It may not be "Harry Potter," but another film featuring a bespectacled protagonist is racking up strong pre-sales before its national roll-out this weekend. "The Undefeated," a glowing look at failed vice-presidential candidate and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has already sold out a show in Grapevine, Texas (population 46,000), according to the distributor Cinedigm.
Grapevine isn't exactly a teeming metropolis but the film is set to roll out across Tea Party country in 10 AMC theaters.
In addition to Grapevine, the documentary by conservative filmmaker Stephen K. Bannon will expand to Indianapolis, Ind.; Independence, Mo.; Kennesaw, Ga.; Houston, Texas; Orlando, Fla.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Highlands Ranch, Colo.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Orange, Calif.
When Sarah Palin said, More government is not the answer, the audience in theater 8 at AMC Barrett Commons 24 erupted with applause.
Understandably, filmmaker Stephen Bannon was all smiles.
I actually got contacted by Gov. Palins Political Action Committee to do a short video, or a couple of vignettes, about her time as governor of Alaska, Bannon said earlier in the evening...
We had about 40 folks come on June 30 to the theater, said Robert Cunningham, a local coordinator for the screening. Our goal was to screen the movie, and if we liked it, tell others about it. For about two weeks, we mobilized people, and thought the message needed to be heard.
Luckily for us, Cunningham said, both theaters sold out tonight, and well let the attendees decide for themselves what they think of the movie.
Cunningham said the turnout for Friday nights screenings was both inspiring and humbling.