USA Today is reporting upon the cancellation of the premieres of the violent films Django Unchained and Jack Reacher.
Hollywood is taking a step back this week as the nation mourns the tragedy in Newtown, Conn.
The Weinstein Company canceled its premiere of Django Unchained in Los Angeles, following Paramount’s decision to postpone its Jack Reacher premiere this coming Wednesday in Pittsburgh.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the tragedy in Newtown, CT and in this time of national mourning we have decided to forgo our scheduled event,” said a spokesperson for The Weinstein Company on Monday. “However, we will be holding a private screening for the cast and crew and their friends and families.”
To be clear, as of now, both Django Unchained and Jack Reacher will arrive in theaters across the country on their scheduled opening dates, but the celebratory events that launch big features like these films will not be happening.
Personally, I’ve been looking forward to Django Unchained for months and am still planning on seeing the film. Though I wasn’t a Tarantino fan until I saw Inglorious Basterds, I can’t wait to see Django… Though I will admit that it is hard to detach from any gun violence after Friday’s horrifying mass murder.
In light of the horrific massacre in Newtown last week, do you feel that canceling the premieres of violent films is appropriate in a time of massive grief? Is this a sign of how we should be rethinking violence in Hollywood?
If you are a fan of violent media, has the tragedy in Newtown changed your mind about, or your tolerance for, graphic violence in movies, TV or games?
I find this fascinating, and welcome. I would not have considered tying these events together, but clearly Paramount and the Weinstein Company did, and I respect them immensely for their response, I believe it shows awareness, maturity and forethought. I’m not going to deny that violence in the media has an impact on violence in society, a number of studies have shown that link. I think it contributes to gun culture and misplaced ideals and perceptions, and we do need to address that. Neo wasn’t cool because he was a nice guy, he was cool because he killed things –… Read more »