What we’re about
It's like book club, but for Movies!
Want to talk about movies with other movie nerds? Saw a great movie you gotta tell others about?
The Portland Movie Club meets regularly to talk about a movie we all watched, recommend great movies to each other, and decide on what to watch for the next discussion. We're open to all fans of film.
Membership is free, just join us for a beer or two and hang out!
Upcoming events (4)
See all- Political Films Meet-Up: THE PRESIDENT'S ANALYSTLucky Labrador Brew Pub, Portland, OR
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Let’s talk about movies! Join movie club member David J. for the next film in our Political Films series with "The President’s Analyst" (1967), a satirical brew of 1960’s era political conspiracy theories and inspired production design, written and directed by Theodore J. Flicker and starring James Coburn (“The Great Escape,” “Our Man Flint” and “In Like Flint”).
Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet. Some streaming and additional viewing suggestions are below.
We'll meet at Lucky Lab in SE at 4pm (map). We try to have a sign at our table (be sure to check outside just in case the weather is nice).
Grab a drink and we'll spend some time discussing the film and having a great time!
Political Film Spotlight: THE PRESIDENT’S ANALYST
"The President’s Analyst" is an original work from writer / director Theodore J. Flicker. Inspired by the many outlandish conspiracies raging through America in the 60’s, mostly just under the radar of mainstream media but often endorsed and spread by organizations like the John Birchers. (Doesn't this sound familiar in 2024?) Flicker’s film positions James Coburn as the one person selected to be analyst for The President of The United States, becoming a witness to the truths behind the countless conspiracies and unfathomable international intrigues. Battling spy agencies maneuver to capture Coburn with James Bondian inspired plots, to learn the secrets he’s been entrusted to keep. He attempts to elude them by disappearing into a uniquely American counter-culture rabbit hole.
Key support in front of the camera comes from Godfrey Cambridge (“Cotton Comes To Harlem”) and Severn Darden (“Battle For The Planet Of The Apes” and “Werewolves On Wheels”) among other familiar faces from the era. And behind the screen, the music is by Lalo Schifrin (famous for his “Mission Impossible” theme), and the cinematography is courtesy of William Fraker (“Rosemary’s Baby,” “Bullitt,” “Looking For Mr. Goodbar”).
Upon release, critic Roger Ebert wrote that “The President’s Analyst fights back against the phone company and its accomplice, J. Edgar Hoover and his Electric G-Men. It is one of the funniest movies of the year, ranking with “The Graduate” and “Bedazzled” in the sharp edge of its satire.”
Current streaming sources are reported to include Amazon Prime, YouTube, Fandango and Apple TV. (Since it is a Paramount production, you might try their streaming service if you are a subscriber). It has been released in a deluxe Blu-ray edition in Australia, a standard Blu-ray from Kino Lorber here in the U.S., and also on DVD here in the U.S. from Paramount Home Video.
About Political Films
This series is based on the New Republic article, "The 100 Most Significant Political Films of All Time" published in June 2023 and is a comprehensive list of films that speak to our relationships with government, war, bureaucracy, politics and politicians, crime, propaganda, classism, and more. The list is not intended to be a collection of the 'best' films, but the most significant (although many of them are also very good). Some of these films can be a challenging watch, I'd suggest www.doesthedogdie.com for content warnings.
Tips:
- Haven't seen the movie in a while? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet. Just like a book club we don't watch the movie at our meetup, we just discuss it after we’ve seen it. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can.
- I usually take a few notes while I watch to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring 'em with you!
- Typically, at the Meet-Up we'll decide on our next political film to watch! Take a look at the list linked above for options to consider for the next film.
Previous films viewed by “Political Films” Meet-up members for group discussion have included “Marat / Sade,” “On The Waterfront,” “The Great McGinty,” “Seven Days In May,” “The Candidate,” “The Act of Killing,” “The Battle Of Algiers,” “All The President’s Men,” “How To Blow Up A Pipeline,” “Do The Right Thing,” “Malcolm X,” “A Face In The Crowd,” and “Dr. Strangelove.”
- Samurai Cinema Meet-Up: THE SEVEN SAMURAILucky Labrador Brew Pub, Portland, OR
Let's talk about movies! Join Movie Club Member Jennifer K for the next movie in her Samurai Cinema Series, "Seven Samurai."
Here's how it works:- Watch the movie on your own before we discuss, streaming links below.
- Then, we'll all meet at Lucky Lab on SE Hawthorne at 4pm (map), there will be a sign at our table.
- Grab some food and drinks and we'll spend some time discussing this masterpiece.
Movie Spotlight: Seven Samurai
"Seven Samurai" is the classic Japanese film epic, directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Takashi Shimura and Toshiro Mifune, about a group of samurai who band together to protect a village from bandits trying to steal their crops. Since its release in 1954, viewers, critics, and film historians have consistently regarded “Seven Samurai” as one of the greatest and influential films in cinema history. The film is renowned for its striking visuals, thrilling action sequences, and exploration of themes such as humanism, rebellion against social traditions, honor, courage, and hope.About Samurai Cinema
Samurai cinema, also known as chanbara, is a Japanese film genre that is roughly equivalent to Western swashbuckler films. It is a sub-category of jidaigeki, which equates to period drama. This genre is usually set during the Tokugawa era (1600–1868) and often focuses on the end of an entire way of life for the samurai. Many of the films deal with masterless rōnin, or samurai dealing with changes to their status resulting from a changing society.Samurai films highly influenced Western cinema including films like A Fistful of Dollars, The Magnificent Seven, Six-String Samurai, Last Man Standing, and Star Wars. They were also a significant influence on Hong Kong Action Cinema and many visual elements appear in movies like Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, and Mad Max: Fury Road.
Tips:
- Haven't seen the movie in a while? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet (Streaming Options). Just like a book club we don't watch the movie at our meetup, just discuss it. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can.
- I usually take a few notes while I watch to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring them with you!
Resources:
Other films discussed
Coming to the Samurai Cinema group for the first time, but interested in movies previously watched and discussed? Here are the other films we have watched in this series: Yojimbo (1961), Sanjuro (1962), The Sword of Doom (1966), Kill! (1968), Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), Lady Snowblood (1973), Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972), Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972), and Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades (1972). - LGBTQ+ Cinema Discussion: DOG DAY AFTERNOONLucky Labrador Brew Pub, Portland, OR
Join Movie Club Member Elliot for the next movie in their series highlighting LGBTQ films, "Dog Day Afternoon", directed by Sidney Lumet! Here's how it works:
- We'll meet at Lucky Lab at 4pm (map), there will be a sign at our table
- Grab some food and drinks and we'll spend some time discussing this masterpiece with us (NOTE: Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet).
Movie Spotlight: Dog Day Afternoon
"Dog Day Afternoon" is a 1975 film directed by Sidney Lumet, known for a cinematic style that tended towards realism and efficiency in storytelling (“Twelve Angry Men,” “Serpico,” “Network,” and “The Verdict” are amongst a string of classics and noble ventures). It was based on a real-life Brooklyn bank robbery which quickly went from bad to worse in 1972, resulting in a charged hostage stand-off and a dramatic resolution.Al Pacino, Charles Durning, Carol Kane and a young Lance Henrickson and likely even younger Chris Sarandon feature in the cast – but watch for the legendary John Cazale in one of only 5 films he performed in (and imagine the odds of the other 4 all being these particular stand-outs of American cinema: “The Godfather,” “The Godfather – Part II,” “The Conversation,” and “The Deer Hunter”), before sadly dying in 1978.
“Dog Day Afternoon” was a critical and box office success, nominated for 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture, (winning the award for Best Original Screenplay), and 7 Golden Globe Awards. It has been deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress, and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
LGBTQ+ Cinema Series
LGBTQ+ characters and themes have been present throughout film history dating back to pre-Hays Code era. The relationship between film and the LGBTQ+ community has had its ups and downs over the years and has been consistently changing. This discussion group will highlight some key films that mark these changes and shed light upon the vast selection of LGBTQ+ films that cinema has to offer.
Tips:- Haven't seen the movie in a while? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet. Just like a book club we don't watch the movie at our meetup, just discuss it. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can
- I usually take a few notes while I watch to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring 'em with you!
Resources
Dog Day Afternoon (1975) directed by Sidney Lumet • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd - Giallo Spotlight: "Mute Witness"Dots Cafe, Portland, OR
Details:
Join Movie Club Member Kyle C. for the next movie in his giallo series.
Here's how it works:- We'll meet at Dot's Cafe at 4pm (map), there will be a sign at our table
- Grab some food and drinks and we'll spend some time discussing this masterpiece with us (NOTE: Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet, streaming links below).
Movie Spotlight:
"Mute Witness" is a 1995 horror thriller film directed by Anthony Waller. The story is set in Moscow, where a mute American makeup artist named Billy Hughes, played by Marina Zudina, is working on a low-budget horror film. One night, while staying late in the studio, Billy accidentally witnesses a brutal murder being filmed in what she initially believes is a snuff film. Unable to communicate verbally, Billy becomes the target of the killers, who realize she has seen too much. As she tries to escape and alert the authorities, she must use her resourcefulness and bravery to survive.Director Anthony Waller has cited his love for the giallo genre, which is evident in the visual style of "Mute Witness." The use of dramatic camera angles, intense lighting, and vivid blood splatter are all hallmarks of the giallo genre. The film also features a desperate, almost operatic motif with the protagonist's expressive eyes conveying much of the emotion and tension, similar to the style seen in many giallo films.
Tips:
- Haven't seen the movie in a while? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet (Streaming Options). Just like a book club we don't watch the movie at our meetup, just discuss it. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can
- I usually take a few notes while I watch to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring 'em with you!
- We'll decide on our next giallo movie to watch! Come with suggestions.
Are you not that familiar with the giallo genre? Read the Wikipedia entry to learn more. Is there a giallo you'd like to propose the group watch and discuss next? Here's a comprehensive list of Italian giallos along with films influenced by the genre. Maybe there's a film you've heard about but needed an excuse to see--come join us for discussion & make a suggestion!
Coming to the group for the first time, but interested in movies previously watched & discussed? Here's a list of all previous giallos watched and discussed by the group (with group rating)!
On Discord? Join the Portland Movie Club!
