Last chance, Harvey: Release OUTLANDER!

Some distributors release films with all the fanfare of a fly’s funeral. Others hoard titles like Mia Farrow stockpiling her adoptive rainbow coalition. And then there are those, like the legendarily unpleasant Harvey Weinstein, who unceremoniously dump movies in January and February like the mob disposing of rat finks in Jersey’s meadowlands.

Last night, The Warren Report — in association with EMP/SFM — presented OUTLANDER as part of the ongoing EXPOSED: Inside Film series. It was really the only chance for most folks to see it on the big screen as The Weinstein Company had released the sci-fi epic for one week on about 200 screens nationwide; a disrespectful and essentially un-marketed fulfillment of a contractual obligation. Only problem: audiences truly want to see OUTLANDER… even if they can’t. Quickly, it became the #1 most pirated title on BitTorrent, a good indication of a passionate fan base. Please recognize this is not an indication of the public’s declining moral standards because they downloaded OUTLANDER illegally, rather a reminder of insatiable fanboy (and fangal) lust. OUTLANDER’s cool. Heck, who doesn’t want to see vikings clash with aliens!?! Last night, a portion of the audience came in costume donning horns and antennae. No one asked them to, they were simply stoked to see the interstellar showdown promising a Morwen in lieu of the originally intended Beowulf. Expectations were met. Movie-lovers hooted, howled and hoorayed as much blood was spilled, Sophia Myles kicked ass and Jim Caviezel — tired of turning the other cheek perhaps? — went maniacally medieval on the poor bio-luminescent space-dragon.

GRINCH!

Next week, The Warren Report will post video highlights from my extended, post-show interview with filmmaker Howard McCain, but for those of you who either saw OUTLANDER and want to share it with others or are just pissed the film was not granted a reasonable theatrical run, I urge you to CALL or write to The Weinstein Company and protest their short-sightedness. (345 Hudson St.  13th Floor, New York, NY 10014; Ph: 646-862-3400) Of course, you can leave comments on this post as well and I will pass them along once I sense we’ve amassed enough outrage to trigger a positive reaction from grinchy ol’ Harv.)

Geeking out,

Warren