Studios sabotage their own films before they even have a chance to make a profit by limiting them to FIVE theaters on opening weekend, then expanding them to a paltry twenty. Pathetic. How do they expect the film to even have a fighting chance? Why invest and make them if the studios are not even going to give them an audience? Geniuses like Julie Taymor make work that won't even get to see the light of day.
shareIt seems obvious they were hoping for word of mouth to generate a buzz around the movie and possibly tie in a wide release with golden globe and oscar nominations. Without strong approval, most people won't opt to see a Shakespeare adaptation in theatres.
Unfortunately you're right, with early bad reviews the longer The Tempest piddles around in 20 theatres the more NEGATIVE buzz it'll generate. They need to push it into a wide release and quick, hoping the all-star cast and Taymor's reputation will trump early critiques. Let the inevitable Best Costume nomination sell the blu ray and let Helen Mirren sell the theatre debut. That's what The Lovely Bones had to do.
(for the record, however, limited releases often DO work, especially if the movie is a frontrunner for best picture, just look at Black Swan right now. Slumdog Millionaire and Brokeback Mountain are also two that come to mind as having earned huge amounts after debuting in very small limited releases.)
Kenneth Branagh hasn't had a Shakespeare film in wide release since his "Hamlet", and that was in 1996. His "Love's Labour's Lost" , in 2000, was a disaster that was released only in a few theatres, and his excellent "As You Like It" , made in 2006, was released to theatres in Europe, but went straight to HBO in the U.S.
The last Shakespeare film that I can remember being released to U.S. movie theatres was the 2004 Al Pacino version of "The Merchant of Venice", which played in only a few theatres.
It's a sad day when Shakespeare isn't able to make it to wide release.
Branagh brought it all back with Henry V. Maybe he can bring it back again if he finally makes King Lear in the next five or ten years.
Anyone seem to notice that there was barely ANY promotion done for this film? Aside from the trailer, I have not seen or read any interviews with the actors/director etc. Maybe I missed something?
I just saw the film today which is only getting a "one week only" run at a local theater. I was one of only three people there.
It just begs the question: did it falter in promotion because of all the issues Taymor is having with the Spider-Man musical? Do they not want to even bother because they figure no one would pay to see Shakespeare at the movie theater?
I liked it. It's not perfect, but it's certainly bold and entertaining and full of visuals I haven't seen elsewhere. I thought she captured the essence. The performances, mostly, are ferocious enough for a good time. I'm shocked it even got a costume design oscar nomination when it seems no one was promoting it.