Remember when everyone was surprised that Michelle Pfeiffer, the Michelle Pfeiffer, made a movie that went straight to DVD? The movie was I Could Never Be Your Woman. Generally 8 figure salaried movie stars are guaranteed theatrical release, even if it's only a lousy week on a tiny screen to meet contractual obligations. Straight to DVD tends to be more of a career bogeyman for the C list or the 'never quite A list and can't say 'no' ' type players.But despite the improbability of doubled DVD disaster, could it be happening again? Personal Effects, a drama she recently made costarring Ashton Kutcher and helmed by novice feature director David Hollander has no US release date as of yet and no US distributor listed on IMBD. Plus, it's already advertised for a February DVD release in Germany. What the hell is going on?
It's impossible to know, prior to signing on the dotted line, if a movie in its eventual finished form will be a piece of crap or a masterpiece (or any gradation between) but one does begin to wonder why Pfeiffer, resurgent after a long hiatus with Hairspray, Stardust and the upcoming Cheri, agreed to star in another picture with an untested feature director and questionable distribution prospects. Especially since she doesn't work that often to begin with. Now, Hollander might be a find (who knows? we haven't seen the film) and if no stars took chances on novice talent the cinema would be a much poorer place --and if Pfeiffer never did she wouldn't have the Fabulous crown jewel of her filmography -- but I'm a pfan. I can't help but worry. I can't help but worry a lot.
To borrow from Rachel Maddow... "Talk Me Down" in the comments.
*
