As usual it boils down to money.
In May, Howard sold the exclusive US rights to 8DAW to HULU. HULU allowed the film to be shown in a few theatres around the country (So it's eligible for Academy Award consideration?) and it goes straight to HULU. Not a happy yank here.
I saw it last night. Although I enjoyed seeing it in the theater, it will play better on TV. Much of the footage looked bad on the big screen.
Did the audience add to the theater experience for you or not?
shareFor me, yes, my fellow movie goers most definitely added to the experience in a very intimate auditorium. They were clearly Beatles lovers but not just old baby boomers; some millennials in there, too. It was a bit like being in a small concert, and the fab four came to life on the big screen, which made the experience interactive. I've seen many sparsely attended movies, and that is its own kind of intimacy, but when everyone in attendance in a crowded theater clearly cares about the subject matter, then the sense of community yokes everyone there, and for them the music--and the music makers--are always current.
shareI was the only person in the theater... go figure!
shareGet the 30 days of Hulu free then cancel it if you don't like it.
shareThat's what I did considering it only played in one theater in the entire city of Chicago.
shareYeah, the Music Box. I watched it on Hulu last night for the free trial and will be cancelling Friday night, after I watch it a second time.
THEN look forward to November for the DVD and the vinyl edition of the album.
(I ordered the CD from my local library)
I love the Beatles, my life is a lot better having their music in it, they're a great inspiration and influence, BUT they have enough money, I think - - basically.
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked.
It opened in over 80 theaters, and sounds like it will expand further based on a solid opening despite being available on Hulu as well, so I imagine as long as someone is near a major city they will have a chance to see this theatrically, which isn't the case if it was just an Oscar qualifying run or even for many documentaries in general.
And I would suggest people see it theatrically over Hulu as well, cause only the theatrical release includes the restored Shea Stadium concert which I felt was the best part of the experience
http://deadline.com/2016/09/the-beatles-ron-howard-command-and-control-weekend-specialty-box-office-1201821724/
The Shea stadium concert was unannounced when I saw it. So, if you go stay for all of the credits on the doc! Hope you are then happily surprised!
Great on a big screen with an audience.
I still remember when the Beatles first came into vogue here in the United States, in the spring of 1964, when I was a seventh grader, and my younger sister was in the 5th grade. Both my sister and I first saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show one Sunday morning, at the house of some relatives who then lived in Wayland, MA, one of the towns that abutted the town that my siblings (my younger brother was less than a year old, at that time.), and I grew up in. I was skeptical of the Beatles at first, but then I got to really like them and their music, as the Ed Sullivan Show went on.
Eight Days a Week was a very humane story about the Beatles, and the playing of much of their music brought back fond memories, for the Beatles, before they broke up, were/are the very best in the rock-n-roll department.