More "Jesse James" ambushes
I've been sent two more reports of Jesse James dissing by Warner Bros. distribution execs -- one from Las Vegas Review Journal critic Carol Cling, another from Salt Lake Tribune critic Sean Means.
Cling says she received an e-mail from Phoenix-based Allied Advertising (which handles screenings etc. for the Las Vegas market) two days ago, saying he/she had just heard that The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford "will be opening this Friday! If possible, I would like to set a press screening, but I think it may be too late...let me know if there's still time."
Cling's account of what happened after this is confusing (to me anyway), but the bottom line is that she couldn't work in the James screening or a review of Andrew Dominik's film by her Tuesday deadline.
"Now I'll have to check out Jesse James on my own time," she says. "Not that I mind, but this is exactly the kind of movie that needs critical support, and the studio seems to be doing everything they can to subvert that."
Means wrote today that The Assassination of Jesse James "is getting good reviews, scoring a 73 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and an A in Entertainment Weekly. It's got Brad Pitt in it, for heaven's sake...so why is Warner Bros. giving it the shaft?
"The movie, is slated to open this Friday in more cities, including in the Salt Lake City area. That was news to Salt Lake critics, who were informed Monday morning by Warner Bros.' regional representatives in Denver. Those reps, God bless 'em, have scrambled to set up a press screening so the Salt Lake critics could see and review the film.
"Alas, their efforts seemingly have been sabotaged by the studio, which can't seem to find a print available for a pre-screening. At the moment, there's hope for a Thursday late-morning screening -- almost too late for most papers' deadlines -- but nothing confirmed."
Plus the Newark Star Ledger's Stephen Whitty has linked today to the mishegoss and threw in some comments.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 10, 2007 at 12:54 PM
comment #1
PhilVillarreal
says ...
I got the same e-mail as Cling, verbatim, only on Monday.
Posted by PhilVillarreal
at October 10, 2007 1:21 PM
comment #2
Josh Massey
says ...
Well hell yeah, it's opening in Atlanta on Friday.
On one screen.
Posted by Josh Massey
at October 10, 2007 1:26 PM
comment #3
Ian Sinclair
says ...
You can't blame Warners - the only people who would like this picture are critics and they don't pay for their tickets. The problem with Jesse James is that it is a slow, boring western with a star who holds little appeal for men being released at the same time as a fast, exciting one with a star men like.
Posted by Ian Sinclair
at October 10, 2007 1:29 PM
comment #4
robbiefantastic
says ...
jeff....do you know when it will go wide north of the border or has there been any rumbling of this?
Posted by robbiefantastic
at October 10, 2007 1:32 PM
comment #5
PhilipGalasso
says ...
i personally loved it, but this decision isn't as baffling as it may seem. i'm in new york, and about half the theater left mumbling variations one "3 1/2 stars for that?" or "i can't believe that got good reviews." so while the reviews may be getting some into the theater initially, it would seem to be poisoning some of the word of mouth. perhaps noticing this, warners wants to try a different strategy. it's obvious at this point that the movie isn't going to be a huge commercial hit, unless they stage a masterful awards campaign and rerelease it.
Posted by PhilipGalasso
at October 10, 2007 1:34 PM
comment #6
Joel
says ...
I know this movie isn't for all tastes, but I can't believe vast swatches of the typical art film audience won't like it. It's certainly more satisfying than The New World.
Posted by Joel
at October 10, 2007 1:47 PM
comment #7
Jay T.
says ...
A better title for these articles would have been: The Assassination of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford by the cowards at Warner Brothers.
Posted by Jay T.
at October 10, 2007 1:58 PM
comment #8
swhitty
says ...
Just seems like a great waste to me.
Admitted, Pitt shares some blame here, too; maybe if he had gotten out there and promoted this one a bit more, the early numbers would have been bigger. (But he's always been press-wary; I've been at junkets when he refused to do press conferences unless a certain correspondent was ejected.)
In any case this movie deserved at the very least to be seen and written about, and Warners and their field folks seem determined to make that harder. (And that old "We can't find a print" excuse -- please. PR folks are still using that one?)
Posted by swhitty
at October 10, 2007 2:06 PM
comment #9
rickyroma
says ...
It opens here in Des Moines, Iowa Friday. Judging by the IMDB map, it's hitting most major cities (and Des Moines) this weekend.
Posted by rickyroma
at October 10, 2007 2:07 PM
comment #10
Russ.Fischer
says ...
Actually, Josh, it's opening in four Atlanta area theatres, based on the email that went out late yesterday. And at least we get a press screening, though too late for the weeklies.
The theatres: AMC Mansell Crossing; Regal Mall of Georgia; Regal Atlantic Station and the Regal Town 16 in Kennesaw
Posted by Russ.Fischer
at October 10, 2007 2:48 PM
comment #11
soundoftheground
says ...
maybe i'll get to see it this weekend in a theatre not pack with idiots thinking they're going to see pitt blast a bunch of people western style.
good on ya WB!
Posted by soundoftheground
at October 10, 2007 4:13 PM
comment #12
Filthy Rich
says ...
Brad Pitt has limited appeal amongst male movie goers? First I've heard of that.
Every guy I know loved Seven, Fight Club, Snatch, Mr and Mrs Smith... in fact I think his fan base is mostly guys considering the type of movies he generally does.
And Warners is stupid. If Open Range can make $80 mil with limited marketing Assassination should do better if they pushed it.
Posted by Filthy Rich
at October 10, 2007 5:46 PM
comment #13
Josh Massey
says ...
Russ: I was going by Fandango, which only had one theater (Atlantic Station) listed yesterday. Thanks for the update.
Posted by Josh Massey
at October 11, 2007 3:50 AM
comment #14
Chicago48
says ...
I generally love westerns...loved Yuma even with the plot holes....and Yuma is doing OK....but must say, I don't intend to see Jesse James...love Brad Pitt...but something about this movie...looks really talky talky....it really belongs in the art houses from what I've seen & read.
Posted by Chicago48
at October 11, 2007 7:12 AM