Pamela McClintock of THR
Just as Oscar ballots were sent out, the final three awards contenders are prepping to open in theaters Wednesday -- Another Year, Biutiful and Blue Valentine, although Biutiful plays only in a one-week qualifying run.
Sony Pictures Classics' Another Year, written and directed by British indie darling Mike Leigh, opens in six theaters in New York and Los Angeles. The film stars Jim Broadbent, Ruth Sheen and Lesley Manville.
The Weinstein Co. launches Blue Valentine in four theaters in New York and Los Angeles. The drama, starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, made headlines for earning an NC-17 rating for explicit sexual scenes, but Harvey Weinstein personally appealed the rating and won. Blue Valentine, directed by Derek Cianfrance, goes out with an R.
Roadside Attractions' Biutiful plays in one theater in New York and one in Los Angeles. Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, the film stars Javier Bardem. It officially opens in a limited run Jan. 28.
After a long downturn in the indie market, business has been picking up. Two films enjoying notable success at the holiday box office are Black Swan and The Fighter.
Blue Valentine in particular hopes to parlay the attention it has gotten because of the ratings dust-up into heightened business.
I wrap up this last Box Office preview of the year with a great quote via EW Studio exec on grim holiday-movie season: 'If I were a projectionist, I'd want to shoot myself'
I think hands down that Ryan Gosling is the best young actor at this moment. Michelle and he were so good as they portray the people falling in love and how they fall out of love. This is not a happy movie. We see Michelle gain the usual poundage (I think I read she put on 20 lbs to age herself for the role). Ryan was almost unrecognizable with a receding hair line as the aged husband who was still in love with his wife. He was painfully trying to keep the marriage together, but the wife had grown past him. The scenes with Ryan as a father, with Ryan trying to rekindle their romance which Michelle seemed to find distasteful, were the disconnect that people feel when contemplating divorce. Her character was more intelligent than his. Ryan was content to be a laborer, a father and enjoy a simple life. Michelle wanted more and though she really didn't express it so much, she seem to simmer underneath in a sort of shame. A shame that she picked him in the first place. She didn't want any part of him in the biblical sense. He wanted her in every sense. He tried everything that he knew how to do. Michelle was beyond any feeling for him. This was such good acting (on both parts) because you cannot possibly miss the pain both characters are feeling. He is helpless to fix it and she is completely indifferent. If you are dating anyone, or serious about possibly getting married I don't recommend this movie. But if you want to see true to life performances then don't miss Blue Valentine.
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