comment #1

Dixon Steele says ...

Frankly, Jeff, I think you're overinflating your (and other journos) importance. After all, you and Poland raved about MIAMI VICE and where did that get them?

And I agree with the others and Warners. It's a thoroughly commercial film and doesn't need festival exposure. The trailer and other media exposure is strong, the names are great. This isn't LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE.

This will be the picture that breaks Warner's draught, finally.

comment #2

tholl-yung says ...

I don't think Warner Bros. is doing The Departed a favor treating the film like the inevitable it model instead of sending the film out on look sees a la TIFF fest and such.

comment #3

Filmshark says ...

Honestly, I don't know why anyone thinks it is a big deal about The Departed not showing at Toronto. Why doesn't the same standard apply to Clint Eastwood? Flags of Our Fathers didn't screen at Toronto and I don't read about anyone saying that the movie's Oscar chances are diminished as a result of that. The fact is that Warners chose not to screen it because they felt they didn't need to, just as Paramount made that decision for Flags.

comment #4

p.Vice says ...

When movies like The Covenant routinely are number one at the box office, you can't possibly still believe that critical word counts for anything except movies that open in platform release i.e. most festival fare.

The Departed is an action movie. It is in no way a "niche" movie. It will certainly be heralded by the Scorsese diehards and blown off by the non-fans, but critical word will have ZILCH to do with film's reputation as a commercial hit or miss.

The reason for the griping about its non-appearance at Toronto is the presumption that it's an Oscar movie, so why not push it out and build the word? WRONG. The reason for the griping is that some critics are just sore Warners won't let them see it sooner rather than later. All of the negative speculation about the movie is based purely on the egotistical presumption that because Warners won't let critics see it early, it must not be good enough. Get over yourself.

comment #5

fnt says ...

I'm ready to stop hearing about how you can't see THE DEPARTED early. This is getting really dull.

I just hope it doesn't color how you review the film when you eventually do see it...

comment #6

thatrader says ...

Jeffrey,

If you did a little investigative journalism, you'd know that "The Departed" is testing in the 90s and doesn't need writers like you.

comment #7

MathewM says ...

I think Jeff's just upset that he didn't get an invite to the private critics screening.

Another reason: DrudgeReport. If Warners thinks that they have a potential commercial success with The Departed why bother screening it for critics who might go negative on it? Next thing you see is the headline "The Departed Disappoints" as a headline on DrudgeReport. Everyone who logs onto the internet reads Drudge and even if they don't the story is typically linked to every other news service.

comment #8

storymark says ...

"WRONG. The reason for the griping is that some critics are just sore Warners won't let them see it sooner rather than later. All of the negative speculation about the movie is based purely on the egotistical presumption that because Warners won't let critics see it early, it must not be good enough. Get over yourself."

I think this hit the nail pretty much on the head.

Sour grapes is what this feels like every time Jeff posts about it.

comment #9

tholl-yung says ...

You commentors are all shamefully shilling for Warner Bros. Shamefull. Shame on you all. Buying their shite hook line and sinker like little fashionistas at a trunk sale.

comment #10

York "Budd" Durden says ...

Wells just wants to see it so that he can start calling it a mezzo-mezzo action programmer before Poland does.

comment #11

storymark says ...

"You commentors are all shamefully shilling for Warner Bros. Shamefull. Shame on you all. Buying their shite hook line and sinker like little fashionistas at a trunk sale."

You just look for opprotunities to insult people, don't you? Don't be such an ass, and stop trolling. We're not all buying anything. I have no idea what the quality of the film is. I might see it, but I may not.

We're commenting on Wells' complining about not seeing early, not throwing in with the studio line.

comment #12

Craig Kennedy says ...

Seriously, other than the tail chasing, pass waving entertainment journo festival whores, who cares what plays or doesn't play Toronto or any other film festival? Does this really factor in to any sane person's decision whether or not to see a film? It's a Scorsese picture for chrissakes. Either A) you like Scorsese and you're going to see it or B) you're on the fence and you'll read the reviews the week before or wait for word of mouth or C) you hate Scorsese and you'll skip it. If The Departed played Toronto and owned the joint, it wouldn't make a bit of difference to its box office prospects. On the other hand, if overeager festival weasels are disappointed and every Me-Firster with a keyboard and a web page starts trumpeting it...well nothing good can come from that. Warner Bros has nothing to gain and everything to lose by showing it under the hot lights of Toronto with its ramped up expectations.

If anything, this gives me hope that Scorsese is returning to something of his early form rather than sucking up to every Oscar voting douchebag in town.

comment #13

Dixon Steele says ...

At least T.H. isn't blathering on with her usual post-production nonsense.

It's her way of letting us know how savvy she is about answer prints, color timing and interpositives.

Zzzzzzz...

comment #14

tholl-yung says ...

Storymark, you're so naive -- to wit, "I have no idea what the quality of the film is. I might see it, but I may not." Eat your oatmeal and wipe your chin with ya muther's floppy apron.

comment #15

tholl-yung says ...

Dixon you're a twit: "It's a thoroughly commercial film and doesn't need festival exposure."

comment #16

storymark says ...

TH- I'm Naive because, what? I havn't judged the film without seeing it?

You learned your 'net debate skills in an AICN talkback board, didn't you. Elaborate put-downs do not an argument make.

To speak more at your level, piss off.

comment #17

tholl-yung says ...

Nobody's suggesting you judge a film without seeing it, dumbass. Eventually, you're going to decide to see it or not. Warner Bros. is playing a game -- "lower expectations, don't make it seem arty. Play it up on my space and keep it out of festivals, because that could turn off the knuckle heads we need to come out and see this, and we can't afford for them to understand they might be going to see award level stuff that couldn't possibly be cool." You're being played by the WB publicity machine, sucka, and I hope it backfires on them.

comment #18

storymark says ...

How am I being played by the machine? I don't care about this movie. I'm not a big Scorsese fan. I respect and usually enjoy his work, but I'm not rushing out to see it on his name, or anyone in the cast. I have not been to the myspace page. The most publicity I've seen for the movie comes from this site, mostly from Jeff's complaining that he didn't get to see it in Toronto. Which is all I was commenting on in the first place.

Is that clear enough? Or do I need to downgrade my opinion of you from "asshole" to "retarded"?

comment #19

tholl-yung says ...

It's not my fault you can't get your head out of your butt and see the real issues being discussed in Jeff's post.

Furthermore, if you COULD get your head out far enough, you'd see it's not the singular "you" who is being played, but all y'all commenters.

comment #20

Argen says ...

T.H.-

At least make up your own insults. The "oatmeal" line belongs to someone else and was used in the other Scorsese thread. Be original.

Other than that, carry on. I like to read your posts in the voice of Eli, the hyperactive retarded kid in FREAKS AND GEEKS. They never fail to entertain.

comment #21

tholl-yung says ...

Argen for artificially generated? You're the only one who cares I improved upon Nick J's line from "Wipe off your chins and finish up your oatmeal" to "Eat your oatmeal and wipe your chin with ya muther's floppy apron."

Dixon, you got something to say?

comment #22

Dixon Steele says ...

T.H.,

Do you have any idea how childish and embarassing your posts have become? Especially your Black Sheep jokes.

How's that?