CineVita Opens In L.A. With Pulpy, Fun Show Celebrating Quentin Tarantino’s Iconic Films
CineVita Opens In L.A. With Pulpy, Fun Show Celebrating Quentin Tarantino’s Iconic Films
As if Inglewood, California, needed another reason to be considered the live entertainment mecca of the world with iconic venues like the Kia Forum, Intuit Dome, YouTube Theater and SoFi Stadium, the city added yet another unique stage to its arsenal, one catering to Los Angeles theater and movie fans (of which there are many).
CineVita, a “live cinema” venue at Hollywood Park located within walking distance of SoFi Stadium, finally opened on Feb. 13 with its debut show, “Tarantino: Pulp Rock,” from production group For The Record. The show celebrates the music and iconography of Quentin Tarantino’s films through live music and dance.
“This is not the fucking opera,” Patrick Mulvey, who deliciously played the villainous roles, said as he welcomed the crowd and encouraged everyone to get loud and sing along before it appropriately opens with a mellow, dreamlike rendition of “California Dreamin’,” which Tarantino used in “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.” The ensemble then turns the energy knob up to 11 with a reimagining of the memorable “Pulp Fiction” diner scene followed by guitar riffs of Dick Dale’s “Misirlou.”
The performances of those two songs by For The Record’s cast wonderfully set the tone for the two-hour-plus production, perfectly navigating between Tarantino’s rousing scenes and the more somber, shocking moments of his filmography.
Each cast member seamlessly plays multiple characters and has their moments to shine. Tara Lee and Anika Braganza brought “Kill Bill” to life with stellar choreography, Kraven Tionne and Derek Thomas displayed great chemistry and timing as Jules and Vincent, respectively, from “Pulp Fiction” and Loren Lott is spot on with her portrayal of Jackie Brown.
Like any Tarantino film, “Pup Rock” at CineVita was loud, violent, sexy and a damn good time that reminds audiences of the impact the director has made on culture. Few filmmakers have broken past the confines of cinema and made their way into the pop culture lexicon, and I hope CineVita explores other unique filmmakers who set music and fashion trends like Wes Anderson, Spike Lee and Paul Thomas Anderson.
CineVita delivered on its promise to celebrate music and film, and For The Record made the show broad enough for anyone, even if you’re not a cinephile, to enjoy.
The venue itself is also a marvel with the aesthetic of 1920s Hollywood. It is the largest Spiegeltent in the world at 15,000 square feet and a capacity of 750. Fourth-generation Belgian tent builders constructed CineVita, which boasts thousands of mirrors and stained-glass windows as well as a small B-stage that immerses viewers into the experience.
The Tarantino-inspired menu featured food items like Reservoir Dog, Pop Fiction (buttered or sweet popcorn), Fox Force Fries, Hanzo’s Ahi Poke Nachos, Royale With Cheese (sliders) and vegan items like Big Kahuna Impossible Sliders. The bar offers water and soda as well as a good selection of cocktails.
Fans can walk to the lobby for concessions or order from their table using a QR code, a welcome feature that had some hiccups on opening night but will likely be ironed out as staff gets a few nights under its belt.
The show will run at Hollywood Park through December with programming that celebrates filmmakers such as John Hughes, Martin Scorsese and Robert Zemeckis, and For The Record plans to take their show and tent on the road.
For more information about the show and tickets, visit thecinevita.com.



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