Thompson on Hollywood

Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris Lands at Sony Pictures Classics; The Fate of Past Partnerships

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired all North American rights for Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris. Allen's first Paris-shot film is the third to be financed by Spain's Mediapro (the first two were Vicky Cristina Barcelona in 2008 and Allen's latest, You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger). SPC has also teamed with Allen before, on Dark Stranger, 2009's Whatever Works and 1999's Sweet and Lowdown. Midnight in Paris stars Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, and Owen Wilson.

By Sophia Savage
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January 11, 2011 6:01 AM
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Worthington Heads Home, Hurt Locker Reality Show, Brolin Talks

- Sam Worthington is heading home to Perth, Australia to shoot surfing drama Drift, in which he plays a photographic journalist who helped to turn surfing into a worldwide industry. After several big-budget Hollywood films, the actor is excited to be involved in this $11-million project, he says, to "put something back into my home town...There's something pure and true about surfing, and there is something pure and true about this script." (There was also something pure about his performance to in 2004's Somersault opposite Abbie Cornish). This may be the perfect project for him to rediscover the satisfaction of low-budget acting away from the blue-screen razzle-dazzle of Avatar, Clash of the Titans and Terminator: Salvation.

By Sophia Savage
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August 24, 2010 5:30 AM
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Post-Cannes Fest Landscape: What's Real?

The Cannes Film Festival unfolds in two parts: what gets seen during the festival itself--and what happens afterwards.

By Anne Thompson
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July 12, 2010 3:30 AM
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Woody Allen vs. Mike Leigh: One Hires Stars, Other Makes Them

At this stage of the game, there's no point in interviewing Woody Allen (age 74) or Mike Leigh (age 67) about their movies, because we know exactly what they're doing.

By Anne Thompson
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May 26, 2010 6:37 AM
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Woody Allen Names New Film Midnight in Paris

When the latest Woody Allen Untitled starts filming this summer in Paris with stars Owen Wilson, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Carla Bruni and Michael Sheen, it will actually have a title: Midnight in Paris. The romantic comedy takes a family to Paris. Imagina International Sales is handling international sales for Midnight in Paris at the upcoming Cannes fest, which is showing Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger out of competition.

By Anne Thompson
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April 23, 2010 11:18 AM
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Cannes Watch: Penn, Binoche, Crowe, Gosling, Douglas, Watts Head for Croisette

April 15 is both U.S. tax return day and Cannes announcement day, when we finally learned most of the festival's official selection.

By Anne Thompson
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April 15, 2010 4:00 AM
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Cannes Adds Jurors Denis, Garcia Bernal, Mezzogiorno, Egoyan

The Festival de Cannes announces that filmmaker Claire Denis (White Material) will preside over the Un Certain Regard jury. I have also learned that Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal (whose new Spanish film Even the Rain is tagged for possible inclusion in the fest) and Italian actress Giovanna Mezzogiorno (Vincere) will join Tim Burton's competition jury, while Canadian writer-director Atom Egoyan (Chloe) will preside over the Cinefondation Jury. UPDATE: Cannes announced that Garcia Bernal will head the jury for the Camera d’Or, honoring the best first features.

By Anne Thompson
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April 7, 2010 1:22 AM
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Rating Likely Candidates for Cannes

Of the 40 films on indieWIRE's Cannes wish list--a clever way of reporting what might be going without knowing for sure what will be announced on April 15--I hear that Oliver Stone's Wall Street Never Sleeps and Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger are going, while Cannes negotiations for The Tree of Life are proceeding smoothly re: Brad Pitt and Sean Penn walking the red carpet and doing a press conference without the retiring director, which is a big concession for Cannes.

By Anne Thompson
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March 30, 2010 5:41 AM
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Wall Street 2, Tree of Life, Woody Allen Heading for Cannes

It's not official yet, but it looks pretty sure that Oliver Stone will finally be making his Cannes debut, with the sequel Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, starring Michael Douglas 23 years after his first turn as Gordon Gekko, and Carey Mulligan as his daughter. Shia LaBeouf and W star Josh Brolin also star. It's long overdue, if you ask me. Oliver Stone is an auteur in my book, even if the Cannes selectors hasn't deemed him one of their elite so far.

By Anne Thompson
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March 29, 2010 3:16 AM
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Woody Allen Sells Stranger to Sony Pictures Classics, Shoots Next in Paris

As expected, Sony Pictures Classics continues to release Woody Allen's Euro-financed pictures, acquiring North American rights to his latest, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, starring Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Freida Pinto and Naomi Watts. Shot last August in London, the film was financed by Spain's Mediapro, which backed Vicky Cristina Barcelona. SPC also released Allen's Whatever Works in 2009 and Sweet and Lowdown in 1999. Expect a Cannes debut followed by a fall opening stateside.