Big screen, restored movie palace, great programming
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
The Coolidge is unique. It truly is a community movie theater; it's programming ranges from films for parents with tiny children (noise permitted) to special member events like a Jaws Labor Day cookout and speech by a shark expert.
The Coolidge is also a city and regional treasure and force. The Coolidge Award is now two years old and has been bestowed on two important film makers - Chinese director Yang Zhimou and the great Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storari. The events surrounding the Award included panels and special screenings.
The Coolidge shows a mix of indie and foreign films with the odd mainstream movie thrown in. They have three theatres. The main one is huge. The old balcony has been converted into a decent sized second theatre. The third is called the Screening Room and shows video and other specialized programs.
It's impossible to describe the variety of the Coolidge's movie program. For example, this summer they had a 3D film festival. Before showing Dial M for Murder, Stephen Pinker gave a talk about how 3D works and how the mind perceives it. Now they are beginning a series of movies and science, with each film being introduced by a scientist.
Join the Coolidge and you'll get free tickets to special events, like Jaws and a hilarious Big Lebowski screening that included games and contests. You'll also get discounts at many stores, including Brookline Booksmith.