Typically, a delay in release dates spells trouble for a film. That may not be the case for Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher, a bizarre true story starring Steve Carell and Channing Tatum, which was delayed from its original awards friends 2013 release date– the film was even slotted as the co-opening night World Premiere for the 2013 AFI Film Festival. It’s second life appears to have an even stronger calling card, as HitFlix reports from anonymous sources the film will have its premiere at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival, perhaps playing in competition at the prestigious film festival this May.
Foxcatcher tells the true story of wealthy eccentric John du Pont (played by an about-face, against type Carell) and his obsession with Olympic champion wrestling brothers Mark and Dave Schultz (played by Tatum and Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo.) The story turns a dark corner when du Pont is driven to murder. Miller – who previously directed the Oscar-nominated Capote and Moneyball – directed from a script by E. Max Frye (Something Wild) and Dan Futterman (Oscar nominee for writing Capote.) Megan Ellison producers through her Annapurna Picture banner, following her double Oscar nominations for 2013’s American Hustle and Her.
Cannes, proven it can re-inject buzz and life into delayed movies. For instance, the opening film last year was Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby: originally slotted to open in December 2012 for an awards run in that calendar year, the successful Cannes launch helped maneuver the film into a sturdy moneymaker last summer – in the end receiving two Academy Awards for production and costume design. Similarly, Nicole Kidman’s Grace Kelly biopic Grace of Monaco was slated to open last November when The Weinstein Company flinched; the film will have its World Premiere at the opening night of this year’s festival. The festival runs from May 14-25.
The question now turns to whether Foxcatcher can transition into an awards player.
Leave a Comment