AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY Shifts Opening Dates

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/17/13 at 3:43pm

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/173752/christmas-is-ruined-august-osage-county-movie-shifts-opening-dates/

Looking forward to seeing the Weston clan brawl on the big screen this Christmas Day? Well, you’re out of luck. The film adaptation of Tracy Letts’ Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning drama August: Osage County will now open in L.A. and New York theaters on December 27, two days later than originally announced, according to a representative from The Weinstein Company. The rest of the country will have to wait a few weeks longer; the new movie will hit theaters nationwide on January 10, 2014.

[bwayboy22]

Posted: 12/17/13 at 3:45pm

Will it still be eligible for the Oscars?

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/17/13 at 3:47pm

I'm sure it will be.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/17/13 at 3:51pm

It qualifies as long as it opens during the calendar year (meaning on or by December 31st) and runs at least one full week in at least one (recognized) movie theatre in Los Angeles. Those are the minimum requirements for eligibility. The Academy keeps a list of all the eligible movie theatres in L.A.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 12/17/13 at 3:53pm

This is a disappointment. Anyone have any recommendations of good films to see on Christmas instead of this? My plans for this day were centered around seeing this film.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/17/13 at 3:54pm

This is what this Jewish girl was planning to do Xmas day, too. Well, that and chinese food!

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/17/13 at 3:55pm

I'll probably see Saving Mr. Banks again that day. I saw a screening and it was wonderful. Seeing American Hustle this weekend. Any suggestions, as well?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 12/17/13 at 4:16pm

It's a good move. It's definitely not a Christmas movie, although according to the Golden Globes, it's a comedy...

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 12/17/13 at 4:30pm

Wolf might be one of Scorsese's last films?
Where does that come from?!?! The man will be making movies till he's no longer breathing!

As for August, why don't they put this movie on life support already? Theit studio has no faith in it whatsoever. So it's not the best movie of the year, just release it already.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 12/17/13 at 4:36pm

The comedy designation is appropriate for this film.

[brettarnett]

Posted: 12/18/13 at 2:15am

Has anyone else seen other sources stating a shifted opening date? All other sources I have seen still state Dec 25th.

[tazber]

Posted: 12/18/13 at 6:26am

Why? It happens to be the first day for Oscar nomination balloting, which allows TWC to maximize their ad expenditures towards that date in NY/LA. And this way the wide break will parallel the January 12 Golden Globe Awards and the January 16 Oscar nominations, which should hopefully boost the movie's want-to-see with audiences, who will be attracted by an all-star cast including likely Best Actress Oscar nominee Meryl Streep as well as Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale, Dermot Mulroney, Julianne Nicholson, Sam Shepard and Misty Upham.

The darkly humorous dysfunctional family drama has to open for a week before year's end in order to qualify for the Oscars, of course, but a smaller break could yield larger initial numbers. And waiting a few days for the Christmas big guns to get out of the way allows the Weinsteins to maximize their weekend grosses. Also, booking good screens is an issue during this prime playing time. There's also less risk of quick mixed word-of-mouth hurting their first few days--the film could yield a huge opening day, but might fall off quickly. Better to have those numbers included in a three-day weekend total to more impress exhibitors as TWC tries to book their January 10 dates.

This move will also will make the New York and L.A. Times reviews more prominent. And the wide delay also allows for new dates for timely biopic "Mandela" (around 800 has been announced as the goal) and more room for awards-friendly "Philomena" to play through in some cities.

No one knows how to fine-tune a release like the Weinsteins. But this also suggests far less confidence in 'AUgust: Osage County" than did that initial wide break. Truth is, the critics could do some damage to this movie, which is a crowd-pleaser but is up against a lot of year-end competition.






Link

Updated On: 12/18/13 at 06:26 AM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 12/18/13 at 10:13am

Frogs--

Do you say that having seen the film version? The play is definitely a drama (with some laughs of course), but is the film version more light-hearted? The preview I saw did make it look like a feel-good, heartwarming story, which I found to be really weird.

[winston89]

Posted: 12/18/13 at 10:57am

I was under the impression that the movie was in fact a drama. However, the producers of the movie billed it as a comedy so that way they can get more of a chance at winning for the Golden Globes.

[tazber]

Posted: 12/18/13 at 12:02pm

Winston, you are correct.
Link

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/18/13 at 3:06pm

As a play, this was always a comedy. A dark comedy, a black comedy, a tragi-comedy....but a comedy. Nearly every review uses the word comedy or refers to laughter in the very first paragraph.

I don't know why people seem so suprised. The show IS funny. AND sad.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/18/13 at 3:12pm

Isherwood: Fiercely funny and bitingly sad, this turbo-charged tragicomedy —

Variety: laced with corrosive humor so darkly delicious

New York Daily: He lets fly so many original and diabolically funny ideas about fear, yearning and relationships that he reinvigorates the family drama and brings it up to date. While he's at it, you're laughing hysterically one minute and appalled the next as the 3 1/2 -hour play flies by."

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/18/13 at 3:36pm

Just binge watch Mama's Family on Netflix, have somebody you're watching it with swear a lot and it's exactly the same thing.

Merry Christmas!