At least two major U.S. theater chains have decided against showing the controversial film “Death of President,” which mixes real news footage with dramatized segments to tell the story of the assassination of President George W. Bush. The film was picked up by Newmarket Films last month after it showed at the Toronto Film Festival, where it received a mixed reaction but ended up picking up a critics’ prize.
Smart business decision or censorship?
Regal Entertainment Group, the country’s largest theater chain, cited the subject matter as the primary reason, according to a report in the Hollywood Reporter. “We feel it is inappropriate to portray the future assassination of a sitting president, regardless of political affiliation.”
Theater chain Cinemark has also declined to play the film. “It’s a subject matter we don’t wish to play,” a spokesman said.
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Genna isa Saalabi here… Too bad the movie theaters are so afraid to play this film. I heard that every Canadian theater is running it. Wishful thinking? Hmm, makes one wonder. C’mon, let’s get real. No one is going to go out and assassinate the President now - he’s just lost control of Congress. What would be the point? Besides, maybe we’ll all get lucky and he’ll go hunting with Cheney some time soon. Just kidding. Jokes aside, this is about expression. And there’s nothing in our constitution that prohibits it. Not yet.
- Posted by Genna isa Saalabi