"meet The Mormons"

[Anakin7]

    The critics see but they see not, here but they here not.

 

In His Debt/Grace

       Anakin7

[cinepro]

I suppose the ultimate irony would be that if a non-member happened to go see a screening that had a lot of people in the theater, they could in fact "meet Mormons".  Apparently lots of them.

[sethpayne]

There was doctrine flowing everywhere, I'm surprised you didn't see it! The doctrine was: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and salvation comes through Him and in no other way.

Those critics that panned the movie seemed to have missed it, too.

 

Perhaps doctrine that isn't held by every other Christian Church would have been interesting to non-Mormon viewers.  And in fact, I think presenting *just* this doctrine may work against perception of this movie.  Folks know we are not the typical Christian Church and they would like to know how/why.  By presenting this basic doctrine alone -- the impression may be that that *other* stuff about Mormons is just too embarrassing to talk about.   

 

The way this movie was made is a huge mistake.  It is perpetuating the very problem it intends to solve and rather than clearing up questions, it will send people running online and the the Book of Mormon Musical to hear what makes Mormons unique.

 

Not the first time Trey Parker and Matt Stone have shown Mormon history/doctrine to interested people.  And Stone/Parker don't shy away from discussing the more unique parts of what it means to believe in Mormonism.

[VideoGameJunkie]

Maybe this can get nominated for an Oscar in the documentary category. But usually they only nominate films about penguins or genocide or penguin genocide.

[Brian 2.0]

Maybe this can get nominated for an Oscar in the documentary category. But usually they only nominate films about penguins or genocide or penguin genocide.

Don't hold your breath. Zero chance that happens.

[Brian 2.0]

The critics also seemed to have missed the primary point of the movie, which was to correct certain common misconceptions about what kind of people are Mormon..

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

The reviews I've read seem to understand that point, but disagree that the misconceptions are "common", saying that most people these days know some Mormon and don't have the misconceptions anymore. So the film only changes the viewpoint of a very limited audience. Edited October 15, 2014 by Brian 2.0

[Scott Lloyd]

The reviews I've read seem to understand that point, but disagree that the misconceptions are "common", saying that most people these days know some Mormon and don't have the misconceptions anymore. So the film only changes the viewpoint of a very limited audience.

Fairly recent opinion research indicates the contrary. (Link: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700054363/Mormons-need-to-work-to-increase-favor.html?pg=all)

 

Maybe things have changed dramatically in the past four years, but I doubt it.

Edited October 15, 2014 by Scott Lloyd

[cinepro]

Don't hold your breath. Zero chance that happens.

 

I don't know about zero chance.  There's always the possibility that all but four other documentaries could be declared ineligible...

 

FWIW, this is the Mormon documentary that deserved a nomination.  It's excellent! And heartwearming!  And it profiles an unusual Mormon! And it got great reviews!

[mormonnewb]

Fairly recent opinion research indicates the contrary. (Link: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700054363/Mormons-need-to-work-to-increase-favor.html?pg=all)

 

Maybe things have changed dramatically in the past four years, but I doubt it.

 

Thanks for the link.  It was enlightening.

 

After the Mormon Moment, I suspect that people are somewhat more familiar with Mormons now, but not very much so.  I think what struck me the most about this survey is that it was conducted in Orange County, California and still 37% responded that they did not know a single Mormon.  That is, until I thought about my experience in southern California as a non-member.  I lived within walking distance of an LDS meetinghouse and I can't say that I knew a single Mormon.  Or, more accurately, I did not know that any of the several Mormons that I was likely acquainted with was a member of the Church.

 

But when I think about it, the same is true about my experience in Arizona up until the time I joined the Church.  For example, my best friend in the ward moved into a house around the corner from my home about ten years ago.  Our sons became friends and his son had even been over to my house.  As a result, I met this man years ago and never even knew that he was a Mormon.  So while I had pleasant interactions with his family, had I been asked what I thought of the Mormons -- I would have answered just like the 37% in the study -- "What's a Mormon?"

 

In that vein, I have to concede that perhaps the movie is a good idea after all.  It might be an even better idea if we let the people around us know who we are, so they can meet an actual Mormon for less than $10.50 plus concessions.

[Buckeye]

I don't know about zero chance.  There's always the possibility that all but four other documentaries could be declared ineligible...

 

FWIW, this is the Mormon documentary that deserved a nomination.  It's excellent! And heartwearming!  And it profiles an unusual Mormon! And it got great reviews!

 

I loved NEW YORK DOLL. I find a sweet metaphoric truth in it: Mormons may be the awkward, jealous, half-insane guy in the corner, but the band is better off with us than without.

[Buckeye]

In that vein, I have to concede that perhaps the movie is a good idea after all.  It might be an even better idea if we let the people around us know who we are, so they can meet an actual Mormon for less than $10.50 plus concessions.

 

That may happen if the church is able to get the movie on to Netflix.  Or, better yet, on to HBO, which starting next year can be purchased online without a cable subscription.

 

I can see it now: "Coming up next ... Real Time with Bill Maher, then at 11:00 Showgirls, and at 1:30 am Meet the Mormons."

[Hamba Tuhan]

Interesting. It would appear that the film has remained in the top 10 for the past three weekdays, pulling in more money per screen than any other film in US release Monday--Wednesday, including top-rated Gone Girl. One wonders what the trajectory will be. From the Deseret News:

 

The film expands to 333 screens Friday, then will add significantly more theaters next week, Purdie said. The per-screen average for "Meet the Mormons" is now $11,681, tops among the top 20 films this week.

 

Critics, of course, have been predicting that it would die an embarrassing death after the first night, then after the first weekend, then after Monday's FHE bump, then ...

Edited October 17, 2014 by Hamba Tuhan

[Scott Lloyd]

Interesting. It would appear that the film has remained in the top 10 for the past three weekdays, pulling in more money per screen than any other film in US release Monday--Wednesday, including top-rated Gone Girl. One wonders what the trajectory will be. From the Deseret News:

 

 

Critics, of course, have been predicting that it would die an embarrassing death after the first night, then after the first weekend, then after Monday's FHE bump, then ...

It's a surreal experience seeing "Meet the Mormons" among the top 10 on that list of box-office draws, many of them no doubt R-rated.

 

It's reminiscent of 1959, when "Battle Hymn of the Republic" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was getting substantial air play on radio stations with a top-40 format in the heyday of rock and roll.

 

Or, more recently, when President Gordon B. Hinckley was interviewed by Mike Wallace, king of the ambush journalists, on "60 Minutes" and hit one out of the park.

Edited October 17, 2014 by Scott Lloyd

[mormonnewb]

It's a surreal experience seeing "Meet the Mormons" among the top 10 on that list of box-office draws, many of them no doubt R-rated.

 

It's reminiscent of 1959, when "Battle Hymn of the Republic" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was getting substantial air play on radio stations with a top-40 format in the heyday of rock and roll.

 

Or, more recently, when President Gordon B. Hinckley was interviewed by Mike Wallace, king of the ambush journalists, on "60 Minutes" and hit one out of the park.

 

Even more impressive is that our per/theater revenue ($7,917) was just about $100 less than the weekend's #1 movie -- Gone Girl.    Wow!  We really come out in force to support our movie.

 

Here are the box office numbers per day:

 

Fri --  $1,235,045

Sat -- $1,209,807

Sun --     $64,956

Mon --  $692,747

Tue --    $298,133

Wed --   $237,208

Thu --    $214,339

 

http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Gone-Girl#tab=box-office

 

The Sunday figures are most telling.  They are 5% of Friday numbers.  For most movies, there is a SLIGHT drop off on Sundays (for example, Gone Girl did just $7 million on Sunday compared to $8 million on Friday).  But a 95% drop-off would seem to indicate that the Mormon prohibition on movies on the Sabbath emptied the theaters.  Ergo, on Friday and Saturday, the theater was likely filled with Mormons.

 

The Monday numbers seem to bolster this view as they jumped by more than 1000%.  I suspect that FME accounted for this robust rebound.  So, yes, Mormons are going to see this movie in droves, but I'm not so sure that we are getting much mainstream "air time."

[VideoGameJunkie]

This pretty much means only Mormons are going to see the movie. I thought it was meant for non Mormons. I hope they can open it up to more theaters so more people get a chance to see it. But the next movie I'm waiting for is Exodus: Gods and Kings.

[Scott Lloyd]

This pretty much means only Mormons are going to see the movie.

I don't think that necessarily follows. It may be that many of the Mormons are bringing their non-member friends, neighbors and relatives to see the movie with them -- which, I think, was part of the intent. That would be consistent with the Sabbath-day drop-off but would not necessarily mean that only Mormons are going.

 

Edited to add:

 

If the audiences thus far are largely Mormon, it's good news that attendance drops on Sunday. It means that our members are obeying the commandment to observe the Sabbath and are thereby setting a good example.

Edited October 17, 2014 by Scott Lloyd

[cinepro]

I don't think that necessarily follows. It may be that many of the Mormons are bringing their non-member friends, neighbors and relatives to see the movie with them -- which, I think, was part of the intent. That would be consistent with the Sabbath-day drop-off but would not necessarily mean that only Mormons are going.

 

Edited to add:

 

If the audiences thus far are largely Mormon, it's good news that attendance drops on Sunday. It means that our members are obeying the commandment to observe the Sabbath and are thereby setting a good example.

 

I suspect the number of members who would pay to see "Meet the Mormons", but also go to the movies on Sundays, is close to 0.

[SeekingUnderstanding]

I suspect the number of members who would pay to see "Meet the Mormons", but also go to the movies on Sundays, is close to 0.

This would seem to indicate that about 5% of the film's viewers are non-mormon based on Sunday's gross (excluding those being taken along as friends as Scott points out).

[mormonnewb]

I suspect the number of members who would pay to see "Meet the Mormons", but also go to the movies on Sundays, is close to 0.

I would have thought so too until one of our stake high priests showed up at the priesthood meeting and read off a list of SUNDAY showtimes. When asked if he was actually encouraging us to break the Sabbath, he just smiled sheepishly and sat down. Of course, in our ward, we are very devout in our Sabbath observances (provided that it's not fattening, inconvenient or costs too much money), so he was in "friendly environs."

Edited October 17, 2014 by mormonnewb