The route from movie hero to Governor of California appears to be a seamless one. If you’ve the character and moral integrity of Detective John Kimble (Kindergarten Cop [1990]) and the paternalistic qualities of Howard Langston (Jingle All the Way [1996]), then the path from movie stardom to high profile politician seems almost inevitable.
If all of those qualities weren’t enough, then let us not forget that Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger has also been The Terminator, Conan the Barbarian/Destroyer and single handedly fought off a Predator – this is a man who gets things done! If I lived in “Cali-forn-i-a”, the former Governator would have gotten my vote. That’s why I could not refuse the offer of a trip to Dalston’s Alibi Film Club to check out a screening of the sci-fi/action classic Total Recall (1990), featuring the man mountain himself.
Tipped as “London’s coolest weekly Film Club” by Time Out London, The Alibi Film Club in hip and happening Dalston has been playing host to a weekly run of classic movies, with February seeing screenings of Basic Instinct (1992), Freddy Got Fingered (2001) and of course Total Recall. As you descend into the basement of the club itself, a genuinely cult atmosphere is palpable. It doesn’t the glamour and façade of the grandiose cinemas we have become so accustomed to in recent years – it is about a coming together to truly enjoy the magic of a cult classic.
Some may question just how much of a classic Total Recall really is, yet whenever our band of film fanatics get together to thrash out our opinions about cinema, you can guarantee a Schwarzenegger quote or ten will be thrown into the mix. Total Recall has more than its fair share of such classic lines – one need only take a glance around a room when watching the film to see how an audience mouths along with Arnie’s every word.
If you truly love cult films and would like to celebrate their memorable moments with a bunch of like-minded film fans, then The Alibi Film Club on Monday nights is the place to be. There’s even a bar, plenty of seating and some great music both before and after the evening’s choice of film. What’s not to like?
For anyone not yet familiar with the life and times of Mr. Schwarzenegger, below is a YouTube compilation of his greatest quotes and quips. Watch it now, and don’t forget…“GET TO THE CHOPPER!”.