NYT: Citing Politics, Studio Cancels Documentary (from "3 Kings" director)

[DeepModem Mom]

Citing Politics, Studio Cancels Documentary
By SHARON WAXMAN

Published: September 2, 2004


Murray Close/Warner Brothers
From left, George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube in David O. Russell's "Three Kings" (1999). Warner Brothers has plans to release it on DVD, although it has rejected his add-on material as too political.


LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1 - Warner Brothers has decided not to distribute the director David O. Russell's new antiwar documentary when it re-releases his 1999 Gulf War movie, "Three Kings," this fall, judging it "totally inappropriate" to do so in a political season, a studio spokeswoman said.

The heads of Warner Brothers made the decision this week after seeing the completed documentary, which features interviews with Iraqi refugees and veterans of the current war in Iraq.

"This came out to be a documentary that condemns, basically, war," said the spokeswoman, Barbara Brogliatti. "This is supposed to be a special edition of 'Three Kings,' not a polemic about war."

The fate of the completed documentary, which was supposed to be an add-on to the DVD and to be screened with it in theaters - is still uncertain, but the studio, which provided its $180,000 budget, said it was inclined to let Mr. Russell have it back. Mr. Russell, anticipating that outcome, said he would probably try to distribute it independently....

***

Mr. Russell said he would still try to distribute the documentary before the election, possibly through the political grass-roots organization Moveon.org, which has promoted other political documentaries this year, including "Outfoxed," a critique of Fox News....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/02/movies/02film.html

[w13rd0]

1. Did the assholes that rejected it...

...SEE THE DAMN MOVIE (3 Kings)? It WAS A POLEMIC ABOUT WAR. What a bunch of dumbasses. I hope he finds distribution for it...

[HuckleB]

14. Exactly.

If "Three Kings" isn't an anti-war movie, then what is?

Dang.

[prodigal_green]

2. Lack of criticism is a political statement too.

Since when is staying silent in the face of fascism and bungled war-making a-political.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Since when is war a sacred event, to never been questioned or doubted?

What's so holy about slaughtering, desperately harming and maiming our fellow human beings, breaking the hearts of their loved ones and crippling all forward movement within the human race indefinitely?

WE already know the results of war. There's nothing there worth bragging about. Many of the old veterans are scarred for the rest of their lives, spiritually, and left to wander like ghosts, completely lost and burned out.

Since when have we EVER seen any intense effort made to actually act grown up and respectably pursue peace? We've been overrun by childish bullies. Bomb them back to the Stone Age? WE have been controlled by primitives.

[Vladimir]

4. Its the political season though

they don't want to offend Barbara Bush's mind...

[Judi Lynn]

5. You bet, Vladimir. That mind should be declared a National Treasure!

Look at the marvellous influence it had in molding her god-like sons who have ushered in a new age of enlightenment!

George has inspired this painting by a 100 year old man in Trinidad, Cuba.




Abel Perez Mainegra

[llmart]

6. As the infamous Edwin Starr said....

"war...what is it good for...absolutely nothing."

(I love that song - we should be playing it every day loud and clear.)

[Democat]

7. The right wing it taking over every part of our society slowly, but surely

They own the government and corporations - with that they can control almost everything that the average person sees and hears in a day.

[Minstrel Boy]

8. "This came out to be a documentary that condemns, basically, war"

Omigod, no!!!

I trust General Sherman's "War is hell" has been duly redacted from American history texts.

[daleo]

9. A telltale sign of creeping fascism

You can't have movies that condemn war - it would conflict with glorification of the military, which is one of the key markers of fascism.

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Adding joefree 1's post on this topic, and discussion --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x797223#797248

[joefree1]

13. Thanks, that'll teach me to check the third page of LBN

Kudos to DeepModem Mom and New York Times as this is just getting attention from news desk accross the USA. I love to see an updated "Three Kings" with this Directors vision on the Smirks Crusade.


Download the free poster/sign here:
http://ediablo.com/eDiabloGallery.html

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

11. God forbid a "documentary that condemns, basically, war,"

Fuck. What the hell is wrong with the world?

It's bad to not think of war as a good thing?

[genius]

12. I noticed that only the truth is censored. Boycott Warner Bros.