“This is like Sundance all over again.”
Not exactly Turtle. You see, the Sundance episode was actually good. Tonight’s season finale? Not so much, but that didn’t keep Doug Ellin and Co. from trying their darndest to emulate the season two gem by once again forcing the gang into a make-it-or-break-it business deal. The boys have finally arrived in Cannes with one mission in mind: sell “Medellin” to the highest bidder before the film’s world premiere. Unfortunately, no one’s biting just yet, except for the boys’ old friend Yair (the Arabic millionaire from the tail end of season three), who’s desperate to buy the rights to the film he passed up on for the exact amount it cost to make it – $35 million.
Walsh doesn’t want to sell it to an independent distributor, however, and neither does Ari. They want studio backing, since it ensures both a proper theatrical release and a greater chance of being nominated come award season, and after talking it over with the film’s main producer (Nicky Rubenstein), they agree to start a bidding war and wait it out. And boy do they wait, and wait, and wait… until Ari decides to take matters into his own hands, tricking Dana Gordon over at Warner Bros. to buy the movie for the same asking price as Yair. Regrettably, Yair beats them to the punch by going behind Ari’s back (and straight to Nicky) to cement at $75 million deal for the flick.
Everyone’s happy about the sudden financial boost (except for Walsh) and stroll into the premiere feeling confident that the movie will kill. It does the exact opposite, causing viewers to boo Walsh’s “masterpiece,” Dana Gordon to pray she dodged a giant bullet, and Yair to renege on his offer. Serious about his admiration for the film, Harvey comes to the rescue with and makes an offer the boys can’t refuse: one dollar for “Medellin.” It doesn’t sound like much, but with a major distributor backing the film (and probably re-cutting it), there’s still a distinct possibility that it will earn back its budget and get a few Oscar nods along the way. It’s a pretty big “if” for Vinnie Chase considering his past, but for the time being, things are starting to look up.
Okay, maybe not, but I’m seriously so sick and tired of being negative that I figured I’d give it a shot. All in all, this was a disappointing end to a disappointing season, and as far as I’m concerned, this series is officially on its final warning. Unless they can turn it around in season five (which may be harder than it sounds, since that damn “Medellin” story arc still hasn’t been wrapped up), the boys of “Entourage” are going to be in serious trouble. As for Johnny Chase, well, he’s in a world of his own, but here’s hoping the old dog brings back that French hottie to help spice things up around the house.
