Rating high on Hollywood’s list: immature audiences
09-01-09, 09:14 AM
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Rating high on Hollywood’s list: immature audiences
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This is affecting even the biggest names and projects. Scorsese's Shutter Island got pushed to 2010 and one studio source intimated that the hardest hit segment has been movies that play to an older adult audience.
If 2009 is remembered for anything in American cinema, it might be as the year grown-ups and Hollywood finally agreed to call it quits.
This is the year when such slick, star-driven, adult-oriented movies as State of Play, Duplicity, The International and The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 underperformed at the box office. And when talking-toy movies like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra raked in millions.
Suddenly, movies for grown-ups are in the cross hairs. “I’m caught up all in it,” Spike Lee said recently with a rueful laugh, noting that the sequel to his 2006 thriller Inside Man is hanging in the balance. “I’m waiting on Universal,” he said.
[...]
Last week Universal cochairman Marc Shmuger told the Los Angeles Times that 2009 “has certainly been a humbling year. First, there’s a real need to be making movies for less money. Second, there’s a real premium on sharper, more marketable concepts. Audiences are clearly seeking escape from their lives.”
Translation: Hello, Paul Blart. Sayonara, Frost/Nixon.
[...]
This is the year when such slick, star-driven, adult-oriented movies as State of Play, Duplicity, The International and The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 underperformed at the box office. And when talking-toy movies like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra raked in millions.
Suddenly, movies for grown-ups are in the cross hairs. “I’m caught up all in it,” Spike Lee said recently with a rueful laugh, noting that the sequel to his 2006 thriller Inside Man is hanging in the balance. “I’m waiting on Universal,” he said.
[...]
Last week Universal cochairman Marc Shmuger told the Los Angeles Times that 2009 “has certainly been a humbling year. First, there’s a real need to be making movies for less money. Second, there’s a real premium on sharper, more marketable concepts. Audiences are clearly seeking escape from their lives.”
Translation: Hello, Paul Blart. Sayonara, Frost/Nixon.
[...]
09-01-09, 09:28 AM
#2
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Rating high on Hollywood’s list: immature audiences
What does this have to do with maturity or Shutter Island?
Last I recalled, Shutter Island was pushed back due to a lack in advertising funds. That has nothing to do with "immature audiences", and effects driven flicks have always been big draws while smaller features have and always will require a bit of a hook to draw audiences.
Political thrillers aren't doing so hot since they play out in the news on what seems to be a weekly basis. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 wasn't even a good movie and all things considered, GI Joe wound up being a bit of a dud at theaters (gross wise). The International had laughable advertising and Duplicity was similarly poorly marketed. Benjamin Button did pretty well with older crowds as well.
What do they really expect? They need to good movies with actual appeal, they're failing on both counts in many instances.
Last I recalled, Shutter Island was pushed back due to a lack in advertising funds. That has nothing to do with "immature audiences", and effects driven flicks have always been big draws while smaller features have and always will require a bit of a hook to draw audiences.
Political thrillers aren't doing so hot since they play out in the news on what seems to be a weekly basis. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 wasn't even a good movie and all things considered, GI Joe wound up being a bit of a dud at theaters (gross wise). The International had laughable advertising and Duplicity was similarly poorly marketed. Benjamin Button did pretty well with older crowds as well.
What do they really expect? They need to good movies with actual appeal, they're failing on both counts in many instances.
Last edited by RichC2; 09-01-09 at 09:39 AM.
09-01-09, 09:38 AM
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Re: Rating high on Hollywood’s list: immature audiences
What does this have to do with maturity or Shutter Island?
Last I recalled, Shutter Island was pushed back due to a lack in advertising funds. That has nothing to do with "immature audiences", and effects driven flicks have always been big draws while smaller features have and always will require a bit of a hook to draw audiences.
Last I recalled, Shutter Island was pushed back due to a lack in advertising funds. That has nothing to do with "immature audiences", and effects driven flicks have always been big draws while smaller features have and always will require a bit of a hook to draw audiences.
http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.co...february-2010/
I hear that Paramount told the filmmakers it doesn't have the financing in 2009 to spend the $50M to $60M necessary to market a big awards pic like this. (But a studio source insists to me it's got the cash, just not the home video sales: "Given where the DVD business is in 2009, our only hope is the economy and the retail business rebounds in 2010 because the hardest hit segment has been movies that play to an older adult audience," a studio source tells me.)
09-01-09, 09:54 AM
#4
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Re: Rating high on Hollywood’s list: immature audiences
I think the difference here is the almighty dollar vs. true-quality movies 
Hollywood panders to the drek that makes money, nothing with anything with real substance.
Hollywood panders to the drek that makes money, nothing with anything with real substance.
Last edited by Giles; 09-01-09 at 10:01 AM.
09-01-09, 10:16 AM
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Re: Rating high on Hollywood’s list: immature audiences
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS has adult appeal. It's mostly dialogue- and character-driven, with very little in the way of action, and is firmly steeped in the kind of historical subject that appeals more to older viewers. And it's doing well at the boxoffice.
Michael Mann's PUBLIC ENEMIES wasn't very good, but it's kind of designed along similar lines as INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, a mix of fact and fabrication, with immersion in a particular, resonant historical setting. Again, adult appeal, but somewhat diminished by some poor scripting, directing and casting choices, while elevated in parts by some very good scripting, directing and casting choices. Obviously a very uneven film, but worth seeing, I would say.
I think I would like to see Tarantino do a film about Chicago gangsters/midwestern bandits.
Michael Mann's PUBLIC ENEMIES wasn't very good, but it's kind of designed along similar lines as INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, a mix of fact and fabrication, with immersion in a particular, resonant historical setting. Again, adult appeal, but somewhat diminished by some poor scripting, directing and casting choices, while elevated in parts by some very good scripting, directing and casting choices. Obviously a very uneven film, but worth seeing, I would say.
I think I would like to see Tarantino do a film about Chicago gangsters/midwestern bandits.
Last edited by Ash Ketchum; 09-01-09 at 10:40 AM.
09-01-09, 11:40 AM
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Re: Rating high on Hollywood’s list: immature audiences
Most of those movie were boring.
Hollywood can focus on kid films if they want, then in a couple of years they can switch back when everyone grows up. Idiots.
Hollywood can focus on kid films if they want, then in a couple of years they can switch back when everyone grows up. Idiots.
09-01-09, 11:56 AM
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I was really looking forward to seeing this in October.
09-01-09, 12:03 PM
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Re: Rating high on Hollywood’s list: immature audiences
Meh, people see what they want to see. Don't get how this is a surprise year in and year out.
"Hollywood" is about making $$$ (and paying crazy money to some actors), nothing new here.
(some really bad examples in that article)
"Hollywood" is about making $$$ (and paying crazy money to some actors), nothing new here.
(some really bad examples in that article)
09-01-09, 12:50 PM
#11
Senior Member
Re: Rating high on Hollywood’s list: immature audiences
My heart does not bleed for Spike Lee and his "hanging in the balance" sequel to a subpar flick. Karma's a motherfucker, Spike.
Oh, and since when is an inferior-to-the-original remake regarded as a mature and intelligent film? (The Taking of Pelham 123)
The worst part about all this is what is currently happening with Shutter Island.
Oh, and since when is an inferior-to-the-original remake regarded as a mature and intelligent film? (The Taking of Pelham 123)
The worst part about all this is what is currently happening with Shutter Island.
09-01-09, 01:02 PM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
09-01-09, 01:11 PM
#13
Re: Rating high on Hollywood’s list: immature audiences
I agree. But you would not know this by viewing the trailers or promotional materials for this film, which make it look like a carnage-filled torture fest set to nu-metal rock music. I suppose if they can't attract the lowest denominator by film content, they have to mislead them to get them in the theater.
09-01-09, 01:27 PM
#14
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Rating high on Hollywood’s list: immature audiences
What's so mature and adult about Duplicity? The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is just standard thriller schlock. The International was a bore. State of Play was great but poorly marketed. No one needs a sequel to Inside Man. The first one wrapped things up nicely. And G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra was seen as salvation from the monstrocity that was Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
09-01-09, 01:45 PM
#15
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Re: Rating high on Hollywood’s list: immature audiences
09-01-09, 01:54 PM
#16
Moderator
Re: Rating high on Hollywood’s list: immature audiences
All that expectation, and the film I thought was somewhat of a letdown.
09-01-09, 02:47 PM
#17
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Rating high on Hollywood’s list: immature audiences
It's better to have good consistency across your quarters than "a 40% loss compared to this time last year." even if it loses the movie a couple million dollars in the long run.
Last edited by RichC2; 09-01-09 at 02:54 PM.
