Boxoffice-July.1995

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You Said It
BOXOFFICE readers comment on the films of Autumn and Winter
It's nice to see a return to basics—story
power over star power! David Pensak, Movie
Madness, Cincinnati
A good year for female performances of
merit—all in movies that didn't dent the
boxoffice: Jodie Foster, Jennifer Jason Leigh,
Jessica Lange, Miranda Richardson,
Sigourney Weaver, Linda Fiorento—and the
charming farewell of Jessica Tandy's "Camilla"!
Kenneth Meehani. Conzaga High School
Film Society, Washington, DC.
Newcomer Frank Darabont's ["The
Shawshank Redemption"] subtle, heartfelt
direction and polished screenplay set a good
example for young filmmakers. Was the director
of "Murder in the First" Shakes the
Clown? Steven K. Olson. Marcus Theatres. Appleton,
Wis.
Patiently waiting for Memorial Weekend
summer product. Am considering closing
theatre two months i n spring and two months
in fall. Hollywood just doesn't seem to get
it. Lewis Moore Jr., Moore Theatres Inc., Glendive,
Mont.
Most Underrated Movie: "Mary Shelley's
Frankenstein." People were sadly gunningfor
Branagh. Most overrated movie: "The Santa
Clause." Opium for the masses, to borrow a
famous quote. Man Brunson, Break Magazine.
Charlotte. N.C.
"The Shawshank Redemption" is by far
one of the best movies I've ever seen. Too
bad it wasn't marketed correctly. Tim Robbins
and Morgan Freeman should be recognized
and awarded for their work. jason
Richardson, General Cinema Clearwater 12, Indianapolis
Great product keeps on coming! Recordbreaking
grosses don't lie! lim Hmkle, GKC
Theatres. Elkhart, Ind.
don't think this was a very good year for
movies, save for just a few. kfirey w. Atwell,
Hoyts Cinemas Corp., Laurel, Md.
be in the minority but I thought "The
Santa Clause" was awful and very unfunny.
JerodKaier, Littleton, Colo.
"Legends of the Fall" was worth the wait;
"Interview With the Vampire" was not.
Kevin Tredvvav, Cinemark USA #lb2, ,'\shland, Kv.
With so many quality pictures released last
year, I it is a darn shame that a movie
like "Pulp Fiction" is nominated for an Academy
Award. If Hollywood considers this one
of their best, I'd quit going to the movies.
Robert Douvier, Main Street Theatre, Sauk Centre,
Minn.
I'm tired of hearing all these theories on
why "Quiz Show" bombed. "Quiz Show"
has made about $23 million on only 800
screens. What's that per screen? Scott Matthews,
Graham Cinema. Graham, N.C.
They need to stop making movies from old
TV shows. Please!!—C. Williams, Richmond, Va.
It's truly a shame that I in a city with
such a limited market. I've never heard of
some of these films. leff Stuckey. Tulsa Public
Schools, Tulsa, Okla.
It was harder than usual to find five worst
films. Don't get too hopeful; I already have
five for the first quarter of '95.
Doug Kinney,
Douglas Theatre Co., Lincoln. Neb.
"Legends of the Fall"—no film should end
with the main character being eaten by a
was still
bear. Aidan, Brad, Anthony, and it
awful. "The Specialist"—Why?— Robert D.
Hughes, SIM Entertainment. Cinema 4, Geneseo, N. Y.
The sleeper of the holiday was "Little
Women." Quality will bring customers in!
Walter Schuesh, Midcontinent Theatre Co., Bismarck,
N.D.
"Pulp Fiction"— Quentin Tarantino: A new
directorial star is born, and John Travolta's
career is reborn. — Wendeslaus Schulz. Star Theatre,
Bay St. Louis, Miss.
A better than average year for quality.
Raven Early.grow. Arena Theatre, Point,^rena, Calif.
For the sake of theatres which do not take
all films on their national break— please omit
dates on previews and posters (except advance
teasers). — Malcolm Neal. Kiva Enlenainnient.
Las Vegas, N.M
A poor fall and winter. Give us more movies
like "Little Women," "Legends of the Fall"
and "Far From Home." We want less of the
horror, satanic, value-stripped movies! Loretla
Bevell. Payson Picture Show, Payson, Ariz.
"Pulp Fiction" was an excellent film. I
think with all the Trekkies, "Star Trek" was
most popular. Larry S. Hall jr., Cinemark Theatres,
,'\shland, Ky.
Buena Vista continues to run the gamut
from high to low in popularity but, picture for
picture, the Sony duo of Columbia and
TriStar have released excellent films in recent
memory. Dwayne Steele, Cinemark CM, Ashland,
Kv.
A more complete listing of the year's movies
would assist in film selection.— TomRamstade,
Cir)ema I X II. low a Citv, Iowa
[Films eligible for this round of Blue Ribbon
Awards bad to be released during the
period beginning Sept. 1, 1994, and ending
Feb. 1, 1 995, as noted in the voting instructions
in our April 1 995 issue— Ed.]
"The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the
Desert" didn'tgettoLoLiisville until October,
so I'd like to put it in fourth place as "Most
Popular," and fifth place as the "Best Film."
Carl Wohlschleyel. Vogue Theatre. Louisville, Kv.
[All right, for you we'll make an exception—Ed.]
It's a shame "Shawshank Redemption"
wasn't seen by more people. 1 am sick of
video game movies. Hollywood needs better
writers, or buy Nintendo systems to get them
over this recent trend. left Barnes, First international
Theatres, Manhattan, Kan.
The only thing good about "Trial by lury"
is the acting is better than the O.J. Simpson
trial.
But neither should be taken too seriously.
R.E. Revnolds, Wilson Amusement Co.. Atlantic
Station Cinema, .Atlantic Beach. N.C.
"The Shawshank Redemption" was the
best film of the year. It's unfortunate this film
performed so poorly at the boxoffice. — lames
Evans, UA Pavilion Crossroads, Roseville, Minn.
"Shawshank Redemption" was the best
film of the year with the worst attendance.
Dennis Udovich, Marcus Theatres, Sheboygan. Wis.
How-
Didn't see all the movies on the list!
ever, I like more of those I saw than I disliked.
Marty Vestal. United .Artists. Little Rock,,Ark.
After watching "The Santa Clause," believing
in the real Santa Claus did not seem really
dumb! Douglas I. LaCombe, O'Neil Theatres.
Crowley, La.
The worst films are ones that did not do
well at all at our boxoffice. Peggv Matey. Allen
Theatres. Gallup. N.M.
The Best Action Film In A Long Time
Award goes to: "The Professional." Jean Reno
will be a star of the future. Spencer Ma^ton,
Carmike Cinemas, Raleigh, N C.
It is really disappointing that American
audiences have lowered their standards to
the point where films like"Dumb& Dumber"
are hailed as great, and truly superb films like
"Immortal Beloved" are all but ignored.
Kristin SeacresI, Private Film A Movie Theatre Research,
Lawrence, Kan.
Nothing really outstanding this year— lots
of mediocre movies that didn't stay very
long. Tim Rogers. Carmike Cinemas, Butte, Mont.
"Generations" was a real disappointment.
The first 15 minutes were the only good ones.
"The Professional" was an excellent movie
that was overlooked by movie patrons and
Academy Award nominations as well. Luke
Tatoya, Cinemark Movies 6, Alburiuerque, N.M.
"Pulp Fiction"— this wonderful film could
have gone on for days. "Stargate"— great
storyline and even better special effects.
Wade C/'jrAi, Budget Cinema, Alvin. Texas
What a year of wonderful parts for the
talented acting community. The quickness of
"Ed Wood" to the human reality in "Quiz
Show." Itcertainly was a year with wonderful
gems poppingonto the screen each month.
Cherie Branson. Shooting Star Video, Clarksville, Ind.
The worst films were picked from the ones
actually saw. Some of the very worst films I
avoided! Mike Thompson. United ,Artists, Little
Rock, Ark.
Even though "Highlander: The Final Dimension"
was no boxoffice smash, I think
Christopher Lambert deserves a break. He
has the potential to be a great actor. Frank
Bartosic, Cinemark Movies I0#-J7, Wilmington, Del.
Video games should stay video games.
Raul Julia should be remembered for his best
works, not his last. Chris Mosel, Lone Star Theatres,
New Brawnfels, Tesas
What was all the excitement over "Interview"?
I nothing but complaints and
walkouts. Also, we are a DTS theatre and
would like to encourage more DTS releases!
Mike Blakesley, Rosy Theatre, Forsyth,
Mont.
If there was a category for best acting, my
award would be given to Brad Pitt for his
proven array of fantastic acting skills in both
"Legends" and "Vampire." Alicia Cockrun,
Cineple\ Odeon, Tacoma, Wash.
There should have been a "most unrecognized"
category. I would vote for "The
Shawshank Redemption," "A Simple Twist of
Fate," "Quiz Show," "Miracle on 34th Street"
and "Ed Wood." Graham Smith, Maico Theatres,
\temphis, Tenn.
July, 1995 57