Thompson on Hollywood

Young Victoria Goes to Apparition

Over the weekend, Apparition closed a U.S. distribution deal for Toronto Film Festival closer The Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt in what could be her breakout role carrying a movie as the youngest British monarch. As is typical these days, the new distrib run by Bob Berney and backer Bill Pohlad did not put up a minimum guarantee, but rather beat out several competitors (including Miramax, Overture and Roadside Attractions) by committing to $4.5 million in P & A and a 250-screen release. Appariiton will open the movie November 13. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group will handle all domestic ancillary rights. Alliance will release in Canada.

By Anne Thompson
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August 10, 2009 7:45 AM
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Inglourious Basterds: Recut, Nine Clips

Quentin Tarantino's recut of Inglourious Basterds is one minute longer than the Cannes version, and much improved. It's a gorgeous movie with a great eclectic soundtrack crammed with everything from Ennio Morricone to a brilliant use of David Bowie's "Putting Out the Fire." (Trivia question: what movie debuted that song?)

By Anne Thompson
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August 9, 2009 1:52 AM
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Hughes Tributes, Limon on Hudson, Fall Indie Previews, Where the Wild Things Are Trailer

John Hughes tributes are ubiquitous online today. Herewith a sampling:

By Anne Thompson
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August 7, 2009 8:08 AM
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Movies Go to the Opera

Opera buff alert! You don't have to spend a small fortune anymore to see live opera. These days, the Metropolitan Opera is delivering its shows live in HD in digital cinemas around the country. This way, instead of sitting in the rafters with binoculars, you can relish in close-up the visual and aural wealth of the hefty sets, costumes, singers and orchestras.

By Anne Thompson
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August 7, 2009 1:14 AM
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Berney and Pohlad Announce Apparition, Malick's Tree of Life

Finally, ex-Picturehouse chief Bob Berney and Bill Pohlad of River Road Entertainment have announced their new company, Apparition, on the eve of taking Jane Campion's Cannes entry Bright Star to Telluride (my spies predict) and Toronto for a September 18 release.

By Anne Thompson
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August 6, 2009 6:38 AM
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Must-Own Film Books

We all have lists of must-own film books. Mine goes like this:

By Anne Thompson
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August 5, 2009 2:18 AM
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Speedcine: Google for Legal Movie Search

Last March, New York publicist/blogger Reid Rosefelt announced SpeedCine, his new search engine for finding available (legal) movies on the web. Tuesday he launched the beta version of the site, which tells you where to find movies on the web, whether they are available for free, or to rent, buy, or find via Netflix's "Watch Instantly."

By Anne Thompson
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August 4, 2009 12:59 PM
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Kathryn Bigelow Talks Hurt Locker

Summit picked up Kathryn Bigelow's riveting, intense Iraq thriller The Hurt Locker out of Toronto, where I interviewed the director at the start of her long road to the Oscars (below). Jeremy Renner breaks out with this movie, which drew raves when it opened June 26 in limited release. Finally, The Hurt Locker didn't need ten best picture slots this year: the movie overcame considerable obstacles en route to landing on many critics' ten-best lists and winning one award after another.

By Anne Thompson
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July 30, 2009 8:22 AM
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Fox Searchlight's Crazy Heart Acquisition Marks Changing Market

In one of the first acquisitions since Peter Rice left Fox Searchlight to run Fox TV, Searchlight co-presidents Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula acquired worldwide rights to rookie director Scott Cooper's Crazy Heart, which stars Jeff Bridges as an aging country star and Maggie Gyllenhaal as a young reporter. T-Bone Burnett supervised a country music soundtrack. The distrib paid low seven figures. "We just liked it," says one Searchlight executive.

By Anne Thompson
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July 21, 2009 6:49 AM
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Risky Business: Comic-Con Comes of Age

Post-Twilight, Comic-Con comes of age. And yet, it can be risky to chase after that fan buzz. Memorable duds in Hall H include The Spirit and Zathura. When a movie isn't working, the fans sniff it out. But when it does--300 and Superman Returns are vivid examples--they turn up to see the movie in droves. How it plays in theaters is another matter. Watchmen was a hit in Hall H last year--but the good buzz didn't guarantee a wide appeal commercial movie.