Rickman to direct again?

[veradee]

The film project A Little Chaos has been mentioned on and off for years in articles about Alan Rickman but now there are quite a few websites like this one by the "Daily Mail" that claim that filming will finally go ahead in spring. I'd love for the news to be correct. Apparently, the main roles will be played by Kate Winslet and Matthias

Comments

[beffeysue]

Thank you for posting this. It sounds great! I love Kate Winslet, and Matthias Schoenaerts seems to have impressed many people with his performances in Bullhead and Rust and Bone I haven't heard about a US release date for the The Butler, CBGB, or Gambit. I don't know if that means we'll get to see them in theaters or if they will be going to straight to DVD.

Although I haven't seen My Name is Rachel Corrie or Creditors, I have seen The Winter Guest and liked it very much. I think Alan Rickman improves just about everything he has anything to do with.
Beth

[veradee]

I agree that Kate Winslet is great. I haven't even heard of those two films Matthias Schoenaerts starred in. No idea whether they were shown at the cinema here.

Gambit is supposed to be released in June here but I think the date has been pushed forwards and backwards in the past so that I don't know how reliable that information is. I have no information whatsoever on the other two films but CBGB just doesn't strike me as a film that will interest a huge German audience. I could imagine that The Butler is actually quite interesting but I would assume that Alan Rickman's role is very small. And did it really have to be Ronald Reagan?

It would be a pity if all the films wouldn't make it to the US cinemas. It must be frustrating for an actor to see films go straight to DVD.

I think Alan Rickman improves just about everything he has anything to do with.

I won't argue there with you. :)

[arphile]

The Butler has a stellar cast in its leading and cameo roles--that will generate a lot of interest, and the fact that Harvey Weinstein acquired it means it definitely won't languish in the U.S.

After the success of Django Unchained , I think more audiences will be willing to watch an African-American story, (although not the young male audience that is attracted strictly to R-rated action entertainment). If the film is well done and well-reviewed, I think it will do as well or better than similar movies have when they've been released theatrically, followed by a long life on cable and streaming, etc

[veradee]

I didn't even think of The Butler as an African-American story, just as the story of a man who served several US presidents. That alone seems to offer a lot of interesting possibilities for a film.

I have no doubt that The Butler isn't the kind of film one does for money. It's because one thinks that it tells a great story, which means that if I were an actor, I would be even more frustrated if the film wouldn't make it to the cinemas because that would mean that people don't share my artistic choices. Of course, that's horribly naive of me.

According to imdb.com, the film is supposed to be released in Norway and Denmark in about a year's time. But who knows how reliable these information are?

[arphile]

I’m really glad the film has sold in some countries overseas. I expect it will continue to be promoted in and outside the U.S. based on its star power and its famous cameos, not its actual theme. But I may be too cynical: time will tell. I’m looking forward to the film!

I based my comments about the film’s likely focus on what Vanessa Martinez, who’d read a 2011 version of the script had opined (below), reinforced by comments by Forest Whitaker, who plays the butler, to Vanity Fair. If the final edited film reflects their words, then it will be far more than the story of a man's White House service; it will tell a story reflecting a thread of American history that is rarely seen in theatrical films.

Speaking only of Alan R, I don’t think he gets frustrated if his films don’t get theatrically released or have limited runs, especially if they’re films like Dark Harbor, Mesmer, or indies like Nobel Son & Snowcake. I think he’s realistic about what sells. Popularity with the public isn’t the basis of his artistic choices-he’s cited

[veradee]

Thanks a lot for the excerpts and links. That sounds like a much more interesting film than I was aware of. One should think it's definitely worth watching, no matter that Alan Rickman and other stars take part in it.

Popularity with the public isn’t the basis of his artistic choices-he’s cited the directors, fellow actors and above all, the story as why he selects his projects; I’d say he’s in it for the experiences, the friendships, and the chance to make his performances the best he can make them

I'm sure you're right about that but I still think that actors, who choose to do such a film, must hope for a bigger audience. Not as big as for a film like Harry Potter but large enough for the film to not go straight to DVD.

[arphile]

I'm sure that everyone involved with The Butler hopes for the biggest possible audience for this film. I hope it turns out well! Harvey Weinstein backs films he perceives as winners, and I'd say he got involved because he thinks it will be successful both in its story-telling and in its financial/box-office results.

[veradee]

Hopefully, Harvey Weinstein being involved with the film means that it will get a decent promotion then.