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With
its limited theatrical release, this site was created in an attempt
to spread the word about this complex and compelling film that won
the top dramatic prize at the Sundance Film Festival, beating contenders
that included "In the Bedroom," a best-picture nominee
for this month's Academy Awards. Please note that this site is merely
a tribute to the film and is in no way officially connected to the
film.
Thanks
to Showtime, some of you may have had the opportunity to view the
film, which has had difficulty finding a distributor. Studio interest
"disintegrated fairly quickly after the Wiesenthal Center spokesman
came out against the picture," said Daniel Diamond, president
of Fireworks Pictures.
It
is unfortunate, to say the least, that a film of this caliber should
first go to cable and then find only a limited theatrical release
because major distributors are hesitant to carry a film with such
controversial themes. One cannot help but feel disappointed for
Ryan Gosling when the realization hits that his gripping performance
will not be eligible for consideration of an award by the The Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences due to the film's initial release
on television.
The
film's release to television is further disturbing when one wonders
if the television viewing audience will be prepared to accept the
film in their homes. Ryan Gosling expresses reservations about the
film's television debut when he asks, "Can people really watch
this on TV? Are you going to turn this on and keep watching when
you see a kid stalking a Jewish student on the subway, beat the
hell out of him, then walk away?"
"Will
you change the channel and watch 'Sex in the City' instead? My gut
feeling is you'll probably change the channel. You're in the comfort
of your own living room, and this movie is a lot to bring into it."
Gosling said.
This
website has been developed in hopes of reaching all those television
viewers who changed the channel rather than allowing the film into
their homes. Perhaps those lost viewers will browse the reviews
posted on the site and venture out to theaters in May to give the
film a second chance.
To
the creators of this website, "The Believer" is easily
one of the best films of the year. While it is disturbing and sometimes
difficult to watch, it is also an intellectually breathtaking and
profoundly moving film that no lover of thought-provoking cinema
should miss.
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Some of the above information was gathered from: Tom Tugend, The
Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles; David Germain, The Associated
Press |
