Movie (and theater) Review: Bonnie and Clyde (and stuff about our weekend)

[yesthattom]

We saw Bonnie and Clyde at the historic (currently being restored) Landmark Loews Jersey Theater last night. (Wikipedia and IMDB)

I hadn’t realized a number of things about this film. First of all, Warren Beaty not only stars in it (I knew that) but he produced it too. Secondly, I hadn’t realized how historically significant the film was. It was the first to show that level of sex and violence. The critics panned it. However, the youth of the day loved it and made it a big hit. I can really understand why... in 1967 a film about running away from parents, robbing rich banks but never harming poor people would really resonate with the growing 1960s youth movement. Watching it from that perspective was really quite a thrill.

By the way... it turns out we can get to this theater in about 20 minutes. It’s a huge historic building that was left to rot. However the Friends of Loews are restoring it. The A/C isn’t working yet, so they don’t have shows over the summer (yet) but the temperature was fine. Note to NYCers: Its across the street from the Journal Square PATH station. It can’t get any easier to get to (your subway pass works on the PATH trains now, eh?)

Also speaking of Jersey City... there was a tour of the artist lofts in the city Saturday. We spent a few hours on the tour before the movie. We also wandered into the indian district and had awesome food. Turns out the main drag has its own web site! During the day it was a very busy street. We drove through it again on the way home at around 8pm and even though it was dark, there was so much activity we thought there was a festival or something. Nope, just a very vibrant part of town.

The only disappointment of the day was realizing, about half way through, that we should have posted to LJ about our plans so we could have met up with people. This is the kind of thing we’d like to do more, socially speaking. Next time for sure!

Update: Corrected which PATH station is is near, and linked to directions.

Comments

[shirleym.livejournal.com]

Actually, that's the Journal Square PATH station that it's across from.

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the correction!

[tactisle.livejournal.com]

It's across the street from the Journal Square PATH station, not the Pavonia/Newport station. I still remember them reinstalling the St. George & Dragon statue in the facade tower, after they finally got the money to restore it.

I *heart* the Loews Jersey, and the way it's remained a real grassroots restoration project, in contrast to the Stanley Theater across the other street from the same train station (restored by the Jehovah's Witnesses in the '80's).

Wow

[mrfantasy.livejournal.com]

Reading the theatre's website about the restoration work, they've gotten some amazing volunteers and look like they're doing an amazing job.

[freeko.livejournal.com]

You were in my old neighbourhood. I was born and raised in Jersey City. Sure my hometown was dirty but it was across the river from NYC and it still better then Hartford, Connecticut as far as I am concerned.

[cinema-babe.livejournal.com]

Wow, that must have been awesome on the big screen. IIRC, this film was a milestone on the business end even moreso than on the artistic side. I think most people under 50 don't realize that Bonnie and Clyde is closer in spirit to Easy Rider than a typical "gangster film" of the era (mid 60s).

I'm always thrilled when one of the big old movie palaces gets restored and is actually used for showing movies.

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

Cool. I see a Bonnie and Clyde reference every now and then, and it generally makes me think of those days back in Morristown.