What we’re about
It's like book club, but for Movies!
Want to talk about movies with other movie nerds? Saw a great movie you gotta tell others about?
The Portland Movie Club meets regularly to talk about a movie we all watched, recommend great movies to each other, and decide on what to watch for the next discussion. We're open to all fans of film.
Membership is free, just join us for a beer or two and hang out!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- The Camera Eye discussion: 8 1/2Breakside Brewery, Beaverton, OR
The Camera Eye discussion: 8 1/2
Join Movie Club member Jake Brown for the next film in his series highlighting great cinematography in motion pictures: 1963's semi-autobiographical tale, 8 1/2. Written and directed by notable Italian escapist Federico Fellini, and starring his recurring lead Marcello Mastroianni, with an energetic performance by Claudia Cardinale, 8 1/2 explores a filmmaker facing the daily stresses of his pressured career by drifting into surreal (and often juvenile) thoughts in avoidance of his next big creation.
Please note a change from both our typical location and day/time. This will be our new West Side Meet-Up occurring in Beaverton instead of Central or East Side Portland.Viewing Options for 8 1/2
Streaming options include Max, Hulu, The Criterion Channel, and Kanopy, along with additional for-purchase/rental options at Apple TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Google Play.“The Camera Eye” Portland Movie Club Meet-Up Series
Whether 35mm film, 70mm, 16, Super 8, or digital, we want to celebrate the greatest shots in cinema history. This isn’t just cameras and lenses, though. It’s framing, lighting, blocking, acting, makeup, costumes, location, set design, and so much more. Of course, cinematography is just a jumping-off point. What about sound design, characters, and most important of all, the story? Let’s discuss!Here's how the Portland Movie Club Meet-Ups work
- Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet. (Try watching it even if you've already seen it before. You don't have to watch one to join us, but it'll be more fun that way. Also, try taking notes to help remember the most interesting parts, and bring 'em with you if you can!)
- We'll meet at Breakside Brewery in Beaverton at 2pm on the scheduled date. We'll have signs at our table(s), but we'll also try to be obvious and identifiable.
- Grab some food, some drinks, and spend time socializing/discussing this movie with us!
The Portland Movie Club is on Discord!
Are you on Discord? Join the Portland Movie Club! - First Roles: "Taking Off" with Kathy Bates (plus Carly Simon, Georgia Engel)Lucky Labrador Brew Pub, Portland, OR
Join Portland Movie Club members Kyle and Clay for the First Roles group discussion! This group focuses on the initial on-screen appearances of celebrated Hollywood icons. For this meeting we've chosen a film with several notable first appearances. We will be discussing Miloš Foreman's 1971 film "Taking Off," featuring the big-screen debuts of Kathy Bates, Carly Simon, Jessica Harper, Georgia Engel, and Vincent Schiavelli.
Here's how it works:
- We'll meet at Lucky Lab at 4pm (map) There will be a Portland Movie Club sign at our table.
- Grab some food and drinks and we'll spend some time discussing this masterpiece with us (NOTE: Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet, streaming links below).
Movie Spotlight: "Taking Off"
Taking Off (1971) was Miloš Forman's first English language film, and his first collaboration with screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière. While originally conceived as another hippie movie, Taking Off became a sympathetic satire of both sides of the notorious Generation Gap of the 1960s-70s. A couple in the suburbs of New York City (Buck Henry and Lynn Carlin) are distraught when their teenage daughter suddenly runs off. They search all over the city, and find that there is a community of parents in the same position, who are willing to go to great lengths to find and relate to their children.Featured First Roles:
Viewers will easily recognize a teenage Kathy Bates (credited as Bobo Bates), who is one of many young people auditioning for stardom alongside the prodigal daughter. She plays acoustic guitar and sings a song written by Bates herself. Carly Simon is also in the audition, and sings an obscure original that has become something of a mantra to one of our hosts. Vincent Schiavelli, who became a regular in Forman's films, makes a memorable first appearance in a scene I dare not describe. And somewhere in the film is Jessica Harper, future star of Suspiria (1977), though our host has yet to spot her.Availability:
Sadly, this movie was not a financial success and remains obscure in the United States. Good quality DVDs and Blurays can only be ordered from overseas, and even the mighty Movie Madness collection only has a VHS of the film.
Thankfully, The Internet Archive exists, and the film can be streamed at the link below. If for some reason that viewing method does not work for you, send a message to host Clay V who can provide you with a link to an alternative streaming option.
https://archive.org/details/taking-off-1971? - LGBTQ+ Cinema Discussion: PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRELucky Labrador Brew Pub, Portland, OR
Movie Spotlight on "PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE"
Join Movie Club Member Elliot J. and special co-host Catherine O. for the next movie in their series highlighting LGBTQ+ films featuring "Portrait of A Lady on Fire" from 2019 (original French title: “Portrait de la Jeune Fille en Feu,” which translates as “Portrait of The Young Lady on Fire”). Taking place in 18th century France, it tells the story of two young women, an aristocrat and a painter commissioned to paint her portrait, and their romantic affair.Here's how The Portland Movie Club Meet-Ups work:
- Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet.
- We'll meet at Lucky Lab at 4pm (map) on the scheduled day & date. We'll typically have a sign at our table(s) but at least we'll try to be obvious and identifiable.
- Grab some food and drinks and spend some time socializing and discussing this movie with us.
A few notes about "PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE"
Written and directed by Céline Sciamma, starring Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel, “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” screened in competition for the Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. It succeeded in winning the Queer Palm at Cannes, becoming the first film directed by a woman to win the award. Sciamma also won the festival’s award for Best Screenplay. It additionally was nominated for the Independent Spirit Awards, Critics' Choice Awards and Golden Globe Awards for Best Foreign Language Film and was voted the 30th greatest film of all time in the Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll.Viewing Options:
Streaming options reportedly include Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Kanopy, and Apple TV. A region A Blu-ray release is available as part of The Criterion Collection.LGBTQ+ Portland Movie Club Meet-Up Cinema Series
LGBTQ+ characters and themes have been present throughout film history dating back to pre-Hays Code era. The relationship between film and the LGBTQ+ community has had its ups and downs over the years and has been continually changing. This discussion group will highlight some key films that mark these changes and shed light upon the vast selection of LGBTQ+ films which cinema has to offer.Tips:
- Haven't seen the movie in a while? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet. Just like a book club we don't watch the movie at our meetup, just discuss it. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can.
- I usually take a few notes while I watch to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring 'em with you!
Some of the films previously viewed and discussed in this series of PMC Meet-Ups have included “Sleepaway Camp,” Gregg Araki’s “The Doom Generation” and “Nowhere,” “But I’m A Cheerleader,” “I Saw The TV Glow,” “Tangerine,” “Dog Day Afternoon,” Gus Van Sant's "My Own Private Idaho" and the documentary “Paris Is Burning.”
The Portland Movie Club is on Discord!
Are you on Discord? Join the Portland Movie Club! - Giallo spotlight: "Opera"Cult Classics, Portland, OR
Opera is a visually striking psychological horror film by Dario Argento, set against the backdrop of a lavish production of Verdi’s Macbeth. When a young soprano unexpectedly lands the lead role, her rise to stardom is shadowed by a series of disturbing events. A mysterious figure begins orchestrating gruesome acts around her, forcing her into a terrifying game of voyeurism and survival. As the tension builds, the opera house becomes a stage not just for music, but for madness—where art, obsession, and trauma collide.
NEW LOCATION: We're going to meet at Cult Classics, 1308 SE Morrison St. They open at 4pm & are pretty empty at that time. We have permission to move tables and take over the front of the bar. They have a full bar, but fairly limited food items.
Tips:
- Haven't seen the movie in a while? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet (Streaming Options). Just like a book club we don't watch the movie at our meetup, just discuss it. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can.
- I usually take a few notes while I watch to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring 'em with you!
- We'll decide on our next giallo movie to watch! Come with suggestions.
Are you not that familiar with the giallo genre? Read the Wikipedia entry to learn more. Is there a giallo you'd like to propose the group watch and discuss next? Here's a comprehensive list of Italian giallos along with films influenced by the genre. Maybe there's a film you've heard about but needed an excuse to see--come join us for discussion & make a suggestion!
Coming to the group for the first time, but interested in movies previously watched & discussed? Here's a list of all previous giallos watched and discussed by the group (with group rating)!
On Discord? Join the Portland Movie Club!
