A2 Movie Selection is National News
The movie selection in Ann Arbor is so bad that The New York Times has a reporter on the case, devoting an entire story to the situation in A2 that typifies the unavailability of many films to “moviegoers beyond both coasts.” Both coasts? Wait, we thought Michigan was on the third coast.
A Michigan Theater employee quoted in the story says that “she avoids talking about movies with friends back East, so they won’t spoil the endings of ones she hasn’t seen.” But of course one Ann Arborite manages to put a positive spin on it. “What if I lived in the Upper Peninsula or something?” an art professor asks. His reference, the Times reporter helpfully points out, is to “the state’s northernmost wilds.”
Even if you can’t catch all the Oscar-nominated art films in Ann Arbor, there’s still good news. “Are We There Yet?” will be playing 21 times at Quality 16 and Showcase today. So, you know, not to worry. Right? I mean, clearly, it’s not like we live in a cultural backwater. Guys?
posted by Boris on February 3rd, 2005 at 8:13 amWhy, if we lived in the Upper Peninsula, we’d have to merely amuse ourselves with shadows cast on the walls of our caves!
posted by js on February 3rd, 2005 at 8:13 amThe Times printed a slightly positive story about Michigan last Sunday in their Real Estate section — according to their style-book, that requires a random, nasty, payback.
posted by Anonymous on February 3rd, 2005 at 8:39 amIsn’t this why God created Netflix?
posted by Dave on February 3rd, 2005 at 8:48 amI remember when a friend moved to AA from San Francisco was all excited because some movie had had its premier and was “opening widely across the country”. I had to explain that that meant we’d get it in 6-8 weeks.
posted by Anna on February 3rd, 2005 at 9:00 amYou see, Ann Arbor IS overrated and full of pretentious jerks. But it turns out they are just trying to imitate the pretentious jerks from NYC.
posted by Ryan McCammon on February 3rd, 2005 at 12:24 pmIt’s interesting how this writer seems to think NY City = the entire east coast and LA (and maybe SF) = the entire west coast. I guess those are the only cities that really matter, right?
posted by James on February 3rd, 2005 at 1:26 pmWhy James, don’t you think Atlanta is JUST LIKE New York City?
posted by personality on February 3rd, 2005 at 2:50 pmAt least the Yoop isn’t overrated.
posted by Mike on February 3rd, 2005 at 3:58 pmChicago seems to get those movies at the same time as the coasts. Dunno what they mean by “Midwest.”
posted by Lucky Jackson on February 3rd, 2005 at 6:30 pmRegarding the comments of James and “personality,” would anyone care to speculate on why that happens so often? That is, why must there always be a translation step (e.g., Midwest = area outside NYC, LA, and a handful of other cities rather than, say, the Great Lakes area) when one processes those articles? Is it possible that they can’t stomach the thought of being within 100 miles of an “uncivilized” area? Do they just create a buffer zone in their minds? Discuss at your leisure…
posted by Kevin on February 3rd, 2005 at 6:33 pmWhat are the chances that they will show “Untergang” around here anyway? Probably slim to none. But as the article said, the biggest problem is the costs. It costs money to pick up those movies and if they are movies that will not appeal to everyone then you are limited where they are going to show it.
I think we are pretty fortunate to have the Michigan here though because it does show alot of those movies that otherwise wouldn’t get to be seen until they are DVD. Question is, who wants to watch them?
At any rate, it looks like the Oscars had to make up for picking a popular movie last year, so they are going to go with a bunch of movies that only a handful of folks saw.
posted by Kozzie on February 3rd, 2005 at 7:47 pmFor Heaven’s sake, who wants to watch that sappy Oscar dreck? An Oscar nomination is the kiss of death in my book. Give me the DIA film series any day.
posted by Laura on February 3rd, 2005 at 8:45 pmboris, if you will buy the tickets and popcorn AND after the movie take me to the market on packard to get black bread, i will watch “are we there yet” as many times as you can stomach. dare you.
posted by Joy on February 3rd, 2005 at 11:24 pmIt’s a deal, Joy. It’s too bad Bill Knapps is long gone, or we could really make a night of it. In any event, prepare to be dazzled by a true cinematic delight. Ann Arbor knows movies, let me tell you.
posted by Boris on February 4th, 2005 at 8:05 amI get really bummed out when it takes 6-8 weeks for a movie to get here. Because, you know, the print is really only good for the first couple weeks and then the movie’s ruined.
It’s also a real bummer when you read all the NYC reviews and find out that the indie art film you really wanted to see is actually stupid and trashy and you decide to save your $16 and buy a lot of beer instead.
posted by Chris on February 4th, 2005 at 12:06 pmI hear ya, Chris. Getting movies first is TEH BOMB. I’m really spoiled, though, so I don’t ever want to wait for ANYTHING. MINE MINE MINE NOW NOW NOW!
posted by RDS on February 5th, 2005 at 10:12 pmAhhh, over- or under- is in the eyes of the rater. I’m actually from the U.P. So the movie selection is a little limited and late. Whatever. Us Yoopers have better things to do…
posted by meg on February 7th, 2005 at 9:52 pmThe head of the Michigan Theater gave a brief mention to this article on Cinema Chat on Thursday…
posted by Kozzie on February 13th, 2005 at 1:13 am