of the theater; a group of people experiencing the exact same thing with complete individuality; nothing can replace that. And when a film as brilliant as this flickers across a stretched-white screen we remember the power of the movies.