Going out to the movies is one of my favorite activities in the world. There’s really nothing like going to see an incredible movie with a couple friends and a huge bag of popcorn.
But as much as I would like to go see a movie in the theater every day, that’s not always an option. Especially now, in the movie slump that happens after the summer blockbusters and beforeawards season, there’s not always a movie worth seeing among the Hollywood mainstays.
Most people put as little effort into seeing a movie as possible. All it takes is looking up what was released that week and showing up at the right time, right? While you can stick to the new releases and blockbusters and have a blast at the movies, sometimes by putting in a little more work, you can get much more out of the experience.
You’re probably familiar with art house films; They’re the ones that get released at Sundance and often the ones that are nominated for several Oscars. The business model for these films is drastically different than the average movie. They generally don’t have much money behind them and, as a result, can sometimes find it difficult to get a wide release or much advertisement.
But art house films are almost always extremely well-crafted and filled with incredible performances and cinematography, and because of this are a ton of fun to see in theaters.
Here’s my suggestion: Next time you want to go see a movie, instead of seeing the first movie that you’ve seen commercials for, do a bit of groundwork. Look up the movies you’ve never heard of. See if something there interests you or if you see something that the critics are excited about. You could find a hidden gem that really blows you away.
In Baton Rouge, we have two great theaters for watching movies that are outside the box. The Manship Theatre downtown almost exclusively shows those kinds of movies. It’s a great place to go to see small independent films, and it’s one of the best places for foreign movies in the area. Cinemark in Perkins Rowe generally has all the Hollywood mainstays, but they also are much more adventurous in their film choices than other theatres, and some of the bigger independent or art house films often will find their way into its lineup. They also have a great classic movies series, where people can see old standbys on a big screen.
For people who love films, it really is in our best interest to put more effort into seeing lesser-known movies. If small movies start getting higher ticket sales here, then more art house producers will begin considering Baton Rouge when deciding where to bring their films. The more options of great movies we have to see, the more Baton Rouge film has to offer to the entire community.