Palin Movie Debuts to an Empty Theater in Orange County, CA

[babylonsister]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/07/15/palin_movi...

July 15, 2011

Palin Movie Debuts to an Empty Theater


Conor Friedersdorf went to the premier of the new Sarah Palin documentary, The Undefeated, in Orange County, CA.

"It isn't strictly accurate to say that I sat through the whole movie alone. Just as the previews started, two young women walked in giggling together and took seats three rows behind me... But they only lasted 20 minutes before walking out. After that, it is strictly accurate to say that the theater was empty, except for me."

[lillypaddle]

1. heh heh!

Love it!

[barbtries]

2. hehe

dream come true. it's the only rational response to this movie: don't go.

[66 dmhlt]

54. Yeah, but does this mean she's out of the Oscar running?

[Joe Bacon]

64. She's in the RAZZIE running!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/awards/2011/07/razzie-a...

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. Add to your Headline Orange County because

that is a very red county in California.

anyway I was about to post the same story

"Why aren't you seeing Harry Potter?" an usher said to the reporter sitting alone in the audience



When the clock struck 12:01 am today, AMC theaters in select cities were permitted to start showing "The Undefeated," a feature length documentary about Sarah Palin. As it happens, I'm visiting my parents in Orange County, Calif., home to one of just 10 theaters where the film is being rolled out. Watching it didn't interest me so much as going to interview folks who decided to attend. I figured I'd meet some nice people, perhaps run into someone who knows my grandparents, press five or six Palin fans on why they like her, and convey their worldview. It's my experience that the grassroots doesn't fit the caricature of its champions or its detractors.

In the parking lot of The Block, an outdoor mall in the City of Orange, I worried that arriving 45 minutes early was cutting it too close: it took 20 minutes to find parking, and folks were lining up scores deep outside the theater box office. Our airport is named after John Wayne. Ronald Reagan remains a hero to many. Even Richard Nixon's association with this place is treated as a point of pride. When I was growing up here, a local hotel broadcast the Rush Limbaugh program everyday in its restaurant. I should've known there'd be a big turnout, I thought.

As I approached, however, I realized that most people present were dressed in costume. The crowd was either showing ironic solidarity with Christine O'Donnell, the tea party candidate who is not a witch, or else everyone was there to see the Harry Potter movie playing on a majority of the theater's 30 screens. Without any way of telling Palin moviegoers from Potter fans dressed up like muggles, I'd have to pay, go to the assigned theater, and look for interviewees.

I hurried through the teenage hordes, bypassed a concession stand that sold 1,020 calories of soda for $5.25, and entered theater number 30, hoping I'd have ample time before the previews to talk to some people. But inside, the theater was empty. I sat there alone for 20 minutes, at which point an usher stuck his head in the door, gave me a quizzical smile, and said, "How come you're not watching Harry Potter?" Then he left me by myself again, and without any good answer.


http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/07/sar... /

[babylonsister]

8. Done, thanks. nt

[Stardust]

63. Oh, that's rich. nt

[Beavker]

80. Harry Potter is more realistic

than failin' Palin's movie.

[SpiralHawk]

4. The RepubliBaggers are flocking to the Satanic "Harry Potter" movie

They beeleeves that Harry is Sarah Pale Horse in drag...I suppose that, for this transgression and so many others, the RepubliBaggers will roast in the eternal flames of HELL along with Sarah.

[nc4bo]

5. Next - Palin action figures, lunch boxes, bookbags. Later - toilet paper, litter box liners

etc.

[Aerows]

12. Many of the articles about her

in the newspaper, especially when they have a picture of her, already end up as litter box liners in my home. It's highly satisfying to make sure the picture is right on top, and then dump the litter on it

Bush and Cheney used to get the same treatment, but they aren't in the paper as much anymore.

[nc4bo]

15. Excellent use of that newspaper!!

LOL at kitty getting a chance to express her displeasure too

[Aerows]

21. Oh, trust me

kitty expresses her displeasure all over those pictures

[PoliticAverse]

23. You'll be sorry...

when the cat starts complaining to you about high-taxes on job-creators...

[Aerows]

25. It's far more likely

that kitty will start using expressions like "Don't retreat, reload". She certainly heads to the food bowl often enough to "reload".

[nc4bo]

28. LOL! nt

[malaise]

6. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaah

Run Lady Blah Blah run......back to Alaska

[barbtries]

7. here's the whole story:

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/07/sar... /

worth the read

[malaise]

13. "Why aren't you seeing Harry Potter?" an usher said to the reporter sitting alone in the audience

[Cereal Kyller]

9. Empty theater for an empty head

Fitting.

[CBGLuthier]

10. Palinabilia: Coming Soon to your local Dollar Tree

[PoliticAverse]

11. Sorry, I find this hard to believe...

$5.25 for a soda?!

[salin]

14. lol

[SpiralHawk]

16. Yup. Check it out with Clarence Thomas (R)

That's the cost of things since Republicons like Clarence came on the scene and inflicted their degenerate family values on a formerly honorable America.

[Buns_of_Fire]

31. The reference to Clarence Thomas in a soda context intrigues me...

Does this mean that the folks of Orange County have to PAY for pubic hairs on their sodas now? Damn. I remember when you'd get them on your soda for free!

[woodsprite]

17. It's because they are SOOOOO supersized.

I think you'd get less soda if you actually brought your own 1 liter bottle. It's ridiculous! Even the small is freakin' huge. My 11yo son, husband and I can share a small soda and it lasts us through the whole movie - AND we're munching on a small sized popcorn, so we probably are drinking more than we would if we just had soda.

We're off to see Harry Potter tonight. I am hoping they don't show any previews to The Quitter (I refuse to call it by it's real name). If they do, I may just have to leave for a moment. Maybe I'll embarrass my daughter and just ask if there are any adverts for it before entering.

[Chimichurri]

19. I can't believe you

made me chuckle.

[barbtries]

44. believe it.

best to smuggle in your treats.

[rasputin1952]

73. That's how theaters make their $ these days...

they don't get a lot from the film, so they make it up in "goodies". I once got thrown out of a theater for bringing in a 1 liter Pepsi...even though I bought the tub of buttered popcorn...(for $4.50). Last time I was in a theater, it was $4.25 for a hot dog that looked like it was on the rollers since Lincoln was president...looked like a burnt sacrifice to the cinema gods...

[pstokely]

18. Some group will buy all the tickets in bulk like they do books

nt

[FormerDittoHead]

24. This. I wouldn't be surprised if the theater was actually "sold out".

I once worked with a magician(!) who had a show in our little town at the high school auditorium.

The tickets were sold through one of the local clubs (Rotary / Lions / Elks / I forget).

THE SHOW WAS SOLD OUT. The pressure was ON!

The show started, however, and there were like 5 grown ups and 20 kids in the whole audience.

[judesedit]

47. Love it! You're absolutely right! And it will probably be the Palin's

: >

[hatrack]

20. DEFEATED!

[HipChick]

22. Political Tease..

Read the comments..

From the comments..

People are NOT going to pay to watch a Palin documentary. Not even the few supporters she has. I wouldn't watch it for free. And I am a Republican who is on a mission to defeat Obama next year.

Palin has done well, but her time is up. The 3 million on her FB means nothing. People might at one time supported her, but a lot has changed. Her interviews on FOX have been disastrous and her celebrity choosing sunk her political career..and she quit her AK job. She was never running for any higher when she stepped down. She lead on her supporters..shame on her. She'll be the most hated republican when she announces she is not running. Bet on it. Palin is not running

[Speed8098]

71. And I am a Republican who is on a mission to defeat Obama next year

And which of the candidates do you presume will be better?

[Javaman]

26. Was he wearing an overcoat?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

35. ...

[global1]

27. I Predict That In The Future This Movie Will Become Campy On Par With Rocky Horror Picture Show.....

and the Sound Of Music Sing-a-long show. People will come to the show dressed as their favorite Palin character and will make fun and parrot the lines of the movie.

[Buns_of_Fire]

33. Sounds like fun!

Instead of "Where's your fuckin' neck?" we'll hear shouts of "You betcha!" when she appears and "Get off my lawn, you damned kids!" every time McCain is on screen. People will do fancy pageant walkin' up on the stage, and the more politically astute will have water pistols filled with Kool-Aid to shoot at each other.

[global1]

36. See The Idea Is Catching On.....

some very creative suggestions. I can see women coming to the theatre in waders.

Thinking about this more - really a group of us should do this and get the media to cover it. Make Sarah more of a laughing stock then she already is.

What other things can we do at this movie?

[Buns_of_Fire]

39. I'm sure it'll evolve. At midnight, after a few doobies, who knows WHAT people will think of!

[Erose999]

40. I don't think any Palin tribute event would be complete without the sacrifice of a turkey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_ybEbrQeOA&feature=rela...

[Erose999]

41. And also, the applying of lipstick to animals, especially pigs and pitbulls.

[JHB]

43. It'll be a "weed" movie, like Reefer Madness...

...best seen in a state of non-sobreity for maximum laffs.

[Joe Bacon]

65. More like Idi Amin Dada...

[ThomThom]

69. no way Rocky Horror has redeeming social value Palin has none

opening the same night as Harry Potter how really stupid can you get. Do the theater have to run it if no one shows? Rocky horror also has some good tunes. I hope Palin doesn't sing.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

88. Exposing a narcissistic grifter with the mother of all persecution complexes *is*...

a redeeming social value. Great fun will be had with this flick -- at Sister Sarah's expense.

[TheCowsCameHome]

29. Costume Day: Everyone came dressed as an empty seat.

[rasputin1952]

74. ...

[hifiguy]

30. It is clear that the universe has a

sense of humor.

[Scuba]

32. My guess is it'll draw better here in Wisconsin....

...where 2-3 liberals will buy tickets for intelligence gathering purposes. They'll share what they learn with the rest of us.


Intelligence gathering at the Palin flick - too ironic!

[NV Whino]

34. Not that I'm not enjoying this

but the film probably started at 12:01 AM... as in 1 minute past midnight. I don't find it surprising that nobody wants to look at Sarah at that time of morning.

[pstokely]

38. They all have to get up for work in the morning

same excuse they used for OxyRush's failed late night show

[obxhead]

37. Whoever decided to open this film on the same weekend as

the final loooooong awaited Harry Potter movie was beyond stupid.

Must have been palin's idea.

[KurtNYC]

53. totally different audience and this was supposed to be the next phase

of America's love affair with Sarah Palin. The first being the bus tour...

They should (or did) target thid film to the guys who think Palin is a MILF -- and the "M" doesn't stand for Muggle.

[Blue Owl]

42. tee hee hee

[ThoughtCriminal]

45. No way am I going to watch it without the Bots

I'm not sure that even Crow and Servo could make that watchable.

[Cereal Kyller]

46. Kicking that which I have already recced

'cause I LUVVIT!

[treestar]

48. Bwaahhaaaha

Deal with it, quitter!

[EvolveOrConvolve]

49. What's wrong with the fucking woman?

Who the hell debuts their movie on the same night as Harry Potter?

[dana_b]

52. someone who is completely

full of herself and clueless.

[idrahaje]

50. worse than Whale Rider

my 2 sons and one other lady showed for a Whale Rider showing in 2002.

[tblue37]

67. Too bad. _Whale Rider_ was a lovely film. nt

[rpannier]

51. First it was the Ayn Rand movie now the Palin movie

Wish their ideas attracted less attention

[DFW]

55. Here's how the Palin camp will spin it:

"At the end of the movie, absolutely EVERYone in the theater had something to say."

[Contrary1]

56. Doing much better in Texas, according to a conservative site I frequent

Today's attendance numbers from Grapevine, Texas for Undefeated:

68 at 11:10
38 at 1:50
55 at 4:30

[mwb970]

75. It's amazing that they got even that many.

I mean, how many people will actually PAY to watch a piece of crap for two hours?

[and-justice-for-all]

57. No one cares about that wreck..nt

[Yavin4]

58. How Is Palin "Undefeated"?

She lost in 2008, and she quit in 2009.

[polly7]

87. and ... she quit her bus tour / vacation. n/t.

[unkachuck]

59. K&R....damn, I missed the premier....n/t

[progrocktv]

60. I don't watch Science Fiction (nt)

[caseymoz]

61. I'd say the free market has spoken. lol.

[Zambero]

62. Andy Warhol has thus decreed...

No more extensions to your allotted 15 minutes of fame, Sarah.

[earcandle]

66. embarrassing, huh? isn't this a wealthy repuke neighborhood?

[Enthusiast]

68. Really?

There are a bunch of dummies that would watch it here. Sadly to say.

[madokie]

70. Her 15 minutes is gone and I can say it wasn't fast enough for me

Never liked the girl at all.

[nadine_mn]

72. as funny as this is, I doubt even the most hard core fan would be there at 12:01

If this were a showing during regular movie times and it was empty, I would laugh harder

[sofa king]

76. Oh, a game! Sarah Palin's movie should be a double feature with...

Showgirls!

If someone wants to steal my idea and make their own thread, that's fine with me. I gotta go.

[deacon]

77. At the end of the movie the janitors applauded. :)

[dotymed]

78. But it will get a lot of publicity on MSM.

Great, Honest movies like, Inside Job,were hardly (if ever) mentioned by the MSM.

I love all of the M.M. movies and they are accurate. For some reason (probably the realization of how screwed we are and have been) this movie is a stand-out documentary that received little press, even from the studio.

May I suggest that if you have not seen "INSIDE JOB," please do. Share it with your conservative friends or family. It is a movie for "grown ups," because after viewing it, you will be mad.

[Hubert Flottz]

79. I think Sarah was headed to the movies because

I saw her picking her seat!

[NewJeffCT]

81. the midnight showing of Harry Potter was packed

where I went.

[seabeyond]

82. confused here. how are you undefeated when you lose? nt

[terrya]

83. Hell, when I went to see "Can't Stop the Music" at the theater in the 70s....

There were 6 people, including myself, in the place. And that Village People crapfest wasn't exactly "Singin' in the Rain", if you know what I mean.

I can't possibly imagine going to a movie and being the ONLY one there. Of course, I couldn't imagine going to see "The Undefeated"...unless someone drugged me or something.

[7wo7rees]

84. LOL

[AlabamaLibrul]

85. "The Undefeated" has got to be the most dishonest title you could possibly make

for a Sarah Palin documentary.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

86. Even her followers are quitters.

[freesqueeze]

89. Looks like she's yesterday's news...

just as I finally a cartoon of her.

Naw...she'll find someway to draw attention to herself. Drawing attention to herself is her only known skill...I call it "chuckle heading."

[Contrary1]

90. I counted roughly 65 at one of the 3:30pm showings in Indianapolis...

"It wasn't going to be politics as usual for the Cigar-chompin' good old boys." One of the lines I had to stifle a gag from in the 60 seconds I stood there.

And the Oscar for best original dialog in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy film goes to...