Are you ready to go back to the movies? Film fans have been weighing the pros and cons for about a month now, as cinemas throughout the United States have reopened for business.
The coronavirus pandemic is far from over, so national chains and local cinemas have instituted new rules and guidelines to help prevent the spread of the virus. That means capacity limits, increased cleaning procedures, hand sanitizer stations, mask requirements, changes at the concessions stand and more.
With the release of Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet,” movie enthusiasts have an even stronger impetus to head back to the local cinema or multiplex. After several delays, the time-twisting thriller starring John David Washington is screening at theaters throughout the country, including some in Alabama.
Three staffers at AL.com -- lifestyle reporters Lawrence Specker and Mary Colurso, and sports producer Matt Scalici -- are among those who’ve ventured back to the movies for “Tenet.” Matt and Mary took in “Tenet” screenings at the Sidewalk Cinema in Birmingham; Lawrence visited the Regal Mobile. This week, we assembled online to chat about the experience, with an assist from Life & Culture editor Ben Flanagan.
Ben Flanagan: Before this latest venture, what did you last see in a movie theater, and when?
Matt Scalici: I saw “Tenet” at the Sidewalk Cinema a couple of weeks ago. Before that, the last movie I saw in a theater was Pixar’s “Onward,” which I saw with my wife and kids basically the weekend before the pandemic shut everything down.
Lawrence Specker: I gotta go with “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” in December. But I did go to the Crescent Theater last week for a smaller experience with “The Personal History of David Copperfield.”
Mary Colurso: I saw “Parasite” — a very good movie — with friends in January at an indoor theater. The last movie I saw before this one was “Jasper Mall,” but that was outdoors, at the Sidewalk Film Festival’s drive-in edition.
Mary Colurso: Was anyone feeling cautious about going to the movies now? I was wary of spending time in an indoor theater, with other people breathing aerosols my way. But I also felt ready to go see something on the big screen. Let’s just say my fingers were crossed.
Matt Scalici: I was not planning to see a movie in a theater again anytime soon before hearing about Sidewalk’s setup for “Tenet,” particularly as an immunocompromised person. After reading about all the restrictions they had in place and talking to some of their staff about it to have some additional questions answered, I felt comfortable enough to go. I had a very high bar and Sidewalk cleared it.
Lawrence Specker: I felt like audiences would be light and any risk would be in line with other things I’ve already been doing. If the theater isn’t crowded, you’re exposed to fewer people than if you go to the grocery store. Also I figured theaters and patrons would be using masks, etc. I went to Regal Mobile, which is near Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile. The screening was 2:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and there were four people at the screening.
A near-empty parking lot indicates sparse attendance at the Regal Mobile multiplex (Formerly the Hollywood Stadium 18) in Mobile on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com
Matt Scalici: If I could see every movie going forward the way I saw “Tenet,” I would have no issue with movies returning to theaters. The question of course is whether that model is actually profitable for theaters or studios.
Lawrence Specker: The theater did seem to be operating with minimal staff, but yeah, you have to wonder about the economics.
Matt Scalici: Based on my past experiences with the major theater chain that owns essentially every theater in Birmingham, I would have very serious doubts about their ability to exert the same control over their patrons. I think Sidewalk’s limited size and the restrictions they have in place position them for success in that regard.
The Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema in Birmingham has reopened with screenings of "Tenet." A staffer at the entrance scans tickets and does temperature checks.(Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
Mary Colurso: How did you feel walking into the theater and settling down? What precautions or guidelines were in place? I took the steps down to the the lower level of the Pizitz building for a 4 p.m. screening on a Thursday — the idea of being in a public elevator makes me wince right now — and saw just three or four people on the way in. A Sidewalk staffer was positioned near the entrance to scan tickets and take temperatures via a contactless head scan. Sidewalk also has a skeleton sitting outside the entrance, wearing a bandanna and holding the coronavirus guidelines. That startled me a little, then made me laugh.
The Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema in Birmingham has reopened with screenings of "Tenet." A skeleton wearing a bandanna greets moviegoers near the entrance, warning them of restrictions and guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.(Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
Matt Scalici: My temperature was taken as I handed in my ticket to enter the building and an usher was in the theater to make sure everyone was sitting in their assigned seats. I never at any time felt like there was a lack of control over the environment, which is what I want to feel as a customer at any business right now.
Mary Colurso: Did you visit the concessions stand?
Lawrence Specker: I think the ticket, a large popcorn and large Mountain Dew icee set me back $29.50 or so, but if you’re going to do a thing, you should do it right. Everybody was masked and distanced. I did notice a sign apologizing for the limited menu. They weren’t doing hot dogs, for example. I guess you need more traffic to justify the full menu and more staff to handle it. My tab was $27.79, now that I look at the receipt.
The reopening of theaters means a return to the multiplex experience, for better and for worse.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com
Matt Scalici: Regarding snacks, I did buy some candy and attempted a maneuver where I snuck individual pieces of candy under my mask into my mouth. Yes, I ate without removing my mask. Please clap.
Mary Colurso: I didn’t order anything at the concessions stand, but it seemed like business as usual, with people going up to the counter wearing masks and being served popcorn, candy and drinks by a staffer also wearing a mask. Everyone had their masks on correctly — no noses or mouths showing — and people were social distancing in line, which was good to see.
The Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema in Birmingham has reopened with screenings of "Tenet." Moviegoers at a recent showing practiced social distancing at the concession stand.(Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
Mary Colurso: Did you feel weird eating with other people around, Lawrence, or attempt any under-the-mask maneuvers, as Matt did?
Lawrence Specker: Shortly after arriving at my seat, I spilled a tremendous amount of popcorn. I blame it on the need to handle my mask. I did take the mask off, because I was about 20 feet from anybody else. I feel bad, though, because with such a light crowd they know exactly who made the mess.
Mary Colurso: Any thoughts on the overall atmosphere at the movies? At Sidewalk, the entire cinema space was nearly empty and quiet, which made me feel pretty relaxed about being here. No crowds, no one getting close or breathing on me. There were hand sanitizer stations at the entrance to the cinema, and near the doors of the two theaters. I used them. Even with all the COVID precautions, I still felt a little freaked for the first five or 10 minutes of the movie, sitting with eight strangers who were mostly masked. (Some were eating popcorn or sipping drinks from the concession stand.) Those pesky aerosols, y’all! But I settled down after awhile — and I had to, because “Tenet” is one of those movies that requires you to FOCUS.
The Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema in Birmingham has reopened with screenings of "Tenet." Hand sanitizing stations can be found near the main entrance to the cinema and near theater doorways.(Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
Lawrence Specker: When I first entered the room for the 2:30 showing, the 2:15 showing had just begun next door and there was a tremendous amount of sound bleeding over. Nothing that gave anything away, just those ponderous deep groaning sounds that accompanied all the heavy action. Heard it again coming out of various rooms as I departed the theater afterward. It was like you could jump around within the timeline of the movie just by going door to door! Weird, huh? Anyway, there we were sitting in silence, widely separated, hearing noise from next door. Some atmosphere. Once we had our own noise, the bleed-over wasn’t obtrusive.
Matt Scalici: The biggest thing I noticed about the atmosphere is that there wasn’t one, and for right now that’s exactly what I want. In the Before Times, I definitely have had great experiences in theaters with huge and rowdy crowds (“Avengers: Endgame” on opening night remains my favorite movie theater experience of all time) but sadly in 2020, other people = danger. What I want right now is as close to a private screening as I can get but with theater-quality sound and projection.
Mary Colurso: One thing I have to mention about Sidewalk Cinema: We had assigned seats — no usher present — and the system Sidewalk uses is confusing. The rows weren’t marked in the cinema, and the seat fronts have small numbers on these little metal plaques that are hard to read. Organizers tried to make it obvious, I think, with “Sit here” signs that were placed on either side of various seats, but people didn’t pay attention to that. At the screening I attended — a total of nine people were there — some moviegoers just walked in and plopped down wherever they liked. That assigned seating plan? Out the window. My assigned seat was gone, so I just grabbed one away from everybody else, sprayed the armrests with hand sanitizer and hoped for the best.
The Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema in Birmingham has reopened with screenings of "Tenet." Assigned seats are required in the theaters, and signs help moviegoers to find their places.(Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
Ben Flanagan: What else could the theaters do to make it even safer? Concession vs. non-concession theater options? Plexi-glass between seats? Anything?
Matt Scalici: I understand why concessions are necessary for theaters -- it’s literally where almost all their profit margins come from --but I do think it adds a level of risk because it means more people without their masks on in the theater. To me, enforcement of assigned seating and mask compliance are absolutely the most important things a theater could do to make me feel comfortable right now.
Lawrence Specker: Usually the most crowded places in a theater are the lobby, the corridors and the restrooms. Not sure how you control all that with significant numbers of people. Maybe one-way lanes, route outgoing patrons to side doors rather than the lobby, etc. I mean, every business in the state is operating at reduced capacity, but have you seen anybody putting limits on restroom occupancy? I haven’t.
Matt Scalici: The easiest way to cut down the crowding in a movie theater is obviously to sell fewer tickets. But it’s tough to ask a business to voluntarily limit their ability to earn money like that. It’s a tough position that they’re in but right now they’re making ZERO money and the only way for them to rise above that is to make customers feel safe enough to come back.
Mary Colurso: How many people would be too many for you in a movie theater? I’m not sure about that.
Matt Scalici: Obviously depends on the size of the theater but in a typically-sized AMC theater here in Birmingham, I would say I wouldn’t want to be in the room with more than 20 people.
Ben Flanagan: What did you miss most about going to the movies that didn’t realize until you were back in a theater?
Lawrence Specker: The way it strips out so many of the distractions you get at home. It’s you and the screen.
Matt Scalici: Ditto to Lawrence and I’ll add to that the lack of a pause button. It’s just too tempting to use it to get up and get snacks, drinks, bathroom breaks, etc.
Mary Colurso: I missed the big-screen experience, for sure. The little thrill you get when the movie starts, the in-your-face action, the feeling of closure when it’s over. I watch lots of movies on an iPad, so this was really sizing up.
Lawrence Specker: Also, I like getting there early for the trailers. One difference: This time there was no advertising around the trailers. Nothing local, none of those godforsaken Coca-Cola ads by aspiring young filmmakers. It was nice to have just the trailers.
Ben Flanagan: Will you go back to the movies during the pandemic?
Lawrence Specker: Yeah, if it’s comparable to this. I don’t want to be in the middle of a big group for a while. But we can head that way gradually. Flip side, I don’t think I want to see “Wonder Woman 1984” in an empty room. Bond benefits from crowd reaction as well.
Mary Colurso: It definitely depends on the movie. I’d attempt the local multiplex if it was something I really wanted to see, wearing a mask and toting a bottle of hand sanitizer. But just to go to the movies? Nah. I did feel safe and confident during a visit to the Sidewalk pop-up drive-in and two nights at the drive-in film festival. So, bring on the drive-ins!
Matt Scalici: If a theater can promise me a movie I’m genuinely excited about in a safe atmosphere, I will go back. Whether I trust that theater to create and maintain that safe atmosphere comes down to what I hear from others who try it out before me. I’m in no rush to be anybody’s guinea pig.
Mary Colurso: What were your impressions of “Tenet”? (No spoilers, please!) I found it equally entertaining and confusing, with a labyrinth storyline that was tough to follow and dialogue that was difficult to catch. But I expected that going in, and just went along for the ride. Temporal pincer movement? Alrighty, then.
Lawrence Specker: The single funniest thing about this movie might be the thought of how heavily people are going to use their rewind buttons, once it’s on home video. It’ll look like rewind and fast forward at the same time! ... On the inaudible conversation question, I wasn’t bothered. “Tenet” leads with a lot of mystery and follows with a little explanation.
Matt Scalici: I was glad to see “Tenet” on a big screen because it needs the scale and the big sound to really have the intended effect. Yes, I was thoroughly confused (which I think is kind of the point) but I thought it touches on some really interesting and relevant ideas.
The Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema in Birmingham has reopened with screenings of "Tenet." Screenings are restricted to 12 people in each 100-seat theater.(Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
Mary Colurso: Would you go again to see this same movie?
Lawrence: Yeah. Actually I’m looking forward to parsing it on home video some day. I assume all these time-warp fights were lavishly storyboarded and will make perfect sense, once I can break them down frame by frame.
Mary Colurso: “Tenet” is an EVENT movie, right? So I think it deserved a return to the theaters, even if I got lost in the plot about halfway through.
Matt Scalici: Unfortunately, “event movie” is probably a term I would only use for a movie in retrospect and “Tenet’s" story has largely been written at this point. It was a movie by a great director that miscalculated its release strategy and will ultimately be overlooked by most of the moviegoing public.
Mary Colurso: Do you think the movie should have been held longer for release or released for streaming, Matt?
Matt Scalici: I think they did just about everything wrong. I am happy to have the option to see it in a theater but I think they did their audience and their shareholders a huge disservice by refusing to also make it available on demand. They even refused to allow it to screen at drive-in theaters out of some bizarre concern for the plot being spoiled for people who happen to see the screen as they drive by on the highway. The entire strategy behind the release of the film seems to me to have been driven by a refusal to accept the realities of the world we now live in.
Lawrence Specker: I don’t feel disserved. To the extent their strategy doesn’t work, they’re the ones who suffer. And sooner or later, somebody had to go first.
Mary Colurso: But we’re all glad we gave this a try, right? Would you encourage others who might be on the fence to return to the movies? Like everything else right now, it’s an individual call. And a tough one.
Lawrence Specker: On the safety issue my take would be, I went, there weren’t many people there, it was fine. If I had gotten there and found a crowd, I might have balked.
Matt Scalici: Yep, I have to say it’s something everybody should judge for themselves on a case-by-case basis. But call your local theater if they’re showing movies, ask them questions, be specific. It’s possible that even asking them could prompt them to alter their policies. They want people to feel safe right now so they’ll be willing to come back and buy tickets. I’m still hoping against hope that Disney and the theater chains figure out some way to show “Black Widow” safely this fall. I really don’t want to watch it on my crummy TV.
Ben Flanagan: Do y’all feel more or less inclined to see movies at locally owned venues, or is it all about which theater offers the safest experience, local or corporate?
Lawrence Specker: The core experience isn’t much different. What’s potentially different at the multiplex is crowded halls, lobbies and restrooms -- when business returns to normal levels.
Matt Scalici: I don’t know that I’d create any general rules about it like that, but it helps for me that Sidewalk is run by a group of people who are very public about how they operate and very approachable in terms of answering my questions. I think being able to have a relationship with the businesses you patronize is more important than ever right now. Trust has to be there for me to feel comfortable taking a risk right now.
Mary Colurso: Anything else we want to say about the moviegoing experience?
Matt Scalici: Please Venmo me if you want the secrets to eating candy without removing your mask.
Lawrence Specker: The biggest potential problem is the same as it has always been for the movies -- inconsiderate audience behavior. And that’s hard to predict, no matter what theaters do.
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We went back to the movies for ‘Tenet,’ and here’s what we found - AL.com
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