Gone Girl at the Riverview

I braved the United Riverview for a weeknight showing of Gone Girl.  I usually avoid the Riverview theater just because it’s usually packed and loud.  This past Wednesday it was empty.

Gone Girl was showing on the 2nd floor and, of course, the concessions on the 2nd floor were closed.  Mrs. Violations grabbed us seats while I went for snacks.  I went to the bathroom for a preventative stop.  I finished up and washed my hands.  A guy in there dried his hands at the automatic dryer and then looked at a vending machine on the wall. I don’t think I’d even notice the vending machine on the wall if I didn’t hear him sigh, “They don’t have condoms in here any more?”

Condoms at the movies? As I followed him out, I saw him meet up with a lady friend coming out of the women’s room.  First thing he says is, “They don’t have condoms in the machine in there any more.”

That’s the Riverview I know and love.

As I waited in line downstairs for popcorn, the couple in front of me finished their order and walked away. Then, they returned.

The were afraid that the concessions attendant forgot to charge them for their pretzel bites.  They were right, she had.  The attendant thanked them for being honest and told them not to worry about it.  The woman in the couple’s reply was “you sure you won’t get in any trouble.”

It was a pleasant human interaction to witness.  One you don’t see enough.  I snapped a quick picture of the honest couple.

When I sat down in the theater next to Mrs. Violations , I realized my chair had issues. Every time I moved, my chair basically sounded like this guy:

I basically had to sit still the entire movie.

The movie itself? I’m a fan of the director David Fincher (Zodiac, Fight Club) but this movie kind of disappointed me.  I hated the obvious product placement of Leffe beer.  Ben Affleck was decent, but the plotline almost became comical halfway through with storylines that struggled to be plausible.  I couldn’t harness enough suspension of disbelief.

I would wait for video on this one.

On the other hand, I also saw St. Vincent.  If you’re a fan of Bill Murray, you will love it. It’s kind of corny at the end, but Murray makes it work.