August 23, 2007

Living Room Theaters (341 SW Tenth Ave.)

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I took a little nap when I got home from work and woke up just at 6:30. I checked my face for mascara smears and pillow marks, brushed my teeth and then headed out the door for dinner and a movie. In one place. By myself.


I got to the Living Room Theaters around 6:40, ten minutes before my movie (Broken English) was to start. Drats. The sign on the ticket window said: "To enjoy in theater service, please place your order 30 minutes prior to the start of the movie." I was hungry hungry. Not popcorn-and-a-soda-and-I'll-get-something-substantial-later-hungry. This simply would not do.

I hesitantly asked the server if it was possible to order some food before the movie started. I told her that I wanted the ham and cheese sandwich ("gourmet ham and gruyere cheese with red lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, sprouts and a Dijon aioli wrapped in our own bread"). She said that it could probably be done pretty quickly and to go ahead and go in the theater and she would bring it to me before the movie started. I also ordered a specialty drink called the Charlie Chaplin. Cranberry juice with something sparkling and sweet. Mmmmm.

I walked into the small theater, Charlie Chaplin in one hand, purse swaying in my other hand and I felt like I was at a cocktail hour. "Welcome to our living room!" The older gentleman in the theater said loudly as he and his wife laughed and motioned for me to sit down. No one else was in the theater. Thick, comfortable seats, some with tables in front of them and even a footstool or two. If this was going to be a boring movie, I was going to fall asleep, quite comfortably and the $9 entry price would be worth it.

Just as the first preview started to flicker on the screen, the waitress found me and brought me an artistically presented gourmet sandwich. The sandwich was divine - savory, melty, sprouty (in a good way) and crunchy. I haven't even experienced the digital technology the theater is known for and I already want to come back. Just for the seats and the food.

The movie was good, until the end, when they liberally and quite without apology ripped off the ending of one of my favorite movies, Before Sunset. I can't believe that Parker Posey and Zoe Cassavetes didn't know it was a rip off. And that is unforgiveable. Write your own ending. Geesh. Don't pollute the same words with your own cheap-independent-film version. Because in the end, you won't stack up to it. No way. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy will always win.

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