Focus Features’ “The Holdovers” is one of the sweetest movies of the year and is set to become a new Christmas classic. Written by David Hemingson and directed by Alexander Payne, the 1970s-set story follows Paul Giamatti as a school professor tasked with staying behind on campus to look after students not going home for Christmas. What follows is a charming, touching tale about two foes who learn to become friends. Giamatti gives a knockout performance while Da’Vine Joy Randolph is a hot contender for Best Supporting Actress for her role as a cook mourning the death of her son. The movie’s strongest point, however, is its writing.
“Whiskey Cavalier” creator and “Black-Ish” and “American Dad!” scribe David Hemingson crafted the script. He has never been nominated for an Oscar before but we expect that that he’ll win one this year. We’re predicting he will take home...
“Whiskey Cavalier” creator and “Black-Ish” and “American Dad!” scribe David Hemingson crafted the script. He has never been nominated for an Oscar before but we expect that that he’ll win one this year. We’re predicting he will take home...
- 12/20/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Alexander Payne and Paul Giamatti’s latest film, The Holdovers, is in the awards conversation for its tale of holiday mischief and misfits at a remote New England boarding school. In it, Giamatti plays a cranky history teacher tasked with looking after students who aren’t going home for winter break. Almost 20 years ago, Payne and Giamatti earned awards acclaim for their first collaboration: 2004’s Sideways.
For Giamatti, who had built a career as a character actor, the film marked his second as a lead (after American Splendor the year before). He plays Miles, a depressed middle-aged English teacher, unpublished writer and wine snob on a vineyard-hopping road trip through California’s Santa Ynez Valley with his friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church), a down-on-his-luck actor about to get married. Payne and co-writer Jim Taylor adapted the screenplay from Rex Pickett’s novel of the same name and filmed on location at hotels,...
For Giamatti, who had built a career as a character actor, the film marked his second as a lead (after American Splendor the year before). He plays Miles, a depressed middle-aged English teacher, unpublished writer and wine snob on a vineyard-hopping road trip through California’s Santa Ynez Valley with his friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church), a down-on-his-luck actor about to get married. Payne and co-writer Jim Taylor adapted the screenplay from Rex Pickett’s novel of the same name and filmed on location at hotels,...
- 12/12/2023
- by Hilton Dresden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Alexander Payne‘s movies often fare well in the writing categories at the Oscars with four of his films so far nominated for either Best Original Screenplay or Best Adapted Screenplay.
His second movie, “Election,” was nominated for only Adapted Screenplay in 2000 after it turned Tom Perrotta’s 1998 novel of the same name into a film. Payne was nominated with his writing partner Jim Taylor, although they lost to John Irving for “The Cider House Rules.” “Sideways” then picked up five nominations in 2005 including an Adapted Screenplay bid for Payne and Taylor after they turned Rex Pickett’s 2004 novel of the same name into a hit movie. Payne and Taylor won this time around.
In 2012, “The Descendants” repeated the record of “Sideways,” matching five nominations and one Adapted Screenplay victory. This time, Payne won alongside Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. They adapted the 2007 novel of the same name from Kaui Hart Hemmings.
His second movie, “Election,” was nominated for only Adapted Screenplay in 2000 after it turned Tom Perrotta’s 1998 novel of the same name into a film. Payne was nominated with his writing partner Jim Taylor, although they lost to John Irving for “The Cider House Rules.” “Sideways” then picked up five nominations in 2005 including an Adapted Screenplay bid for Payne and Taylor after they turned Rex Pickett’s 2004 novel of the same name into a hit movie. Payne and Taylor won this time around.
In 2012, “The Descendants” repeated the record of “Sideways,” matching five nominations and one Adapted Screenplay victory. This time, Payne won alongside Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. They adapted the 2007 novel of the same name from Kaui Hart Hemmings.
- 11/24/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
This article has been corrected to include Alexander Payne’s first feature film, “Citizen Ruth.”
Alexander Payne has a near-perfect record when it comes to his movies being nominated for Academy Awards. The acclaimed writer, director, and producer — one of our very best — has made eight movies so far including his latest flick “The Holdovers” and five of them have been nominated for Oscars. Here’s the breakdown.
Payne’s debut feature film was “Citizen Ruth” (“The Passion of Martin” was only 49 minutes), which follows Laura Dern as a drug-addicted pregnant woman who finds herself in the middle of an abortion debate as she weighs up her choices regarding the pregnancy. This 1996 movie was not nominated for any Oscars.
His next movie was “Election,” which stars Matthew Broderick as a high school teacher who meets his match with Reese Witherspoon‘s over-achieving student. In 2000, the film was nominated for Best...
Alexander Payne has a near-perfect record when it comes to his movies being nominated for Academy Awards. The acclaimed writer, director, and producer — one of our very best — has made eight movies so far including his latest flick “The Holdovers” and five of them have been nominated for Oscars. Here’s the breakdown.
Payne’s debut feature film was “Citizen Ruth” (“The Passion of Martin” was only 49 minutes), which follows Laura Dern as a drug-addicted pregnant woman who finds herself in the middle of an abortion debate as she weighs up her choices regarding the pregnancy. This 1996 movie was not nominated for any Oscars.
His next movie was “Election,” which stars Matthew Broderick as a high school teacher who meets his match with Reese Witherspoon‘s over-achieving student. In 2000, the film was nominated for Best...
- 11/22/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Exclusive: Blackstone Publishing has acquired worldwide publishing rights to Sean Scott Hicks’ autobiography, The Devil To Pay: A Mobster’s Road To Perdition. The company’s Director of Media, TV and Film, Brendan Deneen brokered the deal and will now edit the book, while shopping film and TV rights to studios and streamers.
The Devil To Pay tells the story of a man who was born into one of the most notorious crime families in history—The Winter Hill Gang. Hicks, the illegitimate offspring of a secret relationship, was raised around the criminal influences of such infamous mobsters as Whitey Bulger, Steve Flemmi and Howie Winter. By the age of 15, he became fully involved in Boston’s underworld of organized crime figures, primarily the Irish mob, which ultimately led to him serving over 24 years in prison. In his memoir, Hicks details his never-before-shared theories about how the unsolved 1990 Isabella Gardner...
The Devil To Pay tells the story of a man who was born into one of the most notorious crime families in history—The Winter Hill Gang. Hicks, the illegitimate offspring of a secret relationship, was raised around the criminal influences of such infamous mobsters as Whitey Bulger, Steve Flemmi and Howie Winter. By the age of 15, he became fully involved in Boston’s underworld of organized crime figures, primarily the Irish mob, which ultimately led to him serving over 24 years in prison. In his memoir, Hicks details his never-before-shared theories about how the unsolved 1990 Isabella Gardner...
- 5/25/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: First Wind Film Development has optioned TV rights to Rick Bleiweiss’ recently published debut mystery novel Pignon Scorbion and the Barbershop Detectives, with Brendan Deneen and Josh Stanton of Blackstone Publishing attached to produce the adaptation.
The book is set in 1910, in the small English municipality of Haxford, which has a new Chief Police Inspector. At first, the dapper and unflappable Pignon Scorbion, a Brit of Egyptian and Haitian descent, strikes something of an odd figure among the locals. But it isn’t long before Haxford finds itself very much in need of a detective. Investigating a trio of crimes whose origins span half a century, Scorbion interviews a parade of people with potential motives, but with every apparent clue, new surprises come to light. And just as it seems nothing can derail Scorbion, in walks Thelma Smith—dazzling, whip-smart, and newly single. Has Scorbion finally met his match?...
The book is set in 1910, in the small English municipality of Haxford, which has a new Chief Police Inspector. At first, the dapper and unflappable Pignon Scorbion, a Brit of Egyptian and Haitian descent, strikes something of an odd figure among the locals. But it isn’t long before Haxford finds itself very much in need of a detective. Investigating a trio of crimes whose origins span half a century, Scorbion interviews a parade of people with potential motives, but with every apparent clue, new surprises come to light. And just as it seems nothing can derail Scorbion, in walks Thelma Smith—dazzling, whip-smart, and newly single. Has Scorbion finally met his match?...
- 4/5/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has published its list of the 101 greatest screenplays of the 21st century, topped by Jordan Peele’s “Get Out.” Peele won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay with the script for his horror movie, which also marked his solo feature directorial debut. Bong Joon Ho’s Oscar-winning “Parasite” screenplay cracked the WGA’s top five along with Charlie Kaufman’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” Aaron Sorkin’s “The Social Network,” and the Coen Brothers’ “No Country for Old Men.” All of these aforementioned films won screenwriting Oscars.
The remainder of the WGA’s top 10 consists of Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood,” Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds,” Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous,” and Christopher Nolan’s “Memento.” Anderson has three scripts in the top 101, as does Tarantino. Writers with multiple ranked scripts include Aaron Sorkin, Charlie Kaufman,...
The remainder of the WGA’s top 10 consists of Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood,” Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds,” Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous,” and Christopher Nolan’s “Memento.” Anderson has three scripts in the top 101, as does Tarantino. Writers with multiple ranked scripts include Aaron Sorkin, Charlie Kaufman,...
- 12/6/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Opinion on Disney’s new CEO Bob Chapek is very divided, but one person who definitely isn’t a fan is Rex Pickett, author of the beloved novel “Sideways” that inspired the even more beloved movie starring Paul Giamatti.
In fact, Picket thinks Chapek is an “aesthetic imbicile” who is going to “grind the biggest studio into rubble.” Which if we’re reading this correctly is way worse than a merlot.
What prompted this rather barbed assessment, oddly enough, is the movie “Free Guy,” a 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox) production that hits theaters Thursday. Despite the fast-spreading Delta variant of Covid-19 current causing a spike in U.S. cases — and, almost certainly contributing to the string of Box Office blockbuster thuds over the last month and a half — Disney, which owns 20th Century Studios, is sticking to a theatrical-only release for “Free Guy.”
Disney had its quarterly earnings call on Thursday,...
In fact, Picket thinks Chapek is an “aesthetic imbicile” who is going to “grind the biggest studio into rubble.” Which if we’re reading this correctly is way worse than a merlot.
What prompted this rather barbed assessment, oddly enough, is the movie “Free Guy,” a 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox) production that hits theaters Thursday. Despite the fast-spreading Delta variant of Covid-19 current causing a spike in U.S. cases — and, almost certainly contributing to the string of Box Office blockbuster thuds over the last month and a half — Disney, which owns 20th Century Studios, is sticking to a theatrical-only release for “Free Guy.”
Disney had its quarterly earnings call on Thursday,...
- 8/13/2021
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Oregon-based Blackstone Publishing has brought on former Miramax and Macmillan executive Brendan Deneen as the company’s Director of Media, TV & Film.
Deneen will spearhead this new multimedia division, mining Blackstone’s backlist and creating new IP for both publishing and adaptation opportunities.
Blackstone’s catalog counts over 13,000 audiobook titles from such authors as Ayn Rand, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Pablo Neruda, Cs Lewis, Karin Slaughter, Don Winslow and Neil deGrasse Tyson. They also publish for such companies and properties as Disney, Marvel, and the James Bond franchise. Blackstone’s thriving print and eBook imprint releases count over 80 titles a year by both new and established writers, including James Clavell, Rex Pickett, PC Cast, Catherine Coulter, Leon Uris, Norman Reedus, and Meg Gardiner, among others.
Deneen recently exited Assemble Media, where he was the company’s President of Literary and IP Development. During his three years at Assemble, he developed...
Deneen will spearhead this new multimedia division, mining Blackstone’s backlist and creating new IP for both publishing and adaptation opportunities.
Blackstone’s catalog counts over 13,000 audiobook titles from such authors as Ayn Rand, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Pablo Neruda, Cs Lewis, Karin Slaughter, Don Winslow and Neil deGrasse Tyson. They also publish for such companies and properties as Disney, Marvel, and the James Bond franchise. Blackstone’s thriving print and eBook imprint releases count over 80 titles a year by both new and established writers, including James Clavell, Rex Pickett, PC Cast, Catherine Coulter, Leon Uris, Norman Reedus, and Meg Gardiner, among others.
Deneen recently exited Assemble Media, where he was the company’s President of Literary and IP Development. During his three years at Assemble, he developed...
- 7/9/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Alexander Payne’s 2004 version starred Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church.
German wunderkind filmmaker and wine lover Felix Starck has optioned Rex Pickett’s Sideways and will shoot a $5 million German adaptation later this summer.
The novel follows two male friends at a pivotal point in their lives who head off together on a trip to wine country. It has already been adapted for the screen successfully by Alexander Payne in his 2004 comedy-drama starring Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church. Now, Pickett has given his blessing to the new version by Starck, which is backed by StudioCanal and is currently being cast by Simone Bär.
German wunderkind filmmaker and wine lover Felix Starck has optioned Rex Pickett’s Sideways and will shoot a $5 million German adaptation later this summer.
The novel follows two male friends at a pivotal point in their lives who head off together on a trip to wine country. It has already been adapted for the screen successfully by Alexander Payne in his 2004 comedy-drama starring Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church. Now, Pickett has given his blessing to the new version by Starck, which is backed by StudioCanal and is currently being cast by Simone Bär.
- 2/22/2020
- by 57¦Geoffrey Macnab¦41¦
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Wme has enlisted Tony Award-winning director Kathleen Marshall for representation in all areas.
Marshall has a busy slate of upcoming projects on tap. She will helm the film adaptation of pop music star Tommy James’ best-selling autobiographical story, Me, the Mob and the Music. Award-winning film producer Barbara DeFina and Tommy James are developing the project from a screenplay by Matthew Stone.
Marshall will also direct Ed Lucas, a film based on a true story written by Academy Award-nominated writers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel and produced by Elliot Abbott. And Marshall will direct and choreograph Sideways: The Musical, a musical adaptation of Rex Pickett’s 2004 novel, that became an award-winning movie directed by Alexander Payne.
Marshall has been nominated for nine Tony Awards and won three for her work on Anything Goes, Pajama Game and Wonderful Town. She has also received three...
Marshall has a busy slate of upcoming projects on tap. She will helm the film adaptation of pop music star Tommy James’ best-selling autobiographical story, Me, the Mob and the Music. Award-winning film producer Barbara DeFina and Tommy James are developing the project from a screenplay by Matthew Stone.
Marshall will also direct Ed Lucas, a film based on a true story written by Academy Award-nominated writers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel and produced by Elliot Abbott. And Marshall will direct and choreograph Sideways: The Musical, a musical adaptation of Rex Pickett’s 2004 novel, that became an award-winning movie directed by Alexander Payne.
Marshall has been nominated for nine Tony Awards and won three for her work on Anything Goes, Pajama Game and Wonderful Town. She has also received three...
- 2/21/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Broadway’s Kathleen Marshall has signed on as director and choreographer for the in-development Sideways: The Musical, a stage adaptation of the novel previously adapted for the 2004 Alexander Payne film.
Marshall, a three-time Tony Award winner for her choreography and four-time nominee for directing, will collaborate on the development of the Broadway-hopeful Sideways with composer Anthony Leigh Adams as well as Rex Pickett, who wrote the original novel and is writing the musical’s libretto.
According to producers, the musical is being “fast-tracked” for a Spring/Summer 2020 regional staging before moving on to Broadway.
Pickett announced in May that he’d formed a joint venture with Efg-Renascence Productions to develop the musical.
The novelist has said he wants the musical to explore elements of...
Marshall, a three-time Tony Award winner for her choreography and four-time nominee for directing, will collaborate on the development of the Broadway-hopeful Sideways with composer Anthony Leigh Adams as well as Rex Pickett, who wrote the original novel and is writing the musical’s libretto.
According to producers, the musical is being “fast-tracked” for a Spring/Summer 2020 regional staging before moving on to Broadway.
Pickett announced in May that he’d formed a joint venture with Efg-Renascence Productions to develop the musical.
The novelist has said he wants the musical to explore elements of...
- 10/7/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Three-time Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall has signed on to direct and choreograph Sideways: The Musical, the developing stage property based on the Rex Pickett novel, which was made into a 2004 feature film by Alexander Payne.
The book for the Sideways musical is being written by Pickett, with an original score by Anthony Leigh Adams. The author's producing partners on the project are Solomon J, Lefore and Susan Gee of Efg-Renascence.
Payne's movie version starred Paul Giamatti as depressed English teacher Miles, who takes a road trip with his actor pal Jack, played by Thomas Haden Church, through Santa ...
The book for the Sideways musical is being written by Pickett, with an original score by Anthony Leigh Adams. The author's producing partners on the project are Solomon J, Lefore and Susan Gee of Efg-Renascence.
Payne's movie version starred Paul Giamatti as depressed English teacher Miles, who takes a road trip with his actor pal Jack, played by Thomas Haden Church, through Santa ...
- 10/7/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Three-time Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall has signed on to direct and choreograph Sideways: The Musical, the developing stage property based on the Rex Pickett novel, which was made into a 2004 feature film by Alexander Payne.
The book for the Sideways musical is being written by Pickett, with an original score by Anthony Leigh Adams. The author's producing partners on the project are Solomon J, Lefore and Susan Gee of Efg-Renascence.
Payne's movie version starred Paul Giamatti as depressed English teacher Miles, who takes a road trip with his actor pal Jack, played by Thomas Haden Church, through Santa ...
The book for the Sideways musical is being written by Pickett, with an original score by Anthony Leigh Adams. The author's producing partners on the project are Solomon J, Lefore and Susan Gee of Efg-Renascence.
Payne's movie version starred Paul Giamatti as depressed English teacher Miles, who takes a road trip with his actor pal Jack, played by Thomas Haden Church, through Santa ...
- 10/7/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Tony-winning choreographer Kathleen Marshall is set to direct and choreograph Sideways: The Musical on Broadway.
She joins author Rex Pickett, who wrote the novel on which Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor's Oscar-winning screenplay for the 2004 hit film adaptation was based, and composer Anthony Leigh Adams in developing the Broadway stage production.
Marshall, brother of Hollywood director Rob Marshall, has earned three Tony Awards for her choreography work on Wonderful Town, The Pyjama Game and Anything Goes.
Pickett formed a joint venture with Efg-Renascence Productions to develop a musical based on the film and set about to deliberately find a ...
She joins author Rex Pickett, who wrote the novel on which Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor's Oscar-winning screenplay for the 2004 hit film adaptation was based, and composer Anthony Leigh Adams in developing the Broadway stage production.
Marshall, brother of Hollywood director Rob Marshall, has earned three Tony Awards for her choreography work on Wonderful Town, The Pyjama Game and Anything Goes.
Pickett formed a joint venture with Efg-Renascence Productions to develop a musical based on the film and set about to deliberately find a ...
- 10/7/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Tony-winning choreographer Kathleen Marshall is set to direct and choreograph Sideways: The Musical on Broadway.
She joins author Rex Pickett, who wrote the novel on which Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor's Oscar-winning screenplay for the 2004 hit film adaptation was based, and composer Anthony Leigh Adams in developing the Broadway stage production.
Marshall, brother of Hollywood director Rob Marshall, has earned three Tony Awards for her choreography work on Wonderful Town, The Pyjama Game and Anything Goes.
Pickett formed a joint venture with Efg-Renascence Productions to develop a musical based on the film and set about to deliberately find a ...
She joins author Rex Pickett, who wrote the novel on which Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor's Oscar-winning screenplay for the 2004 hit film adaptation was based, and composer Anthony Leigh Adams in developing the Broadway stage production.
Marshall, brother of Hollywood director Rob Marshall, has earned three Tony Awards for her choreography work on Wonderful Town, The Pyjama Game and Anything Goes.
Pickett formed a joint venture with Efg-Renascence Productions to develop a musical based on the film and set about to deliberately find a ...
- 10/7/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Multiple award-winningSidewaysauthor, Rex Pickett, has formed a joint venture with Efg-Renascence Productions to develop a Broadway musical based on his hit film, as well as utilize the intellectual property across multiple media platforms and brand extensions, it was jointly announced today by Efg-Renascence founder, Solomon J. LeFlore Straight Outta Compton, Bringing It Home with Laura McIntoshon PBS, and his partner Susan Gee. Released in 2004, the Alexander Payne-directedSidewaysgarnered over 350 awards, including the Academy Award for 'Best Adapted Screenplay', two Golden Globes for 'Best Picture' and 'Best Screenplay', and a record six Independent Spirit Awards, and has grossed over 500 million worldwide.
- 5/2/2019
- by TV News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Sideways novelist Rex Pickett has formed a joint venture with Efg-Renascence Productions to develop a stage musical based on the book adapted by Alexander Payne into the hit 2004 film.
The project was announced today by Efg-Renascence founder Solomon J. LeFlore and partner Susan Gee. Pickett will write the musical in collaboration with composer Anthony Adams.
Sideways was previously adapted for the stage as a non-musical play, most notably in a 2013 production at The La Jolla Playhouse directed by Des McAnuff (Ain’t Too Proud). Pickett said an Off Broadway staging of that adaptation is planned for next January. The author said the musical will be based on the novel, with scenes not in the movie.
Said LeFlore, “Sideways is an incredible film that has never really been quarried for its franchise potential. We plan to rectify that. With movie-to-Broadway musical adaptations so popular, this seems a natural first step.
The project was announced today by Efg-Renascence founder Solomon J. LeFlore and partner Susan Gee. Pickett will write the musical in collaboration with composer Anthony Adams.
Sideways was previously adapted for the stage as a non-musical play, most notably in a 2013 production at The La Jolla Playhouse directed by Des McAnuff (Ain’t Too Proud). Pickett said an Off Broadway staging of that adaptation is planned for next January. The author said the musical will be based on the novel, with scenes not in the movie.
Said LeFlore, “Sideways is an incredible film that has never really been quarried for its franchise potential. We plan to rectify that. With movie-to-Broadway musical adaptations so popular, this seems a natural first step.
- 5/2/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Merlot will most definitely not be consumed, but plenty of other California reds look to factor into a stage musical being cultivated from Alexander Payne's hit movie Sideways, which is aiming for Broadway.
Rex Pickett, who wrote the novel on which the Oscar-winning screenplay by Payne and Jim Taylor was based, has formed a joint venture with Efg-Renascence Productions to develop a musical based on the film, with plans to extend the intellectual property across multiple media platforms and brands.
The deal was announced Thursday by Efg-Renascence founder Solomon J. LeFlore and his partner, Susan Gee.
Released in 2004 ...
Rex Pickett, who wrote the novel on which the Oscar-winning screenplay by Payne and Jim Taylor was based, has formed a joint venture with Efg-Renascence Productions to develop a musical based on the film, with plans to extend the intellectual property across multiple media platforms and brands.
The deal was announced Thursday by Efg-Renascence founder Solomon J. LeFlore and his partner, Susan Gee.
Released in 2004 ...
Merlot will most definitely not be consumed, but plenty of other California reds look to factor into a stage musical being cultivated from Alexander Payne's hit movie Sideways, which is aiming for Broadway.
Rex Pickett, who wrote the novel on which the Oscar-winning screenplay by Payne and Jim Taylor was based, has formed a joint venture with Efg-Renascence Productions to develop a musical based on the film, with plans to extend the intellectual property across multiple media platforms and brands.
The deal was announced Thursday by Efg-Renascence founder Solomon J. LeFlore and his partner, Susan Gee.
Released in 2004 ...
Rex Pickett, who wrote the novel on which the Oscar-winning screenplay by Payne and Jim Taylor was based, has formed a joint venture with Efg-Renascence Productions to develop a musical based on the film, with plans to extend the intellectual property across multiple media platforms and brands.
The deal was announced Thursday by Efg-Renascence founder Solomon J. LeFlore and his partner, Susan Gee.
Released in 2004 ...
'Sideways' movie, with Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church 'Sideways' movie review: California winery tour follows conventional road to male maturity With the 1999 Matthew Broderick-Reese Witherspoon vehicle Election, Alexander Payne displayed a flair for satirical comedy the likes of which would have turned Billy Wilder greener (with envy) than the Sideways poster found further below in this commentary. With the 2002 Jack Nicholson star vehicle About Schmidt, Payne demonstrated that his comedic flair could go the way of Wilder's in fluff like Sabrina and Love in the Afternoon: artificial, cutesy, bland.* In Sideways, Payne opted for the safer About Schmidt route – which may explain the film's enormous popularity with critics and audiences alike. For my part, I found his adaptation (with Jim Taylor) of Rex Pickett's novel to be an overlong, moralistic, and thoroughly unconvincing effort. (Warning: This Sideways movie review contains spoilers.
- 5/9/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
By Anjelica Oswald
Managing Editor
Only one of this year’s adapted screenplay nominees isn’t adapted from a book, and that’s Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash, which is adapted from his short film of the same name that took home the jury prize for short film from the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. The other four adaptations all come from books, three non-fiction and one fiction.
American Sniper is based on Chris Kyle’s (portrayed in the film by Bradley Cooper) autobiography of the same name, which he wrote with Scott McEwan and Jim DeFelice.
The Imitation Game is adapted from Alan Turing: The Enigma, written by Andrew Hodges, a mathematician and author. Turing is played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the film.
Adapted from Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen Hawking by Jane Hawking, The Theory of Everything explores Stephen Hawking’s relationship with his ex-wife. The couple is played...
Managing Editor
Only one of this year’s adapted screenplay nominees isn’t adapted from a book, and that’s Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash, which is adapted from his short film of the same name that took home the jury prize for short film from the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. The other four adaptations all come from books, three non-fiction and one fiction.
American Sniper is based on Chris Kyle’s (portrayed in the film by Bradley Cooper) autobiography of the same name, which he wrote with Scott McEwan and Jim DeFelice.
The Imitation Game is adapted from Alan Turing: The Enigma, written by Andrew Hodges, a mathematician and author. Turing is played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the film.
Adapted from Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen Hawking by Jane Hawking, The Theory of Everything explores Stephen Hawking’s relationship with his ex-wife. The couple is played...
- 1/28/2015
- by Anjelica Oswald
- Scott Feinberg
Director-cowriter Alexander Payne didn't intend to start a wine revolution in America by adapting Rex Pickett's book into 2004's Sideways, but we bet you haven't looked at a bottle of merlot the same way since. The acclaimed film about two middle-aged friends, Miles and Jack (Paul Giamatti and Thomas Hayden Church, respectively), who make a road trip to the Santa Ynez Valley wine country north of Santa Barbara, California and wrestle with their shortcomings, won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay thanks to its richly drawn characters. To toast Sideways' lingering impact on wine culture, a special screening took place on Sunday at Santa Barbara's historic Arlington Theatre, where the film had its premiere 10 years earlier. "I liked wine, but I...
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- 10/9/2014
- by Robert B. DeSalvo
- Movies.com
Live-action versions of cinematic hits such as Hairspray and Ghost have almost single-handedly revived big-budget theatre
Rex Pickett required one thing of the Ruskin theatre, which was staging a play of his novel Sideways (on which the Alexander Payne film was based): that they hold a wine-tasting before every performance.
Recent times have seen a trend for adventurous producers to scoop up blockbuster movies and spin them into theatrical spectaculars. Shows – mostly musicals – adapted from the likes of Hairspray, Footloose, Ghost, The Lion King, Legally Blonde and Flashdance have almost single-handedly revived the fortunes of the West End and Broadway. Based on box-office smashes, their in-built brand-awareness guarantee a chorus of ringing cash registers. These productions are a no-brainer, so it seems only natural indie movies get a shot at being smothered in greasepaint. Their fortunes have, thus far, followed suit.
The shining beacon is Once, about two Dublin musicians who fall in love,...
Rex Pickett required one thing of the Ruskin theatre, which was staging a play of his novel Sideways (on which the Alexander Payne film was based): that they hold a wine-tasting before every performance.
Recent times have seen a trend for adventurous producers to scoop up blockbuster movies and spin them into theatrical spectaculars. Shows – mostly musicals – adapted from the likes of Hairspray, Footloose, Ghost, The Lion King, Legally Blonde and Flashdance have almost single-handedly revived the fortunes of the West End and Broadway. Based on box-office smashes, their in-built brand-awareness guarantee a chorus of ringing cash registers. These productions are a no-brainer, so it seems only natural indie movies get a shot at being smothered in greasepaint. Their fortunes have, thus far, followed suit.
The shining beacon is Once, about two Dublin musicians who fall in love,...
- 8/10/2012
- by Lisa Marks
- The Guardian - Film News
Rex Pickett, the author of Sideways, writes an open letter to Virginia Madsen. As a writer I get why he's pissed but I do think he's undervaluing the depth of her contribution to that movie.
Playbill Peter O'Toole is retiring from acting, on both stage and screen.
Ginger Haze awesome Spider-Man vs. Lizard cartoon
Variety Chris Cooper has joined the August: Osage County. It's an Adaptation reunion... let's just pray that Mr. Cage doesn't show up.
Movie|Line Robert Pattinson talks bullshit about playing James Bond. Wouldn't it be so weird if your every wandering train of thought spread all over the internet?
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Variety Chris Cooper has joined the August: Osage County. It's an Adaptation reunion... let's just pray that Mr. Cage doesn't show up.
Movie|Line Robert Pattinson talks bullshit about playing James Bond. Wouldn't it be so weird if your every wandering train of thought spread all over the internet?
The Cooler beautiful essay on Wes Anderson's Noah Ark motif in Moonrise Kingdom
The Film Stage a preview Nathan Johnson's futuristic Looper score.
Encore Entertainment Clothes Horse. Can you guess where these costumes are from?
Shock Til You Drop displays the Carrie (2013) banner from San Diego's Comic Con.
- 7/11/2012
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
In this episode of Brad Listi’s Other People Podcast, novelist Rex Pickett discusses the origins of his book Sideways, the basis for Alexander Payne’s hit movie. Pickett has written a sequel to Sideways called Vertical, and in the podcast he talks about why he’s self-published it. There’s a lot here about a writer’s take on the movie business, how success doesn’t protect you from rejection, and, uh, Pickett also has a few things to say about producer Michael London.
… Read the rest...
… Read the rest...
- 1/13/2012
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
“Give your children enough money so that they do something, but not so much that they will do nothing.”
I find it very intriguing that a man of George Clooney’s monumental stature can still make films without letting his ego become a part of it. I also find it very interesting that at this year’s Toronto Film Festival you can catch two films starring him, one of them he directed himself: The Ides of March. While Mr Clooney is no doubt excellent in it he will most likely be playing a character he is very used to playing. The suave and slick, but edgy smooth talker who is super self confident until the world starts to slowly crumble around him. However, if you trot along the figurative hall you can see George Clooney deliver one of the finest performances of his illustrious career in...
“Give your children enough money so that they do something, but not so much that they will do nothing.”
I find it very intriguing that a man of George Clooney’s monumental stature can still make films without letting his ego become a part of it. I also find it very interesting that at this year’s Toronto Film Festival you can catch two films starring him, one of them he directed himself: The Ides of March. While Mr Clooney is no doubt excellent in it he will most likely be playing a character he is very used to playing. The suave and slick, but edgy smooth talker who is super self confident until the world starts to slowly crumble around him. However, if you trot along the figurative hall you can see George Clooney deliver one of the finest performances of his illustrious career in...
- 9/12/2011
- by Quigs
- Obsessed with Film
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: Fresh off his Golden Globe-winning performance as beleaguered Barney Panofsky in “Barney’s Version,” Paul Giamatti takes the high road – or, at least, a higher road than Panofsky – to play a wrestling coach struggling to hold several lives in orbit for “Win Win.”
A small but emotionally effective ensemble drama, “Win Win” comes from Tom McCarthy, who helmed such well-received titles as “The Station Agent” and “The Visitor.” But collaborating with McCarthy wasn’t Giamatti’s sole reason for signing up with “Win Win,” which recently screened as a Headliner at the South By Southwest film festival in Austin.
“It was the money, frankly,” Giamatti told a room of reporters, filling the space with laughter. “I would have been fiscally irresponsible not to do it.”
We were doing a roundtable interview with Giamatti, asking him about his character, Mike Flaherty, a New Jersey lawyer...
Hollywoodnews.com: Fresh off his Golden Globe-winning performance as beleaguered Barney Panofsky in “Barney’s Version,” Paul Giamatti takes the high road – or, at least, a higher road than Panofsky – to play a wrestling coach struggling to hold several lives in orbit for “Win Win.”
A small but emotionally effective ensemble drama, “Win Win” comes from Tom McCarthy, who helmed such well-received titles as “The Station Agent” and “The Visitor.” But collaborating with McCarthy wasn’t Giamatti’s sole reason for signing up with “Win Win,” which recently screened as a Headliner at the South By Southwest film festival in Austin.
“It was the money, frankly,” Giamatti told a room of reporters, filling the space with laughter. “I would have been fiscally irresponsible not to do it.”
We were doing a roundtable interview with Giamatti, asking him about his character, Mike Flaherty, a New Jersey lawyer...
- 3/19/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
Sideways (2004) Director: Alexander Payne Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor; from Rex Pickett's novel Cast: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh Oscar Movies Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Sideways Days Of Wine And Losers With the 1999 Matthew Broderick-Reese Witherspoon vehicle Election, Alexander Payne displayed a flair for satirical comedy the likes of which would have turned Billy Wilder greener (with envy) than the poster on the right. With About Schmidt, Payne demonstrated that his comedic flair could go the way of Wilder's in fluff like Sabrina: artificial, cutesy, bland. In Sideways, Payne opted for Schmidt's safer route — which may explain the film's immense popularity with critics and audiences alike. For my part, I found his adaptation (with Jim Taylor) of Rex Pickett's novel to be an overlong, superficial, and thoroughly unconvincing effort. [Note: This review contains spoilers.] At its core, Sideways is a road movie about [...]...
- 2/2/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Charlie Kaufman looked genuinely humbled when presenter Alan Alda read his name. Kaufman picked up his first WGA Award and a boost to his Oscar momentum Saturday night for original screenplay for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which he wrote from a story by Kaufman, Eternal director Michel Gondry and Pierre Bismuth. "To say you're honored to be in this company -- it sounds like it's not true, but it is. So thanks," Kaufman said after noting that he'd gotten to know most of the other feature writing nominees during their tour of the awards-season "circuit" during the past few weeks. In the adapted screenplay category, the scribes gave the nod to Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor for their screen transformation of the novel Sideways by Rex Pickett. Payne, also a contender in Sunday's Oscar derby for adapted screenplay and for directing Sideways, echoed Kaufman's sentiment about "the company we're in" in accepting his trophy at the 57th annual WGA Awards ceremony, hosted by actor John O'Hurley at the Hollywood Palladium.
- 2/21/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Charlie Kaufman looked genuinely humbled when presenter Alan Alda read his name. Kaufman picked up his first WGA Award and a boost to his Oscar momentum Saturday night for original screenplay for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which he wrote from a story by Kaufman, Eternal director Michel Gondry and Pierre Bismuth. "To say you're honored to be in this company -- it sounds like it's not true, but it is. So thanks," Kaufman said after noting that he'd gotten to know most of the other feature writing nominees during their tour of the awards-season "circuit" during the past few weeks. In the adapted screenplay category, the scribes gave the nod to Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor for their screen transformation of the novel Sideways by Rex Pickett. Payne, also a contender in Sunday's Oscar derby for adapted screenplay and for directing Sideways, echoed Kaufman's sentiment about "the company we're in" in accepting his trophy at the 57th annual WGA Awards ceremony, hosted by actor John O'Hurley at the Hollywood Palladium.
- 2/21/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Sideways were the big film winners Saturday night at the 57th annual Writers Guild Awards, held at the Hollywood Palladium. The WGA West fete was held simultaneously with a ceremony staged by the WGA East at the Pierre Hotel in New York. Sunshine, by Charlie Kaufman, based on a story by Kaufman, Michel Gondry and Pierre Bismuth, won for original screenplay. Sideways, by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, and based on a novel by Rex Pickett, got the nod for adapted screenplay. In television, the laurel for longform adapted screenplay went to HBO's Angels in America, which Tony Kushner adapted from his Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name.
- 2/20/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Sideways were the big film winners Saturday night at the 57th annual Writers Guild Awards, held at the Hollywood Palladium. The WGA West fete was held simultaneously with a ceremony staged by the WGA East at the Pierre Hotel in New York. Sunshine, by Charlie Kaufman, based on a story by Kaufman, Michel Gondry and Pierre Bismuth, won for original screenplay. Sideways, by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, and based on a novel by Rex Pickett, got the nod for adapted screenplay. In television, the laurel for longform adapted screenplay went to HBO's Angels in America, which Tony Kushner adapted from his Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name.
- 2/20/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Sideways were the big film winners Saturday night at the 57th annual Writers Guild Awards, held at the Hollywood Palladium. The WGA West fete was held simultaneously with a ceremony staged by the WGA East at the Pierre Hotel in New York. Sunshine, by Charlie Kaufman, based on a story by Kaufman, Michel Gondry and Pierre Bismuth, won for original screenplay. Sideways, by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, and based on a novel by Rex Pickett, got the nod for adapted screenplay. In television, the laurel for longform adapted screenplay went to HBO's Angels in America, which Tony Kushner adapted from his Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name.
- 2/20/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lifting a glass of vintage pinot noir in a celebratory toast, the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. on Saturday hailed Fox Searchlight's Sideways as its favorite film of the year. Alexander Payne's sad and funny but always sagacious coming-of-middle-age tale about the misadventures of two male friends in California wine country was voted best picture of 2004. The film collected five awards, including Virginia Madsen and Thomas Hayden Church as best supporting actress and best supporting actor. Payne, who two years ago claimed the L.A. Film Critics' best picture prize for About Schmidt, was honored as best director and shared the best screenplay award with his longtime collaborator, Jim Taylor, for their adaptation of a novel by Rex Pickett. The critics chose Liam Neeson as best actor for his performance as the redoubtable sex researcher Alfred Kinsey in Bill Condon's biopic Kinsey. The runner-up was Paul Giamatti from Sideways. Imelda Staunton was named best actress for the role as a working-class mum and backroom abortionist in 1950s Britain in Mike Leigh's Vera Drake. Julie Delpy came in second in voting for Before Sunset.
- 12/12/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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