Guess the movie going public thinks outing government officials is a pretty nasty business.
“Outrage,” the new documentary by Kirby Dick (”This Film is Not Yet Rated”), names politicians who it says are closeted gays working in politics.
The public figures, nearly all Republican, are hypocrites because they often take stances opposite of the current gay movement, the film alleges.
Of course, not all political hypocrites are taken to task in Hollywood documentaries.
It’s pretty intense material for a documentary, and the film earned its fair share of media coverage.
But the public isn’t biting.
“Outrage” has earned just $263, 762 according to Indiewire.com.
Indie films struggle throughout the year, and their efforts to reach the mainstream get even tougher come summer movie season.
But it’s clear audiences are in no mood to see politicians’ private lives dragged into the open by a documentarian.
(Photo: Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) in “Outrage,” a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.)
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I'm an award-winning journalist and film critic with more than a decade of experience in newspapers, magazines and the Web. I'm a member of both the Washington, DC Area Film Critics Association and the Denver Film Critics Society.
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I think the general public can embrace a documentary that challenges their beliefs. As long as its done in a thought provoking way. But, if a film maker is going to scream ‘homophobe’ or ‘racist’ to make his point - well then, enjoy your $263, 762 gross. And good luck getting financing next time.
oh, no, Grofe, there’s always financing available for movies which reinforce Hollywood’s ideological bent even if they don’t make a dime.
Why else keep making Iraq War films?
You’re right WWTW. Sorry, I was thinking rationally. Kiss my Hollywood career goodbye!
The new “Hurt Locker” is an Iraq War film that takes a far less ideological stance … and it’s doing very well in very limited release.
Might Hollywood copy a winner here and create similar films? Don’t hold your breath.
And we’re still waiting for the first Afghanistan War film … aren’t there any heroic tales to be told there?
No, Hollywood would rather greenlight films based on the Asteroids video game. I wish I were joking.
I can see why. The storyline of the game had a depth seldom seen. “Triangle flies, triangle spins in circle, rocks explode into smaller rocks.”
I could watch that for two hours for 10 bucks.
“The public figures, nearly all Republican, are hypocrites because they often take stances opposite of the current gay movement, the film alleges.”
So the message of the film is, if you’re gay, you’re no longer allowed to have an opinion of your own. You either have to tow the liberal line or you will get smeared as a hypocrite.
Sounds like the person who made this film is the real homophobe.
I have to say that this is a film I wouldn’t be interested in seeing: I just don’t believe that people’s personal lives, partner gender preferences, lifestyle choices, etc., are our business, even if they’re in public office.