Buzz Bin

Inlander Staff


Save the Cinema -- While we're pleased to see some of the major theater chains in town picking up a few indie and foreign films, we were dismayed to hear that the Met may be canceling its dedicated art film series. Since the demise of the Magic Lantern, Spokane has been without a venue for art films, foreign films, documentaries and anything that might not make a ton of money at the multiplex. Plans are underway for a new Magic Lantern to open in town, but until then, watching an unfolding work of art under the Met's beautiful domed ceiling seems like a perfect match. Series Director Bob Glatzer suggests that anyone who wants to keep art films there should contact Metropolitan Mortgage, the Spokane company that funds the Met and all it does for the arts in Spokane. But we might also suggest checking out the schedule of screenings and showing up for some of them. Next chance to support Met Cinema? Va Savoir on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 5:30 and 8 pm. [For a full review, go to page 34]





Speaking of Movies... -- Here in the Bin, we're finding that the subject of movie audience behavior once again needs addressing. The crowd at Friday night's showing of Amelie was fairly tidy and well-behaved, but Saturday night's Lord of the Rings was marred in the very beginning -- which, as many of you know, is a crucial part of the film -- by a man having an all-too-audible conversation on his cell phone until told to "take it outside, buddy." Sunday's show of In the Bedroom, however, was off the charts. We could deal with the small climbing expedition that showed up 10 minutes into the movie and couldn't decide where to sit. We even white-knuckled it through the opening of some package, apparently wrapped in Mylar and strapping tape, that reminded us of the sound grizzlies make rummaging through dumpsters. What blew our minds though was realizing, just as the movie (rated R) was beginning to become ominous, that there were two little kids down in the front row completely unsupervised. C'mon people, remember the rules: turn off your cell phones, be quiet and no one under 17 without a parent or guardian. Sheesh!





Meow Mix -- We visited with Charlie the Tiger and his lynx pal Alotta at their temporary digs at Cat Tales Zoological Park in Mead this weekend. Charlie and Alotta were confiscated from their Spokane Valley owners a couple of weeks ago, and while they're getting much better care now at Cat Tales, they each desperately need a large pen. Those run about $15,000 -- come on cat lovers, it's time to cough up some dough for Cat Tales! [To help a large feline and maybe get your name on a cage, call 238-4126]





Got Buzz? Share it with your brethren here in the Bin, at [email protected]