Jamie Foxx's The Soloist (Dir. by Joe Wright)

[Shifty]

Well looks like RDJ will only have 2 films out in 2008 and 2 films in 2009.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117994206.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

Paramount pushes 'Soloist' bow
Downey Jr./Foxx drama moved to March 2009
By ANNE THOMPSON, TATIANA SIEGEL

'The Soloist,' which was being positioned as an Oscar contender, has been pushed back to March by Paramount.

Studio is moving the Jamie Foxx-Robert Downey Jr. starrer from Nov. 21 to March 13, dashing any hopes for Academy Awards accolades for '08.

DreamWorks, which produced the film, had high hopes for "The Soloist" as a contender in multiple Oscar categories, including the acting heats, particularly Downey's performance.

Directed by "Atonement" helmer Joe Wright, "Soloist" is based on a series of L.A. Times columns by Steve Lopez about a homeless schizophrenic musician's dreams of playing at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

DreamWorks declined comment, but insiders said brass are very disappointed by the move while conceding that it might benefit the film's box office prospects due to the competitive field of year-end films.

U.K.'s Working Title, also a producer on "Soloist," and helmer Wright were also taken off guard. Paramount risks tainting the movie's profile with this move, which the industry and media will read as a vote of no-confidence. It had built positive buzz during long-lead screenings.

Steve Zaillian's "All the King's Men" bowed to disappointing box office after Columbia Pictures moved it from 2005 to 2006.

TV spots for "The Soloist" have already aired nationally and were committed going forward, though Par said it can pull the spots back or roll them over. "Soloist" trailers had been placed in front of "Eagle Eye."

"We decided it's a commercial movie that will play well in the spring, and we'll give it an aggressive wide release then," Par vice chairman Rob Moore said.

Studio also moved Ed Zwick's "Defiance," a Holocaust drama starring Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber, to a 2009 wide release. The film, which was scheduled to open Dec. 12, will still get an Oscar qualifying run by bowing Dec. 31. But Paramount will release the Vantage title wide on Jan. 16.

Both "The Soloist" and "Defiance" were booked into the AFI Fest next month.

Moves save the studio some $60 million-$70 million in prints and advertising costs before the end of the year. By moving the two wide releases into 2009, Paramount can count all its P&A costs and revenues in the same year, rather than taking a steep year-end hit on marketing costs.

In its old date, "Defiance" would have gone up against the debut of Miramax's "Doubt" and the Weinstein Co.'s "The Reader," as well as the expansion of "Milk" and "Frost/Nixon."

Likewise, "The Soloist" was set to open wide in a very crowded frame. Pics set to unspool then include "Twilight" and "Bolt."

Paramount is clearly throwing its Oscar campaign money at Sam Mendes' "Revolutionary Road" starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, and David Fincher's "The Curious Life of Benjamin Button," starring Brad Pitt as a man who ages backward. Paramount also is putting its financial muscle, with Downey's blessing, behind his supporting performance in the Ben Stiller comedy "Tropic Thunder."

Insiders say Paramount should have made decisions on these two films months ago. However, the economic downturn and the recent DreamWorks divorce prompted a delayed course of action.

(Pamela McClintock contributed to this report.)

They make the case for the move but then give it a terrible release date.
Opens the week after Watchmen against not three but four other movies. 5 new movies in a week, theaters are going to be tight. They aren't going to make a lot of money like Bolt or Twilight but they're going to occupy half empty theaters.

Then 10 new movies open in the next two weeks. They would be better off with any Golden Globe/SAG/Oscar noms they would've gotten but the studio already has 3 films in contention for that. RDJ and Jamie Foxx should provide enough star power for it to rise to the top but it still has a lot of competition. Maybe this will set off another chain reaction of new release dates.

March 6
- All About Steve
- Watchmen (conventional theaters and IMAX)

March 13
- 12 Rounds
- A Perfect Getaway
- Race to Witch Mountain
- The Soloist
- Sunshine Cleaning

March 20
- The Box
- Duplicity
- Fired Up
- Knowing
- This Side of the Truth

March 27
- The Accidental Husband
- I Love You Beth Cooper
- The Informant
- The Janky Promoters
- Monsters vs. Aliens (Ultimate 3-D, conventional theaters and IMAX)

I think these studios are wasting time and money by having 15 movies open in 3 weeks. Its just stupid. Why are they worried about a actor's strike when there is enough movies to be spread over 6-7 weeks.

 

[Dark Donnie]

Well that sucks....that opens the lead Actor and Supporting Actor categories up.

 

[Cinemaman]

Big Big Big Mistake :facepalm

 

[Dark Donnie]

'Soloist' to be released April 24
Date change for DreamWorks, Paramount film
By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK
Premiere date for 'The Soloist' has shifted to April 24.

DreamWorks and Paramount have agreed to release fact-based Jamie Foxx-Robert Downey Jr. drama "The Soloist" on April 24 instead of March 13.
DreamWorks was caught off guard last month when Par pushed back the release of "The Soloist" from this year to March 13 at the 11th hour.

The Joe Wright-directed pic was originally to have opened Nov. 21.

In the April 24 slot, "Soloist" will open one week before the official start of the summer box office, which is primetime for moviegoing.

Based on a series of articles by Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, film tells the story of a homeless schizophrenic musician's dream to play at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

After moving "The Soloist," Par relocated Paul Rudd comedy "I Love You, Man" from Jan. 16 to March 20, according to Rentrak. Peter Jackson's "The Lovely Bones" is still tentatively skedded to bow on March 13, but the DreamWorks/Par film is ultimately expected to open later in the year.

www.variety.com

 

[Hunter Rider]

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[Hunter Rider]

http://www.latinoreview.com/films/the-soloist-1323

 

[Dr. Evil]

This was mentioned on 60 Minutes a few weeks ago, when they told the story of the guy that Jamie Foxx's character is based on.

 

[PWN3R]

:bump:

Anyone catch this yet?

 

[TNC9852002]

It was a great all-around film! I'm sure RDJ and Foxx will get to the preliminaries at the Oscars for next year, but it could be tough as it's so early in Oscar season. If not them, Joe Wright probably has another winner on his hands for Best Director or in for his editor.

The movie isn't perfect, but so much of what it does have is really high quality.

I give it a 8/10, but I'm almost leaning towards an 8.5.

 

[K.B.]

Finally caught this the other night and I loved it.

It's different then I thought it was and it isn't a "cookie cutter" type of film which is always good. I can say that it isnt for everyone though. because it isnt your typical cookie cutter feel good messege film, some people will find it boring. The camera work and acting is simply amazing. Foxx should win some awards for sure.

Really worth checking out. 4/5