Hammond On Cannes: A New Day Comes To The Fest As HBO and VOD Movies Compete For The Palme d’Or

Pete Hammond

An HBO film? A VOD movie? Competing for the Palme d’Or, all seriously in one of the last bastions of pure cinema,  the Cannes Film Festival’s main competition? Oui!

 With HBO’s Behind The Candelabra  and Radius/TWC’s VOD/Theatrical Ryan Gosiling starrer Only God Forgives from Cannes darling Nicolas Winding Refn, a new day -and date - has dawned here. And in all these cases huge movie stars who might not have considered anything but a traditional theatrical release and all the trimmings that go with that, are suddenly here in projects that while also may be travelling that theatrical route too, will simultaneously, or even first, be seen on the small screen and/or  other alternative ways of viewing. This might have been considered sacreligious in the Cannes of old, but in this ever-changing film industry it’s the way of the future, at least partially.

HBO made a big splash Tuesday night with its extremely well-received Steven Soderbergh-directed movie, Behind The Candelabra, the story of a very closeted Liberace and his relationship with a young man that has become on of the best-reviewed films here . Its Oscar-winning stars Michael Douglas and Matt Damon hit the Palais Grand Theatre’s red carpet, won raves and immediate awards talk here, even though one person said of the film’s Palme d’Or chances, “I can’t imagine Cannes giving an award to an HBO movie”.  Really? Well, who could have imagined Cannes, a few years ago , actually embracing HBO and letting it compete at the big table which is exactly what Candelabra  is doing. Many observers here think that Douglas is in fact the front runner for the Best Actor prize for his uncanny portrayal of the uber-flamboyant Liberace. I would go as far to say that Douglas and Damon, who plays his young lover Scott Thorson (the man who wrote the expose upon which the film is based) would easily both have been nominated for Oscars had this gone theatrical instead of cable in America (it will be in theatres internationally). Instead the film , which HBO begins airing Sunday in the States, and its stars will just have to settle for sweeping the Emmys, as it most likely will do. That it also represents what Steven Soderbergh says is his final film for the foreseeable future could actually increase his Palme d’Or chances in my view, perhaps as a message that he shouldn’t quit so soon. How ironic that no major studio or distributor wanted the film when it was inititally pitched. But HBO jumped at the chance. Douglas for one is extremely grateful. He even had to hold back tears and got very choked up trying to thank his colleagues during the Cannes press conference yesterday for waiting for him while he underwent his bout with cancer.

So as their movie hits TV screens in America on Sunday, could Soderbergh or his film be winning a prize in Cannes on the same day? Stranger things have happened, but that would be a first.

But the lines have clearly been blurred and as Radius co-President Tom Quinn told me after this morning’s press conference for Only God Forgives, “cinema is everywhere now. This (day and date with On Demand services) is how this film should be released, to bring the widest possible audience to the film”. And he expects it to be Radius’ biggest movie this year, a noticeable step forward in the emerging acceptance of mutual VOD/theatrical rollouts as a viable piece of the pie. It should really be tested this time since Gosling ( who is not in Cannes because of a film he is currently directing in Detroit) is arguably so far the biggest movie star name to go day and date. Radius has also been making a lot of noise on the acquistions front in the market , picking up Directors Fortnight contender Blue Ruin  and the Keanu Reeves directing debut, Man Of Tai Chi.  

At the American Pavillion State Of The Indie Panel  I moderated here on Monday Quinn acknowledged the difficulty with exhibition’s embrace of VOD but is confident it will be accepted everywhere – and soon. Releasing a Gosling action film in the middle of summer , directed by one of the hottest helmers out there will be a “game changer” . At least that’s the hope  for the 90 minute , fairly arty but extremely violent film that drew applause and some boos at its first press screening in Cannes this morning. Of course 8:30AM might have been a little early for some to take the sight of seeing a man tortuously gouging another guy’s eyes out.  Refn described the film as a combination of “mysticism, reality  and spirituality” although he was challenged on that by at least one journalist who said she saw only violence on screen and not the deeper meanings Refn said he was inspired to explore in the story, set in Bangkok about  a man ordered by his mother to seek revenge for the death of his older brother. That mother, played to the hilt by Kristin Scott -Thomas , is a real scene-stealer , and if voters with queasy stomachs can get beyond all the blood and gore, she will get a supporting Oscar nomination for her against-type work here.  The actress said this is not the kind of film that appeals to her and doesn’t go to violent movies, but once she came on board it was something she was very glad he did. As Refn pointed out, “she had no problem turning on the bitch switch”.

Both Scott-Thomas and Refn were also asked about the new opportunities in television and both said it excites them, there is no stigma attached to the small screen for either. Said Scott-Thomas, “It’s nice for actors because more people see it. You can spend weeks and weeks making a film that very few people will see and that’s sort of discouraging. But you can do some really great television , and there is great television. It’s very satisfying to know millions watch something. It’s as simple as that.” 

In fact at IMDB’s annual Cannes dinner Monday Refn told me Gaumont asked him to remake the 1968 sci-fi cult classic, Barbarella which he is going to do. “But I told them I wouldn’t do it as a movie, only a TV series”,  and he is bringing in top writers like Neal Purvis to help him with it. He thinks TV is a better medium for all the ideas he has for this project. It’s been sold in many territories but Refn says they will soon start to find a U.S network for it too. It’s still up for grabs in the States.

Certainly HBO might be a possibility considering the Cannes-do attitude they have been sporting lately.  After bringing Hemingway & Gellhorn here out of competition last year, and of course the aforementioned triumph of Candelabra this year and getting loads of free worldwide publicity in the process, the pay cabler made further news by picking up another project from the 2013 Official Selection, though out of competition, with word they will air director James Toback and Alec Baldwin’s wryly funny documentary, Seduced And Abandoned about this festival that they shot here last year. It really lifts the veil in a very funny way on the dealmaking and makers that goes on here every year, but also turns into an eye-opening account of the state of the movie business itself. It contains priceless interviews and stories from the likes of Roman Polanski, Bernardo Bertolucci,  a hilarious Avi Lerner and Francis Ford Coppola among many many others. Coppola tells a great tale I had never heard about getting so mad he took all his five Oscars and threw them to the ground breaking them into pieces. He says his mother went to the Academy to get them replaced by saying the housekeeper broke them while dusting. Gosling is also in the film offering a brilliantly funny and succinct description of what a struggling actor’s life is really like.  At the premiere after-party on the Lady Joy yacht, Toback told me, even though it was possibly envisioned as a theatrical, HBO is the perfect place to land for his Cannes expose. “I gave it to them and they made a very generous offer. They bought it right away , four days after I gave them the DVD we had a deal. You can’t reach a reliable audience anymore with sort of the IFC/Magnolia distribution pattern. You just can’t do it. I’m very excited. Two things happened. One, the movie worked out as well as I possibly could have hoped and two, we got the best place for it which is hardly ever the case. I’ve often made the movie I wanted to make and then been stuck with a distribution that was frustrating beyond comprehension,” he said.

And now the times, even in the competition in Cannes, are changin’ indeed.

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Cannes Briefs: ‘Pioneer’ Sales; Howard J. Ford Boards ‘The Tank’; Lionsgate Breaks Record; Dignity Options ‘God Of Driving’

By NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor | Wednesday May 22, 2013 @ 4:49am PDT

Arrow Films has acquired all UK rights on Norwegian thriller Pioneer. It’s also sold to Benelux, Japan and Korea. Magnolia previously picked up the film for the U.S. Erik Skjoldbærg, whose Insomnia was remade by Christopher Nolan, directs the film which stars Aksel Hennie, Wes Bentley, Stephen Lang, Stephanie Sigman and Jonathan LaPaglia. The high-octane conspiracy thriller is inspired by 70s classics The Conversation, Three Days Of The Condor and Chinatown. It will be released in Scandinavia in September. TrustNordisk handles international sales. Read More »

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Cannes: Music Box Takes U.S. On German Comedy ‘Oh Boy’

By NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor | Wednesday May 22, 2013 @ 4:36am PDT

Music Box has acquired German hit tragicomedy Oh Boy from Beta Cinema. The movie won six Lolas earlier this year including Best Film, Best Script, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. Jan Ole Gerster’s … Read More »

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Cannes: Lionsgate Acquires U.S. On Guillaume Canet’s ‘Blood Ties’

Guillaume Canet’s English-language directorial debut Blood Ties is here in official selection, out of competition. Lionsgate has taken U.S. distribution rights in what I hear is an over $2M deal. The film will go out via … Read More »

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Toronto Fest Lands World Preem Of Godfrey Reggio’s ‘Visitors,’ With Symphony Orchestra And Steven Soderbergh

Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: The Toronto International Film Festival has set the Godfrey Reggio-directed Visitors to have its world premiere at the festival on September 8, in a most splashy manner. The film has an original score by Philip and it is being … Read More »

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Cannes: Fleming Reflects And Finds Talented Trio A Breath Of Fresh Air

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Tuesday May 21, 2013 @ 11:35pm PDT
Mike Fleming

The Cannes Film Festival is over for me, and when I come to a place like this, I find myself asking, where are the next stars coming from? Between Fruitvale Station’s Michael B. Jordan and writer/director Ryan Coogler, and … Read More »

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Hot Trailer: ‘Man Of Steel’

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday May 21, 2013 @ 7:52pm PDT

The final trailer before the Superman reboot takes flight has hit the web. General Zod issues an ominous message for us Earthlings: “Your world has sheltered one of my citizens. … To those of you who know his location, the fate of your planet rests in your hands.” Legendary’s … Read More »

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Universal Sets Apropos Release Date For ‘Endless Love’ Remake

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday May 21, 2013 @ 5:27pm PDT

Cupid’s annual arrow barrage will suit Hollywood just fine next year: Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday in 2014, and Universal today slotted its remake of Endless Love for that ultimate date night. The drama stars Alex Pettyfer and Gabriella Wilde in the roles played by Martin Hewitt and Brooke Shields in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1981 film. The Shana Feste-helmed update will have a third wheel on its opening weekend in the form of another ’80s remake, Sony/Screen Gems’ About Last Night. Fox also will target couples-fueled cash will its sci-fi thriller The Maze Runner while the Weinstein Company deploys its franchise-hopeful Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters. Read More »

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Former Digital Domain CEO & Auditors Sued For Fraud By Investors

By DOMINIC PATTEN | Tuesday May 21, 2013 @ 5:21pm PDT

The fallout from Digital Domain Media Group’s bankruptcy continues with investors in the troubled special effects and 3D conversion firm taking the former CEO, the company’s auditors and other executives to court for fraud. Having lost millions in the James Cameron-founded company just before it went under last September, Iroquois Master Fund and Kingsbrook Opportunities Master Fund late last week filed a six claim complaint (read it here) against John Textor, his wife Deborah, various DDMG directors and auditors SingerLewak LLP. The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages as well as interest, legal fees and “such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.” The complaint in New York State Supreme Court alleges common law fraud, aiding and abetting fraud, negligent misrepresentations and omissions, negligence, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and civil conspiracy. Read More »

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Fox Acquires ‘Narc’; Zac Efron Attached To Play “College Donnie Brasco”

By JEN YAMATO | Tuesday May 21, 2013 @ 4:29pm PDT

EXCLUSIVE: Zac Efron NarcFox has snapped up life rights for the true crime project Narc, based on the actual story of an All-American college kid-turned-police informant. Zac Efron is attached to star as a student, frat president, and lacrosse team captain who’s busted for drugs intended for a party, then secretly turns narc and helps the cops bust criminals while carrying on his BMOC campus life. Efron’s manager and producing partner Jason Barrett will exec produce with Underground-repped Doug Banker. They’ve got a familiar friend in Fox exec Jason Young, who briefly departed the studio to help Efron establish Ninjas Runnin’ Wild in 2010 before returning as Fox’s VP of Production. Read More »

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Cannes: Barry Levinson Tapped To Direct Shanghai-Set Love Story Based On Chinese Novel ‘The Cursed Piano’

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday May 21, 2013 @ 3:18pm PDT

Barry Levinson has come on board to direct a love story loosely based on the best-selling novel The Cursed Piano by Chinese author Bei La. It takes place across Leningrad and Shanghai over the course of 40 years. Shanghai Read More »

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Deadline Festivals & Markets Watch Podcast – Cannes 2013

Listen to (and share) the latest episode from the Cannes Film Festival of our audio podcast Deadline Festivals & Markets Watch, featuring Deadline International Editor Nancy Tartaglione. She talks with host David Bloom about which distributors and projects are making a splash so far; whether Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut, with considerable Chinese backing, can move beyond China to a worldwide hit; how a film starring Sean Penn managed to sell its international rights even before it has been shot; and the crime wave hitting the Croisette.

Deadline Festivals & Markets Watch, Cannes 2013, (MP3 format)
Deadline Festivals & Markets Watch, Cannes 2013, (MP4a format) Read More »

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Mike Lobell Adds Cast To ‘Eisner,’ Plots Projects With Billy Crystal, Richard Gere

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Tuesday May 21, 2013 @ 2:25pm PDT
Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: Mike Lobell, the veteran producer whose 14-years of persistence helped make the remake Gambit happen, is getting close on three other projects with strong elements. He has re-teamed with former partner, writer-director Andrew Bergman, on A Film By Alan Stuart Eisner, an ensemble comedy which so far has Project X‘s Oliver Cooper, Shirley MacLaine and Robin Williams attached, with Rob Reiner making a cameo. Lobell reports that the film has added Sienna Miller, Isla Fisher and Audra MacDonald. Eisner is a comedy dealing with a young man making a documentary to learn what happened to his family during WWII. He is out looking for financing.

Gambit, by the way, ended up with Michael Hoffman directing a script by Joel and Ethan Coen. Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz and Alan Rickman star and CBS Films is releasing.

At the same time, Lobell is getting traction on This Man This Woman, the adult love story written by Frederic Raphael. The project has gotten a boost with the attachment of Richard Gere, who long ago sparked to a film which focuses on the trials and tribulations of a marriage. This was the picture that once nearly went into production with Meg Ryan and Sean Penn. Lobell and Gere will now look for a director and their female lead. Read More »

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Dennis Lehane To Adapt ‘Travis McGee’

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday May 21, 2013 @ 2:20pm PDT

Dennis Lehane will adapt Travis McGee for Fox and Appian Way, based on 1964′s The Deep Blue Good-By and 20 subsequent novels by John D. MacDonald. Leonardo DiCaprio is producing with an eye to star. The project previously had Paul Greengrass and Oliver Stone circling to … Read More »

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Warner Bros Sets Spike Jonze’s ‘Her’ For November 20

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday May 21, 2013 @ 1:43pm PDT

Spike Jonze wrote and directed Her, which stars Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Samantha Morton and Olivia Wilde. The film is about a guy who falls in love with the voice of a computer, … Read More »

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Sony Shares Rise On Report That It Will Consider Entertainment Stock Offering

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Tuesday May 21, 2013 @ 1:26pm PDT

The company’s U.S. stock closed +9.3% today — at $22.91, the highest it’s been since late 2011 — in unusually heavy trading after Japan’s Nikkei news service reported that Sony‘s board will explore the proposal from billionaire … Read More »

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JS Communications Settles Rhythm & Hues Fee Dispute

By JEN YAMATO | Tuesday May 21, 2013 @ 12:06pm PDT

Rhythm & Hues bankruptcyJS Communications has finally settled for a reduced break-up fee in the drawn-out Rhythm & Hues bankruptcy saga. It’s been two months since troubled VFX house R&H … Read More »

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Kino Lorber Acquires U.S. Rights To Jia Zhangke’s ‘A Touch Of Sin’

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday May 21, 2013 @ 12:00pm PDT

New York, NY – May 21, 2013 – Kino Lorber is proud to announce that it has acquired all US rights to Jia Zhangke’s (24 City, Still Life) latest film A Touch Of Sin, a four-part story inspired by real-life events and focused on the violent impact (and hefty human sacrifice) of the Chinese economic boom on its own citizens.

While prepping the film for a late fall or early winter national theatrical release, Kino Lorber will book this acclaimed Chinese film in select film festivals across the United States. This deal was negotiated between Kino Lorber CEO Richard Lorber and MK2′s International Sales Executive Victoire Thevenin.

The New York Times film critic Manohla Dargis recently referred to A Touch Of Sin as Jia Zhangke’s “finest film since his 2006 feature Still Life,” also describing it as “a portrait of contemporary China told through four savagely violent episodes that take place in distinct areas of the country.”

Read More »

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Next-Gen Xbox One Unveiled With Content Including Spielberg-Produced ‘Halo’ Series

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday May 21, 2013 @ 11:47am PDT

David Bloom is a Deadline contributor

Microsoft finally unveiled the Xbox One, its next-generation successor to the Xbox 360 game console, with an impressive demonstration of a voice- and gesture-controlled device focused more on integrating and controlling all kinds of entertainment and social capabilities far beyond just playing videogames. The #XboxReveal event at Microsoft’s Seattle-area campus included the announcement by Xbox Entertainment Studios President Nancy Tellem that Steven Spielberg will create a new live-action TV show based on the “Halo” game franchise. In a video, Spielberg, a longtime game fan who also oversaw the launch of the DreamWorks Interactive game studio in the 1990s, briefly said “the Halo universe is an amazing opportunity to be at an intersection where technology and myth-making converge.”

Related: Nancy Tellem Talks Microsoft’s Xbox Entertainment Studios Read More »

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