Thompson on Hollywood

Apparition Fate Up in Air; Graham King Flirts with Berney

Post-Cannes, the fate of Bill Pohlad's distribution start-up Apparition remains murky in the aftermath of indie distribution vet Bob Berney's unexpected departure. Now the LAT reports that producer Graham King, who founded GK Films in 2007, is talking to Berney about yet another new distrib venture, GK Distribution. At Cannes, Berney launched discussions with several possible distribution partners; at this point Berney has no news to report.

By Anne Thompson
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June 14, 2010 9:55 AM
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Weinsteins Still Bidding for Miramax

Disney does want to sell Miramax--but only at the right price. If the studio doesn't get what it's looking for, it will hang on to the library. After all, Disney boasts the smallest library of the major studios. And new studio chief Rich Ross has said that he is proceeding with plans to release the outstanding Miramax titles, including Julie Taymor's The Tempest, which is not for sale and is one of two Helen Mirren Miramax vehicles; the other is John Madden's The Debt, co-starring Sam Worthington. Also on the block is the Jennifer Anniston baby-baster comedy The Switch, which is currently set for August 20 release.

By Anne Thompson
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June 14, 2010 4:48 AM
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Tonys Go Hollywood, Red's Logan Pens Miraculous Year, Nolan Hates 3D, It's a Wrap for Harry Potter

The Tonys went Hollywood Sunday night, from winners Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in best revival winner Fences to best featured actress and actor Scarlett Johansson and Eddie Redmayne, respectively, and Catherine Zeta-Jones as best actress (in musical revival A Little Night Music). The Tonys also favored two 50s-set shows as Memphis -- a rocking musical about underground Tennessee dance clubs and interracial love -- won best musical, and Red --starring Alfred Molina as artist Mark Rothko --won Best Play. Vanity Fair posted a gorgeous gallery of black and white portraits of select nominees.

By Sophia Savage
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June 14, 2010 2:27 AM
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Weekend Box Office: Summer Reprieve as Karate Kid Kicks A-Team's Ass (updated)

The summer box office won a reprieve this weekend as two 80s remakes went against each other. Warm-hearted family franchise The Karate Kid kicked actioner The A-Team's ass, thanks to the potent combo of genuine martial arts master Jackie Chan and Hollywood scion Jaden Smith, reports Anthony D'Alessandro:

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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June 13, 2010 4:13 AM
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Coppola's Somewhere Heads for Venice

We know that Sofia Coppola is talented--she already won an Oscar for writing Lost in Translation for chrissakes--but her identity as a filmmaker is still emerging. She has style up the wazoo, on ample display in Marie Antoinette, but what is she capable of? This question is fueling the intense curiosity around her fourth film, Somewhere. (This poster emerged on the internet last week.)

By Anne Thompson
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June 12, 2010 4:31 AM
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Oscar Talk Summer Edition: Post-Cannes, Box Office Blues

In our second Oscar Talk Summer Edition, In Contention's Kris Tapley and I cover his cross-country road trip, award contenders emerging from Cannes, and the disappointing summer so far, with some debate over indie darlings Winter's Bone and The Kids Are Alright, which opens next week's Los Angeles Film Festival.

By Anne Thompson
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June 12, 2010 3:57 AM
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Twilight Hype as Eclipse Opens and Breaking Dawn Breaks in Two

On the eve of Twilight: Eclipse's press junket this weekend and premiere June 24 at the 7000-seat Nokia Theater at the Los Angeles Film Festival, Summit Entertainment has stated the obvious: that the filming of the fourth book in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, to be directed by Bill Condon, will be in two parts. The first film is set for November 18, 2011. The cast will return: Three leads Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, plus Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed, Ashley Greene and Kellan Lutz. Series writer Melissa Rosenberg is writing it now with a fall shoot planned.

By Anne Thompson
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June 11, 2010 8:22 AM
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Finke is Back: on Deadline, MCN, Film Comment and Tilda

As HBO's Tilda goes into production--and the show's inspiration, Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood, keeps hyping every piece of news (TV reporter Nellie Andreeva is obsessed with the show)--Finke is back from neck surgery that has impaired her vocal chords. Meanwhile, exhausted Deadline New York blogger Mike Fleming is taking a much-needed vacation. But at least Finke's trademark bile has returned to the blog, inflaming David Poland, and likely not for the last time. But he's right to suggest that Hollywood players often use Finke to advance their agendas.

By Anne Thompson
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June 11, 2010 1:10 AM
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Bourne #4, Green Lantern Sequel, Monsterpocalypse and Inception Spot

In Development: - Bourne #4 is coming. Tony Gilroy is back in the saddle to write The Bourne Legacy as a sequel, not prequel, to the franchise starring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, as well as a "Bourne Bible." The film is not based on the book The Bourne Legacy (written by Eric Van Lustbader, not original novelist Robert Ludlum, who died in 2001) and is set for release in 2012. Damon says he won't do it unless director Paul Greengrass returns (Greengrass directed Ultimatum and Supremacy, while Doug Liman directed the 2002 kick-off The Bourne Identity). [Anne Thompson: I'd like to see Gilroy--in many ways the series' true creator, and a crackerjack director himself (Michael Clayton, Duplicity)-- do the honors. Would Damon work with him? After he sees the script, maybe.]

By Sophia Savage
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June 10, 2010 9:20 AM
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Original Karate Kid Macchio Aces Funny or Die's Wax On, F*ck Off

Funny or Die's Wax On, F*ck Off takes full advantage of Karate Kid star Ralph Macchio, now 48, on the eve of the remake's opening, with cooperation from Molly Ringwald, Kevin Connolly and Michael Lerner: