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My theory about seeing films at festivals (especially opening night)

posted 10 years ago by ckanelevy
17 replies | jump to latest

Last year, my town's film festival led off with "Chef." The audience thought it was monstrously funny and one of the best films they ever saw. As we know, it turned out to be an above average mildly amusing film. Last night, the film festival led off with Doris. Sally Fields plays a funny quirky role of what I thought was a highly disturbed woman. The audience found it monstrously funny and many thought it was one of the best films they ever saw. When it gets released, however, you can bet your bottom dollar that it will not be thought of that way - and will, like Chef, be considered an above average mildly amusing film. I just think when people attend film festivals (especially opening night) they're "amped up" and ready love anything they see.

[–] duked 10 years ago

I just saw Chef the other night and I thought it was monstously funny and one of the best films I ever saw.

[–] ckanelevy 10 years ago

Yes it was just so entertaining and funny seeing a respected chef quit and make Cubanos out of a hot truck. The roll on those cubanos was toasted just so and that kid was so cute!! Oh please.

[–] polarbear-5 10 years ago

I agree. Chef ruled.

[–] reeda 9 years ago

Thanks for sharing your opinion, ckanelevy. But, it is still just your opinion. I, also, loved Chef and I look forward to seeing this film. However, that is just my opinion.

[–] backofthevan 9 years ago

I think it's quite possibly true that a herd mentality takes over at film festival opening nights with everyone wanting to absolutely love whatever it is they're seeing.

Chef wasn't even mildly amusing to me; I thought it was a big snorefest and annoying with it. I look forward to seeing Doris because of the star and the subject matter and we shall see if it's any better than Chef. Or if it's just a midly amusing film like millions of others before it.

[–] Clothes-Off 9 years ago

I agree with your theory. I liked Chef, but I don't even think it intended to be monstrously funny. The only thing I couldn't get past was Him expecting us to believe that Sophia and Scarlett were the least bit attracted to him--although it was satisfying this summer to see Jude Law and Jason Statham in Spy as possible paramours for Melissa McCarthy.

Another example years earlier was the 1998 romantic comedy Next Stop Wonderland. A huge film fest film hit, it underperformed when released in theatres. I, of course, love it, but the films I like rarely have mass appeal. (The soundtrack is one of my all-time favorites.)

"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!" C. M. Burns

[–] harveythepooka 9 years ago

The only thing I couldn't get past was Him expecting us to believe that Sophia and Scarlett were the least bit attracted to him--

I agree. Sophia, I could imagine marrying him, because he was probably thinner, younger, less bitter when they met. But Scarlett? Just no.

I also loved Next Stop Wonderland. That's such a great movie but I'm not surprised it wasn't a huge it. But I will always remember Philip Seymour Hoffman and the crazy ex boyfriend. He was perfect in his small role.

[–] Clothes-Off 9 years ago

At least Hope Davis got a career boost out of it. Alan Gelfant (the male lead) was very spongeworthy, but I only saw him on one other thing after that--the little-seen Apartment 12 with Mark Ruffalo.

"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!" C. M. Burns

[–] jozielee 9 years ago

The only thing I couldn't get past was Him expecting us to believe that Sophia and Scarlett were the least bit attracted to him--

Wrong. Ladies LOVE a man who can cook. And when we met Chef he worked at a high-end prestigious restaurant.

[–] activista 9 years ago

Another example years earlier was the 1998 romantic comedy Next Stop Wonderland. A huge film fest film hit, it underperformed when released in theatres. I, of course, love it, but the films I like rarely have mass appeal. (The soundtrack is one of my all-time favorites.)

Yeah, I love this flick,too. I thought it was just another conventional rom-com flick, and wasn't even going to see it, until I read a review about it talking about its unconventional plot. Caught up with it on video, liked it and promptly bought it first chance I got. And you're right, it barely go much promotion when it came out,mainly because there were no big box office names in it. Good film though, and like you said, an excellent soundtrack with Brazilian music classics on it. And I've been into indie films for years---love them to death. I can also say the same about some TV shows I liked that got canceled the first season,because they didn't get enough ratings to stay on the air, such as Constantine, and most recently, the NBC drama Game Of Silence, and te nice rom-co A to Z.

[–] Clothes-Off 9 years ago

I know some people who still simmer with rage when you mention the cancelation of the 1990s TV shows, Eerie, Indiana and Remember wenn.

"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!" C. M. Burns

[–] beyondtbm0914 9 years ago

These two movies must be independent films as I have not seen previous on the TV or may have missed them. But, I've also not had the enjoyment of going to film festivals, especially for more independent films. I looked at Chef and it appeared Oliver Platt is in it, for whom I've enjoyed his few roles in previous movies and recent TV appearances (Chicago Fire). As I also see other familiar faces. It seems light-hearted but also funny with a nice story. Or at least with just a nice story. Dory on the other hand as I saw the picture on the main IMDB page thought looked good, afterall it looks as though it is indeed Sally Field who I've enjoyed her roles in Mrs. Doubtfire and Smokey and the Bandit. However, after reading the description it seems less appealing but I may think it's just pre-conceived notions on looking at the title,and looking at the description thinking it was like another "The Boy Next Door" movie.

But, that is just my opinion.

[–] heaintloveu 9 years ago

What town do you live in that it has its own film festival?

[–] treccles 9 years ago

There are hundreds of film festivals out there. Pretty much all major cities have one (or more), and LOTS of medium-sized cities. And some pretty small towns.

Just do an internet search for "film festival" and scroll away.

Bentonville, Arkansas
Fredericksburg, Texas
East Lansing, Michigan
Bend, Oregon
Prescott, Arizona
Wichita, Kansas
Durango, Colorado

among many, many others.

[–] activista 9 years ago

@Treccles

Detroit's currently having the Cinetopis International Film Festival,which is being split between the D and the city of Ann Arbor (which just had its own film fest back in March, I believe---it has the oldest film fest in the country, going back at least 53 years.) I already missed a great many movies I found very interesting that I wanted to see, but I couldn't have seen them all because they were all playing all virtually the same days, and around some of the same times.

[–] HoldTheCock 9 years ago

You're 100% right, OP. I frequently go to test screenings & advanced previews and it's ridiculous how much garbage the audience will eat up. It's usually the worst with comedies. There's a comedy coming out in November that is horrendously unfunny & will get panned yet the crowd at the test screening was so amped up and excited that they were laughing hysterically at every stupid little line.

[–] lioninoil 9 years ago

you can bet your bottom dollar

wagering is not allowed at iMdB, Levy.

I thought was a highly disturbed woman

If you have a degree in Psychology, then it should be rescinded immediately, because you clearly don't know the meaning of "highly disturbed". If you do not have a degree in Psychology, then you are just another troll who is out of his depth.

"You're innocent when you dream" -- Tom Waits, "You Dream" 