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    Christopher Nolan Pushes Back Against Warner’s Plan To Debut Films On HBO Max and In Theaters Simultaneously

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1859 Views
    In this May 12, 2018, file photo, director Christopher Nolan poses during a photo call at the 71st international film festival in Cannes, southern France. Nolan, one of Warner Bros.’ most important filmmakers, has come out strongly against the company’s decision to send all of its films to HBO Max in 2021. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP, File)

    By Lindsey Bahr, AP Film Writer

    --

    Christopher Nolan, one of Warner Bros.' most important filmmakers, has come out strongly against the company's decision to debut its films on HBO Max and in theaters in 2021. The "Tenet" filmmaker told The Associated Press Monday that it's not a good business decision and criticized how the company handled it. 

    "It's a unilateral decision that the studio took. They didn't even tell the people involved," Nolan said. "You have these great filmmakers who worked with passion and diligence for years on projects that are intended to be feature films with fantastic movie stars. And they've all now been told that they're a loss-leader for a fledgling streaming service."

    The company announced last week that its 2021 film slate, including the new "Matrix" movie, "Dune" and "In the Heights" would debut on its streaming service and in theaters simultaneously in the U.S., rattling Hollywood and resulting in doomsday predictions about the future of the movie theater. 

    "I've never seen everybody so upset about one particular decision," Nolan said. 

    AMC Theaters chief Adam Aron condemned the move last week, but no in-house filmmaker has spoken out on the record until Nolan, one of the studio's marquee names. Nolan has worked with Warner Bros. on every film since 2002's "Insomnia" in a profitable and critically acclaimed run that's included "The Dark Knight" trilogy, "Inception" and "Dunkirk." 

    "It's not right. And it's not a good business decision," Nolan said. "It's all a bit of a mess." 

    The studio declined comment.

    "Tenet," his time-bending sci-fi thriller starring John David Washington, is not following suit and heading straight to HBO Max. It is being released on DVD, Blu-ray and digital on Dec. 15. Nolan said he's "very glad" his film "isn't caught up in the mess that they've made."

    "We will be accessible through Roku and Amazon Prime and iTunes and be everywhere all at once for people to enjoy," Nolan added. 

    "Tenet" was the first and only major blockbuster to test the waters opening in theaters in early September after they had been closed for nearly six months because of the pandemic. With major markets like Los Angeles and New York closed, domestic ticket sales fizzled, and Warner Bros. and other studios responded by delaying the year's remaining major films. But internationally "Tenet" has made over $300 million. 

    "That sends a very optimistic message about when theaters can open, as long as there are films for them to show, people are going to come back," Nolan said. "I think everybody in this business completely understands that long term people are always going to want to go to the movies. I think that a lot of short-term thinking going on right now, which is maybe inevitable in such a terrible situation."

    Category:News
    Tags:Christopher NolanHBO MaxWarner Bros.



    Review: Director Ben Taylor’s “Joy”

    Thursday, November 21, 2024

    Toward the end of Netflix's "Joy," the muffled cry of a newborn baby prompts a man and woman in a hospital to embrace out of pure bliss. They aren't the parents, but they had as much to do with the birth as the mom and dad.

    This charming and winning movie charts the decade-long true story of how the world's first IVF baby was born in England in 1978 — a 5-pound, 12-ounce girl who paved the way for millions more. It's an upbeat, very English affair, mixing sober discussion of endometriosis with chocolate biscuits.

    The couple embracing that day were pioneering scientist Robert Edwards and Jean Purdy, a young nurse and embryologist. Together with surgeon Patrick Steptoe, the trio succeeded with in vitro fertilization, a method of treating infertility. Edwards would go on to win the Nobel Prize.

    "Joy" has been birthed at a time when science is under threat in America — even IVF — so it's downright inspiring to see plucky, smart scientists working hard to change the world. "What we're doing, it matters," says Steptoe, played with quiet economy by Bill Nighy.

    "Joy" is the personal stories of the three scientists — mostly through the eyes of Purdy, a polite lab-coated warrior. "If I hear a commotion, I'm not very good at staying out of it," she says. Perfectly played by Thomasin McKenzie, Purdy is both vulnerable and strong, learning through the process to be a better human. James Norton plays Edwards with charm, self-doubt and calm spirit.

    Jack Thorne's script nicely explains the massive pressure the trio faced. IVF may have become common and uncontroversial over the last decades, but back in the late '70s it was experimental and shunned. The Anglican church called it a sin, the newspapers labeled it Frankenstein-ish and other... Read More

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