After “Inglourious Basterds” netted an impressive opening weekend haul (especially for a slap-stick revisionist history thriller) and “Halloween II” is tracking extremely well for this weekend (even without, ahem, critical approval), everyone seems to be shouting from the rooftops that The Weinstein Company is saved. Maybe not so fast?
We just got an email today, with a priority rating of “high,” stating that “Shanghai,” the forthcoming TWC historical epic that reunites John Cusack with his “1408” director Mikael Håfström, has been bumped from its original date of September 4th to an as-yet-undisclosed time. Just two weeks ago, THR wrote the film was aiming at a Fall release date. Maybe not so much anymore?
Well wait, you say, it could still be out in time for Oscar consideration! Well, yeah, that could be, but don’t you think they’d announce that now, when all the glossy magazines are putting out their fall movie previews? It is possible, but we’re not holding our breath, frankly, and it if doesn’t hit in 2010, it will be two Oscar seasons that have passed by the shelved film (it almost hit last December, but efforts were put into “The Reader” instead).
Between the already announced Oscar push for “Nine” and the early home video push for “Inglourious Basterds,” you have to wonder if the Weinsteins have the capital to campaign and promote another movie this year. Now we’re not saying down with TWC — again, that Matt Dentler comment from yesterday was spot-on — but maybe, just maybe, the champagne popping was slightly overstated. – Drew Taylor
Halloween is going up against Final Destination (Warner Bros) this coming weekend, on 3,000 screens each. Those movies have the same potential audience. I would guess that Final Destination has the edge so far based on the marketing I've seen in trailers, commercials, etc. Possibly, a disappointing box office return for both franchises given the head to head match-up?
If the campaigning is so expensive why doesn't TWC release Shanghai without plans for a major awards season blitz? They obviously feel they (again) have better chances with other films. why would this change in 2010 when they would again probably have a star-headlined film more likely an awards candidate than Shanghai.
That's a shame. I hear the performances of Gong Li and company are very good. Hope the Wensteins don't blow this one.
The cast is astouding. I want to see this flick.
WHY did playlist put this on the least anticipated list?
I would love to see this!