Do the low grosses of crime drama Harsh Times, the directorial debut of Training Day scribe David Ayers, spell… well, harsh times for Batman Begins star Christian Bale, upon whose name the film is largely being sold? Well, in a word no. More likely, Harsh Times is just indicative of the new trend of
blockbuster summer entertainment, in which headlining doesn’t necessarily translate
into tabloid-selling, movie-opening cult of personality. Actors like
Bale, Tobey Maguire and others are beloved in their comic book flicks, and
frequently respected in other work, but not always a massive draw in and of
themselves. For the full piece exploring this notion, from FilmStew, click here.
Daily Archives: November 15, 2006
RIP VHS
Variety has posted an obituary for the VHS format, which almost all major retailers have officially booted from shelves to make way for the oncoming glut of Christmas… sorry, holiday product. For those who simply can’t cope with the death of the format, don’t worry — there’s always Ebay and Half.com, where those 30 million copies of The Lion King will be peddled for another generation or so, likely at or around shipping cost. Of course, once your kids’ Barney or Dora the Explorer tapes wear out the heads on the VCR, you’re totally screwed…
AFI Fest Announces Winners
Fast Food Nation Site Showcases Interconnectedness
Fox Searchlight, always adept at seeking out and embracing alternative marketing techniques, has up an interesting web site in support of Richard Linklater’s Fast Food Nation, the big screen adaptation of Eric Schlosser’s bestselling investigatory novel, which opens this Friday, November 17. In addition to the regular behind-the-scenes material and a whole slew of clips, there are reader-fed debates about corporate beef and the like from a variety of blog sources. The film has also teamed up with www.participate.net to further illuminate the connections between cheap food, illegal immigration, brutal working conditions, suppressed wages and unsanitary food preparation. For more information, click here.