Last week saw the latest Weinstein Company-backed biopic “Grace of Monaco” formally drop out of this year’s Oscar race with Harvey Weinstein citing the film’s incompletion for the delay, saying it “just wasn’t finished, the sound, anything.” While Weinstein promised a full-court press for the Nicole Kidman-led film when it was released, we’re not sure the film’s new date bodes well for the biopic.
Formerly opening late next month, the Olivier Dahan-helmed film is now scheduled to open on March 14, 2014 (per Box Office Mojo) opposite the video-game adaptation—and franchise hopeful—“Need For Speed” and the Elizabeth Banks-starring rom-com “Walk of Shame.” Though Weinstein promised that the Grace Kelly biopic would be “even bigger than ‘My Weekend With Marilyn,’ ” we can’t really see that happening with movies like the YA-adaptation “Divergent” and Darren Aronofsky‘s biblical epic “Noah” opening in the following weeks.
As for those awards chances? Forget about it. Rare is the spring movie that is still in the conversation come December, and while Harv could theoretically still push the movie to next fall, we’d wager if he was really keen on it, he’d just hold it rather than make his job harder by trying to keep it in the voters’ collective memory. So, you can take this one off all your Oscar season ballots.
In other Weinstein news, it seems Harvey needs another helping of Ghostface, saying at the Zurich Film Festival (via Indiewire) that he’s been urging his brother, Bob Weinstein of Dimension Films, to make “Scream 5.” His reasoning? “Everyone lived in ‘Scream 4,’ ” he said, adding “I’m begging him to do the movie and just end it. We’ve milked that cow.” Only a Weinstein can make an unnecessary sequel sound like the most merciful thing to do to an ailing franchise.
Lastly, The Weinstein Company has dated a couple more movies, including the buzzed “Philomena” for November 22nd, the Paul Potts biopic “One Chance” for December 27th, and the Bill Murray-starring indie “St. Vincent” (formerly known as “St. Vincent De Van Nuys“) for April 4, 2014.