Fin: 'Goodbye Dragon Inn,' and Goodbye Marc Maron

The John Candy doc surfaces, an OpenAI movie, selfies next to reviews, and more in this week’s notes column.

Earlier this week, I had a chance to drive up to the Wind Gap, Pennsylvania, to the recently restored Gap Theatre, to see a showing of Tsai Ming-Liang’s Goodbye, Dragon Inn, which was being put on at the Gap by Spectral Cinema.

I hadn’t ever seen the film, a “slow cinema” classic about the final night at an old movie theater that’s seen better days, but I’m glad I made the trek because it’s a great film and one absolutely meant to be seen in a huge, old theater. Goodbye Dragon Inn, which inspired everything from Eephus to Bloody Nose Empty Pockets, also features the best-ever movie scene at a urinal:

There were quite a few times that I heard noises, whether it was a car horn or seats creaking, and I had no idea if it was coming from the screen or from the actual theater I was in.

If you haven’t been to the Gap Theatre, I highly recommend it, as it’s worth the very long drive from the Philly area. Nestled in a small town in the Lehigh Valley, it has an upcoming repertory schedule that rivals any theater in Philadelphia.

Lock the gates

Marc Maron announced this week that the WTF Podcast, his interview show that was one of the first major showbiz podcasts, will come to an end this fall. Maron felt it was time to put the show to a stop, as he’s exhibited signs of burnout, and has also been busy with stand-up comedy, acting and ambitions to direct.