RANDOM RANT: IDLEWILD
I had so much anticipation about seeing Idlewild this weekend. I had my clothes out, all prepared and ready to go Friday after work. That was until I saw where they were screening the film in my city. My heart sank when I found out it would only be airing at six theaters. All these theaters are in places that attract an "urban" audience such as the Magic Johnson theater chain. I was very disappointed by this. Movies such as Hustle and Flow, ATL, Get Rich or Die Trying were in many more theaters upon their release, therefore these movies were able to reach a wider audience. Is it because the behaviors in these movies are what Americans expect African Americans to do..i.e. rapping, shooting, drug dealing, pimping etc..? When we take a step away from that and try to do something a little different, it is not embraced and supported, sometimes not even by other African Americans. I think we have so much to offer as a culture and I for one, would like to see other aspects of our lives portrayed on the big screen and get the kind of recognition it deserves. So with all that being said, I did not have the opportunity to see Idlewild this weekend. I am going to see it tomorrow because it's discount night at the "urban" theater. I figure if I'm not going to be able to hear and enjoy the movie as I would like to, I may as well get a discount price and free popcorn out of the deal.
I don't proclaim to know a whole lot about how movies are distributed. Maybe someone can enlighten me on what the process is. Then maybe I can better understand why this movie is not in more theaters.
I had so much anticipation about seeing Idlewild this weekend. I had my clothes out, all prepared and ready to go Friday after work. That was until I saw where they were screening the film in my city. My heart sank when I found out it would only be airing at six theaters. All these theaters are in places that attract an "urban" audience such as the Magic Johnson theater chain. I was very disappointed by this. Movies such as Hustle and Flow, ATL, Get Rich or Die Trying were in many more theaters upon their release, therefore these movies were able to reach a wider audience. Is it because the behaviors in these movies are what Americans expect African Americans to do..i.e. rapping, shooting, drug dealing, pimping etc..? When we take a step away from that and try to do something a little different, it is not embraced and supported, sometimes not even by other African Americans. I think we have so much to offer as a culture and I for one, would like to see other aspects of our lives portrayed on the big screen and get the kind of recognition it deserves. So with all that being said, I did not have the opportunity to see Idlewild this weekend. I am going to see it tomorrow because it's discount night at the "urban" theater. I figure if I'm not going to be able to hear and enjoy the movie as I would like to, I may as well get a discount price and free popcorn out of the deal.
I don't proclaim to know a whole lot about how movies are distributed. Maybe someone can enlighten me on what the process is. Then maybe I can better understand why this movie is not in more theaters.
Labels: Movie Reviews
This entry was posted
on Monday, August 28, 2006 at 6:44 AM.
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