Harvey Weinstein Slightly Justifies A Single Man Marketing

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Drama, Period, Romance, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Celebrity Controversy, Distribution, Rumors, Upcoming Releases

When the original movie poster (above) for Tom Ford’s directorial debut, A Single Man, appeared online, fans questioned whether or not distributors The Weinstein Company was downplaying the major gay theme of the film.

In the film, Colin Firth plays a closeted professor who mourns over his lover’s (Matthew Goode) death. Judging by the poster of Firth in bed with Julianne Moore (whose screen time is rumored to be fairly short), I think it’s safe to say that there was little intention to illustrate said storyline.

Upon the recent release of the film’s second poster (seen after the jump), Harvey Weinstein was questioned about the marketing that seems to say something other than the real message at hand.

Click to continue reading Harvey Weinstein Slightly Justifies A Single Man Marketing

Read More | New York Magazine

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

New Shutter Island Trailer Hits Internet

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Paramount, Horror, Period, Science Fiction, Thrillers, Distribution, Trailers, Upcoming Releases

Although movie-goers should have seen Shutter Island a few weeks ago, Paramount seems to be making up for the delay by debuting a third trailer for Martin Scorcese’s latest thriller.

Is it just me, or do these trailers get creepier with each release? I swear that the body count has drastically increased with each trailer!

Creepiness aside, you can catch the entire film, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo, on February 19.

Read More | Coming Soon

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Spain Slaps Saw VI with X Rating

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Horror, Sequels, Distribution

Well, they don’t call it torture porn for nothing.

Although previous installments of Saw have done well in Spain, the franchise’s sixth installment will be facing a large hurdle. The Spanish Culture Ministry’s Film Institute, the country’s equivalent to the MPAA, has just given Saw VI an X rating.

The label - the first one Spain’s ever stamped on a movie for violence - limits the number of theaters the film can be shown in to eight. (Buenavista had hoped to distribute 300 copies of the sequel.) Previous Saw entries were simply considered “not under 18.”

Buenavista has filed an appeal on the decision.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Animated Wes Anderson Film to Open AFI Fest

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Fox Searchlight, Adaptation, Adventure, Family, Comedy, Distribution, Trailers, Upcoming Releases

The Royal Tenenbaums writer-director Wes Anderson is already garnering positive attention for his first stop-motion animated film, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, as it has been picked to open the American Film Institute’s Film Festival.

It was at this same gala last year that Juno was chosen as the centerpiece film, impressing critics and prompting movie buzz.

The film stars the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, and many more familiar vocals (check out the trailer after the jump).

Click to continue reading Animated Wes Anderson Film to Open AFI Fest

Read More | The Hollywood Reporter

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Shutter Island Release Date Pushed to February

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Paramount, Adaptation, Drama, Mystery, Thrillers, Distribution, Rumors, Upcoming Releases

Despite releasing the trailer last June for Martin Scorsese’s upcoming thriller Shutter Island, studio execs at Paramount have decided to push its October 2 date back to February 2010.

Garnering quite a bit of Oscar buzz isn’t enough, apparently—the decision was made due to a lack of money for the film’s promotion. A source also reveals that the move might also have been caused due to Leonardo DiCaprio‘s inability to promote the film overseas.

Paramount Chief Brad Grey is happy to have the film kicking off their 2010 slate:

“Leonardo DiCaprio is among the most talented actors working today and Martin Scorsese is not just one of the world’s most significant filmmakers, but also a personal friend. Following a highly successful 2009, we have every confidence that Shutter Island is a great anchor to lead off our 2010 slate and the shift in date is the best decision for the film, the studio and ultimately Viacom.”

Let’s hope the wait is worth it come February!

Read More | Deadline Hollywood Daily

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Lionsgate Picks Up Kick-Ass

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Lionsgate, Action, Adaptation, Horror, Satire, Comedy, Distribution, Upcoming Releases

Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.‘s brutal, satirical comic book, Kick-Ass, turned quite a few heads last month when a clip from the film adaptation was showcased at San Diego Comic Con. One of those heads turned out to be the key to landing their U.S. and Canadian distributor, Lionsgate Films.

Director Matthew Vaughn has, with the help of his own company Marv Films and Plan B Entertainment, financed the film after studios turned it down (most likely due to prepubescent Hit Girl’s uber samurai-carnage).

Lionsgate, which aims to see a wide-release in 2010, beat out Universal, Paramount and Fox Searchlight (among others) for the rights.

Considering its proclivity towards violence (Saw, The Midnight Meat Train, Hostel: Part II) and eyebrow-raising material (Religulous, W.), I would say that Vaughn and company should feel safe in the company’s money-making arms.

Read More | The Hollywood Reporter

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Watchmen Lawsuit Settled

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Mystery, Political, Science Fiction, Thrillers, Distribution, Upcoming Releases

Watchmen fanboys - you can now take a collective sigh of relief. The fight between Mommy and Daddy is now over.

Although it looked as if March 6th would be scratched off the calendar, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. agreed to play nice and settled their differences. The last-minute negotiations kept the film in the theaters and the parties out of the courtroom.

For its part, Fox will get a upfront cash settlement to cover its original investment fees and its legal costs. (According to sources, that check amount is somewhere in the $5-$10 million range.) The studio will also will also get 5-8.5% gross participation in the first film and a percentage in any possible sequels. In turn, Warner will get to continue as planned with only their logo on the project.

Read More | Variety

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Watchmen’s Fate Handled in Federal Court

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Mystery, Noir, Political, Thrillers, Distribution, Upcoming Releases

UPDATE: Warner Bros. and FOX have settled the lawsuit.

Time hasn’t been kind to fans of Watchmen. Although we’ve already hit the New Year, the battle between Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox has just grown nastier. So what will this mean for the March 6 premiere?

Late last month, U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feess ruled that Fox did have rights to the graphic novel adaptation. Although the studio had the opportunity to launch the film back in the late ‘80s (and had spent over a $1 million developing the project), the movie never came to fruition. Producer Larry Gordon allegedly agreed to check back with Fox first on any future plans, but later took Watchmen over to Legendary Pictures and Warner. Fox filed then filed a lawsuit back in February claiming Gordon neglected to properly acquire their interest before making the move.

Click to continue reading Watchmen’s Fate Handled in Federal Court

Read More | Variety

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Dark Knight Gets Its January Return Date

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Sequels, Thrillers, Awards, Box Office, Distribution

You might want to hold off buying that Batman DVD just a little while longer.

Although The Dark Knight will be available for home video starting this Tuesday, the movie will soon be hitting a much larger screen. Starting January 23rd, the second-highest domestic grosser of all time will once again be entering the multiplexes.

Why now? Well, there are two very good reasons. Those who don’t recognize the significance of the “premiere” date should know that it was chosen for a reason. January 23rd just happens to fall one day after the Oscar nominations are announced. Could Warner Bros. be planning on a posthumous nod for Heath Ledger? If so, a re-release could remind voters of this summer’s most noteworthy performance.

And the second reason? Money. Knight is very close to reaching the $1 billion mark. Another $4 million will put the blockbuster in a group currently occupied by Titanic, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

Read More | Variety

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Dark Knight Set to Re-Release in January

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Classics, Mystery, Sequels, Thrillers, Awards, Box Office, Distribution

Warner Bros. now has plans to re-release Christopher Nolan’s record-breaking Batman sequel this January.

While I initially heard the news of The Dark Knight‘s re-release plan, I was excited to see that it may have a second chance to break Titanic‘s record; however, I was met with disappointment to discover that their motives linked to more materialistic goal named Oscar.

January is the prime voting season for the Academy Awards, and those determined folks at Warner Bros. don’t want anyone over there to forget about that impressive summer blockbuster of theirs.

Click to continue reading Dark Knight Set to Re-Release in January

Read More | The Hollywood Reporter

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (1)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story