Sony releases ‘The Interview’ in reversal of plans

Amid a swell of controversy, backlash, confusion and threats, Sony Pictures broadly released “The Interview” online Wednesday — an unprecedented counterstroke against the hackers who spoiled the Christmas opening of the comedy depicting the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

“It has always been Sony’s intention to have a national platform on which to release this film,” Sony Pictures chair and CEO Michael Lynton said in a statement. “We chose the path of digital distribution first so as to reach as many people as possible on opening day, and we continue to seek other partners and platforms to further expand the release.”

“The Interview” became available on a variety of digital platforms Wednesday afternoon, including Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft’s Xbox Video and a separate Sony website, a day after Sony and independent theaters agreed to release it in over 300 venues on Christmas.

Kim Song, a North Korean diplomat to the United Nations, condemned the release, calling the movie an “unpardonable mockery of our sovereignty and dignity of our supreme leader.” But Kim said North Korea will likely limit its response to condemnation, with no “physical reaction.”

It was unclear whether the company will recoup the $40 million cost of the film and the millions more spent on marketing by deciding to release it online through affordable formats.

Decisions by Google and Microsoft to show the movie could open their sites to hacking. Microsoft reported technical problems with its Xbox sign-in system Wednesday, though it wasn’t known whether it was the result of hacking.

Among the early viewers was 11-year-old Marco Squitieri of Washington, D.C. Squitieri’s family purchased “The Interview” from Xbox for $14.99.

“It’s pretty funny,” Squitieri said, laughing as he praised the chemistry of Rogen and Franco and adding that he could understand why the North Korean government wouldn’t like it. “They make fun of North Korea a lot.”

Amy Hurley, an executive assistant who lives in Detroit, paid $5.99 to rent the movie on YouTube Movies and was disappointed. A fan of Rogen and Franco, she found Franco’s character “way over the top” and thought the jokes “were old and kept going on and on.”

Gitesh Pandya, editor of BoxOfficeGuru.com, said that interest would likely wane in January. But for now, the curiosity and enthusiasm is still palpable. Tyler Pulsifer, manager of the Hartford Spotlight Theaters in Hartford, Connecticut, said he had received 32 calls from people interested in seeing “The Interview” during the first 90 minutes the theater was open on Christmas Eve.

“People want to see it because they’ve been told not to,” Pulsifer said.

Josh Levin, general manager and co-founder of the West  End Cinema in Washington, said demand for the film has been unprecedented.

“I’ve had more than one of my very artsy regulars say they would not normally be caught dead watching a Seth Rogen, James Franco comedy but principle is so important they’re going to be here,” said Levin.

Lynton said the release represented the company’s commitment to free speech.

“While we couldn’t have predicted the road this movie traveled to get to this moment, I’m proud our fight was not for nothing and that cyber criminals were not able to silence us,” he said. (AP)