It’s been a bit slow on the whole for acquisitions at Toronto, but one film I’ve kept an eye on is “Barrymore” (which we pointed to over the weekend as a potential Oscar play for Christopher Plummer). It absolutely seems like a powerhouse performance, but man, it’ll be hard to sell a one-man show. I imagine that’s partly what’s stalling a sale. In any case, the trailer is available via TIFF’s YouTube channel. Check it out by clicking the image below or watch an embed after the jump.
Comments
25 responses to “‘Barrymore’ trailer”
Hmmm …. well, it looks like it would be a great stage show, but yeesh. I dunno.
The trailer gives me a male Black Swan vibe, but Plummer looks very solid here on his own regardless the comparisons.
I think Plummer looks great. I’m very happy for his success.
I’m in!
he’s incredible here…nomination for sure.
I kind of feel like trying to get a one man filmed stage show in the race is cheating, no matter how good Plummer’s performance is.
The Oscar race is over.
I actually think I will really like this movie. And, wow does Plummer’s performance look great.
Also, @ shark, I would contend that the awards in the acting category are intended to reward acting… one can question the merits of how “cinematic” this is, but the acting looks unquestionably good.
I think actors would be doing themselves a disservice to say that any great performances are “cheating” even if it’s in, basically, a filmed stage-show.
If it gets nominated it can be compared to James Whitmore’s nomination back in 1975 for Give’em Hell Harry. It was a filmed play
I have no doubt Plummer if fantastic. It seems like something that would have been nominated decades ago, though, a one actor solo performance. Hmm. I don’t know. I could see it happening, since Plummer is so well regarded and has never won.
I think this might have the important effect of keeping ‘Beginners’ in the voters’ memory and Plummer in conversation, making him an actual threat in that category.
I think this would probably require a bigger distributor for it to stand a chance at getting enough notice for Plummer to really be able to get in the race. Add to that the fact that it’s already looking to be a very competitive year for Best Actor.. It could happen, but it’ll need a lot of luck I imagine.
There was a moment when I thought that DiCaprio was a sure lock for a win. That moment is over now. I think Plummer will not only be nominated for this film, but also for the Beginners. I would love to see DiCaprio win some precursors and have Plummer or Dujardin win the Oscar. That would be an awesome Oscar season in the acting part. But I am certain, Plummer is winning something this year.
Forget about the Oscars. The movie looks fun even if it’s a one man deal.
Its great to have men like Plummer doing this stuff with their guts.
In times when people like DeNiro went onto autopilot-show-me-the-money type of career, comes this man to show you can have integrity and take risks (a one man show!) well into your eighties.
Plummer looks brilliant. I just enough people see it. I would be thrilled if he won a Leading Actor Oscar. And equally thrilled if he is duel nominated along with “Beginners”.
Wow. I’m almost in tears. This looks like a must-see for any lover of the theater.
What can you say about that trailer? Plummer looks very, very good.
I just saw GIVE’EM HELL, HARRY on youtube.
As you may know, it got James Whitmore a Best Actor nomination.
Not only it was a one man show, it was not really a “movie”. They just taped a performance in front of an audience.
All that made it a big anomaly in Oscar history:
1. The only time a one man show gets a Best Actor nom.
2. It is the only time that an Oscar nominated performance is given in from of a live audience.
3. Only the second time that the entire cast of a movie is nominated. The first time was SLEUTH with Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. (The cast of WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?
had two actors in very small roles that did not get nominated)
BARRYMORE seems to be a real movie.
It’s interesting to me that all comments on this particular subject seems either to think Plummer has no chance for a nomination or that he is almost a de facto winner already! Interesting…
And of course this confusion (and disagreement) is solely due to the anomaly that is the format of the film
With a phenomenal Leading performance in Barrymore and a great supporting performance in Beginners, Christopher Plummer is a sure Oscar Contender next year for maybe 2 Acting nominations and maybe a sure contender for a long overdue win! Good Luck!
My question is:
Will the Academy Awards 2012 be the night for overdue actors and actresses?
With Glenn Close and Christopher Plummer, there are two of the most brilliant and overdue Actors who have the best chances to win!
My Answer:
We will see?
I’m so glad a movie like that got made. And Plummer’s performance seems more than promising!
Wow, got huge The Dresser vibes off of this, which is basically the same thing, old guy doing Richard III which made him famous, but as a two man piece. That one resulted in noms for both actor and supporting as well screenplay and picture. The Dresser is maybe the most forgotten/overlooked Best Picture nominee of the 1980s.
The two are very very similar films, and I think Plummer is a definite lock.
Both Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay were nominated for best lead actor for The Dresser… I so looooove that film.