About us
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
6
Cult Films Meet-Up: "Real Genius" (1985)
BREAKSIDE BREWERY - BEAVERTON, 12680 SW Farmington Road,, Beaverton, OR, USPortland 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
30 attendees
First Roles: "To Kill a Mockingbird" featuring Robert Duvall
Lucky Labrador Brew Pub, 915 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR, USJoin Portland Movie Club members Kyle and Reagan for the First Roles group discussion! This group focuses on the initial on-screen appearances of celebrated Hollywood icons. For this meeting we will discuss the 1962 adaptation of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," which along with an Oscar-winning performance from Gregory Peck as Aticus Finch also includes the big-screen debut of Robert Duvall as Arthru "Boo" Radley.
Here's how it works:
- Watch the movie on your own (or with friends!) Steeaming options include Amazon Prime and AppleTV.
- We'll meet at Lucky Lab at 4pm (map) There will be a Portland Movie Club sign at our table.
- 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!
30 attendees
The Camera Eye Discussion: PARIS, TEXAS
Breakside Brewery, 12675 SW 1st Street Beaverton OR 97005, Beaverton, OR, USThe Camera Eye discussion: Paris, Texas (1984)
Join Movie Club member Jake Brown for the next film in his series highlighting great cinematography in motion pictures: 1984's tale of reconnection and perceptions of identity, Paris, Texas. Directed by acclaimed German filmmaker Wim Wenders and written by famed playwright/actor/director Sam Shepard, the film stars Harry Dean Stanton and Nastassja Kinski, incorporating the cinematography talents of Wenders collaborator Robby Müller, who captured every moment on Traditional 35mm film in a 1.66:1 aspect ratio.About Paris, Texas
From TMDB: "A man wanders out of the desert not knowing who he is. His brother finds him, and helps to pull his memory back of the life he led before he walked out on his family and disappeared four years earlier."Viewing Options for Paris, Texas
Streaming options include HBO Max, Tubi, Hulu, Plex, and Kanopy, with additional for-purchase/rental options through Apple TV and Movie Madness (Criterion Blu-ray).“The Camera Eye” Portland Movie Club Meet-Up Series
Whether 35mm film, 70mm, 16, Super 8, or digital, we want to celebrate the greatest shots in cinema history. This isn’t just about cameras and lenses, though. It’s framing, lighting, blocking, acting, makeup, costumes, location, set design, and so much more. Of course, cinematography is just a jumping-off point. What about editing, sound design, characters, and most important of all, the story? Let’s discuss!Here's how the Portland Movie Club Meet-Ups work
- 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!)
- 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.
- 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!
30 attendees
Political Films Meet-Up: HyperNormalisation
Lucky Labrador Brew Pub, 915 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR, USPolitical Films Meet-Up: HyperNormalisation (2016)
Let’s talk about movies! Join movie club member Clay Vaughn for the next film in our Political Films series with Adam Curtis' documentary HyperNormalisation (2016). In Curtis' signature style, the film touches upon many subjects in an attempt to determine how we came to live in a "post-truth world."
Here’s how The Portland Movie Club meet-ups work:
- Just like a book club, we watch the movie on our own time before we meet.
- We'll meet at Lucky Lab on SE Hawthorne at 4pm on the scheduled 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 to support our generous hosts and spend some time socializing and discussing this movie with us.
A Few Notes about the film:
This film is 2.75 hours and touches on many topics, if you're like me you'll want to pause and skim Wikipedia at points throughout. So if you're the same way leave yourself plenty of time to watch. The film consists primarily of archival news footage, some of which is graphic.Viewing Options for the film:
The film is available to stream for free on YouTube.About Political Films:
This series started out focusing on the New Republic article "The 100 Most Significant Political Films of All Time" published in June 2023, but we've since expanded well beyond the list. Both the documentaries and narrative fiction films we discuss tend to include difficult imagery and subject matter, we suggest the website "Does the Dog Die?" for 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 make more sense if you do. Feel free to bring along any notes, books, or articles 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. Lately we've been alternating documentaries and fiction films. So if you come to a meet-up to discuss a documentary, you'll vote on a ballot of fiction films for next time, and vice versa.
Films previously discussed in the political group:
Judgment at Nuremberg, The Gleaners and I, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, I Am Not Your Negro, It's a Wonderful Life, Reds, Soundtrack to a Coup D'État, The Conformist, The Fog of War, 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!26 attendees
Past events
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