TARA BRADYon the idiosyncracies of the Irish box office
WHATEVER happened to counterprogramming? Back in the day, smaller, smarter arthouse flicks cannily positioned themselves against humungous tentpole releases, knowing they’d receive just a little more attention on review pages. Then everybody started doing it. And boom. The smaller releases all cancelled each other out. Then everybody stopped doing it.
Hence, last week's release slate looked awfully like the last airlift out of Da Nang as every movie clambered to beat the oncoming onslaught from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.(The Ticket reviewed eight films.) Somebody ought to have spotted the great gaping hole beside the vampire franchise on the release slate this week. But no. Instead, chaos reigned and the smaller, smarter arthouse flicks – notably Wuthering Heightsand Weekend– sank without trace.
Not only did these titles tread ungainly on one another's toes: they picked the wrong time of year to do so. November, the traditional springboard for a Harry Potter, is a month for the big boys. Just ask Sensation: the Irish contender limped out of the top 20 after one week with a little more than €13,000 in its pocket. Or The Rum Diary: its €47,117 weekend take is no flop, but it's a poor showing for a Johnny Depp picture.
In keeping with the season, Titans reigned at the UK box office. Dublin's Cineworld was the third busiest site in the UK and Ireland for Immortalslast weekend; the Parnell Street emporium alone took €30,452 from the Flash Gordonclone.
Still, it wasn't enough to make Immortals, well, immortal. Unlike our British chums, we favoured Arthur Christmasto the tune of €43,000. Try not to look surprised: kid's movies frequently take a disproportionate chunk of change in Ireland. The Smurfsexited the Republic's top 20 last week with more than €2,138,908; The Adventures of Tintinis slowly ticking its way toward the million mark; T he Lion King 3Dcontinues to roar at No 11 with €1,313,657. The latter currently accounts for 12.5 per cent of the overall UK take, when 10 per cent is normally a cause for celebration.
The appetite for all things cartoon Down Here is equalled and occasionally surpassed in Northern Ireland, where The Smurfscontinues to play in several cinemas with €611,307 (in your money) already in the coffers.
Is there any hope for the little guy in such a crowded marketplace? Well, yes. This week we salute Midnight in Paris(again) sitting pretty with €318,281 at No 14, and Drive, one of the year's best films, one place lower with a whopping €623,380 take. Good will out. Sometimes.
