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David Poland

By David Poland poland@moviecitynews.com

CinemaShowConWest

It’s been years since I have gotten my ShoWest on. It was once my favorite annual movie biz event.  But it was sold, it was less fun, and I stopped showing up. 

This year, ownership is back with the theater owners and it’s called CinemaCon. My primary attraction was a chance to sit with John Fithian and new MPAA mastter, Sen Chris Dodd, to see what we might expect from him.

First impression is that he will be more of a showman than Dan Glickman, but not looking to be Valenti 2 either. He’s not going to be Mr CARA.  His #1 target was piracy (futile, aside from international trade agreements).  #2 was the euphemistically phrased, “expansion of opportunities for access.” 

But there would be mud wrestling between exhbition and the studios here. Essentially, they seemed to agree to keep it all smiles and explanations for a weak Q1… as expected, really. 

I liked Dodd. He was quick with a smile and a pat on the back, both using the Bullshit Thesaurus with skill and actually saying, mostly by inference, some real things. At least, enough so that with more than 9 days in the gig, I have hope he will become a mostly-truthteller and be willing to discuss the nitty gritty of international relations for the industry and some day, even windows.  

I wandered into the massive Coliseum theater, usually Celine Dion’s home, for the opening event.  I expected nothing of note, as traditionally, nothing much ever happened at these, save a speech about The State of Exhibition.  But I walked in, a few minutes late, to Stacey Snider presenting the cast of The Help, followed by Colin Farrell and Lars director Craig Gillespie presenting the new version of Fright Night (nothing like the old one in this clip… and none of the humor the director and star spoke of in their presentation), and then Jackman and the other Shawn Levy with an EPK from Real Steel… which confuses me as an October movie… screams of late July. (Don Murphy was in the house, but I did not see him, so I didn’t get the chance to be “Kingo”ed in person.)

They then honored 13 past presidents and CEOs of NATO, just 2 not attending; Sumner and Barrie Loeks. It was a lovely moment of looking back and looking forward. 

More later…

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37 Responses to “CinemaShowConWest”

  1. Don Murphy says:

    I’ll again be the lone commenter on one of your Wilderness threads and state that
    Fright Night got humungous laughter and was genuinely funny and entertaining.
    Aside from that, another Poland post in which he knows better than every single fucking professional working.
    It’s good to be “Kingo.”

  2. IOv3 says:

    Oh yeah, if you see someone from Warners there David, SMACK THEM IN THE FREAKING HEAD FOR ME! REBOOTING BATMAN… AGAIN? SHAME ON YOU WARNERS! SHAME!

  3. Krillian says:

    Sen. Countrywide Dodd. (shudder)

  4. cadavra says:

    Hey, SUCKER PUNCH is five days old. Time for a reboot!

  5. movieman says:

    I have no problem with a “re-imagining” of “Fright Night.” As much as I enjoyed the ’85 original, it’s hardly an iconic horror masterpiece (“Halloween,” “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Night of the Living Dead,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” etc.) that’s indelibly imprinted on moviegoers’ collective memory banks.
    Plus, I’m just happy to see Craig Gillespie working again. Curious that the directors of two of my favorite “indies” of the past decade (Gillespie and “Door in the Floor”‘s Tod Williams) both took unconscionably long breaks between films…and that they finally returned to the director’s chair with a horror remake (“FN”) and a horror sequel (“Paranormal 2”).
    Guess Hollywood is an even tougher town than I thought.

  6. Paul MD (Stella's Boy) says:

    Careful movieman. Fright Night is adored by horror fans, myself included. Encore has been running it a ton lately and I watch it every time it’s on. A classic ’80s horror movie and one of my all-time favorites in the genre. Early word on the remake is that it sucks. That would not surprise me.

  7. movieman says:

    I’ve only seen it once, Paul (during the initial theatrical release in the summer of ’85), but still have fond memories of it.
    But you have to agree that “FN” isn’t revered/fetishized in the same breathless way as the other horror films I cited. I’m anxious to see what a non-genre director like Gillespie does with the material. And I’m always up for some fresh Colin Farrell.

  8. Paul MD (Stella's Boy) says:

    Among horror geeks like myself, Fright Night is revered pretty strongly. Spend some time at Arrow in the Head or Dread Central or Shock Till You Drop or some other horror sites and you’ll see it’s still got a passionate following in the horror crowd. I’d say it’s right up there with The Thing and Friday the 13th and other genre classic.

    I like Farrell and Gillepsie and hope for the best, but I’m not overly optimistic.

  9. storymark says:

    I actually just watched Fright Night for the first time a few weeks back. Granted, my timing certainly places me outside that group you speak of – but while I enjoyed it, I could see a lot of potential in a new take. I think Farrell will nail his role pretty easily, but I’m really excited to see how Tennant does.

  10. LexG says:

    Guess I had my Gillespie directors mixed up:

    I thought you guys were crowing about JIM Gillespie, esteemed director of I Know What You Did Last Summer, Eye See You, and Venom.

    Come to think of it, I’d rather that guy was doing Fright Night than the Mr. Woodcock guy. Did the producers mean to hire the horror guy and accidentally got Lars and the Real Girl?

  11. JKill says:

    I’m a horror fan who watched FRIGHT NIGHT for the first time about over a year ago, and it’s a great movie, smart and funny, with some interesting subtextual stuff going on in it too. Maybe it’s because it wasn’t something I grew up loving, but I could see the remake working. The talent behind the camera and in front makes it worth checking out, I think. Farrell makes cool choices as an actor.

    As an aside: It’s exciting we’re getting an original horror flick this weekend. Looking forward to INSIDIOUS.

    EDITED: I’m pretty sure David Dobkins (of WEDDING CRASHERS and FRED CLAUSE fame) re-shot a lot of MR. WOODCOCK, which is a dreadful, limp comedy that I struggled to finish. It felt inbetween a “smart and off-beat” Payne-esq comedy and a broad, more commercial one and just felt strange and off.

  12. Paul MD (Stella's Boy) says:

    Jim Gillespie isn’t a bad director. Though none of those 3 movies is a masterpiece, they’re all fairly entertaining. Did Venom pretty much kill his career directing features?

    Regarding Fright Night 2011, granted it’s only one review, but it has me concerned.

    http://www.killerfilm.com/film_reviews/read/fright-night-3d-fan-review-test-screening-68359

  13. LexG says:

    I Know What You Did Last Summer is pretty close to a masterpiece.

    Always liked the sequel better, though. Hewitt had grown into her hotness (she was mousy in the first), plus one of Jack Black’s finest hours at the Rasta-man drug guy.

  14. Paul MD (Stella's Boy) says:

    The third, directed by The Loser’s Sylvain White, is also pretty good for direct-to-DVD horror.

  15. storymark says:

    Never saw past the first myself – but it’ll always hold a special place for me, for using Type O Negative for the opening credits.

  16. storymark says:

    “Regarding Fright Night 2011, granted it’s only one review, but it has me concerned. ”

    I’m gonna take that with a block of salt. I was cautious when he mentioned his “beloved”, but I’ve made it a personal policy to discount the opinion of anyone who uses “rape” to describe a film that isn’t actually about rape.

  17. LexG says:

    GIRLFRIEND’S GIRLFRIEND POWER.

  18. Paul MD (Stella's Boy) says:

    I guess I just don’t have much faith in remakes of ’80s horror movies I love. Not expecting much from The Thing 2011 either, though at least Fright Night has a good cast. Really like Anton Yelchin.

  19. Joe Straatmann says:

    Whatever they do with Fright Night (And I’ve not seen one second of footage, so I can’t tell you my impressions either way) is nothing compared to what’s going on with the Teen Wolf TV series reboot:

    http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/636898/teen-wolf-trailer.jhtml#id=1660865

    ………Where does one begin? How do you go from Michael J. Fox in crepe hair kicking ass at basketball to this?

  20. IOv3 says:

    I have always loved Fright Night but why exactly is it a beloved horror film?

  21. storymark says:

    The Thing prequel has me concerned. How you go from Kurt Russell and Kieth David to Joel Edgerton… I just don’t know.

    At least it’s not a remake, I guess.

    Oh, that reminds me, if any fans of Carpenter’s The Thing are interested, this very cool little short story re-tells the story of the film from the POV of the Thing.

    http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/watts_01_10/

  22. storymark says:

    “I have always loved Fright Night but why exactly is it a beloved horror film?”

    I think it’s probably just one of those movies folks bonded to as a kid, and maintained affection for. Beyond that, couldn’t tell ya.

    Personally, having grown up on The Princess Bride, it was hard as hell for me to see Chris Sarandon as an even remotely serious threat. Had I seen FN first, I’m sure that perception would be different.

  23. Paul MD (Stella's Boy) says:

    Horror fans regard Fright Night as a genre classic IO and one of the best ’80s horror flicks. Those of us who feel that way believe it’s a truly special film with excellent performances, likable characters, outstanding effects, awesome music, and some good scares. Plus many of us saw it as youngsters, when we were still developing a love of horror, so that adds to its meaning.

  24. York Durden says:

    @movieman, in two subsequent posts you make the spurious claim that FRIGHT NIGHT is a 1985 movie. You as a movie fan should know that 1985 is the year of Michael J Fox in TEEN WOLF and BTTF. FRIGHT NIGHT is 1988. Not to split hairs or anything.

  25. Paul MD (Stella's Boy) says:

    Fright Night was released on August 2, 1985.

    http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=frightnight.htm

  26. Don R. Lewis says:

    FRIGHT NIGHT is an awesome movie yet I’m totally ambivalent about the remake. Seems pointless to me. I mean, why not just do something sort of original that’s *like* FRIGHT NIGHT but makes it it’s own? Look at DISTURBIA. It was REAR WINDOW but not and it was really successful.

    To answer IO’s question (and I swear, I don’t know why I fucking bother) I think it’s beloved as storymark said above, because it was a gateway geek movie back in the day for us older film nerds. Kind of like GOONIES was. But, I think it holds up as a really great film in a few ways…

    1. it’s a nasty film with that 80’s sheen on it.
    It really does have a kind of dirty feel to it and it doesn’t pull any punches. I don’t want to spoil too much BUT…characters you love DO get fucked up. Charlie DOES lose the girl (well kinda) and it’s not all that happy of an ending although it looks to be so onscreen.

    It reminds me of all those great Springsteen 80’s songs where he quit the E Street band and went solo and married Julianne Phillips and then everything fell apart. He wrote some truly amazing deep, dark and heartfelt breakup songs that are marred with like, synched maraca’s and keyboards. You listen to the words and look past the 80’s cheese and it’s great stuff. Fright Night gets dismissed due to it’s “80’s-ness.”

    2. The dude who played Evil Ed (Stephen Geoffreys) is incredible.
    I think Devin Faraci pointed this out when they announced McLuvin was playing the new Evil Ed that Geoffreys had a certain intangible grossness to him but you still liked him. And more importantly, felt really bad for him. Devin tied that in (I *think*) to the fact that Geoffreys later went on to star in gay porn but I don’t see the connection. I just think the guy was cast perfectly and had a once in a lifetime performance.

    3. For a silly seeming schlocky 80’s horror film, there’s ALOT of great subtext to the film. Loss of virginity, becoming your own person, accepting who you are and a whole slew of homosexuality. It’s a fun film that can be read alot of different ways.

  27. IOv3 says:

    Don, why you fucking taking a shot? Oh I remember because you are a dick. Thanks for answering it though, dick even though you are so fucking out to lunch. It’s because of Married with Children. Duh.

  28. Don R. Lewis says:

    You just answered your own “why take a shot?” question.

  29. Krillian says:

    Ah, Fright Night. A pre-Princess Bride Chris Sarandon, a pre-Married with Children Amanda Bearse, a pre-Herman’s Head/Justified William Ragsdale, that giant floating fang-head poster later copied by Return of the Living Dead Part II…

    Although sometimes I get pieces of it and House mixed up. It’s one where I know I liked it at the time (video, 1986-ish) but haven’t felt the need to revisit, and therefore one of those remakes I don’t mind.

  30. Don R. Lewis says:

    They have some AWESOME Fright Night shirts (as well as other awesome horror film t-shirts in general) at http://www.fright-rags.com/

    Annnnd….there goes my paycheck.

  31. LexG says:

    Chris Sarandon’s signature performance is DOG DAY AFTERNOON, not PRINCESS BRIDE (which BLOWS.)

    Ditto Krillian on the whole “eh haven’t watched it since 1987, couldn’t care less if they trash it with a remake.”

  32. IOv3 says:

    Don, only you fine folks would think that you taking a shot first is not worthy of retribution. Fucking Kevin Smith Mark giving anyone shit, is just shameful, but it’s MARCY DARCY IN A HORROR FILM. Which is what blew my mind watching it in the 90s.

  33. JKill says:

    The phone call scene in DOG DAY AFTERNOON with Sarandon and Pacino is so heart breaking and real. One of my favorite scenes ever. It’s so desperate and emotional and fragile. (As an aside, DDA would probably make my all-time top 10.)

  34. David Poland says:

    “Fright Night got humungous laughter and was genuinely funny and entertaining.”

    I didn’t say it wasn’t entertaining. But it was about 90% an action clip with 3 or 4 attempts at actual humor. The laughs we heard were mostly action movie laughs, when someone laughs in delight because something surprises them. Not the same. It wasn’t that the clip failed to be humorous. It just wasn’t a clip that tried much to be funny.

    It was hot in Vegas, Don. Please now comment about how it was only 78 degrees and only Kingo could say that was hot.

  35. David Poland says:

    Based on what they showed, it looks like Fright Night will be very different. I love the original… which is a kitsch fest. But I have no problem with them changing it up.

    Clearly, the mother is now a much more important character. (Does she replace the Roddy McDowell character?) And the vampire is not a velvet suit kind of guy.

    I’m open to it. But it is not trying to ride the same tone of the first one.

  36. Don R. Lewis says:

    Maybe they just put the mother character upfront for you guys because it’s Toni Collette? The McDowell character is being played by David Tennant but since those awesome “Creature Feature” type shows that the Pete Vincent character hosts are defunct, I wonder how they’ll do it. Knowing reboots, he probably writes a TWILIGHT type of series or something.

  37. Storymark says:

    Don – He’s a Chris Angel-esque stage magician/”expert” in the occult.

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