Comments on: Box Office: ‘Twilight’ Stays At #1, ‘Killing Them Softly’ Worst Brad Pitt Wide Release Opening In 18 Years

By: Adam Scott Thompson

Adam Scott Thompson — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:54 +0000

I preferred the title "Cogan's Trade" instead of "Killing Them Softly," but oh well. This is the same star/director team that produced "The Assassination of Jesse James…," a powerful film (which I proudly own) that requires a true cinephile's complete attention — and half an afternoon. I'd say the same about this film, although it's not as well-done. It's much shorter, though — and violent, and funny. But it's not the kind of film that can compete with tentpole movies like "Lincoln" and "Skyfall," and its overall tone, like "Assassination," is pretty morose. But it was money well-spent! Look for a creatively executed scene between the two robbers where one tries to extract information from the other who's just shot up with heroin. Director Andrew Dominik is one to keep an eye on.

By: MJ

MJ — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:54 +0000

Also it's silly to write off Life of Pi's profitability this early, it'll play well for weeks and should get to $100m in North America, but more importantly it's doing gangbusters overseas having already netted $60m from just 11 territories. This is headed towards $400m worldwide and should profit before any ancillary revenues are made.

By: MJ

MJ — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:54 +0000

The Weinsteins clearly did not know what they were doing with this film, starting with moving it from a safer date in September & into the post-Thanksgiving frame which hasn't yielded at $10m+ opener since 2003, & then they used weak/misleading marketing and a wide release instead of a more stirring campaign/platform release. Dominik's had a tough time at the box office which is a shame because he's one of the best in the game now.

By: Emre

Emre — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:54 +0000

Skyfellas?

By: Jackie

Jackie — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:54 +0000

There's a reason why it's brad's worst opening. IT'S A SMALL FILM. Why would you add negative press with a title like that for such a fragile gem of a film like this? I saw it yesterday and it was fucking great. Support the art-house please. We need our auteurs working. Not twilight $$.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:54 +0000

Bummer

By: Justin Kownacki

Justin Kownacki — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:54 +0000

I appreciate that Rise of the Guardians was reported here as Rise of the Cardigans. I might actually watch that.

By: Glass

Glass — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:54 +0000

I thought KTS was pretty good, but there were so many walkouts in my theater, so I understand the F cinemascore. James Gandolfini gets this HUGE slow-motion intro shot, like "here comes the turning point in this story"… then he just has two scenes where he pathetically drinks and rambles a lot… I get the story's allegory and it's nice and all, but way to bait and switch a wide release audience

By: Joshua

Joshua — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:54 +0000

Killing Them Softly is one of the top films of the year in my book. Such a great exercise in careful and precise filmmaking by Dominik. However, I was shocked to see The Weinstein Company take a gamble on putting it as a wide release over Silver Linings Playbook which was changed the day before its release from a 1400 screener to a 400 screener. Stupid move on their part. I manage a small downtown movie theater and Playbook had a much stronger American appeal than Killing. We had very upset patrons when it was pulled on such short notice.

I am so glad Killing came out wider so I got the chance to see it in my own theater vs. driving to NYC or Philly. So thank you Weinstein's for that. But they still need to gauge their audiences better. Silver Linings would have pulled a nice number wide. Killing is an experimental, slow, violent crime thriller. How do they think it would have sold better to a wider audience?

Brad Pitt < Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert Di Nero, Chris Tucker, David O'Russel.

Weinstein Company, please think.

By: AS

AS — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:54 +0000

Trash, as usual, triumphs. I didn't love Killing Them Softly, but I respect and admire it and I hope the film fairs better overseas. Damn shame.

By: RC

RC — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:53 +0000

Bad title change for an otherwise terrific little film. Assassination of Jesse James needed an editor, but Killing Them Softly was nice and tight. The gumps don't like it and some libs probably mistake it as an attack on Emperor Obama, but Dominic is definitely a talent to be reckoned with.

By: nechoplex

nechoplex — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:53 +0000

See? They should've kept the original and million times better title "Cogan's Trade"

By: Sean

Sean — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:53 +0000

I really wonder how Weinstein & Pitt & Dominik are responding to such news. I wish I was a fly on that wall! All I have to say is that Dominik def doesnt deserve this absoltuely not, great filmmaker & writer….

By: Savides

Savides — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:53 +0000

P.S. Who gives a shit how much these movies make? It's so tired. Let's talk about merit (or lack thereof), not money (or lack thereof), instead of reducing the conversation, week after week, to dollars and nonsense.

By: Stella

Stella — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:53 +0000

I think renting art house films is a good substitute for sleep inducing drugs for those unable to fall asleep. I can still remember how I anticipated The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward… I read about it and looked at the pics of Brad Pitt as the Western anti-hero all the time. When I got the DVD I fell asleep not once but repeatedly. Some how I eventually got to the end of the film by not exactly repeating all of the parts I had slept through. Was Brad Pitt and most of the cast sleep-walking through the film? They were lifeless and bloodless beings IMO. Casey Afleck's brief run after the assassination show-cased the only real action by sentient beings in that endless but beautifully shot film. I might have to see Killing Them Softly just to see how it compares.