One of the main reasons problems in movie theaters don’t get fixed is that audience members are reluctant to leave the auditorium to report them. The picture goes out of focus, and everyone notices it, but you figure it will get fixed the second you leave, and then you’ll have missed some of the movie for nothing. And so it stays out of focus for much longer than it should, because no one wants to go tell someone. Sound familiar?

Now Regal Entertainment, the largest movie-theater chain in America, is launching a way to alleviate this problem. Starting last week, certain audience members in 114 theaters (up from 13 in the test run last year) are being given a little device that looks like a walkie-talkie with four buttons on it: “Picture,” “Sound,” “Piracy,” and “Other Disturbance.” If there’s a problem in the theater, you push the corresponding button and it alerts the manager, who then probably ignores it. But hey, at least you told someone, and you didn’t have to miss any of the film to do it.

It’s not clear how they choose who gets to be in charge

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As foretold in ancient times (this morning), the reviews of “Mr. Brooks” and “Gracie” are up. You may read them by first clicking your mouse on either of the links just provided, then scanning your eyes from left to right across the series of alphabetical symbols, which your mind will parse as words and sentences, the meaning of which your brain will interpret into ideas. But I’m sure I don’t need to explain reading to you! You probably do it all the time.

After a couple weeks off, we have a new “Snide Remarks” column today, entitled “Two to a Womb.” You can listen to me read it by subscribing to the podcast, or by listening here, or simply by utilizing the space-age SnideCast® technology at the top of the column itself.

I have seen “Mr. Brooks” (good) and “Gracie” (meh), but I haven’t finished the reviews yet. Hopefully that will happen later today. If you find yourself tempted to see either one in the meantime, let “good” and “meh” be your guide.