Man, Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions are getting ON IT this year. First Roadside rolled out the early buzz on “Winter’s Bone,” then it picked up Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “Biutiful.” Soon after, Lionsgate announced a fall release for Tyler Perry’s “For Colored Girls” and grabbed Robert Redford’s “The Conspirator” through Roadside for a 2011 release.
Well, now it looks like Lionsgate is wrapping up its acquisition of John Cameron Mitchell’s “Rabbit Hole,” which drew praise for Nicole Kidman (a potential nominee now), Aaron Eckhart and Dianne Wiest (welcome to the supporting actress line-up) at the fest.
Talk about having a full plate all of a sudden. Deadline’s Mike Fleming reports that “the plan is to jump right into this year’s Oscar race by releasing the picture before year’s end. They will take advantage of a career performance by Nicole Kidman as a mother who loses her child.” So add one more to “the year of the woman.”
What more is there to add to that? Congrats on a healthy slate of contenders and let the games begin.
[Photo: Buzznet]
Comments
23 responses to “TIFF: Lionsgate picks up ‘Rabbit Hole’ for 2010 Oscar season”
Damn. Whoever wins Best Actress this year is really going to have something to brag about.
I’ve been anticipating this film for some time and when reviews started rolling in about Kidman’s performance, it really made my day. The clips look strong and all I had to hope for was for it to get picked-up, case closed.
Let the games begin indeed!
“A career performance by Nicole Kidman” is no light statement. Or shouldn’t be, anyway.
Really excited for this one.
Yes! I’m so excited.
John Cameron Mitchell so deserves to have a film with a major awards-season run.
A film directed by James Cameron Mitchell getting awards buzz is something that I’ve always wanted but never thought I’d see. Hedwig made somewhat of an impression I suppose, but, as it turned out, I never expected anything to come from it.
Bravo to Nicole for picking him as her director and I’m really excited at the prospects of seeing one the finest actresses of her generation finally getting a LONG overdue third nomination. Fingers crossed.
haha, I meant John. Obviously.
YES!!!!!!!!!! This has made my day!!!
Be interesting to see Dianne Wiest. I’m pulling for her… hopefully this could lead to some better roles.
This is such a good news….
Now I’m loving this battle royale of the women this year!!!
If only the Academy can extend the Lead Actress nominees to 10!
The game is really on!
@ #9 matsunaga:
I completely agree about expanding the lead Actress category simply to accommodate all the glorious performances. Maybe not to 10 but at least 7 would be a nice number and guarantee that everyone deserving would get the recognition they deserve. One can only wish…
About Rabbit Hole – I am so glad this turned out to be a successful endeavor, I like all the talent involved and cannot wait to see it. I have a feeling it is going to be one of those films that will get an awards qualifying run and then slowly get a wider release into january and february of next year (which will be annoying but that happens every year.) It will be tough to wait but will undoubtedly be worth it.
@ Michael
Yeah, I hope it can happen at the Golden Globes coz they’ve extended the list for Best Picture Drama before so why not for a category where in the nominees all deserved to get a nomination? But not sure at the Oscars… I think it’s far-fetched..
I hope Rabbit Hole can get every recognition it deserves… But they say that John Cameron Mitchell doesn’t get enough love from the Academy.. Hopefully this time he does especially if the film is really good.. I haven’t seen Rabbit Hole but definitely I’m looking forward in watching it come it’s release as well as the other noteworthy and Oscar-caliber films this season..
The Golden Globes don’t “extend” categories, per se — those occasional six- or seven-wide nominee fields are the result of tied vote tallies for the last spot.
Thanks for that info Guy…
So that means it can happen for the acting categories?
I hope there will be tied votes this year to accommodate deserving actresses..
Is it the same procedure at the Oscars?
At least Lionsgate has some insurance if For Colored Girls is a critical and awards season bust.
Dianne Wiest is well on her way to becoming the Walter Brennan of the Supporting Actress category!
Nice to know Kidman is back in Oscars good graces. I still want Bening to win no matter how awesome the competition is.
I know Tapley likes it but I consider Shortbus one of the worst films of the decade. So incompetent that I’m actually curious to check this out and see how Mitchell fares with big stars.
I saw the play with Cynthia Nixon, who was astonishing in the role. Presumably, she wasn’t considered bankable enough to play it in the film. Pity. I’ll be very interested to see what Nicole does with it. Glad it’s found a home
Again (not that i’ve mentioned it here before :p), Kidman was the one who started the whole thing with the adaptation of the movie probably because she wanted to star in it. I’m sure she didn’t care to just see the play becoming a movie.
And while I think Wiest is a great actress, I don’t get why people were impressed by the clip. She seemed just OK to me. But, really, a little bored. I hope she’s not like that throughout the movie. I liked Kidman a lot.
I read that Kidman turned down Woody Allen’s “You Will Meet A Tall and Dark Stranger” for “Rabbit Hole”…
Nice move for her I guess..
Jim, I wasn’t aware of the film’s genesis, but my sentiment remains. It’s too bad Nixon doesn’t have the type of resources/clout that Kidman does to get this made as a starring vehicle for herself.
So excited we don’t have to wait over a year for this one! Could “Rabbit Hole” be the “Million Dollar Baby” of this year, the movie that will really shake up the proceedings (not in a winning-BP-sorta-way).
I’m surprised that Kris thinks quite so highly of Rabbit Hole’s chances, based on un-universal love from what I’ve seen, putting Wiest 1st, Kidman 2nd, in for Adapted, & Picture just outside the T10.
Is Kimberly Elise really buzzy enough to be put in 6th? She was decent in Beloved though like…really old for the role.
The only female perf I’m really excited to see right now is in Supp, Saoirse Ronan. Maybe it’s just because my usual divas are nowhere around that my fave category is whatever to me.
It’ll be interesting to see the next next Golden Globes, Winslet vs. Kidman, for Mildred/Hemingway, esp if Rabbit wins some stuff this season.
Will Kate and Nicole be competing against each other?
Mildred Pierce is out next year so Kate will have the emmys then, maybe a cross over with the globes/SAGS at the start of 2012 then nicole at the emmys in 2012??
I liked Rabbit Hole a lot but I don’t think Dianne Wiest deserves an Oscar nomination for this.