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While it's really nothing new, Gothamist welcomed Jesse McKinley's examination of the many shortcomings of the Angelika Film Center. Not only does the article outline the issues with the Angelika, it's also like a State-of-Arthouse-Cinemas-in-New-York. The Angelika was able to make its name 14 years ago as the leader in cutting-edge film programming, but in recent days, it seems so unbearable are the many other options to see niche films: The Sunshine, BAM, even the huge multiplexes on 42nd Street with so many screens they can kick one over to independent comers.
Peter Biskind, author of a new upcoming book about independent cinema as well as Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, says, "Independent film audiences are graying, and the older they get the fussier they get, both in terms of the films they like and the theaters they like to see them in. The days when they would sit on the sticky floors and tune out the rumble of subways and the static from the screen on the other side of the paper-thin wall are long gone." No kidding. It's a long way from when Gothamist first read about the Angelika (in fact, psychos that we are, we saved it - August 9, 1991), when the Times wrote an article about best movie houses to take a date and the Angelika was tops for its programming and cafe of high-end treats; Ron Alexander then called it "a smashing place" with "some of the best-looking filmgoers in town," plus "very clean" restrooms and "comfortable" theaters. Twelve years of coasting on its coattails (renovations be damned) will make anyone look tired and like yesterday's news, we suppose.
Still, one movie executive says, "I think that despite the funky smells, and small screens, and crowded lobbies, it's still centrally located and they still play great films." Yes, people will come for great films, but with independent film companies being acquired or developed by movie studios, there will be savvier distribution strategies. Time will tell if Angelika needs to find some engineer to figure out the best way to soundproof the theaters from the subways. (Hint: Get on it.)
While Gothamist's favorite movie theater is an empty (or near empty) one, so you'll often catch us at the first Saturday or Sunday morning showing to avoid crowds for that "Exclusively playing" film. But there are times when moviegoing turns social and we need to reevaluate the options. All these theaters provide great film programming, so here are some other thoughts about theaters we know:
BAM - Brooklyn hipsters and real cinephiles coming out in full force. The Times looks at its Brooklyn problem, but it's not a problem as far as Gothamist is concerned: The many new restaurants opening in Fort Greene provide for a nice pre- or post-movie meal.
Lincoln Plaza - Underground and very civilized - until you get into the theater, where you will be fighting with Upper West Side stock characters (braying couples, mean old people) for seats. Still, there is still a serene calm and intimacy to the theater and there was a point when the ticket takers knew Gothamist by name.
Sunshine Cinemas - The new downtown darling is the new Angelika; the crowds make it more difficult to get a seat on a Friday or Saturday night, and filmgoers it attracts run the gamut from downtown babes to serious film lovers from Westchester. On a recent trip, the film for Camp broke; management said, "You can see The Swimming Pool," which gives them a B for effort but C for programming alternatives. (Just because Francois Ozon is gay does not make The Swimming Pool the natural Plan B for Camp-goers.)
Cinema Village - Quintessential art house with its tiny theaters, tiny screens, uneven heating/cooling. Conveniently located.
Quad Cinema - Shows more "gay" cinema that most other art house theaters; theaters are small and old but perfectly serviceable.
Pioneer Theater - Edgier programming, but not as consistently "must see." When you do go, you're likely to be the only one there and the fact that Donnie Darko has become the midnight movie only means good things.
Village East - Not strictly arthouse, as we just saw Freaky Friday there, but Capturing the Friedmans was also playing...more manageable than Angelika but also prone to smelliness and rats. Pros: Iso and Bar Veloce yards away.
Film Forum - Crowded, lines, seats hurt your butt, no legroom, but awesome revivals. And of course 'ino a block away.
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I don't know - the Angelika is great for texture. And while I suppose too much texture could add friction to the movie-going experience, the subway rumbling past makes me smile. It reminds me where I am, and it's a more honest template for a low-budget indie film.
Sentimentalist! The nadir of my moviegoing experience was the pukey smell of the theater during Billy Elliot; being too stubborn to move (and really wanting to see Billy Elliot), we sat in the theater with our sweaters over noses and breathed through our mouths.
The Angelika during a lazy afternoon without crowds is fine. Opening weekend Angelika is wrist-slitting time.
Hey Jen, isn't breathing through your mouth when a foul order is around worse than breathing in with your nose? I mean, you would almost taste the puke rather than just smell it.
I hate the Angelika. You pay through the nose for independent films that can be seen elsewhere (and often more cheaply)...without the snotty staff screaming at you and herding you into lines. Come to think of it, it's like Fairway for filmgoers. Or maybe Harry's Shoes for filmgoers.
The Angelika's a horrible, horrible theater. If there were no alternatives (see above) it'd be worth it, but these days almost every movie can be seen at a better theater, so why suffer?
If you think patronizing the place is a bad experience, try working there. I worked there for a month last year when I first moved to NY and I can easily say it was one of the worst jobs I ever had. From the 6.50 an hour to the less than fun to be around co-workers it was hellish.
DodgeThis - it was very cold when we saw it, so the foul order did not permeate as it might in the current kind of humid weather. And we breathed through our sweaters as well.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the impact of DVD's on all this. Independent cinema is such a crapshoot anywho, and once you get past seeing shit for cred and I-saw-a-preview-screening-like-3-months-before-it-actually-came-out-so-trust-me-you've-got-to-see-it, I'd rather put it on the Netflix queue and have the option of stopping it after 38 cringe-inducing minutes (yes, I'm talking about you Frida) than sit next to that stinky Italian NYU grad student who always brings FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES TO THE ANGELIKA and CRUNCHES and SLURPS on them throughout the show. Of course, said fresh fruit and veggies are always in the bottom of a giant plastic bag (rattle rattle, search search, rattle rattle, got a plumb! oh but I wanted a mango! in again!).
There are a select few that demand big-screen-screening, and for that, weekdays before 6 pm only. But I feel much more comfortable popping in the audience award winner from Sundance when sitting there on back up is some Billy Wilder, or even Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (BFF SJP!)
I just can't get over the idea that anyone was ever excited about seeing a crap movie like Billy Elliot. Whud up wid dat?
I tend to get excited over most movies, period, even the crappy ones. I mean, I saw American Wedding at 11:15AM yesterday.
Jen, that's my favorite movie too!
When they got to the part where the pubic hair blows onto the cake, I practically unloaded a round onto the screen.
The pubic hair was terrible. Stifler, though, is truly a genius creation. He makes the movie. That character is total id which makes it enjoyable. You love to hate him.
Angelika NYC I actively avoided when ANY other option was available. However, Angelika Houston is unbelieveable (as is Angelika Dallas). HUGE screens, REAL stadium seating (stepped, not the 'gentle slope' crap of Sunshine), almost NEVER crowded ... you get the idea. Plus, tickets are only $6.00.
for sentimental favorite, I have to go with Lincoln Center (or Plaza, or whatever the one on the east side of Broadway also underground is). Probably because that is where I saw "Henry Fool" -- one of my all-time favorite movies.
Yay, the mention of a good movie on Gothamist! Thanks Mace, I enjoyed Henry Fool, too.
And OK Jen, excitement over any movie coming out, that's a good excuse-- kind of. I'm just saying, don't you get bored when you know exactly where the story is going and exactly which heartstrings it's going to pull to get there?
X.O. - I understand your arguments, but I happen to enjoy all sorts of films and I think that formulaic films made with style have their place, as well as ones that sucker punch you. I just wrote about Charlotte Sometimes which does not end in a conventional Hollywood manner. Additionally, just because a movie is indie doesn't mean its automatically good.
For Hal Hartley, I think his short film that aired on PBS in, 1992 or 1993, Surviving Desire, is absolutely lovely.
C'mon, just because I think Henry Fool is great doesn't mean I think all indie movies are genius. No one even knows what indie means anymore with formulaic things like "bend it like beckham' raking in the bucks. But whatev, this post is tired.
until new yorkers give up paying $10 for a two gulp martini, $22.50 for a 1/2 lb of brunch food and $2350 for a one bedroom or $280,000 for a studio -- the powers of manhattan are going to continue to put it to us financially in ways we cannot imagine.
as a resident of ny since 1988, i have seen some pretty gross things happen here. the east village used to be cool, and now it is an upscale $10 two-gulp martini eurotrash wonderland where the rents only go one way - UP UP UP - and it is happening to every single corner of the 5 boroughs. it happened to wburg, it is going to happen to red hook very shortly, it is happening to fort greene, park slope, boerum hill, bklyn heights, and smith street - oh my god - the attitude, the freaking eurotrash "i'm totally bored so give me your order please, so i can get back to reading my arthouse book" of smith street waitstaff.
what in the hell is happening to nyc?? it used to be cool, now it is just an investor's wonderland. that is ALL it is. a high financie investor's WONDERLAND, not the center of art and theatre, just a INVESTOR's wonderland. every single day, a meeting occurs in every single country on the planet, where $$ bigshits want their hand in the pot of $$ to be made by overdeveloping the happening cities all over the planet.
so it is dublin, paris, toyko, new york, mexico city, etc etc etc etc etc -- it will get so overcrowded and expensive here that only the mbas of ivy league, nooveaux riche eurotrash models, and inheritants will be able to afford to live here. the new york of the 50s - 90s is SO LIKE OVER.