We'll " See the Light" in November/Kurzel Talks the "Scottish" Film/Malick Moves to 2016

Good Morning World...Welcome to Tuesday...


WE'LL "SEE THE LIGHT" IN NOVEMBER

Sony Pictures Classics has announced that its Hank Williams biopic starring Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen will be released on Nov. 27th smack in the middle of awards season.  The conventional wisdom is that SPC will push for Hiddleston for Best Actor at a minimum.  The film could also make a play in a number of other categories.

"I Saw the Light" was at #5 on last week's first "Ten Bets" list.  The selection of a late November release date doesn't harm its Telluride chances in the least and actually stokes the T-rode flames just a little bit.

Here's coverage of the SPC announcement:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/i-saw-the-light-release-date-tom-hiddleston-1201530904/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/sony-pictures-classics-adds-hank-williams-biopic-i-saw-the-light-starring-tom-hiddleston-to-awards-slate-20150629

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/sony-slates-i-saw-the-light-for-awards-slot-tom-hiddleston-looking-for-first-nom/


"I Saw the Light" was directed by Marc Abraham ("Flash of Genius" TFF 2008).  Here's the film's IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3789828/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_1


KURZEL TALKS THE "SCOTTISH" FILM

"Macbeth" teaser via YouTube

Writer/director Justin Kurzel spoke recently to the British version of Yahoo Television about his upcoming "Macbeth" starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard.  The film is being distributed by The Weinstein Company and played the Cannes Film Festival.  It is not yet scheduled for a U.S. release but is set for an October 2nd  release in the U.K.

"Macbeth" was listed on last week's "Ten Best" as being "on the outside" but close.

Here's the interview:

https://uk.tv.yahoo.com/foul-fair-macbeth-director-194415755.html



MALICK MOVES TO 2016

"Knight of Cup's" trailer via YouTube

Speaking of release dates and their effect on their Telluride potential...

The already tenuous possibility that we could see Terrence Malick's latest "Knight of Cups" took a hit with the announcement over the weekend that the film will not be released until 2016.

The Playlist and Thompson on Hollywood provide the details:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/terrence-malicks-knight-of-cups-wont-arrive-until-2016-austin-music-scene-drama-not-titled-weightless-20150627


http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/meet-the-hammonds-indie-films-new-kids-on-the-block-20150619

That'll do for a Tuesday...check back tomorrow...


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Hiddleston as Hank/Payne's Next Gig?/Now Waitful for The Hateful

Good Monday morning everyone,

HIDDLESTON AS HANK

We got word this week that Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the rights to distribute the Hank Williams biopic "I Saw the Light".  The film stars Tom Hiddleston as the as the country music legend.  It was written and directed by Marc Abraham.

The SPC acquisition sets "I Saw the Light" up as a possible Telluride film.  As regular readers of this blog are aware, SPC is usually a substantial presence at TFF.  Last year the fest programmed: "Mr. Turner", "Red Army", "Wild Tales", "Foxcatcher", "The Salt of the Earth"and "Leviathan" from the SPC stable so you have to think that this latest move means at least a chance that it will play.

Additionally, Abraham's only other feature film directing credit, 2008's "Flash of Genius" played the fest.  Also, SPC's tank isn't terribly full at the moment.  Looking at their list of films at IMDb, it seems that, at the moment the only other T-ride possible from them is "Elser" a film that played well at the Berlin fest a couple of months ago.

I have included three posts/stories about the SPC buy below:


http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/tom-hiddleston-enters-the-awards-season-race-as-sony-classics-takes-i-saw-the-light

http://www.thewrap.com/tom-hiddlestons-hank-williams-biopic-acquired-by-sony-pictures-classics/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/tom-hiddlestons-hank-williams-biopic-lands-at-sony-pictures-classics-20150402



PAYNE'S NEXT GIG?

Telluride regular Alexander Payne seems to be circling a new directing job.  Reports this week indicate that he has an interest in directing "Septillion to One" a romance set against the improbable true story of a multiple winner of the Texas lottery.

It has been thought that Payne's next film would be "Downsizing" but that seems uncertain in light of this latest set of stories.

Check these notes from The Playlist and The Wrap:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/alexander-payne-may-bet-on-septillion-to-one-odds-20150402

http://www.thewrap.com/oddlot-wins-heated-auction-for-septillion-to-one-alexander-payne-circling-to-direct-exclusive/


NOW WAITFUL FOR THE HATEFUL

The Cortez Journal (.com) reported this week in a feature story that Quentin Tarantino's :The Hateful Eight" which has been filming near Telluride has had an unsurprisingly positive effect on Southwest Colorado area businesses.  Almost unnoticed in the story is the note that Tarantino's film (which had some delays due to weather issues) has wrapped.  As a result, we can begin to seriously speculate about the possibility that the film might be presented as a part of the TFF #42 lineup.  Keep a good thought.  The Cortez Journal article is here:


http://www.cortezjournal.com/article/20150402/LIVING/150409934/A-slice-of-%E2%80%98Hateful-Eight%E2%80%99


More on Thursday...