What's Wrong with Virginia
Directed by: Dustin Lance Black
Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Emma Roberts, Amy Madigan
Jennifer Connelly on set in Michigan
Synopsis: A drama in which a psychologically disturbed woman (Connelly) who has engaged in a 20-year illicit love affair with a sheriff (Harris), who is running for the state senate, is tested when her son begins a relationship with his daughter (Roberts).
Brought to you by: Killer Films and TicTock Studios (producers Scott J. Brooks, Hopwood DePree and Christine Vachon)
Expected release date: TBA (late 2010)
Director/Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black working out Virginia's problems
Dustin Lance Black, who last year won an Original Screenplay Oscar for Gus Van Sant's Milk, directs his second feature, which stars Connelly and Harris - who are here appearing in their fourth film together, after Waking the Dead, Pollock and A Beautiful Mind. Connelly may just be on target for her second Oscar nomination next year (and possible win?), that is if it gets a timely release; its credentials (see above) suggest Oscar could well be all over it. And it's apparently being prepped for a premiere at this year's Cannes, too. Van Sant is exec-producing with none other than Lisa Simpson! (Yeardley Smith, who also has a supporting role). Killer Films' Vachon (Far from Heaven, Boys Don't Cry, I Shot Andy Warhol and a whole host of other superb, leftfield gems) has the edgy smarts to make this drama an unmissable awards contender. This all sounds like a bit of an eclectic team all told - and if it's as intriguing and tantalising as it promises, then I'll be excited to see if it all goes right for Virginia.
So, who wants to know what's wrong with Virginia?
"We Can't Wait: Summer and Beyond"
The "orphan" picks Nathaniel (Burlesque), JA (Love and Other Drugs), Jose (You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger), Craig (What's Wrong With Virginia?), Robert (True Grit) and Dave (Brighton Rock); Team Film Experience Countdown #12 It's Kind of a Funny Story, #11 Sex & the City 2, #10 Scott Pilgrim vs the World, #9 Somewhere, #8 The Kids Are All Right, #7 The Illusionist, #6 Toy Story 3, #5 Inception, #4 Rabbit Hole, #3 Never Let Me Go, #2 Black Swan and #1 The Tree of Life.
Posts
19 comments:
It certainly seems interesting and I'm rooting for Black.
But to be negative for a while... Just because a person won an Oscar for writing, he/she gets actors of that caliber for his directorial debut? I'm happy for him but generally speaking, is an Oscar's prestige THAT powerful that promises things even if it was won for something else?
I'm just thinking aloud. I really hope Black proves himself talented in that area as well. And Tom Ford only had to be a good fashion designer to get Moore, Firth etc. Why not Black?
@James T -- with Black it definitely seems to be the case that he knows how to network.
I saw his first film The Journey of somebody (i forget the name) many moons ago and thought it perfectly respectable for a no budget thing but not really something that said WE NEED THIS PERSON TO BE A FILMMAKER! like some no budget things do.
but he's obviously used the connections he's made well (more power to him) because yeah, Screenwriting nominations and wins don't normally mean you get to direct movies with Oscar winners in the leads ;)
i'm sure it also helps that he is handsome and the media latched on to him. When was the last time the media got so excited by a screenwriter who wasn't really a writer/director yet?
also... about this movie. it's interesting that Connelly and Harris have worked together so often because i hadn't even realized it (!) and usually I'm all about actor pairs.
I guess i can't claim anything like Jennifer Connelly fandom. She has the same problem I think Charlize Theron has. Her characters are too dour and there's not enough in the performances to keep me that interested within the miserabilisms.
This looks goooooooooood...
i read somewhere that this movie is actually a dark comedy.
"When was the last time the media got so excited by a screenwriter who wasn't really a writer/director yet?"
In fairness, it happened the year before with Diablo Cody.
John T -- good point. But again the same thing in a way: attractive with a good "story" - former stripper and whatnot.
So who is Amy Madigan playing? Argh, it's so frustrating that she gave up her career to be Ed Harris' wife. I miss seeing her - but I've been missing her for some twenty years, so I ought to be used to it by now.
"miserabilisms" - ha, I like that. (I'm assuming you made that up, Nathaniel.)
I love how Ed Harris and Amy Madigan keep appearing in the same movies.
Janice - Madigan is cast as "Mrs. Tipton" apparently, which is the same surname as Harris' character - I'm assuming they're husband & wife on screen here too. I guess they like keeping it in the family!
So glad to see Ed and Amy teaming up, I hope she has a good role...although I'm now reminded of Places in the Heart where Madigan was looked over in supporting actress for her dismal costar Lindsay Krause (or whatever the hell her name was).
Sounds great! I really want to see Ed Harris nominated again and possibly winning if he's worth it.
I have a feeling that this can launch Emma Roberts into the race for supporting actress...
Wouldn't it be hilarious to see her and her aunt nominated at different awards ceremonies (yet different categories of course) together?
Jennifer Connelly and Ed Harris are slated to star in yet another film for a 2011 release --"Salvation Boulevard" about "a former Deadhead who finds himself on the run from fundamentalist members of his mega-church who will do anything to protect their larger-than-life pastor." The film is billed as a comedic thriller and also stars Greg Kinner, Marisa Tomei, Pierce Brosnan and Jim Gaffigan. Written and directed by George Ratliff ("Joshua", "Hell House"). Sounds promising.
@Janice -- i didn't make up "miserabilism" unfortunately. That was the Pet Shop Boys (a b-side) but I've been using it as an part of my vocabulary ever since and it never took off so I should pretend I made it up!
I wish more screenwriters got a chance to direct. I mean, I think many Oscar-winning screenwriters seem not to have many more opportunities, especially given their impressive Oscar-winning films. They've got to have a few good stories in their heads. So much of what's produced, even the baity shit, seems to be driven mostly by generalizations about how stupid consumers must be. Letting DLB direct seems at least a lot closer to a meritocracy.
It will be a nice story!
So when is this movie slated to be out? I was an extra in it and am very excited to see the final project. Interested in seeing how a frigid rainy West Michigan beach translates into a warm sunny day day in Virginia.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME INFO ON THE NEW ACTOR, WHO PLAYED "JERRY". HE IS NEW, AND I FOUND HIM VERY ATTRACTIVE. SO, CAN ANYONE TELL ME ABOUT THIS NEW AND UP COMING STAR, WHO GOT TO STAND NEXT TO JENNIFER CONNELLY???
Post a Comment