Thursday, June 24, 2004
New York City - Manhattan news'Fahrenheit' fans get Moore than expected
BY LUIS PEREZ AND GALIA GARCIA-PALAFOX
Staff Writer
June 24, 2004, 9:57 PM EDT
Moviegoers waiting to see "Fahrenheit 911" in Manhattan Thursday did a double-take when the man they expected to see on the screen inside approached them on the sidewalk.
Soon after someone in the 40-deep line to buy tickets for Thursday night's late shows at the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas recognized director Michael Moore, he was surrounded by an autograph-seeking mob and praise for his latest controversial film.
"Who knows what's going to happen?" Moore said when asked about his expectations for "Fahrenheit 911," which lampoons the Bush administration before and after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks through obscure, often ironic, media footage. "I hope to get people to get out and vote."
Whether the film will sway the November election is hard to tell, but there's no debate that the movie is making waves at the box office.
Moore's political juggernaut, which opens in 686 theaters nationwide today, raked in more than $30,000 Thursday at Lincoln Plaza, which plays mostly foreign and independent films. That take topped the $24,013 Lincoln Plaza single-day record set by "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in 2000, according to distributors.
"Fahrenheit" grossed $52,000 at Loews Village 7 Thursday on Third Avenue and 11th Street, beating the venue's single-day record of $43,435 held by 1997's "Men in Black," according to Loews.
"It's a very strong start — that's the obvious," said Ewnetu Admassu, general manager at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas. "We anticipate that it will stay that way."
Among those waving a thumbs-up after the movie at Lincoln Plaza was Melvin Gins, an 84-year-old Army veteran.
"It's very disturbing and very impressive," said Gins, who lives on the Upper West Side. "I'm very emotional about this. It's good that the story is getting to the public."
Mike Spencer, of Hoboken, a public relations specialist whose brother will be sent to Iraq next month, said the movie was well-done, albeit one-sided.
"I wanted to smack somebody when they cheered for Iraq to win," said Spencer, 28, referring to a scene in which a crowd of villagers chant against the United States.
Distributors hope the film, which cost $6 million to make, will bring in at least three times that much; Moore's Oscar-winning "Bowling for Columbine," about American gun violence, set the box office record for a documentary with $22 million total in ticket sales.
From the start, the film has been steeped in controversy. In May, Disney barred its Miramax division, which created the film with Moore, from distributing it nationally.
Lions Gate quickly agreed to carry the film, but Moore faced another obstacle when the Motion Picture Association of American refused to grant "Fahrenheit" a PG-13 rating because of bloody war footage, including beheadings. It is now rated R.
BY LUIS PEREZ AND GALIA GARCIA-PALAFOX
Staff Writer
June 24, 2004, 9:57 PM EDT
Moviegoers waiting to see "Fahrenheit 911" in Manhattan Thursday did a double-take when the man they expected to see on the screen inside approached them on the sidewalk.
Soon after someone in the 40-deep line to buy tickets for Thursday night's late shows at the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas recognized director Michael Moore, he was surrounded by an autograph-seeking mob and praise for his latest controversial film.
"Who knows what's going to happen?" Moore said when asked about his expectations for "Fahrenheit 911," which lampoons the Bush administration before and after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks through obscure, often ironic, media footage. "I hope to get people to get out and vote."
Whether the film will sway the November election is hard to tell, but there's no debate that the movie is making waves at the box office.
Moore's political juggernaut, which opens in 686 theaters nationwide today, raked in more than $30,000 Thursday at Lincoln Plaza, which plays mostly foreign and independent films. That take topped the $24,013 Lincoln Plaza single-day record set by "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in 2000, according to distributors.
"Fahrenheit" grossed $52,000 at Loews Village 7 Thursday on Third Avenue and 11th Street, beating the venue's single-day record of $43,435 held by 1997's "Men in Black," according to Loews.
"It's a very strong start — that's the obvious," said Ewnetu Admassu, general manager at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas. "We anticipate that it will stay that way."
Among those waving a thumbs-up after the movie at Lincoln Plaza was Melvin Gins, an 84-year-old Army veteran.
"It's very disturbing and very impressive," said Gins, who lives on the Upper West Side. "I'm very emotional about this. It's good that the story is getting to the public."
Mike Spencer, of Hoboken, a public relations specialist whose brother will be sent to Iraq next month, said the movie was well-done, albeit one-sided.
"I wanted to smack somebody when they cheered for Iraq to win," said Spencer, 28, referring to a scene in which a crowd of villagers chant against the United States.
Distributors hope the film, which cost $6 million to make, will bring in at least three times that much; Moore's Oscar-winning "Bowling for Columbine," about American gun violence, set the box office record for a documentary with $22 million total in ticket sales.
From the start, the film has been steeped in controversy. In May, Disney barred its Miramax division, which created the film with Moore, from distributing it nationally.
Lions Gate quickly agreed to carry the film, but Moore faced another obstacle when the Motion Picture Association of American refused to grant "Fahrenheit" a PG-13 rating because of bloody war footage, including beheadings. It is now rated R.
