Three Sundance Films for young audiences...maybe

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"Buyers [coming to Sundance '08] say they are looking carefully at three star-packed films aimed at young audiences: Hamlet 2 (with Steve Coogan and Elisabeth Shue), about a high-school drama course that puts on a musical sequel to Shakespeare's play; The Wackness (with Mary-Kate Olsen), about a high-school kid growing up in New York who pays his therapist with marijuana; and Assassination of a High School President (with Mischa Barton), about a newspaper nerd and popular girl at a Catholic high school who investigate stolen SAT exams." -- from a 1.12.08 Wall Street Journal piece by Lauren A.E. Schuker.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 14, 2008 at 3:51 PM

comment #1

actionman says ...

Elizabeth Shue, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Mischa Barton are big stars that mean something to buyers? Really? Since when?

I am sure there are many films that will look nice to the distribs but the films listed above sound pretty "meh" to me

Where has Shue been the last few years?

Posted by actionman at January 14, 2008 4:10 PM

comment #2

Glenn Kenny says ...

Actionman, this is why The Wall Street Journal is the most respected and trusted name in film business coverage.

Snicker. What kind of tool believes that anybody save a lower-rung editor at "Star" magazine thinks a Mary-Kate Olsen film (she's only a supporting player, incidentally) in any way resembles a "hot" property?

Posted by Glenn Kenny at January 14, 2008 4:12 PM

comment #3

Mumbleboy says ...

What's up with the Olsen's (still can't tell them apart) and there affinity for choosing rolls that deal with the devil's weed? I meant roles of course. I don't think they've chosen a roll in their life.

Posted by Mumbleboy at January 14, 2008 4:26 PM

comment #4

JD says ...

I continue to be baffled by the Weinstein Brothers' decision to bury All the Boys Love Mandy Lane -- the previous movie from the director of The Wackness -- after it played to an enthusiastic, almost Cabin Fever-like response at TIFF in '06. With all kinds of horror crap making money these days, it certainly wouldn't hurt to give one of the few worthy slasher films a chance to see the light of day, particularly given its micro-budget. Based on the surprising merit of that film, I have to give The Wackness a chance.

Posted by JD at January 14, 2008 4:34 PM

comment #5

actionman says ...

Very much want to see All the Boys Love Mandy Lane.

Posted by actionman at January 14, 2008 4:38 PM

comment #6

p.Vice says ...

The Weinsteins sold off Mandy Lane to a new distributor, who are likely still getting their act together. They did promise to release it wider than Harvey, though.

Posted by p.Vice at January 14, 2008 4:44 PM

comment #7

Ogami Itto says ...

Assassination of a High School President (with Mischa Barton), about a newspaper nerd and popular girl at a Catholic high school who investigate stolen SAT exams.

That plot summary sounds like it came from an old Encyclopedia Brown book.

Posted by Ogami Itto at January 14, 2008 5:09 PM

comment #8

actionman says ...

Or The Perfect Score. Remember that POS? Wasn't that about stealing the SAT?

Posted by actionman at January 14, 2008 5:37 PM

comment #9

truefaith says ...

Thank you, JUNO, for what you have/are about to spawn.

Posted by truefaith at January 14, 2008 6:54 PM

comment #10

scooterzz says ...

two of those titles prominently feature melonie diaz (currently of 'be kind, rewind') and while very cute and very nice, she's also not very good as an actress........ can't believe any of these titles are on anyone's hot list.........

Posted by scooterzz at January 14, 2008 7:00 PM

comment #11

EDouglas says ...

Assassination was produced and presumably being distributed by the Yari Film Group.

Posted by EDouglas at January 14, 2008 7:50 PM

comment #12

Lee says ...

Didn't GILLIGAN'S ISLAND do the musical sequel to Hamlet idea better (and in 22 minutes)?

Posted by Lee at January 14, 2008 8:34 PM

comment #13

BurmaShave says ...

Melonie Diaz was pretty good in A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZE YOUR SAINTS. And she is indeed cute.

Posted by BurmaShave at January 14, 2008 8:41 PM

comment #14

btwnproductions says ...

Senator Entertainment is releasing MANDY LANE in March.

Posted by btwnproductions at January 14, 2008 9:28 PM

comment #15

Rob says ...

Hamlet 2 also stars Catherine Keener and Amy Poehler. So, there's that.

Posted by Rob at January 15, 2008 7:33 AM

comment #16

Eric Stanton says ...

Lee, not only did Gilligan's do a musical Hamlet, the big speeches were set to tunes from the opera "Carmen." And it was produced by famous Hollywood producer Harlod C. Hecuba, that week's guest castaway - played by the legendary Phil Silvers.

And people think Charlie Kauffmann pioneered deadpan surrealism.

I'd bet $1000 this movie won't be half as much fun as that episode of Gilligan. But it's a "hot" property..........

Posted by Eric Stanton at January 15, 2008 8:24 AM

comment #17

Bocephus says ...

I think Hamlet 2 sounds somewhat promising.

Just scanning the titles in this year's lineup, Absurdistan, Broken, Downloading Nancy, Fear(s) of the Dark, Funny Games, Diary of the Dead, Gonzo, Half-Life, Made in America, Patti Smith: Dream of Life, Pretty Bird, Red, Sleep Dealer, Stranded, Sugar, Towelhead, and What Just Happened all seem like interesting features. Looks like it might be a pretty good festival this year.

Posted by Bocephus at January 15, 2008 8:32 AM

comment #18

christian says ...

George Romero at Sundance?

Booyah!

Posted by christian at January 15, 2008 8:35 AM

comment #19

Sean says ...

The premise of 'Hamlet 2' -- especially with that cast -- sounds like it could be pretty good.

But any marketing department that believes that they can get kids to go see a movie called 'Hamlet 2' should be blacklisted from the business, because they are the sorts of people who acquire quality material and then fuck it up to make it more marketable and then fuck up the marketing anyway and then blame it on the film itself.

Which is really the worst thing about the biz.

Posted by Sean at January 15, 2008 9:57 AM

comment #20

Jackson99 says ...

Hamlet II is an independent film and at this point does not have a "marketing department." If it did, it probably wouldn't be at Sundance. I've seen a screening of it and it is very well done and quite funny. It is cowritten by Pam Brady, who co-wrote "Team America World Police," so there might be levels of irreverent humor even Gilligan couldn't reach.

Just go watch it instead of judging it by its "cover." It is a great cast and a very funny script.

Posted by Jackson99 at January 15, 2008 1:44 PM

comment #21

Sean says ...

Jackson - if you read what I wrote and Jeff's initial post to which I'm responding, I think you'll find it pretty obvious that I'm criticizing the buyers, not the movie.

And, in my experience, said buyers are generally quite answerable to their marketing department. Sorry to be the one who has to explain *that* to you.

"If it did, it probably wouldn't be at Sundance."

It has been a long time since that was a valid point to make, but, as I said, I wasn't directing my comments at the movie itself.

But since you're coming off as kind of a tool, I can't just leave it at that. I'm not going to knock Pam Brady (who, as far as I understand, had far more to do with the script of 'Hot Rod' than any of the Parker/Stone films she produced and got a co-writing credit on), but since you brought up the crew, I do have to point out that finding out it was written and directed by Andrew "let's remake The In-Laws!" Fleming makes me significantly less interested than I was. And I have you to thank for that -- I wouldn't have bothered to look up the movie on the IMDb if you hadn't brought up the writers.

Generally speaking, Andrew Fleming murders comedy with a bowling pin and then shouts "I'm finished".

Posted by Sean at January 15, 2008 2:07 PM

comment #22

Jackson99 says ...

Sean- Yeah yeah, you're very knowledgeable and deserve a little self-congratulation on that. Yes, distributors do have to deal with marketing issues. Thanks for the industry insight.
I made an offhand comment about your post, since you seem to know so much about how to market to "kids." I was primarily addressing the post that assumed that an episode of Gilligan had already done Hamlet II "better."

I can see you are a catty bitch in your own right, though. You're a real flamer here in cyberspace where you can dish out criticism of writers and filmmakers with more talent than you. I sincerely doubt you can carry that off in real life (assuming you have one).

Posted by Jackson99 at January 15, 2008 3:06 PM

comment #23

Eric Stanton says ...

Jackson, if you are referring to my post, I was just kidding - you know, having a little fun. A movie about highschoolers finding - whatever - through their engagement with a classic doesn't sound like the freshest possible idea. You say you've seen Hamlet II and it's "very well done and funny." Fine, let's hope so. No offense intended.

Posted by Eric Stanton at January 15, 2008 3:25 PM

comment #24

Jackson99 says ...

none taken. I hope you see the film.

Posted by Jackson99 at January 15, 2008 3:27 PM

comment #25

Jackson99 says ...

none taken. I hope you see the film.

Posted by Jackson99 at January 15, 2008 3:27 PM

comment #26

Jackson99 says ...

none taken. I hope you see the film.

Posted by Jackson99 at January 15, 2008 3:28 PM

comment #27

D.Z. says ...

christian: Save yourself the trouble and see Romero at a screening of Diary of the Dead at the Egyptian next month.

Posted by D.Z. at January 15, 2008 9:10 PM

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