Anyone thinking the Weinstein Company’s slow, rolling-out and scaled-back approach for Todd Haynes’ Bob Dylan biopic “I’m Not There” (all of four theaters initially) was puzzling and or too modest might want to reconsider their position were kinda right. The Weinsteins actually changed and expanded their plan eventually (IMT opens in 50 markets).
Advance pre-sales for the movie which debuts November 21 exclusively at New York’s Film Forum have already nearly reached the 20K mark (they should surpass that mark in a day or two) and has exceeded all of the repetory film house’s expectations and records.
According to Film Forum programmer and publicist, Mike Maggiore said the scoopped up tickets are “Certainly the biggest advance ticket gross we’ve ever had.”
Don’t be surprised if it breaks the film house’s capacity records either (though call that our eager and semi-educated speculation).
The Weinstein’s have certainly been wise and careful: dropping only a few big stories (mostly in the NYTimes) and then letting the buzz build up on its own by obsessed bloggers who have nothing better to do than document every little drop of minutia available.
“With a movie like this you have to build it,” Harvey Weinsteintold the NYTimes back in August. “I don’t think you can go out on 500 screens. The reason for Film Forum is you go where the best word of mouth is on the movie. I like the movie; I think it’s adventurous. The audience is going to have to work — work in a good way.”
If you haven’t gotten your tickets now, we suggest you see it during the week, cause weekends are going to be bananas.