tMF | The Movie-Fanatic

I rely heavily on INDIEWire when it comes to indie news for obvious reasons. Their Box Office reports are always insightful, up-to-date and worth a fair amount of time to look over and analyze. However, their latest report which focused on Jane Campion's latest movie - Bright Star - appeared to be unfair in their analysis of its Box office performance, say people related to the movie, in particular Bob Berney (who together with Bill Pohlad has bought US rights to Jane Campion's Bright Star.)

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One portion of the article which is considered the point of contention reads:

"Star"‘s opening does not fare well against Campion's other films. On 7, 2 and 6 screens respectively, "The Portrait of a Lady," "Holy Smoke" and "In The Cut" each averaged between $15,000 and $17,000, while "The Piano" debut to a whopping $37,854 per its four theaters back in November 1993 (and that's not even considering inflation, in which all those numbers would increase substantially).

and the response:

The problem with comparing BRIGHT STAR to those previous Campion movies is that each had at least one major movie star in them which can bring in people who might not other be seeking a "Jane Campion film." BRIGHT STAR is likely to have better legs than any of those releases as word of mouth keeps sophisticate audiences coming and spreading the word, especially among those interested in literature and poetry and the female audience in general. Opening against Rosh Hashanah is always an interesting challenge bit it also shifts attendance to keep midweek grosses stronger. I think you have been a bit harsh in your analysis of the opening.

I had the privilege to watch Bright Star and until now, I'm still awestruck. Maybe I'm as biased as the commenters on IndieWire, who are obviously connected with the film's production. But for someone who considered Chariots of Fire, A Room With A View, and a host of period films as favorites, I simply can't help it!
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Bob Berney has this to say about Bright Star [ via Screen Daily ]

"Bright Star is a tour-de-force from Jane Campion," says Berney. "She has created a film that's classic, yet uniquely modern. The film captures the love and unbridled passion between Keats and Fanny in a way that transcends period and will connect with young audiences today."

and his response to the INDIEWire article:

BRIGHT STAR is a beautiful film and has performed very well so far. The tone of the article and characterization of the opening, comparing it to other Campion films on different screen counts and in different situations, is really harsh and unfair, especially for IndieWire. This is a tough time in the indie business and generally the arrival of a film like this, with the opening of a new distributor should be supported. I admit I'm totally biased, but Jeanne and I and our team have been working very hard on this film. Being on the road with Jane, Jan and the cast and seeing the hard work they've done to get the film out to the public makes me naturally very defensive about the project. We're supporters of quality films and really believe this film will have a lasting impact on audiences, it really stays with you.

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Here's the official trailer. I'm asking you to watch it, it's a very special film!

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There is something unique and special about Jane Campion and her movies - aside from being so memorable, beautiful, breathtaking, timeless and masterful, the filmmaker remained consistent through the years - her integrity remains intact and as NY Times reviewer, AO Scott noted:

Ms. Campion is one of modern cinema's great explorers of female sexuality, illuminating Sigmund Freud's "dark continent" with skepticism, sympathy and occasional indignation.

I don't want to relate Ms. Campion's work to another filmmaker, but until now, I'm frustrated, angry and felt betrayed for having such high expectations. I'm talking about another acclaimed filmmaker from New Zealand, Niki Caro - who apparently lost it.

While Campion gave us Bright Star, a film that celebrates a poet and his love, and remained true to John Keats and Fanny Brawne's characters, Caro oferred a doctored and uninspired adaptation of a beloved novel (written by another fellow New Zealander, Elizabeth Knox) called The Vintner's Luck.

So much for vision and philosophy, I guess...

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What's on your mind? What can you say about the Box office analysis from INDIEWire? Have you see Brightstar? How about the movies of Jane Campion? How about Niki Caro and her movies? Let us know what you think!
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