"Purple Violets" Makes Its Debut on iTunes

When a movie is considered a stinker, it's likely to go straight to DVD, but what can we say of a indie film going straight to iTunes? The first ever direct-to-download movie release is called "Purple Violets," directed by Edward Burns, starring Selma Blair, Debra Messing, Patrick Wilson, and Edward Burns himself. I'm a fan of all these actors, and doubt this movie is so bad it couldn't even make it to a DVD release.

The problem may actually be that most movies today are expected to be so action packed to be considered box office blockbusters. Burns told Variety that his style of filmmaking is dying, "These small, talky movies have a hard time finding an audience theatrically, so you need to adapt. There are still people who want to see this nontraditional type of film, and now there are nontraditional ways to get them out there."

I think this direct-to-download approach is actually a great idea for independent movies most of us would otherwise overlook at the video store. By being the first movie released exclusively on iTunes, "Purple Violets" is actually creating more buzz online since news of the first ever straight-to-iTunes movie release is spreading like wildfire on the Internet.

And while no iTunes movie has ever broke the 1 million download mark, even if 267,000 people downloaded the movie at $14.99, they'd be recovering the $4 million spent on the making of "Purple Violets." They're obviously going to pay Apple a good portion, but they're still saving a lot of money on elaborate marketing campaigns and distribution.

According to the web site, the two-hour-long movie is set in lower Manhattan and is a relationship comedy about four friends from college finding what they need to change their lives. Apparently, Patti (Blair) and her friend Kate (Messing) run into their college boyfriends played by Wilson and Burns, flames are rekindled, and dreams are revived, forever changing the course of their lives.

I haven't watched the movie yet, so I can't say for sure if it's something you should avoid, but the trailer intrigued me and I'll probably download it this weekend if I have some time.