When I saw the trailer for the Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin-led crime dramedy Stand Up Guys, my mind didn’t exactly wander to awards season, but that’s what distributor Lionsgate is aiming for. They’ve announced they are delaying the wide release for the film from early January to February 1st, 2013 in order to give it a one-week qualifying Oscar run in New York and Los Angeles, kicking off December 14th, 2012.
But don’t expect this one to necessarily show up during the major award ceremony, as Lionsgate is taking the safer bet and pushing Golden Globe consideration for acting, as well as Jon Bon Jovi‘s original song Not Running Anymore. Along with a decent response from its Chicago Film Festival debut this month, perhaps it will surprise us when it lands, a but I wouldn’t put your awards bets down on this one. [THR]
In other release update from Lionsgate, they teamed with Roadside Attractions to release the TIFF drama Emperor from director Peter Webber (Girl with a Pearl Earring, Hannibal Rising). Now the director himself has tweeted the WWII drama starring Tommy Lee Jones and Matthew Fox is looking at a March 8th, 2013 release, which would put it alongside Oz: The Great and Powerful, Dead Man Down and Admission. Webber claims a nationwide release is in the works, which would make for a crowded weekend, so we’ll update when we see how it shakes out.
Are you looking forward to these two Lionsgate dramas?