'The Immigrant' Receives a Release Date But Where Are the Posters and Trailers?

Last year, the Weinstein Company obtained the distribution rights for James Gray's latest film, "The Immigrant."

"The Immigrant" tells the story of Ewa who falls prey to Bruno, a charming but wicked man who takes her in and forces her into prostitution.

The movie was once seen as a huge Oscar contender; Marion Cotillard's lead performance was praised at the Cannes Film Festival. The movie, however, scored mixed reviews and was seen as the most divisive film of the festival circuit due to its glacial pacing. The movie later went to the New York Film Festival and Chicago Film Festival and scored favorable reviews, but it ultimately lacked buzz and was overshadowed by a number of bigger films.

As a result, Gray's picture was never released in time for the Oscars because of the crowded slate and because of the mixed reception. The Weinstein Company decided to hand it down to its smaller distribution company Radius TWC for release because it was seen as a difficult sell and because it did not have the awards caliber.

Radius TWC, however, failed to even promote the movie and only once did it show up on the company's Facebook Page. The movie was left untouched for a number of months and was recently added to the release calendar. According to Box Office Mojo, the movie is slated for release on May 16 by the Weinstein Company. However, it seems as if the release will be quick and will lack any promotional poster or trailer.

With such high profile actors as Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Renner and Cotillard, it would seem that a company would give the film a bit more attention. However, if audiences want to know more about the movie, the Weinstein Company's website has no information about it and better yet has no poster or trailer; there's just materials for movies being released in three months.

The lack of promotion for the movie is the latest of hundreds of films that get bought and later receive a terrible release. On April 4, the company released two French films without any promotion that went completely under the radar: "The Players," which featured a number of shorts and starred Oscar winner Jean DuJardin, and "On the Other Side of the Tracks" starring Omar Sy. Both films. Both were released in 50 theaters, but only made $5,000 each. Like "The Immigrant," these movies have no presence on the company's website and seem like afterthoughts. Interestingly enough both these French pictures were huge hits internationally and could have had a lot more potential here in the U.S.

At the moment, "The Immigrant" has no big indie films being released on the same weekend, but it will have to compete with "Tracks" the following weekend. That movie was a huge hit at the Toronto International Film Festival and will also be released by the Weinsetin Company. "Tracks" has already received trailer, poster and a presence on the company's webpage.

However, as the release of "The Immigrant" gets near it will be interesting to see if the Weinstein Company has any interest in the film and if it will give it the same treatment as these two French films.