"Gemini Man" Will Only Be Seen as Ang Lee Intended in 14 U.S. Theaters

Scene from Gemini Man

Oscar season continues to heat up this weekend with the release of Gemini Man. It sounds like an exciting mix, considering that it's from two-time Oscar winner Ang Lee and actor Will Smith, returning to his action roots opposite himself as a clone. It's a film that has been sold not only on its riveting action set pieces but also on technological achievements. Much like Lee's previous film, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, he is tricking the film out with a reason to see it in a theater. That's right, he intends the film to be seen in 120 FPS (frames per second) 4K in 3D. There's only one catch: those who live in the United States aren't likely to ever see it that way. You will come close if you live near one of any 14 movie theaters that will be showing it in 120 FPS 2K in 3D, but even that is a far cry from the intended format. 

Ever since Avatar proved that 3D technology was here to stay, many auteurs have sought to find new ways to play with technology. One of the most famous/notorious examples featured Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy, which was one of the first to play with higher frame rate. Audiences at the time remember being disoriented, complaining about how distracting the new technology was. Even Avatar director James Cameron has been critical of techniques, claiming that certain technological advancements don't improve the cinematic experience. A lot had happened by the time that Lee followed up his Best Picture nominee Life of Pi with another notorious of high frame rates with Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. In all sense, the war drama didn't seem like the right subject for super-clear camera detail, but it's evident to Lee's desire for better definition.

To be fair, there was a proper screening for Gemini Man earlier this month at the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, CA where the theater installed a Cinity Cinema System that played it correctly. However, it wasn't meant to last. Polygon recently reported that the film will never be seen in its intended format, at least in the United States. There will be theaters in Asia that get closer to the experience, but for those in the U.S., the 120 FPS 4K in 3D format will never come to pass again for this film. The best that can be achieved is 120 FPS 2K in 3D. There are of course other alternates that feature 120 FPS or 2K or 3D, but rarely together. The following locations are the ones that Paramount has approved of being legitimate locations to see Gemini Man in its second-best format:

AMC Aventura Mall 24 – Miami, FL

AMC Century City 15 – Los Angeles, CA

AMC Del Amo 18 – Los Angeles, CA

AMC Disney Springs 24 – Orlando, FL

AMC Elmwood Palace 20 – New Orleans, LA

AMC Flatiron Crossing 14 – Denver, CO

AMC Hawthorn 12 – Chicago, IL

AMC Lincoln Square 13 – New York, NY

AMC Metreon 16 – San Francisco, CA

AMC North Point 12 – Atlanta, GA

AMC River East 21 – Chicago, IL

AMC Town Square 18 – Las Vegas, NV

AMC White Marsh 16 – Baltimore, MD

AMC Willowbrook 24 – Houston, TX

What are the benefits of seeing the film in this souped-up format? Well, according to Lee it makes a lot more sense than seeing it in a convention 2D format. For starters, Will Smith is playing two characters, including a younger version of himself called "Junior." Lee claims that 120 FPS 2K in 3D allows Junior to feel more of an authentic performance, especially since it proves that there are no added wrinkles or stand-ins for the role. If nothing else, it helps to show the detail put into Junior. It is also likely to give the film's action more of a clarity and focus, often at times playing like a documentary-level realism. This is supposed to be perceived as an advancement of technology to enhance what makes cinema great.

Considering that Lee's three films over the past decade have mostly pushed technology forward in fascinating ways, it seems like he will keep finding ways to get 120 FPS 2K in 3D into every theater possible until it actually happens. The only downside is that this has distracted from the quality of his last two films. While Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk was fine on its own, many objected to the technological-added realism that accompanied the film. It seems too early to judge that for Gemini Man, as critics like Polygon's Matt Patches argue that it's a positive aspect of the film, which actually makes it better. However, considering that the film rates 29% on critics aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes (his lowest career score), it does seem like the film will need all the razzle-dazzle it can get.

Once again, Lee's filmography feels like it's sidetracked by the technology he uses to tell the story. While this is not a criticism of Gemini Man yet, it does feel like many will consider it incomplete, or not understand what makes the film exceptional. Does technology really make all of the difference? Some say yes, but it's a public discussion that is worthy of debate. For now, it seems like Gemini Man has an uphill battle to face if it wants to even get a Best Special Effects Oscar nomination, as it's likely most voters won't get to see it correctly. While Lee remains one of the most exciting filmmakers of the 21st century, one can hope that he'll eventually find a balance of story and technology that reminds us of what made him great before with Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon or Brokeback Mountain. He was a gifted storyteller. It's strange to see him throw himself so eagerly into proving how great technology can enhance a film. Hopefully he gets a balance sooner than later.