The 2-Minute Verdict

The Two-Minute Verdict

When Will Heath Ledger's Last Film Find a U.S. Distributor?

Written by Kyle Buchanan | 11 Aug 2009, 11:30 AM | 4 comments

heathparnassustrailer.jpgDon’t be fooled by this fancy trailer and Lionsgate logo: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus still hasn’t been set for a U.S. release date. It’s been ages since the film’s Cannes premiere and yet no studio has picked it up, though we’ve heard rumors that there may be some domestic release news soon. Until that day comes, Lionsgate’s produced an international trailer for the film that leaves us scratching our heads.

It’s not the quality of the film (which may be a mishmash) or the cut of the trailer that stymies us — it’s the reinforcement of all the movie’s marketable qualities, which seem to belie its orphan status. Aside from the audience’s inherent curiosity about Ledger’s last film role, you’ve got Johnny Depp and a sea of expensive-looking (though resolutely artificial) special effects. A 30-second spot would practically sell itself, and as a period on Ledger’s filmography, a healthy afterlife in rentals seems assured. So what’s everyone waiting for?

VERDICT: We’re curious. Are we the only ones?

Tagged: heath ledger, terry gilliam, the imaginarium of doctor parnassus, the two-minute verdict

Email this

Comments

From Lowbrow | Reply
Posted 11 Aug 2009, 12:32 PM

That was certainly a quixotic trailer, and I agree this film is going to do well when released just based on Heath Ledger alone. I guess it must be fun watching Terry Gilliam squirm.

From Ugarte | Reply
Posted 11 Aug 2009, 1:58 PM

Haha, we all know what happened the last time Terry Gilliam got quixotic. Just ask Johnny Depp.

From Mondo Jay | Reply
Posted 11 Aug 2009, 2:02 PM

...
If this film does not get picked up by a North American distributor I will gladly take a trip to the UK to see it in a theatre.
Stupid, stupid Hollywood...
...

From Michael Pemulis | Reply
Posted 12 Aug 2009, 9:31 AM

Well, when it does make it to the U.S., I'll be there, simply for the reason that I never miss a Tom Waits movie. Why else would I have sat through Domino?

Post a comment

By the Numbers: weekend takes every Monday
Avatar 20th C Fox
$34.9M
$554.9M
Legion Sony
$17.5M
$18.7M
Book Of Eli Warner
$15.7M
$62.0M
Tooth Fairy 20th C Fox
$14.0M
$14.6M
Lovely Bones Paramount
$8.4M
$31.7M
Sherlock Holmes Warner
$6.6M
$191.5M
Alvin: The Squeakquel 20th C Fox
$6.4M
$20.4M
Extraordinary Measures CBS
$6.0M
$6.0M
It's Complicated Universal
$5.8M
$98.7M
Spy Next Door Lionsgate
$4.5M
$18.8M
Data courtesy of Rentrak