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The Alamo Drafthouse Enters The Film Distribution Business! First Release Is Chris Morris's Terrorist Comedy FOUR LIONS!
Beaks here...
Tim League, the Founder and CEO of the Alamo Drafthouse recently announced his plan to expand his franchise of badass cinemas - where moviegoers can eat, drink and be assured of zero jackassery from unruly patrons - across the country. This was great news for cinephiles. What he announced today may be even more exciting.
Introducing Drafthouse Films, the new distribution arm of the Alamo Drafthouse! The company's first release: FOUR LIONS, a ballsy terrorist satire from BRASS EYE mastermind Chris Morris which played to great acclaim earlier this year at Sundance and South By Southwest. According to the below press release, Morris and the film will go on a ten-city promotional tour of the U.S. this October; after that, the film will hit theaters in New York City, Los Angeles and Austin, followed by expansion to other markets.
The idea of Tim League distributing outrageous or difficult-to-market movies is a happy one. Though IFC Films and other smaller companies have done an admirable job in rolling out fucked-up fare like THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE, League will bring a much-needed showman's flair to the release of these movies. I shudder to think what he would've done with THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE; I've an idea of how much trouble he might be able to get into with FOUR LIONS. And I'm fucking thrilled. (This is, after all, the guy who unfurled Nazi banners during a screening of INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.)
But this isn't about generating controversy. It's about bringing risky films from talented directors to movie theaters. This business needs Tim League more than it knows. And if you value the moviegoing experience as much as I do, you should be hitting your knees and thanking the deity of your choosing that the Tim League Show will no longer be exclusive to Austin, Texas.
Here's the official release...
****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE****
DRAFTHOUSE FILMS TO DISTRIBUTE “FOUR LIONS”, THE ACCLAIMED COMEDY FROM DIRECTOR CHRIS MORRIS
Austin, TX---Thursday, September 9, 2010--- Alamo Drafthouse CEO and Founder Tim League announced today that he is expanding the renowned Alamo Drafthouse brand into film distribution under the banner Drafthouse Films (www.drafthousefilms.com). The first film to release under the new label will be Chris Morris’s astonishing new comedy Four Lions.
Four Lions is a whip-smart laugh out loud comedy that illuminates the war on terror through satire and farce. Blitzing the notion that a comedy about jihadists is a contradiction in terms, the film grossed an astounding £3M at the UK box office and was hailed by critics as “a brilliant film – astonishingly funny” causing “so many different kinds of laughter its almost incredible”.
Writer director Chris Morris based the idea on extensive research. “These cells have the same group dynamics as bachelor parties and five a side basketball teams. Plans are upset by arguments, egos, testosterone and idiocy. Terrorism is about ideology but it’s also about doofuses.”
Four Lions has taken the festival circuit by storm. Following its sell-out success as the buzz hit of the Sundance Film Festival, Four Lions packed the coveted closing night slot of South by Southwest, won the Independent Camera Award at Karlovy Vary and was voted Best Narrative Feature by audiences at the Los Angeles Film Festival.
“I’ve been a huge fan of Chris Morris’ comedic television and radio for years. To launch our new distribution label with what I consider to be a modern classic is a dream come true,” said Tim League.
Four Lions will kick off a 10 city promotional screening tour with Chris Morris in attendance in mid-October. The film is slated to release this fall in New York, Los Angeles and Austin and will expand wider in the following weeks.
About Four Lions
Chris Morris' Four Lions is a funny, thrilling comedy that illuminates modern jihadism through the prism of farce. It understands jihadists as human beings. And it understands human beings as innately ridiculous.
In a British city, four men have a secret plan. Omar (Riz Ahmed) is disillusioned about the treatment of muslims around the world and is determined to become a soldier. This is the most exciting idea Waj (Kayvan Novak) has ever heard. Better still it’s a no brainer because Omar does his thinking for him. Opposed to Omar and everyone else on earth is the white islamic convert Barry (Nigel Lindsay). He’d realize he joined the cell to channel his nihilism - if he had half the self knowledge of a duck. Faisal (Adeel Akhtar) is the odd man out. He can make a bomb – but he can’t blow himself up just now coz his sick dad has “started eating newspaper”. Instead he’s training crows to fly bombs through windows. This is what Omar has to deal with. They must strike a decisive blow on their own turf but can any of them strike a match without punching himself in the face?
Four Lions plunges us beyond seeing these young men as unfathomably alien. It undermines the folly of just wishing them away or, even worse, alienating the entire culture from which they emerge. The film is neither pro nor anti religious. The jokes fly out of the characters’ conflicts, excesses and mistakes. Crackling with wit and tension, Four Lions is the essential response to our failure to engage with reality and a high toast to the idea that laughter is better than killing.
About Alamo Drafthouse
The Alamo Drafthouse is a lifestyle entertainment brand with an acclaimed cinema-eatery, the largest genre film festival in the United Sates and an online collectible art store. Named "the best theater in America" by Entertainment Weekly, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has built a reputation as a movie lover's oasis not only by combining food and drink service with the movie-going experience, but also introducing unique programming and high-profile, star studded special events. Alamo Drafthouse Founder & CEO, Tim League, created Fantastic Fest, a world renowned film festival dubbed "The Geek Telluride" by Variety. Also regarded as the "Comic Con of film festivals" Fantastic Fest showcases eight days of offbeat cinema from independents, international filmmakers and major Hollywood Studios. The Alamo Drafthouse's collectible art boutique, Mondo, offers breathtaking, original products featuring designs from world-famous artists based on licenses for popular TV and Movie properties including Star Wars, Star Trek & Universal Monsters. The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is expanding its brand in new and exciting ways, including the launch of Drafthouse Films, a new film distribution label and plans to extend its theaters and unique programming philosophy to additional markets across the United States.
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Austin, TX---Thursday, September 9, 2010--- Alamo Drafthouse CEO and Founder Tim League announced today that he is expanding the renowned Alamo Drafthouse brand into film distribution under the banner Drafthouse Films (www.drafthousefilms.com). The first film to release under the new label will be Chris Morris’s astonishing new comedy Four Lions.
Four Lions is a whip-smart laugh out loud comedy that illuminates the war on terror through satire and farce. Blitzing the notion that a comedy about jihadists is a contradiction in terms, the film grossed an astounding £3M at the UK box office and was hailed by critics as “a brilliant film – astonishingly funny” causing “so many different kinds of laughter its almost incredible”.
Writer director Chris Morris based the idea on extensive research. “These cells have the same group dynamics as bachelor parties and five a side basketball teams. Plans are upset by arguments, egos, testosterone and idiocy. Terrorism is about ideology but it’s also about doofuses.”
Four Lions has taken the festival circuit by storm. Following its sell-out success as the buzz hit of the Sundance Film Festival, Four Lions packed the coveted closing night slot of South by Southwest, won the Independent Camera Award at Karlovy Vary and was voted Best Narrative Feature by audiences at the Los Angeles Film Festival.
“I’ve been a huge fan of Chris Morris’ comedic television and radio for years. To launch our new distribution label with what I consider to be a modern classic is a dream come true,” said Tim League.
Four Lions will kick off a 10 city promotional screening tour with Chris Morris in attendance in mid-October. The film is slated to release this fall in New York, Los Angeles and Austin and will expand wider in the following weeks.
Chris Morris' Four Lions is a funny, thrilling comedy that illuminates modern jihadism through the prism of farce. It understands jihadists as human beings. And it understands human beings as innately ridiculous.
In a British city, four men have a secret plan. Omar (Riz Ahmed) is disillusioned about the treatment of muslims around the world and is determined to become a soldier. This is the most exciting idea Waj (Kayvan Novak) has ever heard. Better still it’s a no brainer because Omar does his thinking for him. Opposed to Omar and everyone else on earth is the white islamic convert Barry (Nigel Lindsay). He’d realize he joined the cell to channel his nihilism - if he had half the self knowledge of a duck. Faisal (Adeel Akhtar) is the odd man out. He can make a bomb – but he can’t blow himself up just now coz his sick dad has “started eating newspaper”. Instead he’s training crows to fly bombs through windows. This is what Omar has to deal with. They must strike a decisive blow on their own turf but can any of them strike a match without punching himself in the face?
Four Lions plunges us beyond seeing these young men as unfathomably alien. It undermines the folly of just wishing them away or, even worse, alienating the entire culture from which they emerge. The film is neither pro nor anti religious. The jokes fly out of the characters’ conflicts, excesses and mistakes. Crackling with wit and tension, Four Lions is the essential response to our failure to engage with reality and a high toast to the idea that laughter is better than killing.
The Alamo Drafthouse is a lifestyle entertainment brand with an acclaimed cinema-eatery, the largest genre film festival in the United Sates and an online collectible art store. Named "the best theater in America" by Entertainment Weekly, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has built a reputation as a movie lover's oasis not only by combining food and drink service with the movie-going experience, but also introducing unique programming and high-profile, star studded special events. Alamo Drafthouse Founder & CEO, Tim League, created Fantastic Fest, a world renowned film festival dubbed "The Geek Telluride" by Variety. Also regarded as the "Comic Con of film festivals" Fantastic Fest showcases eight days of offbeat cinema from independents, international filmmakers and major Hollywood Studios. The Alamo Drafthouse's collectible art boutique, Mondo, offers breathtaking, original products featuring designs from world-famous artists based on licenses for popular TV and Movie properties including Star Wars, Star Trek & Universal Monsters. The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is expanding its brand in new and exciting ways, including the launch of Drafthouse Films, a new film distribution label and plans to extend its theaters and unique programming philosophy to additional markets across the United States.
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especially the family scenes, round the breakfast table watching the vids and stuff. But still a great film.
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ya dirty kuffars
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if I was in the US and hadn't seen this film I would be punching my own face in excitement
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"FUCKIN' PAKI RAMBOO!"
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its actually kind of sad to think that someone would make a movie like this. Uwe Bol's representation of terrorism in Postal seems more tasteful than Four Lions.
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I suspect not.
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I plan to see it actually, i thought movies portraying home grown al qaeda were an old crass thing to do now like that bad showtime show 'sleeper cell'. I'm willing to be proven wrong. Although it's very hard for me to picture how it can be an intellectual smart comedy with a subject based on Tony Blair propaganda
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The Muslims in the movie are Brits. Great film.
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that alone makes it hard for me to believe this movie is in any way smart. here is a quote from him
“These cells have the same group dynamics as bachelor parties"
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Four Lions probably says more about the modern jihadist than anything to date - it's to terrorism what The Life Of Brian was to organised religion. And despite the balls out comedy, I thought the theme and intent was very serious and plays on an uncomfortable truth that a lot of these jihadists are essentially young men who are angry, disenfranchised, just downright thick and most tragically of all, very easily led on.
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Watch the film before you start judging it. Groups of 'men' or 'women' have a dynamic that is irrelevant to their motivation, and might as well be a bachelor party or a bunch of terrorists.
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Good call on Life of Brian! Absolutely.
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It's about time somebody had the balls to 'send up' these clowns on film. I just hope he doesn't get "Theo Van Gogh'd" for it.
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the notion that terrorist sleeper cells exist in western society is based on fear mongering myth.
Like i said i'm going to see this movie, and i'm totally open to being proven wrong. -
i did not mean to imply the birth or life of jesus was a reality but only that the catholic and christian religions are.
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It's a good and unique movie that US audiences really should get the chance to see. If In The Loop can find an audience over there, this should be able to as well.
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are a sleeper cell, then we have nothing to fear. They are only a sleeper cell in that their brain cells are certainly sleeping. That said, it is a surprisingly poignant film which deals with the issue pretty intelligently. Omar's brother in particular has a lot to say about the stereotype of 'fundamentalist' muslims.
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Sep 09, 2010 2:38:29 PM CDT
I love what Alamo Drafthouse is doing with and for movies.
by moonlightdrive
I just wish I was able to participate in what they did but living in South Florida it makes it harder.
However, I really want to see this movie. This is great news!
Alamo Drafthouse comes up with great ideas but when you love your subject it makes it easier. It's a shame the big chains don't take a note out of their book instead of being only about the green. -
cultural center going in at the location of the old burlington coat factory near ground zero which more than likely will get built since the imam behind it went on Larry King said in so many words let it be built....or else.
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Legend.
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will GUARANTEE at least one suicide bombing in the US
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Sep 09, 2010 4:12:11 PM CDT
So, is it true that Alamo may be franchising to other cities?
by gruntybear
I heard through the grapevine that the Alamo Drafthouse may open up satellite theaters in non-Austin cities. Like possibly NYC or Chicago. Is it true? Chicago desperately needs a theater like the Alamo.
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I'm gonna turn you to baked beans.
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It's a brilliant film. Well played Alamo Drafthouse. Everyone should go see it: support original independent movies!
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Looks like New York and LA will be the first Alamo Drafthouse expansion theaters. That makes sense if he's also getting into film distribution. He'll need a base in those cities. Chicago certainly stands out as a potential city, as Capone already has a base of fans there. Maybe some day we'll finally get a chance to open an Alamo Drafthouse in Louisville, but it will certainly have to wait until this Recession is only a memory.
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let Chicago be picked for expansion theaters.
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I went to click the link for Ronald Reagan biopic story... and I got this site......
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I Understand the Risks -
...why can't WARP distribute it in the States themselves? Weird.
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Really, really, really uneven. For every joke that hits there's about three that miss (some by a mile).I can't really seeing breaking through, because while it's a bit controversial, not enough to create any real stink (or interest), and it's not genuinely funny enough to gather 'non-stop-laugh-riot" word of mouth.
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Sep 09, 2010 7:02:32 PM CDT
CHRIS MORRIS' JAM IS HIS MASTERPIECE!!!FACT!!!
by creationisttechnophobicmaniacs
Man, I consider myself privilaged to have been in Britain circa 99-2000 when Spaced and Jam premiered.
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loved this film, found it funnier on my second viewing. I now have it on DVD :)
I just took a picture of me face and it's defo not my confused face -
They are starting to branch out beyond Texas and over the next year or two, it will explode nationwide! I can't wait!!!
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I hope your talking about Blue Jam the radio broadcast as that pissed all over the TV show.
For anyone who wants to hear Morris' genius in action check out the Blue Jam radio series 1 - 3 here:http://tinyurl.com/3a5owjhAmazing how much he got away with, and way ahead of it's time. -
this is the PERFECT market for it. we have one hipster theater that serves beer, but it's tiny and kinda crappy.
something like the Alamo Drafthouse here in Seattle would flourish immediately, trust me. -
...they're not a sleeper cell. Nowhere in the press release does it mention sleeper cells. Or in the actual movie- for a very good reason. They're not a sleeper cell. So going on about how the "filmmaker believes in al queda sleeper cells" and using that as a basis to is ridiculous. He doesn't.
"the notion that terrorist sleeper cells exist in western society is based on fear mongering myth"
Uh-huh. And what does that have do with Four Lions? Oh... nothing. Right. Nice one.
"Although it's very hard for me to picture how it can be an intellectual smart comedy with a subject based on Tony Blair propaganda"
It's not. Unless you're suggesting the London bombings in July 7th 2005 were nothing but propaganda. In which case you're probably the last person who should see anything intellectual and smart. -
should be "as a basis to criticise the film"... I'm not that smart when it comes to typing either.
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The man is beyond genius. Anyone who says otherwise is talking NONCE-SENSE.
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They'll pump you full of Viagra. Make you fuck a dog! FOUR LIONS is the shit. Go see this movie. It's a great choice to kickstart a new venture.
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They're not a terrorist sleeper cell in the film, they are British-born muslims who have become radicalized. If you don't think they exist in reality then you obviously pay no attention to world events. Haven't you heard about the July 2005 tube/bus bombings, or the various other attempted bombings on British soil?
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See the IRA in mainland Britain throughout the 1970s ans 1980s.
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Best film i've seen all decade. I laughed out loud for the first hour or so and then, oddly, I felt really really sorry for all terrorists involved. Very touching in an absurdist way. Especially the mungo from Fonejacker, nearly broke my heart when he wasn't being hilariously handicapped
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Sep 10, 2010 6:49:11 AM CDT
Eh up you kaffir bastards I'm goin to make you into baked beans
by jeffwode
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Several posters have commented (some without actually seeing the film, how surprising!) that the storyline is somehow "old" !
How can it be old when we had a group of disillusioned muslim men willfully blowing themselves up on the London transport network?
Not only was the film very funny, it was also very sad and touching in places, it strode the fine line between humour and tasteful very well considering it was from the pen of Chris Morris -
very few laughs. dont bother with it.
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one of the two released this year i saw twice (the other was Toy Story 3). Four Lions is hilarious.
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I mean I heard it's polarised audiences and you're entitled to an opinion but if you can't react to, say, a man accidentally martyring himself via sheep while carrying shopping bags of explosives then I feel a little sorry for you. I got alot of out the film though, I think it needs to be seen. As someone up there put it, does for terrorism what Life of Brian did for religion
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This film is being released by Magnolia and they are afraid of the politics and hiding behind Alamo so this is nothing but League acting big time when he is a pissant.
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i dunno how else to put it, i just kept looking at how much time was left wanting to get to the end. mind you, i turned off exendables with about half an hour to go. that was fucking awful. monty python's shit too though, maybe thats why i dont like four lions?
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Sounds like something not so much shocking but instead douchebag-like.
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Or at least Toledo, Ohio. I can make it out there! And are you going to list the cities it will hit soon?
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Great film. Reminded me of Dr.Strangelove in it's humour and the denoument was just as black/bleak.
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Movie sounds good and I trust Tim League explicity to bring great cinema to the masses.
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aren't you don murphy or one of his crones. Cunt
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