Truth or Dare

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Summit's gradual Hurt Locker rollout is more or less patterned after the successful territory-by-territory, word-of-mouth-building expansions that resulted in big returns for Slumdog Millionaire and Gran Torino, reports Forbes' Laura Myers. She states that Kathy Bigelow's film "may become the year's independent breakout by combining early box-office success with critical acclaim."

But the proof will be in the chocolate pudding as the film expands to 93 siutations this weekend and then to 200 situations on 7.24. The key, of course, given the general laziness and scattered ADD mentalities out there, will be TV advertising. Word of mouth is well and good and vital for success, but you also have to grab people by the lapels and go "hey!"

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 17, 2009 at 9:34 AM

comment #1

actionman says ...

I wonder if this movie will hit CT next weekend. Haven't seen one TV spot for it yet here, but granted, haven't been watching much TV these past few weeks. I really hope it gets here next weekend, otherwise a trip to NYC is in order. Can anyone reccommend the best place to see The Hurt Locker in NYC? Everytime I see a movie in NYC, the people in the crowd suck and ruin the movie by talking on phones, texting, etc. What's a high-quality theater in the city where people are simply there to watch the movie and nothing else?

Posted by actionman at July 17, 2009 10:12 AM

comment #2

Alan Cerny says ...

It's playing in Houston finally, but it's so far away from me. It will be worth the trip, though. Can't wait, saw MOON last week and adored it.

Posted by Alan Cerny at July 17, 2009 10:15 AM

comment #3

Markj74 says ...

This easily the best film of the year, in a totally different class. I hope it can go all the way.

Posted by Markj74 at July 17, 2009 10:15 AM

comment #4

byanyother says ...

Kathy Bigelow?

Posted by byanyother at July 17, 2009 10:24 AM

comment #5

larry braverman says ...

Philly!

Posted by larry braverman at July 17, 2009 10:29 AM

comment #6

George Prager says ...

"What's a high-quality theater in the city where people are simply there to watch the movie and nothing else?"

BAM Rose Cinemas

http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=1400

Posted by George Prager at July 17, 2009 10:41 AM

comment #7

VoiceOfReason says ...

Saw Hurt Locker last weekend and thought it was pretty awesome (though not quite as amazing as some folks made it out to be). I hope it does well but it will be playing at the same theaters that are showing 500 Days of Summer and we all know which film couples and hipsters will be attending.

Posted by VoiceOfReason at July 17, 2009 10:48 AM

comment #8

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

I think the critical response is killing this film. I've heard from friends out of town who also experienced the same let down. Sure, it's a good film but not the phenomenal flick the reviews would have you believe.

This happens every year now - the critics, mind-numbed from the dreck of summer, latch onto a film that is different, made with passion and go overboard with praise in an almost conscious effort to reward the filmmakers. Yet, the majority of us aren't going to have the same lets-grade-this-on-a-curve, gold star for effort mentality and when we walk out we feel like we were hoodwinked into seeing it.

Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie at July 17, 2009 10:50 AM

comment #9

Steven Kar says ...

Deathtongue,

Agreed.

Posted by Steven Kar at July 17, 2009 10:51 AM

comment #10

thebuddha says ...

The Hurt Locker is playing in Stamford, CT. I forgot the name of the theater, but it is the one on Summer St, near SBC and Buffalo Wild Wings

I saw Hurt Locker at the Sunshine, and it was tremendous. Best overall movie-going experience I've had in a long time.

Posted by thebuddha at July 17, 2009 10:53 AM

comment #11

Big Black says ...

I'm looking forward to seeing it on Monday. Ms. Bigelow is in attendance, doing a Q&A after the film.

Posted by Big Black at July 17, 2009 11:51 AM

comment #12

Circumvrent says ...

actionman, if you're going to go see it in NYC, see it at the Sunshine. Hands down the best cinema in Manhattan.

The camera work during the barrack scenes made me somewhat nauseous, so I missed about 40% of the down time in the film, but I haven't seen a film that gripping and intense since Children of Men.

Posted by Circumvrent at July 17, 2009 11:52 AM

comment #13

azmoviegoer says ...

RE: Larry Braverman comment 5 LOL took the words right out of my mouth!

Posted by azmoviegoer at July 17, 2009 4:35 PM

comment #14

GiveMeTheMapScott says ...

it came to DC a week ago but i was too busy this week.......went to my favorite watering hole for happy hour tonight and a friend of mine with very very very conventional moviegoing tastes was all abuzz with this new movie he saw, "fucking awesome" "best movie i've seen in at least a year" but he couldnt come up with the title until I pulled out the free daily paper (I was terrified that he was going to say Transformers because he is a friend) and he saw and said, "Yeah! Hurt Locker!!!! You HAVE to see that!!!!!"

Maybe crossing over??? I am seeing it either tomorrow or tuesday

Posted by GiveMeTheMapScott at July 17, 2009 11:04 PM

comment #15

p.Vice says ...

All this talk about ADD and whatnot, yet nothing about the rush of critics to label any film with half a plot and some spacially coherent editing a masterpiece.

The reason Hurt Locker is DOA is because it's a mediocre film that critics are one-upping themselves over who gets their "Best War Film Since Platoon/Full Metal Jacket/etc." blurb into the advertisements. Deathtongue is absolutely right: When the post-mortem is done, critics will be to blame for selling a much different movie than the one that exists.

Posted by p.Vice at July 18, 2009 9:21 AM

comment #16

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comment #17