The Chicago Film Critics Association has announced a boycott of 20th Century Fox releases. They claim that the studio gives unequal access to screenings. But truth is Chicago is not the only region effected by Fox’s short minded practices. It’s a national problem.
I’ve had a lot of problems with Fox in the past and I’m happy to see that a group has gotten the guts to stand up to the man. Locally in San Francisco, Fox will only allow online press to the press/promo screening the night before a theatrical release.
For instance, I received a press invite today for The Simpsons Movie, at 7:30pm the night before it’s nationwide release on next Thursday night. This is extremely unfair to online critics, especially considering the fact that the film starts screening at midnight on the east coast. That means that online critics won’t even be home to start their reviews before the first group of ticket-buyers sit down to watch the trailers. This is not anything new. The same situation happened with Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. I find it annoying that online critics would be given the shaft for a comic book movie when we have done so much to support the promotion of the film. When I asked if there was an earlier screening, I was told “Not for Online.” And there have been other releases that Fox has refused to screen for online press altogether like The Hills Have Eyes II and Pathfinder.
Fox is paranoid that the online press will post their reviews early and has punished everyone involved with the medium. Fox should adopt a policy of allowing local publicists to ban certain online outlets for advance reviews. That seems like the right way to handle things. Heck, it’s how most of the other studios handle the screenings locally. Most of the newspaper reviews appear online Monday-Wednesday before a Friday release. The least Fox could do is hold screenings earlier on in the week to allow online press some time to write a decent review.
Added Note: Fox Searchlight is wonderful. I’ve never heard anything bad about the way they handle critics.
July 17th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Amen, brother, amen.
July 18th, 2007 at 9:58 am
I see your point. It does seem to be a bit lopsided. On the other hand, if movie viewers won’t go see a movie until their favorite online critic has had their say, then most of those people would be willing to wait, no? I know I would.
Unless the movie is something I so want to see that I would see it no matter what any critic (online or otherwise) had to say.
I might be missing your overall point as to why this is a bad thing for the viewer as opposed to the online critic. But I do see the imbalance that you’re talking about.
July 18th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Jeff, There are a couple reasons. Why would you read a review of Fantastic Four 2 or The Simpsons Movie on slashfilm or any other website if it’s going to be #1 rushed and unpolished and #2 late (you’ll be able to read the print reviews on Monday or wedneday and they had the time to give the review a good polish where online critics are forced to rush a review out within hours of their screening).
July 18th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
The other issue is, of course, basic fairness. Why should print critics get preferential treatment over the online press, especially when print numbers are down and online numbers (i.e., eyeballs) continue to rise? Should the studios actively court the online press? And even if studios are concerned about early or leaked reviews coming from the online press, there’s a simple answer: penalize the offenders by temporarily suspending their accreditation or, if they persist and post their reviews early, permanently suspending them. The point is: don’t penalize an entire group when you should target specific offenders.
Anyway, that’s my two cents worth on this topic.
July 25th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
I have decided to join the Chicago Critics and not review any fox movie until they invite us with the print reviewers. I was angered when I saw the simpsons movie page on rotten tomatoes, today, wednesday, the day before we get to see it. It is full of print reviewers reviews!
So, here is to online solidarity.