Cinemania

Watch Cinemania

"Reel obsession"
  • NR
  • 2002
  • 1 hr 23 min
  • 7.1  (2,369)
  • 67

Cinemania is a 2002 documentary film that explores the lives of cinephiles who dedicate large portions of their lives to watching movies. Directed by Angela Christlieb and Stephen Kijak, the film focuses on the lives of five New York City movie enthusiasts: Jack Angstreich, Eric Chadbourne, Bill Heidbreder, Harvey Schwartz, and Roberta Hill. The movie offers an intimate look inside the lives of these passionate individuals and their deep-rooted love for cinema.

Jack Angstreich is the most prominent figure of the group. He is known to travel hours on end to catch a rare screening of a forgotten movie. Eric Chadbourne, incidentally, is blind but his obsession for films is unparalleled. Both Jack and Eric are members of the legendary movie screening club, named "The Don't Look Back" group. They both express their love for cinema in some unfathomable ways that may seem weird to the outsiders, but the passion they talk about is like discovering a crisp $100 bill in an old jacket.

Bill Heidbreder, on the other hand, keeps himself confined to his apartment surrounded by stacks of VHS and DVD collections. He doesn't have an internet connection nor has ever learned to use it because he's simply not interested in what's happening beyond the four walls of his apartment. Harvey Schwartz likes to live in the past and has an encyclopedic memory of everything that he has ever watched. Roberta Hill, a former actress, loves movies from the silent era and has amassed a huge collection of classic films. Although each of them has their own quirks, they share an uncontrollable love for movies that is an essential part of who they are.

The film not only highlights their individual journeys but also explores the evolution of film over the past century, beginning with the silent era and working its way through New Hollywood and beyond. Cinemania offers a peek into the lives of people who can accurately recall the name of a movie, the year it was made, the actors who starred in it, the plot premise, and the locations where it was filmed, often without breaking a sweat.

The documentary also explores the psychological underpinnings of the obsessions that set them apart from the rest. Christlieb and Kijak's film doesn't aim to exploit or poke fun at the characters’ mental state. Instead, it treats their peculiar behavior as a fascinating but unusual side of humanity. It is an exploration of the human psyche and the way our brains relate to art, a phenomenon that is not isolated to the cinephiles but, nevertheless, is vividly portrayed in them.

Cinemania takes the viewer through a journey of storytelling, community, and romance, with a deep sense of revelation at its core—a revelation that we would have never discovered otherwise. It is a fascinating and earnest look into the lives of movie buffs who navigate the world guided by their love of cinema. It is a reminder of the power of art to transform lives, and that love knows no bounds, especially when it comes to the movies.

Cinemania is a 2002 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 67.

Cinemania
Description
Where to Watch Cinemania
Cinemania is available to watch, stream, download and buy on demand at Apple TV and Amazon. Some platforms allow you to rent Cinemania for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    2002
  • MPAA Rating
    NR
  • Runtime
    1 hr 23 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.1  (2,369)
  • Metascore
    67