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Maybe the answer is that co-presidents Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula are gluttons for punishment. Because I don’t understand why Fox Searchlight is staying in the Hilary Swank biz, especially after last year’s Amelia was such a total loser at the box office. Only $14.2M – despite an expensive marketing campaign that included a cheezy coffee table book about the movie. And the specialty division’s Boys Don’t Cry was way back in 1999. Yet they’ve just bought North American and some international rights for Tony Goldwyn’s Swank-starring Betty Anne Waters whose storyline is about a sister who proves her imprisoned brother’s innocence. Go figure.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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you know, the only movie Swank could be appealing is a Sigourney Weaver style sci-fi woman vs evil force movie…wonder why she didn’t take the jump and do one…
Are we supposed to judge all actors on their last movie alone? Her film before that was PS I Love You. It was pretty much dumped into theaters and just kept performing and performing. $30 million budget — over $100 million worldwide gross. Oh, and she kind of won two Oscars as well.
Here’s my inspired headline for Deadline Hollywood — 2005:
Warner Brothers is betting the farm on Christian Bale? As Batman? His last three movies didn’t even crack $5 million. I’m sure I’ll be able to say Toldja! to them soon enough.
Awesome!
Swank is one of the USA’s best actresses. Amelia just didn’t seem interesting – I never saw it. The movie trailer was boring.
Fox Searchlight had an excellent experience with Swank when she was promoting Amelia. Swank did every interview they asked her to do and she was a pleasure to work with throughtout the entire publicity chore module of the film. Watch Fox Searchlight give Jeff Bridges a new film- he’s “swanky” when it comes to the publicity module too.
Hey, how about because the movie is good? Ever think of that? Really, the cynicism is getting a bit much. I’ve seen the film – amazing performances by Swank and Sam Rockwell. Plus, it’s been on the market for months, so they probably got it for almost nothing. Criticize when the film comes out, but hold off on the bad-mouthing until you know what you’re talking about.
It’s hard to imagine Fox Searchlight made much $ out of Boys Don’t Cry ($11.5 mil domestic), especially after Oscar campaign expenses
Actually,
Hillary’s Academy Award for Boys Don’t Cry was Fox’s ONLY Academy Award that year. Probably why Tom and Jim still feel warmly about her.
Paul
Hilary’s shacked up with her agent so maybe he has other big name clients (that he does’t sleep with) that he refused to pass scripts from Fox Searchlight to unless they continue to put his girlfriend in movies. Who knows? She may have two Oscars (undeserved the second time) but she’s not a star and thus shouldn’t be getting lead roles in such high profile films. Debra Winger circa 1980s she isn’t. No matter how hard she tries.
So I guess you fully believe in the old “you’re only as good as your last project” saying. Let’s be fair…Swank’s P.S. I Love You actually made a solid amount of money. So did Freedom Writers for that matter. Amelia was trying to be an Oscar movie and it didn’t work…it happens.
I could never understand how this girl ever got to her position. She is very homely. Eew.
becasue that’s all that matters…
Amelia’s just one film and Swank has proven herself int he past. Maybe there’s real commercial potential in this Betty Anne Waters project.
Probably because while HS has had a few misfires, when she’s on, she’s ON, and the test screening buzz from this flick has been pretty good.
For some reason, she fascinates me as an actress. I see most things she’s in. I don’t know why. She’s very different from the cookie-cutter Hollywood actresses, and very appealing.
The reason we see her movies, is because she’s an “honest” actress, much like Sandra Bullock. We believe her.
Nikki, I love ya, but come ON. A couple box office bombs do not make her poison just yet. She’s a two time Oscar winner and can make small films feel bigger.
Because it’s not a bad idea to be involved with a two-time Best Actress winner?
I mean, at the end of the day, that’s the heart of it. She’s clearly good. She can be used very well, as two Oscars show you. It’s worth risking some failures to get to those good efforts.
Probably doesn’t hurt that Clint Eastwood has her back too. The industry LOVES him no matter WHAT movie he does (though surprisingly lukewarm to Invictus.
Swank has zero sex appeal in my opinion. Sorry. I know women don’t like to be judged on that level but in Hollywood it is everything. Everything. She has a mannish quality and a mouthful of teeth that are so large I can’t imagine kissing her without sustaining serious lacerations.
Hollywood looks each year for the special someone they designate as the heir apparent to Meryl Streep, just as they used to troll for a Marlon Brando heir. Swank ain’t it. She is a technical actress in the little work I saw her do. Aggressive but predictable, intelligent but not unique in any way whatsoever. And she has all the sexual charisma of a black hole which is death in Hollywood. She is much,much more like the heir apparent to Glenn Close. Glenn Close was an extremely aggressive actress but with no warmth or sexual appeal. But like Swank, a very,very aggressive businesswoman always with all headlights turned way up for the next big job opportunity. That is her perogative,nothing wrong with that, but that a star does not make nor does it craft a good,sustaining actress.
My opinions only. Apologies to anyone I may offend.
Jeez buddhabob, who do you like, then? What is your standard?
bob- Here’s the difference between Swank & Close. In movies, Close can bring viewers. Swank can’t. She relies on who is in it with her (or who is directing).
Hold on. You’re saying Glenn Close is not a “good, sustaining actress” even though she’s been working steadily in high profile projects for the last 30 years?
If that isn’t “good and sustaining,” then what the hell is?
and teaming Swank with Gere in her last bomb is the kiss of death. Gere is a nonactor. Nice guy but he can’t act and never could. The Media went crazy for him at one time but I don’t beleive I ever saw anyone as uneasy and with as many twitches in front of a camera as Richard Gere.
You couldn’t have paid me to go see the premiere of “Amelia”. It had ‘made for T.V. DepthCharge’ all over it. I will look for Swank over the next years descend into the world of sentimental B movieland, more message pictures, more sexually ambiguous characters, until eventually within 5 years easy she starts turning up on primetime t.v. with her own series – “C.S.I. Hilary”.
What is wrong with you rascals!! Hilary Swank is a breath of fresh air among these insipid waifs Hollywood keeps cloning for the latest Twilight knockoffs. She is almost old-school like Hepburn or Bette Davis, in that she is not the classic beauty, but has a mighty heart and fierce intelligence. Don’t slag Glenn Close either, buddhabob, or don’t you remember the first 20 minutes of Fatal Attraction, when she rocked Michael Douglas’ world, and had his “Pants on the Ground”. The Oscar wins were well deserved, and name another current actress who could have played either role better. Later….
Sandra Bullocks movie between The Proposal and Blind Side was a dud. Why are you holding this against Swank? She’s won two Oscars and she’s talented.
Elie Samaha is the best damn salesman in the independent film world. You shouldn’t be surprised that he managed to pawn this movie off on a major distributor.
Betty Anne Waters is FANTASTIC!!!!! I went to a screening.
Having actually seen the film, it’s clear why Searchlight have picked up the movie…because it’s good. With so many specialty divisions dead and in the toilet, Searchlight is a perfect home for this film.
If Jennifer Anniston who is a mediocre actress at best can keep getting roles and box office duds, I see no harm in a talented actress doing movies that are good even if they are not box office hits.
Boy, Nikki, you aren’t so fast on the draw to slam male actors who have had more bombs than Swank–or have taken way less chances with their careers? Why so hard on female actors?
As for you, buddhabob, two words: Katharine Hepburn.
I actually know the REAL Betty Anne AND worked as an extra in the movie. I can attest that the story is VERY moving, emotional & inspirational. Having seen both Hiliary & Minnie work up close I can also say their performances will generate some genuine buzz within Hollywood.
What could have been done with Amelia? She flew long distances mostly alone and disappeared. Hilary plays her role as the person she is portraying, Amelia was not a beauty queen. I love aviation but agree it was boring, but real. I was an extra in a couple of prison scenes in BAW and watched Hilary portray a concerned sister and attorney trying to be strong and fix her brother’s problem, an emotionally draining experience. Her expressions reveal the emotion of the circumstances.
I thought Tony Goldwyn would be the same as the traitor to his best friend he played in Ghost. I couldn’t have been more wrong. He was great to work for and really connected with the cast and extras to see his vision.
Sam Rockwell was incredible in the scenes I was able to be a part of so I rented a couple of his movies. Wow! He truly is an incredibly intense and talented actor, deserving of an oscar.