Just a couple of weeks ago, we were briefly excited when the official website for the long shelved (it finished shooting in 2008) Mandate Pictures film “Peacock” sputtered to life with a gallery of photos from the film….and little else. While we hoped the newly alive site was being prepped for an eventual theatrical release, it turns out the film is headed directly to retail shelves on April 20 (and no, sadly, that’s not a 4/20 joke either).
We can’t say that we’re all that surprised (and speculated as much in our 2010 anticipated film features). The film, though boasting a pretty solid cast including Ellen Page, Cillian Murphy, Bill Pullman, Susan Sarandon and Josh Lucas, the premise was pretty out there. The period picture followed a quiet Nebraskan bank clerk (Murphy) with dual personalities (one male, one female) whose secret is exposed when a train crashes into his backyard. He then proceeds to try and fool the local townspeople into believing his separate personalities are actually real – a married man and wife couple (WTF). We’re kind of amazed this even got in front of cameras at all, so we aren’t particularly shocked it’s skipping cinemas entirely.
We have to admit, we are still curious about this one but we’ll have to Netflix it when its released on April 20 via Lionsgate. And yep, that’s the DVD cover.
nothing wrong with direct to dvd videos of this caliber. the likely story is that the movie is "too artsy" for any kind of theatrical release. i look forward to seeing it regardless.
It's not just the "artsy": there are serious flaws in the script, too. The problem with writer-directors on very small projects: they can't be bothered to ask someone, "Hey, does this make sense…?" And Murphy is looking a little rough around the gills to be reprising his "Breakfast on Pluto" drag routine. Nonetheless, I'll be taking a peek come April.