No Bully-style quibbling here: Per a just-issued press release email, the Weinstein Co. approves of the MPAA's decision on their other Very Important Movie of the year, the boobtacular June sequel Piranha 3DD. "PIRANHA 3DD accepts a well deserved Rated R for 'sequences of strong bloody horror violence and gore, graphic nudity, sexual content, language, and some drug use,'" writes a rep for the company. See, they can totally accept the MPAA's decision without turning it into a shameless opportunity for publicity!
With the MPAA ruling in favor of upholding Bully's R-rating, the Weinstein Co. has announced that they'll release the documentary as planned on March 30 -- in its full, explicit language-laden unrated cut. The question is, will theaters let minors see it? "I know the kids will come, so it’s up to the theaters to let them in,” said director Lee Hirsch in a press release, with TWC marketing head Stephen Bruno adding pressure to the theaters to "step up and do what's right."
more »
Official release plans haven't been revealed for Paul Thomas Anderson's mysterious untitled religious drama, known as The Master, which stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix and was reportedly filmed on 65mm. But while distributor The Weinstein Co. hasn't let slip potential release dates yet, producer/financier Megan Ellison dropped a hint on Twitter about a possible fall opening.
more »
The Weinstein Co., who along with Movieline have championed Uggie the dog's gripping performance in awards season frontrunner The Artist, broke the news today via Twitter that the canine thespian, alas, has not qualified for contention in this season's BAFTA race. "@BAFTA has stated that @Uggie_TheArtist is not qualified to run as Best Supporting Actor for the role of 'DOG' #Sadmomentintime," the studio lamented. Fear not, Uggie -- the Oscars may recognize your genius yet! (Go Team Uggie!) [@WeinsteinCo]
When the Weinstein Co. first announced their Apollo 18 project last year, they sent out a press release stating that Russian producer Timur Bekmambetov had discovered actual Apollo 18 footage that would be incorporated in their "documentary." Just three hours later, the studio retracted the release with a new one that curiously did not mention the footage. But then they released a trailer for Apollo 18 that opened by claiming "the following is the recovered footage from Apollo 18." Confusing much? On the eve of the film's release, NASA is finally coming forward to talk about Apollo 18.
more »
Jonathan Levine has directed two feature films (The Wackness and next month's 50/50) since seeing his 2006 directorial debut, the indie horror pic All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, infamously go from a Weinstein Co. pick-up to a Weinstein Co. cast-off sold to Senator Entertainment, who then went out of business themselves. So what's the latest status of the Amber Heard starrer (which also features Anson Mount, Whitney Able, and Twilight's Michael Welch)?
more »
The beloved muppet characters of Jim Henson's 1980s series Fraggle Rock entertained a generation of kids with their emphasis on friendship, their penchant for cooperation, and the subtle socialist messaging that made being part of the Fraggle Rock fandom so darn infectious... and strangely compulsive. And if those blue Commie Smurfs are getting their own big screen update, why not Red, Gobo, Boober and the gang?
more »
Looks like The Weinstein Co. has discovered a new release date for the Timur Bekmambetov-produced "found footage" moon landing pic Apollo 18. (In the immortal words of Bob Weinstein, "Found, baby!") The bad news is that the mystery project, originally slated to open next month, is moving aaaaall the way from April 22 to Jan. 6, 2012. Yeesh. A last-minute nine month delay doesn't bode terribly well for any film, but then again, so little is known about Apollo 18 just yet that maybe it doesn't matter much. At least this gives the Weinsteins plenty of time to add ReleaseQuest™: Apollo 18 to their slate of upcoming video game adaptations. [Deadline]
