Apparently, you need higher than a 14 percent rating on rottentomatoes.com for your movie to play nationwide. Who’d have guessed films have to be coherent before they reach us? Fox Searchlight yanked Gentlemen Broncos from theaters beyond the two in L.A. and New York where it debuted after reviewers creamed the film. Here’s a sample of the carnage: “If you didn't know otherwise, you'd swear that Gentlemen Broncos was made by a disaffected high school student — and not a particularly talented one,” writes Claudia Puig in USA Today.
Our very own Armond White gave it a fairly positive reception. “Making movies from inside the heads of these characters means Hess somewhat neglects the film’s social vision. What appears like an uncertain sci-fi parody and humanist satire (the probable result of seeking indie commerciality), is actually just Hess’ awkward working-through of sci-fi fascination and real-world astonishment,” he wrote.
The Gentlemen Broncos' dud highlights Fox Searchlight’s less-than-stellar box office earnings this year. They grossed only $12.6 million for Whip It, and critics say they could have milked more earnings from the roller derby romance.
Let’s hope they turn things around with Fantastic Mr. Fox, Wes Anderson’s first animated flick:
