Miramax For Sale

[frogboy4]

Disney has placed Miramax on the market and the Weinstein’s, originators of the company, are among the companies eying the sale. This means something to Muppet fans because of Disney's new focus on being a heavily branded company with its own Disney, Marvel, Muppets and Pixar labels. Miramax is just trouble and small potatoes to them now. Could this be a step backward or forward for independent film? Will a sale help put more focus on the Muppet brand along with their others? If the Weinstein’s buy Miramax, will it help or hurt the financially crippled company? And what about the Fraggle Rock movie?

Disney's initial purchase of Miramax in the early 90s was controversial and there have been bumps along the way, but through it all indie films flourished. Is this a trend that every quality movie of the future will have to be an Imax 3D remake of an already established property?

Before the Disney 1993 sale released these films of note, among others: Sex, Lies, and Videotape, My Left Foot, The Grifters, Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, Madonna: Truth or Dare, Bob Roberts, Reservoir Dogs, The Crying Game.

After the Disney 1993 sale released these films of note, among others: Kill Bill, The Aviator, The Queen, No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, Doubt, Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Bullets Over Broadway, Gangs of New York, Chicago, The Crow, The Piano, Il Postino, Basquiat, Trainspotting, The English Patient, Swingers, Good Will Hunting, Jackie Brown, 54, Shakespeare in Love, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Bridget Jones’s Diary films, Chocolat, Amelie, The Others, Apocalypse Now Redux, Pokemon 4Ever (and others), Finding Neverland, Garden State, Cold Mountain, Hostage, Kinky Boots, Tsotsi, The Bothers Grimm, Holywoodland, Adventureland

 

[Drtooth]

If the Weistines put buying up this company ahead of the FR movie, Henson should say, "Sorry... this isn't going to work out" and head over to Lionsgate, which I really want them to do (after all, they're the ones that are helping to distribute their old material). The company has little money as it is, buying up a studio is absolutely idiotic, especially if they can barely afford to get movies out on their own. There's less and less I like about the Weinstines, and the fact the movie has been in development purgatory because of them just gets me furious and lessening in hope this film will make it.

IF and only if this gives them some sort of muscle and they get back in the top of their game, I'd say go for it... but if they can barely afford to make any movies on their own, and need multiple studio partners, then no... no. Not unless the studio comes with its own wealthy executives at no extra cost.