I hadn’t really planned on posting about the opening of Billy the Kid, though I love the film, I had posted about it a lot. But Karina Longworth over at Spout offers a perceptive overview of the current state of things, and thus my post:

Coming at similar themes from different corners, assaulting New York audiences on the same day, Juno and Billy the Kid uncommonly and uncannily illustrate the industry’s current, massive split between art and commerce. In this climate, a servicable teen sex com like Juno can show up in September and, with corporate marketing budget in hand leapfrog over a years worth of comers to become, in the day before its release, an all-but-certain sure thing at the Oscars and at the box office. Meanwhile, a film like Billy the Kid, which in one fell swoop all but changes the game of real teen representation, works the circuit for nine months collecting accolades, misses out on a much-needed Oscar boost and is now–like any true indie in this market–relying on first weekend gross to shape its distribution future. If you’re in New York and can only see one film over the next days, I promise you–Juno isn’t going anywhere. Billy needs you more.

I’m not sure many people go see films because the film needs them so I’d add that Billy the Kid is a good movie. Believe me, there is no guarantee that just because a film comes out of Hollywood (or in Juno’s case Indiewood - Fox Searchlight Pictures), that it will be good. Why not take a chance on something else? You might like it.