Best Of Tucson®

Q&A with Rick Gutierrez

Rick Gutierrez is a shift leader at Casa Video. A native of Tucson, Gutierrez has worked at Casa since March 2003. Previously, he worked in the telecommunications department at Pima Community College. Gutierrez is writing a book about his life experiences.

What's the best movie of all time?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. All the performances are fantastic. ... I saw myself in so many of the characters.

What movie makes you think most of Tucson?

The Three Amigos, because it was shot at Old Tucson, and I remember watching it when I was a kid.

Who's your favorite movie personality?

Michel Gondry. He's the director of Eternal Sunshine, and he has done a lot of music videos. ... He's just so humble, and I find that incredible, because a lot of really talented directors are just so full of themselves. It's refreshing that he isn't.

What's your favorite movie snack?

A pretzel with cheese.

What's your favorite place in Tucson to catch a flick?

Century El Con. I like the stadium seating and the fact that they are getting films that they wouldn't have gotten five years ago.

Any embarrassing cinematic experiences in your life?

It's not embarrassing to me, but it was to my mom. It was 1999 at the old AMC on Valencia Road. There were several people in the audience with their babies. The babies were crying. I thought they should take them out, so I was muttering under my breath. The woman in front of me turned around and told me I was rude. I told her to fuck off. She got up and left. I ruined the movie-going experience for them. Boo hoo. But after that, parents would take their babies out if they started to cry. I considered that a victory.

Best bar with lowbrow ambiance?

Buffet. I love the Buffet. It's the first bar I went to and had a lot of friends that went there. .... They open early, and I've had a lot of good times there. I've met a lot of people there.

Best retail music store?

Zia. They are like the Casa Video of music stores. They have a lot of CDs I like. I like the fact that it is local and kind of the underdog. If they don't have something, I've asked them to order it, and they said it would take a week or two. But I got a call two days later, and it was in.

Best Chinese restaurant?

Gee's Garden Bistro on Alvernon Way and Speedway Boulevard. It has a really nice setting. Every time I go, they have attentive waiters, and the food is good.