September 20, 2007

An Open Letter To Americans With A BlockBuster In Their Town

Dear Americans (And Possibly People of Other Nationalities That I Am Too Lazy To Do Research About),

For a lot of last year I waxed very lyrical about the Australian film Jindabyne, which was directed by Ray Lawrence and stars The Lovely Laura Linney, Gabriel Byrne and Deborra-Lee Furness. I named it my number one film of 2006 and gave it UMA awards for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. I pleaded for people to go see it in cinemas but not many did. Granted, not many of you could but that's beyond the point because Jindabyne is released on DVD in America on October 2. That's just two weeks away.

So, please, if you would be so kind, do go hire this movie out on DVD. Perhaps take the dog for a walk and as you're walking past the local Blockbuster (or whatever other crazy video store chains you have in your part of the world) and ponder to yourself "Hmm, Glenn did recommend that movie with the Lovely Laura Linney". Perhaps you could be out for a jog and realise "Wow, the only thing on tv tonight is Two and a Half Men! Perhaps I'll get that movie Glenn has been raving about." No? I think YES!

If you're unsure of what you are to be looking for I will show you. If you scroll down a tad there is the cover for the American DVD release. Not only can you tell "it stars the Lovely Laura Linney!" you can also tell that "the cover design is a piece of shite!" because, let's face it, it is. Not only is it guilty of the "floating head" syndrome, it's also guilty of several other design offences, such as:

No Deborra-Lee Furness - Seriously!

Switched Name Credits - Is it so hard to have "Gabriel Byrne" and "The Lovely Laura Linney" typed above their own images?

No Deborra-Lee Furness - Again, seriously! They have mini pictures of five other cast members and not one of Hugh Jackman's wife?

A Terrible Tag Line - Cliched Uneducated Couple: "Oh, this movie is set in Australia? Let's rent Who's Your Caddy instead."

It's General Sucky Photoshop Design - It's just so... blah


But nevermind that. Please do go watch this wonderful movie. Even if you don't like it at least you will have seen it and been able to say so (just don't tell me). And while you're at it go hire out Ray Lawrence's Lantana as well. It's sort of like Jindabyne but even better!

And that brings this letter to an end.

Yours in moviedom,

Glenn

2 comments:

J.D. said...

Don't worry. I will. I just wish I could've seen it in theatres though.

And you're not gonna stop until every single rational-thinking person on Earth sees it, aren't you?

Glenn Dunks said...

Probably not. I can understand people not seeing most the Australian films I discuss, but this one has The Lovely Laura Linney! There are no excuses.

Except when it comes to stuff like The Nanny Diaries, because... well, ya know.