Boston's Best Spots For Film Geeks And Film Buffs

More and more in the past several decades, Boston has become a popular place to make films. Being a city packed with universities and colleges, it has always been a great place to learn the art of filmmaking. There are also numerous theaters in Boston, both old and new, so watching films is a snap for film geeks. However, walking around Boston and having it be like a tour through recent movie history is a relatively new thing. Thanks to its popularity as a film location, Boston is now a place where one can experience virtually every aspect of film appreciation.

L Street Tavern
658 E 8th St
Boston, MA 02127
(617) 268-4335

L Street Tavern is just your average Southie bar. There are plenty of locals to chat with, down-to-earth staff and a good selection of beer. What makes L Street Tavern stand out for film geeks is its place in one of the most quintessential Boston films of all time -- "Good Will Hunting." Arguably the most deadpan lines in the film delivered by its protagonist took place at this bar: "So this is a Harvard bar, huh?" (not even close, actually.) Stop in to sit where Ben Affleck and Matt Damon once did.

Related: Guide to Movies Filmed in Boston

Coolidge Corner Theatre
290 Harvard St
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 734–2501
www.coolidge.org

See the schedule for showtimes

Local film buffs know the Coolidge Corner Theatre for delivering great films from cult classics and early-film favorites to popular modern films, all under one roof. This is the best place in town for film geeks to enjoy films that they cannot typically find in theaters. Do you enjoy foreign films of which other theaters have never even heard? If so, then the Coolidge Corner Theatre has that too.

Museum of Fine Arts Boston
465 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 267-9300
www.mfa.org

See the schedule for showtimes

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is home to the Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Film Program. The program does not adhere to one particular activity enjoyed by film geeks. It hosts film festivals, talks, screenings and other events that attract film buffs from all around. Attend one of these events to learn the ins and outs of the filmmaking industry. Not all events take place at the Museum of Fine Arts, so visitors should be sure to check the detailed listings on the MFA website.

Boston University College of Communication
640 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 353-3450
www.bu.edu

See website for details

The Boston University College of Communication has a film and television school where film buffs can learn to do more than appreciate films -- they can learn to make them. There are film production, television production, management, writing and general film and television studies courses from which to choose. Unfortunately, only students seeking to regularly attend the college can have access to this education. However, there are some great internships and opportunities for those who make the commitment.

(credit: AP Photo/Chitose Suzuki)

Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge
Spanning the Charles River
Boston, MA 02129
www.leonardpzakimbunkerhillbridge.org

The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge built in Boston during the Big Dig. It made a big appearance in Martin Scorsese's 2006 Boston drama "The Departed" starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg, among many other huge movie stars. Film geeks worth their weight in DVDs will know that the best way to enjoy this bridge from a film fan perspective is to crank "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys while driving across the bridge. However, there are more stationary positions from which to view the bridge on either side of the Charles River near the North End and Charlestown.

Related: Boston's Best Iconic Works Of Art