NYT Explores Weinstein's Finances In Wake of 'Grindhouse' Flop
Filed under: Action, Drama, Horror, Independent, Thrillers, The Weinstein Co., Newsstand
Sure, you have one or two (or three or four) films "under-perform" at the box office and suddenly people start to think things are going down the toilet. Such is the plight of flamboyant filmmakers Bob and Harvey Weinstein these days -- especially after the recent less-than-stellar business of their recent Grindhouse release. And now, as often happens when detractors smell blood in the water, people feel compelled to examine the brothers and their company.A recent New York Times article does just that. In the article, the author relates the tale of woe that is the Weinstein company's recent track record at the box office. Films like Anthony Minghella's Breaking and Entering, Factory Girl, Shut Up and Sing and Grindhouse have all made far less than expected and their lack of success has been a cause for concern throughout the industry. The Weinsteins, of course, are not oblivious to the situation. "It could be better, obviously," said Bob Weinstein in the article. "Our drive and ambition are to be better than perhaps we've been."
What is stalwart optimist Weinstein's response to how he will keep his company going through the perceived "lean" times? His answer isn't, as you might expect, "make better movies that make more money." Instead, he has another idea -- diversification. Alliances with companies such as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Cablevision, Blockbuster, the aSmallWorld Web site, the Ovation cable channel and the Halston couture house, are all part of the Weinstein plan for world domination. Said Weinstein in the article: "We want to be very much like the bigger companies, in a humble boutique way."
The Weinstein's have been hugely successful over the years and have made money not only for themselves but for their many partners, investors and employers. But that, apparently was in the past as now it seems like a case of "what have you done for me lately?" They're smart guys and I'm sure they'll be okay in spite of their critics and these setbacks.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-12-2007 @ 7:54PM
marty said...
There is no doubt the industry is changing and the ones that will prosper are the ones who commit to new media technologies in film delivery rather than relying on the traditional dying cinemas. In the next five years, I predict a massive closure of a lot of cinemas as people continue to stay home and watch movies on their HD home cinema system rather than enduring the inexecrable behaviour of low IQ teens who have as much manners and respect for other human beings as a suicide bomber.
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4-13-2007 @ 12:26AM
Donna A. said...
I am one of those people who would rather wait for the DVD to come out. Going to movie use to be fun. Not any longer.
Donna A.
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4-13-2007 @ 7:44AM
lp said...
#1
I'm pretty sure that's what they said when VHS & DVD came out & cinema attendance (& cinema buildings) have gone up in numbers, not down.
There will always be people who want to experience seeing a film in the way it was designed to be viewed - actually, maybe that's a problem with these pseudo-indie flicks - they don't need to be viewed on a big screen
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4-13-2007 @ 9:17AM
Lee said...
The last time I checked, Grindhouse had only been out for a week. ALSO, the last time I checked it was in the top 5 of the week. Just because a film didn't reach #1 doesn't mean it is a flop. This isn't a movie for the masses anyway. It's for a specific bunch. This movie will make it's money back one way or another.
It is a constant annoyance to me how the movie business in general is all too eager to dismiss a film as a flop. It's even funnier when a film still reaches #1 & the industry cries "disappointment".
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4-13-2007 @ 10:07AM
Doctor Schlock said...
I'm a grindhouse baby. I grew up on the stuff. From the late 60's until the early 80's, you knew where to find me. That's why I was the only one laughing at all the in-jokes, in a 2000+ seat theater, with only 20 people in the entire house. That's sad baby.
All in all, it was a great retro experience for me.
A great groovy flashback that befuddled all the newbie Mystery Science Theater peeps who just wanna
make fun of grindhouse flicks.
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4-13-2007 @ 8:56PM
marty said...
#3
Yes but we didn't have huge TV sets, plasma screens, LCD screens, digital projectors, wall screens, 6.1 surround sound, HD DVD etc in the 1980s. Of course, back then it was much better seeing the film in a huge cinemas rather than a VHS crummy copy on a 10" TV screen. The films were much better in the 1970s and 1980s. Nowadays, a box office hit like KRAMER V KRAMER would be a small arthouse film on 10 screens nationally. THE GODFATHER would be a TV series ala THE SOPRANOS. Back then screenwriters were not 20 year-old geeks from Ohio and it was an art form back then. Back then, actors actually went to acting school and honed their craft in theatre and not in some music video. Oh yeah and ticket prices were $3!
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