The Criterion Collection

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by retablo

I love Lynch, but I don't think he's "one of the most important directors around right now". He was, but his time has passed IMO. The problem is, he seems to have a huge fanbase online, yet when his movies open, no one goes to see them. Lost highway almost sank October after they acquired it for $7 million and it grossed around $3.5. Mulholland Drive I believe barely broke even at $7 mil domestic, but scored twice as much overseas... which is why you have overseas releases and not US ones.

If I was a major distributor, I wouldn't be in a rush to release his films, either, from a profit standpoint. As a film lover and fan, however, he'd be one of the first I'd release, along with Herzog. But no one is lining up to put money into releasing films that will most likely barely sell, and that's the sad truth.

I think part of the problem is they don't know how to sell Lynch's films. The same thing happened with Kaufman's Synecdoche, New York. Terrific film but nobody saw it.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I think part of the problem is they don't know how to sell Lynch's films. The same thing happened with Kaufman's Synecdoche, New York. Terrific film but nobody saw it.

Somewhat agree, and they seem to sell ok in Europe and Japan, especially. America isn't a very "forward-thinking" country, and they don't like things they don't understand. Even so, Lynch has always been an acquired taste, and to his fault, he does make the same movie over and over. But no amount of "selling" is going to get mainstream audiences into the theater to see something as obscure as Lost Highway.

Audiences: We're tired of reboots and remakes! We want original, fresh movies!
Original, fresh movies come out. No one goes.
Then the Avengers/Batman/etc all pass the $1 billion mark.
Rinse. Repeat.


Talked to an exec at Paramount, who called 'Flight" a huge risk for the studio. $30 mil budget (cheap for a mainstream film) with Oscar winning actor and director, yet still a risk?? Because Denzel, being black, isn't a huge draw overseas, which is where Hollywood makes the majority of its money now. The whole system is messed up. (for the record, Flight pulled almost $100 mil US, which would make it seem like a pretty big hit to me.)

[mrjohnnyb]

I watched The Music Room for the first time last night. I thought it was an incredible film. Its theme is nearly identical to Anton Chekhov's play The Cherry Orchard. Great performances from the entire cast and Ray's direction told a great story. I can definitely see how he was influenced by Jean Renoir.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I think part of the problem is they don't know how to sell Lynch's films. The same thing happened with Kaufman's Synecdoche, New York. Terrific film but nobody saw it.

Watched Synecdoche, New York this past week, after never having seen it before. Instantly one of the most enjoyable films I've seen in some time. Something I could consider an all time favorite at some point. I'd love to be able to pen a script like Kaufman.

Thanks to whoever posted the Tree of Life's script. Been a while since I read anything, and I think this may be the thing to get me back in the swing again.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by retablo

I love Lynch, but I don't think he's "one of the most important directors around right now". He was, but his time has passed IMO. The problem is, he seems to have a huge fanbase online, yet when his movies open, no one goes to see them. Lost highway almost sank October after they acquired it for $7 million and it grossed around $3.5. Mulholland Drive I believe barely broke even at $7 mil domestic, but scored twice as much overseas... which is why you have overseas releases and not US ones.

If I was a major distributor, I wouldn't be in a rush to release his films, either, from a profit standpoint. As a film lover and fan, however, he'd be one of the first I'd release, along with Herzog. But no one is lining up to put money into releasing films that will most likely barely sell, and that's the sad truth.

Lynch is certainly one of the most important directors alive right now, especially in terms of American directors. I don't really know how you could dispute that. His influence has been palpable and he's had worldwide acclaim. Come on, we know better than to bring box office as the sole arbiter of this.

I realize his films are not huge moneymakers, no, but when I look at the wide swath of films released on the format not all of them are stellar exemplars of cinematic art - blockbuster or no. Heck, most of them are not.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by lemonski

Pfft...I want to see a copy autographed by Terrence Malick, then you've got something

[Show spoiler]jk, that's very cool

I should have asked her if she could get me Terry's number/address.

[Jr7936]

has anyone's order from frys shipped yet on the backordered criterion
just curious

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by retablo

Talked to an exec at Paramount, who called 'Flight" a huge risk for the studio. $30 mil budget (cheap for a mainstream film) with Oscar winning actor and director, yet still a risk?? Because Denzel, being black, isn't a huge draw overseas, which is where Hollywood makes the majority of its money now. The whole system is messed up. (for the record, Flight pulled almost $100 mil US, which would make it seem like a pretty big hit to me.)

I saw Flight at the theater on the encouragement of several friends, and on the recommendations of several critics whom I hold in esteem. I found Flight to be a pleasing, but pedestrian movie that played out like an after-school special. The ending seemed quite contrived. The movie also had the most obtrusively heavy-handed use of a music soundtrack that I have ever seen, even for a Robert Zemekis flick.

Denzel Washington is a great actor, but I prefer his fun throwaway action movies where he has settled into a present-day Harrison Ford or Chuck Norris.

[Scottie]

Just watched The Killing. What a great film!

I love film-noirs even more after seeing this.

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Just watched The Killing. What a great film!

I love film-noirs even more after seeing this.

Awesome movie...love old Kubrick, now I need to go and rewatch this!!!

Need us some more noir from Criterion!!!

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by Jr7936

has anyone's order from frys shipped yet on the backordered criterion
just curious

Mine has went from 'processing' to 'backordered'. The silver lining in all of this is that it hasn't gone to 'canceled'.

[Yankees0222]

Originally Posted by retablo

I love Lynch, but I don't think he's "one of the most important directors around right now". He was, but his time has passed IMO. The problem is, he seems to have a huge fanbase online, yet when his movies open, no one goes to see them. Lost highway almost sank October after they acquired it for $7 million and it grossed around $3.5. Mulholland Drive I believe barely broke even at $7 mil domestic, but scored twice as much overseas... which is why you have overseas releases and not US ones.

If I was a major distributor, I wouldn't be in a rush to release his films, either, from a profit standpoint. As a film lover and fan, however, he'd be one of the first I'd release, along with Herzog. But no one is lining up to put money into releasing films that will most likely barely sell, and that's the sad truth.

But when the widest release that a movie receives is only ~250 theaters, it doesn't really give a movie a chance to reach a wider audience.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

Lynch is certainly one of the most important directors alive right now, especially in terms of American directors. I don't really know how you could dispute that. His influence has been palpable and he's had worldwide acclaim. Come on, we know better than to bring box office as the sole arbiter of this.

I realize his films are not huge moneymakers, no, but when I look at the wide swath of films released on the format not all of them are stellar exemplars of cinematic art - blockbuster or no. Heck, most of them are not.

I can dispute it because he rarely makes movies... that's why is said he WAS. Godard is still alive, and still makes movies, and has had much more "influence" on cinema than Lynch... I agree that Lynch is influential, but I don't see many filmmakers today trying to copy or emulate his style. That's where influence comes in.

And please re-read my comment. i was commenting on why his blu-rays haven't been released in the US. I never said box office has anything to do with art or influence.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by *PREACHER*

Awesome movie...love old Kubrick, now I need to go and rewatch this!!!

Need us some more noir from Criterion!!!

Amen

[retablo]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I saw Flight at the theater on the encouragement of several friends, and on the recommendations of several critics whom I hold in esteem. I found Flight to be a pleasing, but pedestrian movie that played out like an after-school special. The ending seemed quite contrived. The movie also had the most obtrusively heavy-handed use of a music soundtrack that I have ever seen, even for a Robert Zemekis flick.

Denzel Washington is a great actor, but I prefer his fun throwaway action movies where he has settled into a present-day Harrison Ford or Chuck Norris.

Right, but that's not my point. If Hollywood considers a cheaply made (by their standards) drama with proven Oscar-winners a risk, then Hollywood is in pretty bad shape in regards to the future of cinema.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Yankees0222

But when the widest release that a movie receives is only ~250 theaters, it doesn't really give a movie a chance to reach a wider audience.

That's a distribution problem, not an excuse. If they thought releasing it wider would really make a difference, I'm sure they would. Everyone wants to make the most money possible.

But, again, Lynch is not a mainstream director, and mainstream audiences will NOT flock to his films, even if they open in 4,000 theaters. It costs a distributor millions to release films, and the more screens, the more prints (at, what, $15,000 a print or something like that).

But this really isnt the thread for that, lol.

[Jr7936]

my frys order is backordered as well
I ordered the 6 moral tales

[octagon]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Just watched The Killing. What a great film!

I love film-noirs even more after seeing this.

Try to check out Killer's Kiss at some point. It's definitely rough but it really does stand on its own. It's more than just an interesting early look.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by octagon

Try to check out Killer's Kiss at some point. It's definitely rough but it really does stand on its own. It's more than just an interesting early look.

I definitely will!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by retablo

Right, but that's not my point. If Hollywood considers a cheaply made (by their standards) drama with proven Oscar-winners a risk, then Hollywood is in pretty bad shape in regards to the future of cinema.

True that. My review of Flight was more of a throwaway aside to illustrate the results of what happens when Hollywood tries to take a "big risk." If that movie was considered risky by the industry, then Hollywood is, indeed, in rough shape.