Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - 'An American Carol' absent from local theaters

'An American Carol' absent from local theaters

Oct 10, 2008 - 04:05:23 CDT

By WILLIAM BOHN
Bismarck

In the Tribune on Oct. 3, there was a listing of movies that were to open that day.

On the list was "An American Carol"which, according to USAToday, is a spoof about moviemaker Michael Moore and TV host Rosie O'Donnell, among others.

Imagine my surprise when Ichecked the movie listings of our two Bismarck theaters and could not find "An American Carol" listed among 27 scheduled movies. (Ican't believe that "Beer for My Horses"is a bigger draw.)

Irecall that Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 911" played in town right after it was released, and it, too, was controversial at the time.

We have all heard of the alleged biased media. Have our two Bismarck movie theaters gone that route, too?

In addition, Iwent to the movies on Saturday and guess what?There was a preview of a new Oliver Stone (of "Nixon"fame)movie titled "W,"which is a putdown of our current president. More bias or just tacky?

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Comments

BILL G-A-R-R wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:12 PM:

" Mean Old uncle Ray..... Can you imagine how much time, energy, and gas was used by the writer of this letter. Apparently this is such an important movie that the lefties are going to great lengths to hide it. Seems like 'Citizen Kane' was nothing compared to this cinematic triumph. Now what again are the times and dates of 'Religious?' "

mom-of-teens wrote on Oct 17, 2008 3:39 PM:

" "W" is in theatres here starting today!! Can't wait to see it! What an excellent way to do an expose' on the Bush administration; just in time too!! Don't much care about the other movie, cuz chances are, it won't be accurate anyway, but gotta LOVE Oliver Stone!! Interesting that he attended Yale with GWB. "

Good Point wrote on Oct 17, 2008 3:35 PM:

" I want to see the movie as well!! "

justplainfolks wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:23 PM:

" d YIKES! Sorry if my attempt at wit was lost on you :( but Hollywood who is notoriously liberal is all about big tax and spend government they hold no qualms about using their popularity to influence politics, we pay them to entertain us not advise us. I was putting a spin on turning the tables on them. To see how they would like to foot the bill for a change. You need to lighten up Dude because this country is facing issues a heck of alot more important than movies maybe focus your energy on learning some of the true issues and making informed decisions. "

d wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:20 PM:

" To, Justplainfolk how stupid are you to ask for more taxes how will hollywood pay with higher taxes. Their pay is from movie revenues not taxes collected for movies. Which minds do they destroy, if you can't tell the difference between reality and fiction you should allowed to watch tv or play games. The whole idea that violence at movies or in games creates a violent surroundings is dumb people need to be resonsible for themselve we don't need government to regulate us they already have a say with ratings on all media tv,movies games and books. If you can,t understand how the ratings work look it up on the net and quit blaming others. "

Mean Old Uncle Ray wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:48 PM:

" If you're the kind of person who gets worked up over whether a certain movie gets shown locally, you have way too much free time on your hands... "

justplainfolk wrote on Oct 14, 2008 3:37 PM:

" I think the government should pass an entertainment tax on movies concerts video games etc. the proceeds could go to support the school systems. Just like the people who buy gas pay a tax to repair the roads they drive on. Hollywood could put their money where their mouth is for a change and pay for the young minds they destroy. :) "

Online Editor wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:57 PM:

" To m: Please focus your comments on the story, not other writers. "

Dr. K wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:57 AM:

" I would bet dollars to donuts that the reason this movie isn't getting a big push in Bismarck, one of the most backwards and conservative of areas in the country, has less to do with a "liberal conspiracy" and more to do with the fact that:

A: It is a horrible, unfunny movie
B: It's gotten awful reviews (seriously? a 13% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes?! ha ha ha)
C: It stars the Farley brother who is not dead and is not funny
D: It stars no one who is even so much as a B list actor
E: It isn't making any money at all on even the national scale
F: It's trying to lampoon a subject -- Michael Moore -- who is probably not interesting or relevant enough to center an entire movie on, thus limiting this stupid movies overall appeal to the general public

Let's face it, Michael Moore might have some good points from time to time, but he's a loon and basically parodies himself. We don't need an idiotic satire made about the man to prove that to us. This movie is preaching to the choir, and they're doing it with a low-budget piece of trash production. No wonder it's bombing. "

MamaMia wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:10 AM:

" M: You stated that the film was here, but no advertisments or showings were listed. They WERE listed in the paper. What is your point? And as far as a "bulb", the only one I see coming from your comments on this is a very dim one. Let it go. "

yoyo wrote on Oct 14, 2008 6:10 AM:

" can't wait to see a movie on speading the wealth around that should make big headlines "

M wrote on Oct 13, 2008 4:33 PM:

" to mamamia, like i said, you know everything. however please read my full comments next time. i acknowledged it was in the paper "that day", had you taken the time to read, you would also have seen me say check the papers before. i see a little lightbulb going on soon in your future. "

Point to Ponder wrote on Oct 13, 2008 3:58 PM:

" We are not talking about "where" it was released, but if it is showing here, why is it not publicized?- If a movie is listed in the paper and on their answering machine, what more do you want? That's about all the advertising you get. It's not the local theaters who decide to run advertising for it, it's the production company. If they are not running trailers on TV, they are writing it off as a flop.

Please give me a show where you have ever seen this done before. " I can name a few that I saw here in Bismarck that wasn't heavily advertised, either locally or nationally: The Aristocrats (which was pulled out after three days probably because parents failed to read the large sign hanging in the ticket window that stated this movie is rated R and is not the Disney film The Aristocats), House of a 1000 Corpses (in which the Grand had a hand written sign warning people that the film was disgusting and brutual and no one should go to see it), The After Dark 8 Films to die For (eight horror films for eight days straight!) "

MamaMia wrote on Oct 13, 2008 2:41 PM:

" M, for crying out loud! It was advertised in the Carmike movie listings in the Trib the very day this letter hit the paper. I saw it that very day and commented on it here on this blog. As Ronnie Reagan would say, "Nowwww, there you go again!" Just because someone says it wasn't in the paper over and over and over doesn't make it true! All this conspiracy talk would be funny if it weren't so pathetic. "

M wrote on Oct 13, 2008 2:11 PM:

" To Jerry, again, missing the point. The movie "An American Carol" IS here, however no advertisement or showings were listed. "Religious", is not here so why would they advertise? We are not talking about "where" it was released, but if it is showing here, why is it not publicized? Please give me a show where you have ever seen this done before. "

Jerry H wrote on Oct 13, 2008 11:04 AM:

" How about BBC News America?

Or online at:

procon.org
glassbooth.org
unpartisan.com
votesmart.org "

Vetter wrote on Oct 13, 2008 10:36 AM:

" And which news organization would that be Jerry? "

Jerry H wrote on Oct 13, 2008 10:04 AM:

" Never heard of 'An American Carol,' but I have heard of 'Religulous,' which also isn't playing here.

If it's a liberal conspiracy, why are the liberal theater owners not showing a noted liberal movie?

Oh, and Fox 'News' is about as bias as any news org. out there... Please try to get your news from an organization that leans towards the center. "

M wrote on Oct 13, 2008 9:27 AM:

" To Eddy, your missing the point. "

Eddy wrote on Oct 13, 2008 8:48 AM:

" http://www.google.com/movies?hl=en&near=bismarck&sort=1&mid=8d0e7ade7a668713

7:30 at Carmike 8 "

MamaMia wrote on Oct 13, 2008 8:35 AM:

" REX: Seriously, my friend. . . "

jim wrote on Oct 13, 2008 12:54 AM:

" in philadelphia there were full page adds in the paper and it was in a lot of theaters...it seems to have garnered bad reviews and didn't make much money
that's probably why it didnt make it to Bismarck or get big promotion.. "

movie goer wrote on Oct 12, 2008 11:55 PM:

" I took mykids to a show at the Carmike today and am pretty sure American Carol is playing there. I think it is even on their sign on Century Avenue. "

So... wrote on Oct 12, 2008 9:30 PM:

" When and where in Bismarck will we be able to see Bill Maher's "Religulous?" Heard it is hilarious...as any movie about religion should be! "

REX wrote on Oct 12, 2008 2:27 PM:

" Mama Mia, Yes it is a "big communist plot". Wake up and smell the coffee. "

Dew wrote on Oct 12, 2008 11:56 AM:

" fp: This USA is begiinning to be very Socialist! That my friend, is a FACT...
If Obama gets in it will be more Socialistic! We will have government control over our health care and many other things that we will be sorry about! "

Dew wrote on Oct 12, 2008 11:53 AM:

" dante, of what? That you think the best thing in life is to watch babes on the screen? I would think your wife would be the babe you would want to watch! "

MamaMia wrote on Oct 12, 2008 10:54 AM:

" To "m" and others: It's just a great big Communist plot, isn't it? ( I can't stop giggling, , ,) "

Consider This wrote on Oct 12, 2008 3:51 AM:

" Hollywood cares about only one thing $$$. Its their only God. Maybe its in limited theatres because test runs were bad, conservatives aren't generally very funny.
Consider this, name one great conservative commedian ( can't be dennis miller or jackie mason, they haven't had a new idea in the last 100 years) Name one great conservative musician ( can't be ted neggent he's only playing scales) name one great conservative artist??? Just a thought. "

Cynical Independent wrote on Oct 11, 2008 9:04 PM:

" Why would anyone be foolish enough to see a movie in the theater unless it had special effects worthy of a big screen? The tickets are way overpriced as well as the concessions. Let's face it, a good portion of the media is biased. So if you don't like what the theater is doing, don't give them your money. Same goes for newspapers and television networks. Money is still going to dictate the behavior of businesses. "

JD wrote on Oct 11, 2008 5:20 PM:

" Some friends and I went to American Carol 10/10 @ 7:30 in Bismarck. The theater wasn't full but it was crowded. I didn't see a poster outside the theater for Carol, but I did find a stack of Liberal propaganda newspapers outside the theater after the movie. I think it was called ''The Prairie Socialist Agenda'' or something close to that, no I'm not kidding. Liberals would be doing themselves a favor by going to this movie. They would realize why they look so anti-American to people with common sense. The movie is quite entertaining and the theater was laughing loudly many times. I'd give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. "

fp wrote on Oct 11, 2008 3:54 PM:

" This is a plot by the liberal media, I just know it. What`s next...mandatory abortions even if you`re not pregnant? The sky is falling ...I saw it on fox news.....the libs are coming..the libs are coming...Gays, guns and god oh my "

dante wrote on Oct 11, 2008 2:27 PM:

" DEW-----jealous much? "

Dew wrote on Oct 11, 2008 2:06 PM:

" dante wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:08 PM: i saw some babes!!! "
woooweeeee! Now that is really something to write home about! "

Dubbles wrote on Oct 11, 2008 1:21 PM:

" Apparently there is alot of things going on that the theaters are doing that are not to be doing. This sounds like one of them. Do a google search of "American Carol Fraud" and you will see what Im talking about. The makers of American Carol want to know what theaters are doing this. I think their email is Fraud@AmericanCarol.com but check out their site to see if you can report this there. "

Online Editor Jason Lueder wrote on Oct 11, 2008 12:07 PM:

" To Bill: Stop it. "

Vetter wrote on Oct 11, 2008 11:21 AM:

" Awesome movie "

BILL G-A-R-R wrote on Oct 11, 2008 9:38 AM:

" Where is my early morning post? "

dante wrote on Oct 11, 2008 9:18 AM:

" please excuse MY sniveling for comenting on the writer's EXTREME sniveling. thank you. im over it. "

Michael wrote on Oct 11, 2008 8:55 AM:

" How to NOT promote a movie in Bismarck, North Dakota:
1. Do NOT advertise in the news paper
2. Do NOT put the name of the movie on your outdoor sign
3. Do NOT display promotional posters in the mall hall way.
4. Do NOT show the movie playing at the ticket booth
5. Have only one showing for the grand opening night.
6. Have the movie share a theater screen with another movie
7. Have a hard to see homemade sign over the theater-screen door entrance.

So, you be the judge. Is this how you would promote a new movie coming to your theater, or for that matter, any event you want to draw people to? Two or three promotional mistakes are understandable, but SEVEN do raise questions about motivation. "

Steve Mol wrote on Oct 11, 2008 8:51 AM:

" Why go when it will be out on DVD? Simple. There aren't that many movies that are made for conservatives - heck, there aren't even many made that don't INSULT conservatives.

If you want Hollywood to make more movies that are at least less insulting to us, you need to reward them when they do. DVD sales, while profitable, aren't what they look for as "votes" to make more movies. They make what sells at the Box Office.

I saw this movie as soon as it came out, and I virtually NEVER go to the theatre. I go to support Pixar films (good, clean movies - and if you didn't notice, a conservative message in "The Incredibles") and now "An American Carol." And I fully intend to buy the DVD (already have all the Pixar DVDs).

Box Office is the only way to encourage more movies for "us." "

dante wrote on Oct 11, 2008 2:32 AM:

" if i post something of asking potential, and simply ask a question, and it doesnt even make it, who is it? to blame? "

Michael wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:16 PM:

" On October 6th I went to the Carmike to see if American Carol was playiing. I noticed that there were NOT any posters showing the American Carol playing and it was not listed at the ticket booth. I asked the person at the ticket counter if they had American Carol. He said they have the movie but he was not sure when they would be playing the movie, so he went to find out. He returned and said that they would start showing the movie October 7th one time at 7:30. When I left, I drove by Carmikes outdoor sign and American Carol was not listed.

On October 7th I returned to Carmike to watch the movie. The outdoor sign still did NOT have the movie listed. When I entered the theater there were NOT any posters and Amercian Carol was NOT listed at the ticket booth. I was told the movie was being shown on Screen #1. When I went to Screen #1 I was confused if I was at the correct screen since Step Brothers was prominently displayed above the door. I then realized that Carmike had made a hard-to-read sign made out of 3 pieces of taped together paper which said American Carol. I entered the theater at 7:30, and waited for 10 minutes before the anything started. During the entire time, I was the only person in the theater. It was obvious I was the only person that knew this was the grand opening night for American Carol in Bismarck.

On October 8th I saw the movie again. This time the outdoor sign had American Carol listed. The was one poster in the hallway promoting the movie, and the movies name was now shown at the ticket booth. American Carol is still sharing a screen with Step-Brothers and still has the homemade sign above the entrance, and is still only being shown once at 7:30. There were however now eight people watching the movie. When I looked in the October 9th Finder paper, the movie is still not listed. "

dante wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:08 PM:

" for a while, i was really angry when HOUSE Bunny wasnt being shown at my localest theater, but i waited patiently, didnt get overly stressed, didnt write an accusatory letter or anything like that, and guess what? i saw some babes!!! "

wally wrote on Oct 10, 2008 6:51 PM:

" I heard that the liberial media got ahold of all the copies of this movie and about 15 minutes into it you can hear someone say in a really eerie voice - this movie will explode in 10 seconds, then the screen goes blank. Haven't verified it yet. "

Wolf wrote on Oct 10, 2008 3:28 PM:

" Why go to it in a theater when it will be out on dvd in a month? "

m wrote on Oct 10, 2008 3:02 PM:

" hey, i know people like mamamia (knows everything) and the other liberal loons like to look the other way, but there is merit to this story. do some checking of your old, useless tribune papers. "An American Carol" was not listed before todays edition. I was looking to see when it was showing here and could never find it in the paper. however by searching the Carmike website, i was able to find it listed. hmmmmmmm. i can't remember ever seeing a movie playing in the theatre not listed in the paper. must have been a typeo. what a nice world we would live in had the media and entertainment world not be so skewed.
one other tidbit i've heard, haven't verified yet is that when seeing the movie "An American Carol", your movie stub does not show that you went to "An American Carol". They obviously keep track of attendance, however might be a little biased if no one "actually" is going to that movie. "

MrIntegrity wrote on Oct 10, 2008 2:07 PM:

" Based upon the movie studios own release numbers, it was released to a much smaller number of screens. It was released on to 1,639 screens. Typically the studios and marketing companies that work for them choose the areas and screens to release their films on in conjunction with the theaters. Compare this with Beverly Hills Chihuahua being released on 3,215. With a smaller release a theater actually has to compete to get a film if they want it if another theater also wants to run it. Typically, theater managers base their decision on which movies will appeal the most to their local demographics to earn the most money per showing. No conspiracy going on here. "

Harold wrote on Oct 10, 2008 1:05 PM:

" Someday I'm going to talk and everybody's going to listen. As for now, I'm not even going to this conservative movie although I'm to the right of conservatives. I couldn't take Kelsey Grammer as Patton. Can you imagine General Kelsey S. Patton? "

wheels wrote on Oct 10, 2008 12:32 PM:

" GET A GRIP PEOPLE. NOT EVERY MOVIE GETS TO ALL THE THEATERS RIGHT AWAY AFTER IT'S RELEASED. "

hillary wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:01 AM:

" i have no knowledge of pressuring theaters to show or not show a particular movie. it's far more effective to threaten the hollywood careers of the actors and support personal of those that participate in these types of movies. I am quite amazed this movie made it this far, it must of been shot by a third tier studio with outside financing. "

haze wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:44 AM:

" Gotta love that Mama Mia! "

MamaMia wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:26 AM:

" It's playing at the Carmike 8 Theaters at the Gateway Mall. So quit yer bellyaching already and go to it. Sheesh! "

JV Journalism wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:22 AM:

" As is Religulous, which is disappointing. I wonder if Oliver Stone's W. is going to make it. "

Point to Ponder wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:20 AM:

" Yes, it's a liberal media conspiracy to keep this movie out of Bismarck. It's amazing that those rascally liberals can find the time out of their very busy days of performing abortions, marrying gays, and trying to get a radical, America hating Muslim elected president to even plot to keep this film out of our theaters. "

Halatbis wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:43 AM:

" Thanks to William for the letter on Am. Carol. I looked at the listings a couple of days ago and Carol was not listed as playing. It was getting coverage on national TV. (FOX cable). Anyone who cannot see the bias in the American media--name any media-- print, TV, films, or radio is not paying attention. Has it spread to the movie theaters? Of course it has. "

here we go again wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:34 AM:

" There are many, many movies that do not come to Bismarck, even with all the screens we have in this town. And then there are some movies that stick around for months. I don't understand it. "

comment wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:34 AM:

" To the theaters - I would go to the movie if you brought it here. "

Online Editor wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:21 AM:

" To Mike B.: Your statistics need support. Please post a link to where others can view these facts. "

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