Every year, just before the Oscar telecast, AMC Theatres hosts an event in participating cinemas around the country where you buy a pass at a flat rate and, over the course of two Saturdays – or, if you’re feeling especially ambitious, over the course of a single 24-hour period – you watch all of the Best Picture nominees consecutively. You line up around 8:30 or 9:00 in the morning – or reserve ahead of time, if available – find yourself a seat for the day, and spend about 12 hours watching movies.
Even if you’re a big movie fan, this may sound daunting, but after 10 years, I can say it mostly comes down to mental preparation. And if you’re like me and don’t get to the cinemas as often as you like, it’s a good deal financially. Anyway, here’s the info. The Oscars are Sunday, February 26th this year, so the Showcase will be Saturdays February 18th and 25th.
I did the showcase several years ago, when there were still only 5 nominees. It was a lot of fun and a great way to get caught up, but I don't know if I'd be able to do it two weekends in a row. It was a challenge to sit and pay attention for that long. It didn't help that Benjamin Button was one of the nominees that year and was the only one I'd already seen.
Ohh, that was the second year and definitely my least favorite. Of the nominees, I only enjoyed two, "Milk" and "Frost/Nixon."
There's also almost always one movie that I've already seen and don't have any special excitement about sitting through again in a cinema. In past years, it's been "Avatar," "Inception," "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," and "Gravity." This year I guess it'll be "Boyhood." And probably "The Grand Budapest Hotel." But I'm a purist and believe second viewings are very valuable, so I always stay for them.
CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES
I have always wanted to do this. All films would be a second viewing for me, though, which is a turn-off. I also go to the screenings at IFC Center for all fifteen of the short films and whatever foreign features and documentary features they still have.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
This sounds very interesting. How much time is there in between the movies? And what order are they presented in? Are they in alphabetical order?
"What was the name of that cheese that I like?"
"you can't run away forever...but there's nothing wrong with getting a good head start"
"well I hope and I pray, that maybe someday, you'll walk in the room with my heart"
The order usually seems determined by movie length, but with only eight nominees, I don’t guess it will be any great feat to fit them all into two days. And when they’re scheduled well, there’s usually somewhere around 10-25 minutes between each movie to get up, use the bathroom, stretch, refill your popcorn, etc, with a longer break of about an hour falling somewhere around dinner time.
I imagine that AMC site will be updating soon with all of this information.
I don’t know how popular this event is in other cities, but here in Pittsburgh, with only one local participating theater, it sells out pretty quickly.
CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES
Any idea how long it takes until all the details come out? (Dates, cost, when tix go on sale?) Very intriquing!
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
I think AMC will do this in any AMC theater across the country is someone can guarantee that 100 people will buy tickets.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
No, the link specifically lists which theaters might participate...but there doesn't seem to be any change in the info.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Do the sassy red dots ("Uh-uh, girlfriend, put away that texting device, you hear what I'm saying? That's right, girl...") appear before and after every movie or just once at the beginning of the day?
Gosh, Namo, I don't know. At ours, there's a sort of emcee-type character who runs trivia games and raffles between the movies, and he usually gives us a verbal reminder, but I'll pay special attention this year and get back to you with this crucial information because I know it'll help your sleep.
For all innerested parties, the details have finally been released. I'd have updated this sooner, but I've been languishing all week with bronchitis and fell off my game.
On February 14th, the movies are The Grand Budapest Hotel, Birdman, Whiplash, and Selma. It starts at 10am and ends around 7pm. Cost $30.
February 21st is Boyhood, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, and American Sniper. Starts at 10am there is an hour break before the last movie (Sniper), and the day ends around 9pm. Cost $30, or both days for $55.
^^ Thanks for that update. I'm actually seeing CHICAGO on the 14th, but thankfully I've already Birdman and I have Budapest on my DVR, but I think I may try to do the 21st - those are the four movies I really wanted to see.
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
AMC Kip Bay, which is doing only doing it in NYC as far I can tell, is $35 per day, or $65 for both. Either way, a bargain considering AMC usually does $15-$20 each. (But Empire 25 in Times Square holding the option for a marathon.)
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008