Edward Norton Says Spielberg Is Wrong: Netflix Isn’t Destroying Movies, Theaters Are

[kylor]

"It’s the theater chains that are destroying the theatrical experience," Norton tells The Daily Beast. "Period, full-stop. No one else."

Edward Norton is calling out movie theater chains ahead of the theatrical release of his upcoming Warner Bros. drama “Motherless Brooklyn.” In a new interview with The Daily Beast, Norton tells reporter Nick Schager that “it’s the theater chains that are destroying the theatrical experience. Period, full-stop. No one else.” Norton calls on moviegoers to be vocal about ensuring movie theaters are running projection and sound at top quality because in most cases around the country they are not.

“A lot of filmmakers and cinematographers that I know that have really started to look into this say that more than 60 percent of American theaters are running their projector at almost half the luminosity that they’re required by contract to run it at,” Norton said. “They are delivering crappy sound and a dim picture, and no one is calling them on it.”

Norton continued, “If [movie theaters] were delivering what they’re supposed to be delivering, people would be going, ‘Wow, this is amazing, I do not get this at home’…Well, I want people to literally walk into their theater and find the manager and say, ‘If this looks dark, you’re giving me my money back. Because I’m paying — and at the ArcLight, I’m paying premium — for a premium experience.'”

Norton said he personally witnessed movie theaters’ bad quality when he went to test screen “Motherless Brooklyn” in a theater that was screening “Captain Marvel.” The filmmaker told The Daily Beast that 14 is the quality control spec the Marvel film should be running at but the theater was running the movie at a 6.2 spec.

“That means it was literally running at less than half the light that was supposed to be on there,” Norton said. “You want to train people. Like, go get your money back. If the movie looks dark — it was — go get your money back! I think we should rally around that. I really do.”

Norton’s criticism of movie theaters came after his defense of Netflix. Norton said he disagreed with Steven Spielberg’s headline-making comments that Netflix poses a danger to the theatrical experience. Spielberg even argued that Netflix movies should qualify for Emmys and not Oscars. Norton said that Netflix is doing more to preserve the theatrical experience than movie theater chains themselves.

“If I disagreed with anybody, with great respect, it was [Steven] Spielberg,” Norton said. “Netflix invested more in ‘Roma’ theatrically than any boutique label at any studio would have by a factor of five. They put a Spanish-language black-and-white film all over the world in theaters. Hundreds of theaters, not just a few; as many as Sony Pictures Classics would have done. They put more money behind it, in a theatrical context, than anybody would have. You can’t tell me there’s a whole lot of people making black-and-white Spanish-language films and putting that investment behind them.”

Nortan added, “There’s a lot going on because of Netflix, and what it was the vanguard of, that represents an unprecedented period of ripe opportunity for many more types of stories and voices to be heard, and told, and celebrated. It’s incredible, what’s going on.”

“Motherless Brooklyn” is opening nationwide November 2 from Warner Bros. Head over to The Daily Beast’s website to read Norton’s interview in its entirety.

https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/ed...es-1202181698/

Thoughts?

[MifuneFan]

Thank You

[ArrestedDevelopment]

Studios have too much power and control in the industry ----> theaters can't make an honest buck and have to penny pinch where they can (i.e. poorly maintained theaters) while overcharging in other avenues (i.e. concessions) ----> we the audience eat the cost literally and figuratively and get shitty movies from shitty studios in shitty theaters

[Darth Marcus]

Complained to a Cinemark manager a few months ago that the picture was out of focus. He rolled his eyes at me, went into the theater to “verify”, and then at least had the decency to admit I was right. Luckily they fixed the issue or I would’ve been asking for a refund.

That being said I don’t think this issue overall is solely the fault of the theaters. It’s most certainly a multi-faceted problem that won’t be solved by addressing one sole aspect.

[Cremildo]

Crappy theaters have been a constant in my life - thankfully, I've stopped going to the shitty one-screen theater in my city, traveling to a decent one two hours away instead.

But I disagree with Norton. I doubt general audiences give a flying **** about poor sound or poor projection. I certainly have never seen anyone complain. They don't care, and probably don't even notice.

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

They don't care, and probably don't even notice.

I believe that is his point, he is saying that people do not know what they are missing.

[DanTheMan]

I saw Jexi at Regal during the weekend. The house lights went down during the trailers, but then they turned them back up literally as the film commenced and never went back off. Didn’t feel like complaining and missing out on the movie, and neither did anyone else.

Now, I know it’s just a silly adult comedy with no VFX or bells and whistles, but little things like that still irk me, and the weak audio system didn’t improve my experience either.

Theaters absolutely need to get it together.

[Shingster]

Good lord, I honestly thought nobody in the film industry gave a shit about this. Thank you Mr. Norton! It's not gonna change anything mind!

[captainron_howdy]

Edward Norton is right! Movie Theaters have absolutely no clue how to project movies anymore and it's true, they don't care or notice. Which is why I barley go to the theater anymore unless it's to take my daughter & her friend(s) to see Secret Life of Pets 2 or something.

[BluBonnet]

Although I can't say I disagree with him, this is a heck of a way to win over exhibitors just a month before his new movie opens...

Then of course, movie stars are ridiculously overpaid and so it must be hard to avoid a sense of absolute entitlement.

Some chains are better than others. Cinemark is probably the worst-managed one and has the crappiest theaters overall. Many friends have stopped patronising this one ever since they went full backpack Nazi, even for some who have medical bags/devices. Their managers are super douchy about it, too.

Independent theaters are somewhat better because they usually treat moviegoers well and they won't hesitate to book Netflix releases. You feel good about giving them your business and maybe even mind a little less if the popcorn is pricey - they usually treat their employees better than big exhibitors.

At the end of the day, if people don't speak up, nobody's going to listen. And in some cases, they'll still ignore their customers even when we speak up.

[aiman04]

Cut corners all they can.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Although I can't say I disagree with him, this is a heck of a way to win over exhibitors just a month before his new movie opens...

Then of course, movie stars are ridiculously overpaid and so it must be hard to avoid a sense of absolute entitlement.

Some chains are better than others. Cinemark is probably the worst-managed one and has the crappiest theaters overall. Many friends have stopped patronising this one ever since they went full backpack Nazi, even for some who have medical bags/devices. Their managers are super douchy about it, too.

Independent theaters are somewhat better because they usually treat moviegoers well and they won't hesitate to book Netflix releases. You feel good about giving them your business and maybe even mind a little less if the popcorn is pricey - they usually treat their employees better than big exhibitors.

At the end of the day, if people don't speak up, nobody's going to listen. And in some cases, they'll still ignore their customers even when we speak up.

Landmark theaters may treat its employees and patrons better, but I'm sick of tired of attending and seeing movies on screen 2 at their Bethesda Maryland theater - the lumience and colors from the projector is downright terrible

[Arawn]

My local theater intentionally lowers the sound. They admitted this to me around three years ago. I'm not sure what is behind this but I have my suspicions.

I actually tried to get them to preemptively raise it before my movie even started but they were like "if there's a problem (when the movie's playing) let us know". Uh, yeah, I'm here trying to nip the problem in the bud right now. I'd rather not get up in the middle of the premiere of a movie and miss what could be a crucial scene.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

Landmark theaters may treat its employees and patrons better, but I'm sick of tired of attending and seeing movies on screen 2 at their Bethesda Maryland theater - the lumience and colors from the projector is downright terrible

Have you tried talking to the manager? Or writing to Landmark HQ with a CC to the local manager?

[C.A. Hall]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

But I disagree with Norton. I doubt general audiences give a flying **** about poor sound or poor projection. I certainly have never seen anyone complain. They don't care, and probably don't even notice.

I wish more people noticed this problem and complained about it, because then theaters would be forced to pay attention. I send emails to corporate, and they apologize and offer a refund, but all I want is to be assured this won't happen again. To be fair, though, for the past couple of months I haven't had a reason to complain. Although I did send a tweet to AMC suggesting that they include one or two single people in their pre-show clip of moviegoers getting ready to watch a movie.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Have you tried talking to the manager? Or writing to Landmark HQ with a CC to the local manager?

the former yes, but not to HQ - I kind of gave up, since I haven't been there in a very long time, since I now see most of all movies at AMC's (with my A-List subscription).

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by C.A. Hall

Although I did send a tweet to AMC suggesting that they include one or two single people in their pre-show clip of moviegoers getting ready to watch a movie.

Isn't it annoying how they never seem to include either single people or polyamorous people? What is this obsession with couples?

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

the former yes, but not to HQ - I kind of gave up, since I haven't been there in a very long time, since I now see most of all movies at AMC's (with my A-List subscription).

When the people complaining stop complaining, that kinda lets then off the hook.

[Trekkie313]

I always complain to the management when the lights don't go down or the volume isn't loud enough.

[TheSpruceMoose]

I'm out of touch with these issues, largely because I don't gravitate towards negative topics, but what is it about the theatrical experience that is being ruined? Are these hollywood heavyweights in fear that the theater is slowly going the way of the shopping mall so to speak because of netflix?