Suddenly today I was struck with a bit of a bug. A curiousity bug. I began to wonder about what possible surprises Harvey Weinstein may have up his sleeve for this year's Academy Awards run. Ok... we've heard the buzz on THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY, but really... so far... it hasn't inspired the incredible buzz from viewers who've seen it to make me feel confident about that film.
I don't believe that PRINCESS MONONOKE can even be considered, since the film was a possibility last year... and went unpushed. So I am unsure if it is even a possibility for the little gold man.
What else does Miramax have? THE CIDER HOUSE RULES? DADDY & THEM? HOLY SMOKE? COMMITTED? Not likely.
From the looks of things... it would seem that they were banking everything they had on THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY, but I've been hearing rumblings that the screenings have been a little less than stellar thus far. That people that get it, love it, but that there are tons that are not getting it.
So... Will this be a year that Harvey decides to just say, 'Oh well, ya can't win them all,' or does he have a possible secret weapon?
This is where Kenneth Branagh and his upcoming musical rendition of LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST comes in. Over at IMDB.COM they have a very promising review that came in way back in mid-July. The word is the film takes quite a departure from Willie's original text, but that it works.
First off, the film isn't supposed to be ready to screen Stateside till sometime in March of 2000. But, the word leaking about is that Harvey knows that it is a winner. A film that he might very well be able to push into another one of those miraculous come from out of leftfield glorious victories that he is well known for.
Will it be ready for a quickie debut in New York and Los Angeles for consideration for this year's Oscars? Only the crew at Miramax know for sure.
I'm sure many of you remember the early weird casting of Alicia Silverstone in the 'Ginger Rogers' role opposite Branagh's 'Fred Astaire' in this odd mating of Shakespeare with 1930's and 40's musical flair with the help of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Jerome Kern.
According to the little birds I have the film has had a recent screening in New York. And I haven't heard from a soul that attended. But... I love musicals. I've been waiting for a truly solid and great musical production. Has Branagh pulled it off?
I remember when watching his nearly perfect, but fatally flawed HAMLET that with quite a bit of tweaking I'd love to see those sets, that cinematography and grandeur brought to the musical world. Has Branagh done that? Is this going to be Harvey's white rabbit that he pulls from a top hat for next year's Oscars.
Right now, the lead buzz getters have been AMERICAN BEAUTY, THE GREEN MILE, THE CRADLE WILL ROCK, MAN ON THE MOON, MAGNOLIA, THE HURRICANE, THE MESSENGER: THE STORY OF JOAN OF ARC and I believe that's about it. It doesn't seem that BRINGING OUT THE DEAD or THE INSIDER (with a notable exception of Christopher Plummer's portrayal of Mike Wallace) or RIDE WITH THE DEVIL or ANYWHERE BUT HERE (with a notable exception of the actress categories) or ANNA AND THE KING have what it's going to take. ELECTION may get a writing nom. SOUTH PARK might pick up a musical/comedy nom. THE STORY OF US might for some performances (specifically Michelle) or screenplay... but it's really too small of a movie. SIXTH SENSE will pick up noms for Supporting Actor for Hayley and M. Night's screenplay, but that's about it. Then there is FIGHT CLUB which I just get the feeling that the Academy won't have the balls to deal with. Then DISNEY will make a strong push for THE STRAIGHT STORY which should pick up multiple noms if Disney follows through. With Harvey not having a sure thing up his sleeve, I'm very curious about these whispers I'm hearing about the possible early bookings of theaters in LA and NY for LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST.
Of course the story may just be a wild construction from my wild brain. It has been a pretty tough year on ol Miramax, after all... in a normal year, both BLAIR WITCH and AMERICAN BEAUTY would have come straight out of Miramax. Then the trouble with releasing DOGMA. I figure Harvey is going to come out like a champ... he seems to always land on his feet looking like a genius. I'm just wondering what this year's miracle will be.
