starving for "The Queen" and other adult fare

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 7:16pm

Thrilled to see "The Queen" today, a wonderful film for anyone over age 12 that is too damned hard to find and get into. Last week, 4 shows were back to back sold out in NYC.

With wonders such as "Grudge 2" "School For Scoundrals" and "Employee of the Month" playing on 3000 plus screen plus), "The Queen" is on a mere 46. It's ever more difficult to find something that isn't insultingly pitched to 14 year old boys ("Jackasss" the extreme example, though with an R ratings, it's designed for 28 year olds who still behave and think like they did at 14.) When it does come along, it's offered like caviar, available in small dollops in rarified, exclusive settings.

My outrage that our needs are not being met -- but should be -- is backed up by the hard numbers. This weekend, the top 3 films of the country made 6 thousand per screen, with "The Queen" pulling 22 thousand per. I know Miramax is platforming the film, to build word of mouth (the BROKEBACK scheme), but in 2006 -- a year of really dismal Hollywood fare -- it's ever more annoying to have to hunt down something of substance. Had "Queen"opened really wide today -- say, over 1000 screen, I dare say it would've landed high. Even on only 46, it came in 13th in the country. There is taste out there. I just wish they'd get the product to those truly starved for it a bit sooner.

Updated On: 10/15/06 at 07:16 PM

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 7:43pm

Yeah The Queen does, indeed, look great. Hopefully it'll come to the mall here. (The cool thing about here is...while you'd expect for a mall to play fare like Jackass 2 and The Grudge 2, this one plays stuff like Half Nelson, Science of Sleep, and Confetti...)

[Anakela]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 8:04pm

Did you see it at the Angelika? I was there the weekend before last to see Jesus Camp, and there were signs in the box office window listing the next three showings of The Queen as being sold out, I was impressed. Haven't seen The Queen yet (went to see Deliver Us From Evil today- very powerful film), but it is totally on my list.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 8:28pm

I'm very much looking forward to seeing The Queen. Little Children, Running with Scissors, and Bug are also high on my list of must see movies this year.

[broadway86]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 8:51pm

My local theatre currently has The Queen, The Last King of Scotland, and Little Children. Unfortunately, I'm at school. Dammit...

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 9:50pm

Thank goodness I live in NYC. In the last two weeks, I've seen The Queen, Little Children, The Last King of Scotland, 49 Up, Shortbus, the Kushner documentary Wrestling with Angels and The Departed. And I have plans to see Infamous with friends this week. Living here can be a real pain sometimes, but the ready availability of first rate smaller films (for adults) is one of things that make it worthwhile.

[DG]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 10:38pm

I'm going to say this here, because it rarely is something to brag about openly on this forum, but this is one area where living in LA is truly a gift. There are any number of opportunities to see whatever has been released - no matter how limited the engagement. And with the AFI homebased here, we have access to many special showings that no one else ever becomes aware of.

I can't imagine dealing with a standard movie-going experience at this point - it's something I abandoned long ago.

[Plum]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 10:44pm

I'm thankful I have a friend with a car, so I managed to make it to The Science of Sleep without hours of mass transit. And it's like this- teenagers spend the most money at the movies because they have time for that kind of thing, so more movies are aimed at them, so they spend more...it's a vicious cycle.

Also, sequels and remakes of Japanese horror films are easier to do and less iffy in execution than original work. It's all about maximizing utility. Or something. I hate economics.

The Prestige isn't going to be such rarified fare, but I'm looking forward to it next anyway. :P

[DG]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 10:48pm

"The Prestige isn't going to be such rarified fare, but I'm looking forward to it next anyway."

I can't IMAGINE why . . .

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 11:02pm

I saw Shortbus in a crowded theater last night. It was a terrific experience. Except for the preview of Little Children. The very sight of Plastic Wilson on the big screen made me want to gouge at mine own eyes.

[DG]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 11:43pm

Namo - what's the source of your beef with Mr. Wilson? I know you disdain the extreme amount of attention that certain people give him here, but I can't see you taking that out on the particular actor. Sure he's blonde and whitebread, but there's a lot of 'them' out there - and Mr. Wilson has portrayed them (from what little I've seen) with a naturalness and realism that most actors only dream of. And that's including the Mormon role in ANGELS - which he certainly did differently than the original stage presentation (like you, I saw both) - but seemed to me to work within the context of the overall project. I'm just curious why you have enough disdain to comment on him - I wouldn't think that he would normally register enough on your radar.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 1:31am

After several failed attempts to see THE QUEEN (it was always sold out), I finally got in tonight - and it was, again, sold out.

What a marvelous film...it's quite the achievement. I think it's remarkable, and I think Mirren will win the Oscar. She is brilliant.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 1:39am

The Queen is indeed a fine film. Mirren is def the frontrunner. And isn't she the sexiest damn woman in real life??

I saw Shortbus the same day, which made for an amusing juxtaposition of a double feature. heheheh

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 7:24pm

Saw "The Queen" today. Amazing film. Mirren was excellent. Looks like she will FINALLY win an Oscar.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 7:33pm

This might be the movie to get me back into a theater for the first time since "An Inconvenient Truth." Helen Mirren -- seeing her and Ian McKellen in "Dance of Death" is still one of my top theatre experiences (and I wasn't even that big of a fan of the play itself).

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 8:13pm

Speaking of adult fare - if it is playing near you, see "Driving Lessons". Caught it last night, and it is just beautiful. Rupert Grint (of Harry Potter fame) plays the son of a very overprotective mother (Laura Linney) and takes a summer job as the assisitant to a loud and eccentric stage acctress (Julie Walters). Don't want to say too much - but it is one of my new faves. "Keeping Mum" with Maggie Smith was another hidden treasure recently - sadly, it has already moved on.

Updated On: 10/21/06 at 08:13 PM

[Anakela]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 9:06pm

Hey has anyone in NYC seen a 'coming soon' ad for "Shut Up and Sing" yet? I'm talking about the Dixie Chicks documentary, not the Molly Shannon movie of the same name. It comes out in limited release on 10/27; it's not going to be at the Angelika so I'm trying to figure out where it'll be playing.

Thanks for the "Driving Lessons" review- I was just about to ask if anyone had seen it yet. Adding it to my list!

[Plum]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 9:08pm

I saw the trailer for Keeping Mum and it boggled me slightly. Maggie Smith's role sure was...interesting.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 9:17pm

Yes, her "Mary Poppins" meets "Mrs. Lovett" was quite fun to watch!

[nztheatreluva]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 9:19pm

Oh, Keeping Mum is already on DVD here. So I should definitely hire it then?

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 9:51pm

I certainly would NZ. I will most likely add it to my DVD collection as I am a huge Dame Maggie fan, but Kristin Scott Thomas is great, as is Rowan Atkinson as the Vicar. He is not screwball as he is in most of his films, but rather sweet and actually endearing in the end - Patrick Swayze is also good as the sleazy golf pro. I was also pleasantly surprised with the appearance of the actress in the role of the nosey neighbor who also played Mrs. Cropley on Vicar of Dibley with Dawn French. I would have seen it a second time here - but it disappeared as does many of the quality non-studio films do. But - that's another thread altogether.