| Forget
About The Olympics...
Chicago Wants ZOMBIELAND!
For
anyone that happens to frequent film screenings throughout
the year, you may make at least one undeniable observation....there
is an entire subculture in attendance at these events. I
often see the same people at each screening that I have
come to call "the usual suspects".
They clearly know each other and often tip each other off
to the next screening in their own clandestine fashion.
It's as if they live for these screenings and at times it
appears that they live at these theaters. It's clearly fodder
for a sitcom pitch.
I just
watch and smile and wonder how they get their passes. Now,
I consider myself a film enthusiast, but these folks seem
to be in a class all their own. Well, that class was in
for a dramatic change this week.
On Monday, September 28th, I passed up the opportunity to
see a screening of The Invention of Lying for my
love of the undead. That's right. I can't help it. Zombies,
I love thee!
Already,
I bet you know what movie I'm referring to. That's right
folks, hundreds of select Chicagoans were treated to a very
special red carpet screening of Zombieland with
stars Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg. That's cool in
and of itself, but even better was the chance to become
a zombie yourself!
My screening
pass had stated that if attendees arrived early enough,
there would be an opportunity to be "zombie-fied"
and walk the red carpet with the two leads. How could I
pass that up?
While
the screening was at 7pm, I wouldn't be able to make it
there until about a quarter to six and I assumed "early"
would mean 5ish. I told my buddy Otto to get there as soon
as he could and scope out the place to see how the what
the crowd was like. Sure enough, he arrived at 4:30 and
he let me know how crazy it already was.
Yes
there was a tent with a red carpet inside parallel with
the curb in front of the theater. Yes, there were Zombieland
posters everywhere. And yes, there were fans (including
"the usual suspects" -- maybe we should call them
"preview zombies") dressed up as zombies everywhere.
It was quite a surreal and assuredly geeky experience.
Unfortunately, my name wasn't on some list in order for
me to qualify to be transformed into a zombie. Fah! Little
did they realize (or care) I would have been a great zombie.
I know the swagger, the contortions and appropriate "Gak!"
sound effects (thank you, Roger Kirkman!) which I found
lacking in many of the zombies that passed us by as we were
in line for the screening. Otto and I took turns going in
and out of the line to take many pics of the undead both
in and outside the theater.
Once
seated, the spotlight beamed down to the bottom of the screen
where Harrelson and Eisenburg were met with a roaring applause.
They didn't really have much to say. The typical "Hello
Chicago, good to be here!" and "Thank you, enjoy
the film!" that was followed by a quick departure.
Fine with us. Myself, Otto, "the usual suspects"
and all the other zombies were more than ready to see the
undead on the big screen.
All
I'll say about the movie is that it is fun, gory and one
of the funniest movies I've seen all year. Right away, it
knows what it is and who it's for. If you're a fan of the
genre, you'll have a blast!.
Now
go check out my
friend Otto's blog for a look through the superior and
not yet decomposing eyes of a professional photographer!
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