Posted on 10/29/2005 3:11:34 AM PDT by paudio
With the United States and some of its allies at war, the major studios would traditionally crank out escapist fare, like comedies and action adventures. But with many of those movies, like "Stealth" or "The Island," flopping this summer and thoughtful films like "Crash" doing well, it may be that U.S. moviegoers are in the mood to think.
The change comes as box office totals are down about 6 percent from last year.
"Audiences want something smart and intelligent, but the rules of marketing still apply ... if it's too esoteric, you may lose the mainstream audience," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.
The first major test will be the November 4 debut of "Jarhead," about the impact of the 1991 Gulf War on a group of Marines. Over the next two months come "Syriana" and "Munich" that delve into Middle Eastern politics, and the musical "Rent," about young New Yorkers dealing with poverty, homelessness and AIDS.
"North Country," about a precedent-setting sexual harassment lawsuit, is currently playing as is "Good Night, and Good Luck," a look at political fear-mongering. Still to come is "Brokeback Mountain," in which two gay cowboys deal with how society will judge them, and there are others on the list.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
They keep on trying to "educate" us, but they can't because they are ill read and partisan.
These will tank
The Gulf War movie was a pivotal time in my life, even though I did not serve. If I can be assured it will not be an anti-war, anti-Bush diatribe, I could possibly be persuaded to go see it.
But why in the wide, wide, world of sports, would hollywierd think flyover country be interested in seeing two gay cowboys screw next to a campfire?
I really wonder if these producers even THINK these movies will make money themselves?
We rent DVDs through the mail. To hell with the theater.
Good Lord. Watch this movie get nominated for every award Hollyweird has to offer. Two big thumbs way up!
(BTW, put Jennifer Connelly in any movie and I will be there, first in line).
Yup. Thats the way to do it.
Hollyweirdos can't figure out what people want in movies because they can't see past their own mirrors.
Are the cowboys ...eating pudding?
Even since she went on the Skeletor diet?
Pudding if we're lucky.
im just not going to give them anymore money to bash my belief system. look at those loser titles too, lol? a musical about aids? yea, thats going to really lure the old folks who remmeber the gene kelley musicals in like fish.
The people that green-light films are out of touch with audiences, is my opinion. I've really been disappointed over the last several years (now that I am no longer in a desirable demographic). It's awful.
Oh yeah, even then.
Here's a thought: How about if Hollyweird just made decent-quality movies that are about things that normal people care about, and that will not disgust 85% of movie-goers?
I've got a title for some courageous movie maker: "The Rape of Juanita Broadderick."
Remember Joe McCarthy? He was right. Hollyweird is determined to take every last modicum of decency from us by having our kids identify with freaks and weirdos and warp their impressionable minds...
How about a movie called 'Lease' about AIDS? There could be a song by the lead about how we've all got aids...a a a a aids...?
And what about RENT. I love musical theater, but I have avoided this one like the plague...
Well so much for going to the movies.
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