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On August 7, 2014, Sony pushed the release date for the film from October 10, 2014, to December 25, 2014.<ref name="release">{{cite news|last1=Lang|first1=Brent|title='The Interview' with Seth Rogen, James Franco Pushed Back to Christmas|url=http://variety.com/2014/film/news/the-interview-delayed-release-date-1201277869/|accessdate=August 7, 2014|publisher=variety.com|date=August 7, 2014}}</ref> On December 10, [[Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan]] announced that the film would not be released in Japan, under the belief that live-action comedy films do not often perform well in the market. It was also announced that the film would be released only in Australia and New Zealand within the Asia-Pacific region.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Schilling|first1=Mark|title='The Interview' to Have Only Limited Release in Asia|url=http://variety.com/2014/film/news/the-interview-to-have-only-limited-release-in-asia-1201376806/|accessdate=December 11, 2014|newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 10, 2014}}</ref> The film's premiere was held in [[Los Angeles]] on December 11, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/interview-premiere-seth-rogen-thanks-756765|title='The Interview' Premiere: Seth Rogen Thanks Amy Pascal "For Having The Balls to Make This Movie"|author=Tim Appelo|work=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=December 18, 2014}}</ref>
On August 7, 2014, Sony pushed the release date for the film from October 10, 2014, to December 25, 2014.<ref name="release">{{cite news|last1=Lang|first1=Brent|title='The Interview' with Seth Rogen, James Franco Pushed Back to Christmas|url=http://variety.com/2014/film/news/the-interview-delayed-release-date-1201277869/|accessdate=August 7, 2014|publisher=variety.com|date=August 7, 2014}}</ref> On December 10, [[Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan]] announced that the film would not be released in Japan, under the belief that live-action comedy films do not often perform well in the market. It was also announced that the film would be released only in Australia and New Zealand within the Asia-Pacific region.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Schilling|first1=Mark|title='The Interview' to Have Only Limited Release in Asia|url=http://variety.com/2014/film/news/the-interview-to-have-only-limited-release-in-asia-1201376806/|accessdate=December 11, 2014|newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 10, 2014}}</ref> The film's premiere was held in [[Los Angeles]] on December 11, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/interview-premiere-seth-rogen-thanks-756765|title='The Interview' Premiere: Seth Rogen Thanks Amy Pascal "For Having The Balls to Make This Movie"|author=Tim Appelo|work=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=December 18, 2014}}</ref>


As a result of the controversy surrounding the film, Sony canceled the theatrical release of ''The Interview'', and further stated that there were "no further release plans" to release the film on any platform, including home video, in the foreseeable future.<ref name="vod">{{cite news|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 17, 2014|accessdate=December 17, 2014|url=http://variety.com/2014/film/news/sony-has-no-further-release-plans-for-the-interview-1201382167/|title=Sony Has 'No Further Release Plans' for 'The Interview'|author= Dave McNary}}</ref>
As a result of the controversy surrounding the film, Sony canceled the theatrical release of ''The Interview'', and further stated that there were "no further release plans" to release the film on any platform, including home video, in the foreseeable future.<ref name="vod">{{cite news|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 17, 2014|accessdate=December 17, 2014|url=http://variety.com/2014/film/news/sony-has-no-further-release-plans-for-the-interview-1201382167/|title=Sony Has 'No Further Release Plans' for 'The Interview'|author= Dave McNary}}</ref> The company passed the following statement:

<blockquote>
In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film ''The Interview'', we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release. We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers. Sony Pictures has been the victim of an unprecedented criminal assault against our employees, our customers, and our business. Those who attacked us stole our intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive and proprietary material, and sought to destroy our spirit and our morale – all apparently to thwart the release of a movie they did not like. We are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public. We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://deadline.com/2014/12/sony-scraps-the-interview-1201328639/ | title = It’s Official: Sony Scraps ‘The Interview’ | author = Mile Flemming Jr | publisher = Deadline.com | date = December 17, 2014 | accessdate = December 18, 2014}}</ref>

</blockquote>


== Reception ==
== Reception ==

Revision as of 14:26, 18 December 2014

The Interview
Teaser poster
Directed by
Screenplay byDan Sterling
Story by
  • Evan Goldberg
  • Seth Rogen
  • Dan Sterling
Produced by
  • Evan Goldberg
  • Seth Rogen
  • James Weaver
Starring
CinematographyBrandon Trost
Edited by
Music byHenry Jackman
Production
company
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • December 11, 2014 (2014-12-11) (Los Angeles premiere)
Running time
112 minutes[1]
LandVereinigte Staaten
SpracheEnglisch
Budget$44 million[2]

The Interview is a 2014 American political action comedy film directed by Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, and written by Dan Sterling. The film stars Rogen and James Franco as journalists instructed to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (played by Randall Park) after successfully booking an interview with him.

The film became the subject of controversy prior to release due to its negative portrayal of Kim Jong-un. In June 2014, threats of "merciless" action against the United States were made if its distributor, Columbia Pictures, went ahead with the film's release. In November 2014, the computer systems of parent company Sony Pictures Entertainment were hacked by a group with suspected ties to North Korea according to American officials. After leaking several other then-upcoming Sony films, the group demanded that Sony pull The Interview, which it initially referred to as "the movie of terrorism", and on December 16, 2014, threatened to carry out terrorist attacks against cinemas who played it.

In response to the threats, Rogen and Franco canceled a series of promotional appearances for the film, and Sony stated that it would not object to cinemas pulling The Interview in the interest of safety. On December 17, 2014, after a number of major North American cinema chains pulled the film, Sony canceled the theatrical release scheduled for December 25, 2014 and stated that it has no plans to release the film in any form.

Plot

A celebrity journalist and his producer (Franco and Rogen) land an interview with Kim Jong-un (Park) and are instructed by the CIA to assassinate him.[3]

Cast

Production

Development

Rogen and Goldberg first developed the idea for The Interview in the late 2000s, joking about what would happen if a journalist was required to assassinate a world leader. They first picked North Korea leader Kim Jong-il, but upon his death in 2011, they put the project on hold as his son, Kim Jong-un, took power.[9] The film's development resumed when they discovered that Jong-un was closer in age, which they felt would be better comedically, and just as apparently evil as his predecessor. In writing the script, co-written with Daily Show writer Dan Sterling, they researched meticulously and read several books on North Korea. In writing the film, the goal was to make a project more relevant and satirical than their previous efforts, while retaining a certain level of toilet humor.[9]

They were delighted when NBA star Dennis Rodman made a trip to the country, it reinforcing their belief that such a scenario could actually happen.[9] Randall Park was the first to audition for the role of Jong-un and got the part immediately.[9] For the role, he gained 15 pounds and shaved his head to resemble Jong-un’s crew cut. Rogen and Goldberg wrote the character as “robotic and strict”, but Park instead played it "sheepish and shy," which they found much more humorous.[9] There are hundreds of visual effects in the film; in a crowd scene at the Pyongyang airport, many in the crowd were digitally manipulated from a shot from 22 Jump Street.[9]

On March 21, 2013, it was announced that Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen would direct an action comedy film for Columbia Pictures in which Rogen would star James Franco.[4][10] On October 1, 2013, Lizzy Caplan joined the film's cast.[5] On October 8, 2013, Randall Park and Timothy Simons joined to co-star in the film.[6] In November 2014, following a cyber attack that stole company information, Rogen was said to have been paid $8.4 million while Franco was said to have been paid $6.5 million. Kevin Federline was paid $5,000 for his cameo appearance in the film.[11]

Filming

Principal photography began on October 10, 2013, in Vancouver,[12] and concluded on December 20, 2013.[13]

Controversy

North Korean reaction

On June 20, 2014, in an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Kim Myong-chol, executive director of the Center for Korean-American Peace, criticized the storyline of The Interview for having a "special irony", remarking that it "shows the desperation of the US government and American society",[14] and that "a film about the assassination of a foreign leader mirrors what the US has done in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine. And let us not forget who killed [John F.] Kennedy – Americans. In fact, President [Barack] Obama should be careful in case the US military wants to kill him as well." He added that British films were far better and more realistic than Hollywood movies, and that Kim Jong-un would probably watch the film.[14]

On June 25, 2014, the Korean Central News Agency—the state-run news agency of North Korea, condemned The Interview; without making direct references to the film, the government promised "stern" and "merciless" retaliation if the film were to be released, stating that "making and releasing a film that portrays an attack on our top-level leadership is the most blatant act of terrorism and war and will absolutely not be tolerated."[15][16] The administration warned of a "decisive and merciless countermeasure" if the release of the film went ahead.[17] A similarly negative reaction was provoked by the 2004 film Team America: World Police, which featured Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un's father, as an antagonist.[18][19]

On July 11, 2014, the country's United Nations ambassador Ja Song Nam complained about The Interview, on the grounds that "the production and distribution of such a film on the assassination of an incumbent head of a sovereign state should be regarded as the most undisguised sponsoring of terrorism as well as an act of war".[20] On July 17, 2014, the KCNA made a direct call to Obama to have the film pulled, stating that "our military and our people regard the supreme leader as more precious than their own lives."[21]

Rogen, in a Rolling Stone profile, predicted that the film would make its way to the country, stating that "we were told one of the reasons they're so against the movie is that they're afraid it'll actually get into North Korea. They do have bootlegs and stuff. Maybe the tapes will make their way to North Korea and cause a fucking revolution."[9] Fighters for a Free North Korea, a human rights organization, plan to airlift DVDs of The Interview into the country via hydrogen balloons.[22] On August 13, 2014, the studio announced that it was digitally altering thousands of buttons worn by characters in the film; they originally imitated real North Korean military buttons praising the country's leaders, and it was suggested that the country might have taken offense to their depiction.[23]

Sony Pictures Entertainment hack and terrorist threats

A hacker group compromised much of Sony Pictures Entertainment's computer system in late 2014 in retaliation for the film's content.
See also: Sony Pictures Entertainment hack

On November 24, 2014, the computer networks of Columbia Pictures' parent company, Sony Pictures Entertainment, were hacked by a group identifying themselves as the "Guardians of Peace". The group was believed to be of North Korean origin, which American officials appear to have confirmed off the record. [24] This was apparently in retaliation to The Interview. The hackers leaked various records, including internal e-mails, employee records, and several future Sony Pictures films, including Annie, Mr. Turner, Still Alice, and To Write Love on Her Arms. The North Korean government denied their involvement in the hack.[25][26][27] On December 8, further leaks were published, including a message to pull "the movie of terrorism", widely interpreted to be referring to The Interview.[28][29][30]

On December 16, 2014, the hackers issued a warning to moviegoers, threatening to attack the New York premiere of the film and any other cinema showing it on its theatrical release, and urging people to “remember the 11th of September 2001”.[26] Rogen and Franco decided to stop doing publicity for the film, canceling previously scheduled appearances, while Sony pulled all television advertising for the film.[31] The National Association of Theater Owners then stated that they would not object to cinema owners "delaying" the film, "so that our guests may enjoy a safe holiday movie season experiencing the many other exciting films we have to offer." The ArcLight and Carmike cinema chains subsequently announced that they would not screen the film.[32]

On December 17, Sony canceled the film's New York City premiere, and later that day, other major chains, including AMC, Carmike Cinemas, Cinemark, Cineplex, Regal, and Southern Theatres announced that they would either delay or drop the film altogether from their lineups.[33] Sony ultimately announced that it would cancel the theatrical release of The Interview that was scheduled for December 25, 2014, saying, "we respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers", and that "we are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public. We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome."[34]

In response to the move, an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema location in Dallas announced that it would hold a free screening of the aforementioned Team America: World Police (which also features a plot satirizing North Korea) in place of The Interview.[35][36]

Release

On August 7, 2014, Sony pushed the release date for the film from October 10, 2014, to December 25, 2014.[37] On December 10, Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan announced that the film would not be released in Japan, under the belief that live-action comedy films do not often perform well in the market. It was also announced that the film would be released only in Australia and New Zealand within the Asia-Pacific region.[38] The film's premiere was held in Los Angeles on December 11, 2014.[39]

As a result of the controversy surrounding the film, Sony canceled the theatrical release of The Interview, and further stated that there were "no further release plans" to release the film on any platform, including home video, in the foreseeable future.[40] The company passed the following statement:

In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film The Interview, we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release. We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers. Sony Pictures has been the victim of an unprecedented criminal assault against our employees, our customers, and our business. Those who attacked us stole our intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive and proprietary material, and sought to destroy our spirit and our morale – all apparently to thwart the release of a movie they did not like. We are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public. We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome.[41]

Reception

Critical response

The Interview received mixed reviews from critics. On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 50% approval rating based on 18 critics, with an average rating of 6.5/10.[42] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 52 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[43]

Sony Pictures's decision to cancel the film's theatrical release limited the amount of critical reviews to those attending advanced press screenings. Scott Foundas panned the film calling it "about as funny as a communist food shortage, and just as protracted." Some critics were kinder to the film, such as IGN's Roth Cornet who praised the film saying, "Though its unlikely to stand out as one of the shrewdest political satires of its time, [it] is a clever, unrestrained—and most importantly—sidesplitting parody that pokes fun at both a vapid media and one of the world's most dangerous dictators." Edward Douglas of ComingSoon.net said the film was "hilarious, but it will probably get us nuked".[44]

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Interview (15)". British Board of Film Classification. November 17, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  2. ^ Christopher Palmeri, Anousha Sakoui and Lucas Shaw (December 4, 2014). "Sony Hackers Expose Rogen's Pay Along With Deloitte Salaries". Bloomberg. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  3. ^ Selby, Jenn (June 26, 2014). "North Korea threatens war on USA over 'gangster filmmaker' Seth Rogen and James Franco's Kim Jong-un assassination movie". The Independent. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg to Direct The Interview". comingsoon.net. March 21, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Kit, Borys (October 1, 2013). "Lizzy Caplan Joins Seth Rogen and James Franco in 'The Interview'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "Randall Park and 'Veep's' Timothy Simons to Co-Star in Seth Rogen's The Interview". The Hollywood Reporter. October 8, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  7. ^ Mazza, Ed (June 25, 2014). "North Korea Calls Seth Rogen-James Franco Film An 'Act Of War'". Huffington Post. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  8. ^ Smith, Krista (November 20, 2014). "The Interview Actress Diana Bang Is Ready for Anything". Vanity Fair. Retrieved December 17, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Josh Eells (December 17, 2014). "Seth Rogen at the Crossroads". Rolling Stone (1224/1225). New York City: Wenner Media LLC: 52–57; 86. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  10. ^ "Seth Rogen to Direct, Star in 'The Interview' for Columbia Pictures". The Hollywood Reporter. March 21, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  11. ^ Christopher Palmeri, Anousha Sakoui and Lucas Shaw (December 4, 2014). "Sony Hackers Expose Rogen's Pay Along With Deloitte Salaries". Bloomberg. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  12. ^ Schaefer, Glen (October 12, 2013). "Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg come home to shoot B.C. for Korea in The Interview". The Province. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  13. ^ "Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg to Direct 'The Interview' in Vancouver". The Hollywood Reporter. September 30, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  14. ^ a b Ryall, Julian (June 20, 2014). "North Korea slams US film The Interview about Kim Jong-un". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  15. ^ "North Korea calls new Seth Rogen film, The Interview, an 'act of war'". CBC News. June 25, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  16. ^ "North Korea threatens war on US over Kim Jong-un movie". BBC. June 25, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  17. ^ "Angry North Korea threatens war if US shows film mocking its leader". North Korean News.Net. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  18. ^ Phillip, Abby (June 25, 2014). "North Korea threatens 'merciless' retaliation over James Franco and Seth Rogen assassination comedy". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  19. ^ "North Korea calls Hollywood film 'act of war,' demands US ban its release". Al-Jazeera America. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  20. ^ Ben Beaumont-Thomas (July 10, 2014). "North Korea complains to UN about Seth Rogen comedy The Interview". The Guardian. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  21. ^ Ryall, Julian (July 17, 2014). "North Korea appeals to White House to halt release of US comedy film". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  22. ^ Paul Bond (December 16, 2014). "Sony Hack: Activists to Drop 'Interview' DVDs Over North Korea Via Balloon". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  23. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (August 13, 2014). "Sony Altering Kim Jong Un Assassination Film 'The Interview'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  24. ^ U.S. Said to Find North Korea Ordered Cyberattack on Sony
  25. ^ Justin McCurry. "North Korea denies hacking Sony Pictures". the Guardian. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  26. ^ a b "Hackers who targeted Sony invoke 9/11 attacks in warning to moviegoers". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  27. ^ "Sony's New Movies Leak Online Following Hack Attack". NBC News. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  28. ^ Elizabeth Weise (December 9, 2014). "Hackers told Sony to pull 'The Interview'". USA Today.
  29. ^ "North Korean Government Thought To Be Behind Sony Pictures Hack". National Public Radio. December 1, 2014.
  30. ^ "North Korea's Cyber Skills Get Attention Amid Sony Hacking Mystery". National Public Radio. December 4, 2014.
  31. ^ "Seth Rogen and James Franco Cancel All Media Appearances for 'The Interview'". Variety. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  32. ^ Jen Yamato, Dominic Patten. "First Theaters Cancel 'The Interview' After Hacker Threats". Deadline. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  33. ^ "Major U.S. Theaters Drop 'The Interview' After Sony Hacker Threats". Variety. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  34. ^ "Sony Cancels Theatrical Release for 'The Interview' on Christmas". Variety. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  35. ^ "Texas Theater to Show 'Team America' In Place of 'The Interview'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  36. ^ "'Team America: World Police' Replaces 'The Interview' at Dallas Theater". Variety. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  37. ^ Lang, Brent (August 7, 2014). "'The Interview' with Seth Rogen, James Franco Pushed Back to Christmas". variety.com. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  38. ^ Schilling, Mark (December 10, 2014). "'The Interview' to Have Only Limited Release in Asia". Variety. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  39. ^ Tim Appelo. "'The Interview' Premiere: Seth Rogen Thanks Amy Pascal "For Having The Balls to Make This Movie"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  40. ^ Dave McNary (December 17, 2014). "Sony Has 'No Further Release Plans' for 'The Interview'". Variety. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  41. ^ Mile Flemming Jr (December 17, 2014). "It's Official: Sony Scraps 'The Interview'". Deadline.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  42. ^ "The Interview". December 25, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  43. ^ "The Interview". Metacritic. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  44. ^ http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/reviews/391477-the-interview-review#/slide/1
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