Soloist Road Defiance Release Date Changes

And the Fall Season Just Got Way Less Interesting

Scheduling Conflicts / Daniel Carlson

Trade News | October 20, 2008 | Comments (25)

Three major films considered to be serious awards contenders have recently had their release dates pushed back or screwed with, throwing the fall trophy race into disarray. More importantly, the opportunity to see some good movies has now been delayed, which is really annoying.

First up, Dimension’s The Road, starring Viggo Mortensen and based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy, looks like it will now bow in 2009 after already having its release pushed back from November to December. Distributor the Weinstein Co. isn’t saying much to the trades, but word is some think John Hillcoat’s film isn’t suitable for a 2008 release. Because of this, it seems likely that the Weinsteins will put more muscle behind The Reader, which only recently settled on a fall date.

Second, there’s the Daniel Craig vehicle Defiance, an Edward Zwick drama about Jewish refugees hiding in the forest during World War II. Paramount is moving the Paramount Vantage production back from a Dec. 12 release to Dec. 31, which will technically keep it in the running for the Oscars but make it that much harder to see. It won’t go into wider release now until Jan. 16.

Finally, there’s the matter of Paramount’s The Soloist, a drama about a homeless violin player (Jamie Foxx) and the newspaper reporter (Robert Downey Jr.) who writes about him and attempts to find his own salvation. (It sounds bad on paper, but I kind of fell for the trailer.) The film was set to bow Nov. 21 to get the Thanksgiving crowd, but the wide release for the DreamWorks/Universal production has been knocked all the way back to March 13. There’s not even word yet if it will receive an Academy-qualifying run by the end of the year.

So, yeah. I guess this Christmas we’ll all have to talk to each other instead of going to the movies. Damn it.

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Comments

"...word is some think John Hillcoat's film isn't suitable for a 2008 release.."

Huh? What the fuck does THAT mean? Although I can imagine, anything that's remotely associated with the Wienstein Co. is in peril of becoming a victim of assclownery.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at October 20, 2008 3:16 PM

"I guess this Christmas we'll all have to talk to each other instead of going to the movies. "

Whoa, hold on now. Let's not get fucking crazy here.

Posted by: TK at October 20, 2008 3:22 PM

The Road doesn't really strike me as a feel-good holiday movie, so I can't say I'm surprised.

I'm actually rather curious if it will work as a movie. I have no doubt it will be done very, very well but reading a book that bleak is different than watching a movie that bleak.

Posted by: twig at October 20, 2008 3:28 PM

Does Oscar season feel bleak to anyone else? Is it just that last year had so many amazing films, or is this the first hint of some huge industry conspiracy to secure the nomination for Milk?

Posted by: Macafee at October 20, 2008 3:38 PM

My Mother was chosen to pre-screen the trailer for the Soloist and has decided we are going together. I love the Junior Downey so I'm maybe a little excited to see this? Let's hope it's not drowning in sentimentality.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at October 20, 2008 3:39 PM

The rest of the world shall feel the Trek Potter pain. I'm bored already and thinking up excuses to leave the family dinner.

Posted by: Jay at October 20, 2008 3:43 PM

I don't know if anybody will be that upset about it, but Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was pushed back to July 2009 ... and the Harry Potters have been Christmas staples for years!

I think this could be the season of watching all the Christmas movies we love at home with our families, so that we don't actually have to talk to them.

Posted by: nikki at October 20, 2008 3:44 PM

Optimus,
Make sure you tell Mrs. Rhyme about me.

Posted by: Sofía at October 20, 2008 3:46 PM

The Soloist looks like The Champ (josh hartnett bomb) mixed with August Rush (music as savior).

Posted by: amanda47 at October 20, 2008 4:53 PM

This is my favorite time of year for mocking movies. We are going to see a movie that is kind of cute and low-budget and we'll all pretend to like it more than we really do. This will cause it to become the feel good success of the year; more because of the characters who wrote the movie,not starred in it. They will receive praise for writing such a film while recovering from the effects of meth addiction or some such horseshit. Then we get to see women abused in all sorts of ways and they will overcome adversity(tear). We will see a washed up actor make a comeback with a surprise nomination a la Burt Reynolds. We'll get to see a comedian "Step out of the box" to get critical acclaim for basically not fucking up too bad in a mediocre drama. And finally my personal favorite: A man will overcome some sort of disability(my money is on mental retardation). Scattered in with all of this shit will be some actual good films. Happy hunting.

Posted by: B-rant at October 20, 2008 5:25 PM

I think I've got you figured out, Slim. I'm guessing you're one time zone east of the U.S. so you see all the posts and comment a full hour before the rest of us.

Am I right or am I right? Right right right?

Posted by: bucdaddy at October 20, 2008 5:31 PM

P.S.
We all know that this could be Grandpa's last Christmas. We'll probably keep that frame of mind for Clint Eastwood come nomination day.

Posted by: B-rant at October 20, 2008 5:31 PM

I loved the book and love Viggo Mortenson, but doubt I'll be seeing The Road. The book plunged me into a serious depression; seeing it displayed in life-size technicolor glory would, I suspect, bee too much for me to handle.

Posted by: louveciennes at October 20, 2008 6:01 PM

I am disappointed that Harry Potter was pushed back to 2009. There's no freakin' way I'm going to go see Twilight in its place... and I just know that that movie will get a boost from Potter's absence.

Posted by: Melissa at October 20, 2008 6:59 PM

I am so annoyed about The Road.

Well, happy birthday anyway, Viggo. You are fabulous at 50.

Posted by: Ginger at October 20, 2008 7:06 PM

Viiiiiiiiigggggggggoooooooooooo!!!!! I want to salivate over your body from head to toe. I want you to speak in a fake eastern European accent while we do unspeakable things to each other in a bathtub filled with chocolate whipped cream (homemade). I need you to stare me down with those smoldering eyes, your head between my legs. I don't care what movie you are in. Just please come take me now.

Posted by: Cindy at October 20, 2008 7:16 PM

"Viiiiiiiiigggggggggoooooooooooo!!!!! I want to salivate over your body from.."

HEY!

You're gonna have to simmer down there, Zazoo.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at October 20, 2008 7:28 PM

I'm sorry, Cindy, but I've already pissed all over that fine log. He's MINE.

Posted by: Sofía at October 20, 2008 7:29 PM

Dear Hollywood,
So...you don't want ANYONE to go to the movies after mid November, do you? If you did, you wouldn't have robbed us of Harry Potter, Star Trek, and now The Road, the Soloist, and Defiance.

Well guess what, Hollywood? You're gonna DIE this Holiday season. I mean, c'mon, "Twilight"? You're either a eunich or an emo if you're looking forward to seeing that.

Four Christmases? You think THAT shit is gonna fly? Vince Vaughn stopped being charming after Wedding Crashers, he should be making serial killer pictures or dramas by now. (Speaking of which, wasn't he set to adapt "Against All Enemies"? I would rather see that shit than a weak assed Oliver Stone film about Dubya. You've lost it old man!)

Changling? Not only is it hard for NFL announcers to pronounce, I'm actually TIRED of seeing Angelina Jolie in "awards hungry, mommy under pressure" flicks. I saw A Mighty Heart, and not only did I want my time back, but I was frightened by the birthing scene and how Angelina Jolie turned into the PredAlien in five seconds flat.)

The Day The Earth Stood Still? Yeah, I want to see Keanu Reeves in a movie where he ISN'T doing wire fu. It looks like warmed leftovers from The Day After Tomorrow. Toss it into the pile with Madagascar 2. Really, I only see myself watching Bolt and Quantum of Solace. That's about it.

I've torn your Fall release schedule a new asshole, Hollywood. And you know what? The rest of the Fall, I'll go and frolic about. I'll have a life, I'll enjoy the great outdoors, I'll even talk to my family. Just to see you bleed like a Divorce Lawyer.

The Entertainment Masses endured through your fucking writer's strike, we'll endure this. And all the while, you'll lose more money than you would have earned if you just left everything the fuck alone, and South Park will make fun of your greedy asses again.

Fuck off,
Mike R.

P.S. Warner Brothers, you pissed me off the most. First with your cheap assed DVD practices (giving every fucking movie an "Ultimate Edition" box set), and then with your screwing over Trick 'R Treat. It should be added to the list of "casualties" in your Fall schedule. People like the movie, the production company liked the movie, RELEASE THE FUCKING MOVIE ALREADY, YOU DUMBSHITS!

Posted by: Mike R. at October 20, 2008 7:34 PM

I liked the columns in the LA Times that The Soloist was based on. I don't know how the ambiguities in the ethics, emotions, and so on, could translate in a movie without a lot of chat or narration. And it could be really easy to make the story suck suck suck.

Posted by: Gavin at October 20, 2008 7:53 PM

Sorry BSlim, but there is no simmering down when it comes to Viggo. None. My body starts quivering and I can't think straight and goose bumps take over and certain womanly parts of my body get hard and...

Off to douse myself with a cold liquid.

Sofia you can piss all you like, that won't stop me.

Posted by: Cindy at October 20, 2008 8:00 PM

Off to douse myself with a cold liquid.

Sofia you can piss all you like, that won't stop me.

Cindy, I hope to baby jebus that you aren't dousing yourself in Sofia's piss. I think BSlim may just cream himself with the thought.

Posted by: popejenn at October 20, 2008 10:45 PM

Stupid html tags. They never do what I want them to.

Posted by: popejenn at October 20, 2008 10:46 PM

Hello, ladies, Viggo Mortensen here. I'm a very busy guy, as you might imagine, so I've asked my very good friend bucdaddy to collect your addresses and phone numbers so that I may enjoy the (ahem) pleasure of your company when I get a break in my very busy schedule. He'll be calling you to set up one-on-one time.

Oh, and leave your lights off. I know that will make it a little difficult for you to stare into my smouldering eyes, but that's how I roll.

Love,

Viggo

Posted by: bucdaddy at October 21, 2008 12:14 AM

I knew someone would put those two thoughts together popejen, but nah, not my thing.

Dear Mr. Viggo Impersonator,

Next time, try to keep your pronouns continuous; not doing so ruins the charade.

Sincerely,
Irntthatdum

Posted by: Cindy at October 21, 2008 8:07 AM

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