Landing a script on the Black List doesn't necessarily mean your movie will get made right away (please see the forever-developing "Prisoners" as a hot script stuck at the starting gates) but it does mean that when the ball gets rolling, top talent is going to swarm. And for Roberto Patino, his 2009 script for "Cut Bank" has rounded up a helluva cast.
Armie Hammer, Ben Kingsley, John Malkovich, Michael Sheen and Teresa Palmer have all boarded the crime thriller, which has a comedic twist to it. Set in Cut Bank, Montana, the film tells the story of Dwayne McLaren, a young auto mechanic and former high school football star who wants to get the hell out of this tiny town frozen in time. His attempt to do so sets in motion a series of events that will change his life, and Cut Bank, forever. No word on which roles the actors will be filling, but it's probably safe to assume that Hammer is Dwayne.
Taking the helm of the picture will be Matt Shakman, making his feature debut. But he's got experience in spades. Shakman has been behind the camera on a number of acclaimed television shows including "Mad Men," "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia," "Weeds," "House" and more. And with a script described by Shakman as "John Ford by way of David Fincher" (whoa), he's ambitious to say the least.
The project will repped next month at Cannes for buyers and will roll in front of cameras this fall.
I often wonder why there are no Americans in show business then realize they don't have to be. Unlike the British, the Americans don't have to use up all of their resources except for those many special things, naturally. Very prudent of them.