Fox Searchlight finds themselves in an unfamiliar spot this Oscar season year. Last year, “Slumdog Millionaire,” obviously came from behind to take home Best Picture, plus they had Mickey Rourke with “The Wrestler,” in 2007 the studio had Oscar contender “Juno” making noise, and in 2006 they had the little train that could, “Little Miss Sunshine.”
But their big Oscar hopeful of 2009, “Amelia,” was basically dead-on-arrival with very terrible reviews (a pitiful 16% RT score).
Like The Weinstein Company, however, Fox Searchlight aren’t opposed to calling a late-season audible, and that seems to be the case it’s the country music drama, “Crazy Heart,” starring Colin Farrell, Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Robert Duvall.
The film chronicles story of an aging, washed-up country singer (Bridges) who finds inspiration through his relationship with a reporter (Gyllenhaal) while dealing with the rise of his protege (Farrell) and his own mentor (Duvall).
“Crazy Heart” was apparently not slated until next year, but RiskyBiz is reporting that without a Oscar hopeful Searchlight are now looking at bumping up the film’s release to this fall in a last minute Academy bid.
Footage of Bridges and Farrell performing (slash lip-synching?) at a Toby Keith concert has been online for several months now. Of special interest to us, Grammy winner T. Bone Burnett, wrote the original music for the film and obviously he had some major success with the soundtrack to “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” in 2001.
Fox reps are apparently not confirming the film is being fast-tracked for 2009, but a sudden screening happening today indicates to many that this is the first discovery step to figure out whether the picture is worth rushing out our not. Searchlight only picked up the “Crazy Heart” this summer. Some are already calling it, “The Wrestler” for country music. We’re all for last minute additions as it changes up the Oscar predix game which feels a bit boring and set in stone in the moment. But then again, there are always surprises.
Patrick Goldstein reported yesterday that the film, is opening limited in NY and LA on December 11, but apparently that’s not confirmed.