You are viewing the archive: “Bradley Cooper”

Two Screen Legends Meet As Robert De Niro Receives SBIFF’s Kirk Douglas Award

By PETE HAMMOND | Sunday December 9, 2012 @ 11:59am PSTTags: Bradley Cooper, David O. Russell, Kirk Douglas, Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Pete Hammond

Robert De Niro on Saturday night became the latest recipient of the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence In Film at a Black Tie gala at Bacara Resort. The award is presented annually by the legendary actor to benefit the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Past recipients include Harrison Ford, Quentin Tarantino, John Travolta, Ed Harris, Kirk’s son Michael Douglas and of course, Kirk himself in the inaugural year.

De Niro is being heavily Oscar-buzzed for his supporting performance in Silver Linings Playbook and director David O. Russell and co-star Bradley Cooper both made the trip north to help honor De Niro along with Douglas of course. SBIFF President Douglas Stone and Executive Director Roger Durling praised the evening’s honoree as well as the legendary star the award is named for. In fact Durling led the crowd (which included several well-known Academy voters from the area including Carol Burnett sitting at SBIFF Chairman Jeffrey Barbakow’s table) in singing a rousing Happy Birthday to Douglas on the eve of his 96th birthday. He called both stars “heroes” and noted Douglas broke the Hollywood Blacklist in 1960 by hiring Dalton Trumbo to adapt Spartacus, and De Niro helped heal New York by bringing business back to NYC in creating the Tribeca Film Festival in the aftermath of 9/11.

Some very well-chosen clips highlighted De Niro’s long career including The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Mean Streets, The Deer Hunter, Cape Fear and many others plus the current Silver Linings Playbook which could mark the first Oscar nomination in over two decades for the two-time winner. An especially effective sequence was the juxtaposition of two immortal boxing dramas to open the show: Douglas in his Oscar-nominated turn in Champion (1949) and De Niro’s Jake La Motta biopic Raging Bull (1980). As a special birthday gift for Douglas, De Niro at the end of his acceptance speech presented Kirk with an autographed script of that film signed by himself, Joe Pesci and director Martin Scorsese (“Marty was actually going to sell this on ebay,”  he joked ).

Cooper, who has worked with De Niro twice and considers him a mentor, said “You can see so many different people in all those different roles. What is it about him that affects all of us to celebrate this work? It’s one word: ‘family’… He makes you feel like you are a part of his family. I am so happy Bob you invited all of us into your family”.

David O. Russell shared anecdotes of his earliest meetings with De Niro including seeing him at a Starbucks as he was working on The Good Shepherd. “One of the greatest actors, if not the greatest actor of our time was sitting in a Starbucks, a small, bearded Rabbi-looking man in a hat, and nobody noticed him. As I joined him at his table he couldn’t conceal the joy gleaming in his eyes. The joy at disappearing  into a character. As Picasso said it takes a long time to become young. Inside the accomplished artist of Robert De Niro is a very young, gleeful person very close to the spirits of children who play with fierceness, intensity, passion and committment,”  Russell said.

Douglas, bounding to the stage, told the crowd he had decided after presenting to his son Michael last year that he would no longer present the award, but a few weeks ago he got a call saying De Niro had agreed to accept. “I said, ‘wonderful. Who is going to present?’ They said ‘you’ . I said ‘Me? You talking to me? (laughs). When I first saw Robert in Taxi Driver I was a fan for life. He always wanted to be an actor and studied with Lee Strasberg and worked with actors portraying characters. But Robert De Niro never portrays a character. He becomes the character,” he said in bringing De Niro up to the stage to accept his award.

De Niro, noting he has received many awards (“mostly from foreign countries. I think this is an example that maybe my acting is best appreciated by reading subtitles”, he laughed) but said he was pleased to get this from Kirk and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. “I run a festival myself in New York  and I know how difficult it can be… I should be giving you this award Kirk. I have admired you my entire career, not just as an actor or producer but for your entire life as a philanthropist, good will ambassador, best-selling author and as a moral man of the world… If there ever is a Robert De Niro award, not just for excellence in film but as a human being the first recipient will be Kirk Douglas, ” he said to much applause.

Words from one screen legend to another.

Comments (1)

OSCARS Q&A: Bradley Cooper

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Thursday November 22, 2012 @ 10:13am PSTTags: Awardsline, Bradley Cooper, Oscars, Silver Linings Playbook

Paul Brownfield is an AwardsLine contributor.

For Bradley Cooper, shooting David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook involved a lot of jogging through familiar Philadelphia-area neighborhoods wearing a sleeveless trash bag over a sweatsuit; otherwise, all he had to do was convey the deep inner turmoil of a guy with bipolar disorder who’s off his meds and obsessed with his ex-wife and back in his childhood home after a court-ordered stint at a state hospital. Adapted from the novel by Matthew Quick, the film is at once an ethnically specific family drama, a romantic comedy, and a raw glimpse into mental illness. Cooper says he was as familiar with the milieu of his character, Pat Solitano, as he was fearful about whether he could go to the film’s deeper emotional places.

AwardsLine: When did you first see the script?
Bradley Cooper: I met David on the phone about another project, while The Fighter was in post. And then that project fell apart, and then he asked me to read the (Silver Linings Playbook) script. Not offering it to me, just asking me to read it. And then it sort of went away, and then I was shooting a movie in Schenectady in September, called The Place Beyond The Pines, and I get a call from him saying, “You know, it looks like it’s opened up and I want you to do it.” And I thought, “Well, aren’t you guys shooting in October?” He said, “Yeah.” I said, “Well, I wrap the last week of September.” He said, “Can you come down on the weekends?” So I did. And then I just drove from Schenectady to Philly — and a week later we’re on camera, and I have a trash bag (on) running down the streets of Philly.

Related: Handicapping The Lead Actor Race Read More »

Comments (3)

Bradley Cooper In Talks To Star With Emma Stone In Cameron Crowe-Directed Pic

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Wednesday October 24, 2012 @ 5:12pm PDTTags: Big Deals Film, Bradley Cooper, Cameron Crowe, Emma Stone, Sony Pictures
Mike Fleming

Bradley Cooper Emma Stone Movie Cameron CroweEXCLUSIVE: I’m hearing that after a lengthy search, Cameron Crowe has set his sights on Bradley Cooper to star with Emma Stone in the film Crowe wrote and will direct next … Read More »

Comments (12)

TOLDJA! Christian Bale Joins Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Amy Adams In David O Russell Pic

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Friday October 5, 2012 @ 9:24am PDTTags: American Bullshit, Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, David O. Russell

Related: Megan Ellison In Talks To Fund ‘American Bullshit’ With Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper

Back in March, Deadline revealed that David O Russell had Christian Bale poised to star in the drama he was putting together, under the title American Bullshit. Shortly after, we told you that Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures was stepping up to finance the film. All of it got confirmed today. Here is the release:

(LOS ANGELES, CA) OCTOBER 5, 2012 – Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, and Amy Adams will be joined by Christian Bale in David O. Russell’s ensemble drama. Russell’s penning the film’s screenplay with Eric Warren Singer, based on Singer’s original script.

The upcoming film marks the director’s first time working with Renner (two-time Academy Award nominee), and his second collaborations with Bale (Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor for “The Fighter”), Adams (three-time Academy Award nominee including “The Fighter”) and Cooper (“Silver Linings Playbook”). David O. Russell¹s acclaimed “Silver Linings Playbook” garnered the Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Read More »

Comments (4)

Toronto: Weinstein Finds ‘Silver Linings’ At World Premiere For Another Oscar Race

By PETE HAMMOND | Sunday September 9, 2012 @ 8:28am PDTTags: Bradley Cooper, Harvey Weinstein, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook, The Master, TIFF Wrap-Up, Toronto, Toronto Film Festival
Pete Hammond

As the Toronto International Film Festival maintains its intense pace, the race for Oscar is clearly heating up. And after last night’s rousing world premiere for David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook, you can chalk up yet another major Best Picture contender. The tweets about its inevitable awards potential began almost immediately. The response to this strikingly original and human film was ecstatic, not only during the screening and standing ovation but from everyone I cornered at the Soho House after-party - including several awards pundits who are supposed to be jaded about such things.

Harvey’s Silver Linings almost certainly puts stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro in contention for acting nominations. Lawrence and Cooper play two very broken people trying to put their lives back together by helping each other. It reminded me of Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine  in The Apartment (1960), deftly navigating the tricky terrain of a film that can change tone from comedy to drama on a dime without ever seeming forced. Both simply inhabit these characters and make a great screen team. And just like Lemmon and MacLaine did after The Apartment when they reteamed on Irma La Douce, Cooper told me they have already completed a second film together, Serena.

Lawrence leaps to the front of the pack with a revelatory performance that seemed to knock most observers out. Cooper also was terrific in a challenging role in The Place Beyond The Pines (acquired today by Focus Features). He had nothing but praise for his co-star who at just 22 years old takes on a part that would challenge much older stars. Writer-director David O. Russell told me  at the after-party she was actually a last-minute casting. “We were seeing just about every major actress for the role but thought she was just too young. Then when she ‘Skyped’ in her audition from her home, there was no question. Lawrence was nominated for Best Actress for Winter’s Bone (2009) and should start preparing now to go through it all over again. So should Russell who was in the Oscar race with The Fighter two years ago for the first time and should be right back in there this year. Read More »

Comments (14)

TOLDJA! Focus Features Lands ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Sunday September 9, 2012 @ 5:33am PDTTags: Big Deals Film, Bradley Cooper, Derek Cianfrance, Focus Features, Ryan Gosling, The Place Beyond The Pines, TIFF Wrap-Up, Toronto Film Festival
Mike Fleming

2ND UPDATE: Focus Features has confirmed Deadline’s scoop. Release is at the bottom of the story

UPDATE: I’m told that Focus Features indeed closed a distribution deal for one of Toronto’s hottest acquisition titles, the Derek Cianfrance-directed The Place Beyond The Pines. The negotiations between the Focus … Read More »

Comments (3)

Toronto: New Film With Ryan Gosling & Bradley Cooper Draws Distributors

By PETE HAMMOND | Saturday September 8, 2012 @ 1:55am PDTTags: Bradley Cooper, Derek Cianfrance, Eva Mendes, Ryan Gosling, The Place Beyond The Pines, TIFF Wrap-Up, Toronto, Toronto Film Festival
Pete Hammond

The Place Beyond The Pines is perhaps the most eagerly awaited acquisition title of the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival. And Friday night it premiered to an enthusiastic reception from a sold-out crowd. With stars Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes lighting up the Princess of Wales theatre’s Red Carpet, there was much anticipation about this unique crime thriller from director and co-writer Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine also starring Gosling). At the 19 Mercer Street after-party, producer Jamie Patricof (Lynette Howell and Alex Orlovsky co-produced with him for Sidney Kimmel Productions) told me they have kept this film under lock and key until the TIFF showing. Because no one had seen it, a lot of distributors were in the audience eager to get a look. Patricof and helmer Cianfrance both said they are looking for a company who is most passionate about the film. Whether it gets out this year (in time for the Oscar race) or later is secondary to that. Cianfrance did add that his natural inclination is always to “have the film out tomorrow” if he could.

Related: Ryan Gosling To Make Directing Debut On ‘How To Catch A Monster’

A snap poll of reaction after the screening indicated the film had true impact. There’s no doubt buyers will be circling this one – and snapping it up fast. Clearly the movie has a lot of marketing potential with Gosling and Cooper in the leads. Gosling  said that working with Cianfrance “has changed my life and changed me as an actor”. He plays a bank robber and said he always had a fantasy about making his getaway by riding a motorcycle into a U-Haul truck which was incorporated here. Cooper might have the most difficult role. ”But I was ferocious in wanting to work with these two guys. It was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had acting,” he said. Read More »

Comments (4)

Spielberg, Cooper, Lawrence, Travolta Help HFPA Distribute $1.2 Million In Grants

By PETE HAMMOND | Thursday August 9, 2012 @ 5:10pm PDTTags: Big Deals Film, Bradley Cooper, Dustin Hoffman, Golden Globes, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Jennifer Lawrence, John Travolta, Steven Spielberg
Pete Hammond

“I’m here to get nominated,”  laughed Dustin Hoffman (who is making his directorial debut at age 75 with the 2012 Weinstein release, Quartet) as he took the stage at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s annual lunch to present grants to non-profit entertainment related organizations and scholarship programs. It was meant as a joke but clearly there is some truth to it, as this luncheon, held today at the Beverly Hills Hotel, often draws a lot of awards hopefuls to accept the generous grants in front of virtually the entire HFPA membership. If you’re a film or TV contender it certainly doesn’t hurt to be seen in this room. Awards consultants and PR Execs eagerly cooperate with the HFPA to get a strong turnout of contenders at this early pre-season kickoff to yet another awards race. Among the many PR types present you heard the same phrase over and over, “well here we go again”.

Among those presenting the total of more than $1.2 million to some 40 organizations today in addition to Hoffman were Steven Spielberg (Lincoln), John Travolta (Savages), Don Johnson and Kerry Washington (Django Unchained), Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook, The Hunger Games), Jack Black (Bernie), Christina Hendricks (Mad Men), Kelsey Grammer (Boss) and Carla Gugino (Political Animals). Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) opened the proceedings for the Foreign Press group by joking that ”the 40 grants are as diverse as the people sitting in this audience today”. Read More »

Comments (2)

Hot TV Spot: ‘Hit And Run’

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Thursday August 2, 2012 @ 10:39pm PDTTags: Bradley Cooper, David Palmer, Dax Shepard, Hit And Run, Kristen Bell

Here’s a TV spot for Open Road Films‘ Hit And Run — directed by David Palmer and Dax Shepard who also scripted and stars as a former bank robber living under a new identity in a quiet town. But his girlfriend’s ex recognizes and rats him out to … Read More »

Comments (4)

Hot Trailer: ‘Silver Linings Playbook’

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Thursday June 28, 2012 @ 10:55am PDTTags: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook, The Weinstein Company

David O Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook stars Bradley Cooper as a teacher who is institutionalized for depression and released into the care of his mother. He ends up falling for an unstable woman — played by Jennifer Lawrence, who won the part that was coveted around town. … Read More »

Comments 27

CBS Films Shifts ‘The Words’ Release Date

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Monday June 4, 2012 @ 2:50pm PDTTags: Bradley Cooper, CBS Films, The Words

The Words is coming out from CBS Films on September 7, up two weeks from its original September 21 slot. The literary plagiarism drama stars Bradley Cooper, Olivia Wilde, Dennis Quaid, Zoe Saldana and Jeremy Irons. Cooper plays … Read More »

Comments (4)

Hot Trailer: ‘The Words’

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 1:38pm PDTTags: Bradley Cooper, CBS Films, The Words

Bradley Cooper doesn’t have his Hangover pals to get him out of trouble in The Words, a CBS Films romantic drama about a frustrated writer who claims another author’s long-lost work as his own. Zoe Saldana, Dennis Quaid and Jeremy Irons co-star. The film has a September 21 … Read More »

Comments 20

Megan Ellison In Talks To Fund ‘American Bullshit’ With Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Wednesday April 18, 2012 @ 6:34pm PDTTags: American Bullshit, Big Deals Film, Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, David O. Russell, Megan Ellison
Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: While the acquisitions landscape is showing signs of that pre-Cannes dullness, a big deal is in the works for Megan Ellison and her Annapurna Pictures to fully … Read More »

Comments (13)

Woody Allen Eyes Cate Blanchett, Bradley Cooper For New Film

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Thursday March 29, 2012 @ 4:37pm PDTTags: Big Deals Film, Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Woody Allen
Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: Woody Allen is readying his next film, and I’m told that he wants Cate Blanchett as his leading lady, and that he’s also eyeing Bradley Cooper for his ensemble. … Read More »

Comments (17)

Bradley Cooper Inks First-Look Deal with Warner Bros

By BRIAN BROOKS | Thursday March 1, 2012 @ 4:06pm PSTTags: Bradley Cooper, Warner Bros

Warner Bros Pictures and actor-producer Bradley Cooper have entered a two-year first-look deal. Cooper starred in the studio’s 2009 comedy The Hangover and last year’s The Hangover Part II. Cooper’s 22 & Indiana production company has hired Sheroum Kim as a … Read More »

Comments (17)

Bradley Cooper Presenting At The Oscars

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday February 14, 2012 @ 12:02pm PSTTags: Academy Awards, Bradley Cooper

Beverly Hills, CA – Bradley Cooper will present at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced today.

Cooper will be seen next in “The Words” and, later this year, in “The Place Beyond

… Read More »

Comments (10)

CBS Films Scoring First Major Fest Deal On ‘The Words’: Sundance

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Sunday January 22, 2012 @ 11:26am PSTTags: Bradley Cooper, CBS Films, Sundance, The Words
Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: I’m told that CBS Films is closing the first 7-figure deal of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, paying a minimum guarantee of around $2 million with a $1.5 million P&A commitment for The Words. The Brian Klugman/Lee Sternthal-directed drama stars Bradley Cooper as a struggling writer who discovers a lost manuscript, claims it as his own and becomes a literary sensation. All good until a man claiming to be the real writer (Jeremy Irons) shows up at his doorstep.

Bidding went through the evening, and I heard that Mickey Liddell’s new distribution company LD Entertainment and Lionsgate were among those in the mix. While The Words is the festival’s closing-night film, sellers set up a private screening Saturday morning at the Holiday III. Reaction was strong and distributors began circling right away. The film has the perfect elements that make it catnip for distributors looking for films that have a shot at a real theatrical release: Cooper is hot, after The Hangover Part II and Limitless, and starring as Lucifer later this year in the Alex Proyas-directed big-scale adaptation of the Milton poem Paradise Lost. Besides Irons, the cast includes Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde, Zoe Saldana and Ben Barnes. The film was repped by CAA and Cassian Elwes, with CBS exec Scott Shooman. Parlay Films is handling foreign sales and is almost done. Read More »

Comments (8)

STUNNER! Legendary Pictures Postpones January Start Of Alex Proyas-Directed ‘Paradise Lost’

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Monday December 12, 2011 @ 7:14pm PSTTags: Alex Proyas, Bradley Cooper, Legendary Pictures, Paradise Lost
Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: Legendary Pictures has halted plans to begin production early next year on Paradise Lost, the epic-sized Alex Proyas-directed film about the battle between good and evil that is inspired by the John Milton poem. Bradley Cooper … Read More »

Comments (19)

Sundance Unveils Premieres And Adds Starpower to January Festival

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Monday December 5, 2011 @ 1:54pm PSTTags: 2012 Sundance Film Festival, Bradley Cooper, Bruce Willis, Julie Delpy, Richard Gere, Stephen Frears, Susan Sarandon
Mike Fleming

Sundance Unveils Midnight, Next And New Frontier Films
2012 Sundance Film Festival Sets Competition Slate

The 2012 Sundance Film Festival has filled out the film schedule with a Premieres lineup of features and documentaries that add some star power to the festival. As Deadline reported last week, the festival added the Stephen Frears-directed Bruce Willis-starrer Lay The Favorite as well as a film by Julie Delpy, another that stars Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon, and another with Bradley Cooper. Most of the films come without distribution, so they will add to what is being forecast as potentially heavy dealmaking. Here’s the list:

PREMIERES

2 Days in New York / France (Director: Julie Delpy, Screenwriters: Julie Delpy, Alexia Landeau) — Marion has broken up with Jack and now lives in New York with their child. A visit from her family, the different cultural background of her new boyfriend, her sister’s ex-boyfriend, and her upcoming photo exhibition make for an explosive mix. Cast: Julie Delpy, Chris Rock, Albert Delpy, Alexia Landeau, Alex Nahon.

Arbitrage / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Nicholas Jarecki) — A hedge-fund magnate is in over his head, desperately trying to complete the sale of his trading empire before the depths of his fraud are revealed. An unexpected, bloody error forces him to turn to the most unlikely corner for help. Cast: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Brit Marling, Nate Parker.

Bachelorette / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Leslye Headland) — Unresolved issues between four high school friends come roaring back to life when the least popular of them gets engaged to one of the most eligible bachelors in New York City and asks the others to be bridesmaids in her wedding. Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan, James Marsden, Adam Scott, Kyle Bornheimer.

California Solo / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Marshall Lewy) — A former Britpop rocker has long settled for an unfettered life working on a farm outside of L.A. When he’s caught driving drunk and faces deportation, he must confront past and current demons in his life to stay in the country. Cast: Robert Carlyle, Alexia Rasmussen, Kathleen Wilhoite, A Martinez, Danny Masterson.

Celeste and Jesse Forever / U.S.A. (Director: Lee Toland Krieger, Screenwriters: Rashida Jones, Will McCormack) — Celeste and Jesse met in high school, married young, and at 30, decide to get divorced but remain best friends while pursuing other relationships. Cast: Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Ari Graynor, Chris Messina, Elijah Wood, Emma Roberts.

For A Good Time, Call… / U.S.A. (Director: Jamie Travis, Screenwriters: Katie Anne Naylon & Lauren Anne Miller) — Lauren and Katie move in together after a loss of a relationship and a loss of a rent controlled home, respectively. When Lauren learns what Katie does for a living the two enter into a wildly unconventional business venture. Cast: Ari Graynor, Lauren Anne Miller, Justin Long, Mark Webber, James Wolk.

GOATS / U.S.A. (Director: Christopher Neil, Screenwriter: Mark Jude Poirier) — Ellis leaves his unconventional desert home to attend the disciplined and structured Gates Academy. There, he reconnects with his estranged father and for the first time questions the family dynamics. Cast: David Duchovny, Vera Farmiga, Graham Phillips, Justin Kirk, Ty Burrell.

LAY THE FAVORITE / U.S.A. (Director: Stephen Frears, Screenwriter: D.V. DeVincentis) — An adventurous young woman gets involved with a group of geeky older men who have found a way to work the sportsbook system in Las Vegas to their advantage. Cast: Bruce Willis, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rebecca Hall.

Liberal Arts / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Josh Radnor) — When 30-something Jesse is invited back to his alma mater, he falls for a 19-year-old college student and is faced with the powerful attraction that springs up between them. Cast: Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney, John Magaro, Elizabeth Reaser.

Price Check / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael Walker) — Pete is having trouble resolving a happy marriage and family life with rising debt and a job he hates. When his new boss pulls him into the maelstrom that is her life, money and opportunities come his way, but at what price? Cast: Parker Posey, Eric Mabius, Annie Parisse, Josh Pais, Cheyenne Jackson.

Red Hook Summer / U.S.A. (Director: Spike Lee, Screenwriters: James McBride, Spike Lee) — A young Atlanta boy spends his summer in Brooklyn with his grandfather, who he’s never seen before. Cast: Clarke Peters, Jules Brown, Toni Lysaith, James Ransone, Thomas Jefferson Byrd.

Red Lights / U.S.A., Spain (Director and screenwriter: Rodrigo Cortés) — Psychologist Margaret Matheson and her assistant study paranormal activity, which leads them to investigate a world-renowned psychic. Cast: Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro, Elizabeth Olsen, Toby Jones.

Robot and Frank / U.S.A. (Director: Jake Schreier, Screenwriter: Christopher Ford) — A curmudgeonly older dad’s grown kids install a robot as his caretaker. Cast: Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler.

SALT LAKE CITY GALA FILM

Shadow Dancer / United Kingdom (Director: James Marsh, Screenwriter: Tom Bradby) — When a widowed mother is arrested in an aborted bomb plot she must make hard choices to protect her son in this heart-wrenching thriller. Cast: Andrea Riseborough, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, with Gillian Anderson and Clive Owen.

The Words / U.S.A. (Directors and screenwriters: Brian Klugman, Lee Sternthal) — Aspiring writer Rory Jansen finds another man’s haunting memories in a collection of lost stories and claims them as his own, propelling him to literary stardom. Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde with Zoe Saldana. CLOSING NIGHT FILM Read More »

Comments (11)
More Deadline | Hollywood »
« Previous Deadline | Hollywood