Local flick beat Bond, James Bond
At a time when the indie film industry has been so hammered that even its flagship festival, Sundance, is seeking a government bailout, producer Barry Sisson is distributing his own film; and he just outgrossed James Bond, at least at one theater in Fairfax.
Familiar Strangers, the first theatrical release from home-grown Cavalier Films, sold out Friday night, November 14, at Fairfax's Cinema Arts Theatre and beat–- by two tickets–- that theater's sales for Quantum of Solace, the new James Bond thriller. Sisson made this announcement to a Charlottesville audience that had just watched his picture Saturday night at the Regal Downtown, where it also was the top grosser over the weekend.
In Fairfax, Familiar Strangers came out on top at Friday night and Sunday screenings, and Cinema Arts owner Mark O'Meara attributes that to the Cavalier's grassroots marketing, particularly the film's trailer, which he'd been running for a while and which he believes is the best promotion.
"I ask people after the trailer runs whether to show the film," explains O'Meara. "They can boo."
Like Junebug, a critically acclaimed 2005 indie, Familiar Strangers involves a son returning from a big city, here played by Shawn Hatosy, trying to make sense of his quirky family back in a small town (here played by Staunton, using its real name).
Like Junebug, which earned Amy Adams an Oscar nomination as a super-sincere little-sister wannabe, Familiar Strangers has D.J. Qualls as a young adult still living at home.
Even though Junebug earned about one percent of what the Bond film is expected to bring, just $2.7 million in box office, Sisson, who makes films for about a million each, wouldn't mind matching that.
"It's a nice, easy going movie with quirky characters," says Cinema Arts' O'Meara. "The characters are believable. You like 'em."
He's giving the movie another weekend, as is the Charlottesville Regal Downtown. And then it runs into the glut of Thanksgiving openings.
Even though Junebug earned about one percent of what the Bond film is expected to bring, just $2.7 million in box office, Sisson, who makes films for about a million each, wouldn't mind matching that.
"What really would be great would be to renew through Thanksgiving," says Sisson, noting that this is a Thanksgiving movie.
–Story expanded 11:45am November 18.
6 comments
I don't get it! What could be so great about this movie that it beat out a James Bond! I love the Bond movies and will never get over the fact that it has been beat, ever!!!
If it makes you feel better, we only beat them the one show. They beat us for the day. But I suspect that they had a larger budget for advertising. BTW, I like the bond films too, especially the last one. Daniel Craig brought a whole new dimension.
Familiar Strangers is a different animal though. A "bit" more subtle. Thats what's cool about movies, they work on so many levels.
Grateful that this sweet, compelling story made it to the screen. Heart warming without being sentimental, and funny in a sad but oh so human way.
Not to be missed !
Love to hear this Betty. Posts to online services IMDB.COM, Fandango.com, Yahoo Movies, Rotten Tomatoes and such can really help us going forward - along with spreading the word locally as you did here so eloquently!
What a great tribute to all of your hard work, Barry and everyone else who worked on the film. The scenery is gorgeous and the performances are so touching. It's really refreshing to go see a movie where the audience is given a chance to get to know the characters as they develop.
It's the perfect warm up for the Thanksgiving weekend!
You may have to explain the chemical or physical way in which detergent dulls knives. I don't know of any.
Now, maybe hitting eachother or ceramic ware would do that, but detergent?