‘Love Always’ A Box-Office Bust Film Fails To Draw Viewers Even In Spokane; Movie May Be Out Of The Theaters By Friday
The numbers don’t look good for the Spokane-filmed “Love Always.”
It failed to show up in the box-office Top 10 or even in the Top 20 during its first weekend of release last week. That can be forgiven, since it was only in limited release in 12 cities. However, the per-screen attendance was poor. Even in Spokane, it was sparsely attended.
“It didn’t do too well economically in Spokane, or anywhere for that matter,” said a dejected Jude Pauline Eberhard, who directed the movie.
The numbers were so bad she predicts that it will be gone from all theaters by Friday, and that she will then start selling the TV rights, video rights and foreign rights.
As bad as the box-office numbers were, the reviews were even worse. Roger Ebert’s review was so negative that Eberhard said she could “hardly stand up” after reading it.
Eberhard felt that the movie’s chances were shot down by reviews from a few influential names: Ebert, Kevin Thomas of the L.A. Times and Lawrence Van Gelder of the New York Times. A big studio movie with a large advertising budget can overcome bad reviews, but a small independent film can’t.
A number of reviews were positive, but they were mostly in smaller markets or in less influential outlets, such as the “Girls on Film” Web site, which called it “quite winning.”
Eberhard, at her office in San Diego, described her mental state as: “Baffled. And really exhausted.”
Another local film shoot
Meanwhile, another movie is now being filmed in Spokane, Rosalia and Deer Park.
The working title is “Roadblock” and it is a made-for-TV movie starring Michael Madsen, James Russo and Robert Miano, all of whom were last seen in “Donnie Brasco.” It also stars Jeff Fahey (“The Marshal”) and Gary Busey (“Buddy Holly Story,” “Lethal Weapon,” “Under Siege”), although all of Busey’s scenes were shot in L.A.
It is being filmed by North By Northwest, a Spokane production company, on contract with Two Stix Productions in L.A. Joey Travolta (John’s brother) is the director. This is the latest in a series of made-for-TV movies shot by North By Northwest. All are strictly action movies, aimed at the late-night HBO and Showtime market and the European market.
“We blew up a parade float yesterday in Rosalia,” said Rich Cowan of North By Northwest on Thursday. “We’ll be blowing up a car today in a couple of hours.”
They filmed in Deer Park two weeks ago, Rosalia last week and will be in Spokane this week. Rosalia and Deer Park masqueraded as upstate New York, while Spokane will masquerade as New York City (??!!).
“Roadblock” should hit the small screen sometime in April or May, although by then the name may be “Detour” or “Dangerous Curves” or some other road-sign-like name (they haven’t decided yet). Ironically, it will probably be seen by more people than “Love Always.”
Here Kitty, Kitty
Look for Kitty Kelley, Spokane product and author of “The Royals,” to make an appearance at Auntie’s Bookstore sometime in mid-December.
Kelley, the mega-selling gossipmonger, normally tours only the biggest markets, but the people at Auntie’s discovered she was coming to Spokane for the holidays. They asked if she would be willing to do a reading. She said yes.
The exact date is being worked out.
Lighting up a Winston
George Winston is producing some beautiful music at the box office.
The patriarch of Windham Hill solo piano music has already sold out his original date at The Met on Nov. 5, and now a second date has been added, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are available at Street Music or through G&B Select-a-Seat.
The new Magic Lantern?
The “all-new Magic Lantern,” as a new theater-pub in the old Magic Lantern location is being billed, is scheduled to open on Oct. 31 with a special Halloween evening.
The plan calls for a showing of the horror movie “Scream,” sandwiched between two stand-up comedy sets from Charlie Laborte. Beer, wine and pizza by the slice will be available, assuming that the place gets its liquor license on time.
This theater-pub idea comes courtesy of the new owners, McQ’s Entertainment, which also owns McQ’s Billiards in the Valley and Swackhammers in Spokane. They have extensively remodeled the old theater, putting in all new seats with more legroom and a one-foot “buddy bar” on each seat to hold your pizza and brew.
They intend to present a mix of second-run movies, art films and live entertainment. Keep an eye out for further details about the opening weekend lineup of movies.
The other new Magic Lantern
Meanwhile, expect a legal fight over that name. Kathryn Graham and Larry Blair, the co-owners of the Magic Lantern for the past eight years, are going ahead with plans to open their own Magic Lantern, a new four-screen theater in a historic building in the Gonzaga district. It should be open by December.
It will have the same eclectic mix of art films, foreign films and independent films that Spokane’s moviegoers have grown to love.
Who gets to keep the name? Motions please, counsel.
New face in the morning
Nicole McGregor has taken over as co-anchor on KXLY-4’s “Good Morning Northwest.”
She is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and she previously worked in California and the Tri-Cities. She joins Jason Brooks and Bob Day.
Her predecessor, Tonia Bendickson, left last week for an anchor position in Houston.
, DataTimes MEMO: Spotlight is weekly column of news and commentary on the arts and media. To leave a message on Jim Kershner’s voice-mail, call 459-5493. Or send e-mail to jimk@spokesman.com, or regular mail to Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.