How will he be doing this, you ask? Well, Deadline has the story from the Cannes Film Festival:Another day on the Croisette brings another major distribution deal. After an all night auction, The Weinstein Company emerged with U.S. distribution rights to The Iron Lady, the Pathe pic that stars Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher. I'm told the deal was worth near $7 million and that Weinstein Company made it with Ron Burkle and his Yucaipa banner. I'm also told that Alliance will distribute in Canada. I'd heard last night that the likes of Summit, Relativity Media and Fox Searchlight chased it. There were at least two bids on the table at $6 million.
Numerous bidders were in on the action after Pathe showed five minutes of footage here. Harvey Weinstein will definitely open the film during Oscar season, relying on another British politics tale after The King's Speech won Best Picture honors last year. Weinstein, his lieutenant David Glasser and Burkle worked into the night to make the deal. It is the same partnership structure they employed when that made the Sundance acquisitions My Idiot Brother and The Details. For TWC, it has already been a busy fest. They acquired world rights to Paul Thomas Anderson's next film before the fest started, made a quick acquisition of the black and white silent film The Artist, and the bought the Chinese film Dragon, both official festival selectiions.
Streep reuinites with her Mamma Mia! director Phyllida Lloyd in the Abi Morgan-scripted film that also stars Harry Lloyd, Richard E. Grant and Jim Broadbent.
-Joey's Two Cents: Studios trying to double down on what worked for them last year can often be a failing endeavor, but if anyone can reverse that trend, it's Harvey Weinstein...thoughts?
The behind the lens talent is not nearly on par with The King's Speech, so I don't know if this is suddenly a slam dunk Oscar player, but Streep seems in good position to make some noise.
ReplyDeleteShe is gonna get nominated, but a win is way to soon. She might want to chill with her campaign if she wants that 3rd Oscar, she is coming way too strong too soon. And trust me if a competition comes between Streep, Close, and Swinton, they will give it to Close.
ReplyDeleteThe nomination is about 80% likely, depending on the quality of the film. The win, I couldn't say about. I don't buy into anyone ever being "due" or "needing" another win, so it's all about the performance to me.
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