MovieChat Forums > Matinee (1993) Discussion > Joe Dante's masterpiece

Joe Dante's masterpiece

posted 11 years ago by pjbrubak
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This is his 'Vertigo', the unappreciated film in its time that has gotten better with age. Dante defined my childhood with Gremlins, Innerspace and The Burbs, but this film has all of his madcap tendencies along with a thought provoking treatise on the nature of fear. If you've seen Matinee you know that it is a multi layered film. Goodman's character plays on the fears of his audience just as the government played on the American People during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The moviegoers were escaping their real life fear by immersing themselves in make believe fear. I just saw this and I really think this is not a dumb movie in the slightest, even though it is fantastical. I wonder what the French think of it? The fact I was able to catch it at a retro film festival in a neighboring town makes me believe Matinee has not been forgotten.

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[–] areyouserious123 9 years ago

Matinee is an amazing film and largely unknown, but I think The 'burbs is his greatest and most unappreciated film. But that's just my opinion. The 'burbs is my favorite film, after all. Joe Dante is a great filmmaker who deserves recognition for his work. Most of his films these days lay shelved for a few years before they're released(The Hole, Burying the Ex).

Matinee is definitely up there for me, but The 'burbs slightly beats it out for me.

I've never seen that. I've never seen anybody drive their garbage down to the street and bang the hell out of it with a stick. I-I've never seen that.