January 27th. That is the day when the movie industry's foundations might be shaken. You see, Friday marks the premier of Steven Soderbergh's new film, Bubble. While there might not be anything overly remarkable about the content of the film, what makes Bubble notable is that it is opening in theaters the same day that it debuts on HDNet Movies. Other movies have followed a similar path, often with the theatrical engagements following the television debut. But this is the first major film to be released this way. While Bubble has a no-name cast and a small budget, any film by Soderbergh is significant. Early reviews (the film was screened at the Toronto Film Festival last fall) have been promising enough to entice me to watch or record Bubble on the 27th. Ebert and Roeper raved about the movie this weekend (once again they beat me to the punch--I thought that for once I might be able to watch a movie before they had a chance to review it). Those of you without HDNet Movies will also be able to buy or rent the DVD on the 31st.
The newness and immediacy of Bubble's convenient home release make it much more attractive than it would be if it followed the normal channels. Some people say that the "on demand" method is destined to be the primary method of distribution in a few years. While Bubble is not "on demand," it is a big step in that direction. The big theater chains hate all of this, of course. It is invevitable that most will be forced to shut down. Most theaters have put an emphasis on maximizing revenue with little thought towards the ill will created in the long term. The ones that put an emphasis on a unique, enjoyable experience will be able to stay open. Those theaters will be few and far between. The cineplexes are dead. They just don't know it.
