Lorelai Gilmore / Lauren Graham Appreciation

[wmushell]

Hi there Cheri!   

Don't get too discouraged yet, because I am finding different information.  I am seeing in several places that it is opening nationwide on October 25th.

I think what you saw is that the limited release on October 17th means it opens early in NY and LA, but then will have a full-fledged opening the next week.

I'm fairly sure that this is accurate - the studio has already done quite a bit of advertising for it and they usually don't bother if they're not planning on opening it nationwide.  Hope that helps!   

[cherilee13]

Shell ~ I hope that there is another release date but this site listed other movies that were one week being released on a limited basis and then in a week or two being release everywhere.  Flash of Genius only showed the 17th there.  I have seen the 25th mentioned around, even on IMDb but that is a Saturday.  What I think is funny is that if it does actually get released that weekend, it will be the same weekend that Scott Patterson's Saw V is released.  And if that happens, Saw V will bury Flash of Genius in box office sales. 

[wmushell]

Yeah, I'm not too sure I would go by that site hun.  I've seen it in lots of other places that it will be released nationwide.

And if that happens, Saw V will bury Flash of Genius in box office sales. 

Oh yuck!     I hope not!  FOG looks like such an inspirational story and so well done.  Although the Saw series keeps cranking them out horror movies have a limited audience - people like me, for instance, refuse to go see them.  Blah. 

FOG so deserves to do better. 

[katie_lou]

Saw might outperform FOG but I don't think they're competing for the same audience, so it would probably do better regardless of what week it was released (not because it's a better or worse movie, but just because teenagers go to the movies a lot).
I wouldn't worry about it "stealing" possible FOG viewers.

[bingbong]

^ I agree, i don't think many people interested in one movie will be interested in the other. It's similar to The Dark Knight and that Mamma Mia thing each being successful at the same time with different audiences. I imagine the audience for FOG will be an older crowd, including seniors who were alive during that period, and other people who simply want to see a movie that is more mature than the typical flashy crowd-pleaser.

[thevoid99]

Obviously Saw V will outperform Flash of Genius in the box office because it's a franchise that often keeps bringing an audience.  Particularly an audience that is into torture-porn horror.

I'm not a horror fan very much.  I prefer something psychological.

Flash of Genius might appeal more to a smarter, adult crowd.  Especially in art house theaters.  It probably won't generate box office unless it's backed by very good reviews.  It's the kind of film that I think will do better on DVD and cable since it's more of a film that is likely to be a gem.  Plus, Greg Kinnear and Lauren aren't box-office names but at least with those 2, audiences will be able to get performances that are very stellar.  I often think of Kinnear as a very underrated actor.  I also bet it won't play in every theater so once it's on DVD, everyone will see it. 

[cherilee13]

Again, Shell, I hope that you are right.  That if the 10/17 release date is limited, it will come out the next week or some time shortly there after nationwide. 

I know that they will appeal to two different audiences and that one won't take from the other, it is just that the Saw movies are a popular series to those who like them and there are a lot.  To some extent, I do like movies like that.  I never did go to see any of the Saw movies but I did buy IV because Scott Patterson was in it and I just couldn't picture him in it.  I doubt if I go see V either, but will buy it.  I will definately go see FoG if it does (and it better) get released nationwide.  I have a feeling that many people won't go to see it because it is about 'intermitten windshield wipers'.  That is what a lot of people are seeing it as, they aren't seeing it as the story that it really is.  I hope that the studio will do a lot of advertising for it before it comes out so that people know that it just isn't a movie about windshield wipper movie.

Jim, I like your comparison between 'The Dark Knight' and 'Mama Mia', that's good and I do agree that this will be the same with these two pictures.  I was the one who went to see 'Mama Mia' and I will be the one to go see 'Flash of Genius'  I want to see FoG mainly because of Lauren, but the movie really looks good.  I know how the real story ends and I want to see how they get there in the movie.  I want to see this one on the big screen before it hits DVD.  I want to see Lauren in a more substantial roll on the big screen.  I'm just not sure how substantial this roll is going to be.  Hopefully more then I am expecting.  That would really be great.  Her talents are being so wasted in the parts that she is doing (she choice or just what she is being offered).  She is great in what she does, there just isn't that much of it.  And hello, I can so picture her as so much more then just the wife and mother rolls that she is doing.  Okay, end of my 'I want more Lauren' rant.

Greg Kinnear is a bit of a box office name so he will be the one carrying this movie, but you can't say that Saw V has a name to carry it.  I wouldn't call Scott Patterson a box office name.  It's just more the movie itself.  I do like him, but the draw isn't there.  I don't know who else is in Saw V so maybe there is someone else that will carry the movie at the box office. 

[thevoid99]

I had too many issues over Because I Say So.  Largely due to Diane Keaton.

I think some actors choose projects because they want to work this actor/actress or director.  Don't forget the paycheck as well.

My beef with Diane Keaton these days is that ever since First Wives Club, she's been playing this overly-dramatic, bouncy kind of woman. 

Recently, I've been discovering the films she did with Woody Allen in the 1970s and she was great in those films.  Now, she's wasting her talent into playing these whiny, over-the-top characters that tend to be overwhelming.  In the scenes with Lauren that I saw, Lauren looked very awkward and uncomfortable in those scenes.  Plus, she had looks in her face where she's not given anything to do.  It's a f*cking awful film and I didn't like it at all.  Sorry for the language.  I'm a film buff and if there's a film that doesn't entertain me or do anything.  I'll smash the son of a b*tch. 

The film I hate now that I just saw, The Heartbreak Kid.  Not funny at all.

[katie_lou]

As an aside in Diane Keaton's defense, she works with what she's given. Roles for 60+ women in Hollywood are few and far between. If she's acting over the top, it's partially the director's fault. That's what he asked for, that's what he got and he didn't choose to reshoot so it must have tied in with his vision.

I liked Because I Said So. I knew it was a sappy movie and I expected it to be. I think that Lauren's part was unmemorable, but she's torn isn't she? Just like Alexis, she needs to break the Gilmore stereotype and she can only do that through playing different parts. 'Selling out' but getting an audience to notice she exists often isn't a bad trade-off. I think her part in Bad Santa illustrated that.

[bingbong]

Those are good points about Diane Keaton. In a movie such as "Something's Gotta Give" she was basically coasting along on the typical "Keaton" quirks and attributes she brings to roles (Jack Nicholson did the same in that movie). But i think she is such a good established actress that she can coast and still do an outstanding job. She was perfect for that role and it played up the idea of older people in romantic/sexual situations, something rarely seen in mainstream Hollywood movies. As thevoid pointed out, she was at her best with Woody Allen in the 1970s, where those "Keaton" quirks came into being. But it's thirty years later and considering how limited her movie options are now, she's doing pretty well for herself. I thought "Because I Said So" was awful but i don't blame her; it was just a lousy script and lousy direction and actors can only do so much to overcome those shortcomings.

The point of Keaton looking for roles in her 60s goes back to Lauren in her 40s. She has not fully established herself in movies and the reality is that, particularly at her age, roles will be limited. She has the talent and versatility to do great in drama and romantic comedy but she needs the opportunity. Not many movies come out of Hollywood to begin with in a typical year and they mostly cater to younger audiences and pander with endless sequels and special-effects extravaganzas. Independent films don't offer a wealth of opportunity either.

[cherilee13]

Just to let you know, The DVD's for "Caroline in the City" - The First Season will be released on August 12, 2008.  Four of the five episodes that Lauren Graham was in, are in the first season.  the 5th was in the second season.  I read this at the crazy internet people site and at the DVD talk site as well.

Edit:  Got the 'Caroline in the City' DVDs yesterday and spent last night watching most of them.  I really liked that show and and still do.  I do remember seeing Lauren as 'Shelly' in it when it was on TV.  Her character is really ditzy but funny, and it was really nice seeing her in something else.  Did not remember Matthew Perry being in it and was surprised when I saw him.  It was just a really small part, though, yet again really funny.   I hope that it doesn't take so long to get season 2 released on DVD.

[cherilee13]

Some good news.  The release date for Flash of Genius has been moved up to October 3.  Haven't seen if it is a limited release like the 17th was to be or if it will be nation wide.  Hopefully it will be the latter.

Both Lauren Graham and Greg Kinnear are on the guest list for the Toronto International Film Festival being held Sept. 4-13.  Hopefully we will get new pictures of her from this event. 

[Lauren is my idol]

Awesome!! I hope it's not a limited release either, I want to see it. Either way, I'll probably buy it on DVD. It looks good.

Ooh, I hope we can get some new pictures...haven't had any too recently.

[Lovefiend]

If anyone is interested, Lauren was voted no. 38 on the Afterellen hot 100 list!

http://www.afterellen.com/people/2008/6/hot100?page=0%2C7

[cherilee13]

Thanks Kate.  I saw something about that but had never checked it out before.  That isn't one of my favorite pics of Lauren.  They could have used a better one.