Question for film buffs/celebrity "hawks"

[Ro]

I have an opportunity to purchase two tickets to the Gala Premiere of the new Coen brothers' movie Burn After Reading at the Toronto Film Festival on Friday Sept. 5th.

If I had been able to confirm my plans for that weekend a little earlier, I could've tried to purchase tickets for that particular screening when they went on sale a week ago for the listed price of $38. But, I couldn't, and now my only option is to buy some at an inflated price.

The film in question stars Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, & Tilda Swinton, and all but Clooney are expected to attend. I'm not exactly sure how a gala screening like this works, but I imagine they might introduce those actors before the film and perhaps the Coens might even say something about it.

My question:

How much would you pay for tickets to an event like this?

Without spoiling the fun just yet, I won't reveal what price they are being offered to me for (if you are so inclined, do a google search and you will get the ballpark amount, these tix are much cheaper than that). I will also add the following bits of information:

• My sister, who I'm meeting in Toronto, is a huge fan of Brad Pitt. Not crazy-like, but she would love to see him in person
• I adore the Coen brothers' body of work, and would take some nerdy solace in the fact that I get to see this movie a little ahead of the rest of the world
• The screening takes place in the premier theatre for the TIFF, so the atmosphere and quality of the projector will surely be excellent
• You only live once, and we both love film, and it makes for interesting conversation to say "I was at that premiere"

We are undecided, as the dollar amount seems to be at that perfectly calculated crux- not obscene and ridiculous, but A LOT to pay to go see a movie. Even taking into account all of the factors I posted above. Interested to read people's comments, will fill in the details once we/the seller make a decision.

[calf]

Fifty bucks?


edit: just looked at what they're going for on ebay...that's a heluva deal

[WindomURL]

$102... If I get the chance to tell my Fargo phone sex joke (it's not as lame as you'd think) to Frances McDormand or the Coens

[Dion]

You're right, you only live once. You sound as if you really want to go and the dollars are the only stumbling block. Sounds like a unique and a once in a lifetime oppoertunity. You could err on the side of cheap and to have live with the what if's. Personaly i'd spend what it takes and enjoy the experience.

[Thor]

I would pay $250-350 for each ticket.

[Flame Of Liberty]

The question I have is how much would you pay me to sit through a Coen brothers movie?

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

The question I have is how much would you pay me to sit through a Coen brothers movie?

Yeah they are terrible

1984 - Blood Simple
1987 - Raising Arizona
1990- Miller's Crossing
1991 - Barton Fink
1994 - The Hudsucker Proxy
1996 - Fargo
1998 - The Big Lebowski
2000 - O Brother Where art Though
2001 - The Man Who Wasn't There
2003 - Intolerable Cruelty
2004 - The Lady Killers
2007 - No Country for Old Men
2008 - Burn After Reading *released soon

Boy I wish they would release something original, well acted, and fun to watch.

I've heard people criticize lots of great filmmakers, but to blanketly dismiss the Cohen brothers really makes me dare to ask, IF these guys are not to your liking, what are your favorite films?

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by Thor

Yeah they are terrible

1984 - Blood Simple
1987 - Raising Arizona
1990- Miller's Crossing
1991 - Barton Fink
1994 - The Hudsucker Proxy
1996 - Fargo
1998 - The Big Lebowski
2000 - O Brother Where art Though
2001 - The Man Who Wasn't There
2003 - Intolerable Cruelty
2004 - The Lady Killers
2007 - No Country for Old Men
2008 - Burn After Reading *released soon

Boy I wish they would release something original, well acted, and fun to watch.

No country and O brother were MAJOR pains to sit through (OK I admit I couldnt finish watching O brother, I thought it was beyond terrible), Lebowski was OK, nothing more. So its kinda difficult for me to choose another movie to watch, their work is not my cup of coffee is all I am saying.

Originally Posted by Thor

I've heard people criticize lots of great filmmakers, but to blanketly dismiss the Cohen brothers really makes me dare to ask, IF these guys are not to your liking, what are your favorite films?

See my signature

[bigtmac19]

I say go for it! As someone mentioned you only live once and it would be pretty cool to attend a movie premiere.
Have a great time and give us all the details.
Try to get your picture taken with Brad and post it here please!

[Boblobla]

I would go for it, it sounds like a pretty awesome opportunity.

[Got Miikka?]

I'm in Toronto, if you decide against this I will GLADLY take the opportunity - in fact, I have been trying to figure out how I can get in myself.

Seriously, man, you have to do this. It's not even up for debate. The TIFF is a festival of immense prestige and you'll be screening the follow-up from the directors of last year's Best Picture winner, featuring in-person a stellar cast some of serious Hollywood IT-folk. This screening is going to be packed with ritzy patrons - even if you don't get to rub elbows with the almighty Brad, you'll certainly be able to take in, as you mentioned, some fantastic atmosphere, to say nothing of what on it's own is probably a really really good movie. You'll get big-time bragging rights. One time I went to see a Broadway play in New York and happened to get seated directly next to Gene Wilder, and I'll brag about how cool I thought that was for the rest of my life. That's nothing compared to this.

As to the question itself, you're making it sound like these tickets could be worth thousands of dollars (I didn't google) - I'm venturing you're being offered them for a few hundred or even less if it's a real steal.

Go for it.

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by WindomURL

$102... If I get the chance to tell my Fargo phone sex joke (it's not as lame as you'd think) to Frances McDormand or the Coens

Let's hear the joke.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

No country and O brother were MAJOR pains to sit through (OK I admit I couldnt finish watching O brother, I thought it was beyond terrible), Lebowski was OK, nothing more. So its kinda difficult for me to choose another movie to watch, their work is not my cup of coffee is all I am saying.

See my signature

Whoa ... you deserve to have your rug pissed on for that one.

[mac_gurl]

Do it. You don't want to regret it later down the road.

[JiriHrdina]

Yeah this is pretty cool. I'd do it - great story to have down the road.

[transplant99]

Do it...that kind of stuff is a once in a lifetime thing.

As for the Coens...sure they have made some great ones, but I agree that O Brother and the Big Lebowski were so freaking awful, I couldnt finish watching them.

Fargo and Raising Arizona were brilliant though and the rest somewhere in the midlle.

Will certainly give this one a watch though...sounds hilarious.

[Ro]

The tickets are $150 each. We are leaning towards saying "screw it" and just spending the money.

Enjoyed reading people's thoughts, thanks.

[JiriHrdina]

^150 bucks - yeah you gotta do it man!

[sadora]

The great thing about events like this is that they usually involve a Q & A after the screening with the creative minds behind it. In this case, I would pay a lot of money to see what the Coen's have to say.

[jammies]

I would have paid up to $250 a ticket. $150 is a deal.