Update: Variety has corrected their story, adding that "Lost River" will open in limited release in New York and Los Angeles in April.
Warner Bros. couldn’t have asked for better buzz surrounding Ryan Gosling‘s directorial debut "Lost River." Even though he wasn’t starring in the effort, interest was very high in the arty movie, with the actor/filmmaker rounding up an ensemble that includes Christina Hendricks, Ben Mendelsohn, Eva Mendes, Saoirse Ronan and Matt Smith to tell his fantastical story of a mother, son and an underwater world. And then the movie got selected for the Cannes Film Festival, adding more hype and a touch of prestige to the project….until those first reviews rolled in. Critics got the knives out for the movie, while our own Oliver Lyttelton called the ambitious effort "ultimately kind of juvenile and dumb…there are more moments where you’ll roll your eyes rather than inwardly applauding." It was no surprise that before the blood was even dry, Warner Bros. were reportedly trying to sell the movie — that they acquired before Cannes for $3 million — to an indie house or specialty distributor. No one took the bait and now the studio is left to release it.
The good news is that you will be able to see it, the bad news is that it won’t be on a big screen near you. Variety reports that WB will drop "Lost River" "via home entertainment" in April. So basically, expect this on DVD/Blu-ray and VOD, as everyone seems to be quietly moving on from the movie. But, "Lost River" is not without its supporters. Gosling’s pal Nicolas Winding Refn has said the effort is “a beautiful, beautiful, great movie that will grow on people. There are images from it that still stick with me."
No exact date for the release of "Lost River" has been given, but stay tuned. Until then, check out our feature What To Expect From Ryan Gosling’s Directorial Debut ‘Lost River’ and a clip from the film below.
