Hoffman Finally Gets Wise About “Coup de Chance”

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Five days after reporting that domestic distribution-wise “nothing is in the works” for Woody Allen‘s Coup de Chance, THR‘s Jordan Hoffman has reversed course by in effect announcing “oops, sorry ’bout that…Woody’s film will be distributed here after all, and within a couple of months.”

The cool-as-a-cucmber Coup de Chance, which debuted to mostly rave or approving reviews at last September’s Venice Film Festival, will debut theatrically in “North American markets” on Friday, 4.5.24, to be followed by a digital/VOD release on Friday, 4.12. The distributor is MPI Media Group.

Need I repeat that two and a half weeks ago (1.24.24) HE reported that “a certain U.S.-based distributor is looking to open (or at least stream) Coup de Chance a couple of months hence, give or take”?

Need I also repeat that on the same day as Hoffman’s “nothing is in the works” article I reported that Hoffman was “dead wrong about this,” and that “a distribution deal has been hammered out (at the very least involving streaming and possibly even a touch of theatrical)” and that “an announcement about same would happen sometime this week.”

The MPI announcement was delayed until today…no biggie.

A Woody Allen film opening theatrically two months hence obviously represents a #MeToo thaw or a lessening of woke Robespierre insanity. Hoffman’s story ignores the cultural significance of this. Why doesn’t Hoffman acknowledge this? I’ll tell you why he doesn’t acknowledge this. Because he’s not allowed to mention it because Penske Media, which owns THR, is totally in bed with the wokesters.

The last Allen film to play theatrically was Wonder Wheel (Amazon) on 12.1.17 — just over six years ago. Allen’s A Rainy Day in New York (’19) and Rifkin’s Festival (’20) received no theatrical exposure due to #MeToo condemnation of Allen over the Dylan Farrow accusations, although both eventually turned up on airplane flights and as streaming titles. Hoffman notes that Rainy Day became a surprise international hit ($28.3 million gross), “particularly in Asia.”

Oscar Poker: Superbowl Meditations

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There’s nothing wrong with an occasional friendly argument, and that’s how our special Super Bowl edition of Oscar Poker began earlier today. And then Sasha and I moved on. It’s all in good fun (most of it) and described below.

And it was a really great Super Bowl, and the Chiefs pulled off a win! Here’s the link.

Again, the link.

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HE Likes San Francisco QB Brock Purdy More Than Travis Kelce

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I’m sorry but San Francisco 49er QB Brock Purdy, 24, is playing a brilliant game, hasn’t lost his temper, and is better looking than Travis Kelce.

Kelce’s meltdown wasn’t cool. His temper could eventually contribute to the end of the Taylor thing…who knows?

It’s halftime and the Chiefs are seven points behind the 49ers, 10 to 3. The Chiefs are going to lose…I can feel it. Update: The score is now 10 to 4, 49ers still in the lead.

Taylor Swift is too old for Purdy, of course. Plus he has a girlfriend, Jenna Brandt.

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HE Will Actually Watch Superbowl — First Time Since Late ’90s

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Because I’ve never watched Travis Kelce on the field and because of the presence of Taylor Swift and the likely halftime wedding ceremony, HE has decided to actually sit down and watch Super Bowl LVIII — the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers meeting at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas — CBS, 6:30 pm eastern.

I haven’t watched any pro football game this century, although I think I watched a game sometime in the late ’90s.

I’m kidding about the halftime wedding, of course. I don’t expect Swift and Kelce to stay together for too many months longer. They might last until the late summer or early fall, but that’s all.