Forever Harvey

Death to indie!

Perhaps an exaggeration, but we think it's indicative of a troubling trend that Warner Bros. chief Alan Horn made the surprise announcement this morning that he's shutting down both Picturehouse and Warner Independent Pictures.

As if there was any doubt, now we know for sure -- it's all about the tentpoles, remakes, prequels, threequels and franchises. Heart and soul optional.

Picturehouse, headed by Bob Berney, the guy with the eagle eye for small gems that he then turns into Liz Taylor-sized rocks, is the bigger loss, certainly as far as awards-worthy movies go. The division of New Line (which has been gobbled up by its parent WB, setting off this whole chain of events) gave us "Pan's Labyrinth (three Oscars) and "La Vie En Rose" (best actress Oscar for Marion Cotillard), though WIP released Oscar-winning doc "March of the Penguins" and prestige product "Good Night, and Good Luck," Oscar nominated in six categories. Its coffers have been bare lately, though last year's little-seen "In the Valley of Elah" snagged an Oscar nod for Tommy Lee Jones.

The argument for starting and maintaining these sometimes unprofitable indie wings is that they're the studios' way to win ego-buffing prizes. Looks like that's not a viable business plan, according to Warner Bros.

Two groups we're cursing right now: shareholders and tween movie-goers. We're not ready to resign ourselves to a future filled with nothing but gross-out comedies and "actioners," but we might have to seriously start mulling the prospect.

Well, there's always the Weinsteins.