John Travolta’s The Forger goes straight to video and some are calling it a bust. Is Travolta losing his magical touch at the box office?
It’s a bust! John Travolta‘s new movie, The Forger, is going straight to video, according to Examiner. The Forger, an action flick directed by Philip Martin, started shooting in Boston in October 2013, but things never got off the ground for the project.
The Inquisitr reports that Saban Films invested $2.5 million to acquire domestic distribution rights to the film after it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2014, but this was a waste of money because critics at the event hated it.
David Rooney, from the Hollywood Reporter, said in a review at the time:
“A contrived thriller that wraps a gritty Boston milieu redolent of a Dennis Lehane story around a sentimental heart, with a high-stakes art heist that belongs in a more robustly plotted Hollywood studio picture.”
Dennis Harvey, of Variety, added:
“Nothing feels fresh here – not even Christopher Plummer hamming it up as a crusty-coot grandpa – and Philip Martin’s routinely polished direction only underscores the cliche-composting of Richard D’Ovidio’s script.”
The bad reviews sank The Forger before it even got a release date, it is currently sitting at 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. This week, things went from bad to worse, after it was revealed that Travolta’s new movie will debut on DirectTV starting March 26. On April 24, it will be available via Video On Demand.
Pulp Fiction: Daniel Day-Lewis wanted the role of Vincent Vega, but Quentin Tarantino turned him down in favor of John Travolta.
— Actor Trivia (@ActorTrivia) March 15, 2015
John Travolta has 2 7500foot runways for a private jet at his home! https://t.co/RsdMt4EAcs
— MTV News! (@MTVNEW5) March 20, 2015
"@Local12: Crews to film movie starring John Travolta in Ohio: http://t.co/ZjHFRIkECj pic.twitter.com/2mmLbCZedU"
— Vesile Güneş (@VesileGunes85) March 20, 2015
It is safe to say that the names – John Travolta and Christopher Plummer – were not enough for The Forger to get a proper release in movie theaters. The two legendary actors are not the only ones dealing with flops in Hollywood this year. Earlier this month, Serena, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, was also sent directly to video.
Even the big players in Hollywood are having trouble getting their movies out. This Travolta “Forger” video bust might be the beginning of a new era where no one is a safe bet. If you are a big fan of Travolta, here is the synopsis of the movie:
“A second-generation petty thief arranges to get out of prison to spend time with his ailing son by taking on a job with his father to pay back the syndicate that arranged his release.”
What do you think of the latest downturn in Travolta’s movie career? Are you interested in watching The Forger?
