dawn of the collective yeeeuch!

The press cuttings are beginning to come in from Verve Pictures' PR people, and in spite of the fact that I've always known (see this blog) we'd get a lot of vitriol thrown at us, it's still frustrating to read review after review basically going Yeeuch! without much more analysis than that. There was an intelligent review in the May issue of Sight and Sound, by Anna Smith, another in Little White Lies, so you see folks, it can be done! Straightheads is dark, violent and provocative etc.., it's not a worthy kitchen sinker or a safe cozzie drama, so I'm really not looking for approval here, just a couple of well-articulated thoughts would do. But we aren't going to get that, judging by the majority of press so far. And this is proving to be a tricky week for me because the movie's not out yet and people can't watch it and make up their own minds, and that's the equivalent of being pelted with rotten eggs without being able to throw any back. As you can see, being a writer/director has its humorous moments.

I really enjoyed the Radio 3 interview I did last night for Nightwaves (that's on Monday folks, from 945pm onwards) about new British stories of revenge. The questions were insightful and smart, and they also interviewed Jonny Glynn, whose dark debut novel "The Seven Days of Peter Crumb" I just happened to pick up in a bookshop the other day. You should be able to listen to that online via the BBC radio website, if you're not based in the UK.

Straightheads isn't a film for everyone, and the reviews certainly reflect that, though my belief in the film and its qualities (and flaws!) is unshaken. I also believe it has an audience out there, and that many of you reading this blog will find it rewarding and highly memorable at the very least. So please don't let the sniping trouble you, and make up your own minds once the movie opens at a cinema near you - there should be a few more screens added to the official list of venues this week, the total now is well over 200. But right now, yes, it's nerve-racking, for me, for Gillian and Danny and all the cast, and for Verve Pictures, who have backed us to the hilt and given us a proper good cinema release. Let's just keep our nerve and see what happens over the opening weekend.

Deep breath. Grim smile... Hang on in there, folks.

Comments

[delly]

Its listed in my cinema now, its on at 2;30 4;30 7;00 and 9;15. If i wasnt workingfriday i would have been there at the 2;30 showing but im going to have to wait till the later one. but i will be thinking all day "ohhh god people are watching the film and sat here at work NOO!!" i really cant wait, i think its going to do very well, have a good weekend dan
love del xxx

[Leslie - NL, Canada]

Unfortunately there are aways gonna be critics...but it would be nice if these critics could say something more constructive than ewww. I guess some people only like to watch films where little birds help the lead actress get dressed. :P

Annnnyway, still very much looking forward to seeing the film!!

~Les

[Pub Crawler]

Thanks for the update, Dan, and for all the interesting clips and pics you uploaded for us. I'm glad you're not too worried about morons who pretend to be reviewers. I'm sure most of them didn't even watch the movie. "just a couple of well-articulated thoughts"? I never counted on that, but keep my fingers crossed for good box office results. If it's possible, tell us something about those new gigs of yours. Cheers.

[Mary]

thanks Dan.. Wish you all the best.

[Polly]

Anyway, the reviews are wrong most of the time! lol I don't know, but they always rec things I hate and criticize things I love! lol Can't wait to see the movie, you can't imagine Dan, I mean, 4hours of train, 7hours of bus, 3 days in London and then, back into my bus and my train once again... JUST to see your movie!! :P (and I have big exams the next week!! Dan, will you pay for my next year if I don't pass my exams?? lol) Sometimes I think I'm crazy to do that but I feel so happy and excited, can't wait to see Gillian on the big screen and judge the movie by myself! Well, then if you come across 4 French girls totally crazy, it's only us!! lol Don't be afraid, it's not contagious, except for our happinness at seeing you movie! :D Good luck!

[sara]

I always find that the best movie are the ones critics bash the most. And the worst movies are the ones critics praise! So I don't trust them anymore! You've got real fans out here, Dan! All over the world in fact! Can't wait till...whenever I see it here in the USA! Have a wonderful week! Chin up!

*Sara A*

[Alan]

Hey Dan.

Good to hear from you! Thanks for the picture but...errr...hasn't it been posted before? I'm pleased that you enjoyed your radio interview. I'll certainly try to remember to tune in for that.

I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but I've been feeling nostalgic, so whilst looking back through Straightblogs' archives I made the interesting discovery that come Friday, it'll be exactly a year since you started this Blog! How about that, huh?? What a coincidence!

With regards to critics' reviews: I'd just like to say that I personally pay absolutely no attention to them whatsoever. There have been movies in the past that have been slammed by critics or even friends but I have completely enjoyed and sometimes vice-versa too. Its up to us as intelligent, free-thinking individuals to make up our own minds what we think about Straightheads. Any person who takes a review of anything at face value and swallows it hook, line, and sinker obviously doesn't have the intelligence to make decisions for themselves IMHO.

But anyway..rant over. Back to the goodness which is Straightheads. I've already found the first showing time for Straightheads this Friday at my local cinema is 2pm so I'll *definitely* be there on Friday to see it. God only knows how much money I spent calling the cinema back and forth to see if the times had been announced yet. How's that for dedication, huh? :-)

And so here we are...the final countdown. What was almost a 2-year wait has now boiled down to only 2 days!!!! OMG!!!! 2-days!!!! My "Excited-O-Meter" is off the chart!!! Will the 27th never get here?!?! :-D

I wish you, Dan, and everyone else here a great weekend! I think that it's safe to say that when Friday comes, for all of us here eagerly awaiting Straightheads, the weekend will be starting early! Enjoy!

Take care,

Alan.

[Ann]

Impartial reviews - a part of work.
I do not know is it a total badly or not.
I think, that there is some part of spectators which will read the review and don't go to cinema. I think the person whom will decide to look this film, this person will not be guided by the review in magazine or opinion one or two person. Otherwise, there is a certain category of the spectator for Straightheads. And I do not think, that it is necessary to aspire to mass cinema.
The review of one critic not is public opinion.
I began to be interested in motive to a choice of subjects of this film.
Dan, I want to ask.
Shooters, Lake Consequence are your works?
But I am interested extremely in these things: Terror In Moscow (about Notd-Ost) and Babitsky's War.
So I understand, that it's about the Chechen Republic.
I could not find the given films somewhere in Russia, but I do not leave attempts.
By my work's questions I am in Kabardino-Balkariya, Ingushetia, Karachaevo - Circassia, Ossetia and Alania frequently, in a next week I shall be in Grosny.
I am interested in these regions, a history, culture, and the main thing, historically relations with Russia, influence of Russia on the Caucasian nationalities, and war
Dan if you have the information on where I can find these films, you can write in this blog.
I shall be grateful for any information.

A.G.

[Kristy]

Don't worry Dan! Nothing is going to stop me from seeing this movie once it gets over here to the U.S. I just realized yesterday that I have been waiting for this movie to come out since before November of last year. But you know what, I am going to keep waiting as long as it takes to get here to the U.S. because I believe in your film that much! Just from what I have heard about it, I know it's not glamorous or anything but it's raw and it's real and that the kind of movie I want to see.

I have a feeling that maybe now you aren't getting the kind of reviews you want, but one day people are going to look back on this film in particular as groundbreaking in the world of cinema. People aren't used to this kind of thing yet because there really isn't a movie that's dealth with this kind of psychological thriller genre, so there obvious reaction is to put it down and completely dismiss it as anything valid. However, that's how all the great movies of our time were looked at when they first came out. Unfortuntely, your film might have to wait a few years before people recognize it's brilliance.

However, it hasn't even come out yet so you could be very surprised about people's reactions to it. Chin up Dan, it's not over yet! And best of luck to you, Gillian, and Danny this weekend. All of us in the U.S. are cheering for you.

Kristy

[Adry]

Dan, I can imagine how frustrating it is, coz' I feel it too and I am nervous too but all intelligent people know that you have to watch a movie for knowing how it is. You can't judge it with what the Press write. Btw you can tell they are not accurated reviews (I am not even sure they really watched the movie). They didn't analyzed anything of it so they aren't useful at all.
I booked my tickets for the movie and I'll fly to London tomorrow. A lot of people will do the same. I'll do whatever in my power to promote it.
Good luck, Dan, Gillian and everybody!

Adry

[Julie]

I just want to wish you the best this opening weekend! Break a leg!

[Lily]

Oh well - "Sight and Sound" is still the most sensible and reliable film magazine around. Isn't it interesting that only their review mentions the dark humour in the film? Nobody else got it? Uhm.

Buona fortuna to everybody! I'll be reading your updates after the week-end. :-)

[Annelies]

Whatever the reviews, whatever the weather, I believe in this film!
F*ck mainstream, f*ck moralising films, get real!
Wish you all the best!
Hope this see Straightheads in Belgium cinemas!
Grtz, Annelies

[Raquel Danason]

Well Dan,

critics are critics, are the good one´s and the bad one´s but I´ll go to the cinema if the movie come to Rio. I always gone to cinemas...so, no problem to me!

Thanks.

[kay]

can i just say, having the director speak so openly and honestly about his work, worries and joys, gives me much respect for you and your movie whatever the content. it makes me want to see it even more...give a little get a little...thankyou xxxxxxxx

kay jamés trayford-green

[Tracy]

I can imagine your frustration, Dan, but as you said, this film has its audience out there in the world and any critics giving it poor marks are simply not among that audience. Personally, while the insightful reviews further encourage me to see the film, it's the bad ones that really get me excited: I can't wait to see just how wrong they are. ;) Ignore the naysayers -- you all have our suppport!

[Jannicke]

Is this film ever gonna be released outside the UK? Like Norway for example?

Hoping hoping hoping!!
Cant wait anylonger!!

:)

[caitlin]

hello Dan!
I just read the latest review on Gillian's website, and I have to say "yeeeeuch!" right along with you. "trying to justify the horror of the revenge"...how in God's name do they know what you're trying to do. Personally, I don't think you're trying to justify anything, you're just showing what people can be and are capable of when violated and brutalized, but that's just me. I love it when the critics impose their own opinions on things, as if they know exactly what they are talking about. Apologies, I just feel that you (and the rest of the cast and crew) have worked too hard to recieve such a black and white, surface-level review as that. But I suppose controversy is what makes people think, and that's what we're hoping for. Good luck to you, Gillian, Danny, and the rest of the gang. I'll be there when it hits america.
best wishes and thanks,
Caitlin

[Kristy]

I'm sooooooooooo...... jealous of everyone in the UK lol if I could afford it I would be in London tomorrow and be first in line to watch this movie! I can't wait for it's release in the states!!! don't worry about those reviews Dan. myself and all my friends never pay attention to them. we go see what we want, not what the critics say we should or shouldn't go see! here's wishing for a cloudy and cold day tomorrow. keep everyone out of the parks and get them in the theaters :D

[Alan]

Hi Dan.

I know it's bad of me to be commentating twice in the same thread, but just in-case I wasn't clear in the first comments I'd like to say thanks to you, Gillian, Danny and everyone else involved in making Straightheads. I'm certain you've all put 110% effort into it. I'm eagerly looking forward to finally seeing your work on the big screen in what is now quite literally only a matter of hours away. I'm so excited I'll be lucky if I can get any sleep.

Best wishes, good luck, and a *huge* thank you to everyone on the Straightheads team.

Take care and God bless.

- Alan.