Get Your Reps In: Common Sense Seems “Alien” in Space

What to see in Portland’s repertory theaters.

Sigourney Weaver in Alien (IMDB)
By Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Alien (1979)

Before anyone knew what a xenomorph was, before any chests burst, before the Nostromo had a last survivor, Ellen Ripley just wanted to follow quarantine protocols.

Had the crew respected her commitment to safety in Alien and made the infected parties wait outside for 24 hours, perhaps the best science fiction film of the past 50 years would’ve halted in its tracks.

But who wants to live in a world where Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) didn’t then have to defend humanity from destruction incarnate? Half the joy of Ridley Scott’s miraculous sophomore film is watching Weaver ascend from the film’s pack of charismatic character actors to become a movie icon in under two hours.

Scott’s penchant for heroines will be celebrated all day March 8 at the Tomorrow Theater. Portland Critics Association co-chief Bennett Campbell Ferguson (also a former WW editor) is programming Thelma & Louise (1991) and Alien back to back at 3:30 and 7 pm, respectively. Tomorrow Theater, March 8.

Also Playing:

5th Avenue: Synecdoche, New York (2008), March 7–9. Academy: Dirty Dancing (1987), March 5 and 6. Carnival of Souls (1962), March 5 and 6. Bound (1996), March 5 and 6. American Psycho (2000), March 7–13. One Sings, the Other Doesn’t (1977), March 7–13. Coffy (1973), March 7–13. Cinema 21: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), March 5. Parasite (2019), March 7 and 8. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), March 8. Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), March 8 and 9. Cinemagic: Bingo (1991) on VHS, March 7. Clinton: La Pointe Courte (1955), March 6. Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962), March 7. Jacquot de Nantes (1991), March 8. One Sings, the Other Doesn’t (1977), March 8. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), March 8. The Gleaners and I (2000), March 9. Faces Places (2017), March 9. Titane (2021), March 11. Hollywood: Se7en (1995), March 8. Julie & Julia (2009), March 9. Strange Brew (1983), March 10. Secret Rivals 2 (1977), March 11. Tomorrow: Titanic (1997), March 7. Moulin Rouge! (2001), March 9.

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.