MovieChat Forums > The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2007) Discussion > Just saw DVD....film is awesome, underap...

Just saw DVD....film is awesome, underappreciated, underpromoted

posted 19 years ago by mnpack110
7 replies | jump to latest

I just had the pleasure of watching TPWoDO on DVD and was awed and amazed at this incredibly intelligent and sensitive portrayal of the life of Evelyn Ryan by Julianne Moore. Everyone in this film did an outstanding job. The film is touching without becoming overly saccharine.

I personally think that the performance of Julianne Moore in this film is much more remarkable than that of Keira Knightly in P&P and I liked both that movie and her role in it. I just think Julianne did a superior job here and should have been nominated (for the Oscar) instead. She really captured the essence of the character of Evelyn Ryan. It didn't even strike me as odd that she was doing another "period film". I just watch a movie and if the story and the characters are believable and meaningful, then that's what I think about.

Okay, I guess now I need to step up onto my soapbox. I heard briefly about this movie last fall but never really saw it around in the local theatres. I guess it was here but only briefly (I live in the Minneapolis area). I read a previous message where someone stated that Dreamworks either didn't promote this film the way they had initially intended or that they changed their promotion strategy. I can't really speak directly on that since I don't have any factual information on it. However, from the little bit I read and from seeing how many screens this movie was shown on, it doesn't look like they spent much effort proting this film.

I guess I would ask, why take the time to make such a quality film and then give it basically no support? I would assume the answer is not that hard to guess $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. So instead of having quality films like this made available to us, we get movies like War of the Worlds shoved down our throats. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure many people enjoyed that movie. But I have a feeling many others would have enjoyed TPWoDO if the studio had taken the time and a little bit of money to put it out there and promote it. But just compare the War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise, who gets nominated for a Razzie for his preformance in that film and then you have this film which many critics believed might have had one or more Oscar caliber preformances in it.

The studios so often spend millions of dollars promoting movies that turned out badly, possibly because they had a large initial financial investment in the films. Here they have a very good film and they do nothing to get it seen by the American public dying for some decent movies to go see. Amother person compared this to a much better quality Cheaper by the Dozen. Not an identical premise, but the two films definitely might share a similar audience and there was much they could have used to promote this film. It is a shame.

I consider myself a "movie buff" and watch all kinds of movies, comedies, dramas, foreign films, character based films, action films, even the odd horror film if it is well done. I just enjoy movies, especially good movies. However, it is sad to see the direction major studios are going to try and improve their cinema receipts, especially with the "male 16-42" category, or whatever it is they feel is their main movie going cash cow. Whatever they are doing, I don't think it's working and many of the movies they are putting out to grab this audience are so lousy that no one wants to waste their money to see them in the theatre anyway. And the really sad part is that when the quality movies do get made (such as TPWoDO), since no one hears about them or how good they are, all of the people in America who would pay good money to go to the theatre and see these films never make it there. All I can say is, thank God for independent films. At least we sort of get those. Some of the time. Although I constantly read about the struggle each of those filmakers go through to try and get their films made. It sounds like it's a miracle they make anything at all.

Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to read my opinions on this subject. That is what they are, just my own personal opinions. We are lucky we live in a country where we are allowed to express them.

[–] grills 19 years ago

I certainly feel you have hit the nail on the head about the almight dollar controlling everything in the movie industry. Then they lament how people don't seem to be going to the movies nowadays like they use to. HELLO?????
On the recent Oscars there was different comments about this very subject, that you can't appreciate a good movie on TV or a DVD player like you can at the theatre. Personally, they just don't get it, do they???
The movie industry try to shove a lot of crappy movies down our throats, and dismiss the real gems that are out there.

If you don't mind me asking, how did you get a sneak peak at this movie before it hit the store shelves/on line markets??? Personally have been wondering if it will even hit Wally World and any other mass marketers.

Cathy from Canada :O)

[–] bama1111 19 years ago

I, too, think that Julianne Moore gives an excellent performance is this outstanding movie. My only question was how, and why, she managed to stay with her loser husband. A perfect example of the overworked and underappreciated "housewife" of the 1950s. And, still, probably.

As for the quality of movies... well, I'm always surprised when I hear moviemakers talking about how long it took them to get financing for their $2,000,000.00 movie, which turns out great, when actors are getting 15-20 million, and more, for appearing in lousy 100 million dollar movies.

I would guess that the majority of money that the majority of movies make is from purchase/rental of DVDs and VHS tapes. That crap about sitting in a theater being the "great experience", while people are talking, cell phones are going off, your shoes are sticking to the floor, babies are crying etc. and then having to pay 9-15 dollars for a ticket. Yeah, that's a real memorable time.

I watch a lot of movies, sometimes 4 or 5 a day, and I can honestly say that most of the best ones are from other countries. And they don't involve a lot of explosions or speeding cars. And, I'm sure, don't cost many millions to make.

So much for ranting and raving. This is a really, really good movie that everyone should rent. (No, I don't work at Netflix)

Emperor: Tell me how he died.
Captain Algren: I will tell you...how he lived.

[–] RenaissanceLNR 19 years ago

Yeah, I don't quite get why the industry is pushing so strongly for people to see movies in the theater instead of on DVD when they aren't trying to do anything to lower the cost of movie tickets (like, perhaps, altering ticket prices to reflect movie cost -- high for big-budget movies, lower for low-budget films). I do like occasionally going to the movies when I have time but unless the movie is an action flick or something with panoramic visuals, why should I waste my money on overpriced movie tickets when I'm watching for the story, not to see things get blown up?

[–] ridleybird 19 years ago

Yeah, the movie industry has alot of nerve. They are making money whether you go to the theater or buy the DVD. In fact, they probably make more money off the dvds. They are so greedy.

I really liked this movie and I just love Julianne Moore. She should have been nominated. I have always liked her and it is so good to see an actress that isn't afraid to show her freckles!

[–] steve08221 19 years ago

i loved your comments! my thoughts exactly! my wife got the dvd free at local library april 2006,and i made my 19 and 21 year watch this film.i wanted to show them what a real movie is.i recently watched king kong with them,but i hate special effects and fake stuff.i just want to see a good story movie.i don't need explosions,car chases,special effects,etc.everybody watch this movie! the whole family! i loved it.happy ending too! why does hollywood make so many movies with sad endings!!!??? duh!

[–] mavitale 19 years ago

I agree totally. At the end of this film I thought "WHY didn't most people have the opportunity to see this film in the theater???" It was amazing, she was amazing...

The other DVD I rented recently that left me feeling the same way was "Dear Frankie". Brilliant story, wonderful film.

[–] writerjims 19 years ago

"However, it is sad to see the direction major studios are going to try and improve their cinema receipts, especially with the "male 16-42" category, or whatever it is they feel is their main movie going cash cow."

You give the studios too much credit, the age group they are after is "17-24!" As they are fond of pointing out in Hollywood -- it is called show business, with the emphasis on business. As the recent gas executive pointed out when criticized for the high price of gasoline, "We're in business to make money." The same holds true for the studios. Among those that attend movies, the biggest spenders are adolescent boys, which accounts for the 13 year-old mentality of most blockbusters.