Oscar Outlook 2012: Lola Versus

A young woman (Greta Gerwig) approaching thirty must deal with her life after her fiancee (Joel Kinnaman) leaves her with three weeks to go in Lola Versus.  The supporting cast includes Bill Pullman, Debra Winger, Zoe Lister Jones, Cheyenne Jackson, Hamish Linklater, and Jay Pharoah.  The Tribeca selection debuts on the 24th of this month and Fox Searchlight Pictures will begin a limited engagement on the 8th of June.  The director Daryl Wein didn't win any points with me in the low budget, self-absorbed romantic comedy Breaking Upwards, but this film looks like it could possibly turn me around.  He cowrote the screenplay with Lister Jones (who currently can be seen on NBC's Whitney).

[Pictures via Fox Searchlight, IMDb & Film School Rejects]

I am pretty excited for star Gerwig.  This year is pretty big for her.  This month she has a leading role in Whit Stillman's Damsels in Distress.  In June, in addition to Lola, she'll be appearing in Woody Allen's latest (To Rome with Love).  And, right now, she's filming The Corrections, which, according to the IMDb, doesn't have a director.  I first took notice of her (as many did) as the only redeeming element of Greenberg.  I adored her as the feather-haired, gum-shooting sidekick in the little seen homage to 70s horror, Ti West's The House of the Devil.  She wasn't up to saving the truly horrendous remake Arthur, but hopefully the paycheck will last her for a while so she can continue to work with interesting filmmakers and show off her talent.

The Killing's Joel Kinnaman destroys
Greta Gerwig's heart

Hottie
Joel Kinnaman

Editor Suzy Elmiger has worked with Robert Altman and editor Susan Litterberg has worked on several successful female-based comedies (Bride Wars, 13 Going on 30).  Swedish cinematographer Jakob Ihre lensed the film.  The production designer is Teresa Mastropierro (Strangers with Candy, 30 Rock), who worked with art director Peter Baran (The Kids in the Hall, SNL, 30 Rock) and set decorator Sheila Bock (White Collar).  Costume designer Jenny Gering and composer Fall On Your Sword have both worked with Brit Marling.

Lola Versus filmed last summer in NYC.

Totally cute director Daryl Wein

Watch the trailer.  It is utterly charming.  I don't foresee any Oscar traction for this movie if it doesn't take off, but screenplay looks like a longshot possibility.  I look forward to the venture taking Gerwig's career to the next level.

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