Well ol Peter Bart over a Variety wrote up a nice editorial about advance "buzz" on the holiday films, and even wrote in about us "Cybergeeks". Recently I have been being touted as the "scourge of Hollywood" "the man Hollywood hates" etc etc. I get a giggle out of those headlines, not because of the "power rush" but because of how silly the media's reaction to the "advance" buzz is.
My info comes almost exclusively from "spies" at the screenings. Not heresay from some "joe that's sister's best buddy from high school saw it and said", but from direct viewers. How do I know there was a screening, because I find out about the screenings in advance and send them there, and sometimes my most trusted spies tell me, and I spread the word. But all that aside, they come from people who have SEEN these films. As for the changes in the films from test screening to test screening. Well personally I find this the most fascinating. To watch the films take shape, to see the hows and whys of rumored scenes and audience reactions, in real time over the course of the film process.
Peter talks about how the gossip rags, magazines, and newspapers talk about the results of screenings that took place a long time ago, and how their material is out of date. True, that's the reason I decided to cover it. I was tired of out of date data, tired of hearing about screenings that took place months ago. I want to hear about the one last night in Louisville, Colorado! Now let me do a little fact checking on Peter's "word" on film's buzz.
"Titanic" is a major winner---- correct
So is Jim Brooks' new picture..."As Good as It Gets" ---- haven't heard a peep, no buzz in my world.
Francis Ford Coppola's The Rainmaker ----- actually the latest is "pretty good" not great even though word is improving, about 50/50 with my people if you read far enough back.
Gus Van Sant's Good Will Hunting----- correct
Great Expectations-----Had people love it and hate it.
The Man Who Knew Too Little------ reports from long ago agree, but nothing of late.
The Butcher Boy------ Haven't heard much, only that Ms O'Connor is pretty good.
The Wings of the Dove------ One good review does not make for great "buzz"
Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown------- Had a test screening the same night as THE NEWTON BOYS, got the word on Newton, but haven't heard a peep about the Jackie Brown results. And the "buzz" from the geeks is that they didn't care for the novel or the script. Word from me is I love the script and think the film will be very good, but that's just me.
Starship Troopers------ Incredible buzz. I have had 2 bad reviews by Heinlein loyalists and over 70 incredibly excited reviews. Multiple film review comparisons to the feeling they had when seeing Empire Strikes Back.
Alien Resurrection------ Very strong buzz, though a 10% minority bemoans the fact that while it's exciting as can be and a visual treat, there is nothing really new.
Steven Spielberg's "Amistad,"------ Absolutely NO BUZZ - haven't even heard about the script.
Martin Scorsese's "Kundun,"------ Absolutely NO BUZZ, but it does have an incredible script by Melissa Matheson that I took to the library so I could reference locations.
"The Postman,"---- Absolutely NO BUZZ, been hearing that they are scared to sneak it. The script is "ok" but it'll all hinge on the kids, and how their performances come off.
New James Bond Pic------ London screening went real well, but that's a friendly enviroment. Hatcher got a bad rap, Michelle Yeoh was hailed. I got alot of little pieces on this.
"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." ------ No buzz, but rumors of news coming soon. So stay tuned.
The word from my "spies" is as honest a reaction as you will ever get. And some of the people that have been writing for me, have had quite a bit of correspondence with over the past 2-3 years (back prior to the web page). They don't have an axe to grind. As for all the positive scores, well alot of the buzz in the industry gets out through leaked scripts, demos, dailies, etc. These are pieces to the puzzle that I lay out for me to put together. The pictures I get are often times colored by my own enthusiasm for a hopefully good film. To me this game is innocent, till proven guilty. A project is great, until the pieces spell it's doom or praise. I have been very surprised that I haven't seen a big big BOMB appear yet this holiday season, but that spot could be there for something like THE POSTMAN or AMISTAD which has zero buzz. They may be horrible dispicable films, but as of now, in my mind The Postman could be ok based on the script, and Amistad has to be great cause I have no proof to the otherwise. Personally I've already begun on Spring and Summer films.
The only films I can say with confidence people will like are TITANIC (over 100 reviews all positive), STARSHIP TROOPERS (70 to 2) and ALIEN RESURRECTION (85 to 17). Why? Cause I've had alot of reviews sent to me from screenings all over the country. Different people from different places saying the same types of things. That's how you know. I've been studying these sorts of results for about 2 years now, and so far that hasn't let me down yet .
"And let's face it: even cybergeeks need validation. After all, theirs is a lonely mission."
I don't seek validation, I want BETTER MOVIES. I want films that the NRG won't want to keep "types" out of. Films that people can't even compare to others. If I can do anything with this site and attention that I have on me, it's to stop obnoxious studio decisions and see better films reach the screen and be advertised! One problem now is that small good films don't get any...ANY marketing. While a company continues to feed the stoker of sinking ship. (THIS IS NOT AN ALLUSION TO TITANIC)
