The Coolidge Corner Theatre

THE END IS NIGH IN JULY

This month we're featuring midnite movies that explore the end of it all. Whether brought on by aliens, zombies, plague, nuclear war, or humans being humans, the post-apocaplyptic genre of film is one that captivates as much as it terrifies. Each weekend in July we will explore another Earth in the early stages, midst, or aftermath of Apocalypse. It could happen at any time...

28 DAYS LATER
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The crowning achievement in the resurgence of the zombie film, director Danny Boyle's vision of the undead apocalypse is a horrifyingly gorgeous one. The success of any serious survival horror film hinges on the connection between the audience and the characters on screen. Here, you will be hoping that Jim and company can escape the horde as opposed to eagerly anticipating the groups' demise. We've lengthened the edges of your seats for this one, folks! Cillian Murphy's blue eyes star in this story of survival in an England eviscerated by a virus that is all the rage. Come for the hyper-kinetic scares, stay for the incredible soundtrack!

dir. Danny Boyle, w/ Cillian Murphy, Brenden Gleeson, 1h53m, 35mm

“Hitchcock's best film! A masterpiece by any standard!" – Geoff Andrew, Time Out (London)

"Mother's not quite herself today." In the 1950's, the gruesome murders committed by Wisconsin ghoul Ed Gein exposed this country to a horror so unknown, that it would inspire a new type of bogeyman. Eventually, that new and inexplicable terror would flicker on the silver screen embodied by Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) in Alfred Hitchcock's film, PSYCHO.

This shocker begins with a young woman on the lam, having just stolen $40,000 from her employer, and in need of shelter during a storm. Stopping at the roadside Bates Motel, young Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) meets inn keeper Norman Bates, whom for too long has withstood the dominant force of his mentally ill mother. Their encounter terrifies audiences, and boosts sales of transparent shower curtains to this day.

dir. Alfred Hitchcock, w/ Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, 1h30m, 35mm

"Now I've got a machine gun. Ho Ho Ho."

It's Christmas Eve in L.A. and nothing is stirring...except for the corporate employees of Nakatomi Plaza, who have just been taken hostage by zee Germans. Lucky for them, cowboy cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) is armed, and on barefoot patrol of the terrorist-ridden high rise. With his machine gun, outstanding one-liners, and a gallows wit sharper than the shards of glass lodged in his feet, McClane hopes to brutally dispatch all of the mercenaries before Santa arrives.

dir. John McTiernan, w/ Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, 2h11m, 35mm

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What is THE BIG LEBOWSKI, you say? Well, if you have to ask... not only is it one of the biggest and best cult movies of our time, but more importantly, this Coen Brothers classic is an outrageously insane comedy of bowling, confused identities, naked performance art, porn-obsessed nihilists, a sex offender named Jesus, and some unforgettable musical dream sequences -- Oh, and some guy called "The Dude."

Sure, just bringing this lovably oddball slacker classic back to the BIG screen is cool enough on its own. But that's not all! We're throwing our sixth annual pre-show bowling party extravaganza celebrating the greatness of his dudeness and his laid back misadventures. Here's your chance to compete for sweet Lebowski-themed prizes in tests of wit and skill including, but not limited to: best costume (break out those bowling shirts, bathrobes, and skintight purple Jesus lounge suits!), most convincing nihilist quip, most impassioned Walter rant, and of course, bowling.

We would like to thank Kings Bowling in Back Bay for their generous gift of FREE bowling passes for everyone who attends this event!

dirs. Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, w/ Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, 1h57m

When a Jamaican gang led by Screwface, a druglord so terrifying his minions would rather jump out of a fifth-floor window than rat on, start dealing to the local high school football team, it's up to ponytailed badass John Hatcher (Steven Seagal) to take the fight all the way to Jamaica. Join us for over-the-top ass kicking, voodoo, stilted dialogue, and the least Irie visit to Jamaica ever, mon!

dir. Dwight H. Little, w/ Stephen Segal, Keith David, 1h33m, 35mm

A special end-of-summer screening for all of you to catch THE ROOM in all its glory on the big screen before heading back to school!

Friday August 20th @fter midnite.

The Room, right now, is playing all over the world, including, for example, the UK, Canada, Australia, and we’re also releasing it in other countries as well. It seems to me it’s the same thing that happened in America, that the people want to see the movie several times, and I always encourage that, because of symbolism within The Room. - Tommy Wiseau, read the full interview here.

"The Room is the Citizen Kane of bad movies.'' - Ross Morin, assistant professor of film studies at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.

For the past five years, a Los Angeles billboard has perpetually and ominously promoted a film simply titled: THE ROOM. Those who could no longer stand the suspense and actually sought out screenings of this film have been exposed to what some people are saying is the greatest midnite movie since THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW.

Midnite crowds have flocked to attend this show due to its "so amazingly bad it's 'effing great" charms. In recent years, some of Hollywood's most talented have counted themselves being in the cult of THE ROOM. Paul Rudd, David Cross and Jonah Hill catch the film whenever they can.

THE ROOM's director, producer and leading man is the mysterious Tommy Wiseau. In the film, Tommy portrays "Johnny", a man who becomes involved in a love triangle when the woman he loves begins sleeping with another man. Johnny is also the mentor of a drug dealing man child, a dog aficionado and possesses an alarmingly unnerving giggle.

Kept as an L.A. secret for half of a decade, THE ROOM has now found its way to the east coast and we here at the Coolidge are proud to present it in all its baffling glory.

But don't just take our word for it, check out what EW and The Onion have to say about the strange new phenomenon of THE ROOM:

Onion AV Club Review

Entertainment Weekly Review

Fresh from the 2009 season of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan comes this beautiful performance of CARMEN!

Click here for package offers on all of our Operas and Ballets!

CARMEN is the story of fatal attraction between Carmen, the hot-blooded gypsy, and Don José, the upstanding corporal in the Spanish army who’s already engaged to another woman. Don José begins to fall for Carmen as she sings the famous song of seduction, the Habañera. When he helps her avoid arrest, he is thrown in prison. Upon his release, he seeks her out; as a result, his life continues to unravel. Upon hearing his mother is dying, he heads home, vowing to Carmen that they will be together again soon. When he returns, he discovers Carmen in a rapturous affair with Escamillo, a dashing toreador. Don José, now bitter and angry, stabs her to death just as Escamillo wins the fight in the bullring. As the spectators leave the arena, Don José throws himself on her dead body and confesses his guilt.

Music Georges Bizet

Cast

Jonas Kaufmann (Don José)
Erwin Schrott (Escamillo)
Anita Rachvelishvili (Carmen)
Adriana Damato (Micaëla)

Conductor Daniel Barenboim

3h plus one intermission, in French with English subtitles.

This glorious production from the 2009 Bregenz Festival, Austria was staged in the middle of a lake! Better than the view at the festival itself, you get to go right up to the stage in this high-definition presentation.

Click here for package offers on all of our Operas and Ballets!

AIDA is the story of the tragic love between the Ethiopian princess Aida – once brought to the Nile as a slave – and the Egyptian commander Radames. Although they are in love, Aida is still fearful for her kinsmen and especially for King Amonasro, her father. Furthermore, Princess Amneris is in love with Radames, although the feelings are not returned. When Radames joyfully accepts the job of leading the charge against the Ethiopians, Amneris and Aida both rush to the temple to bless his journey—although Aida’s loyalty is torn between her homeland and the man she loves.

Music Guiseppe Verdi

Cast

Kevin Short (King of Egypt)
Iano Tamar (Amneris)
Tatiana Serjan (Aida)
Rubens Pelizzari (Radames)
Tigran Martirossian (Ramphis)

Conductor Carlo Rizzi

2h11m with one intermission, in Italian with English subtitles

"This shark, swallow you whole."

When a leviathan of a Great White begins making snacks out of the good people of Amity Island, it's up to police Chief Brody, the grizzled fisherman Quint, and Richard Dreyfuss to embark on one of the greatest fish stories ever told. The physical scars these men boast and brandish in the cabin of the Orca seem like paper cuts when compared to the carnage inflicted by the teeth of their intended prey. Will these men have what it takes to reel in the horror that awaits them beneath the waves? One thing is for certain; they're going to need a bigger boat.

Very few films have the ability to instill deep rooted phobias in those who sit down to watch them. Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic terrified moviegoers to a point that almost crippled the shoreline tourism trade at the time of its release. Thirty-five years later, the thought of a wide-open and sharp-toothed abyss lurking just beneath the surface is still very present in the minds of any swimmer whose feet leave the safety of the sea-floor.

dir. Steven Spielberg w/ Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw 2h4m

$15 All Seats / $12 Coolidge members pre-sale only (day of show all seats $15)

Members, log in to get your special discount tickets!

This month’s salon features nude nerds from near and far, reading selections from their favorite works of Science Fiction! From Douglas Adams to Ray Bradbury to Isaac Asimov to Jules Verne, these ladies will take you with them on a fantastic (naked) voyage! Whether you prefer "Trek" or "Wars", the heavenly bodies of The Naked Girls Reading will put stars in your eyes and words in your ears.

Hosted by Miss Mina of The Boston Babydolls (voted "Best Dance Troupe (Sexy)" in The Boston Phoenix's 2010 Reader's Poll), this literary salon with nothing to hide features some of our regular readers and introducing the newest Naked Girl, Dalya du Sunshine!