I don’t really need the TCM Classic Film Festival (4.28 to 5.1) to see venerated older films or wallow around in old-movie sentimentality — I can do that at home. But I am interested in seeing classic movies on big screens with presumably optimum (or at least signficantly better-than-average) projection in the company of large enthusiastic crowds — to me that’s special. So I’m feeling moderately cranked about this festival, which is now in its second year, and which I’m fully press-credentialed and ticketed for.

I have to hit the 7 pm Fast Five screening so I’ll finish this later, but dozens of extremely worthy older films are playing for four days. The question is “how good will they look and sound?”