Indie distributor Peace Arch is taking the plunge on the long-delayed “The Mysteries Of Pittsburgh” — a film only known up until now for star Sienna Miller’s quaint description of its shooting location as, “Shittsburg.” The 2008 Sundance picture has finally found a home, ending a year of speculation fueled by very negative reviews that it was, in fact, a stinker. Peace Arch’s involvement, however, might be the death blow. More on that in a bit.
Adapted from a Michael Chabon novel, “Pittsburgh” is an 80’s set coming-of-age story about an idealistic college graduate facing a cruel future with limited employment options and a local gangster father breathing down his neck. It’s the sophomore directing effort for “Dodgeball” helmer Rawson Marshall Thurber, and if you think jumping from broad Ben Stiller comedy to Pulitzer Prize-winning adaptation, you’re not alone. “Pittsburgh” stars Jon Foster, Sienna Miller, Peter Sarsgaard, Nick Nolte and Mena Suvari.
As if the terrible reviews weren’t enough, Peace Arch waiting a year to pounce on this thing is certainly foreboding. They’re a pretty small market operation, so don’t expect a big release for this. What is disconcerting for Thurber and company is that recently Peace Arch has found a way to release indie stinkers like “Nobel Son,” “Watching The Detectives” and Uwe Boll’s last two theatrical features. If you’re distributing TWO Boll works in 2008, long after everyone’s figured he’s a walking sinkhole, you probably shouldn’t be in the business.
As the moderator of the Official MOP Film Boycott, I’ve read the script and will say that it’s not bad–but it’s NOT Michael Chabon’s MOP.
Two things I can’t figure out: Why did Rawson Marshall Thurber want to make this film if so many drastic changes to the plot were required, as he claims? And why would Michael Chabon ever give him permission to completely altar the story that put him on the literary map?
For more info or a copy of the script, email: bechstein[at]yahoo[dot]com