Portland Movie Club

About the Film Noir group:
This meetup explores classic and neo-noir films, focusing on shadowy visuals, morally gray characters, doomed romances, and crime stories where nobody’s hands are clean. We’ll watch a mix of essential noirs and modern films inspired by the genre, paying attention to themes like fate, corruption, obsession, and alienation. These films often deal with violence, crime, and heavy subject matter, so content can be intense at times; checking a site like www.doesthedogdie.com is encouraged if you prefer content warnings.

Tips:
Once again, we do not watch the movie at the meet-up. All members watch the movie on their own time before we meet to discuss it. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you do.
Some people like to take notes or find books and articles related to the film and its subject matter, feel free to bring those things along if there's something you'd like to share with the group.
At the end of the discussion we'll pass around a ballot where we can vote on a slate of options for the next discussion.

Films previously discussed in the Film Noir group:
Gun Crazy, Dial M for Murder, Sudden Fear.

The Portland Movie Club is on Discord!
Are you on Discord? Join the Portland Movie Club!

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.

Are you on Discord? Join the PMC Discord!

1. Watch the movie on your own (or with friends!) Steeaming options include Amazon Prime and AppleTV.
2. We'll meet at Lucky Lab at 4pm (map) There will be a Portland Movie Club sign at our table.
3. Grab some food and drinks and we'll spend some time discussing this masterpiece with us.

Movie Spotlight: "To Kill a Mockingbird"

Set in a small Alabama town during the Great Depression, the film follows young siblings Scout and Jem Finch as they navigate the innocence of childhood alongside the harsher realities of the adult world. Their father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer whose moral clarity and quiet strength shape the way his children come to understand fairness, empathy, and the weight of doing what’s right.

Much of the story unfolds through Scout’s perspective, blending moments of curiosity, play, and neighborhood mystery with the deeper social tensions surrounding a case Atticus takes on. The children’s fascination with their reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley, adds a layer of gentle suspense and emotional depth to the narrative.

This film is notable for featuring Robert Duvall in his first big‑screen role, playing Boo Radley—a character who is rarely seen but deeply felt throughout the story. His presence shapes the children’s understanding of fear, compassion, and the difference between rumor and reality. Though his screen time is brief, the role became an iconic introduction to Duvall’s long and distinguished film career.

To Kill a Mockingbird blends a child’s-eye view of community life with themes of justice, empathy, and moral courage. Its gentle pacing and emotional clarity make it both a coming‑of‑age story and a portrait of a family trying to live with integrity in a divided world.

On Discord? Join the Portland Movie Club!

1. 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!)
2. We'll meet at Breakside Brewery in Beaverton at 2pm on the scheduled date. We'll have signs at our tables, but we'll also try to be obvious and identifiable.
3. Grab some food, some drinks, and spend time socializing/discussing this movie with us! We'll begin by going around and introducing ourselves. Then, we'll kick off a fun 5-question trivia round on the film (with a custom prize for the winner). Finally, I'll give a quick summary of the film's development, and we'll dive into the group discussion from there.

Are you on Discord? Join the Portland Movie Club!