496 Che

[Antoine Doinel]

Not sure how it's working in other cities, but both parts are opening this weekend in Montreal, but the theater is showing them as a single double bill (presumably at one price).

[knives]

My city is doing them as one movie with a slightly upped Price, that is if they ever stop delaying the release.

[Antoine Doinel]

Saw this tonight, and it turns out the double bill was actually the (really poorly promoted) roadshow edition (complete with program, though it appears the distributor didn't send that many and I snagged the last one).

While there have been some comments saying that Part One and Part Two don't really go together, I have to say they absolutely need to be seen together and are critical to the overall scope of the film. In an already hugely ambitious project, Soderbergh's biggest gamble is not taking a moral position on Che but rather using his life to really examine where ideological and political warfare meet and separate. Part One, regarding the Cuban revolution was really ideological warfare executed under the most ideal conditions: large support from the underclass, little intervention from United States and a respect for a chain of command and discipline that allowed it to happen. Moreover, it also provided the best conditions for things like education for the soliders and health for the peasants to take place. However, when the film moves to Bolivia, we see how the same approach collapses simply because the above conditions aren't present. An ideologically based revolution can only work if you have the complete support of the oppressed (and it certainly didn't help that Che was viewed as an outsider). Moreover, the Bolivian government's response was strictly political. Guided by US strategy, it simply revolved around training the best forces to liquidate the rebels, while playing on the doubts of the peasants. But Soderbergh's gambit in not idolizing Che plays out perfectly, because we see both sides of the coin. We see the success of his approach, but also his stubbornness and arrogance in carrying his approach through, even when the outlook is bleak, at the unnecessary cost of lives. Finally, this is also a tragedy - after the Cuban revolution, there is an irony is Che attending parties where is viewed as a kooky revolutionary to upper class Manhattanites and certainly Fidel has become a Mr. Burns-ish sort of leader, replacing one dictatorship with his own. Yes, at four hours this is dense stuff, but I can't imagine pausing between the two without missing some of its impact.

If I had a minor quibble, it would be the sudden increase in name casting in Part Two. It was just weird to see Lou Diamond Phillips pop up, and Matt Damon really needs to quit with the cameos already.

In a year of a tepid batch of Oscar nominees, it's galling that Del Toro was not nominated at the very least, and this film certainly deserved a cinematography and perhaps screenwriting nod as well. Steven Soderbergh continues to be one of the most fascinating, contemporary American directors. Is there anything he can't do?

[Fiery Angel]

If Che was made 25-30 years ago, it would have swept the awards.

[knives]

Is there anything he can't do?

Give a good reason to having made Erin Brockovich, or most of his A sides really. Every film should be the Limey or Che.

[JonathanM]

Must admit that I didn't think much of this.

I appreciated the genuinely innovative approach to story-telling and the winks at Herzog towards the end but I was sitting there about three hours in and couldn't help thinking "all of this work. All of this thought. All of this effort. Shooting up a fucking mountain. And I'm getting nothing at all from this".

It's probably the most emotionally inert and directionless film I have ever seen.

I can applaud the subtleties of the filmmaker's art on display but fucking hell.

EDIT : The film Che most reminds me of is the Weatherman. It has the same lack of focus or agenda. It seemingly exists simply in order to take up space and time and despite people having thought through stuff and desperately wanting to convey something on the screen, I just got nothing from it. If there was a point to be made about Che as a person then it wasn't up on the screen. If there was a point to be made about the nature of 1960s Latin America or Revolutionary Socialism then they weren't up on the screen either.

It was like a monstrously bloated student film.

[Kowalski]

has anyone heard anything about what we can expect from the dvd release? both films as one? extras?

[Lemmy Caution]

has anyone heard anything about what we can expect from the dvd release? both films as one? extras?

It's being offered by the Pirates of China as two separate dvd's/films -- Part 1 y Part 2. Not sure if that necessarily tells anything. Usually they follow the official release (as it's probably the easiest thing to do), but this could be a special case.

The film is too long for a single disc, so it's going to be either a 2-disc set or 2 separate dvd's. Since it hasn't gotten that much buzz/acclaim/visibility, I'd think that it'd sell and rent better as two separate films. That is, more customers will give it a whirl if it's presented as a regular length feature, with a sequel, rather than one long slog.

Edit: There's also a Blue Ray cover here, so I think that's a go as well.

[Antoine Doinel]

According to Wikipedia:

Soderbergh has said that the roadshow version of the film will not be released on DVD but released in two parts with the animated map that opens the roadshow's second half missing from part II, as well as the overture and intermission music.

But no word yet on BluRay, but it sounds like the film will be a 2-disc set.

[aox]

ugh.. Roadshow Edition on Blu-Ray, please. [-(

IFC Link

this is hopeful, but too early to really mean anything:

IFC's Che gets close theater, VOD, DVD release
Blockbuster has exclusive 60-day window for biopic
By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 12/19/2008

DEC. 19 | IFC Entertainment will seek the widest possible audience for Steven Soderbergh’s four-hour, Spanish-language Che Guevara biopic, Che, with a nearly simultaneous theatrical and video-on-demand run in January, prior to a DVD exclusive at Blockbuster.

Blockbuster also supported the film by underwriting the manufacture of screener DVDs sent to Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences members.

The film had a one-week awards-qualifying run in New York and Los Angeles this month. It will reopen and expand its run in early January, then debut on VOD a few days later.

IFC has launched many of its projects in theaters day and date with VOD, including January 2008 release 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, May’s Savage Grace and November’s A Christmas Tale. Next year, Gomorra and Everlasting Moments will roll out in the same fashion.

But the indie supplier believes Che, starring Benicio Del Toro, represents its highest-profile day-and-date release yet. IFC wanted to comprehensively push the film to audiences because of this pedigree as well as because of its unique story structure. Many theaters will be running Che in two different parts to account for its four-hour-plus length. For its Dec. 11 bow, New York and Los Angeles theaters ran Che in its entirety with an intermission break.

“This is definitely our biggest one, with the biggest cast and director. This is a $65 million production,” said Ryan Werner, VP of marketing at IFC. “And because of the fact that the movie is so long, we wanted to give people a variety of ways to see it.”

Werner is thankful for Blockbuster’s sponsorship of the Academy screeners, explaining, “They made it possible for us to do it.” Screeners were sent to voters right before Thanksgiving.

Blockbuster spokesman Randy Hargrove indicated the screener costs involved were moderate. The chain hopes Oscar recognition will help spur Che in stores during its exclusive 60-day Blockbuster window.

“As part of our ongoing alliance with IFC, we provided a small amount of promotional support for Che,” said Hargrove. “By working with IFC to promote Che, we look forward to increasing its visibility for Oscar consideration and with the public before it is offered exclusively for rental at Blockbuster in-store, by mail and for digital download.”

The chain is expanding upon a partnership struck earlier in the year with IFC, in which the rentailer is the exclusive sales and rental outlet for the supplier’s titles for the first 60 days of their release.

IFC expects to release Che on DVD in the middle of 2009. To date, IFC has not released its titles on Blu-ray, but Che could mark one of the first, Werner added.

[rossbrew]

Just saw the Roadshow Edition here in Vancouver, Canada this weekend- it was stunning...the first part is Widescreen and then there's the 15 minute intermission and, just prior to the second part being shown, they bring down the screen size a little to accomodate the smaller aspect ratio.
The first part is filmed with beautiful jungle foliage pallette while the second part is very bleached to , I'm guessing, reinforce the futility of this particular revolutionary movement in marked contrast to the success of the earlier Cuban one.
Also, there were tons of programs outside in the lobby for everyone to help themselves and the cost of the film was a higher priced $15 but well worth it- no credits on either film.
Really, if you get a chance you really should see this in this edition.
Can't wait to see what they do for the dvd...anyone else see this here in vancouver? Later...

[franco]

Yes, it felt so unreal! I fully expected the Tinseltown staff to screw up the aspect ratio; it didn't happen. I expected numerous walkouts; that didn't happen either. Instead, the theatre was packed Saturday afternoon with a fully engaged audience. Except for some really dumb commentaries from the girls sitting behind me, the experience was positive. I loved part two and thought that it was one of Soderbergh's best films to date.

[Antoine Doinel]

You guys are lucky. The theater I went to didn't adjust the screen size for Part Two.

[rossbrew]

Hey franco...I was there on Sat. afternoon with my wife- we were in the back row...I was also surprised at the good sized crowd and that everyone seemed fairly attentive/appreciative....so cool

[foggy eyes]

I envy those who've been able to see roadshow or double screenings. The staggered release has been pretty much standard across the UK, and I've now been waiting two months to see Pt. 2 (not made easier by the fact that I liked 1 much more than expected).

[franco]

Hey rossbrew... I am happy to see you posting here again. In the box office line-up, there was this couple who asked the ticket seller why the movie was so long and said that they would "see how long they could last." They ended up staying to the end. I guess it's the subject that sustains the audience's attention. Likewise for the week-long run of Silent Light last year: didn't expect to see so many people loving it!

And foggy eyes, if you don't mind part one, then I am almost certain that you will love part two.

You guys are lucky. The theater I went to didn't adjust the screen size for Part Two.

I guess that means black bars on both sides? I wonder if that would also mean cropping on the top and bottom...

[Antoine Doinel]

You guys are lucky. The theater I went to didn't adjust the screen size for Part Two.

I guess that means black bars on both sides? I wonder if that would also mean cropping on the top and bottom...

It meant more of the frame was shown along the top and bottom. It wasn't too distracting but certain shots you could definitely tell would've have benefitted from cropping.

[rossbrew]

"Che" the Roadshow Edition has now been held over for it's third successful week here in vancouver....check it out if you can...

[scalesojustice]

Screw it, no one cares what i think.

Just posting to say the Roadshow edition is playing up in Cleveland at the Cedar Lee (at least for the next week). Recommended.

[fiddlesticks]

Screw it, no one cares what i think.

Just posting to say the Roadshow edition is playing up in Cleveland at the Cedar Lee (at least for the next week). Recommended.

And I was in University Heights with time on my hands not once but twice this weekend. ](*,)

[Antoine Doinel]

Each part gets a BluRay release in R2 in June. Details here.

[aox]

did this lose so much money that we will only get a barebones release? (eg The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford).

[Antoine Doinel]

There doesn't seem to be any solid numbers on what the theatrical tallies are, but the roadshow version was selling very well in most major cities, and here in Montreal, the roadshow version's "limited engagement" turned into a nine week run. The budget for the film was a very modest $30 million, which if I recall, was made back once foreign rights were sold.

I think there will be a lack of extras simply because the budget didn't really allow for production of DVD features.

[aox]

I guess I am less thrilled by the fact that they are separated than the lack of extras. I saw the road show edition at the Ziegfeld the day it premiered and I can't imagine these films being split (plus, I liked the maps and intermission).

I will easily purchase the first half, but I don't know about the second. It would be nice just to have the whole thing. :-k

[domino harvey]

Do any IFC Blockbuster exclusives have extras?