More films are being made, more “distributors” are launching and yet way too many films are not getting released in a way that avid, or even casual, moviegoers are able to watch them, let alone know they even exist. I lay the blame across the board as it seems almost nobody understands the tenets of Marketing 101. David Ogilvy and his forgotten predecessor Edward L. Bernays must be rolling over in their respective graves.
When the “paper of record” abrogates their alleged position in the realm of cinematic arts by deciding not to review every film opening in New York (that’s what your website is for) even those spoiled by the cultural riches of New York are left stranded. Who has time to waste scrolling through pages of online dross posted on obscure blogs by typists slobbering away in their bedrooms thinking they’re the next Hemingway? (Hint: Spellcheck is a start.)
The savior of cinema, streaming, is not what it claims to be for neither the viewer nor the rights holder. If there’s no marketing there (or transparency), nobody but the platforms wins, until they fail. The internet is like a library with all the books on the floor. With streaming the average consumer get tired scrolling so they watch films that begin with a number, the letters ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ or ‘D’. THE WIZARD OF OZ is probably retitled “THE BAD WITCH.”
The one bright light is MoviePass.com which, for a paltry $45/month, allows you to see one movie every single day at thousands of theaters across the U.S. In New York 95% of the theaters are onboard. I’ve been using this as a way to catch many of the small films that pop up like toadstools after a storm each Friday and the slew of Bollywood, Korean and Chinese films that the AMC chain books (with no marketing support again). If you want to discover a new international actor before anyone else, check out the work of Deepika Padukone who can best be described as the “next” Priyanka Chopra (the lead in the new American tv series ‘Quantico’).
Top 10 Films Of 2015
(629 Films)
Steve Jobs
Trumbo
Merchants Of Doubt [Documentary]
The Wrecking Crew [Documentary]
Bombay Velvet [India]
Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story Of National Lampoon [Documentary]
Who Am I: No System Is Safe [Germany]
Spotlight
99 Homes
Bajirao Mastani [India]
Best Actor – Bryan Cranston (Trumbo)
Best Actress – Cate Blanchett (Truth)
Best Supporting Actor – Idris Elba (Beasts Of No Nation)
Best Supporting Actress – Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs)
Best Director – Danny Boyle (Steve Jobs)
Best Screenplay – Aaron Sorkin (Steve Jobs)
Best Cinematography – Rajeev Ravi (Bombay Velvet)