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THE WONDER OF PVOD
THE TOP TENET
SIGHT AND SOUND LIST PROVES VALUE OF PHYSICAL…
HOMEGROWN BLU-RAY RELEASES A 2020 HIGHLIGHT…
…AS BOUTIQUE LABELS PRAISED
STILL ROCKING
THE RAYGUN 2020 POLL
LIONSGATE’S LIVING IT UP
POST-CHRISTMAS BLACKOUT
OBVIOUSLY RAISES MORE CHARITY CASH
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
AT THE MOVIES
TWEET OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
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Another week, another major studio announcement that will see a blockbuster heading to a premium digital release with a drastically reduced window, not least because its theatrical release was hampered by the latest raft of lockdowns – much of the country moved into tier 3 just as Wonder Woman 1984 opened at cinemas. And Warner’s latest move – as we’ve noted previously, the studio has always been at the forefront of change across theatrical and home entertainment – will see the latest DC Comic-related blockbuster arriving as a PVOD title on January 13, playing alongside ongoing theatrical screenings at any outlets that are still open. In a statement, Warner said: “After much anticipation, Wonder Woman 1984 is out now in cinemas in the UK and Ireland. In recognition of varying current market restrictions and to service the massive fan interest in Wonder Woman 1984, this film can be enjoyed by fans and families on the big screen where available in cinemas now, and in the comfort of their own home through Premium Video on Demand (PVOD) in the UK and Ireland starting on January 13. The film will continue to be available in cinemas where they are open, whilst also being available to watch at home for a 48-hour rental from participating digital retailers.”
Warner is heading into 2021 in a strong position – holding number one in the UK box office charts (from what cinemas are remaining open with tiers three and four and assorted tougher lockdowns affecting multiplexes and cinemas around the country) with Wonder Woman 1984 and, according to the Official Film Chart unveiled this week, number one and two in the current listings. Tenet, Christopher Nolan's blockbuster which heralded the return of the multiplex this summer (albeit briefly) is a new entry at number one, having sold 149,000 units across physical and digital formats in its first week of release. That amount was the same as the rest o the top five combined. Meanwhile, it represented a win double for Warner, which had the number two title, another just released title, the new take on Road Dahl classic The Witches. The rest of the top 10 Official Film Chart is made up entirely of Christmas films, running the gamut from The Grinch at number three, through to the animated take on The Grinch at number 10, by way of Love Actually, Ef, Last Christmas, Home Alone, The Polar Express and The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Talking of charts, and the year-end Best Of lists are all over the place now. As ever, our first port of call for these is Sight And Sound magazine’s best Blu-rays and DVDs of the year, the essential guide to this year’s essential releases. It follows the same format as ever, experts from the industry alongside critics and more select their best home entertainment titles of the year, with the BFI-backed film magazine compiling an overall list from the votes. As it noted this year: “Much commentary this year has focused on how the shuttering of cinemas led to an ever-steeper upsurge in subscriptions to the streaming giants. But less has been said about the enduring place of physical media. Rumours of the death of Blu-ray and DVD have been greatly exaggerated, and we should be continually grateful for the sector’s boutique labels, through whose efforts long-untrodden byways of film and TV history continue to be unearthed, and masterpieces preserved. They’re also the surer bet for access in the long term. A recent US legal case saw Amazon argue that when a user downloads a film or TV show from their service the user isn’t actually purchasing the content. Instead, they’re buying a limited license for ‘on-demand viewing over an indefinite period of time’. It’s a thought that should serve as a cautionary reminder to anyone who argues that ‘everything’ is now available online. So all hail those at labels such as Arrow, Indicator, Second Run, 101 Films, BFI, Kino Lorber, Milestone, Criterion, Second Sight, Flicker Alley and more, whose work continues to expand and preserve our understanding of – and access to – the deeper story of cinema and TV history.”
And what were the selections? Well, top of the list was the BFI’s Play For Today Volume One, looking at the long-running BBC drama series and presenting some long-lost classics. It was followed by Second Sight’s Walkabout, with the rest of the top 10 going to The Woman In Black (Network), Eve (Indicator), Czechmate (Second Run), Beau Travail (Criterion), Hiroshima (Arrow Academy), How To Live Your Story (Second Run), Kwaidan (Eureka) and Indicator’s Fu Manchu box set. As well as coming second in the above chart, Second Sight also scooped the 4K release of the year with its excellent Dawn Of The Dead box. Individual comments came from the likes of Powerhouse’s Sam Dunn, who said: “It’s been another outstanding year for Blu-ray and, increasingly, 4K UHD. So many international publishers continue to dedicate themselves to the business of making their editions absolutely first class, and we’re incredibly lucky to be able to enjoy the fruits of their labours. As with previous years, choosing just five titles really is an impossible, even absurd task. So, while my selection represents some of my favourite discs of 2020, it’s necessarily far from exhaustive. It’s a list which not only contains some great films – including some classics from a range of genres, as well as a contemporary documentary (about electronic composer Suzanne Ciani) – but also highlights discs which really deliver in terms of thoughtful extras and insightful curation. Second Sight’s Dawn of the Dead set is a bewildering achievement, containing multiple cuts of the film and extras galore; the BFI’s The Good Die Young also features alternative cuts, and is bursting with rare and fascinating short films from the National Archive; Eureka’s Kwaidan looks and sounds glorious, and both the on-disc extras and the 100-page book are terrific; Second Run’s Valerie and Her Week of Wonders offers up fabulous short films and a wealth of critical appreciations; and Window Pictures’ A Life in Waves contains a heady mix of archival and new extras which lovingly support and complement the main feature.”
The Sight and Sound chart of the best Blu-ray and DVD releases of the year also highlights just how important the work of the boutique labels and imprints is, not just for the business and the hight ticket prices they command helping swell the industry’s coffers, but also for the work they do in preserving film history in the UK and beyond. It was noted in the editorial coverage too. As the BFI’s William Fowler, one of the creators and curators of the Flipside strand noted: “I’ve been pleased to hear that the important work the UK’s boutique Blu-ray labels have been and continue to do was well support through lockdown, with plenty of sets being sold through the summer. Long may their success continue.” Jon Robertson, producer at Eureka’s Masters of Cinema imprint added: “Another bounteous year! The market may be shrinking, but labels are getting ever more inventive and resourceful in putting together dazzling restorations and editions.” The BFI’s Ben Stoddart said: “What a year 2020 has been. Whilst streaming services have unsurprisingly seen revenues soar during lockdown, it’s been refreshing to see physical media more than holding its own.” BFI producer Douglas Weir added: “One good thing about 2020 was the abundance of riches coming from the independent labels!” And Arrow’s head of restoration James White said: “2020’s been a disaster in so many ways, but one upside of an otherwise terrible year has been the slate of amazing Blu-ray and UHD releases released, which have been particularly welcome given that we’ve all been stuck at home.” You can see the full list here.
Meanwhile, the other essential chart this week, is also from Sight And Sound. It’s once again broken with convention for its top films selection for the year. In 2019 it listed the new Twin Peaks series among its best films, this time round it has placed the Steve McQueen film Lovers Rock, which aired first on TV after a brief London Film Festival appearance. It also meant that once again, the year’s best film was already available on home entertainment formats – DVD and digital from BBC Studios as part of the Small Axe box set of McQueen’s five films – when the chart was published. You can see it here.
Oh and if you fancy letting us know your best of the year, as well as your hopes and fears for the coming year. Yes, it’s our annual survey looking at the best and worst of the 12 months just gone, as well as looking ahead to the next year. Here are the all important questions – answer them and send via email to tim@theraygun.co.uk
Favourite three releases of the year:
Highlight of 2020:
Lowpoint of 2020:
Event of the year:
Biggest challenge in 2021:
What I’m most looking forward to in 2021:
Lionsgate has announced a UK acquisition, the first under its recently reorganised uK and international operations. It has acquired forthcoming Bill Nighy starrer Living, based on Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru and is directed by Oliver Hermanos and produced by Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen, due to go into production in the spring. The announcement comes as Lionsgate announced that it has integrated its UK acquisitions with its global team based in the US under Jason Constantine, with Emma Burkofsky, senior acquisition and production executive in the UK. The announcement further noted: “Films in the UK will continue to be sourced and serviced locally by a team that includes Berkofsky, with Marie-Claire Benson overseeing marketing and distribution in the UK.” Benson is, of course, a familiar name in our industry, having worked in home entertainment for some years, latterly heading up Lionsgate’s physical and digital arms. Commenting on the announcement, Constantine said, “Lionsgate is continuing its longstanding commitment to acquiring the best of British cinema and bringing the highest calibre entertainment to UK audiences. We are thrilled for Lionsgate UK to be continuing our relationship with Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen on another outstanding film. We have a very strong and talented team in place and I’m excited to be working with Emma and Marie-Claire to amplify and support British filmmaking voices throughout the region. Living is a perfect example of a story that we are confident will resonate with UK audiences and we’re thrilled and proud to be this film’s home distributor.” “We are thrilled to be partnering once more with Lionsgate on the UK release of Living. They are a staunch supporter of independent UK film and it’s a privilege to be collaborating again, sustaining our long shared history," said Woolley and Karlsen. "We feel confident that Living will be in good hands, and we look forward to delivering an inspiring, emotional and rousing cinematic experience. The combination of talent both in front of and behind the camera, inspired by Kurosawa’s original screenplay and Ishiguro’s reinterpretation, is both an exhilarating challenge and an exciting prospect, that Oliver Hermanus and Number 9 relish.”
Releases due on Monday December 28, traditionally a big day for bloke-friendly post-Christmas feature films, include the latest from 4Digital Media in the shape of The Blackout: Invasion Earth. Commenting on the release, the company’s Eve Greenow said: ”All of us at 4Digital Media are very much looking forward to the upcoming UK Release of The Blackout: Invasion Earth on the 28th December. Imagine Chernobyl crossed with Battle: Los Angeles, with a touch of Predator, in this Russian sci-fi blockbuster that sees a future world teetering on oblivion. Featuring hi-tech effects, heavy-duty military equipment, bloody bear attacks and a suicide mission to end them all, The Blackout: Invasion Earth is a thrilling and chilling, action-packed epic that sees the fate of humanity resting in the hands of a group of heavily armoured, but massively overmatched soldiers (headed by Aleksey Cahdov, star of Nightwatch), and a lone female journalist. This is two hours of doom and destruction, intense firefights and mind-control mayhem - and a strange, leather-clad figure called Id, who holds the key to The Blackout. It's been a real joy to work on the PR and social media marketing campaign and we’re all are excited to see how it performs.”
And finally, some festive cheer from our pals at Obviously Creative. For the agency has come up with an interesting initiative for the Christmas season, After a tumultuous 2020, OC wanted to ring in the new year with a dose of positivity. The consistent support of our clients enabled us to continue our charitable work, donating around £8k in support and services to our amazing charity partners, MediCinema and Action for Children, as well as to our own Thankful Hearts campaign, in aid of NHS Charities Together. At Christmas, instead of our usual gifts, we invited clients to allow us to donate on their behalf. We’re so proud of the response, resulting in an additional £3k for these deserving charities. Both causes are close to our hearts, with MediCinema bringing mood-boosting films to hospital patients, while Action for Children provides practical and emotional support to improve the lives of children. Despite uncertainty for the industry, it’s entertainment that helped us all through lockdown by transporting us beyond our sofas. We want to ensure that as an agency we are committed to the growth and adaptability that will allow us to continue supporting our entertainment clients, and meeting their needs no matter where the times take us. So, here’s to a brighter 2021…"
And that's it for news this year, we'd like to thank everyone for their support this year, especially during these tumultuous times. And we'd also like to wish all Raygun readers – and even non-readers – a very happy Christmas and a prosprerous and much, much better year in 2021. We'll see you in the new year, week beginning January 4, with a round up of year-end facts and figures from trade associations and much more…
AT THE MOVIES
Mad Max fans are going to have to wait a bit longer for the next dose of adventures from creator of the road warrior’s universe George Miller. For Furiosa, the film prequel offering up the back-story of the character introduced by Charlize Theron in Fury Road, the last Max outing, has been ushed back to the summer of 2023. It joins two other Warner films moving into the same year, the musical adaptation of The Color Purple, and Coyote V Acme, the live action and CG blend that charts Wile E Coyote's battle with the company that sold him dodgy products that failed to defeat Roadrunner…
David Gordon Green has already successful new lease of life to one longtime horror franchise after rebooting Halloween. And now the helmer is being lined up to take the reins of another rebooted franchise. For the rumour is that he is in the frame to direct a new take on The Exorcist. The film is being put together at Blumhouse, the genre specialist, and he is the favourite to take the hot set. William Friedkin, director of the original blockbuster, has already said he is not involved at all…
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Follow us on www.twitter.com/theraygun…
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
Coming 2 Amazon…
Getting back…
It’s the little things that counts…
Oh, Dahling…
THE OBLIGATORY GDPR BIT
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