Capital Celluloid 2012 - Day 180: Thu June 28

Swingers (Liman, 1996): Stratford East Picturehouse, Cocktails 7.30pm Film: 8.30pm

If you've never seen Swingers before, then you're in for a treat my friends. If you have seen it, you'll know it's an hilarious - and painfully accurate - deconstruction of the dating game: a how-to manual for getting back on the horse after being ungamely bucked. It's also one of the coolest movies ever made, with a soundtrack to die for, pin-sharp style, quotable dialogue and a Vegas setting that channels a finger clickin', Martini sippin' Rat Pack vibe. Plus, it's the thinnest Vince Vaughn has ever been on film. Thince. Obviously we can't enforce a dress code, but you'll want to rock up wearing some smart threads if you want to impress all the fly fellas and beautiful babies in attendance. Then you can sit down and crumple your nice outfit when the film begins at 8.30pm. At least you'll have a nice buzz going from the cocktails and the swing music.

That's part of the great introduction to this special screening organised by theshiznit.co.uk film website blogger bloke. You can read more about the night here but it's guaranteed to be fun.

Time Out review:
'This first feature follows Mike (Favreau) as he gets back into the dating game after the abrupt and unwelcome termination of a six-year relationship. An out-of-work New York actor looking for a break in LA, he's dragged out of his mope by pals Rob (Livingston), Charles (Desert), Sue (Van Horn) and, especially, the irrepressible Trent (Vaughn), who insists they chase down some honeys in Vegas. Wiser, and poorer, they return to trawl the Angelino hotspots. Love it and loathe it, this film wants it both ways. We're supposed to be appalled at the callous chauvinism of the predatory male, but also to get off on his jive, sharp suits and cool car. We do, too. It's a bit smug, a bit smarmy, but you should still see this movie, and here are ten reasons why: (i) Vince Vaughn - a louche, lanky ego salesman, he's the definitive '90s lounge lizard. (ii) Jon Favreau - a subtler actor than Vaughn, he spends the entire picture sulking, and still has you pulling for him. Plus, he wrote the script, and (iii) this is the most quotable movie since Clueless. (iv) It boasts the best answerphone gag in the history of the movies. Bar none. (v-x) Ninety minutes spent learning how not to pick up girls. This is what the movies were made for, isn't it?'
Tom Charity


This scene will give you some of the flavour of this great movie. Click here.

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