Groundhog Day marathon 2012

The post from hell. This has taken me forever to pull together. It's hard to remember when you are exhausted.

Sometimes, you hear of something so stupid, so nuts, you have to try it once. The Gateway Film Center in Columbus has one of those events. This was the third year it had its Groundhog Day marathon.

That's the same movie, Groundhog Day, shown all day long. The marathon goes 24 hours, with a showing every two hours for the calendar day, midnight to midnight. If you survive the day, you get "movie tickets for a year". Not sure what that will mean.

It's a pleasant enough movie, Groundhog Day. Released in 1993, starring Bill Murray, about an egocentric weatherman, is pleasant enough. I reviewed it for my college newspaper when it was released and gave it a positive review. And repeating a movie over and over, when it concerns repeating a day over and over, is a clever gimmick.

I figured what the heck, and took the plunge. I took a reporter's notebook with me and jotted some notes. Here follows is my notes from the day. A working knowledge of the film might help, although after viewing it 12 times in a row, I dare say I am more familiar with it than you are.

11:30
I arrive at the theater. I see the line to get in, with approximately 25 people in it, most with backpacks and pillows. I have left my stuff stashed in my car, so in my coat I have my cel phone, which doubles as my clock, and my notebook and pencil.

Maybe a minute after I get in line is when the theater is opened. Perfect timing. We are headed to theater 2, the second biggest in the 8 screen complex. I'm guessing it holds a little over 150 people.

I sit in my preferred seating, center, row 4. I am alone, as my normal partner in crime Eric could not get our of work, and is also a bit more sane than me. So I sit an listen. I become keenly aware very quickly that this is mostly a party of college students. All around are conversations involving what classes will be skipped tomorrow.

Behind me is the veteran, the guy who knows how everything works. He states he is friends with the manager, and that this will be a painful experience. He states that this will be our only showing in this auditorium before moving to theater 1, which holds twice as many people. But he insists that there won't be too many more people.

He doesn't figure on word of mouth. For last year, theater 2 may not have sold out, but it did in 2012. The promise of movie tickets for a year has drawn a nice chunk of Ohio State's students. Before the show, the manager informs us of the sell out. The decision to leave my stuff in the car for the first show has proven to be a good one, as some people are really stuffed in with all their backpacks and blankets.

The managers explain that after the first show, when we move to theater 1, we will exchange our tickets for a lanyard. Between each showing, there will be about 15 minutes break, and we are free to leave at that time, with the lanyard allowing us back in. We also have to get it punched in between each showing, to prove we have been in the theater for all 12 viewings.

12:00
Nothing much of note in the first film. It's just the first viewing, and no one has really hunkered down yet. But as soon as the clock in the movie clicks 6:00 for the last time. People start rushing for the exits, as if they don't, theater 1 might disappear.

I wait my turn, get into theater 1, and get exactly where I wanted, row 3 dead center. On my left, proof I am not the only person here over the age of 25. We both laugh at the age difference. He notes he's been called sir a few times, and cracks "I feel like a chaperone."

So part of my food strategy is to buy a large drink and supplement it by refilling it at the water fountain, and getting my free refill later in the day. So I spring for a large popcorn and large drink after securing my seat with my coat. While in line, it is clear a few of the college kids are planning to drink their way through the 24 hours. Boy will they be miserable by hour 20.

2:00
The front of the auditorium looks like a giant slumber party. It's literally wall to wall blankets and sleeping bags between the front row and the screen. I'm in row 3, which is wider than most so people can cross over to the far aisle. One guy sets up his sleeping bag in this aisle. He is tripped over twice in the first five minutes of the film before deciding on plan B.

By the way, in the film: Rick Overton's drunk act? Still funny. Give the man some flapjacks.

The foursome to the right of me have brought one of those backpacks with a drinking tube. Not sure I want to know what they are drinking.

The second viewing is on a much bigger screen. While it was not screamingly obvious this was video projection in the first viewing, it sure is now. The dark jacket Bill Murray wears for much of the movie is a great background for lines and general obviousness this is not a film print.

As we end the second film, we get some answers to some questions people have about the ground rules. In order to get our prize of 24 movie passes (that would be the definition of "movie tickets for a year"), you cannot leave the theater during the movie for an extended period of time. Bathroom breaks are OK, and a concession stand run is fine, but that's about it.

My hopes for a run a block away for a burger at Five Guys have just been dashed. This is also when I take the opportunity to make a run to my car to get my pillows. I've not fallen asleep yet, but the 4 am showing is always the toughest one to stay awake at the sci-fi marathons, so I figure let me gain some comfort.

4:00
The natives are starting to get restless. Many are clapping to the beat of the opening title song called, "Weatherman", which is really not very good. (Especially after hearing it 24 times in a day, it isn't.) Also, the crowd is starting to sing along to "I Got You Babe" when the alarm clock goes off. That happened in the crowd I was in when I first saw the movie in 1993.

The crowd's really starting to talk back to the screen. It's going to be in full Mystery Science Theater 3000 mode by the end of the day.

Around the time Murray drives down the train tracks, I fall asleep for the first time. It won't be my last.

6:00
Everyone seems to be worn out now. We've now been up the whole night, and still have 18 hours to go. The theater looks like a crash pad. The seats have retractable armrests, so many people are lying down across two or three seats. I hear breathing behind me and realize a person behind me is lying on the floor.

My bad back starts to catch up with me during this showing. I wake up after a short nap hurting and spend the last half hour off to the side, watching the movie while standing.

8:00
During the opening shot of Pittsburgh, it is odd for this Steelers fan to see Three Rivers Stadium and not Heinz Field and PNC Park.

Here comes everyone's second wind. More clapping during the music.

One thing starting up, is more and more of Stephen Tobolowsky's dialogue is being recited with him. "Phil? Phil? Ned! Ned Ryerson" and of course, "What out for that first step, its a doozy."

And to my pleasant surprise, I did not realize this complex morphs into OSU classrooms during the day. This means the concession stand becomes more reasonably priced, and has a few new options.This is a lifesaver to a stomach which was not wanting junk food all day. The 2 for $1 muffins are the best deal. I devour 2 blueberry, a apple cinnamon, and 1 chocolate chip.

...and that's all I finished writing in February. Only 1/3 of a very, very long day. This article is starting to become as long as the day. So let's just do the short version from my notes.

10:00
More talking to the screen. The winning bid of the auction is now said by audience members: $339.88. A TV camera crew comes in for five minutes. I feel like Gizmo: "Bright light, bright light."

Noon.
Waiting for the movie to start, one group launches into "If You're Happy and You Know It."
Halfway through the movie, I see that someone a couple of rows up is watching an episode of Modern Family on their laptop.

2:00
People are now singing along to "I'm Your Weatherman". the frankly mediocre opening credits song. I start writing notes of the inconsistencies in the movie, the kind of the things that bug you when you are watching a film 12 times in a row, but now seem a little less important.

There is one question I have: what is the point of the homeless man? Phil tries to help him, and fails. There's no payoff there. I think the film would have been better without the character, or a resolution.

4:00
When the logo comes up to start the film, the audience groans. I do a bathroom run halfway through the showing, and am treated to the sounds of vomiting from the handicapped stall. This would be easier to do if the theater didn't sell alcohol. After this showing, I go outside to say goodbye to the sun that I barely saw for the day.

6:00
Audience now booing when six more weeks of winter is announced. They are now clapping to the beat of the Pennsylvania Polka.

Two rows up, I can hear someone playing a car racing game on their laptop. Four rows down I can see someone playing poker on their laptop.

8:00
It is halfway through this showing that I am awakened by someone for snoring too loud.

10:00
If there was any doubt where this theater is, the "O-H. I-O" chant starts before the film. it's the last show, and people are loopy. The group to my right, spend much of the show giggling and snorting. I doubt any of them are sober.

11:45
Victory is mine! I have 24 movie passes for the next year. And I have no memory of how it worked. But I made it.

And it will be awhile before I watch Groundhog Day again.