UPDATE: Guillermo del Toro has doubled down on his love for “Juror #2” and the way the film has been treated by Warner Bros:
If WB can see what they have in their hands: a rare late, great movie by a treasured American Icon- God, they should ride this all the way to the moon. So good.
EARLIER: Despite the limited rollout, Clint Eastwood’s “Juror #2” is still racking up money — it’s currently playing in only four locations in New York City and three in Los Angeles.
Guillermo del Toro praises the film but also admits to bewilderment at the peculiar rollout Warner Bros has given this film — it’s currently the #1 movie in Spain and a major success in France. Here’s what del Toro wrote on social media:
Went to the theatre to see Juror #2, Clint Eastwood’s latest film. We enjoyed it tremendously. It’s - in some ways — his “Crimes and Misdemeanors.” The film is precisely and assuredly filmed and it’s Nicolas Hoult’s to lead. The cast delivers beautifully, and it has an ending that set the theatre abuzz.
Its central dilemma reminded me of the quiet turmoil boiling under Dana Andrews in Preminger Noir of your choice (for me “Where The Sidewalk Ends”) and it wrestles with it, supported by a well-paced structure and well pondered twists. Why was this not released wide in the states?
We saw [“Juror #2”] at the Grove with a significant crowd that was vocal and responsive all the way. I truly hope WB can hold it longer. Eastwood is a master filmmaker and the steady, unfussy craft reveals him still in great form. Go see it on the big screen!
if “Juror #2” is playing near you, by all means go see it. It’s a film filled with great performances, and Eastwood’s wonderful penchant for cinematic classicism. It tackles the limits of the legal system, and the nature of truth, all of which couldn’t be more relevant today. Oh, and that final shot is a real doozy.
I don’t think it matters much if “Juror #2” is an Oscar contender. More importantly, it’s the kind of film that people keep complaining Hollywood doesn’t make anymore. It’s mid-budget ($35M), non-IP, features stellar storytelling and not flashy in the least bit. If released theatrically, it could have been a modest success.
Still no distributor for "Bucking Fastard," "Alpha Gang," "The Last Photograph," "Closing Night," and "The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd." The issue seems to be quality more than a lack of willingness to buy.