Oscar Outlook 2012: Hyde Park on Hudson

New screenwriter Richard Nelson adapted his play for the movie about FDR (Bill Murray) and the intimate relationship he had with one of his cousins Margaret Stuckley (pronounced Sook-lee), played by Laura Linney.  The extent of their closeness is not known, though I imagine there is great dramatic license taken on the film's part in whatever direction they choose to go.  The film takes place over the course of a weekend in 1939 when the King and Queen of England were in town to pay the US President a visit.  It sounds like period porn, though without an inspirational theme or pivotal transformation, I can't imagine this film will do much business.  I suppose it all rides on Murray's shoulders and how many back flips the critics do over his turn.

How did this get pitched anyway?

Producer: "People loved Colin Firth in The King's Speech.  Let's see what other movies we can make about King George VI."

Writer: "Hey, he visited FDR in the summer of 1939 with the Queen mum.  And the president had a questionable relationship with one of his own cousins probably during the same time.  I wrote a play about it."

Producer: "What do you mean by questionable?"

Writer: "They wrote letters about longing to be in each other's company."

Producer: "Oh, so they were screwing each other.  Or wanted to.  Same thing.  Can we get Firth to play George?"

Other Producer: "We won't have that kind of budget, but people will want to see it anyway.  Just like they wanted to see W.E. ... oh wait."

Producer: "Hey, if we can get Oscar nominations, people will show up.  But, Madonna's not directing this; let's do it."

Olivia Williams will play Eleanor Roosevelt and Olivia Colman will play Queen Elizabeth.  Apparently, Firth couldn't reprise his role as George, so they had to settle with Samuel West.  Director Roger Michell first hit it big while ogling over Julia Roberts in Notting Hill.  He also directed Enduring Love, Titanic Town, and The Mother, as well as Morning Glory, and Venus.  Producers include David Aukin (British TV), and two of Michell's peops from the Venus, Love and Mother productions: Kevin Loader and Rosa Romero, who also worked on Wuthering Heights, Nowhere Boy, and In the Loop.

Some of the other major players include film editor Nicolas Gaster (Venus), cinematographer Lol Crawley (Ballast), production designer Simon Bowles, set decorator Celia Bobak (nominated for The Phantom of the Opera), and costume designer Dinah Collin (the television miniseries of Pride and Prejudice, The Ghost Writer, United 93).

Focus Features has set the US release date for the 7th of December, and will also be handling Anna Karenina, Moonrise Kingdom, and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.  I imagine the Oscar chances, in a best case scenario, extend to Murray, Linney, Olivia Williams, and screenwriter Nelson.  I have to be honest, I find this promotional shots uninspired and boring.  What about you?

poll by twiigs.com

Also on the Radar:

Anna Karenina     Argo     Beasts of the Southern Wild     The Bourne Legacy     The Dark Knight Rises     Dark Shadows     Django Unchained     Gangster Squad     Great Expectations     The Great Gatsby     The Hobbit     Hope Springs     The Hunger Games     Hyde Park on the Hudson     Lawless     Lincoln     Lola Versus     Lovelace     Low Life     Magic Mike     The Master     Les Misérables     Life of Pi     Moonrise Kingdom     People Like Us     Prometheus     To Rome with Love     Ruby Sparks     Savages     Seeking a Friend for the End of the World     The Silver Linings Playbook     Smashed     The Surrogate     Trouble with the Curve     Won't Back Down 


The Avengers     The Amazing Spider-Man     Men in Black III