Vibe Check: The Chauncey FilmScene “It’s Nice, If You Like Nice Things”

Vibe Check is an ongoing series of guest-written reviews of Iowa City locations and venues, because we simply cannot be bothered to write them ourselves. Today’s Vibe Check comes from guest writer Alec Brahms, a UI film major who constantly wears a trenchcoat and references ‘Lolita’ far too often.

The new and improved home of FilmScene at The Chauncey building is a testament to Iowa City’s adoration of the fine arts. It’s a delightful building, if you’re the kind of philistine who likes watching a movie to be a pleasant experience. If that sort of pedantic way of living is up your alley, then I’m sure you’ll just love it here, you daft, dense little pig.

Everything at this venue is designed to make the customer feel happy and at ease. The staff is friendly, the seats are comfortable, the food is delicious and reasonably priced. If you think watching movies should be an enjoyable experience, then you and the rest of the sheeple can have a blast at FilmScene. All you casual-movie-goers can rot your brains in peace and contentment, surrounded by like minded morons.

I can hear your primitive, underdeveloped cerebral cortex starting to form a question: “What do you think is the ideal film-watching environment, Alec?”

I’m glad you asked. Films—true films, not the trite trash like Parasite they show at FilmScene—speak to an essential aspect of humanity, one that can only be fully understood by immersing oneself in an uncomfortable environment. My favorite venue, for instance, is The Gulag Pavillion, which resides in the basement of an old farmer’s corn silo. The seats have been known to collapse mid-showing, they only serve rations from Atomic Age bomb shelters, and they exclusively show Czechoslovakian claymation horror films.

But if you are of the weak mindset that going to a movie theater is a fun way to detach from the stresses of modern life, then I’m sure you and all your simpleton friends would adore FilmScene at The Chauncey. Your kind disgusts me.

If you would like to submit a review for Vibe Check, too bad.