Family Room Entertainment Corp. (FMYR)

[graspointe48236]

The Contract
By Buzz McClain -- Video Business, 6/4/2007
FIRST LOOK
Street: July 24
Prebook: June 19
> A diverting-enough B-movie-styled entertainment boasting a stellar A-list cast.

This non-stop thriller directed by Oscar-nominated Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy, Breaker Morant) contrives a situation wherein an everyday dad (John Cusack) must transport both his young son and a classy but ruthless hitman (Morgan Freeman) through a forest … while being chased by four very tenacious villains and the FBI. Budgeted at approximately $30 million, The Contract’s script has a few weaknesses and some overall silliness, making it play like a B-movie, albeit with an A-list cast.

Shelf Talk: Star power is this film’s main draw, and First Look is pushing the title with one of its biggest marketing campaigns, including national TV, ABC radio and targeted online presence on such sites as YouTube and MySpace. The HD DVD version boasts an optional picture-in-picture featurette, which is an ambitious high-def exclusive considering the movie is essentially a high-end indie. Count on Contract to become a best-seller on Freeman’s ClickStar download service when it’s posted, but for now, capitalize on Freeman and Cusack, whose names guarantee this title’s out-of-the-gate interest.
Thriller, color, R (language, violence), 97 min., DVD $28.98, HD DVD $32.98
Extras: featurettes
Director: Bruce Beresford
First Run: L Int’l., 2006, NA