A lot of folks expected Working Title’s John le Carre thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to wind up with a key New York Film Festival slot. In fact, it was in the running for opening night, but Focus and the NYFF weren’t able to come to terms on exactly who (Gary Oldman and Tom Hardy are both currently filming The Dark Knight Rises) would show up for the glamorous black tie Lincoln Center event on September 30. Talent availability is a killer factor in these negotiations. So the NYFF went with Roman Polanski’s Carnage (new European poster below), even though the exiled filmmaker would have to remain overseas. Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz brought the requisite star power–and satellite feeds do wonders at Q and As.
The NYFF, juiced up on steroids under new Film Society of Lincoln Center director Rose Kuo, is adding more mainstream fare via two extra galas to what has long been a tastefully arcane annual selection. Centerpiece gala My Week with Marilyn, starring Kenneth Branagh and Michelle Williams, already stands out as not your typical NYFF fare. And Tinker Tailor could yet turn up as the closing night selection—where mega-star attendance is less crucial–which is expected to be announced later this week. Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar pulled out of the running for NYFF and Toronto, because it is still in the editing room. Meryl Streep-starrer The Iron Lady is still a possibility for a NYFF berth. News on the galas should come Monday.
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