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David Poland

By David Poland poland@moviecitynews.com

Posted Saturday, February 25th, 2006 - 21 Comments »

Klady's Friday Estimates – 2/25/05

Well, if you want a clear, crisp answer to the press

21 Comments »

21 Responses to “Klady's Friday Estimates – 2/25/05”

  1. Jimmy the Gent says:
    February 25, 2006 at 11:08 am

    The question is: Does the 16-year-old in Wisconsin even know who Leonard Maltin is? I doubt the 16-year-old reads the movie reviews in Playboy. Serious movie criticism is also a niche. It’s for people who take their movies seriously. There’s a world of difference between reading the latest rumblings from a “spy” critic, and seeking out serious criticism of the arts.
    Kael was right when she said the most important thing a critic can do is support the little movie that can easily be crushed by the big-studio marketing machines. She knew as far back as 1980 that the role of the critic was becoming less and less important when it came to big-name movies.
    Saw and Medea don’t need critics’ help. Movies like the latest Winterbottom need their help. I’m all for niche/genre markets. I just wish the better ones were making the money. Running Scared is a perfect example of a studio not really knowing what they have. The movie is more than the latest Paul Walker vehicle. It could be the next True Romance, the movie right before the writer-director makes his mark on the cutlure. I’m in no way saying Kramer is the new Tarantino. What I am saying is that he seems to annouce himself as a chronicler of sleaze fairy tales. It would be ashame if a major talent arrived on the scene and no one noticed.

  2. Wrecktum says:
    February 25, 2006 at 11:09 am

    “This is the face of the new Disney (now 2 years old). If they could make 4 Eight Belows, 3 Herbies, 2 blockbuster CG animated films a year, and one Bruckheimer extravaganza each year they would be very happy indeed.”
    What was the face of the old Disney? Dick Cook’s conservative instincts fit well with the traditional Disney model, but it’s really not that much different than when Joe Roth was in charge, is it?

  3. Crow T Robot says:
    February 25, 2006 at 11:13 am

    Again I say… Tyler Perry is the new Tom Laughlin.

  4. David Poland says:
    February 25, 2006 at 1:55 pm

    Wreck – Disney was defintely shooting to play the bigger game for years and to try to find an adult market. What is most notable now is that they are essentially a family-only studio, spending more conservatively than others and more often reaping the benefit of less risk, greater reward.

  5. Joe Leydon says:
    February 25, 2006 at 3:05 pm

    Just got word that Don Knotts died. Bummer. From “The Steve Allen Show” through “The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken” to “Pleasantville,” he was a very funny fellow. He’ll be missed.

  6. Aladdin Sane says:
    February 25, 2006 at 3:58 pm

    Running Scared deserved better. It was brilliant in the ways it goes over the top. Ebert’s review did a great job of summing the film up…it has a few problems, but it’s a fun ride. I was surpised at how much I enjoyed it. There’s a little more going on in the film than the commercials let on. It may not be as deep as the ocean, but that’s not always a bad thing. Anyhow, I think it’ll find an audience on DVD…

  7. RP says:
    February 25, 2006 at 4:48 pm

    comment: phenom like Medea >>>
    Hey, it’s the #1 movie of the weekend; let’s spell her name right. It’s M-A-D-E-A not M-E-D-E-A.

  8. RP says:
    February 25, 2006 at 4:49 pm

    There was supposed to be a :) after that spelling correction…no hard feelings DP. :)

  9. Josh says:
    February 25, 2006 at 7:15 pm

    Medea’s Family Reunion would get its number no matter how many bad reviews there were for it. It’s review proof.

  10. Blackcloud says:
    February 25, 2006 at 8:32 pm

    “Medea’s Family Reunion”
    Now that would be an interesting movie, what with her killing her children and all. Those crazy Greeks, now there were some dysfunctional families.

  11. Sanchez says:
    February 25, 2006 at 10:01 pm

    “Running Scared” a disaster this week. That is a terrible opening.

  12. Joe Leydon says:
    February 25, 2006 at 10:27 pm

    Another loss: Darren McGavin died today. Damn. You know, these things usually happen in threes. So beware.

  13. jeffmcm says:
    February 26, 2006 at 12:17 am

    I see that Dave Poland has upgraded Hostel from “worst movie of 2006″ to the level of “mediocrity”. Progress!
    RIP, Kolchak and Mr. Limpet.

  14. James Leer says:
    February 26, 2006 at 12:56 am

    Here’s something equally depressing from Anne Thompson’s blog…
    “Weinstein Co. Swallows Wellspring
    Here’s a letter that is making the industry rounds from playwright/actor Stephen Adly Guirgis, who wrote The Madonna of 121st Street, which Philip Seymour Hoffman directed off-Broadway. The occasion is the closing down of small indie distributor Wellspring in the wake of Weinstein Co.’s purchase of DVD company Genius.
    From: Stephen Adly Guirgis Date: February 24, 2006 10:55:19 PM PST Subject: a personal plea/gentle request from Guirgis
    Dear Folks: as some of you may know, my little sister Marie Therese Guirgis has been Head of Production at Wellspring Pictures for the past several years. Wellspring was one of the very few American companies left that were dedicated to putting foreign film, documentaries, and non-star driven independent cinema into our theaters. I say “was” because The Weinstein Company bought Wellspring last month for its library of classic films, and library now in hand, they have shut down the company, fired the workers, and will use the company to produce and distribute more of their usual fare: safe, commercial, star driven allegedly independent films — with the final cut going to Harvey.
    This weekend, the old Wellspring is releasing its last film. ironically, it’s more commercial then what they usually put out, but it’s an excellent and thoroughly compelling documentary called “UNKNOWN WHITE MALE”… I think it’s a pretty great film. stimulating and moving. My sister and her staff are really proud of it… i’d like to gently urge you to support this film in its opening weekend and in the week ahead. in this, their last hour, they could really use our support — and the acknowledgment that good box office numbers would bring. supporting UNKNOWN WHITE MALE is, i think, a way of saying to the film industry: we want choice. we want content. we want to see good movies, different movies, and not just the same old thing….anyway, thanks. i’m gonna see it again this weekend, hope you can too, or during the week…. take care, stephen”

  15. Angelus21 says:
    February 26, 2006 at 1:36 am

    Knotts? I’m pissed about. Damn you God.
    McGavin? I’m upset about. Damn you God.
    Some Co that releases doc’s? I’m not.

  16. jeffmcm says:
    February 26, 2006 at 3:07 am

    Two of those things affect your past.
    The other thing affects your future and your (now) lack of ability to see foreign and indie films. You should be pissed.

  17. James Leer says:
    February 26, 2006 at 9:43 am

    Alias Man doesn’t go see foreign and indie flicks anyway. But for the real film lovers on the blog, this is depressing news. Wellspring has released some of my favorite movies that may not have even come out in the U.S. but for their daring.

  18. palmtree says:
    February 26, 2006 at 9:53 am

    Wellspring was home to my favorite living filmmaker, Tsai Ming Liang. For allowing me to see his works, I will lament their passing.

  19. martin says:
    February 26, 2006 at 10:15 am

    never seen a wellspring pic before and unknown white male is apparently a load of BS, so who cares what weinstein does. Too bad about Knotts and Mcgavin though, 2 great actors. Lately I’ve been noticing something though: these things usually come in 2s, then someone forced a 3rd in a week or two later. But mainly, they come in 2s.

  20. Chucky in Jersey says:
    February 26, 2006 at 10:48 am

    Most every review sounds the same: Plot summary with no context, headline that gives away the review, content warning at the end to please the pro-censorship crowd.
    After all, didn’t the Liberal Media pour on the hype for “King Kong” and acted clueless when it came up short?

  21. martin says:
    February 26, 2006 at 1:36 pm

    The “liberal media”? i wasn’t aware king kong was political. I’m sure Fox was just as much in the game as the rest.

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