08/07/07

Glorious, challenging and indispensable? Or obscure, overcrowded and pretentious? Either way, it's an institution.

by Contributor

The Space
Though Film Forum is one of the city's last remaining art-house-repertory theaters, it isn't getting any points for size or comfort--the seats are hard and the crowds can be large. However, the friendly staff manages to keep things moving along nicely and the three small theaters are clean, no easy feat. Munchies, including fresh popcorn, great cookies and espresso drinks, are superior. And then there are the movies.

The Films
Two of the screens are devoted to first-run independent and foreign films you won't see anywhere else as well as re-releases of restored classics ("The Trial," the 3-D "Kiss Me Kate"). The third screen features retrospectives, which can mean anything from a Stanley Kubrick festival or spotlight on Clara Bow to the entire oeuvre of Russ Meyer.

01/16/06

Great Movies. Good Concessions. Tiny Seats.

by undulatinggrey

Film Forum is great for the films and the concessions (love the popcorn, love the Hitchcock cookie, love the wedges of lime for my Coke) but the seats are small, rather hard and the crowds are large. I also have to say that I have found the crowds to be somewhat irritating in their laughter and giggles but I would make the same complaint about the crowds at the Angelika.

• Pros: films, nice staff, good popcorn
• Cons: seating, hipster crowds

01/11/03

love it & hate it

by jbny

NYC's worst popcorn (there's a sign that it got a high rating once, but I think someone needs to rate it again!). Facility is worn, and the staff is blase. But the movies are terrific, which keep me coming back for more!

• Pros: great movies
• Cons: awful popcorn, seats not comfortable, bad sightlines

01/03/03

The coffee is now the best

by sboourns

Illy coffee is now being served! I don't know whether that happened after the last review, but assume so.

So, now you can get brilliant movies / documentaries and good coffee.

I do recommend taking a pillow, extra soft jacket or something to try to alleviate the discomfort inflicted by the upright seats with wooden armrests.

Apart from the fact that the seats could be a lot more comfortable, this place is awesome.

• Pros: good movies, not crowded
• Cons: uncomfortable seats

07/22/02

It's all about the films...

by ihaveseenenough

...at least it'll have to be here. Any complaints I could think of (and there are many) are outweighed by the fact that on any given day, you can come here and see a movie that will blow you away, guaranteed. Not only that, this place gets the most pristine prints of every movie.

Like I said, it's not perfect. The theaters themselves need some work...small, cramped, and with lousy A/C. Show up early, or you may find yourself staring at a support column. The sound is usually decent, though it must be said it depends on the age of the print. Same with picture...the screens could be bigger.

Concessions are average (how 'bout COFFEE flavored coffee?) and staff is great. The crowd can be noisy and laugh at inappropriate places...come early to avoid that. Avoid the restrooms.

This is one of my favorites...but it's all about the films.

• Pros: The best movies., Friendly staff
• Cons: Terrible design, No coffee???, Lousy crowds.

05/15/02

Tiny shrine of film

by SimonSpelling_Citysearch

Yes, it's not the most spacious theater, and it's a little run down, but these are pretty minor complaints. This is the best rep theater in the country, and most NYC film fanatics couldn't imagine life without it. The rep calendars are almost always a treat (although I wish they would bring back the summer horror/and cult classic series they used to do), and the new releases are ones you're not likely to see elsewhere. Other pluses: They always manage to dig up ancient actors and directors for rereleases--the Q&A's after such screenings can be informative and often hilarious (whether intentionally or no); the popcorn is the best in the city.