Regal's Month of Masterpieces Recap

 

Sean Dudley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

I have long said that if movie theaters had more repertory screenings of "older" movies (not withstanding the common occurrences of Rocky Horror Picture Show or Big Lebowski), I would be more apt to venture out. Even if I own the film on one or more versions of physical media, I am called by the siren of a darkened theater, no interruptions, and overpriced concessions that will be the death of me someday. A local independent theater in Richmond, The Byrd, has such showings but they are not consistent and the location is a pain-in-the-ass to get to.

Enter Regal Cinemas! There was scuttlebutt on Reddit before the official announcement of some classic movie screenings but the officially announced "Month of Masterpieces" is a phenomenal reason for movie dorks like me to shirk our responsibilities and go see some movies that we've seen a dozen times before. 

I mean ... take a look at this line-up!

Sep 1 - Paper Moon (1973)†
Sep 2 - The Dark Knight (2008)
Sep 3 - Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Sep 4 - Dr. Strangelove (1964)†
Sep 5 - Interstellar (2014)
Sep 6 - The Godfather (1972)
Sep 7 - Citizen Kane (1941)
Sep 8 - The Departed (2006)
Sep 9 - Goodfellas (1990)
Sep 10 - Taxi Driver (1976)
Sep 11 - The Thing (1982)
Sep 12 - The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Sep 13 - Inception (2010)
Sep 14 - Forrest Gump (1994)
Sep 15 - Sunset Boulevard (1950)†
Sep 16 - Seven (1995)
Sep 17 - Pan's Labyrinth (2006)†
Sep 18 - Do the Right Thing (1989)
Sep 19 - Psycho (1960)
Sep 20 - Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Sep 21 - A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Sep 22 - Before Sunset (2004)†
Sep 23 - Cinema Paradiso (1988)†
Sep 24 - Casablanca (1942)
Sep 25 - Vertigo (1958)
Sep 26 - 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)†
Sep 27 - Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)†
Sep 28 - Lawrence of Arabia (1962)†
Sep 29 - Chinatown (1974)†
Sep 30 - There Will Be Blood (2007)†

† Denotes films I have not seen before ... or at least long enough ago that I don't remember a lick about it.

I don't have time to write real reviews for all of these, especially considering there are quite a few capital-C classics that I've never seen before. In lieu of that, I'll be linking to my Letterboxd reviews when applicable, just for the fun of it.

Even if I had to pay for all of these at the reduced ticket prices, I would be in heaven revisiting some of my old favorites (The Thing!!) and finally closing cinematic blind spots that I've had (2001!!). But, I have the unlimited pass. So I'm definitely getting my money's worth of entertainment for the month. 

Please, Regal! This is fantastic and needs to be a recurring thing. We can't have nice things in the world these days but at the very least, we can have some kick-ass movies.