Special Events and Series
We’re Moving!
We recently learned that our lease will not be renewed when it expires in February 2025. Our plan has always been to relocate the cinema. Help us build an even grander Grand Illusion!
Now Playing
Coming Soon
Oh, Canada
- Saturday, Dec 14, 2024, 1:00pm
- Sunday, Dec 15, 2024, 1:30pm
- Saturday, Dec 21, 2024, 1:00pm
- Sunday, Dec 22, 2024, 1:30pm
Aging filmmaker Leonard Fife (Richard Gere), still fiery despite his battle with illness, wants to tell his life story, unfiltered, before it’s too late. As the director of acclaimed documentary exposés, he has much to be proud of, but his Vietnam War draft-dodging and his past relationships harbor thorny truths. Leonard sits for an extended interview with his former student Malcolm (Michael Imperioli), relating candid stories about his younger self (Jacob Elordi) in the tumultuous 1960s and beyond. At Leonard’s insistence, his wife and indispensable artistic partner, Emma (Uma Thurman), bears witness to it all. His successes are held up against his failings and, as the man is cleansed of the myth, Leonard must confront what is left.
Paul Schrader’s adaptation of Russell Banks’s novel sees him reunited with Gere more than 40 years after AMERICAN GIGOLO, and together they deliver a moving and deeply personal take on this story of an artist reflecting on a lifetime of storytelling. Named one of the ten best movies of the year by Richard Brody of The New Yorker.
“Schrader bravely forsakes the narrative fastidiousness of his recent work and takes on grand themes of memory, mortality, and artistic self-reckoning, to formally ragged but sincerely moving effect.” Justin Chang, The New Yorker
“There’s much to like here, particularly in Gere’s vulnerable performance and just how openly Schrader is expressing what feels like his own concerns about aging, regret, and reputation.” Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
“Gere gives his best performance in years, evoking Philip Baker Hall in the similarly confessional Secret Honor, at once defiant, uncertain and just the slightest bit frightened.” Hannah Strong, Little White Lies
VHS Uber Alles Dec 2024
- Saturday, Dec 14, 2024, 9:30pm
- Saturday, Dec 21, 2024, 9:30pm
Three rad and witchy 80s teen girls botch their anti-Christmas candle ritual in the woods, awakening a long-dormant bloodthirsty elf. The Elf kicks off his murderous rampage by stomping on over to the local mall to kill Santa. Coincidentally, our three ladies are having an after-hours sexy sleepover party that night… The bloodbath continues!
“Twas the night before Christmas, And all through the town, Blood-thirsty Elves are about to get down!” –Actual VHS Box Quote
NEVER RELEASED ON DVD! ONLY $3! ONLY ON VHS!
Anora in 35mm
- Friday, Dec 27, 2024, 7:00pm
- Saturday, Dec 28, 2024, 2:30pm
- Sunday, Dec 29, 2024, 4:00pm
- Sunday, Dec 29, 2024, 7:00pm
- Monday, Dec 30, 2024, 7:00pm
- Tuesday, Dec 31, 2024, 3:00pm
- Wednesday, Jan 1, 2025, 4:00pm
- Wednesday, Jan 1, 2025, 7:00pm
- Thursday, Jan 2, 2025, 7:00pm
Sean Baker's Palme d'Or winner ANORA is an audacious, thrilling, and comedic variation on a modern day Cinderella story. Mikey Madison captivates as Ani, a young sex worker from Brooklyn whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets and impulsively marries Vanya, the impetuous son of a Russian billionaire. However, when Vanya's parents catch wind of the union, they send their henchmen to annul the marriage, setting off a wild chase through the streets of New York.
CRITIC’S PICK! “Sometimes a movie actually earns the old cliché of a ‘star-making turn,’ and I’m here to say that Sean Baker’s Anora is this year’s star maker.” Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times
“At once a frenzied fairy tale and a tender-hearted character study, Anora is an intoxicating pairing of director and star. Baker’s unique, humanistic approach to filmmaking is as riveting and rewarding as ever.” Beth Webb, Empire Magazine
“At this point in his career, Baker has cultivated his own style of breathless, relentlessly pressurized urban realism, and Anora is as assured a piece of filmmaking as you’re likely to see this year.” Adam Nayman, The Ringer
Phantom of the Paradise
- Saturday, Dec 28, 2024, 6:00pm
50th anniversary! Join us for this special screening of Brian De Palma's cult classic rock musical. For $25 you get to see an amazing movie and help us relocate.
A disfigured composer (William Finley, SISTERS) sells his soul for the woman (Jessica Harper) he loves so that she will perform his music. However, an evil record tycoon (Paul Williams) betrays him and steals his music to open his rock palace, The Paradise.
This screening is generously sponsored by Stephanie Kurtz Mascis, an employee of the Grand Illusion during its 80s incarnation.
Part of our 20th Anniversary Celebration Series!
“A crazy, savage film — iconoclastic and truly liberating.” Richard Schickel, Time Magazine
“The film is a one-of-a-kind entertainment, with a kinetic, breakneck wit.” Pauline Kael, The New Yorker
Living Pictures: The Birth of Cinema
- Saturday, Dec 28, 2024, 8:30pm
On Dec. 28, 1895, in the basement of a Paris café, 33 people witnessed moving photographs projected onto a screen — the birth of cinema as we know it. Exactly 129 years after this legendary event, The Sprocket Society presents a very special program celebrating the origins and earliest evolution of motion pictures from 1894-1901.
In the style of the time, Spencer Sundell will give live narration and an illuminated lecture, providing fascinating history and anecdotes about these remarkable films and their creators.
Travel back in time to the 19th century. Walk the streets of Paris, New York, and even Gold Rush-era Seattle. Witness historic events and simple moments of ordinary life.
Selections include Edison Kinetoscopes, Lumière actualities, early films by Georges Méliès, loops by Max Skladanowaky, and more. Examples of pre-cinema and the earliest movie storytelling will also be shown. As befitting the occasion, all will be screened from rare 16mm film prints.