Sony Pictures Classics acquires David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method!

Here's the press release:

Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired the US Rights to David Cronenberg’s A DANGEROUS METHOD from UK based Hanway Films. The film, produced by Jeremy Thomas (THE LAST EMPEROR, SEXY BEAST), stars Viggo Mortenson, Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender, and Vincent Cassel. The film is currently in post-production.

Cronenberg once again gathered a prestigious crew to work on A DANGEROUS METHOD, director of photography Peter Suschitsky (A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, EASTERN PROMISES), composer Howard Shore (THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy, AVATAR), editor Ronald Sanders (A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, EASTERN PROMISES, CORALINE), costume designer Denise Cronenberg (A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, EASTERN PROMISES, THE INCREDIBLE HULK) and production designer James McAteer (GOOD WILL HUNTING, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMAN). The screenplay was adapted by Christopher Hampton (ATONEMENT, THE QUIET AMERICAN) from his own play.

Seduced by the challenge of an impossible case, the driven Dr. Jung (Michael Fassbender) takes the unbalanced yet beautiful Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley) as his patient in A DANGEROUS METHOD. Jung’s weapon is the method of his master, the renowned Sigmund Freud. Both men fall under Sabina’s spell.

“David Cronenberg and Jeremy Thomas have made a film that not only has an impeccable cast and crew working at the height of their talents but tells one of the most fascinating love triangles of the twentieth century. The American public will enthusiastically embrace this picture. We are delighted to be in business again with Jeremy and David,” states Sony Pictures Classics.

Producer Jeremy Thomas adds, “I'm very excited to be working again with my friends at Sony Pictures Classics on David's wonderful film.”

Sony Pictures Classics released David Cronenberg’s SPIDER as well as several films produced by Jeremy Thomas (Takeshi Kitano’s BROTHER, Wim Wender’s DON’T COME KNOCKING, and David Mackenzie’s YOUNG ADAM).

-Joey's Two Cents: It's certainly going to be in play for awards...thoughts?

The Weinstein Company picks up Madonna's Directorial effort W.E. for release...

...and could position it as an Awards contender. Here's the announcement:

The Weinstein Company acquires Madonna’s W.E. for U.S. Release

Abbie Cornish, James D’Arcy, Andrea Riseborough Star In Romantic Drama

Madonna’s Feature Film Directorial Debut

2011 Release Planned

New York, NY, June 13, 2011 – The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it has acquired U.S. distribution rights to “W.E.,” Madonna’s directorial debut of a feature film. W.E. is a romantic drama co-written by Madonna and Alek Keshishian, produced by Madonna and Kris Thykier and executive produced by Scott Franklin (BLACK SWAN). It stars Abbie Cornish (LIMITLESS), Oscar Isaac (DRIVE), James D’Arcy (MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD), Andrea Riseborough (NEVER LET ME GO), Natalie Dormer (“The Tudors”), Richard Coyle (PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME), James Fox (SHERLOCK HOLMES) and Laurence Fox (“Inspector Lewis”). The announcement was made by TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein and President of Production Donna Gigliotti.

Spanning six decades, W.E. juxtaposes a contemporary love story with that of King Edward VIII and American divorcée Wallis Simpson.

“W.E. is about the nature of true love, and the sacrifices and compromises that are often made. I’ve wanted to tell this story for a very long time, and bringing it to life has been a great adventure for me. I’m looking forward to working with Harvey and The Weinstein Company on this film,” commented Madonna.

“Madonna has really come into her own as a filmmaker with W.E.,” said Weinstein. “She’s taken one of the most famous romances of the 20th Century and brought it to life in a smart, sexy and thoroughly modern way. It’s a terrific addition to our US release slate.”

Commented Gigliotti, “The advance footage for W.E. was some of the most impressive I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait for American audiences to have the opportunity to see this film.”

The deal was negotiated for TWC by Weinstein, COO David Glasser and Michal Steinberg, Senior Vice President Business Affairs and Acquisitions; and by CAA, on behalf of the filmmakers.

-Joey's Two Cents: It could be an interesting project...thoughts?

Here's a rundown of what films got picked up (and by whom) at Cannes...

...via Variety:

U.S. distribs sprang into action during Cannes, snapping up both festival specialty pics and pre-sales on big-budget commercial titles. The Weinstein Co. and Sundance Selects were the busiest buyers, while new players FilmDistrict and Open Road are starting to flex their pickup muscles.

Cannes festival films-

"The Conquest" - Music Box

"We Need to Talk About Kevin" -- Oscilloscope

"House of Tolerance" - Sundance Selects

"Kid with a Bike" - Sundance Selects

"Poliss" - Sundance Selects

"Sleeping Beauty" - Sundance Selects

"Footnote" - Sony Classics

"Dragon" - TWC

"The Artists" - TWC

Pre-sales

"Great Hope Springs" - Sony

"Snitch" - Summit

"Iron Lady" - TWC

"The Wettest County" - TWC

"Looper" - FilmDistrict

"Arabian Nights" - FilmDistrict

"Playing the Field" - FilmDistrict

Other finished films

"The Killer Elite" - Open Road

"Goodbye First Love" - Sundance Selects

"Sacrifice" - Samuel Goldwyn

-Joey's Two Cents: I'm always in favor of films getting picked up and being given a chance to find an audience, so the more the merrier to me...thoughts?

Oscilloscope acquires We Need To Talk About Kevin!

From Deadline:

Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired North American distribution rights to We Need to Talk about Kevin, the Lynne Ramsay-directed pic that was a competition film at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. Oscilloscope will release the film in the winter, with an awards campaign.

-Joey's Two Cents: This seems like the right combination of film and studio, but that's just me. Thoughts?

Kevin Smith continues to move Red State towards a worldwide theatrical release...

...by acquiring some Canadian distribution for the flick (he always said he'd only be self-releasing the film through SModcast Pictures in the U.S.), according to The Hollywood Reporter:

Phase 4 Films has acquired Canadian rights to Kevin Smith’s Red State, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year.

Written and directed by Smith, Red State, about a group of American teens who receive an online invitation for sex, stars Michael Parks, John Goodman, Melissa Leo and Kyle Gallner.

Phase 4 plans to release the film, produced by Jon Gordon, in the coming months with a marketing and distribution campaign that will include a tour across Canada.

Red State has earned more than $850K in the box office on 15 one-night engagements.

The deal was negotiated by Larry Greenberg, svp of acquisitions for Phase 4, and Cinetic Media’s John Sloss, Sloss Eckhouse LawCo LLP’s Jerry Dasti and D2 Films’ David Dinerstein on behalf of the filmmakers.

-Joey's Two Cents: It's no secret by now I'm a fan of the film, so it's very good to know that a wider group of people will soon be able to see this unique work...thoughts?

Harvey Weinstein will try to work his Oscar magic on Meryl Streep!

How will he be doing this, you ask? Well, Deadline has the story from the Cannes Film Festival:

Another day on the Croisette brings another major distribution deal. After an all night auction, The Weinstein Company emerged with U.S. distribution rights to The Iron Lady, the Pathe pic that stars Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher. I'm told the deal was worth near $7 million and that Weinstein Company made it with Ron Burkle and his Yucaipa banner. I'm also told that Alliance will distribute in Canada. I'd heard last night that the likes of Summit, Relativity Media and Fox Searchlight chased it. There were at least two bids on the table at $6 million.

Numerous bidders were in on the action after Pathe showed five minutes of footage here. Harvey Weinstein will definitely open the film during Oscar season, relying on another British politics tale after The King's Speech won Best Picture honors last year. Weinstein, his lieutenant David Glasser and Burkle worked into the night to make the deal. It is the same partnership structure they employed when that made the Sundance acquisitions My Idiot Brother and The Details. For TWC, it has already been a busy fest. They acquired world rights to Paul Thomas Anderson's next film before the fest started, made a quick acquisition of the black and white silent film The Artist, and the bought the Chinese film Dragon, both official festival selectiions.

Streep reuinites with her Mamma Mia! director Phyllida Lloyd in the Abi Morgan-scripted film that also stars Harry Lloyd, Richard E. Grant and Jim Broadbent.

-Joey's Two Cents: Studios trying to double down on what worked for them last year can often be a failing endeavor, but if anyone can reverse that trend, it's Harvey Weinstein...thoughts?

The Weinstein Company makes the first purchase of Cannes!

From Deadline:

In what shapes up as the first major acquisition of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, The Weinstein Company is near a deal to acquire U.S. and multiple international territories on The Artist, a black-and-white silent film that is written and produced by Michel Hazanavicius. The picture premieres in competition on Sunday, but I'm told several buyers chased the rights through Wild Bunch. The deal is low-seven-figure minimum guarantee, and the plan is to release the film later this year during the Oscar race.

The pic stars Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell, Missi Pyle and Penelope Ann Miller. The pic takes place in 1927 Hollywood and focuses on a silent movie star whose career seems about to be ended because of the arrival of the talkies. At the same time, a pretty young extra sees the new format as an opportunity to launch her star. No official confirmation was forthcoming from The Weinstein Company. The film was a late entry to the Cannes competition but the first to make a sales splash.

-Joey's Two Cents: Here's to a lot more news like this during the month of May...thoughts?

Paul Thomas Anderson's next film will be distributed by The Weinstein Company!

Via Deadline:

The Weinstein Company has won a quiet but fevered bidding battle for worldwide distribution rights to the untitled next film by Paul Thomas Anderson. The film begins production June 13, with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix so far set to star. Megan Ellison is financing. It is Anderson's first trip behind the camera since There Will Be Blood.

Hoffman and Phoenix are locked. As for the actresses, I'm told that Anderson is eyeing such actresses as Madisen Beaty (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) for a role, with Amy Adams, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo's Lena Endre and Laura Dern also mentioned as actresses Anderson is interested in. The auction was held at CAA headquarters late last week, with Fox Searchlight was also squarely in the mix.

This is the project that Anderson has worked on for a long time, once under the title The Master. He has greatly overhauled the script and now, Hoffman stars as a man who returns after witnessing the horrors of WWII and tries to rediscover who he is in post-war America. He creates a belief system, something that catches on with other lost souls. The film is fully financed by Ellison's Annapurna banner. At a time when the implosion of the indie film marketplace made pricey auteur films so hard to finance, Ellison has emerged as a something of a godsend to the small group of auteurs she is working with. She's enabled Anderson to make the movie at or near the $35 million budget the film was going to cost back when Universal stepped away. The deal gives TWC a big title to bring to the Cannes Film Festival this week.

-Joey's Two Cents: Harvey seems to amassing a new stable of auteurs for The Weinstein Company, much like how Mirimax used to be...thoughts?

Focus Features picks up Wes Anderson's next flick!

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Focus Features has acquired worldwide rights to Wes Anderson’s upcoming feature, Moonrise Kingdom, Focus CEO James Schamus announced Monday.

Focus will release the indie film in the U.S., while the company’s foreign sales arm will begin pitching it to foreign buyers at Cannes later this month.

Filming has begun on the project - which stars Bill Murray, Bruce Willis and Frances McDormand – about a young couple who go off to be together even though people in their small New England town are convinced they've disappeared.

Anderson is directing from an original screenplay that he wrote with Roman Coppola.

Moonrise Kingdom is being produced by Mr. Anderson, Scott Rudin, Indian Paintbrush’s Steven Rales and American Empirical’s Jeremy Dawson.

-Joey's Two Cents: I'm not big on Anderson, but I'm always willing to give a new work of his a shot...thoughts?

'The Cabin in the Woods' is finally on its way to a theater near you!

Apparently so, according to Deadline:

Lionsgate is making a deal with MGM to distribute The Cabin in the Woods, putting an end to an unexpectedly long shelf life for a horror film that has a terrific creative pedigree and a high degree of fanboy wanna-see. Cloverfield writer Drew Goddard directed the film and co-wrote it with Joss Whedon. The film's cast includes Chris Hemsworth, who made it before he was set to star as the title character in Marvel's Thor. Ironically, Whedon and Hemsworth are reuniting, with Whedon directing The Avengers, and Hemsworth reprising his hammer-swinging role. It's unclear when Lionsgate will release the film, but October is a good bet.

The delay has little to do with the quality of the film. It was once slated to be released by MGM on Oct. 23, 2009, but was pulled back because it was going to be converted to 3D. Then, everything froze at MGM because of the strangling debt load, and The Cabin in the Woods was among several pictures that languished. By the time the picture is released, Thor will have established Hemsworth's star value, which will certainly help a film that also stars Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford.

That leaves the remake of Red Dawn as the last holdover MGM film seeking a distributor. That picture also stands to gain from having sat on a shelf. That one also stars Hemsworth as well as Josh Hutcherson, who was just set to star in The Hunger Games, and Adrianne Palicki, who was set to play Wonder Woman in NBC's small-screen reboot.

-Joey's Two Cents: Now that Lionsgate doesn't have 'Saw' for each October, this strikes me as a smart move for this year, if they do release it then...thoughts?

The Weinstein Company picks up a Documentary at Tribeca...

...and it's an interesting sounding one. Here's the story from The Hollywood Reporter:

The Weinstein Company has acquired rights to Submarine Entertainment’s The Bully Project, Lee Hirsch's documentary about bullying in America. The deal includes rights for North America, U.K., Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Germany, plus Pan-Asian Satellite TV distribution rights.

The doc, produced by Hirsch and Cynthia Lowen, and written by Lowen and Hirsch, had its Tribeca Film Festival premiere this past Saturday.

"As filmmakers we are overjoyed to be working with The Weinstein Company," Hirsch and Lowen said in a joint statement. “Their significant commitment towards this film will ensure it reaches the national stage, and will certainly amplify its capacity to effect change."

The deal was negotiated for TWC by Lawson and Vice President of Acquisitions Dan Guando; and for the filmmakers by Submarine Entertainment’s Josh Braun and David Koh.

-Joey's Two Cents: I'll see it...thoughts?