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- 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!
- Cult Films Meet-Up: L'AGE D'OR Meets MONTY PYTHON'S MEANING OF LIFELucky Labrador Brew Pub, Portland, OR
Portland Movie Club Meet-Up - Spotlight on "L'AGE D'OR" and "MONTY PYTHON''S MEANING OF LIFE" - A Bunuel Meets Monty Python Double Feature! (Really!!!)
Let's talk about movies! Join Movie Club Member David J. for the next discussion in our cult film series – a mind-bending double feature suggested by our co-host Kyle C. combining Luis Bunuel’s classic surrealist short film “L’Age D’or” (1930) with “Monty Python’s Meaning of Life” (1983). The final film bringing together the original, full cast of the British comedy series, directed by Terry Jones, and featuring an astonishing introductory short directed by Terry Gilliam (which in many ways is a precursor to “Brazil”).Here's how it works:
1. Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet.
2. We'll meet at Lucky Lab at 4pm (map), there will be a sign at our table, or at the least we will make it as obvious as we can who we are (watch for that rowdy bunch waving hands and wearing movie themed T-Shirts) and where we are saving tables and chairs.
3. Grab some food and drinks and spend some enjoyable time discussing this masterpiece (or these masterpieces, in this rare instance) with us.A little about L’AGE D’OR:
Noted surrealists Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali fashioned a virtually plotless screenplay, crafting vignettes to explore contemporary perspectives concerning sex, religion and liberation, to touch on just a few of the controversial topics the two planned to explore. The collaborators reportedly travelled on opposite sides of the political spectrum, making for an intriguing clash of perspectives, but as director it is likely Bunuel’s hand may be the strongest force at play. Our discussion will likely touch on the collaborators themselves in addition to the artistry behind this remarkable collaboration.A little about MONTY PYTHON’S MEANING OF LIFE:
Like the BBC series which preceded their cinematic output, “Meaning of Life” adopts an episodic approach, featuring satirical segments ranging from an Oliver Twist inspired musical number about religion and childbirth to an eye-popping battle between corporate employees heroically fought between an ancient pirate ship and modern urban skyscrapers. For many of its fans, it’s the dining room sequence featuring the aftermath of a fat-suited Terry Jones receiving one last final “teeny-tiny mint” from John Cleese that is the most famous and frequently referenced of these episodes.Viewing Options
Streaming options are reported to include Amazon Prime and Kanopy for “L’age D’or,” and for the Monty Python epic, the options are reported to include Apple TV, Amazon Prime and Fandango at Home. You might also try Peacock as the film was made and distributed by Universal.
“Meaning of Life” has been released on multiple home video formats over the years, and most recently as a deluxe 4K UHD Blu-Ray edition with extras. There have been numerous DVD releases of the Bunuel film, and apparently a rare OOP foreign release Blu-ray.About Cult Films
Sometimes good, almost always interesting, and only somewhat definable. This very special category of cinema is known for its dedicated fanbases, high-camp kitsch, transgressive ideas, counterculture perspectives, polarized reception, and sometimes for artfulness, but far more often for obscurity. Many cult films exist at the borderline between art and exploitation.While Cult Films typically defy mainstream criticism, they are rich candidates for open-minded entertainment and interpretation, viewed through a lens that emphasizes their unique perspectives regardless of their financial success or failure.
Some of Portland Movie Club Organizer Nick’s favorites are The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Big Lebowski, Plan 9 From Outer Space, and Office Space. There's a great writeup of the genre on Wikipedia.
Tips
- Haven't seen the movie in a while? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can
- Many of the regularly attending members casually take a few notes while watching to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring 'em with you!
Previous films viewed by “Cult Film” Meet-up members for group discussion have included “Barbarella,” “Fantastic Planet,” a double feature of “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die” with “The Man With Two Brains,” Takashi Miike's "Audition," “Daisies,” “Jennifer’s Body,” “The Human Tornado,” David Cronenberg’s “Videodrome” and "The Brood," David Lynch’s “Eraserhead,” “Switchblade Sisters,” “The Love Witch,” Ed Wood's “Plan 9 From Outer Space,” Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood,” and Brian DePalma’s “Phantom of The Paradise.”
The Portland Movie Club is on Discord!
Are you on Discord? Join the Portland Movie Club! - Political Films Meet-Up: THE FOG OF WARLucky Labrador Brew Pub, Portland, OR
Political Films Meet-Up: “THE FOG OF WAR”
Let’s talk about movies! Join movie club member Clay V. for the next film in our Political Films series with Errol Morris' “The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara“ (2003), which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
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 the film:
"The Fog of War" consists of archival footage and an extensive interview with McNamara about his life and role in monumental events such as the Allied bombing of Japan, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War. This being a political discussion, we encourage open and respectful discourse.Viewing Options for the film:
For streaming, the film is available to rent via YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, or Fandango at Home. There is also a DVD and a Bluray of the film available to rent at Movie Madness.About Political Films:
This series is based on the New Republic article, "The 100 Most Significant Political Films of All Time" ([https://newrepublic.com/article/173376/100-political-films-new-republic-list] published in June 2023 and is a comprehensive list of films that speak to our relationships with government, war, bureaucracy, politics and politicians, crime, propaganda, classism, and more. The list is not intended to be a collection of the 'best' films, but the most significant (although many of them are also very good). Some of these films can be a challenging watch, I'd suggest www.doesthedogdie.com for content warnings.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, we just discuss it after we’ve seen it.You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can.
Many of us usually take a few notes while watching to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring 'em with you!
Typically, at the Meet-Up we'll decide on our next political film to watch! Take a look at the list linked above for options to consider for the next film.
Previous films viewed by “Political Films” Meet-up members for group discussion have included “The Zone of Interest,“ “Harlan County USA,” “Judas And The Black Messiah,” “Medium Cool,“ “The President’s Analyst,” “Marat / Sade,” “On The Waterfront,” “The Great McGinty,” “Seven Days In May,” “The Candidate,” “The Act of Killing,” “The Battle Of Algiers,” “All The President’s Men,” “How To Blow Up A Pipeline,” “Do The Right Thing,” “Malcolm X,” “A Face In The Crowd,” and “Dr. Strangelove.”
The Portland Movie Club is on Discord!
Are you on Discord? Join the Portland Movie Club!
