What a shame. Although I have to admit, I'm a movie guy and I'd totally forgotten Disney acquired Miramax years ago and the Weinsteins left it to form The Weinstein Company. It goes to show how synonymous they were with Miramax and how they've yet to replicate Miramax's success.
Miramax is responsible for some of the best films of the 1990's, many of which were game-changers.
Sex, Lies, and Videotape My Left Foot Reservoir Dogs Pulp Fiction Clerks Swingers The English Patient Chicago Good Will Hunting and of course... She's All That, among many others.
The Disney buyout was ultimately both a blessing and a curse. They managed to sneak some of the old indie brio under their big brother's nose for a while, but the money let Harvey indulge all his worst qualities, and once it became apparent that the system could be manipulated to guarantee awards success Miramax became synonymous with "worthy stodge". Still, pretty much the most important production house of the '90s.
I'm gonna crack open Peter Biskind's "Down & Dirty Pictures" tonight in its honour.