Nick, you just nailed in the head exactly why I wrote that "nonsensical rant"… something that the Powers-That-Be and the writer of this studio spin job didn't seem to get from reading it, assuming they actually read it. There is no question about the quality of the films that Classics is buying and (sort of) releasing, but if people in big cities who want to see these movies theatrically aren't getting the opportunity, then something is wrong with the system.

I'm also willing to wager that Paranassus won't get over that $10 million hump theatrically either. Anyone want to take that bet?

"like "Run, Lola, Run," "Kung Fu Hustle" and "Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown" are still highly regarded, benchmark films. By comparison, films like "Juno" or "Napoleon Dynamite" already faced backlash while still in their "

Ahem, ahem. The Tykwer, the Chow, and Almadovar are not in any way comparable to the Reitman and the Hess. Not at all.

Sony Classics is kind of a big, lumbering old institution as far how they do business. I don't mind that really, but it can really frustrating trying to figure out if, at all, their films will play here, and I live in CHICAGO. A big market, and I have no idea when their movies will finally make it out here.

Take Lorna's Silence, I'm a big Dardenne fan, wanted to see the movie very much, but a week or two after the NY/LA release, there's no word, no listings anywhere for the film in Chicago. When the film finally does open, it's weeks later at one of the worst, least populated theaters in the city. It played for a week and a half, the latter half of the run with only a few showtimes early in the day. Why it wasn't booked at Landmark or the Music Box or The Gene Siskel, anywhere where people who see movies like this actually go, I have no idea.

And take a look at this website.
http://www.sonyclassics.com/lornassilence/

That's some mid 90s indie-distributor bullshit. A press kit, a ny/la release date, an ugly design and a flash trailer that's smaller than early apple trailers.

Another Sony Classics release, It Might Get Loud, played at two Chicago area theaters for less than two weeks. A documentary by the guy who did An Inconvenient Truth, with two of the biggest rock guitarists in the world and one legend, and they can't fucking sell it.

As for their DVDs they're routinely among the worst produced of any modern film company, the Capote DVD is abhorrent, with dust and scratches on a film less than a year old at the time of the DVD release. Weak transfers, dreadful supplements and eye gougingly bad cover and menu design.

I'm thankful Sony Classics picks up challenging films, but you're kidding yourself if you think they don't bumble their releases. Congrats on your access to an interview, but that doesn't fix any of their problems.

Theresa
Dr. Parnassus Support Site

Theresa
Dr. Parnassus Support Site