For those of you who haven’t taken my advice, you need to
hook em on downtown to the Burton Theatre for a dose of filmic truth. I’ll be
baking a cult film cake to celebrate The Burton’s 1st B Day this
weekend, and all you assholes better be in attendance. To commemorate the
milestone, The Burton will be featuring some gems from the past year’s lineup,
gems like Bronson, Taxidermia, The Room, and Robocop, among other filmic
treasures. If you are like me and you find yourself wishing that some local
theater played the kind of awesome cinema that you just don’t find in the
burbs, cinema that throbs with the illicit pulse of the pulpish, the cultish
and the badassish, then The Burton is your kind of place. It seems to be that
time again, that time when I remind all you cinephiles out there that if you
live in Detroit, you are just minutes away from a filmic treasure trove.
Without further ado, the old refresher course of the amazing
and singular experience of watching films at The Burton:
Metro Detroiters, if you’re like
me, you regularly find yourself scanning the movie section of the newspaper, or
scrolling down theater websites and saying to yourself “I wish there was
something else out there to watch. Something strange. Something indie.
Something that really cooks.” Well, look no further, because The Burton has
heard your call, good reader. Armed with excellent proprietors, a perfectly
fitting location (the old site of the Burton International Academy) and a
uniquely surreal venue, The Burton Theatre is pleased to present Detroiters
with genuine art house atmosphere and art house cinema. I remember my inaugural
voyage like it was yesterday. As I pulled into the parking lot for the first
time, I noticed a sign, festooned with Christmas lights, on a fence that read
“Burton Theatre, Enter Here,” and an arrow pointing around the corner of a
massive brick school. I made my way down the narrow path and around said
corner, and happened upon another sign that beckoned me around yet another
corner. I began to suspect that strange things were afoot at the Circle K, but
as I navigated my way to the entrance, I found myself walking into the dark
floored, white walled setting of various childhood night terrors (I mean that
in every excellent way, of course). After purchasing my ticket from the small,
barred, closet-like alcove that serves as a box office, I made my way up the
stairs and into the auditorium, which is one of those wood floored, all-purpose
rooms that all of use ate lunch in slash went to gym class in slash watched the
school talent show in if we went to elementary school in southeast Michigan. As
I sat down and waited for the show to start, I listened to others munch popcorn
(that’s right, they have a concession stand) and chat, I realized just how
lucky I am to have a theater in my town that not only loves the art of film as
passionately as I do, but that seeks to excite others as well. So many other so
called art theaters (I’m looking at you, Main and Maple) seem complacent in
with their niche crowd of elderly cinephiles and college aged hipsters, but The
Burton seems to quiver with excitement, as if founders Nate Faustyn, Jeff Else,
Matt Kelson and David Allen still can’t believe that they get to do what they
do. If you’re one of those weirdo, Russian animation loving, obscure doc
watching (is he just describing himself, or making fun of me?) film geeks, come
on down. But don’t worry, all you skinny jean clad, beard and sweater types,
you’re invited, too. So are you, middle aged guys with Great White t shirts and
sunglasses at night. But not you, lone drunk guy who chomps and spits popcorn
out all over the place (please, just stay home). Everyone else, come on in.
Have a seat in the auditorium, which is a frankensteined mash up of Detroit’s
artistic, architectural and aesthetic history (those light fixtures came from a
church). Follow the creepy trail that leads to the men’s room for a game of
pool whilst you relieve yourself. Yes, there’s a pool table in there. Just make
sure you’re back in time for the righteous trailer reel.
In addition to showing excellently
independent cinema, simply experiencing The Burton is a conversation topic in
itself, a true filmic experience that only works to reinforce the magic, the
energy, and the joy of film.
The Burton features ample, lit parking adjacent to the
building itself, and very reasonable prices to indulge in its wares. The lineup
belies the owners’ true favorites; horror and classic exploitation films, but
rest assured, there really is something for everyone. Located on Cass Avenue in the Cass
corridor, The Burton is a tremendous asset for all you film nuts out there.
Please, support your local film lovers.
No comments:
Post a Comment
What do you think?