Sundance 2009, which runs January 15 – 25, is just around the corner and things are starting to already heat up with lots of PR outlets trying to generate buzz by giving different publications exclusives.
– First off Sony Pictures Classics has already sealed-the-deal and acquired, the pre-Sundance screening of the reteaming of “Y Tu Mama Tambien” homeboys, Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal for the Spanish-language comedy “Rudo y Cursi,” directed by Carlos Cuaron (Alfonso Cuaron’s younger brother and the writer of ‘Tambien’ and Cuaron’s earlier screwball-ish comedy, “Sólo con tu pareja”; it’s great, btw). Apparently SPC fought off a bid from one other studio to win the picture. The friends play dimwitted brothers recruited by rival soccer teams, and it’s already doing winningly well in Mexico where it opened up in December. The film is the first produced by Cha Cha Cha (prodcution company of Cuaron, Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu).
– “I’m not dumb like everyone says! I’m smart! And I want respect!” Maybe this is the idea for the new documentary by Richard Shepard on the under-appreciated (and amazing) John Cazale called, “I Knew It Was You” (a reference to “The Godfather”) , the short-lived ’70s actor who burned through Hollywood in about seven years only earning only five feature-lenght credits to his name, but god, what a resume.
His amazing 5-film CV is: “The Conversation,” “Dog Day Afternoon,” ‘Godfathers’ I and II’ and “The Deer Hunter.” He was dying of bone cancer during the filming of Michael Cimino’s ‘Deer Hunter,’ and when the producers found out they wanted to replace him. When his co-star and fiancé Meryl Streep, found out, she threatened to quit if he was fired. They obviously kept him and he died shortly after filming was completed. Crazy story, huh? Hollywood Elsewhere has the poster.
– Hollywood Insider has a first look at the sex-comedy “Spread” the Sundance flick starring Anne Heche and Ashton Kutcher. Eh.
– Spoutblog also has this cool, 13 films we’re looking forward to at Sundance feature that’s worth checking out.
– Anne Thompson also has a fist look trailer of “The Greatest.” We’ll let her explain: ” Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon quickly signed on to this story of parental love and loss. It’s about two parents (Brosnan and Sarandon) rocked to their foundations when they suddenly lose their teenage son (Aaron Johnson). Then his old girlfriend (Carey Mulligan) turns up. “Revolutionary Road”s Michael Shannon also stars.”