[mosta]

I started going to a lot of movies during the mid to late nineties in Berkeley. The UC had a different double feature almost every day, and there were lots of other rep houses in the area. Before that period I had never walked out of a movie--like many here. 'Well I paid for it. Might as well stick around and try to get something for it.' Then one day I had a revelation--I'm not going to waste any more of my life watching ****ty movies from now on. I probably like less than a third of movies I go to, and so I got on this almost fanatical streak. I mean, really, you know in the first 10 min if a movie just has no chance. And my goal was to get out by then. And it felt so good stepping outside with an extra hour of my life back. Naturally I don't remember a lot of them. A few examples:

The Closet (the French movie about a closted guy). "funny" for tittering, overweight middle age people. nice thing about this one was it was a multiplex, so I got to walk into Beijing Bicyle.

Shakespeare in Love. Paltrow was bad enough, but I bolted literally on Affleck's second line.

Only movie I've walked out of twice: Blow Up. The lead actor was so unbearable. I went for a burrito across from the UC to wait for The Conformist on the double feature. I got back a little early. tried to stick it out. and had to go for a horchata. now I'm actually coming around to Blow Up a little, though. (certainly like The Conversation better.)

Red Dessert. or some other antonioni.

Country Preacher. or whatever that Bresson was.

something by Mizoguchi.

well there are dozens anyway. one thing I've never done is ask for my money back. aren't you supposed to do that? (not that I'd ever ask at a rep house (if there are any anymore).) I guess my very first walk out was Raging Bull but that was b/c I was a kid and my father didn't anticipate that there would be cursing. he got his money back.