Hic!
If I’m going to see a comedy, there’s nothing I like more than visiting a Movie Grill and ordering a pitcher to get me through the next hour and a half (I’m Irish and Native American, so it’s just my heritage) and have me laughing my ass off with the rest of the audience.
But for something that really engages the intellect, why would you want to dampen those faculties while really trying to absorb a film? Doesn’t work for me.
If the ocean was whiskey and I was a duck, I would swim to the bottom and never come up
Never the first time. If I’m rewatching a film for the second, third etc….time I think it’s alright to have a few drinks. I got good and drunk years ago and went to the cinema and caught Oh Brother where art thou. I remember the opening image and then it became a blur. I came to a couple of hours later with a shot of a railroad track and the heroes going off into the sunset and that is my only memory of the film. I have since sworn off drinking before a movie. Now, on the other hand a fun game to play is one I call the Frank Booth drinking game. Get a nice buzz on, pop in a Blue Velvet DVD and just keep drinking,(it’s more fun with a few friends)everytime Frank says “Fuck” take a drink. Otherwise all other forms of boozing and viewing is a no no.
Try watching the animated How the Grinch Stole Christmas by taking a drink every time you hear the word “who”.
Oh, man.
I think you’re going to get a different opinion from anyone you ask. It certainly depends on how the alcohol affects you. If it enhances your cinematic experiences, then I say go for it. Perhaps you could experiment by putting the alcohol aside for a bit to see if there are any noticeable changes when watching something you’ve only viewed while drinking.
Only if I’m, like, out with people or something.
Drinking alone, by myself, with the TV on just kind of sounds depressing.
I like a glass or two of wine while watching a film. It’s very civilized. I remember being quite impressed with cinemas in Europe that served alcohol at the concession stands.
What I find bizarre is the idea that people used to smoke while watching movies. Wouldn’t that have been distracting for other people?
Smoking-It was fckng annoying, that what it was. In the 70s people would even smoke dope…
Sensational, I do that a lot actually and is how I prefer to view my films. A good ol’ Rasputin or Trappist ale really does it.
Of course on viewings where I actually need to take notes say…for analysis or writing, I never drink, eat, nor do anything else to distract me from the film.
Go ahead, sip your Rémy Louis XIII out of the biggest snifter you have and enjoy with a fine cigar. If you’re at home in your slippers, in front of the fire that shouldn’t bother anyone.. But for that I’d put something more classy on than Return of the Living Dead..
I really meant that if I’m watching something enguaging then I might have a few drinks, maybe two glasses of wine. I didn’t intend to sound like I drink every single time I watch a film. All I wanted to ask is how others felt about the subject, and when they avoid or enjoy it.
I only drank alcohol during a movie once, and that was a shot of apple squeezin’s during Kentucky Fried Movie. I don’t remember too much about the movie, but I remember that I laughed a lot.
I think it also depends on the film. I could probably watch John Carpenter films blazed or drunk and still pick up on much of it. On the other hand, watching something like Stalker with a bit of alcohol in me will probably put me to sleep.
There was a time when I would often have a beer while watching a film, and it didn’t affect me. But of course, it depends on the movie and drink—for me, watching The Milky Way while drinking several pomegranate martinis is a really bad idea.
Well, watching a James Bond movie while sipping vodka martini might enhance the film experience… but it would seem wise to avoid mixing alcohol and film in general.
“In the 70s people would even smoke dope…”
That wasn’t just the ’70s . . . or so I hear.
In college and for a few years after our group of friends would watch WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF and drink along with George and Martha. I know it sounds sad, but it was actually fun. Barfly was another must drink while watching movie. There are a few more, but I’m alittle too tipsy to remember them. They’ll come to me tomorrow.
One drink doesn’t hurt in the slightest, unless of course the person in question is a lightweight.
So I’ll have a drink, or a beer, but its not like I’m going to get trashed before watching something.
However, I must say espresso is a perfect companion to Mulholland Drive and Persona, among others.
Strawdawg, that sounds amazing actually.
Oh God, drinking games for films about alcoholics??? Genius!
Or Paradjanov: drink every time sheep are shorn.
I’m right there with you, FV…my evening plans actually sound something very like your post, with ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 lined up.
Entertainment or intellect, just make sure the film isn’t too depressing:
http://www.theauteurs.com/notebook/posts/832
For Bergman, I recomment a couple of stiff drinks beforehand and wait for the anti-deppressants to kick in before viewing.
The Party should always be seen drunk. However, certain films seen drunk lose all semblance of funny when sober. Case in point: Steel Magnolias – hilarious when drinking, not so hilarious when sober. Depends on the mood and the film what is appropriate. Never watch Inland Empire, however, in any ‘sober’ type state – or when suffering from a hang-over.
Don’t think I will try keeping up with Liz and Dick on WAoVW? either – however fun that might be…In real life, at around the time this movie came out, the two of them could easily have drunk any of us under the table. It is clear that heavy drinking was not involved when they were on camera for this film. Tremendous performances from all.
Great link, Ben, to the excellent Notebook article on In A Lonely Place. A great film even when seen completely sober, eh?
I’ve never drank while watching a film.
Film Tasting
1) Dandelion Wine, Vino iz odvanchikov (1997, Igor Apasyan)
2) Champagne (1928, Alfred Hitchcock)
3) The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969, Stanley Kramer)
4) Whiskey Romeo Zulu (2005, Enrique Piñeyro)
5) Vodka Lemon (2004, Hiner Saleem)
My friend always gets a bucket of beer when we go to the local art house. Then he complains when he doesn’t understand what happened in The Girlfriend Experience and such. Calls it aimless because he was drunk.
I smoke a big fat doobie every time I pop in Dazed and Confused, The Big Lebowski or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I break out the Makers Mark and Jim Beam every time I pop in Leaving Las Vegas and The Lost Weekend. It’s so fun to be bombed when watching movies.
Where would great art be without the influence of drugs and booze?
Probably in a much better place, Lester.
You drink whiskey while watching a film about a man killing himself with alcohol?
I really don’t see any positive to drinking alcohol while watching a film under any circumstances. Actually, it’s funny that Lester mentioned smoking while watching Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas up there because that is a movie where most people that I ask if they’ve seen it respond with, “yeah, but I’ve never seen it sober.” I don’t understand…. just because it’s about drugs and very strange you can’t be in your right mind..?
I think it’s okay to have a buzz while watching a comedy, but if you’re watching something you need to digest you’re better off sober.
Ferrell V
When I begin a movie in the evening, I usually like to enjoy some alcohol during my viewing. I would think most others do this, and I began to ask myself if this was affecting my judgement of films. Surely, films like Return of the Living Dead or DeadAlive become more enjoyable, but what about the other, more serious films? When I begin DeadAlive or the such, I know I just want to be entertained, and I also know that alcohol will enhance that feeling, especially with friends. But when a new film begins, and I don’t know how I will feel about it, am I ruining the experience of that film by drinking?
Now, I don’t want to give the impression that I get soused and pop in the DVD, but I do get a little buzzed. This seems to make the longer, more drawn out scenes of certain movies more bearable. Perhaps if I hadn’t been drinking, these scenes may have bored me or seemed uninteresting.
Does anyone have any input here, or do you have the same concern?
P.S – I tried to search for a topic on this but had no success. If there is a topic already on this, just let me know.