Hi Everyone,
With the theatrical release coming up next week I wanted to start a new thread to bring attention to the new reviews and press the film is getting. Here's the start:
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/01/08/071422.php
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2008/01/06/2008-01-06_look_out_for_day_zero-1.html
More to come as it comes.
Cheers,
The producer
Hmmmm....you'd think since Tribeca that more press would have seen it
shareMany reviewers, particularly the mainstream press, only publish reviews in connection with a theatrical release (or DVD release) and won't publish them from festival screenings.
With the upcoming theatrical and subsequent dvd release, screeners have been sent by the distributor to reviewers all over the place, so expect many reviews in the coming days.
Here is another new one:
http://www.therewindforums.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=22209
Oh, I hadn't seen that one yet. Thanks for sharing!
shareThings are looking good. Hopefully the distributer will see its good reviews and maybe open it a little farther. That is if it does well
shareHere's a nice interview with Elijah...
http://www.the213.net/php/article.php?id=936
Here's another review:
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jan/13/movies-145day-zeros-what-if-question-tugs-at-and/
that's a brilliant review in kitsapsun! Once it's out hopefully there'll be more reviews and it will get more distribution.
shareHere's a small mention:
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2008/01/13/2008-01-13_new_movies_opening_this_week.html
A nice profile of director Bryan Gunnar Cole:
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jan/13/movies-director-brings-film-home-for-bainbridge/
Another review:
http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=6209
I really liked the film a lot. The cast did a fantastic job with it. Here's my review on it:
http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/03/day-zero-dvd-review.html
Here's another:
http://www.toxicshock.tv/news/2008/01/18/review-day-zero-movie-review-starring-elijah-wod/
Unfortunately, the reviews in Entertainment Weekly and the NY Times were not quite as glowing as this :(
[deleted]
Thanks for the incredibly kind words. It's gratifying when people get the film and appreciate it as such.
<spoiler> To your question, no, no larger point was intended about the use or consequences of anti-depressants, nor the state of or access to mental health care in the U.S. We decided that their relationship needed to end, and it was both a "quick" way to end it, as well as one which fit into Aaron's overall experience - i.e. that what little support network he'd managed to build around himself was disintegrating.
Thanks again for coming out in support of the film - multiple times and from great distance. It's truly appreciated.
Best,
Tony
[deleted]
Thanks! Will do my best :)
Thanks again for the support!!
From the reviews and user comments you could see the film as about modern day fractured families in US. In a sense Aaron seems to try to rely on an alternative family; his real family is (apparently - since I have not yet seen it) not in evidence and not offering support. Then his urban family seems to disappear - paradoxically, he brings aboput the very result that is worst for him - creates his own isolation due to the insecurity and trauma set up by the news of drafting. I agree that some reviewers missed the point; they wanted an overtly political statement and seemed annoyed when they didn't get one.
This film did much better than other films on the same budget. But even though it only had limited release, once it is out on DVD it will reach a much wider audience and it might get a less critical reception outside US. Any film that touches on the Iraq war seems to be a v difficult subject in US at present. It is pretty touchy here too (UK), but doesn't divide the nation in the same way - most people are against it.
Having screened the film for festival audiences in Russia, France, Spain, and England I can say that the film definitely plays outside the U.S. To be honest it was somewhat of a surprise to me. Or at the very least, I didn't know what type of reception we'd get, so it was a pleasant surprise when the audiences responded as well as they did.
shareHey, Tony, Lynne here chiming in on what snrn has already posted. I can think of nothing else to say except that I don't regret a penny of the money spent nor the time invested to make that second trip up to NYC for this film. It was both time and money well spent.
As to why Day Zero plays (perhaps) better to international audiences than in the US, it may well be that, aside from the dismal lack of publicity here, many - or perhaps most - American movie audiences choose lighter fare, or at least less politically charged films for viewing. One needs an open mind to best appreciate this film, or at least the ability to view it not through red-white-&-blue blinders. I love my country, but I can see to some extent how our actions may be perceived by other countries' citizens... having traveled to New Zealand, Canada, England... watching their local news, and developing friendships with non-American folk has enabled me to see things differently. This may be why it plays well to those audiences.
Pity it may never get the chance to be seen widely in the US... the entire country definitely needs to explore the questions it raises.
BTW, thank you for your kind attentiveness to my questions at the Q&A. It was a pleasure to speak with you and Jon.
Great reviews so far.
My opinion is that because of all of the films based on war recently, US people are getting a little tired of them. EX: Lions for Lamb, Home of the Brave, Charlie's Wilson's War, Rendition,A Mighty Heart, The Kingdom, Stop-Loss, etc...
I believe that people have sort have gotten tired of them. I know that this was filmed and shown before most of these films but it was released after them.
IDK where I am going with this but I hope you understand where I was
A pleasure Lynne. Thanks again for coming out.
It would definitely appear (as some reviewers have pointed out) that there is "war movie fatigue" here in the U.S. It's too bad that that factors in but that's the reality I suppose.
Hopefully we'll be one of those films that gets a second life on DVD so that more people can see the film and think about the questions we're trying to raise.
Many thanks again.
[deleted]
Whatever the reason people come out, we're always happy for it, even more so if they enjoy the experience!
share[deleted]
Thank you both for the very kind words of support. It means a great deal to us...
Here's another nice review, posted on Amazon:
http://thefullreview.com/day-zero/1002828.html
I finally got to see DZ after purchasing it from Amazon last week. My friends and I really enjoyed it. Great performances all around.
Here's another nice review, posted on Amazon:
http://thefullreview.com/day-zero/1002828.html
I finally got to see DZ after purchasing it from Amazon last week. My friends and I really enjoyed it. Great performances all around.