Racing along the 210 flanked by members of the West Coast Hessians isn't the ideal omen to an outing. Nor is it a relief to see DETOUR: SUNSET BLVD CLOSED flashing orange at the junction where the Vista Theater sits at the cusp. Parking almost drove us back to suburbia but the boyfriend's talent at finding low cost car lodging in Los Angeles is optimum. We only endured a short walk from a sleepy residential alcove a few blocks away.
Again I stress that my reviews are geared more towards place rather than product. We choose the Vista to see 'Inglorious Basterds' but I prefer to let people make their own calls on entertainment without my nagging input. Lately, for me, it has been about the actual aura of place. We live across from a massive multi-plex but in the spirit of escaping the mainstream, headed to the Vista, where neither of us has ever been (blush).
The whole movie going experience begins with collection of Grauman-inspired hand/foot/cement signatures just outside the tiny box office. The Vista’s lively manager of 20 years, Victor Martinez, dons costumes of the featured film’s main character—in this case he was booted and capped like Brad Pitt’s Lt. Aldo Raine. Hieroglyphic scarabs, ankhs, serpents and seraphic eyes follow your descent into the dim auditorium bathed in red velvet curtains and dotted with sapphire blue lights along the aisles. Center seats provide enough leg room to support a raucous Rocky Horror Show (but that’s not the repertoire- sorry). Instead of the constant stimuli blast of ads and upcoming previews that dominate the multiplexes you can actually have a conversation with your movie going partner or the voice in your head. The soothing darkness and the eclectic soundtrack keep you on the edge of your seat—something good is bound to happen. Best of all, it doesn’t have that old aquarium smell like the old Santa Anita mall theater did. And no kiddies under 4 allowed, only on Wednesdays—yay!
Hint: get there and don’t load up on liquids if you’re there for the first show, (box office doesn’t open 30 min prior give or take and the little coffee house next door doesn’t have a public potty—hey these things are important to chronic urinators like myself) There’s no parking lot for the Vista so you need to do a little hunting which can be frustrating if you are tight on time.
As for the movie, like I said, I don’t do those kind of reviews, not in depth anyway, but ‘Inglorious Basterds’ is Tarantino’s best work and well worth the time and $$ to see. Maybe the Vista played a role in my humble opinion but that would be for you to decide…
Laura, that was a beautiful description of my favorite kind of theatre, all too rare now. I hate multiplexes, little boring boxes with no atmosphere. There is a theatre in a little town near me that has not changed much since the 1920's. I love it! They show classic films and some newer ones. The owner does just like the Vista, dresses to fit the movie. Popcorn and Cokes are cheap, the lobby is cool, and the ladies' room hasn't changed since Rudolph Valentino was a star. Before every movie, there is a drawing for prizes, and the people who work there do skits pertaining to the show. Their best skit was for West Side Story. Then you get a cartoon, and everybody stands up for the National Anthem. It's just great!
ReplyDelete