BREAKING: Sony will let theaters show 'The Interview' on Christmas Day

The Alamo Drafthouse was one of the few theaters willing to show The Interview even after the threats of 9/11 hellfire or whatever, and the were also the ones who got foiled by Paramount when they announced they were going to show Team America: World Police instead. So it's justice that news of Sony's reversal - just in time for a Christmas Day showing - would come from the Alamo Drafthouse as well:

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Tim League, Austin-based founder of the Alamo Drafthouse, tells The Dallas Morning News via email that “Sony has authorized shows for Christmas Day. Will have Dallas shows on sale within the hour." The Alamo Drafthouse Richardson says tickets will be available on its website before 11:30 a.m. We’re awaiting word from other exhibitors, as well as from Sony Pictures. Sources familiar with this morning’s conference call say Sony is going to make the movie available to theaters at a reduced rental rate. They also say Sony is looking put it on a streaming service (not yet named) and video on demand by no later than Christmas. More to come.

Let's just reiterate: The fact that this is great news has nothing to do with the artistic merits of the film, which by all accounts are not great. It's great news because we are a nation that protects the expression of all art - even stupid art (in fact, I'd say we have more of that kind than any other) - and we don't make people silence themselves because someone else is offended. That even goes for other Americans, and it sure goes for despotic dictators like Bowl Cut Jr. By the way, there is a line of argument that's been growing popular on the left in recent days - which is that this whole thing could have been avoided if the film hadn't depicted the death of a foreign leaader, and that they should have known that would not go over well. That is nothing short of hilarious coming from people who will defend freedom of expression to an extreme so long as it's in the service of left-wing politics. You'd think the left, especially with so many of its fellow travelers in the entertainment industry, would stand up for the principle of free expression here regardless of the merits of the film. But it appears they're more interested political dynamics of the moment, which are: 1. Hostile nation takes hostile action; 2. Obama prefers to downplay so he won't have to do anything about it; 3. Obama apologists look for someone else to blame for the situation; 4. A gigantic American corporation offers a pretty attractive option. Anyway, if you want to see The Interview, you've got your chance on Christmas. Our family has been known to take in a movie on Christmas, and while it might be hard to find the time this year, I'll say this: The Interview is a movie I had almost no interest in seeing until doing so became a way of supporting free expression. Now it's near the top of my list. Oh, and I for one would like to see Kim Jong Un caught in a hellish fireball. Merry Christmas, everyone!