Blackfish (New Killer Whale Documentary)

[MikeScott]

Blackfish Official TRAILER (2013) - Documentary Movie HD - YouTube

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/blackfish_2013/


This looks great. Scary and riveting. I don't watch that many documentaries but I'll check it out.

[Snicket]

Thank you for posting these smaller films, I know they are not super popular but I always read them!

[MikeScott]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Thank you for posting these smaller films, I know they are not super popular but I always read them!

Hey, that's great to hear. I was thinking nobody did. Personally they interest me much more than a lot of the bigger films. So glad to know someone is checking out my threads.

[The Great Owl]

Those things are just too awesome and majestic to be kept in captivity. Thanks for posting this! I probably won't see it at a theater or buy it on Blu-ray, but I'd love to check it out on Hulu or through a rental someday.

[Hucksta G]

Originally Posted by MikeScott

Hey, that's great to hear. I was thinking nobody did. Personally they interest me much more than a lot of the bigger films. So glad to know someone is checking out my threads.

Got my interest, too. Watched the trailer for this last night, I'll probably watch it, though no doubt it will upset me haha

[Branden8791]

I'm obsessed with Killer whales have been since i was little and the first free willy came out..always had the dream/wish to be a orca trainer...i will for sure be watching this and looking forward to it!! thank u

[MikeScott]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Those things are just too awesome and majestic to be kept in captivity.

I don't even understand how the whale that's the subject of the film is still performing at Sea World. It should have been released back in the wild.

[MikeScott]

Opens this weekend. Reviews are terrific.

Here's the write-up from Deadline:

Blackfish
Director-writer: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Co-writer: Eli B. Despres
Subjects: Samantha Berg, Dave Duffus, Dean Gomersall, Dawn Brancheau, Dave Duffus
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures

Documentary filmmaker Gabriela Cowperthwaite had been a patron at marine animal parks, taking her children to the likes of SeaWorld, but became interested in the behind the scenes angle after the death of a professional killer whale trainer by one orca, Tilikum while in captivity. The orca had killed before and her Sundance feature uses footage and interviews to present a case against keeping the animals in captivity. “I just had thought they all got along and especially at a place like Sea World,” said Cowperthwaite. “So I started peeling back the onion. The idea that they’re committed to preservation and education was also something I believed and grew up thinking about SeaWorld. What I came to understand is that they actually miseducate and there’s no data that they are committed to environmental conservation.” Access was a challenge since Cowperthwaite said she couldn’t talk to anyone inside SeaWorld. The film focuses on Tilikum and the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau. “It’s difficult to talk about a story that deals with a death,” said Cowperthwaite. “The idea that this great person is the entry point to a story. The autopsy report reveals how deliberate the attack was. It’s pretty dark and being mired in that world for two years was not fun.” The filmmaker claimed that SeaWorld would grant her an interview but later declined. SeaWorld acknowledged that she reached out to them, but has no recollection of agreeing to a conversation, adding about the film: “Blackfish ignores everything in our long history that shows the dedication and skill of our zoological staff, our commitment to education, research and conservation, our work to rescue and rehabilitate animals in need, and the inspirational impact of seeing these animals and others up close.” SeaWorld hired publicity company 42West to strategize its response to the film.

Cowperthwaite was introduced by two women who served as executive producers for the film. Judy Bart and Erica Kahn came on board the project with financing. Submarine’s Josh and Dan Braun saw a rough cut of the film last summer and repped the film at Sundance where it sold to Magnolia. The company will open Blackfish at the Arclight in L.A. as well as the Sunshine Cinema and the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center in New York. It will head to 18 more locations in California, New York, D.C., Florida, New Jersey, Chicago and Boston July 26th before going wider throughout August.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/spec...g-the-rooftop/

[kong73]

Hard to watch too. I've seen this trailer before and it gets me every time

[Mandalorian]

If it's even remotely as good as The Cove, this will be a classic. Can't wait to see it.

[MikeScott]

I never saw The Cove. I even blind bought it but could never bring myself to watch it. I love dolphins and even though I'd heard amazing things I was just never in the mood to watch a movie about them being slaughtered.

[Mandalorian]

Originally Posted by MikeScott

I never saw The Cove. I even blind bought it but could never bring myself to watch it. I love dolphins and even though I'd heard amazing things I was just never in the mood to watch a movie about them being slaughtered.

And I can tell you you never will be. It's truly phenominal though. I haven't watched Schindler's List for the same reason.

[MikeScott]

Originally Posted by RJ Smoove

And I can tell you you never will be. It's truly phenominal though. I haven't watched Schindler's List for the same reason.

When I was a kid I watched White Squall and the scene of them killing the dolphin has never left me. Truly disturbing.

[FestinaLente]

I really want to see this. Hoping it expands a bit in the coming weeks. Phenomenal trailer, like you guys said.

[MikeScott]

Also opening with some gusto this weekend was Magnolia’s Blackfish. The fellow Sundance docu opened in four theaters, grossing $66,500 for a $16,625 PSA, placing it in the middle of the year’s top non-fiction openers.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/spec...l-most-likely/

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by MikeScott

Also opening with some gusto this weekend was Magnolia’s Blackfish. The fellow Sundance docu opened in four theaters, grossing $66,500 for a $16,625 PSA, placing it in the middle of the year’s top non-fiction openers.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/spec...l-most-likely/

Bravo!

[Michael1989]

The bit in the trailer with the whale in the net's crying (or whatever it was doing) was upsetting..I havn't watched The Cove as I find it difficult watching anything to do with animal cruelty/captivity etc

[kong73]

Originally Posted by Michael1989

The bit in the trailer with the whale in the net's crying (or whatever it was doing) was upsetting..I havn't watched The Cove as I find it difficult watching anything to do with animal cruelty/captivity etc

I'm with you on that one Michael, I saw the trailer and got upset right away... But you know what they say... Knowledge is power so one day I will see this

[MikeScott]

Magnolia’s Blackfish, meanwhile, surpassed the $1 million mark in its 4th weekend. It grossed $250K in 83 theaters for a $3K average.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/08/spec...-still-golden/


I'm willing to bet this receives a Best Documentary nomination at the Oscars.

[ONE_DAY_AS_A_LION]

Originally Posted by MikeScott

When I was a kid I watched White Squall and the scene of them killing the dolphin has never left me. Truly disturbing.

I love White Squall and I wanted to punch Jeremy Sisto's character for doing that. They should've threw his butt of the boat right there and said swim home. Well, we know that wasn't going to happen and really it shouldn't, just making the point that it wasn't cool that he did that.