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Kelly on "Tales"
I heard from Southland Tales director Richard Kelly, his friend-producer Sean McKittrick and another producer, Persistent Entertainment's Matthew Rhodes, earlier today about Sony having acquired Tales for theatrical and home video distribution. No one's saying which theatrical distrib branch -- Columbia, Screen Gems, Sony Classics -- will put it out there, but it would be really weird if it was Screen Gems. The first piece of news I learned is that Tales will most likely come out sometime in early '07, and also that a showing at September's Toronto Film Festival isn't necessarily in the cards. Kelly and his editor are "re-ordering" some scenes, cutting some others, re-writing and re-recording some voice-over with Justin Timberlake, and then finishing a bunch of visual effecfts shots that weren't done in time for Cannes. The finished cut will clock in around 10 minutes shorter, give or take, and Kelly expects to show it to Sony honchos in a few weeks time. Release-wise "we have heard rumblings of January," said Kelly, "which might be cool since it is sort of a wasteland time for other movies and our movie would have room to be discovered as a wild card, and the graphic novels will have more time to be digested and read by fans, so I'm game. It just feels good to have the biggest movie studio in the world behind me...never had that before." And by the way, the first Southland Tales Two Roads Diverge" -- is being toasted at ViewAskew's Westwood store called Secret Stash on July 6th.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on June 29, 2006 at 03:17 PM
comment #1
says ...
I'd think after the Cannes debacle, some time spent in the editing room would be time WELL spent. I've been jonesing to see this, but after hearing about the Cannes business, and Kelly trying to sweat out the post-flick interview, more than ten minutes would be needed. Am I wrong, Jeffrey? I haven't seen it, but would that honestly make a difference??
Posted by at June 29, 2006 03:37 PM
comment #2
Hopscotch says ...
Ah, the sophomore slump. What happens when you hype up a competenet young director and give him the keys to the family porche. Well, he wrecks it right?
While I like Donnie Darko. I have to admit I've read some interviews with this guy and he comes off kind of dickish. He's young, he's getting smoke blown up his ass from every which way, it's Hollywood, it's not the first time. But I'm just waiting for him to throw the "They made me change it" card or the ever-popular "people will get in future generations card".
Elizabethtown still stunk after it was re-tooled. I hope Southland Tales turns out better.
Posted by Hopscotch at June 29, 2006 03:58 PM
comment #3
Nick says ...
It sounds to me like he's made one bigass confusing mess as opposed to two or three coherent movies. I'm sure HE understands what he's made, but if its one think he should've learned from Donnie Darko, if you get too fucked up with the plot, you're going to lose everyone in the audience that isn't on acid.
I can't really say that voice over ever saves a movie (Blade Runner and Gangs of New York jump to mind). I'd score this in the bad news of the day column.
Posted by Nick at June 29, 2006 04:20 PM
comment #4
Daniel Zelter says ...
Wait, I thought Universal had the rights. If so, it sounds like it was dumped...
Posted by Daniel Zelter at June 29, 2006 05:32 PM
comment #5
says ...
Universal co-financed and picked up distribution rights for much of the world, but not the US, so they never really "dumped" it. Focus did have first look, but they unsurprisingly passed after Cannes.
Posted by at June 29, 2006 06:13 PM
comment #6
Clac says ...
I hope we'll have, in France, kelly's version of ST...
Posted by Clac at June 30, 2006 08:08 AM
comment #7
richard crawford says ...
I suspect Southland Tales will be a hit....just like Marie Antoinette is going to be.
Posted by richard crawford at June 30, 2006 08:30 AM
comment #8
Darkblue says ...
Goddammit. The thing that made Donnie darko so interesting was that it was mysterious. Not everything was explained. The director's cut was absolutely terrible precisely because he listened to the meatheads who whined about not being able to understand it, and ended up putting BLOCKS OF TEXT ON THE SCREEN to explain the plot. The plot was not what made it interesting. It was TONE of the film that made it what it was. How unbelievably sad it would it be if he fucked his new film by making the same mistake twice.
Posted by Darkblue at July 1, 2006 03:45 AM
comment #9
Palermo says ...
I agree with Darkblue. The problem with movies today is that studios are listening to advance buzz too much. everything is test marketed to death, made to appease the AICN crowd, who just want to be sure the movie doesn't stray from the source material they love. No surprises are welcome. Donnie Darko's director's cut was awful. Richard Kelly made a great movie and then revealed with the dc he didn't understand anything that was great about it. Movies that are designed to please everybody don't end up really satisfying anyone.
Posted by Palermo at July 2, 2006 12:02 PM
comment #10
Blah says ...
http://www.cinema-scope.com/cs27/spot_cannes_peranson_conspiracy.htm
Read the interview with Kelly on the main page too.
(Cinemascope, btw, is the most worthwhile film journal on the continent... support it).
Posted by Blah at July 2, 2006 11:45 PM
comment #11
Aya Brea says ...
I take it most of you guys are big Donnie darko fans and are disappointed by the fact that southland tales is not as good, even though most of you have not even seen it for yourself!
It must be pretty difficult for Richard to try and create an equally as good a movie. Its easy to moan on how badly he has done, but he must of had many restless nights with this film.
The art of respect my friends learn it!!
Posted by Aya Brea at July 4, 2006 01:23 AM
comment #12
Aya Brea says ...
Im not sure if i have posted this yet seeing that my f*****g computer, crappy with all things beautiful such as this arguement, has decided to disobey master!!!LOL (What am i on?)
ANYWAY!!
I take it that you guys are big Donnie Darko fans, so am i and i love the directors cut especially the commentary!! GOOD STUFF!!
But can everybody show just a little bit of respect to Mr Kelly. Im sure he has had plenty of restless nights with this film. I mean creating a great movie such as Darko then having the responsility to create an equally good film must be pretty tough. Im not feeling sorry for the guy (GOD he is cute!!),im just asking for people to show a little bit of respect!
[MAN THAT WAS A LONG SPEACH]
Posted by Aya Brea at July 4, 2006 01:58 AM
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