Denzel Washington and “Nightcrawler” director Tony Gilroy’s “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. But following mixed reception, they spent several weeks re-editing the film. They moved scenes around, changed-up the music and cut 12 minutes of the movie overall. “Roman” opens Nov. 17 in select theaters and goes nationwide Nov. 22.
Steven Spielberg has just finished editing “The Post”, his latest film featuring the first-time collaboration of Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep. The drama on The Washington Post began filming on May 30 and will be opening in select theaters on Dec. 22, with a nationwide expansion on Jan. 12. Spielberg still has to add in the score (from frequent collaborator – and cinema icon – John Williams).
Now, in a truly unbelievable move, Sony and director Ridley Scott have announced that following the Kevin Spacey scandal news (which just keeps escalating), they are replacing him in their upcoming drama “All the Money in the World”. Christopher Plummer (soon to be seen as Scrooge in “The Man Who Invented Christmas”) will now play J. Paul Getty.
Spacey only spent a reported 8-10 days on the set of “All the Money”, so his Getty role is clearly a supporting one, though a significant character to the story. This film has had posters and trailers out for months, and though Spacey is almost unrecognizable as Getty – he’s very much represented the marketing of the movie so far.
If you think Scott is going to take his time with the re-shoots, you would be mistaken. He and Sony still believe they can still open “All the Money in the World” nationwide on Dec. 22 – in time for some awards season play.
I suspect the film won’t be seen by Broadcast Film Critics Association, Hollywood Foreign Press Association and Screen Actors Guild voting members in time for their early December nomination deadlines – simply because the movie won’t be done in time. So don’t expect any Critics Choice, Golden Globe and SAG Awards noms.
The only major awards nominations “All the Money” has a chance at are the BAFTAs (noms out Jan. 9) and The Oscars (noms announced Jan. 23) – if Scott, Plummer and crew can get filming and editing done in time. And if they do, because of all this high-profile attention, don’t be surprised if the film, Scott and Plummer legitimately get into their respective category races. And I think that just might happen.