Mirimax and Disney to part ways

[donald...really]

Just heard it on NPR. They said it is the biggest split in Hollywood since Jen and Brad. It should be complete by Friday. Disney will keep the name but the Weinsteins will be leaving.

 

[Plus4206]

Disney owns Mirimax lock,stock & barrel. All tey are losing is the Weinstein brothers.

 

[Razor Roman]

althought the Weinsteins have many many great, successful, and award winning movies, I'm not sure I am sad to see them leave the Disney family. I didn't think they were a great fit for the Disney company, I think Disney should shed some of the excess and work on their core a little bit.

 

[Peter Pirate]

I'm very sad to see this happen. The Weinsteins knew how to make movies and money. They were partners in Miramax and I for one never considered Miramax "Disney" in that I didn't hold them to the constraints or criteria I would Disney. They were an arm that allowed the Company to explore profitable, non-family oriented, cutting edge ventures without using the Disney name and I for one found nothing wrong with that...In fact, from a creative POV, I find a lot right with that.

 

[DancingBear]

Although I agree with the Pirate that Miramax has been a plus to have in the Disney family, I also agree with the criticism that the Weinsteins had been moving away from the type of movie that made Disney want to buy Miramax in the first place. I like the reports that Disney will scale back Miramax's budget and direct that division toward its art house roots.

 

[All Aboard]

So, what does Disney do with the Dimension brand? Are we going to be able to look forward to more Jay and Silent Bob - type stuff in the future?

 

[donald...really]

The Weinsteins get to keep Dimension, but Disney will keep the name Mirimax and the library of films made under the Mirimax name.

 

[Peter Pirate]

So the talent leaves but Disney gets the name? Great. Look for more family friendly sequels.

 

[Planogirl]

I recently saw a great Miramax film, Return to Neverland. If the company can keep producing movies of that caliber, I'm fine with the change.

By the way, I understand that Miramax will be moving to Disney's facilities in California and that the staff is being cut to about half of what it was. Not good signs in my opinion.

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Just a sampling of Miramax Films!

Miramax Films [us]
Albino Alligator (1996)
Aviator, The (2004)
Basquiat (1996)
Bob Roberts (1992)
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001)
Chicago (2002)
Chocolat (2000)
Cider House Rules, The (1999)
Cold Mountain (2003)
Crossing Guard, The (1995)
Ella Enchanted (2004)
Emma (1996)
English Patient, The (1996)
Frida (2002)
Gangs of New York (2002)
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Human Stain, The (2003)
Importance of Being Earnest, The (2002)
Jackie Brown (1997)
Kate & Leopold (2001)
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Rounders (1998)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Shall We Dance (2004)
Talented Mr. Ripley, The (1999)
Welcome to Sarajevo (1997)

 

[DancingBear]

So the talent leaves but Disney gets the name? Great.

You lose Harvey Weinstein, who definitely seems to have a knack for picking pictures, and has a reputation that draws some of the creative types. On the other hand, Miramax is just a producer and distributor (many of the films it releases it was not involved in the creative end); it's not like Miramax has a bunch of in-house creative talent.

 

[DancingBear]

By the way, I understand that Miramax will be moving to Disney's facilities in California and that the staff is being cut to about half of what it was. Not good signs in my opinion.

As to the staffing issue, many of the articles in recent months talked about the fact that Miramax's staff fluctuated regularly depending upon its release schedule, and that the staff had ballooned in recent years as its budget from Disney expanded.

It remains to be seen whether Disney can carry on Miramax in a meaningful way, but the reduction in staffing itself is not inconsistent with the stated strategy of returning Miramax to its roots.

 

[crusader]

Weinsteins and Miramax go hand and hand. Disney's ownership was always secondary. Who's gonna replace the dynamic duo with that level of star power - who now have the aviator to add to their credits?

Their timing on the eve of oscar is just perfect. Can't you just picture it. Bob and Harvey - two films nominated for best picture this year and Michael Moore's goldmine to boast about at all the parties while slamming the Disney enterprise as a second rate producer in hollywood with whispers and innuendos in all those plastic ears lining up for pretend play with a new partner. Will they be sitting at the Scorsese table this year?

ahh - can't wait for Sunday.

Now's the chance for the big boys in Hollywood to strike. Nobody likes the bully.

 

[raidermatt]

Well said.