Will Hateful 8 "Roadshow" 70mm Version Still Play After December 31?

December 23, 2015 7:47 AM

My wife and I really want to see The Hateful 8 in the 70mm "roadshow" version that opens on Christmas. Because of family obligations and traveling, we won't be able to see it until the first week of January. I haven't been able to confirm whether the 70mm roadshow version will still be playing once the film opens nationwide on January 1. I imagine this information must be readily available and easily findable, just not by me apparently.
posted by Falconetti to Media & Arts (15 answers total)

No, it won't be open once the film has its wide digital release. I hope you live somewhere that you can sneak away to one for a few hours!

Showtimes here.
posted by hollyholly at 7:59 AM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Yes, the 70mm HATEFUL 8 will overlap the wide digital release for the week after December 31st.

The Weinsteins and theater owners are going to great lengths - tens of thousands of dollars per theater - to retrofit theaters to 70mm for this release. They literally bought 120 projectors to make the roadshow happen. In addition to the two-week scheduled 70mm run, it would be shocking to me if the film did not run further into 2016 at many theaters, or reappear in 2016 as a 70mm special engagement at these theaters.
posted by eschatfische at 8:23 AM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

This Variety article claims that the 70mm roadshow will run two weeks, but only the first week will be "exclusive" (i.e., the 2nd week you'll be able to see it in digital projection without seeking out a 70mm theater).
posted by kingoftonga86 at 8:25 AM on December 23, 2015

I'm also interested in this. Despite what hollyholly says, I haven't actually read anything that says categorically that it won't be available after December 31st. I am hopeful that it will still be available at theaters that want to keep screening it in 70mm they just aren't obligated and it won't be as part of the 'roadshow'. Until I see something official saying that's not the case I am going with the assumption there is still a chance.

And on preview eschatfische has good information.
posted by Green With You at 8:26 AM on December 23, 2015

How good to be wrong! I haven't seen any showtimes for anything after the 31st, though, so I'll watch this space for updates.
posted by hollyholly at 8:27 AM on December 23, 2015

If my 15-year-old movie theater experience is still relevant, most theaters release showtimes for non-premiere or -repertory films for the coming (Friday-Thursday) week on Monday or Tuesday. This allows them to adjust the number of showings based on the previous weekend's box office. So I'd look for updates for the 1st and beyond early next week.
posted by hilatron at 9:16 AM on December 23, 2015

Our local movie palace, the AFI Silver Theatre (which has its own 70mm projector and projectionists) has showtimes for the Roadshow through January 7.
posted by fedward at 9:55 AM on December 23, 2015

I went to my local 70mm location (Somerville) last night to ask in person how long the run would be; the guy said at least two weeks, and very likely four or more.
posted by xueexueg at 12:12 PM on December 23, 2015

Pardon me for interrupting, but what is so special about 70mm or what is the difference or why do I want to see it in 70mm if I can?
posted by AugustWest at 1:19 PM on December 23, 2015

Aside from the format differences, the roadshow version is a different cut:

“The roadshow version has an overture and an intermission, and it will be three hours, two minutes,” Tarantino told Variety. “The multiplex version is about six minutes shorter, not counting the intermission time, which is about 12 minutes.”

“The 70 is the 70,” he said. “You’ve paid the money. You’ve bought your ticket. So you’re there. I’ve got you. But I actually changed the cutting slightly for a couple of the multiplex scenes because it’s not that. Now it’s on Showtime Extreme. You’re watching it on TV and you just kind of want to watch a movie on your couch. Or you’re at Hot Dog on a Stick and you just want to catch a movie.”

The sequences in question play in “big, long, cool, unblinking takes” in the 70mm version, Tarantino said. “It was awesome in the bigness of 70, but sitting on your couch, maybe it’s not so awesome. So I cut it up a little bit. It’s a little less precious about itself.”

posted by djb at 3:36 PM on December 23, 2015

Pardon me for interrupting, but what is so special about 70mm or what is the difference or why do I want to see it in 70mm if I can?

Vulture Explains: What’s All the Fuss About The Master and 70mm?

By contrast, when a movie is shot on 70 millimeter film (or really 65 millimeter, because a sliver of the edge is used for the soundtrack), the frames are the same height as the 35mm ones, but nearly twice as wide. The image is shot and projected through ordinary lenses. Because the frame is also much bigger, it is being blown up less in the process of projecting it on the screen, and thus you see more detail, more color, more life. One recurring shot in The Master is of the wake of a giant ocean vessel — the water is turbulent and, in the bigger format, remarkably blue and crisp. The primary difference with 70mm is a significantly better image.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 3:38 PM on December 23, 2015

I would like to add that I saw the Roadshow version last night and it totally ruled! I hope you get a chance to see it.

They handed out a program!!
posted by hollyholly at 8:31 AM on December 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

Seconding that. The panoramic landscapes were truly magnificent in 70mm, and you could even make out individual snowflakes as they flutter past the characters caught in a blizzard. During the interior shots, the format allows you to spot small, potentially important details in the background.
posted by naju at 4:44 PM on December 26, 2015

Response by poster: Just bought tickets for this Saturday night to see the roadshow version. I am in New York, so I am spoiled for options as to where to see the roadshow version (5 venues in the city), but went with the closest venue to where we live (City Cinema Village East). We have to get a babysitter, so I don't want an extra long commute to the cinema adding to the cost. Glad to hear those that saw it think it is worth the effort to see the 70mm roadshow version!
posted by Falconetti at 10:34 AM on December 29, 2015

So I learned what was so special about 70mm. Just saw the movie. Really liked it. Great theater. Regal in New Roc. The snow parts were gorgeous, but the gore even more vivid. Liked the movie. Still processing it. Get the program they hand out too.
posted by AugustWest at 9:18 PM on December 29, 2015