Thompson on Hollywood

'West of Memphis' Director Amy Berg Talks New Evidence in Arkansas Case UPDATE: New Trailer

Interviews

"It's a living, breathing thing," says director Amy Berg of The Sony Pictures Classics film "West of Memphis" (December 25), backed by producer-financeers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, which revisits the 18-year imprisonment of the innocent “West Memphis 3”: Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr. The documentary presents new witnesses and forensic evidence that exonerates the three men and points to others as responsible for the murder of Stevie Branch, Chris Byers and Michael Moore. It reveals a gross miscarriage of justice by the Arkansas justice system.

By Anne Thompson
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November 13, 2012 6:27 AM
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Hurricane Sandy Hurts NYC Indie Film World: Studios, Rep Theatres

News

As if independent film isn't up against enough already. The indie film world in New York City has taken a battering since the violent arrival of Hurricane Sandy earlier this week, with various Manhattan-based headquarters wading through flooding and power outages at the moment when Oscar season planning should be ramping up. The Tribeca offices for Indiewire/Snagfilms have been without power and shuttered all week with staffers working remotely; they are expected to reopen on Monday, November 5.

By Beth Hanna
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November 2, 2012 3:43 PM
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Sony Pictures Classics Picks Up Another Middle Eastern Film and Foreign Oscar Submission

News

In advance of its New York Film Festival screening next week, Israel's Oscar entry "Fill the Void," has been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. Israel sends its Ophir Best Picture winner to the Oscars.

By Anne Thompson
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October 2, 2012 1:26 PM
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Fest Buyer Sony Pictures Classics Heads to the Middle East (VIDEO)

News

Sony Pictures Classics has always leaned heavily on foreign acquisitions in advance of the awards season. Michael Barker and Tom Bernard are often betting on the likely submissions for the best foreign film entry, and can be counted upon to wind up with more than one in the final five. At the same time they can't handle too many movies at once, so they must pick well.

By Anne Thompson
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September 16, 2012 5:02 PM
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Sony Pictures Classics Acquires 'At Any Price'

Festivals

In advance of festival premieres at Venice and Toronto, Sony Pictures Classics has scooped up all North American and Eastern European rights (excluding CIS and Russia) to Ramin Bahrani's "At Any Price," starring Dennis Quaid, Zac Efron, Kim Dickens and Heather Graham, which debuted in the Cannes market.

By Anne Thompson
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August 3, 2012 6:53 PM
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Arthouse Audit: 'Moonrise Kingdom' Conquers More Box Office; Specialized Success of The Year

Box Office

The news this week is in the expanding films. Two huge hits-- a phenomenal second week for Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" and more success for "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"-- joined with two other decently grossing expansions-- "Intouchables" and "Bernie"-- to provide an even better early June than last year.

By Tom Brueggemann
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June 3, 2012 2:55 PM
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Weekend Box Office Specialty Films Report: What It Means

Box Office

Three specialized films with stellar reviews opened this weekend, but the one going out the widest and also available for home viewing, "Marley," boasted the most success. Three other new releases also had parallel premieres on video-on-demand.

By Tom Brueggemann
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April 22, 2012 2:18 PM
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Sony Pictures Classics Scoops Up Michael Haneke's 'Amour' Before Cannes

News

Sony Pictures Classics, which released Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or-winning and Oscar-nominated "White Ribbon," has acquired all North American rights to Films Du Losange's "Amour."

By Anne Thompson
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April 17, 2012 5:52 PM
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Weekend Box Office: What the Indie Numbers Really Mean UPDATED

Box Office

The weekend marks the return of two veteran filmmakers who were established in specialized theaters in the 1990s – Whit Stillman and Nanni Moretti. Films from both directors (who have always made pointed observations about their surroundings) opened to respectable if not spectacular grosses this holiday weekend.

By Tom Brueggemann
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April 10, 2012 1:52 PM
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Weekend Indie Box Office: What It Means, from 'Bully' to 'Island President' UPDATED

Box Office

“Bully” led a slew of documentary openers this weekend (at least eight) both in terms of attention and success. The others, including two with significant previous acclaim, reveal the results of the new Oscar rule requiring full week theatrical dates in New York and/or Los Angeles with published reviews in their leading papers.