The Notable Films of 2011: Part Eight

Like Crazy
Opens: 2011
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Anton Yelchin, Charlie Bewley, Oliver Muirhead, Finola Hughes
Director: Drake Doremus

Summary: A British college student falls for an American student, only to be separated from him when she's banned from the U.S. after overstaying her visa.

Analysis: Scoring good notices for his film "Douchebag" at Sundance last year, Doremus returns to the festival in competition with this mostly improvised effort shot over the Summer. The timing bodes well, both Lawrence and Yelchin are hot talents to watch out for these days, yet because of the film's very nature and the fact it hasn't been shown anywhere yet - next to nothing is known about it. Whatever verdict the reviews at the festival deliver will have a major impact on its future, but "Winter's Bone" was in this same exact position last year - if it's as good, could this turn out to be as lucky?

Live With It
Opens: September 2011 
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anna Kendrick
Director: Jonathan Levine

Summary: A young healthy man who leads a nice and simple life is soon diagnosed with a rare type of cancer. While fighting the disease he begins to appreciate what he has in life, especially the things he took for granted before his battle.

Analysis: Big success at Sundance doesn't always translate into real world success. After impressing with "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane" in 2006, filmmaker Jonathan Levine scored great notices at the festival in 2008 with "The Wackness" which won the audience award and scored a Grand Jury Prize nomination.

Six months later upon its release, general critical reaction was less rosy while the film itself grossed just $2 million - one third of its production budget. Despite that disappointment, Levine remains a director to watch and so it's no surprise that Summit Entertainment quickly picked up his next feature for distribution, even with its potentially controversial subject matter.

Will Reiser's Black List Top 10 script was originally titled "I'm With Cancer", and right now this one's officially still untitled though "Live With It" seems to be the moniker attached at this point. The casting is great with Seth Rogen, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anna Kendrick and Angelica Huston. Joseph Gordon-Levitt replaced the great James McAvoy in the lead role, though the "Inception" actor actually seems a better fit for the material in this case.

On the surface it sounds akin to Judd Apatow's disappointing "Funny People", the biggest difference being this has an empathetic likeable lead instead of a rich arrogant Adam Sandler-esque prick. Early screening reviews were strong, claiming it balances drama and comedy better than most films of this ilk (eg. "Love and Other Drugs"). Performances were praised as well, however the film is still being worked on as it wasn't ready in time for a bow at this year's Sundance.

darkhorizons for the rest
xoxo
Carrie

Top 100 Most Anticipated Films of 2011: Jonathan Levine's Live With It

#46. Live With It

Director: Jonathan Levine
Writer(s): Will Reiser
Producers: Evan Goldberg, Ben Karlin and Rogen
Distributor: Summit Ent.

The Gist: Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a 25-year-old who learns he has a rare form of terminal cancer. His family and friends – from girl-crazy best buddy Kyle (Seth Rogen), to insecure girlfriend Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard) and overbearing but loving mom (Angelica Huston) – attempt to help him through this process in the best way they know how…which is reflected in some of the most hilarious and bizarre ways ever.....(more)

Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Seth Rogen.

Why is it on the list?: Apart from the crappy new title, this BlackList screenplay has got heart, humor, soul and a fine ensemble. I said it before -- this is a crowd-pleaser despite it's subject matter. Was number 62 on last year's list. 

Release Date/Status?: I think that this will receive a big festival premiere - big question is how patient are Summit with a property that holds so much value. This would definitely be a good fit for a TIFF crowd and fall movie-going audiences.

ioncinema
xoxo
Carrie

2011 Summit Picture Preview: ‘Drive Angry 3D,’ ‘Source Code,’ More

CHICAGO – Summit Entertainment sent over four images highlighting their 2011 slate including images from “Drive Angry 3D,” “The Beaver,” “Source Code,” and “The Three Musketeers 3D,” along with synopsis and release date information for the rest of their slate, including “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.”

This 4-image slideshow contains images featuring Nicolas Cage, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, and more.

Summit’s 2011 lineup include, in order of release:

“Drive Angry 3D”
Release Date: February 25th
Starirng: Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard, Billy Burke, and William Fichtner
Directed by: Patrick Lussier
Written by: Todd Farmer and Patrick Lussier

In Drive Angry 3D, Nicolas Cage stars as Milton, a hardened felon who has broken out of hell intent on finding the vicious cult who brutally murdered his daughter and kidnapped her baby. He joins forces with Piper (Amber Heard) – a sexy, tough-as-nails waitress with a ’69 Charger, who also seeking redemption of her own. Caught in a race against time, Milton has three days to avoid capture, avenge his daughter’s death, and save her baby before she’s mercilessly sacrificed by the cult.

“Untitled Seth Rogen Comedy”
Release Date: September 23rd
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Bryce Dallas Howard, & Anna Kendrick

Based on an incredible real-life experience, the film is a funny, touching story of friendship and survival starring Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anjelica Huston. Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is an average guy in his mid-20s when he’s diagnosed with a rare form of terminal cancer. His family and friends – from girl-crazy best buddy Kyle (Seth Rogen), to insecure girlfriend Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard) and overbearing but loving mom (Anjelica Huston) – attempt to help him through this process in the best way they know how…with some bizarre and funny results. Counseled by a young, supportive psychiatrist (Anna Kendrick) through the months that follow, with his best friend Kyle a constant presence, Adam learns to embrace what is important. Equally humorous and poignant, the film is a dramedy about a second chance at a new beginning.

“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn”
Release Date: November 18th
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, & Taylor Lautner
Directed by: Bill Condon
Written by: Melissa Rosenberg

The highly anticipated next chapter of The Twilight Saga, directed by Academy Award® winner Bill Condon.

hollywoodchicago
xoxo
Carrie

Exclusive: Seth Rogen Says 'Live With It' Is Untitled Again, Will Release In September

I just left the Columbia Pictures offices where I got to chat with Seth Rogen about his new superhero comedy The Green Hornet, and while talking about the big-budget adventure I managed to get a little update on his long-delayed cancer dramedy Live With It. The film stars Joseph Gordon Levitt as a 27-year old cancer patient who struggles with the diagnosis. Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anjelica Huston co-star, and with a cast like that you'd think distributor Summit Entertainment would be anxious to release the picture. For too long there has been no word on its status, until today.

Rogen exclusively told me that the film would finally release in September. He didn't give a specific date, though my hunch is that it could make its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival before eventually hitting national theaters later in the month. That is, of course, speculation but Rogen did offer another interesting tidbit of info. He says that the film will no longer go by its title Live With It and that the project has internally reverted back to "untitled cancer comedy."

Personally I thought that Live With It was the perfect title for a film bearing such heavy subject matter. It was certainly better than I'm With Cancer, another one of its would-be titles. Rogen didn't offer any reason for the name change, so I hope he can come up with something equally as expressive of the films theme. Stay tuned for our full interview with Seth Rogen early next week, in which we discuss The Green Hornet in great detail!
hollywood
xoxo
Carrie

Live With It gets a MPAA Rating

The film stars Anna and Bryce
The MPAA's report also included a rating for an untitled comedy from Summit Distribution, LLC. Assuming that means Summit Entertainment, this untitled comedy is likelyLive With It, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anna Kendrick and Seth Rogen. The movie received an R rating for "language throughout, sexual content and some drug use" and is expected to hit theaters sometime in 2011.
boxofficemojo
xoxo
Carrie

2011 Sundance Predictions

Park City Predictions: 50 Hopeful Films Heading to 2011 Sundance Film Festival

My favorite time of the new year is near. In about 78 days from now, I'll be trading in one wintery scene for another, except this one has got tons of goodies in the shape of world film premieres from burgeoning and established indie, doc and foreign filmmakers. Here's what we do know about the upcoming 2011 edition of the Sundance FIlm Festival.

We know that the closing of the Racquet Club (due to renovations) might mean we can expect "tighter" apres-screening Q&A's and perhaps, a minor drop in the usual amount of titles offered than in the previous years. We know that Richard Linklater will take a quick break from editing Bernie, to present the 20th anniversary edition of Slackers. We know that Kevin MacDonald's Life in a Day, the doc where YouTube users submitted video to eventually make for some nutty montage, will be premiering in Park City. As for what else will be shown, it's anyone's guess. This is where IONCINEMA.com comes in.

As a team of weary eyed Sundance programmers are watching and deliberating on the thousands of films they received on their end, I've taken it upon myself, now a tradition on the site, to reveal my informed, speculative predictions list of 50 hopeful film titles that I believe have the best odds of showing at next year's edition. Each individual film on the list will gradually be released over the week, but if you're impatient like I am, click away on the arrow below. Enjoy! 

#18. Homework- Gavin Wiesen

Despite their being enough the odd Sundance face or two among the cast comprised of Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano, Elizabeth Reaser, Sam Robards, Alicia Silverstone, Blair Underwood and Rita Wilson, I'm not sure where/how writer-director Gavin Wiesen's directorial debut fits in the scheme of things. The shot in New York coming-of-age film could end up in Park City, SXSW or Tribeca. Once again, it all depends on style, tone and the overall packaging. Slim chances for Homework to debut here, unless it really feels like a band apart.

This is about a homework-averse high school student (Highmore) who strikes up an unexpected friendship with the girl he's loved from a distance (Roberts). Angarano plays a graduate of the high school, while Wilson and Sam Robards play the mother and stepfather, respectively, of Highmore's character.

* Producers: Kara Baker, P. Jennifer Dana, Darren Goldberg and Gia Walsh

#25. Live with It - Jonathan Levine

I'm mentioning Jonathan Levine's Live With It only because he has been to the festival with his previous picture (The Wackness) and the fact that it would play extremely well at the festival. The situation is different this time out with his third film, as Summit Ent. picked up the rights during production, so it therefore becomes a question if the distributor wants to push this Black List dramedy prior to The Beaver. My impressions are: Joseph Gordon-Levitt is well-liked by the fest and they could easily grab the most media attention of all festival titles presented there if they launch this as a world premiere screening in the Premieres section. Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anna Kendrick and Anjelica Huston star.

Based on the autobiographical spec ("I'm With Cancer") written by Will Reiser, Gordon-Levitt plays a 25-year-old who learns he has a rare form of terminal cancer. His family and friends – from girl-crazy best buddy Kyle (Rogen), to insecure girlfriend Rachael (Howard) and overbearing but loving mom (Huston) – attempt to help him through this process in the best way they know how…which is reflected in some of the most hilarious and bizarre ways ever. It’s about two men dealing with “friendship, love, and survival – in no particular order.”

* Producers: Evan Goldberg, Ben Karlin, Seth Rogen

#52. Butter - Jim Field Smith

The Weinsteins have a good rapport with the festival, and along with the hope of giving the TIFF preemed Submarine an extra showing in the Spotlight section, they might try to grab a Premieres space for Jim Field Smith's Butter. The film is officially ready (see Smith's pic) and footage was shown at the AFM - so they have the option of waiting until the fall, or gain entry into the theatrical market with a The Kids Are All Rightmindset - build buzz early and position the family comedy early summer. 

Scripted by Jason Micallef (it's a really good screenplay - think Best in Show), set in a small Midwest town, this follows a young orphan who named Destiny, after being adopted by a Midwestern family, discovers she has an uncanny talent for butter-carving. She eventually finds herself up against the ambitious wife (Garner) of the retired reigning champion in a town's annual butter-sculpting contest. Crazy cast includes: Rob Corddry, Jennifer Garner, Ashley Greene, Kate Hudson, Hugh Jackman, Alicia Silverstone, Olivia Wilde and will introduce Yara Shahidi.

ioncinema
xoxo
Carrie