sundance 2008 Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Sundance Deal: Sony Classics Warms to 'Frozen River'
Filed under: Drama », Independent », Deals », Sundance », Sony Classics », Distribution », Cinematical Indie »
Straight dramatic features have not been feeling the love from distributors at Sundance so far, with most of the deal action concentrated on documentaries (American Teen, Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired), comedies (Hamlet 2) or comedy/dramas (Choke, Henry Poole is Here). But leave it to Sony Pictures Classics to step up to the plate and acquire the rights to a well-received drama about impoverished single mothers. Variety is reporting that the distributor has purchased US rights to Frozen River "for a low to mid-six figures."Expanded by debut director Courtney Hunt from her short film of the same title, Frozen River has already received some very warm notices (sorry, couldn't resist). The wonderful, versatile, and extremely busy Melissa Leo plays a woman suddenly abandoned in a desperate state by her gambling husband. Unable to even put a decent meal on the table for her two sons, she forms an unlikely partnership with another struggling mother (Misty Upham) to smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States.
Sony Pictures Classics is known as a classy outfit; for example, their Oscar hopefuls this year include Best Animated Film nominee Persepolis and Best Foreign Language Film nominee The Counterfeiters. They were in the running for American Teen, but dropped out a couple of days ago.
Frozen River sounds like the type of small, rural drama that will require tender loving care to make its mark in the cold, cruel world of arthouse exhibition. For the sake of quality independent films dealing with subjects seldom seen, let's hope they succeed.
Sundance Deals: 'Choke' and 'Henry Poole' Sell
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Independent », Deals », Sundance », Distribution », Fox Searchlight », Cinematical Indie »
The logjam may have been broken at Sundance. Just as I finished writing something about the slow selling conditions over the usually busy first weekend, Variety broke the news that Choke and Henry Poole is Here have both been sold.Fox Searchlight acquired Choke in a deal valued at $5 million, for which the distributor receives "world rights, less several international territories," according to Variety. Erik Davis told us the film's world premiere on Monday night was a hot ticket and that it received shouts and cheers at the conclusion of the screening.
As a fan of the source material -- the novel comes from Fight Club author Chuck Palahnuik -- Erik said he had some issues with it. His review explains: "First-time director Clark Gregg (who also penned the script) decided to turn this adaptation into a straight-up laugher that really works ... some of the time." Erik was mighty impressed with Sam Rockwell's performance as a scheming sexual addict, though he wonders if "casual moviegoers and non-Palahniuk fanboys" will be care. Fox Searchlight now has five million reasons to make them care.
In the other big deal of the moment, Overture Films acquired US rights to comedy/drama Henry Poole is Here for about $3.5 million. Mark Pellington directed; he previously made Arlington Road, The Mothman Prophecies, and a whole bunch of music videos. Henry Poole stars Luke Wilson as a man who believes that he is dying, so he leaves his fiancee and family business to spend his final days alone -- but no one will leave him alone! To repeat an old joke, Overture Films now has three and a half million reasons to hope moviegoers will not, in fact, leave him alone.
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