January
27
"Killshot" buried in the desert
If you happen to be in Arizona, please go see "Killshot" and tell us how it is. The Weinstein Co. thriller, which wrapped in October 2005 (not including reshoots), stars newly minted Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke opposite Diane Lane and opened in five Arizona theaters January 23. It has earned $10,741 to date.
The project sounded promising -- John Madden ("Shakespeare in Love") directing Hossein Amini's adaptation of an Elmore Leonard novel -- and the review (singular), from the improbably named Arizona Republic film critic Bill Goodykoontz, is fairly positive, calling the plot "implausible" but the performances "uniformly good, if not great."
Still: It's an ignonimous end. Why Arizona? Every now and then, studios take their movies to the desert to die a la Joe Pesci in "Casino" (minus the bat to the face, although it might feel that way for those involved). [EDITED TO ADD: As a detail-minded commenter has pointed out, Pesci was not bludgeoned in the desert; he was bludgeoned in a cornfield, after which he was buried alive. I point this out for the sake of accuracy while being unwilling to find a more appropriate representative for the otherwise tidy logic of a nifty metaphor.]
However, barely releasing a film in one of the nation's most popular retirement communities is a more dignified (and perhaps, more contractually satisfying) than a straight-to-DVD release.
The film, ironically enough, is about a woman who goes into hiding as part of the FBI's witness protection program. Thomas Jane, Rosario Dawson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt co-star. -- Stuart Oldham
Edited to add: Dissatisfied with its arid desert beatdown, Weinstein Co. adds insult to injury with this note (found on Hollywood Elsewhere): "An email sent to Arizona critics on 1.21.09 by Allied Advertising & Public Relations' Jessica Sotelo (and forwarded to me) stated that "Killshot starring Diane Lane and Mickey Rourke is being distributed under the Third Rail Release and NOT The Weinstein Company. Please make any updates/corrections on this with your reviews/opening mentions." (Thanks, Jeff and Jeff)
For the record, it's Third Rail Releasing. And furthermore: Third Rail is the genre-film arm of... the Weinstein Co.
For a look at what WeinCo/Third Rail would really you rather not see, here's the trailer:
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I wish I was in Arizona. This movie looks awesome!
Posted by: scott l. | January 27, 2009 at 10:50 PM
It looks worth every penny of those $10,741
Posted by: gh | January 28, 2009 at 02:42 AM
I actually sat through this movie and that bat to the face sounds more appealing. With the talent involved, this movie was a massive disappointment. Unbleivably and perplexingly misguided. "Wow" bad.
Posted by: Writefunny | January 28, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Diane Lane is one of the best actresses on screen, and Mickey Rourke is talented and fascinating, always has been. Thanks for the preview, enjoyed it. We poor adults just can't get movie producers to distribute good movies, huh. Good to know. They're continuing to cater to teens. I hope Mickey wins the Oscar this year, maybe that'll help get us some movies worth seeing.
Posted by: Jan in Stone Mtn | January 28, 2009 at 02:53 PM
Joe Pesci's character in "Casino" actually died in a cornfield, not a desert.
Posted by: L.A. | January 28, 2009 at 06:16 PM
Dammit, you're right. Duly noted.
Posted by: dana harris | January 28, 2009 at 06:48 PM
They hired a guy to screwup an Elmore Leonard story; then released it at only 84 minutes to make it even harder to follow?
Sounds like a sure fire way to produce a disappointment.
Posted by: LPB | January 28, 2009 at 07:18 PM
Looks like Mickey Rourke was not really acting in "Wrestler"...just playing himself.
Posted by: Gila Cupchik | January 28, 2009 at 08:16 PM