I like the way Fox Searchlight is rolling out Amelia. The press is covering Amelia the old fashioned way and there are no reviews to be found, at least from what I can tell. A friend wrote to me and told me it did really well in London, and the NY Times’ David Carr just wrote a great piece about the film. Funnily enough, Amelia is yet another film directed by a woman, Mira Nair, and about a famous pioneer aviator.
CBS Sunday Morning covered the film in depth. In fact, it seems to be everywhere except in terms of how people think of the film. Many seem to think this means that reviews will be bad, but on the contrary, Pete Hammond (via HE) writes in Notes on a Season: “The fact is “Amelia” is a beautifully crafted and very traditional epic drama that’s aimed at an older, more discerning audience. That’s the kind of crowd that’s slow to show up at the multiplex, but if they do, they will be treated to the kind of fine adult biographical story movie studios generally just don’t seem to be making anymore.”
16 Responses for "Amelia Takes a Different Route"
go Hilary!!!!!!
i would kind of love it if this movie turns out to be a big success…it just seems to easy to pick on.
that, and i feel like i’m one of the few people who actually thinks that hilary swank is a very good actress who has made some really bad choices (although freedom writers is one of my biggest guilty pleasures…)
guhhh flop
I have a feeling that most opinions will be similar to Hammond’s. ‘Oh, isn’t it nice that these kind of movies are still made?’ I’m really excited to see the movie, but I think Hilary is the only thing about it with any hope of a nomination, besides techs maybe.
Well that’s good news! I was really starting to get worried about this picture.
Er, they’re not screening the film for press. Only horror films go this route. They’re trying to keep a lid on how DITW(Dead in the Water) they seem to think it is. Maybe they’re wrong, but it’s Fox Searchlight. They should KNOW. They had “Slumdog” last year and this year they’re hiding”Amelia” from the press.
“The fact is “Amelia” is a beautifully crafted and very traditional epic drama that’s aimed at an older, more discerning audience.”
That’s what some people said about “Australia”…
“That’s what some people said about “Australia”…”
And they were spot on.
Mira Nair is an incredible talent. I hope the movie does well for her sake.
Best Actress (Hilary Swank)
Best Cinematography
Best Sound
Best Art Direction
Best Score
Listen, Mira Nair has shown herself in the past to be very talented, and Hilary Swank is one of the finest actresses of her generation, but the reason why the film isn’t being screened for critics (and why there isn’t many reactions out there, save for Pete ‘Quote Whore Of The Year’ Hammond) is because this movie is TERRIBLE.
I know this because I’ve seen it. I went in with an open mind, wanting very much to enjoy it. I even stayed through the entire film in spite of every bone in my body begging me to leave. I just kept telling myself that maybe they’d turn it all around in the third act.
They didn’t.
This movie has to be considered the worst project in Mira Nair’s career. Its probably the worst film in Swank and Richard Gere’s career as well. Its like they thought just setting up lights and cameras and making everything look period and dressing Hilary Swank up like Amelia Earhart was all they had to do. No attempt was made to engage in any sort of dramatic arc or emotional connection to the material. The actors just float through one bland situation after another.
I’ve heard that the studio was very unsatisfied with the film and have recently added ‘additional footage’ that shows Amelia as a little girl. Apparently this footage is supposed to help you connect more emotionally with the rest of the film. Well, even if that footage is the most powerful piece of storytelling and child acting in history it can’t make up for the cinematic void that is the rest of the film. Sorry to all those that were excited about this in advance. Its one of the biggest disappointments of the year.
” Its one of the biggest disappointments of the year”
Really sad to hear but I totally believe you because just getting me to see this was going to take a lot.
hey Sasha, do you know which time are going to be announced tomorrow the Gotham awards nominations?????
Either way, I was never interested.
I’m excited for this, suck it.
Seabiscuit, The Aviator, Cinderella Man,…
Leave a reply
All comments should respect the Awards Daily House Rules. If you think a particular comment breaks these rules then please let us know, quoting the comment in question.