comment #1

btwnproductions says ...

Great movie. But: No stars, small distributor, not many theaters or much advertising that I'm aware of. Older moviegoers aren't flocking, either--they will, if it keeps building.

comment #2

Aladdin Sane says ...

I don't think that it's "a deficiency in their souls", Jeff. It's called not being educated on the options.
My younger brother saw The Hurt Locker before I did. He's all of 17. So does he have a deficiency in his soul?

comment #3

btwnproductions says ...

On the other hand, SUNSHINE CLEANING is the year's biggest indie/specialty success--with a $12 million gross, or about double what HURT LOCKER has made. It's a minefield of a marketplace the movie is in, so to speak.

comment #4

DeeZee says ...

Why would young people want to be reminded that they might be next?

Anyway, Bryan Singer cashes in on 2012-mania with a mini-series.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i2249411481f0057bbee8f36682cd5530
Murdoch dun screwed up News Corps, but he still thinks we should pay to listen to his right-wing crap.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006927.html?categoryid=18&cs=1
Leo + Ridley to do Huxley book?
http://www.riskybusinessblog.com/2009/08/brave-new-world-ridley-scott-dicaprio.html

comment #5

ZayTonday says ...

This is SUCH a badass movie, all it needed was some more aggressive promo.

comment #6

ZayTonday says ...

oh yeah and a larger screen count too of course.

comment #7

DeeZee says ...

Oh, yeah, whatever happened to that "My Girl" actress? http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/buzz-log-anna-chlumsky.html

comment #8

Scott says ...

It's all in the advertising, which makes it something that "everybody's seeing," which means...well, everybody sees it. If it were really an even playing field, how many people would really see Transformers 2? Maybe a lot, but if as many people who knew about that knew about The Hurt Locker, the theaters would be packed.

Case in point - my younger cousin (he's...sixteen now) hadn't heard of it, but I told him it was a lot like the Bourne movies (between the shaky-cam and the "high-octane thrills," it's close enough for him), and now he's pumped to go.

comment #9

Travis Crabtree says ...

It's the filmmaker's fault.

They should've, (about three years ago), put out into publication a comic book, er, I'm sorry, "graphic novel" called "The Hurt Locker".

Then, they could release the film they have now except the ads would say "based on the graphic novel" and voila! Boffo ticket sales amongst the young geek set!

comment #10

DeeZee says ...

Yet another anti-BD article which pissed off the Digital Bits guy. http://blogs.zdnet.com/storage/?p=562

comment #11

markj says ...

DeeZee, why do you post all the news that everyone else is always aware of? It's redundant. Concentrate on the discussion at hand.

comment #12

Wiggumx says ...

In my fly-over state, where we're all obese floor-stompers, no one has heard of it. Of course, you hate us anyway, but at least I'm excited to see it. Jeff Wells, not everyone lives in your bubble. Not everyone is as excited about things as you are. And not everyone has heard of the movies that you champion.

Don't change, because I love when you are behind an underdog. But, you have to understand... most of the Joe-six-packs that you hate have never heard of this movie. So of course they aren't going to see it. The advertising is zilch.

comment #13

Alboone says ...

Marketing! Marketing! Marketing! Get a kick-ass campaign going, people will go.

comment #14

Thesilenttype says ...

DeeZee cut it out will you?

comment #15

K. Bowen says ...

The young generation today isn't as artistically inclined as the previous few generations. Name a talented American filmmaker under 30 right now who has made any sort of splash. I don't think there one.

comment #16

Alexander says ...

It's certainly maddening. This film deserves better.

comment #17

LexG says ...

"WHO'S IN IT?"

Ever get that as the FIRST REACTION when you tell friends or family (that aren't necessarily film savy) you just saw a great film?

Most of my "people" or family are back in the flyover or "heartland," they're not that into movies, so I always BRISTLE when they ask me, "Seen any good movies lately?" And I try to convey some excitement for something like "Hurt Locker," or to a lesser degree, say, "500 Days of Summer."

The first question is ALWAYS, "WHO'S IN IT?"

Er, yeah, Uncle Lou or Cousin Joey, I saw this awesome movie called HURT LOCKER... it's really intense, exciting, well-made, edge of your--

"Who's in it?"

Well, Jeremy Renner.

"Who's that? Never heard of him."

Anthony Mack-- Er, um, David Morse! You know, that guy from DISTURBIA!

"Hmm, black guy?"

No-- Eh, the hot chick from LOST is in it.

"Don't watch it."

We've all discussed at length how "movie stars" don't carry the same value they used to, but with a classic "tweener" (not indie enough for the leftist arthouse types, not mainstream enough for the "popcorn munchers"), a name, ANY NAME helps. Guy Pearce comes close, and Ralph Fiennes is a name, but the cameo nature of their contributions don't make them poster-ready here, to give that sense of "comfort" that mainstreamers need going in.

Now combine that with the medicinal, colorless Iraq War Movie element, and, sorry (again, I LOVED the movie), but you have something almost NOBODY will pay money to see.

I've also argued elsewhere that the movie's awesome ending can be pretty rightly interpreted as gung-ho... the movie's practically a TOP GUN-level recruitment film. I know I came out of it PUMPED UP and wanting to KICK SOME ASS.

So it's sort of an ass-kicking, rah-rah, AMERICA OWNS kind of celebration of hardcore badassery.... which is off putting to some lib audiences. I saw it at the Arclight in Hollywood, and while I was ready to form a fucking mosh pit over the HOLY SHIT LET'S KICK SOME ASS closing shots, the Hollywood crowd was audibly scoffing and offended on the way out.

I think it's a bit of "W." syndrome: Right wing-minded moviegoers aren't realizing it's a kickass action ride, because they're weary of any Hollywood commentary on Iraq, and the liberal audiences in the big cities are put off, again, by the near TOP GUN, pro-military FUCK YEAH testosterone blast of the movie's overriding sensibility.

comment #18

Mr. Buckles says ...

Such has been the fate of movies about this war. Why should it come as a shock the The Hurt Locker shares the same fate even if it is excellent? I don't think the kids want to escape into an Iraq war movie concerning a "war" that is still playing itself out, that has been front and center of political and cultural debate for the better part of this decade. People either are sick of it or can't handle the ambiguity and moral grey-ness of the matter. Not defending this position, but I think you ask a lot of the kids. If there were a draft there would be a much different climate in terms of the reception and interest in these things me thinks.

Ever noticed that the really big war movies are those that we win ulitmately and are unquestionably the good guys?

comment #19

York "Budd" Durden says ...

That's not a rah-rah, kick ass ending, it is very sad that the adrenaline junkie can only feel alive when he is so close to death, cannot find solace in the presence of his young wife and son. I felt enervated after that last super about the unit having 365 days to go.

Anyone how comes out of that movie "pumped" is a facile, superficial moron of the first order.

comment #20

COCO says ...

A damn shame....I, too wanted this film to be
successful and make bucks. It was KB's moment to shine....alas, a larger marketing track....more word of mouth....the Dogs of War never sleep.
Too much product in the pipeline.....the fall is
stacked and packed....this is the real pick and choose time for me.......meh.....football anyone?

comment #21

LexG says ...

York, then maybe you're immune to the power of METAL (JW has also elsewhere conveyed his distaste for heavy metal), but the amped-up ministry song sells it. It IS a kick-ass moment. I'm not the only one who felt so... this has been discussed somewhat. Having grown up a metalhead, when I hear crunching open-E metal riffs accompanying some dude doing some hardcore, badass shit and walking off into the sunset, it's a FUCK YEAH moment. Cannot be helped.

I also don't find it sad that someone with a PASSION and an INTENSITY would rather be out devoting himself to the greater good (as HE sees it) than sitting in the suburbs as some neutered house-husband douche, no matter how pretty Evangeline Lily.

(Though minor nitpick: NO supermarket has played that MUZACK since 1971.)

comment #22

LexG says ...

Also, York, (and I'm not overtly right wing or any kind of warmonger necessarily), but your distate for that final title reminds me of when Nicholson browbeats Pollack at the end of FEW GOOD MEN, that Pollack can't even CONCEIVE of men devoting themselves to that cause.

That's the vibe I got from people filing out of the Hollywood screening, scoffing at the very concept that someone would volunteer to go serve their country for what they believe in or what makes them feel alive or whatever.

comment #23

K. Bowen says ...

Let's see ... In my review I called it the sexiest war film since Top Gun and that it re-masculinizes and re-heroicizes the war film without ignoring its horror.

It's the first serious film about war in a long time that doesn't portray an army of victims. I don't know if I would call the ending Gung Ho. I just think the ending is true to its Gung Ho character.

I've been a bit surprised how many latte-drinking English major types have been oblivious to this.

What I would say is that for a person with the same soldierly mindset, this movie is ambrosia

comment #24

Rich S. says ...

Set this movie on a planet humans are trying to colonize 50 years from now and it would be sitting at $75 million domestic as we speak.

comment #25

TL says ...

I live in a major metropolitan area, and Hurt Locker is only playing on two screens, both of which are in shitty art houses, and it's closing at one of them tonight.

People won't go see a movie if there's nowhere to see it.

comment #26

Ryansi51 says ...

Rich S.-

That's a great fucking idea. bout time we had a cool, somewhat realistic film about trying to colonize a planet and those unseen forces that don't want us to. Could have the vibe of the pilot episode of LOST, before it went off the rails.

should we take a meeting?

comment #27

actionman says ...

it's a crime that more people aren't checking this movie out. be it the advertising, the small distributor, the Iraq-war-stigma, whatever the reason, it's not fair that a movie of this quality isn't being seen by mass audiences. it's easily the best action film in years. bigelow should get the next bourne film. or bond.

comment #28

erniesouchak says ...

I think the title has something to do with it. Not a great title.

comment #29

byanyother says ...

The title could be a problem. People will eventually see it because it is going to get SHOWERED with awards. It will make money and it will go down as one of the greats.

The boys in that movie are HOT HOT HOT only no one knows it.

comment #30

Chase Kahn says ...

Why is this is a surprise, exactly? It's playing in 500 screens nationwide. The problem for Summit is that they'll have to hold the film from DVD/BD release until next Spring so they can re-release it in January.

Lex -- I don't know, I certainly had a smirk and a silent fist-pump when the film was over, but I don't think "The Hurt Locker" is a patriotic, rah rah, heroicizing kind of war film.

For me, it's almost the same as when Malcolm McDowell decides to go back to "a bit of the old ultraviolence" at the end of "A Clockwork Orange". I love it, but I'm not first in line raping somebody.

comment #31

George Prager says ...

"I've been a bit surprised how many latte-drinking English major types have been oblivious to this."

Let me provide a reality check. I moonlighted at a Starbucks for 3 1/2 years. These latte-drinking English major types were few and far between (maybe call them PBR-drinking English Major types?) . The latte drinkers I saw were all business major types, now ensconced (shout out to LexG!) in whatever jobs that business majors get when they get out of school. Before work, during work, after work, my store was packed with Gordon Gekko wanna-bees and the more benign, clean-cut Docker wearers who couldn't get through the day without drinking 2 or more of these lattes K. Bowen (the Rex Reed of North Texas) speaks of.

comment #32

chris7crows says ...

It's a great film, but it's main problem is timing: It shouldn't be surprising that in the summer movie season -- which, for better or worse, is the season of big-budget action spectacle -- that most people are flocking to the big-budget action spectacles. "Hurt Locker" is certainly a better movie than most if not all of these, but it's not a four quadrant film and probably would have done better in a spring/fall slot.

comment #33

Big Black says ...

I loved this film but also agree that the title is a problem. This is the sort of title that only sounds passable after you've already seen the film and have been won over. As soon as you try to recommend it to someone and name the thing out loud, you see the skepticism immediately cross their face and then you're scrambling a bit, saying: "No really, I know it sounds awful, but it's a much better film than the terrible, meat-headed title implies. Please believe me, go see it, you won't regret it". But they'll never believe you because they've already pictured how stupid the title will sound coming out of their mouth when they try to get a friend to go see it with them, or when they go up to the box office to ask for a ticket. It's an awkward and ugly boat-anchor around the neck of a movie deserving much bigger audiences than it's getting.

comment #34

Rich S. says ...

I'd love to take a meeting, Ryansi51. Sadly, I'm 3000 miles from Hollywood.

I just figure that if you want to remove the "Iraq stigma," you use sci-fi allegory. It worked for H.G. Wells and Rod Serling.

You wouldn't really have to change anything. Instead of U.S in Iraq, you make it the Terran Federation trying to pacify colonists on a moon of Saturn. Throw in a couple of CGI shots of spaceships dropping off troops, and you're there.

And I agree the title is problematic. I prefer the title of the 80's Masterpiece Theater miniseries that dealt with a lot of the same themes: Danger UXB (unexploded bomb).

comment #35

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

"Oh, yeah, whatever happened to that "My Girl" actress?"

Whatever happened to that HE poster that was banned for spamming multiple links on a daily basis for the better part of 2 years?

comment #36

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

"The young generation today isn't as artistically inclined as the previous few generations. Name a talented American filmmaker under 30 right now who has made any sort of splash."

I think the first statement you make here is really unfair. People are living longer, boomers aren't really retiring when they should, the culture has been corporatized to the point of near-economic collapse. This isn't the Hollywood of the 1970s anymore, and probably never will be again (unfortunately, I'd say).

So I went looking for American filmmakers that made a splash at or before 30 recently, and I have to admit haven't been many in the past 10 years, but there have been some:

Richard Kelly (25) - Donnie Darko
Alexandre Aja (25) - Haute Tension
Darren Aronofsky (28) - Pi
M. Night Shyamalan (28) - The Sixth Sense
Christopher Nolan (29) - Memento
Edgar Wright (29) - Shaun of the Dead
Jason Reitman (29) - Juno (D. Cody was also 29 when she wrote it)
Brett Ratner (29) - Rush Hour (fine, fine he sucks but I'm still listing him!)
Eli Roth (30) - Cabin Fever

Neill Blomkamp (29) - District 9 (this one's a cliffhanger, have to see how it plays out).

I'm not sure you can say that's not a lot. I'm basically just listing the Hollywood hits (not sure what making "any sort of splash" entails, exactly -- ever been to a film festival? Most of the directors there are in their late 20s - early 30s). It certainly not as much as the 70s New Hollywood or 90s indie scene, but those filmmakers were aided (to a certain degree, anyway) of being part of an actual movement.

Same goes for music, if you were able to attach yourself to disco in the mid-70s, punk in the late-70s, new wave in the early-80s, hair metal in the mid-80s, hip-hop in the late-80s, grunge in the early-90s, nu-metal in the mid-90s, boy band emo in the late-90s, your chances of success (or perhaps I should say, "being signed") was increased to the nth degree.

I don't really know what the hell my point is. Perhaps it's less about this generation's lack of artistic inclination, and more about the ever-increasingly difficult task of gaining (and maintaining) someone's attention in this increasingly ADD-fragmented culture.

There's definitely an interesting essay to be written here by someone more capable and knowledgeable. As for me, I've got web-surfing to do. :)

comment #37

Thesilenttype says ...

CitizenKane, um Edgar Wright and Christopher Nolan are British. Aja is French.

comment #38

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

Yah sorry 'bout that. Forgot I even wrote that part when I started looking at the Hollywood films. Then apparently I forgot about Hollywood films with HT & SotD.

Apparently Blomkamp is South African. Never knew that.

comment #39

Aladdin Sane says ...

Ryan and Rick. The movie you are hypothetically taking a meeting for is already a book (at least the basic idea of). It's called The Forever War.
Ridley Scott was set to adapt it, although with his involvement with the Alien prequel/reboot whatever, it's probably on hold for some time.

Anyhow, great book.

comment #40

Alexander says ...

Yes, the title alone has devastated this film at the box office. Personally, every friend I have has laughed at the title and dismissed the film, in an enlightened bluer-than-blue part of a blue state.

comment #41

Rich S. says ...

Aladdin,

Read The Forever War a long time ago. All I remember about it is the soldiers coming out of hypersleep. As I recall, though, it would have made a great movie.

comment #42

free games says ...

Great movie.

comment #43

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comment #44

Fashion222 says ...

Well, even after the critics, the youths are groups that are not easily influenced by what others are saying. They should see the part themselves before giving judges.

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comment #45

cleansing diet says ...

Read The Forever War a long time ago. All I remember about it is the soldiers coming out of hypersleep. As I recall, though, it would have made a great movie. Cleansing diet

comment #46

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