There's a new Climate Change movie coming our way.
No, it's not "Digger." The Tom Cruise black comedy is already stinking up theaters nationwide. But not for long.
The movie may become one of the all-time money losers in Hollywood history. We're talking a $250 million hit to Warner Bros.' coffers. No wonder the studio is now part of the Skydance universe following the high-profile Hollywood merger. Turns out audiences don't want to see Cruise looking his age and shrieking eco-hysteria talking points.
Imagine that.
No, the movie in question is "A Statement." The film has a heckuva pedigree. Director Tom McCarthy previously gave us the charming "Win Win" (2011) and "Spotlight," the Best Picture winner from 2015.
His newest film stars Paul Giamatti, Paul Rudd and John Turturro. Solid on steroids, no?
Here comes the plot, and it's a snooze on the surface. The fact-based story takes us back to 1980, a time when scientists gathered to discuss the growing threat of global warming. The mission? What's the best way to warn the nation of the looming eco-threat?
It's not a spoiler alert to say we didn't heed any such "Statement." And we know that the global warming movement later rebranded itself as Climate Change. Hmmm.
It's a bit like Aaron Sorkin's "The Social Reckoning," a film that warns us of the dangers of social media. Well, social media is still here and it's bigger than ever. Buzz kill, no?
Back to "A Statement." The film's box office hopes must be so small you need a microscope to see them. Read that plot description to most moviegoers and their reaction will probably be, "thanks but no thanks."
An early review from Variety may have said it best:
I can’t imagine who the audience is going to be for it. My heartless prediction: next to no one.
Then what? Will Hollywood finally get the message after the film's release, likely in early 2027? We're exhausted by lectures, be it from Cruise, Sorkin or a gaggle of A-list actors.
More importantly, will a mega-bomb like "Digger" tell Hollywood to stop making Climate Change movies? The industry often needs to learn a lesson repeatedly before it finally acts.
Remember all the anti-war, anti-Bush movies during the Iraq War era?
- "Lions for Lambs"
- "Rendition"
- "Green Zone"
- "Redacted"
- "Grace Is Gone"
- "In the Valley of Elah"
- "Stop Loss"
They all died a quick, but painful death at the box office. "Redacted" earned the Booby Prize, generating a scant $65K in theaters.
And, finally, Hollywood studios said, "Hey, maybe this subject matter isn't catnip for American audiences."
Can we say the same about Climate Change moving forward? Imagine going into a studio meeting today, with the cloud of "Digger" hanging over Tinsel Town, pitching a movie that has anything to do with Al Gore's obsession.
That's Hollywood courage. The wrong kind, but still.
"DiggerGate" will have sizable ramifications for the industry moving forward. One possible result? We'll finally see the end of movies where Climate Change is the main attraction.
If that's "Digger's" legacy, we should all give the film an extra star. Maybe three.
