Sometimes, a movie lets the bad guy, woman, or organization off easy. Case in point, the reporter in Return to Paradise – responsible for the tragic death of Louis – played by Joaquin Phoenix. I wanted her to become fully aware of the pain she had caused, but…nothing. Maybe it was a deleted scene.
So this topic is about movie characters whose deeds deserved some justice, revenge…whatever, but it never came. You have the chance to name the character and what should have happened to grant their just desserts.
OK, but what should have happened to Hulot or Balthazar? For the reporter in Return to Paradise, I wanted her fired, grief stricken, and slapped silly by the sister who lost her brother due to the reporter’s ambition.
If you could control what was playing at your local cinema, would you pay the ticket price to see the film in a theatre? Or would you pay less/nothing and just keeping watching films online or on DVD/Blu-Ray?
The reason I’m asking: I believe many more cinemas are going to disappear unless audiences believe they have at least some choice about what they watch. I believe many people, given the option, would “vote” using their cell phones and/or Facebook applications to select what they want to see. If theater owners/corporations were able to see the a wave of statistics and respond accordingly, then I believe a new wave of interest in attending theaters could begin. It’s already happening in select cases, which I’d be glad to share.
I’d like to hear what this community thinks to determine what the market is like and to get some quotes from filmmakers about whether this is a need/desire. And incidentally, does anyone know how to create excellent Facebook applications that would allow people to vote?
I agree that many people would still vote on junk, but those aren’t the kinds of films that usually have to be voted on to get them playing, so maybe people wouldn’t even bother. I’m thinking more about how to get a film like the Coen Bros.’ A Serious Man into smaller markets. It played in just one theatre in Phoenix for the entire duration of its run. If that happened, then I can imagine it didn’t even touch several U.S. states where Coen Bros. fans live—let’s say Montana, for example. If 6 people in Billings, MT let it be known on their Facebook or MUBI accounts that they wanted to see the film, they could use a website I’m proposing to get their local friends to vote on it. If they reach a critical mass – say 200-300, then the theatre owner gets notified and all the people who voted get a text/facebook message.
Thanks for the honest feedback.
Recently, this example happened in England by the way: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/46347 . The movie isn’t Tokyo Story, but it’s a hopeful sign.
Thanks for the thought you put into answering. I’m reading you loud and clear, yet I still have hope that it could work. The story about Paranormal Activity generating a million votes and gaining a nationwide release, though some of it may have been marketing rzmataz—it was still a $10,000 movie that went on to make more than $100 million. I’m not saying that’s the kind of movie I want audiences to select—but it does prove to me that audiences want to vote and feel a sense of ownership (endorsing a film) and that has power. With the advent of digital cinema, I see a future where an online forum of 100 friends could effectively program and promote their own festival at a multiplex—as long as they can basically guarantee ticket buyers. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I don’t think I’m the only one…
Hamlet used a play to convict the conscience of his uncle, King Claudius, by having the actors portray a murder using a poisoning-the-ear method that Claudius had committed against Hamlet’s father. Result: very uncomfortable theatrical experience yet oddly satisfying.
So if you got to have 2-3 hours in the presence of a public figure who needs a little conviction in his/her life, what movie would you use to nail them?
For myself, I’m thinking that if Sarah Palin came over I’d serve her some glazed ham and introduce her to Tim Robbins’ first film, Bob Roberts.
I was reading Kevin Brownlow’s biography of David Lean and realized, through him, that A Passage to India reflected Lean’s own perspective on England’s role in India, rather than author E.M. Forster’s views against their presence in the nation.
2011 marks 25 years since Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was released. Since I don’t have any hope that a sequel is being developed, I thought some people in this group could come up with what the sequel could/should be.
To me, I think it’s obvious that the film should be centered around the 25-year high school reunion that will include some lip-syncing. Ferris is rich, has one son and one daughter who are about 17 and 18 respectively—maybe there’s a switch here, so the daughter is the devious one while the brother is annoyed by what she gets away with. Principal Ed Rooney is back and plotting revenge. Charlie Sheen, married to the sister. I can’t figure out what Alan Ruck and Mia Sara (ex-wife?) should be doing, so now I’ll hand it off to greater minds to continue this thread or start it over with a much better concept than this one: Somehow Ferris, at age 43, needs to be reminded by his friends what he used to know: Life goes pretty fast; if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it.
I’ve just been toying with this theory that audiences know what they want, so I thought—maybe if the site came up with sequel ideas then someday it would actually get made. I’m not feeling a lot of hope for it this morning, but maybe I just picked a movie that shou;dn’t be sequelized. I work for a nonprofit.
I’ve just been toying with this theory that audiences know what they want, so I thought—maybe if the site came up with sequel ideas then someday it would actually get made. I’m not feeling a lot of hope for it this morning, but maybe I just picked a movie that shou;dn’t be sequelized. I work for a nonprofit.
The Indian Runner (Penn)
Primer (Carruth)
Henry V (Branagh)
Badlands (Malick)
The Maltese Falcon (Huston)
Diner (Levinson)
Terms of Endearment (Brooks)
Real Life (Brooks, Albert)
12 Angry Men (Lumet)
Dances with Wolves (Costner)
The Greatest Film of the 2000s over 2 years ago
The one film I don’t get tired of watching repeatedly and telling friends they need to see: Primer
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GREAT MOVIES WHERE THE ENDING (ALMOST) RUINS EVERYTHING almost 2 years ago
Just watched The Station Agent last night and was expecting…something more (don’t know what) before the credits rolled.
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They Had It Coming - Revenge/Justice Fantasies almost 2 years ago
Sometimes, a movie lets the bad guy, woman, or organization off easy. Case in point, the reporter in Return to Paradise – responsible for the tragic death of Louis – played by Joaquin Phoenix. I wanted her to become fully aware of the pain she had caused, but…nothing. Maybe it was a deleted scene.
So this topic is about movie characters whose deeds deserved some justice, revenge…whatever, but it never came. You have the chance to name the character and what should have happened to grant their just desserts.
Go to Comment
They Had It Coming - Revenge/Justice Fantasies almost 2 years ago
OK, but what should have happened to Hulot or Balthazar? For the reporter in Return to Paradise, I wanted her fired, grief stricken, and slapped silly by the sister who lost her brother due to the reporter’s ambition.
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They Had It Coming - Revenge/Justice Fantasies almost 2 years ago
I was wondering who would bring up Lecter—nice
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Control the Cinema COntent over 1 year ago
If you could control what was playing at your local cinema, would you pay the ticket price to see the film in a theatre? Or would you pay less/nothing and just keeping watching films online or on DVD/Blu-Ray?
The reason I’m asking: I believe many more cinemas are going to disappear unless audiences believe they have at least some choice about what they watch. I believe many people, given the option, would “vote” using their cell phones and/or Facebook applications to select what they want to see. If theater owners/corporations were able to see the a wave of statistics and respond accordingly, then I believe a new wave of interest in attending theaters could begin. It’s already happening in select cases, which I’d be glad to share.
I’d like to hear what this community thinks to determine what the market is like and to get some quotes from filmmakers about whether this is a need/desire. And incidentally, does anyone know how to create excellent Facebook applications that would allow people to vote?
Go to Comment
Control the Cinema COntent over 1 year ago
I agree that many people would still vote on junk, but those aren’t the kinds of films that usually have to be voted on to get them playing, so maybe people wouldn’t even bother. I’m thinking more about how to get a film like the Coen Bros.’ A Serious Man into smaller markets. It played in just one theatre in Phoenix for the entire duration of its run. If that happened, then I can imagine it didn’t even touch several U.S. states where Coen Bros. fans live—let’s say Montana, for example. If 6 people in Billings, MT let it be known on their Facebook or MUBI accounts that they wanted to see the film, they could use a website I’m proposing to get their local friends to vote on it. If they reach a critical mass – say 200-300, then the theatre owner gets notified and all the people who voted get a text/facebook message.
Thanks for the honest feedback.
Recently, this example happened in England by the way: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/46347 . The movie isn’t Tokyo Story, but it’s a hopeful sign.
Go to Comment
Control the Cinema COntent over 1 year ago
Thanks for the thought you put into answering. I’m reading you loud and clear, yet I still have hope that it could work. The story about Paranormal Activity generating a million votes and gaining a nationwide release, though some of it may have been marketing rzmataz—it was still a $10,000 movie that went on to make more than $100 million. I’m not saying that’s the kind of movie I want audiences to select—but it does prove to me that audiences want to vote and feel a sense of ownership (endorsing a film) and that has power. With the advent of digital cinema, I see a future where an online forum of 100 friends could effectively program and promote their own festival at a multiplex—as long as they can basically guarantee ticket buyers. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I don’t think I’m the only one…
Go to Comment
Catch the Conscience of ________________ over 1 year ago
Hamlet used a play to convict the conscience of his uncle, King Claudius, by having the actors portray a murder using a poisoning-the-ear method that Claudius had committed against Hamlet’s father. Result: very uncomfortable theatrical experience yet oddly satisfying.
So if you got to have 2-3 hours in the presence of a public figure who needs a little conviction in his/her life, what movie would you use to nail them?
For myself, I’m thinking that if Sarah Palin came over I’d serve her some glazed ham and introduce her to Tim Robbins’ first film, Bob Roberts.
Go to Comment
films that are unfaithful to books they are based on,... over 1 year ago
I was reading Kevin Brownlow’s biography of David Lean and realized, through him, that A Passage to India reflected Lean’s own perspective on England’s role in India, rather than author E.M. Forster’s views against their presence in the nation.
Go to Comment
Let's Make A Sequel - Ferris Bueller over 1 year ago
2011 marks 25 years since Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was released. Since I don’t have any hope that a sequel is being developed, I thought some people in this group could come up with what the sequel could/should be.
To me, I think it’s obvious that the film should be centered around the 25-year high school reunion that will include some lip-syncing. Ferris is rich, has one son and one daughter who are about 17 and 18 respectively—maybe there’s a switch here, so the daughter is the devious one while the brother is annoyed by what she gets away with. Principal Ed Rooney is back and plotting revenge. Charlie Sheen, married to the sister. I can’t figure out what Alan Ruck and Mia Sara (ex-wife?) should be doing, so now I’ll hand it off to greater minds to continue this thread or start it over with a much better concept than this one: Somehow Ferris, at age 43, needs to be reminded by his friends what he used to know: Life goes pretty fast; if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it.
Go to Comment
Let's Make A Sequel - Ferris Bueller over 1 year ago
I’ve just been toying with this theory that audiences know what they want, so I thought—maybe if the site came up with sequel ideas then someday it would actually get made. I’m not feeling a lot of hope for it this morning, but maybe I just picked a movie that shou;dn’t be sequelized. I work for a nonprofit.
Go to Comment
Let's Make A Sequel - Ferris Bueller over 1 year ago
I’ve just been toying with this theory that audiences know what they want, so I thought—maybe if the site came up with sequel ideas then someday it would actually get made. I’m not feeling a lot of hope for it this morning, but maybe I just picked a movie that shou;dn’t be sequelized. I work for a nonprofit.
Go to Comment
Top 10-20 Favorite Directorial Debuts about 1 year ago
The Indian Runner (Penn)
Primer (Carruth)
Henry V (Branagh)
Badlands (Malick)
The Maltese Falcon (Huston)
Diner (Levinson)
Terms of Endearment (Brooks)
Real Life (Brooks, Albert)
12 Angry Men (Lumet)
Dances with Wolves (Costner)
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