'THE PRODUCERS' - Critics Hate It, HFP Hate It, Fans Love It

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 10:00pm

Variety is mixed. Hollywood Reporter was very disappointed. Mixed with minor critics. Right now 66% on RottenTomatoes.com.

The Hollywood Foreign Press reportedly hated it as well. Don't look for a Golden Globe nod for Best Comedy/Musical...according to Tom O'Neil of GoldDerby.com.

However, fans from test screenings/previews have loved it 200%. Some have demanded nods for Lane, Broderick, Thurman, Ferrell, and Beach & Bart.

My predictions: it will make a lot of money at the B.O. - $80million area. Will get some acting awards - Thurman for Supporting Actress and maybe Broderick for Supporting Actor. Doesn't look like Lane will get a nod. Shame. Nor Stroman.

We'll see about Best Picture. Right now - no. More major critics will have to like it. A more positive buzz has to build from the Academy members and in general. We'll have more of a 'know' from the inside around a week from now.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 10:07pm

It's at a rotten 57% and has been since this morning. Not sure where you got that other number from.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 10:08pm

Go team go! I hope Producers pulls through. It's always a shame to see a movie musical flop. Especially one with such talented actors as these.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 10:10pm

Yeah, musicals in theatres = new musical lovers.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 10:21pm

new musical lovers = theatre geeks inheriting the world!!

[crzyrocket]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 10:48pm

I read through some of the reviews, and it seems that the biggest complaint is that it is too "theatrical", which only makes me even more excited to see the movie. Recent movie musicals, (especially with Phantom) all had the "movie" feel, where characters moved from speech to song, bringing the annoying question (by non-musical people) of "Why are these people singing all of a sudden?" Chicago got away with it because the songs were all in Roxie's head, so in a way, it was more accepted. Except for "I Wanna Be a Producer" and perhaps "Springtime For Hitler" (it being a song in a "musical"), the rest are just people bursting into song for no reason at all and that makes me happy.

With older movie musicals, I've never heard of anyone complaining about why characters were singing. Perhaps because the only people watching these musicals were fans...or just that musicals were just more accepted back then. These characters could sing, they could dance, and no one wondered why. From the video clips of The Producers that I've seen, it looks like the same thing. Yes, little old ladies can dance with their walkers around NYC. There doesn't need to be a reason, they just can. That's what I love about the look of the new movie.

[xrent_headx]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 10:52pm

I hope that it is a success. The preview look good, and i wanna see it. i have a feeling it's going to be good.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 11:05pm

I do'nt think there will be ANY acting nominations for this movie

[insomniak]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 11:05pm

I hate that anyone will dislike a movie ONLY because people sing. Song is another form of expressing an emotion or plot point. It makes sense. They need to learn to think outside the box.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 11:07pm

Yes, but it also needs to be done well.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 11:15pm

I just wanted to point out that as of this posting, there are only eight reviews on rottentomatoes.com, so the percentages really don't matter at this point...

[insomniak]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 11:18pm

Absolutely, munkustrap, but I hated to read some of the nasty Rent reviews that started off with 'well, it's a MUSICAL, so it's corny". Some almost literally said that. If they have legitimate reasons- problems with the actors, direction, pacing, script, quality of singing, ect- fine. But don't start off hating it. Give the medium a chance.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 11:21pm

That's very dissapointing. But then again, RENT had a 100% freshness rating at one point and it eventually declined to stay at 50% so THE PRODUCERS could easily bump up quite a lot percentage wise. I think reviews will be better than they are now. We'll see.

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 11:54pm

I'm sorry to be this way, but after reading the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, I asked myself - "Who the hell are these people?" I don't recognize any of the people or sources from where these reviews came from, and frankly, it doesn't matter what critics think. If the fans enjoy it, and it does well at the box office, great. If it doesn't get any nominations - well, that's dissapointing for us musical lovers, but that's life and we move on and enjoy the movie for ourselves. I hope The Producers does great, and finds a good fan base. But it hasn't even been released yet to the public - let's save our judgements and such until it officially comes out, and stop worrying about "test screenings" and "rumors" and percentages, etc.

[ajayspak2]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 12:01am

sorry but there is NO way anything major from the producers will win an academy award, a few noms maybe but wins in the majors 0% chance sorry

[pab]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 12:12am

Just how the hell can you make such a definitive statement? I can see you saying that you don't THINK that there will be any wins but to say that there is a 0% chance is either just a reckless statement or a statement by someone with inside information and I don't think it's the latter.

[ajayspak2]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 12:16am

i'm always right about the oscars cos i do get inside info, haven't lost an oscar poll in 10 years. sorry no wins for the producers at all, hey im a huge rent head and i can tell you there will be no wins for that either, slight very slight chance Rosario will get a nom

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 2:12am

I, too, have inside sources at the HFP and AMPAS and follow the buzz and such. 0% at winning? Uma Thurman may prove you wrong.

Best Song...HELLO! That's the largest chance they have. Broderick, too, depending on further critic reviews and other factors.

Ebert & Roeper gave two thumbs up. We'll see how the press treats it come Christmas time.

Personally, I think they're doing a big mistake in having a limited release then a wide. They should just do one.

[jackson992]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 2:59am

It's gonna be tough to surpass what Rent did. I've never been so impressed with a movie musical as I was with that one. I'll go to The Producers but expect that it won't be nearly as good as Rent was.

[enjolrasissex]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 3:15am

CapnHook, which song could be nominated for Best Song? I thought one could only be nominated if it was written for the movie...

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 3:16am

I hate it when people go see a musical and then ask why people are singing. It bugs me.

I dont really trust Rotten Tomatoes' judgment. They made Rent see like a lump of crap, and it was FANTASTIC. I'm really excited for this film.

[littlechap2]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 3:24am

jackson992, you must impress very easily.

It is way too early to say that critics hate this movie. I am surprised at you, capthook.

[jackson992]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 3:34am

Not at all, I thought Phantom and Chicago were ok at best. Rent was miles above ok.

[Celestial Entropy]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 4:39am

The original 'Producers' movie (1968 ) has gathered a cult following... it had all of 3 songs in it and wasn't considered a musical. So, there is a possibility that people are going into it not realizing that it isn't excatly a remake of the '68 version, but actually the Broadway musical version made into a movie. I do hope the general public gives it a chance... in my eyes, after seeing the original movie and then the musical, the musical version is far wittier and gives the story line a more colorful spin.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 7:23am

is this movie a lot like the old one? ive seen the old one, and my whole family loved it, but im just afraid this new one will have some "innappropriate" stuff. does it? i wanna see this badly, but im afraid to have to go thru another RENT experience with my parents...