A Single Man enters the Oscar race
The Weinstein Company put down seven figures and, apparently, the promise of a big Oscar push to win a bidding war over A Single Man, fashion designer Tom Ford’s debut feature. The story of a gay British college professor who loses his partner has already seen its share of kudos, with Colin Firth winning the best actor trophy at the Venice Film Festival. But Venice has always been a gay friendly film fest. Far From Heaven and Brokeback Mountain both got their Oscar starts in Italy. (We know how that turned out.) And with a full campaign slate (Nine, Inglourious Basterds, The Road), this small picture from a first-time director may not get all the Academy Award love it likely deserves . Is this a vote of no Oscar confidence from the Weinstein Company in its other three pictures?...
Read MoreRIP Patrick Swayze – TFC Morning Report
Top Story: Patrick Swayze, star of Dirty Dancing, Ghost, and Road House, died yesterday after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57. (Variety) In Other News: Ingourious Basterds star Christoph Waltz will replace Nicolas Cage as the villain in The Green Hornet. (DHD) Director Peter Berg is officially at the helm of Battleship. (Variety)...
Read MoreTyler Perry’s ‘I Can Do Bad’ opens at No. 1 – TFC Morning Report
Top Story: Tyler Perry’s eight film, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, lead the domestic box office, taking in $24 million. It’s also the fifth Perry film to open at No. 1. Focus Features’ 9 can in second with $10.8 million. (erc BoxOffice) In Other News: Perry’s opening isn’t the only good news for Lionsgate this weekend. The distributor has picked up Steven Soderbergh’s next film, Knockout. (Variety) Disney’s D23 fan expo certainly had folks buzzing this weekend. Not only was Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides officially announced, but Disney also unveiled its Double Dare You animation label, a partnership with director Guillermo Del Toro. (Variety) Robert Redford’s Abe Lincoln assassination picture The Conspirator is moving forward. James McAvoy and Robin Wright Penn have joined the historical drama as Frederick Aiken and Mary Surratt, respectively. (Variety)...
Read MoreLars von Trier’s Antichrist trailer
Watching this trailer made me feel like I was being violently assaulted, so I can only imagine that actually seeing the film in a theater will feel like being raped and left for dead. Whether that’s good or bad? Well, I’ll wait for the picture do its work before I come to any conclusion. If you want to risk your personal well-being, feel free to check out the HD version over at Apple.com. Antichrist, directed by Lars von Trier and starring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg, opens on Oct. 23. It premieres On Demand on Oct....
Read MoreThe Dude takes on the Duke – TFC Morning Report
Top Story: The Coen brothers are looking to draft Jeff Bridges for their upcoming adaptation of True Grit. Bridges will play Marshall Reuben J. ‘Rooster’ Cogburn, a role that won John Wayne the Best Actor Oscar for the 1969 adaptation. This will be the first time the Coens and Bridges have worked together since Bridges played Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski in the classic Coen comedy The Big Lebowski. (Variety) In Other News: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced its honorary award winners for this year. Producer John Calley will be awarded the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, while Lauren Bacall, Roger Corman and Gordon Willis will receive honorary Oscars. These awards will NOT be presented at the Oscar ceremony in March, but rather during a luncheon in November. Here’s hoping the Academy is wise enough...
Read MoreUPDATED: Up in the Air teaser trailer
At the beginning of the year, Morgan Freeman was considered a shoo-in for the Best Actor Oscar for playing Nelson Mandela in the upcoming Invictus. Looks like Mr. Clooney has something to say about that. UPDATED RELEASE: Up in the Air, starring George Clooney and directed by Jason Reitman, starts hitting theaters on Nov.13. The film opens wide Nov....
Read MoreGet Email Updates
