Cult Films Meet-Up: "Real Genius" (1985)

Portland Movie Club Cult Films Meet-Up - Spotlight on: “REAL GENIUS" (1985) with Val Kilmer

Let's talk about movies! Join Movie Club Members Victoria G. and David J for a Meet-Up to discuss the mid-1980’s much beloved comedy “Real Genius,” which has amassed a following over the years among new viewers and those lucky few to have seen it on its brief theatrical run. Typically for its against-the-grain take on college life, focusing on young adults too smart for their own good. Instead of the standard mix of college movie nerds, expelled frat boys, and other would-be drop-outs, all of whom too obnoxious for their own good.

Here's how a Portland Movie Club Meet-Up works:
1. Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet.
2. We'll meet at Breakside Brewery in Beaverton in Beaverton, OR at 2 pm on a Saturday. We typically have signs or relevant books or memorabilia at our table(s), but we'll also try to be obvious and identifiable. Please note that this is a change in venue from many of our scheduled Sunday Meet-Up events.
3. Grab some food and drinks and spend some enjoyable time discussing these masterpieces with us. (The Breakside in Beaverton has a full-service bar and a quality assortment of food carts in the outdoor patio area.)

A little about Martha Coolidge’s “Real Genius.”
Val Kilmer made an indelible impression in one of his earliest roles as a brilliant young student and jokester, conned by his professor into developing a laser that the government plans to use for mysterious purposes. He’s joined in this endeavor by a 15-year-old prodigy, and only too far into their work do they discover its true purpose.

Director Martha Coolidge,known best at the time for helming a previous cult favorite, “Valley Girl,” which provided its own amusing perspective on superficial high school life pretty adroitly. Coolidge later went on to become the first woman leader of the Director’s Guild of America, as well as directing “Rambling Rose” and “Angie,” and a long run of television assignments.

Val Kilmer – known later for performing in memorable films like “Heat,” “The Doors,” and “Batman Forever,” sadly passed away earlier this year. Though his daughter has recently defended a project attempting to resurrect her father through the controversial application of AI.

Trigger Notes: We tend to watch edgier stuff in the Cult Films Meet-Up than in other Meet-Up Events. Please view this site if you think there may be any concerning elements portrayed in this film: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/20083

Viewing Options
Include - at the very least - Amazon Prime and Apple TV. You should also be able to find a Blu-ray and a 4K UHD Blu-ray of the film fairly easily, and for rent at Movie Madness.

About Cult Films
Sometimes good, almost always interesting, and only somewhat definable, Cult Films defy mainstream criticism and are noted for their obscurity and dedicated fan bases. Many cult films exist at the borderline between art and exploitation and are rich candidates for open-minded entertainment and interpretation.

We recommend viewing them for their uniqueness, regardless of their financial success or failure, and their often lack of adherence to a shared mainstream cinematic language. Some consider Cult Cinema to be Oppositional Cinema, always inhabiting a space outside of mainstream trends and popularity.

Tips

1. Haven't seen the movie in a while? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet. As with a book club, we don't watch the movie at our meetup, we just discuss it. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you do.
2. Some members enjoy researching the films and sharing what they find with the group. Others prefer to engage with the films in a more casual way. Both approaches are absolutely fine! Most PMC members land somewhere in the middle.
3. You may find it useful to take notes as you watch but definitely don't feel obligated. At the end of the day, we're here to socialize and have fun.

Previous titles viewed by our Cult Film Meet-up members for group discussion have included: Possession (1981), Born In Flames, Titane, Barbarella, Fantastic Planet, Eraserhead, Daisies (aka, Sedmikrásky), Jennifer’s Body, Another Day Another Man, The Human Tornado, The Love Witch, Plan 9 From Outer Space, The Brain That Wouldn't Die, Phantom of The Paradise, Takashi Miike's Audition, and David Cronenberg’s Videodrome and Rabid.

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