Show It Right

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I'm attending the big Doubt screening at tonight's AFI Fest kickoff, but because it's being digitally projected I was asked -- told -- not to review it until I see it on a clean 35mm print in Manhattan sometime late next week. That's the aesthetic exactitude of the film's producer, Scott Rudin, talking.

In line with this, Variety's Anne Thompson has reported that Rudin "was so appalled at the way the digital projection looked on the curved giant Cinerama Dome screen that he made sure the film will show on three flat screens at the Arclight."

Correct again. That ultra-curved Cinerama screen is okay for watching revivals of How The West Was Won and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, but terrible for almost anything else. Alan Parker, some may recall, was so appalled at Evita -- shot in 2.35 widescreen -- playing there in '96 that he had a special flat screen installed."

Doubt was shot in 1.85, and "gorgeously!," I'm told. "Roger Deakins' work is stunning."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 30, 2008 at 7:07 AM

comment #1

actionman says ...

The Dome is the most overrated place to watch a movie. The regular black-box theaters at the Arclight are far superior. Theaters 3 and 10 are the shit.

I am not a fan of digital projection. Never have been, never will be.

Posted by actionman at October 30, 2008 9:35 AM

comment #2

Mr. Peel says ...

I love the Dome, I'll admit that, but there's something I can't put into words about watching a film there in digital that bugs me. If the film in the dome has digital projection, I'll see it in one of the black boxes instead. I always prefer film but don't have this issue somewhere like the Chinese where digital looks and sounds just fine. But nothing good ever plays the Chinese anymore.

Posted by Mr. Peel at October 30, 2008 9:40 AM

comment #3

actionman says ...

I remember watching Zodiac and Apocalypto in the dome and thinking they both looked washed out and too bright.

Then I saw them in regular theaters and was amazed at the difference in quality.

Posted by actionman at October 30, 2008 9:46 AM

comment #4

Chase Kahn says ...

I always try to catch showings digitally if I can at local AMC's/Cinemark's/etc. Not only because of the obvious reasons, but because it guarantees that It will be showing in one of their larger, cozier theaters...

Posted by Chase Kahn at October 30, 2008 12:05 PM

comment #5

Edward says ...

I've only seen one film digitally projected, "Ratatouille" and it was simply gorgeous. I'm wondering if the film needs to be shot digitally or at least go through a DI -- the digital file used for the digital projection.

Posted by Edward at October 30, 2008 12:28 PM

comment #6

huntermdaniels says ...

I saw This is Cinerama at the dome a few years back. It was quite interesting, but I don't go there regularly. It's very expensive and the shape of the screen cuts off the sides of the image!

Posted by huntermdaniels at October 30, 2008 12:55 PM

comment #7

huntermdaniels says ...

That said, digital projection IS the future. I saw a special screening of Baraka at Telluride and it was nothing short of awe inspiring. It made the real world look low resolution.

Posted by huntermdaniels at October 30, 2008 12:58 PM

comment #8

dinovelvet says ...

Hmm, I've never been to the Dome, I was planning to see Quantum of Solace there on opening night, but now apparently I'm reading its not all that? Any other recommendations for theaters? It won't be playing at the Chinese, where I saw Casino Royale...The Bridge is supposedly good, right?

Posted by dinovelvet at October 30, 2008 1:15 PM

comment #9

ASD says ...

I haven't been to the Cinerama Dome since Kill Bill, Vol. 2 and would like to echo the iffy projection and distorted viewing experience and also add the seats are (were) horribly uncomfortable. However there's nothing at all wrong with any of the other Arclight screen (including those at the Sherman Oaks location). Go see Bond there and you'll be fine.

Posted by ASD at October 30, 2008 2:22 PM

comment #10

A.H. says ...

The Arclight dome looks bad with *any* kind of projection because of cross-screen reflections introduced by the curvature. Something bright on one side of the screen will actually reflect light onto the other side and wash out the image.

They solved this problem back in the 1950s with the louvered screen in original Cinerama installations, but apparently Pacific Theaters was unwilling or unable to do it again when they renovated the place a few years ago.

Posted by A.H. at October 30, 2008 7:01 PM

comment #11