My next theatrical/streaming release will be my first, but I think the movie could/would have better without the voice over inner monologue. The monologue added little and was distracted from the tight direction and great lighting that you mentioned in your review.
See, I think the voiceover is the whole point. Like, the voiceover—and the way The Killer is contradicting what he's thinking with what he does—has to be there to demonstrate the hollow silliness of the whole "philosophical hitman" trope. In a way, the whole movie is kind of a gag about the ridiculousness of that concept, just made with the masterful skill of a Fincher.
Post-COVID and post-retirement, I’ve dipped my toe back into movie theaters - Indiana Jones, Oppenheimer, Barbie, A Haunting in Venice. I’m happy to have seen them all in a proper theater. I’m not been disappointed in that the visuals are so much better than on my 50” flat screen. A theater film needs stellar visuals. I’m not reading anything re Coyote vs. Acme that would send me to a theater - it seems like mostly clever plot (yes, I did go to a theater to see “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”.
You are absolutely right in regard to streaming being a bad business model, although I would point out one aspect where it would be a plus.
Back during the pandemic, when theaters were shut down, Disney+ streamed first run films for a $20 "premier" fee. You pushed the button and it showed up on your monthly bill. I thought this was an inventive way to move the industry. Sure, the bulk of streaming content was subscription, which contains all the back catalog of movies and shows. But let's say instead of going to the theater this weekend, you can watch The Marvels from your living room for $20. You can have different tiers as well-- Coyote v. Acme could be $10. It's certainly a way to mitigate a loss.
I just haven't seen it since then, which makes me wonder how successful it was.
Part of the problem though is the large flat panel tvs with subwoofer have come close enough to the movie experience that at least we're demotivated to go to the theater. In our case our incredibly large flat panel came about by carefully measuring the space and making up a TV with cardboard.... And then proceeding to on the fly at Best buy go to the next size up. Yes it barely fits but is so enticing that I've since stated my desire to knock out a wall to fit an even bigger tv... Now if we could just get the popcorn right....
A real cinema experience *should* be significantly better than any TV-based home setup. Most people today don't have access to a great classic theater. The "multiplex" movement, led by AMC, gave us smaller screens and worse sound - even audio leakage between rooms.
Also, thank you for continuing to speak out about the shocking anti-Israel, pro-terrorist demonstrations in America. I am so stunned and horrified by these reactions to actual slaughter of innocents.
CPA, here, to address the tax issues. You can only get a non-cash charitable deduction on the fair market value or your basis in the property. Anything north of $5K requires an appraisal. Sounds like this property isn't worth anything. The best tax move is to write off the costs.
I think a studio should have to release the film for distribution to PROVE it's a financial loss before being able to take that tax deduction. Right now now one knows how much the film could potentially earn, because no audience has had the chance to see it.
Thanks for the new Jack Reacher trailer. The airbag scene is especially good. On the tax thing, it doesn't seem right that by deliberately taking a loss (by not releasing a finished movie), the studios get a write off on their taxes. But I guess investors get to do the same thing when they write off investment losses against gains. Some European countries use some of the taxes they collect to provide subsidies to their movie industries. Do the government bureaucrats involved get to put their two cents in on the dailies?
"Maybe they can add more streamers and increase the savings. And then they could, potentially, bring all those channels straight to the consumer via some sort of cord or cable. It’s just crazy enough to work!"
Alright, I laughed at this. Time really is a flat circle.
Based on presales and early box office numbers, it does appear The Marvels is going to bomb fairly hard. I know I have no interest in seeing it. My wife and I saw a preview for it awhile back and when I asked, she said she had zero interest, largely because she didn't give a damn about any of the characters.
Copy that. I just feel so "blah" towards the MCU anymore. BP:WA for a snoozefest. Quantum mania was crap. Thor 4 had too much Taika. And the show Secret Invasion should've never been made.
“And then, after a reasonable amount of time and that source of revenue had been tapped, you could move it to a streaming service to let other people watch it.”
Movie theaters and HBO coexisted for 40 years. BARBIE made more than a billion dollars despite people knowing it would be on streaming in a few months. The problem is that the business model for motion pictures above a certain budget simply does not work without a theatrical component.
The Killer. I completed the assignment.
I enjoyed it.
My next theatrical/streaming release will be my first, but I think the movie could/would have better without the voice over inner monologue. The monologue added little and was distracted from the tight direction and great lighting that you mentioned in your review.
See, I think the voiceover is the whole point. Like, the voiceover—and the way The Killer is contradicting what he's thinking with what he does—has to be there to demonstrate the hollow silliness of the whole "philosophical hitman" trope. In a way, the whole movie is kind of a gag about the ridiculousness of that concept, just made with the masterful skill of a Fincher.
Post-COVID and post-retirement, I’ve dipped my toe back into movie theaters - Indiana Jones, Oppenheimer, Barbie, A Haunting in Venice. I’m happy to have seen them all in a proper theater. I’m not been disappointed in that the visuals are so much better than on my 50” flat screen. A theater film needs stellar visuals. I’m not reading anything re Coyote vs. Acme that would send me to a theater - it seems like mostly clever plot (yes, I did go to a theater to see “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”.
Reacher!!!!
You are absolutely right in regard to streaming being a bad business model, although I would point out one aspect where it would be a plus.
Back during the pandemic, when theaters were shut down, Disney+ streamed first run films for a $20 "premier" fee. You pushed the button and it showed up on your monthly bill. I thought this was an inventive way to move the industry. Sure, the bulk of streaming content was subscription, which contains all the back catalog of movies and shows. But let's say instead of going to the theater this weekend, you can watch The Marvels from your living room for $20. You can have different tiers as well-- Coyote v. Acme could be $10. It's certainly a way to mitigate a loss.
I just haven't seen it since then, which makes me wonder how successful it was.
Part of the problem though is the large flat panel tvs with subwoofer have come close enough to the movie experience that at least we're demotivated to go to the theater. In our case our incredibly large flat panel came about by carefully measuring the space and making up a TV with cardboard.... And then proceeding to on the fly at Best buy go to the next size up. Yes it barely fits but is so enticing that I've since stated my desire to knock out a wall to fit an even bigger tv... Now if we could just get the popcorn right....
A real cinema experience *should* be significantly better than any TV-based home setup. Most people today don't have access to a great classic theater. The "multiplex" movement, led by AMC, gave us smaller screens and worse sound - even audio leakage between rooms.
Also, thank you for continuing to speak out about the shocking anti-Israel, pro-terrorist demonstrations in America. I am so stunned and horrified by these reactions to actual slaughter of innocents.
Haven't been to the South and seen Confederate flags everywhere in a while have you?
It’s really pretty distressing!
The interview last week was wonderfully entertaining. I can’t wait to get the book.
Zaslav is a sociopath.
CPA, here, to address the tax issues. You can only get a non-cash charitable deduction on the fair market value or your basis in the property. Anything north of $5K requires an appraisal. Sounds like this property isn't worth anything. The best tax move is to write off the costs.
I think a studio should have to release the film for distribution to PROVE it's a financial loss before being able to take that tax deduction. Right now now one knows how much the film could potentially earn, because no audience has had the chance to see it.
Thanks for the new Jack Reacher trailer. The airbag scene is especially good. On the tax thing, it doesn't seem right that by deliberately taking a loss (by not releasing a finished movie), the studios get a write off on their taxes. But I guess investors get to do the same thing when they write off investment losses against gains. Some European countries use some of the taxes they collect to provide subsidies to their movie industries. Do the government bureaucrats involved get to put their two cents in on the dailies?
"Maybe they can add more streamers and increase the savings. And then they could, potentially, bring all those channels straight to the consumer via some sort of cord or cable. It’s just crazy enough to work!"
Alright, I laughed at this. Time really is a flat circle.
The running theme of this newsletter is “the old ways are better.”
Based on presales and early box office numbers, it does appear The Marvels is going to bomb fairly hard. I know I have no interest in seeing it. My wife and I saw a preview for it awhile back and when I asked, she said she had zero interest, largely because she didn't give a damn about any of the characters.
It’s worth waiting to watch on D+.
Copy that. I just feel so "blah" towards the MCU anymore. BP:WA for a snoozefest. Quantum mania was crap. Thor 4 had too much Taika. And the show Secret Invasion should've never been made.
“And then, after a reasonable amount of time and that source of revenue had been tapped, you could move it to a streaming service to let other people watch it.”
Movie theaters and HBO coexisted for 40 years. BARBIE made more than a billion dollars despite people knowing it would be on streaming in a few months. The problem is that the business model for motion pictures above a certain budget simply does not work without a theatrical component.