How is Election Movie "Man of the Year" doing at Box Office? Anyone

[KoKo]

seen it? How many people were in the theater when you saw it? Is anyone talking about it "around the water cooler?"

[Synnical]

1. 12M first week

http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2006&wknd=41&p=.htm

1 N The Grudge 2 Sony $20,825,300
2 1 The Departed WB $19,034,294
3 N Man of the Year Uni. $12,299,380

[KoKo]

6. Thanks....I was hoping it would do better with Robin Williams in it.

But, I guess we can't expect it to be another Harry Potter. :D There weren't many people in the theater when we saw it last Friday night. But then there weren't many people in our Cineplex of eight theaters for the other movies playing.

Our great economy isn't so good for movies, these days.

[NYCGirl]

7. And it got overall terrible reviews...

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/man_of_the_year/

The problem, from reading these, is that the film didn't have the courage of its convictions:

"In a pre-election season full of drama, contention and surprise, Man of the Year arrives on the scene with the blistering impact of a spoonful of cold mashed potatoes."

"It's more Jay Leno than Jon Stewart, and there's no way that's a compliment."

"An awkward mix of standard genres that doesn't give us what we desperately need in this increasingly desperate political season -- a black and snarling assault on our imbecile status quo."

"Barry Levinson, director of films as diverse as Diner, Bugsy, and Wag the Dog, is a national treasure. So, it is with deep disappointment that I report Man of the Year is dross."

[KoKo]

9. Our local reviewer gave it a bad review...but then he's a RW'er and

probably was paid to write the review. I kind of agree with "Rotten Tomatoe's" review...but I also thought that it was courageous for Levinson to have tried to make a movie about "Diebold" in the first place.

Given the McCarthyite Climate...anyone who speaks out is in danger. So, it wasn't the best it could have been...but it was something in our "climate of fear." At least it will make folks question when they hit their "touchscreen" in November. And, if this is another Election with rampant fraud that elects only Repugs...at least some folks, who saw the movie, will understand when the Dems go crazy and take to the streets.

[NYCGirl]

12. Rottentomatoes links to 106 reviews and only 22 of those is favorable.

Most of these critics, I'd guess, are somewhat liberal. (Even the NY Post excoriated the film for being timid, and that's a RW paper.)

Too bad Levinson couldn't have done another "Wag the Dog" — I wonder when he lost his nerve.

[napi21]

2. Looks like it was third in the box office ratings .

http://www.the-movie-times.com/thrsdir/TopTen.mv

[yourout]

3. I saw it......it was great.

Glitch, Hack, calibration.......either way machines have no business in elections.

[helderheid]

4. my hubby and I are checking it out Saturday

[liberal N proud]

5. We wanted to see it but there were only 3 show times all day

On Friday, only 3 show times at the two megaplexes in the area
Saturday the same
Didn't try Sunday.

Usually a premier movie gets plastered across the marquee and dozens of show times on opening day. It was too bad, because my wife and I wanted to go see it. We rarely go to the theater anymore with the cost of tickets.

[Sydnie]

8. I saw it Sunday and there were less than 24 of us in the theater

But, in all fairness, there weren't many people in the whole place, no matter what movie they were there to see.

[babylonsister]

10. So what did you think of it? I've been looking for

reviews but haven't seen many other than in the papers, where it was pretty much trashed.

[Sydnie]

13. I thought the story was good but a bit undeveloped

Of course, I was looking for more info on the voting machines and more in depth, but for those that might just be exposed for the first time, it was eye opening.

It encompassed many things that we talk about here at DU all the time. for example, how the machine companies could be aware and even complicit, how they might deal with someone trying to get that message out, and how an election can go to someone that the voters didn't intend for it to. I just wish that the next movie that deals with it is more serious, more like an Al Pacino/Robert Deniro movie, where it is given in a much more plausible manner that makes people think of just how this COULD have already happened here. (Much like the movie The Recruit does for the CIA).

It was enjoyable and there were statements made that prompted me to clap (even if it was only me doing so). It's worth a look, especially if you take someone that is unaware and can discuss reality with them afterward.

[babylonsister]

14. Thanks for that, Sydnie.

So many movies I want to see, so little time! :hi:

[maxsolomon]

11. Robin Williams? i won't bother.

he's on my list of actors i can't stand:

1. Robin Williams
2. Demi Moore

Jim Carrey was on it, but he pulled his ass out of the fire with Eternal Sunshine...

[GreenTea]

15. Heard it's a mess of a film-I love Levinson's always liberal concepts, but

I noticed it had only a 21% on "Rotten Tomatoes" http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/man_of_the_year/ (less I believe among the 'cream' of critics).

I like Robin Williams politics - can't stand Robin Williams repetition in movies. Can't watch him except in a few select vehicles... (Good Morning Vietnam is one I liked).