I think the above picture says it all. Sgt. Brent Sammann took this from his overseas Army base, location not divulged, where he wrote in to congratulate Cusack and Co. about the movie. NOTICE THE KBR FLAG, just under the American flag. You gotta be kidding me. On an ARMY BASE? And a very humble thank you for your service, Brent. It took a lot of courage to do this, but hey, you’re a soldier. A very excited John Cusack emailed C&L from London yesterday to thank us bloggers and readers, for supporting War, Inc. in NY and LA. The ticket giveaway really helped. Apparently the movie is, so far, a phenomenal success that is shocking both the film’s distributor and the industry. The film had no real advertising, just bloggers and it ran all viral baby–and yet the per screen numbers of War, Inc. have consistently been close behind the two big budget blockbuster movies of the summer. The producers emailed me this info:
For instance, the per screen average of the new Indiana Jones movie, which also opened last weekend, was approximately $24K, War, Inc. was $18K and the next closest per screen average trailed behind at $7K. This weekend was the same with Sex and the City opening huge at around $18K, Indiana Jones at $11K and War Inc at $10K.
This is a film C&L has gotten solidly behind, as did with MoveOn, because it aims right at the core of the corruption in Cheney/Bush enterprises. Plus—it’s very funny, even though nothing can totally lift the spirits about the whole Iraq debacle. I’ve supported the movie because I thought it was important to talk about the Blackwater-type militias winning multi-million dollar contracts. As I said, the film industry is taking notice.
While the big-budget, large studio movies about the Iraq war all have tanked, John Cusack’s intensely personal film, “War, Inc.,” has survived bad reviews to find an audience in its very limited theatrical release.
Since “War, Inc.” opened May 23 in Los Angeles and New York on only two screens in each city, the film about the privatization of war has been briskly attended, prompting First Look Studios, a small independent company, to expand the movie’s release. It’s adding 10 theaters in both cities Friday, as well as opening the film June 13 in Chicago; Boston; Seattle; Austin, Texas; Berkeley and San Francisco. And it will open June 20 in Washington, D.C.
I’ve received a few calls at the C&L bat cave from the film industry too—impressed by what we’ve all accomplished here and to ask me how we did it. Big props to John Cusack and his team for taking a major risk and telling it like it is.
JAN SCHAKOWSKY, Rep (D-IL). House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence says this:
Extend the current practice of outsourcing the ‘business’ of war as far as you can reach, and what do you get? WAR, INC. the first 100% privatized war. John Cusack’s film may be seen as just a wild fantasy, but I saw it as a decision to laugh rather than cry about the harsh reality of Bush-era, oil-driven, profit-reaping corporate warfare. And laugh I did. See it!”
The film industry and movie reviewers panned the movie, but the simple truths about the military complex have struck a chord. If you can–check out the film on War, Inc. on Myspace.
No Trackbacks To “War Inc. John Cusack’s C&L Thank you“
yes!
GO John..that is great that we can help him…and the film- want to see this ASAP…perfect timing too…should be shown before ALL McCain events..( the KBR Flag ???ugh)
I saw it last night.
Funny yet distressing. Entertaining yet depressing. A true look at what is really going on with American foreign policy.
When will it be available on dvd?
Ron @ 4:
I am buying, too!
Thought you’d all like to know that I interviewed John a week ago, talking about the movie & politics in general.
You can catch the entire podcast (three hours) HERE, or listen to just the interview HERE.
Jim
The KBR flag disgusts me. It’s all big business to them and their criminal buddies in the whitehouse.
It’s good to know that C&L is doing so much to promote this film … and your efforts are making a difference.
Thanks, John. Bravo !
Netflix says it will be released on DVD in October
That looks like Camp Bondsteel!!!
Why is this movie not playing in the SF Bay Area?
thanks cusack for taking charge.
unrelated, but i was just thinking today how much you and jack black cracked me up in “high fidelity”.
p.s. what’s gina gershon like?
calgarylady @ 7:
Ain’t that the truth!
I wonder if the troops and/or contractors take a separate oath to protect it?
Has the Bush/Cheney Purge begun?
First it was Admiral Fallon.
Now the heads of the USAF Deputy SecDef and USAF CINC.
Are Bush Cheney removing any obstacles to an attack on Iran ?
- Chuck
the kbr flag says it all: corporate america indeed.
KAREN-
In regards to War Inc not playing in SF Green960AM is hosting a showing that you wan win tickets to for free.
JIM-
I listened to your podcasts and the movie sounds great! I have not heard of your site before but it seems like you have a great group of people working on it and you do a great interview!! I see some more interviews that I will check out later.
Joe in San Mateo
Karen @ 10:
I believe that’s one of the cities coming next week.
I watched the movie on the internets (don’t worry I bought a ticket on fandango for a NY showing to make up for it) and I must say it wasn’t very good. They had so many ways they could have gone with it and they made it really cheesy and predictable. I had hoped for a well done satire or something that would enlighten me on what a future where wars are waged by corporations might look at. Instead I saw a poorly written comedy? with bad acting.
Is there any chance this film will open in London (UK)?
OT, but interesting story on Guantanamo trials, blocking of certain torture references by defendants, from PBS Newshour tonight:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb.....06-05.html
nickelking @ 16:
Ahh, kewl. I had company last weekend, and we all wanted to see it. We were stunned to find out that it had been released, but not here. Of all the markets not to tap, we thought. But if it’s making its way, woo hoo! John Cusack rocks!
I saw “War, INC.” and it’s great. War torn “Turaqistan” has Tamerlane Corporation (insert Haliburton or KBR) there to help rebuild the country in to a democracy after the same corporation/country helped bomb the country back into the stone age. This is a dark comedy that hits too close the truth. Definitely getting the DVD when it comes out.
It needs to run in central PA. I saw a car outside of Harrisburg this afternoon that had so many magnetic ribbons on it that I honestly could not tell what color it was at first glance.
I will pick up a DVD copy in October and make my documentary class watch it next spring if need be.
(damn long hair librul hippie professor…)
Dvd supposed to be available July 1st from Amazon.com
So when does it come to New Orleans?
Senate intelligence committee says in a long-awaited report that Bush and his top aides repeatedly exaggerated Iraq’s impact before the war.
That’s even better!
localroger @ 24:
movie chains owned by the carlyle group are blocking distribution.
Liberty(appeaser)Lover @ 23:
When will it hit the hollywood video stores or blockbuster.
that kbr flag is just sick.
when frank miller wrote “give me liberty” in the eighties i thought it all was supposed to be a joke.
kellog-brown-root / fat boy burger corporation, same difference…
This all reminds me of Catch-22 - my favourite book (the movie wasn’t as good as the book) of all time. Joseph Heller pinned it then, I reckon he’d have a field day with what’s going on now.
Ron @ 28:
I’ll consult my crystal ball… :)
Liberty(appeaser)Lover @ 31:
It wouldn’t hurt to start calling your local video store and requesting it, that way if there is enough interest, they will stock lots of them instead of the one copy that blockbuster usually buys for independent films….
WTF is a KBR flag doing flying on a US Army base????
Liberty(appeaser)Lover @ 31:
Good, you can just channel it to me.
Justice? ‘A legal brief has been sent to the International Criminal Court (ICC) alleging former (Australia) prime minister John Howard committed a war crime by sending troops to Iraq.’ 6/6
Ron @ 28:
same day
Fed_Up @ 33:
wtf is kbr doing with it’s own flag?
CoIntelPro against Repug DoucheBaggery @ 36:
Gee, that was quick. You must be the channel for Libertyappeaser.
joe cantwell @ 14:
Visons of Rollerball — the 1975 (good) version.
..waiting for War, Inc. in PDX…
BuddyGoodness @ 17:
you work for kbr?
Ron @ 38:
channel 7
One gets the impression that most of the real military are none too impressed with having to work alongside the likes of KBR . And one wonders if someday , with the future of the country at stake, the two sides may face off against each other .
CoIntelPro against Repug DoucheBaggery @ 40:
blogging for McCain.
miss_kitty @ 43:
LOL :<[)
Why do the troops hate the troops?
Ruthless People @ 45:
….and America
CoIntelPro against Repug DoucheBaggery @ 37:
Paying down the American debt to China?
Some Chinese firm is probably licensed to make all KBR merchandise…
iraqhusseinconcilable @ 42:
My uncle quit the military when they started privatizing the quartermaster. They are shit. They do little or nothing to earn their money.
I saw it and thought it was great. It’s satirical and needed a vehicle to insert its satire, so people panning it for a supposed weak or contrived story don’t know what they are talking about (although they are entitled to an opinion)…..
More importantly, I was mobilized from the inactive reserve after 9-11 and butted heads constantly with fellow officers on what we were doing and why I thought it was wrong… I then served about every other year until I earned my reserve retirement in 2007 and elected to retire (which they still have not officially granted yet, but they can’t take my 20 years away and I’m not going back until the Bush Twins go too)….. but my point is that in the few years from 9-11 to 2007, more soldiers and officers approached me and started to see the line of reasoning that they, at first, automatically ridiculed…. and the reason for that comes from movies like this, the great participation in democracy by people like Cusack and Sean Penn, documentaries by Robert Greenwald and others and websites like this one…..
Okay, that’s my two cents…. Thank you SGT Sammann and stay safe, brother.
miss kitty @ 43, I suspect there are quite a few of those ugly little trolls lurking in their parent’s basements … and their numbers will be sharply increasing in the near future … sad, frightened, desperate losers.