Tonight on BLOOMBERG TELEVISION’s “Night Talk” host Mike Schneider sits down with Hollywood Producer Donna Gigliotti about her films The Reader and Two Lovers starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Joaquin Pheonix.
She talks about why no names were listed at the Oscar nominations for The Reader, “The Academy has a rule that only three producers can be nominated for an academy award, and as soon as they see more than three producers listed they automatically say ‘To Be Determined’ because they need to go and look at who did what in the production. There is the executive branch committee and they decide. It’s a hot button issue, believe me!” Read the rest of this entry »
Slumdog Millionaire received the most kudos last night at the 14th annual Critics’ Choice awards, the film nabbed best picture, director (Danny Boyle), writer (Simon Beaufoy), young actor/actress (Dev Patel) and composer, A.R. Rahman.
Sean Penn who starred in Milk received the actor honor He was also honored with the cast of Milk as top ensemble.
The Broadcast Film Critics Association picked two actresses for the lead actress category – noting the second tie ever in a lead category — both Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep for their roles in Rachel Getting Married and Doubt.
Heath Ledger was honored posthumously for his supporting role in The Dark Knight — a first for the Critic’s Choice. The movie also picked up the first Best Action Movie award.
Kate Winslet won the supporting actress honors for her role in The Reader.
Wall-E won for best animated.
For a complete list of winners, go to Broadcast Film Critics Association website.
Stephen Daldry talks about the 5 other holocaust films out in theaters right now along with “The Reader.” “Genuinely, this year I think it’s a coincidence. I think it’s a coincidence based on a number of peoples personal fascination with certain aspects of the story so I think that Bryan Singer and Tom Cruise have a particular fascination for that story and I think Edward Zwick had a particular fascination for Defiance and I think it’s also true for me, I’m just particularly fascinated with post war German but I thinks it’s just a coincidence that they are all coming out at the same time”
He talks about directing Billy Elliot. “I was going; well I don’t know how this is going to go down. Genuinely, I mean it was a surprise that the audience really took to it as strongly as they did and we go the reaction we did and it’s doing fantastically which is also still surprising.”
He talks about high ticket prices on Broadway. “I think people are finding those ticket prices too high, I think that the investors for new shows are difficult to find and I think that the impact of the economic crisis will continue to be felt particularly on Broadway. If the costs don’t come down, I think there is a real risk there won’t be a Broadway. I think the ticket prices have to come down and if the ticket prices need to come down to get the audience in, then everything else has got to work accordingly.”
He talks about the difference between West End and Broadway Theater. “The main difference to stage work in New York is that it’s more expensive. It’s more expensive to create and it’s more expensive to see and that’s a problem, and I think there will have to come a time when it’s actually cheaper to produce and cheaper to see – I hope that’s true anyway”
I posted the trailer a few days back, and then discovered the movie poster as well. The story is quite interesting with romance, jilted young lover and a Holocaust back story that proves out in the end.
The Reader looks like a movie that will get under your skin. Kat Winslet is fabulous as she takes her character through several levels. She deserves a nomination and an Oscar. Ralph Fiennes holds his own as more than a jilted lover. If the movie’s pacing is anything like the trailer, bravo to the director, Stephen Daldry.
The Road a Viggo Mortensen dark thriller, directed by John Hillcoat, was scheduled for a Nov. 14 limited and Nov. 26 wide release. But, quietly has been moved until hopefully December — and might be rescheduled out of 2008 entirely.
Apparently according to Hollywood Reporter, executives met with Road producers to discuss its current scheduling while Harvey Weinstein pushes for Stephen Daldry’s The Reader for December 10 release date.
Hillcoat’s movie was shot this year but is still in post and not done yet.
With the Oscar window closing for 2008, it’s no wonder that Weinstein Company wants Reader for 2008. The company feels Reader is a commercial and awards contender.
So, there may be less urgency to deliver Road before 2008.
Despite having seemingly settled their differences, Scott Rudin will no longer be involved with The Reader, an upcoming drama, due to Weinstein’s December release plans, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Rudin and Weinstein was fighting over the release of the film, with the former adamant on a 2009 release until he secured more postproduction support from Weinstein.
The film is a period romantic-drama directed by Stephen Daldry, starring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes. Donna Gigliotti is a producer on the film.
Weinstein said earlier this week that postproduction was moving ahead of schedule for its December 12 release.
Despite having seemingly settled their differences, Scott Rudin will no longer be involved with The Reader, an upcoming drama, due to Weinstein’s December release plans,