Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: The Irishman playing Seattle Cinerama

This is topic The Irishman playing Seattle Cinerama in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Ed Gordon (Member # 10866) on 11-16-2019, 01:30 PM:

The good news is that The Irishman is playing here in an excellent venue and the local movie critics have good things to say about the film. The bad news is the last scheduled run in Wednesday, November 20th. My understanding is that the nearly 4 hour movie is being shown without an intermission.

And there goes the 3 month window between first run in theaters followed by streaming. It will be streaming on Netflix one week after closing in Seattle.

Reservations available at: https://cinerama.com/Movie.aspx?fc=5106000656

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 11-16-2019, 10:46 PM:

Well it's definitely not playing in "many" theaters, the major chains all having refused it due to the barely-any-window thing.

It's probably smart of Netflix to do it this way, actually. Considering it's a movie that would probably have petered out in a traditional release, this way they get a lot more ink about it (thanks to the publicity surrounding the theaters' refusal to book it).

I don't know why any self respecting theater would want to get in bed with Netflix, but I suppose they think they're serving their audience... but they're really not, in the long run.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-17-2019, 11:49 AM:

So the difference in allowing theatres to have an intermission (especially one like the Seattle Cinerama) versus the streaming customer that hits pause is what? Oh, the theatrical one can be done in a classy way and planned for at the right moment as opposed just because nature calls (or someone else calls or the need for munchies...etc.).

If I owned a theatre, I would have to pass on this one. I think the narrowing of the release window will indeed be the death of most cinemas. NATO and its members should be pushing much harder for the opposite to get that window as close to a year out as possible, with possibly a sliding window based on theatrical release results (poor showings allow for a shorter window but successful theatrical allow for longer release window).

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 11-17-2019, 01:06 PM:

The movie is only playing in art houses around here and also for a very limited engagement only, but apparently it's selling out. Netflix has struck a deal with an independent

All the chains and seemingly most of the first-run independents have passed on it, although Netflix was apparently lobbying for broader support...

I would very much favor a sliding window for movies. That way, both the studios and the cinemas can make most of it. It's of no use to hold onto a movie that just doesn't draw a crowd and the studio can recoup more money if they put it into "alternative distribution" earlier. Meanwhile, those movies that continue to draw a crowd will earn more money at the box office than they will earn on streaming platforms...

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-17-2019, 01:40 PM:

Exactly! I'll take a it a step further, there should be a sliding scale on the Master Contract on how long 1st run cinemas should have to play a movie based on location/past performance. If you serve a smaller geographic region is is ridiculous to require a small-town theatre to play a title 4-6 weeks when 2-weeks is all that is needed to cover the entire region.

The mentality of holding a theatre captive for big-studio movie when the movie is played out (in the region) is wrong headed. it is better for all regions to go to the movies more often than to just box out the competitive studio. In the long run, a thriving cinema market will benefit all parties.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 11-17-2019, 03:42 PM:

It is scheduled to open next week in Montgomery at the New Visions Chantilly. I'm really curious to see how a 31/2hr movie grosses. I passed on it for a variety of reasons, but the length was certainly one of them.