Toldja? When Magnolia Pictures picked up Terrence Malick‘s “To The Wonder” last fall, we openly wondered if that meant that the filmmaker’s latest effort was going to end up mostly being an option on your TV screen rather than at your local arthouse, and it worries us to say, that may be the case.
While an April 12th release date has always been scheduled for the film, today brings with it news that the release will be accompanied by a day and date VOD bow as well. While the film itself may not be receiving the same unanimous praise as “The Tree Of Life,” no matter what you think of Malick’s latest ode to love and faith and loss, it looks pretty damn spectacular, and so it’s kind of a bummer that for many (most?) people experiencing the film for the first time, it will be on a TV. Granted, you might have the most pimped out home theater system ever, but there is something special about seeing Malick’s film in a cinema and just letting it wash over you, free from any distractions.
That said, the VOD approach does ensure that it reaches a wide audience pretty much right away, and one should also remember that at its peak, “The Tree Of Life” was only on 233 screens. By comparison, Magnolia ensured Lars Von Trier‘s “Melancholia” hit 145 screens during its run (though it was on VOD first, before hitting cinemas). So, thoughts? Opinions? Are you going to zap “To The Wonder” right away in April, or cross your fingers that it will eventually make it to your town? [Thompson On Hollywood]