Sony decides to release The Interview after all
Sony announced today (December 23) that The Interview will play in select theatres in the U.S. after all.
"We have never given up on releasing 'The Interview,'" said Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton in a statement released this morning. "While we hope this is only the first step of the film's release, we are proud to make it available to the public and to have stood up to those who attempted to suppress free speech."
When exhibitors across the States began to pull The Interview from their schedules last week in the wake of threats from the so-called Guardians of Peace—who promised a 9/11-like event if the film hit the big screen—Sony decided to can its release altogether.
But the outcry following the company’s deep-sixing of the Seth Rogen comedy, notably from President Barack Obama, has forced Sony to alter its position.
"VICTORY!!!!!!!" Tweeted James Franco, who stars in the film alongside Rogen. "The PEOPLE and THE PRESIDENT have spoken."
Whether or not this is a free speech issue, however, is another matter.
Thanks to the Sony hack—and as reported by The Daily Beast— we know that both the U.S. State Department and a RAND corporation senior defense analyst were consulted to assess the film's propaganda value.
Discussing the movie's climax, in which Kim Jong-un’s head is consumed in flames, Rand’s North Korea specialist Bruce Bennett wrote to Sony executives:
“… the assassination of Kim Jong-un is the most likely path to a collapse of the North Korean government. Thus while toning down the ending may reduce the North Korean response, I believe that a story that talks about the removal of the Kim family regime and the creation of a new government by the North Korean people (well, at least the elites) will start some real thinking in South Korea and, I believe, in the North once the DVD leaks into the North (which it almost certainly will). So from a personal perspective, I would personally prefer to leave the ending alone.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. assertion that the Guardians of Peace were sponsored by North Korea remains questionable. Meaning that Obama and a good number of other people, including George Clooney and Mia Farrow, are defending our right to be exposed to propaganda.
But, as I write in my review, it’s extremely funny propaganda.
Sony hasn’t revealed how many theatres will show The Interview starting on Thursday (December 25), and there are no plans for a theatrical release in Canada.
Comments
2 Comments
not just
Dec 24, 2014 at 11:33am
its not just obama or george clooney, et al or even sony suddenly changing tack out of some sort of commitment to free speech, but is more the result of the organization of independent theater owners, namely tim league of drafthouse cinema and george r.r. martin. it won't be playing at major chain multi-plexes, but will screen at a number of independent theaters. it's worth noting and has been discussed online. credit where credit is due.
VICTORY!!
Dec 24, 2014 at 3:18pm
You suck James Franco!! I have spoken, 'your movies suck'!!