General Discussion

In disappointing news, Icon Film Distribution decided not to release Get the Gringo (which is on this site with the now-inaccurate former title of How I Spent My Summer Vacation) in any theaters. None. Zero.

It looked like a cool movie, and its VOD and DVD showings should be pretty strong. But not getting a theatrical release makes the movie seem like it almost doesn't count. I'm annoyed they didn't at least show it in LA and NYC. That shouldn't have been too expensive, right? What if it is good and people saw it in high numbers?

It is showing in my country as How I Spent My Summer Vacation, pretty much came out of nowhere though.

Wow. I'd REALLY love to know the honest story about why this happened. Maybe they're making a bold move and sidling the bloated studio system in order to get their passion project seen? Yeah, I didn't believe that when I was typing it, either.

It basically seems like Mel has finally fucked himself. He wrote this, is starring in it, and it's already pissed off about 300 people before it was even shot. So any distribution company who touched it would immediately be infected with some bad Gibson Juju.

I think maybe it's time to just be a creepy racist millionaire, and gracefully step out of the lime light.

@gangly: lot's of celebrities have done bad things. he has apologized and pleaded guilty. should the star's mistakes really ruin the movie?

@Mr_skeleton said:

It is showing in my country as How I Spent My Summer Vacation, pretty much came out of nowhere though.

what country are you in?

@VioletEyedDragon said:

@gangly: lot's of celebrities have done bad things. he has apologized and pleaded guilty. should the star's mistakes really ruin the movie?

Of course they should! We all make mistakes, but there is a wide range of fuck ups.I was a big Gibson fan too. I still think Apocalypto is an amazing film. But the fucked up shit that the dude did can't just be forgiven because he said he's sorry.

You apologize when your're a kid and you eat an extra cookie or something, not when you're violently drunk and scream "Jews cause all wars" at a cop. "I'm sorry" doesn't make that go away. But that's not even my point...

I was really just saying that because of all that shit (not to mention the recorded phone calls and every fucking crazy other thing) that it seems like he's been pretty much blacklisted by other people in the business. And whether you'd say that's "fair" or not, I certainly don't blame 'em.

If run of the mill schlock like Edge of Darkness can get a theatrical release and this can't, chances are its awful, Mel Gibson issues or not.

In a world without hate, in a time before prejudice, there stood one insane, drunken lewd of a man

Hmm, well Icon is run by Mel Gibson, I think (it's his production company), so I'm assuming he's on board with the decision. I also assume that the box office failure of The Beaver might have something to do with it.

@gangly said:

@VioletEyedDragon said:

@gangly: lot's of celebrities have done bad things. he has apologized and pleaded guilty. should the star's mistakes really ruin the movie?

Of course they should! We all make mistakes, but there is a wide range of fuck ups.I was a big Gibson fan too. I still think Apocalypto is an amazing film. But the fucked up shit that the dude did can't just be forgiven because he said he's sorry.

You apologize when your're a kid and you eat an extra cookie or something, not when you're violently drunk and scream "Jews cause all wars" at a cop. "I'm sorry" doesn't make that go away. But that's not even my point...

I was really just saying that because of all that shit (not to mention the recorded phone calls and every fucking crazy other thing) that it seems like he's been pretty much blacklisted by other people in the business. And whether you'd say that's "fair" or not, I certainly don't blame 'em.

if Roman Polanski is still winning Oscars and Mike Tyson is the star of THE HANGOVER there shouldn't be a problem with Mel Gibson making movies.

But you are right. lack of political correctness is the one crime Hollywood people won't forgive.

@The_Patriarch said:

If run of the mill schlock like Edge of Darkness can get a theatrical release and this can't, chances are its awful, Mel Gibson issues or not.

i kind of hope so, because if not than it is really terrible this won't get a theatrical release.

@Rorie said:

Hmm, well Icon is run by Mel Gibson, I think (it's his production company), so I'm assuming he's on board with the decision. I also assume that the box office failure of The Beaver might have something to do with it.

yeah that is true. but Get the Gringo has a more mass-appealing concept. I think there is a good chance people would have seen this.

The only person that could save Gibson at this point is probably RDJ. Anyway, rape of all varieties(Tyson/Polanski/Roethlisberger), pedophilia(Pete Townshend), domestic abuse(Josh Brolin/Michael Fassbender/Chris Brown) are all apparently minuscule offenses compared to drunken racism.

@Dallas_Raines: I was glad when RDJ spoke up for Gibson.