“You know his films do well at the Academy Awards,” producer Albert Berger told the Billings Gazette about Alexander Payne, and with "Sideways" and "The Descendants" earning a total of ten nominations and two wins (each for Best Screenplay) he's certainly not exaggerating. So perhaps this next bit of news isn't so shocking.
“About a year from now you can expect to see it, maybe a Christmas movie,” Berger said, while basically means you add this one to the Oscar race for next fall. Again, not a big surprise but it looks like everyone is very confident about what Payne is cooking up next. The story follows an aging, booze-addled father (Bruce Dern) who makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son (Will Forte) in order to claim a million dollar Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes prize. Bob Odenkirk, Stacy Keach and Devin Ratray round out the cast.
We're no doubt looking forward to this one, which Berger says will be "raw and funny, and if you’re familiar with Payne’s work, it will have that darkness just below the surface.” It will be arriving in black-and-white as well, while will certainly evoke a unique, a new sensibility for this one. No release date yet from Paramount but surely once they start getting their Oscar ducks in a row for next year, this will be high on the list. Another Telluride/TIFF premiere next year following the pattern of "The Descendants"? We'd bet on it. [via The Film Stage]
I challenge you, The Playlist to come up with a leading cast for a fairly notable movie that's as random as Bruce Dern and Will Forte. I'm looking forward to it because I love Payne's films… but I just find it funny seeing these two in a film together, let alone starring in it. Good for them
The Omaha World-Herald published a set report a few weeks back. It's worth a read: http://www.omaha.com/article/20121118/LIVING/711189968