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The 1A Movie Club Sees ‘Contagion’
Actress Marion Cotillard attends the "Contagion" premiere at the Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.
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Movie theaters may be closed, but if you’re looking for a cinematic escape, streaming options are endless.
But right now, many people are gravitating toward realism.
The 2011 film “Contagion” has surged in popularity worldwide since COVID-19 broke out. Alongside other outbreak thrillers,it’s regularly been among streaming services’ most popular movies — holding a spot on the iTunes top ten since January.
Why are so many people watching a movie about a pandemic—during a pandemic?
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From Slate‘s Sam Adams:
Watching “Contagion” now was uncanny. Of course, it’s a little bit frightening but also weirdly comforting. One of the odd things about fiction is that even if it’s realizing our worst fears, you’re still sitting there not at a movie theater at the moment but at home watching it. You have that literal distance between you and the thing, and that is helpful somehow.
For this meeting of the 1A Movie Club, we review “Contagion”— spoilers and all.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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