I hope to be wrong, and find when I finally see The Soloist that it is a deep, heartfelt movie without a trace of statue-grabbing cynicism under the surface. From here, I don’t see that happening, but you never know. Flick looks like grade-A Oscar bait and nothing more or less.
Now I’ll probably have to wait until 2009 to find out. Paramount has pushed back both The Soloist, which features Robert Downey, Jr. as a journalist who discovers homeless music prodigy Jamie Foxx, and Defiance, the Daniel Craig film about three Jewish brothers leading Jews from West Belarus to a protective forest hideout.
Moving Defiance isn’t much of a surprise; the Edward Zwick film hasn’t ignited much interest and seemed destined to get lost in the fall/winter shuffle. Instead of opening on December 12, it will open on New Year’s Eve, and go wide on January 16. The move for The Soloist is more interesting. The planned November 21 release has been bounced back to March 13; THR is uncertain whether or not the picture will get an Oscar-qualifying run before the end of this year.
6 comments
This sounds like a huge marketing mistake. I love the trailer and am looking forward to it, but if they push it back it means Paramount has no confidence in there product. That would be a bad move.
Zwick makes oscar bait more than the other dude.
It's not that Paramount doesn't have confidence in this film. It might be the fact that Paramount needs a really good film to open past the oscar-bait season that is pre-January. Would probably make more money that way, versus going up against a million other films during the holiday season.
KKKHHHHAAAAANNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!
Downey: So, you're a confused musical prodigy who plays the violin. You grew up with nothing and the only solace you recieve is from the melodies that come out of you wooden box with metal strings. It's beauty in it's simplest form. You have no family, friends, or place to live, but I am giving up everything that I have. I am successful, but I am hurting everyone I love and everyone that loves me. My world is crashing in around me. How can your struggle compare to my self-loathing and destructive nature?
Foxx: I am wearing a jacket made of tin foil…..
Downey: ………..The Oscar is yours.
I think it's a bit too early to write off Defiance completely. For starters, its stock should go up considerably when Quantum of Solace reminds people why Daniel Craig is such a charismatic presence. Also, while I wouldn't expect it to break out opening weekend, Zwick tends to make films that less versed moviegoers take for "classics." I know a disgustingly high amount of people who believe Blood Diamond to be a truly great film.
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