UPDATED AGAIN: Redacted will not open in Dallas, says distributor rep

by John P. Meyer

Brian De Palma: Auteur non grata?

Late word from Landmark Theatres – who were planning to open Brian De Palma’s controversial Iraq-themed film Redacted at their Magnolia Theater location on Nov. 30, then pushed it back to a Dec. 7 date (as of yesterday, Nov. 26) – is that the movie will now not be opening in Dallas at all.

I’ve asked for an explanation and will update as information is received; in the meantime here’s the background static.

UPDATE: Here's the lowdown as Wilonsky sees it; I haven't yet received an official response to my query.

In the interest of full disclosure, my review would have panned the film vigorously purely on the basis of its moviemaking and storytelling qualities - or dearth of them. Perhaps I'll post a writeup when the DVD releases in February.

UPDATE, PART DEUX: in the reply to my query regarding why the movie won't be opening locally, Laura Resnick (Landmark Theatres regional publicist) states: "It seems that people unfortunately don't want to see these films about Iraq right now. It may open at some time, but frankly (it's not going to play at the) Magnolia... at the expense of bigger holiday films that will generate more revenue."

Case closed.

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Montgomery Sutton, says:

Let's hear it for artistic integrity! So we've got two mainstream "art house" theaters, when can we get a movie theater that's actually interested in presenting artistic, risky, and/or challenging works instead of new "independent" films from Dreamworks, Warner, and Sony?

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2 years ago
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Scott Doyle, says:

Can't believe you didn't work 'retracted' in anywhere, John. tsk, tsk

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2 years ago
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John Meyer, says:

Was counting on you to make up for my stylistic shortcomings, Scott. (Thanks.)

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2 years ago
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Clay213, says:

If the tickets don't sell the movies isn't going to stick around.

I don't understand where the conspiracy theory is coming from considering the producer of the movie owns the Magnolia theater? Obviously he wouldn't have invested in a movie he didn't want shown.

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2 years ago
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inarchetype, says:

Well,

As saddened as I am by the decision, I think Landmark PR's response is pretty credible, and pretty refreshing in its candor; Sounds pretty authentic to me. don't blame Landmark, Dallas, blame ourselves. Its giving us what "we" want.

That said, characterizing Magnolia as an "art house", as much as I like the place, is a bit of a stretch, and the so-called "West Village", is a pretty mainstream market location in the first place that attracts more freeway traffic than anything else because its easy to find (Dallasites have lots of other places to go). It surprised me that this flick was opening there at all, rather than Inwood, which seems to be where most of the more progressive stuff gets on.

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2 years ago
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Alex Bentley, says:

inarchetype,

Just wanted to point out that your impression of the the Inwood vs. the Magnolia (which are both owned by Landmark Theatres, by the way) may be a bit misguided. Here are the listings for what's showing at both theatres this weekend:

* The Magnolia

* I&#39;m Not There   
* No Country for Old Men   
* Before the Devil Knows You&#39;re Dead   
* Lars and the Real Girl   

* Inwood Theatre

* Blade Runner: The Final Cut   
* Enchanted   
* Into the Wild

The Magnolia is showing two highly acclaimed films (No Country and Before the Devil), another one that's about as progressive as you can get (I'm Not There) and another one with Ryan Gosling dating a blow-up doll. The Inwood is showing great stuff, but one is a reissue and one is a Disney film, albeit <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/admin/news/story/15409/">a good one</a> (Into the Wild is the only one I'd consider "progressive.")

Yes, this is only one weekend's sample, but I think that the Magnolia shows much more "progressive" fare than you realize. Just because it's in the middle of a well-traveled shopping area doesn't make it any less of an "art house."

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2 years ago
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inarchetype, says:

Alex,

My post was less normative than I think it came across. I have nothing against the Mag. In fact I quite like the place. The only theater I find myself going to more often than the Mag is Cityplace Lowes. Why? I happen to live down the street from both (and have been there quite a bit longer than the Mag has). I have nothing against the "West Village" either (other than the cringe inducing name that prevents me by way of embarrassment from taking out of town friends there). I find it very convenient, and a heck of a lot more use to the area than what it replaced (effectively nothing). I spend more time and money there than I should. But one shouldn't try to make it more than it is. It is effectively a mall. An upscale mall, to boot, and I gather square footage there is quite pricey. It has a very mass market appeal (and disproportionately suburban clientèle).

The mag runs a wide variety of stuff from very mainstream to sometimes quite daring.

That said, on average, if there is a smaller distribution curiosity of a film opening in Dallas, of artistic interest but with lower revenue expected and with less industry hype around it (viz, recently, Park), I have found that is is more likely to open at Inwood. That is not a criticism of the Mag. It is quite logical. I like both. I'm just really glad Inwood is still around. If this movie had been slated at Inwood, I wonder if it would have been pulled. That said, in other places that I've lived, the "art house" theatres that were the genuine article stayed in business by locating in places significantly lower rent than Inwood, much less the West Village. Once again, thats not a criticism, but lets call a duck a duck.