Alamo Drafthouse Chicago Experiences

Alamo Drafthouse Chicago: A Cinema Lover’s Paradise

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I attended a preview event at the new Alamo Drafthouse Chicago in Wrigleyville. Given my many years of loving films and seeking out movie experiences, I have been eager for Alamo Drafthouse to make its way to Chicago. After seeing advertisements on IFC about Alamo Drafthouse, I knew that one day I would step foot into one, but never anticipated it would be in Chicago.

Alamo Drafthouse Chicago is mesmerizing. The place is truly cinema at its finest with loads of movie nostalgia, lots of exclusive movie programming, and a staff that takes customer service to new heights. If you’re looking for the best movie experience, go to Alamo Drafthouse Chicago.

As I entered the cinema, the movie décor was a feast for my eyes. Not only does the Drafthouse have movies, a bar, and food, they also have a store called Video Vortex where you can rent VHS and DVD movies. They even have VHS players that can be rented. Alamo Drafthouse makes it their mission to take care of their cinema enthusiasts by offering the nostalgia that is becoming a challenge to find with the evolving technology in today’s world. I felt a very retro vibe given the opportunity to explore the endless cinema “stuff.”

The Chicago location is dedicated to director John Hughes and includes memorabilia in the cinema and the lobby. This made my experience of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) very surreal in my first movie experience at Alamo Drafthouse Chicago. The staff provided sunglasses, American flags, and other gear to play along with the film. Alamo Drafthouse knows how to fuel the fun of its guests by making them feel like they are in the era of the film they are seeing. They also do this by playing trailers and ads from the year a movie was originally released. This special touch made it more fun and enthralling. Believe it or not, my cinema joy has never felt more special than at my first Alamo Drafthouse movie experience.

The most significant differentiating factor at Alamo Drafthouse is how they handle their customer service. For ordering food, guests just write their order on a piece of paper, raise it up, push their button, and the staff delivers the food right to their seat. The process is not aggravating, it is smooth and straight forward. In addition, Alamo Drafthouse takes their cinema going experience seriously. Once a movie has started, guests cannot enter the theatre. Also, Alamo Drafthouse has a strict no phone and talking policy. So, if they spot guests being disruptive, they are not afraid to ask them to leave. They will even escort them. Yes, this might sound harsh, but I believe these strict rules allow true cinema enthusiasts to have the most wonderful movie experience at Alamo Drafthouse.

Alamo Drafthouse Chicago is now open in Wrigleyville. They show first-run films and all kinds of classics with great food and beverage service. In my humble opinion, it is the best service in a cinema I have seen in years. Also, there are always “Classic Movie” experiences scheduled many days of the week. So, get your tickets today, and go have some fun at the new Alamo Drafthouse Chicago. You won’t regret it!

Film reviews

Infinity Pool Review

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The term Infinity means unlimited, endless, without bound. In the film, Infinity Pool, the bizarre scenarios are continuous and disturbing to a harrowing extent. Director Brandon Cronenberg shares the same vision as his father, David Cronenberg, with Infinity Pool. Specifically, they want to make films that challenge what audiences can handle in terms of repulsive factors. However, I have more respect for David Cronenberg, because he still makes films that are outside the realm of surreal horror. Brandon is still new to the directing game, but with Infinity Pool, it seems like he tries to top his father’s directing by throwing in tangents that are overwhelming to the viewer’s mind. Infinity Pool makes dreams a reality, and it does so with tainted judgment set in an eccentric world.

As I watched Infinity Pool, many moments of feeling eerie stuck with me throughout the experience. The concept of mixing reality and fiction makes the terror feel alive in Infinity Pool. The film takes one moment of violence and continues with it in other strange and creative ways. The director remains committed to bringing his audience into a nightmare that is anxiety-provoking. In Infinity Pool, there are no rules, no back up, and no boundaries to the weird spiral of events that happen in sequence. The casting of Alexander Skarsgard, Mia Goth, and Cleopatra Coleman are perfect for this horror adventure. With Skarsgard having previously done dark and serious roles, he has a fittingly daring personality. With Goth being in several horror films recently, she has the right attitude for risqué and dangerous behavior. Finally, with Coleman as someone with an artistic side who has many emotions, she is the one who knows there is grave danger throughout the film. The many personalities in Infinity Pool drive the film’s shock value.

The film focuses on a couple, James, and Em Foster (Skarsgard and Coleman). They are vacationing around a fictional island called La Tolqa at an all-inclusive resort. James is a writer, and what Em does is not discussed. They are a quiet couple just trying to escape reality. Their trip starts to take a turn for the worse after a fatal accident. As the punishments for the accident are faced, the world of Infinity Pool starts to take its audience on a ride that is hard to understand. The island becomes a place where there are no norms and involves a subculture of tourism that is hedonistic. James’ behavior becomes more destructive as he falls under the bad influence of Gabi (Goth).  He finds himself in a world where he cannot control the dangers, he has surrounded himself with. Infinity Pool is a place where freedom and suffering goes wrong. It is a film that crosses extreme boundaries of terror.

There is a warning before the film starts saying the film may have lighting moments that are flashy, and that for those who have epilepsy to reconsider experiencing Infinity Pool. Even for me, the flashing moments during dangerous elements were somewhat nightmarish. The experience was not enjoyable, but it is typical for the visionary images that the elder Cronenberg is legendary for. Now that the son of Cronenberg is creating a weird world of his own, it is an adventure where reality is not as promising or delightful as many see in their dreams. The mind of Brandon Cronenberg will change the way audiences view the Cronenberg legacy with Infinity Pool.

This movie is not amazing, but it requires an open mind like other films by Cronenberg. It is important to bear in mind that this is a film made by David Cronenberg’s son. Infinity Pool made me think back to many of his father’s films I love because of how they crossed limits which made them masterpieces. Brandon’s Infinity Pool is shy of a masterpiece, but it is still surreal. Three stars for Infinity Pool.

Film reviews

You People Review

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You People advertises itself as a fun romcom with a twist—the twist being an interracial relationships with both families acting prickly about the situation. But this film is not a fun romcom. Its derogatory and inappropriate racial comments makes for flawed humor, and I found it to be an almost two hour long offensive, confusing, and stereotypical film.

The plot of the film introduces us to Ezra (played by Jonah Hill), who falls in love with Amira (played by Lauren London). Ezra is white and Jewish, and Amira is Black. They know in their hearts that they are in love and that they are meant to be, but are their families on the same page as them? Ezra’s mother is Shelley (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus), his father is Arnold (played by David Duchovny), and his sister is Liza (played by Molly Gordon). Ezra’s family leads a privileged life and they are extremely high maintenance. Amira’s parents are Akbar (played by Eddie Murphy) and Fatima (played by Nia Long), and she has many siblings. Amira’s family is Muslim. Akbar questions Ezra as a man and his faithfulness to his daughter. The film takes the family dynamics to heights of religion, class, and tension, but it is presented in a very demeaning way, and that is why even the title You People is a turn off.

Is racism a funny subject? Absolutely not. But have there been quality films with racial comments in the comedy genre? Yes. Have some films addressing diversity or class tried too hard to be funny? Not many, but that’s how I view You People. This film is not satirical. It is morally wrong, poorly written, and a just slew of negative racial stereotypes and derogatory words and tension.

I always try to find some positive aspects to a film, but this one is a challenge. The one positive I can find is the cast. The characters fit the concept of the film, especially Dreyfus and Duchovny as Ezra’s parents, and Murphy and Long as Amira’s parent. These are all diverse people with diverse attitudes. But the subject matter is delivered all wrong.

Simply put, I did not like this film at all, despite the cast. I found it hateful, disgusting, and offensive. The characterizations sickened me, and I felt offended throughout the film. There was a total lack of positivity. Bringing the concepts of race, ethnicity and culture to the cinema is important, but this film was over the limit. Netfix viewers will need to decide whether they want to watch this one, but I don’t recommend it. Two stars for You People.

Treating cinema in many forms of art!