Last weekend, I went to see Talk to Me, the new Don Cheadle film about Washington D.C. radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who became a radio personality, political activist, and alcoholic. This combination of attributes constitutes a wonderful character sketch; the film traces out Greene’s ups and downs, as well as his relationship with Dewey Hughes, who becomes his best friend after a troubling beginning (Dewey has his own family issues and problems with his understanding of what it means to be a “successful black man” in the early 1960s). I can’t imagine anyone not liking the film. Cheadle’s been a miracle of the screen ever since Picket Fences; the story is engaging but not heavy handed, and the pacing keeps you engaged throughout the film. More, if you have any sense of the history of the 60s through the 80s, you’ll certainly find the soundtrack, styles and events seductive. In short, I endorse this film; I can’t imagine you leaving dissatisfied with your decision to see it.
But I’m not writing this post solely to endorse the movie. It’s more of my entryway to rant about a number of aspects of going to see films. At the risk of disappointing Brittney Gilbert, who hates lists, I’m going to provide a rant list of five aspects of going to see films that irk me, all of them occurring in a perfect storm at this one film, almost ruining the experience:
- Combos: As I was purchasing Combo 1 (two medium drinks and a large popcorn) at the Green Hills 16, my son (who used to work there) pointed out that the combo price was exactly the same price as buying the individual components together. Unlike other businesses which offer combos that save the consumer money, the move industry, or at least this portion of it, offers the combo as a way to get the consumer to spend more money. It’s passively deceptive, and I don’t like it.
- Late arrivals: I don’t mind that people show up late to films. I mean, things happen in life, and you end up late from time to time. What I don’t like, and frankly don’t understand, is why those people need to stand right in front of me while they adjust their eyes to the darkness. Go off to the side while your rhodopsin levels build. I was here on time.
- Seats: I arrive at films early so that I can get the exact seat I want. If you decide to come in after me (or worse, if you decide to come in late), please don’t get irritated when you ask me (in a tone that indicates that you aren’t asking because you expect me to do what you want) if I mind moving over so that you and your family of five can sit together. I’m not going to move, and you’re going to get angry. It’s ok to ask, but remember, if I politely say “No,” then roll with it.
- Cell phones: After all the warnings—the signs, the trailers—telling you to turn off/silence your cell phones, most of you are doing a nice job of silencing them. To be honest, however, you need to learn not to bring it in with you at all because when you can’t help but pull it out when it vibrates and look at who’s calling-- lighting up your row and disturbing all those around you--you’re sorta missing the point of the cell phone ban. See, the idea is that your use of the phone disturbs the rest of us. This is true even when you don’t answer it. If you’re so important that you must answer certain calls, then you’re important enough to rent a theater for your own purposes.
- Applause: don’t applaud after a move is over. There’s no one to hear you except the high school kid cleaning up the popcorn/diet coke mess you’ve left behind. It’s ok if you applaud the kid, however. S/he is working hard for very little money.
By the way, you really should go see Talk to Me. It’s a nice piece of work.
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