3 Outdoor Movies to Catch This Holiday Weekend
Our top picks for the season’s final outdoor film weekend
By Gavin Borchert August 27, 2019
Traditionally, Labor Day weekend marks (don’t say it!) the end of summer, but there are still a few final chances to catch outdoor movies (and avoid the crowds at Bumbershoot, if you like). Two are family-friendly, one decidedly isn’t. Pack up the lawn chairs and the picnic basket before you store them for the winter:
The Big Lebowski • 8:30 p.m., Thursday, August 29, 8:30 p.m.
A case of mistaken identity sets in motion the ridiculously complex, film-noir-spoofing plot of the the Coen Brothers 1998 cult fave, probably the most quotable film since Casablanca, with its fantastic cast of character actors: John Goodman’s hyperintense Vietnam vet (“You want a toe? I can get you a toe, believe me. . . . Hell, I can get you a toe by 3 o’clock this afternoon”), Julianne Moore’s languid artiste (“It’s a male myth about feminists that we hate sex. It can be a natural, zesty enterprise”), Sam Elliott’s avuncular narrator (“The Dude abides. I don’t know about you but I take comfort in that”), and of course Jeff Bridges’ iconic slacker (“That rug really tied the room together”). Peddler Brewing Company’s covered beer garden is the site; plenty of beer, but you may need to sneak in your own White Russians in a flask. Free. 1514 NW Leary Way; 360-362-0002; peddlerbrewing.com
Lilo & Stitch • 8:15 p.m., Thursday, August 29
One’s a headstrong 5-year-old, the other’s an obstreperous escaped space alien, and they come together for one of Disney’s most unusual stories ever, superimposing sci-fi atop traditional Hawaiian culture and a soundtrack full of Elvis songs. Keep an eye out for the gorgeous backgrounds; it’s a return to the painterly watercolor style of Disney’s earliest animated classics like Snow White. This bike-in screening’s a joint presentation of Northwest Film Forum, Bike Works, Urban Artworks, and NW Folklife, with art activities and live music before the show at 6 p.m. Free. Pratt Park, 1800 S Main St.; nwfilmforum.org
Finding Nemo • dusk, Friday, August 30
Concluding Magnuson Park’s summer lineup of movies about animals is this animated adventure from Pixar, a quest film set among sea life in the colorful tropical waters off the coast of Australia. (The film’s main human character, the demonic brat Darla, is like the dark side of Lilo.) A financial and critical blockbuster, it inspired a sequel to showcase Ellen DeGeneres’ hilarious voice work as Dory. Free. Magnuson Park Auditorium, 7400 Sand Point Way; blog.scarecrow.com
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