The problem
I have is too much choice. It never used to be this way. At one time – far far
before the internet – there were movie houses. You’d see a new movie advertised
in the newspaper or read about it in an entertainment magazine. And think, hey
I’d like to go see it. So, you went out on a Friday or Saturday night, hit one
of unnumerable bricks and mortar theaters – or even a drive-in – plucked your
$7.50 (or less) down, and walk in and behold the silver screen in front of you.
Now, there is seemingly unlimited choice.
Netflix, YouTube, AmazonPrime,
AppleTV+, Crave, Criterion Channel, you get the point. But I hardly watch them,
or not nearly as much as someone who enjoys film might expect. In reality the
choice could never be better. And all at my fingertips, in the comfort of my
home, and I can interrupt at will, and never miss a scene or piece of critical
dialogue. And, and…. But I’m reluctant to watch. Part of this is time. When I'm
at home I have a lot of other things to do than watch movies however much I may
like them in theory. The same for TV, and I haven’t owned one in two decades. I
simply have other priorities – like work, household duties and, yes reading –
which to my mind is a better experience than all the hours of celluloid – did I
say that? Don’t get me wrong, I love movies. It’s just the context in which to
see them. I would probably run to a theatre showing a film by an obscure
Eastern
European cineaste than, alas, watching on Criterion Channel, as much as I love
that network and forever will hold a subscription to it. It’s the reason I simply love driving to the
cineplex as much as possible. Or for that matter book 50 films at this year’s
Windsor International Film Festival. Because I like to be in the traditional viewing
space for cinema, and that would be a physical theatre. This creates an event
– excitement - which I can share with other people, something I simply can’t
get sitting in front of a screen.
There’s the
Windsor International Film Festival opening Oct. 29. And then up in London there’s
the
Forest City Film Festival, getting underway Oct. 15. Now in its 11
th
year it will screen 100 films over 11 days, the same time frame as the Windsor
fest. It’s not a fest to snub, as great as WIFF is. London will have more than 10
movies that screened at
Cannes and an equal number that were at
Toronto.
Canadian actor
Jay Baruchel will head up the guest list with his opening night
The
Stunt Driver. There are also several films screening in London that will also
be shown at WIFF including
Rose, Tender Loving Care, Ladies and Gentlemen Brian
Mulroney!, Run Terry Run, Fjord, The Debut and
The History of Concrete. You might
want to take a trek up the 401 to take a few films in, combining the visit with
a perfectly fine southwestern Ontario autumn weekend.
