There is, what the New York Times calls, “a juicy business back story” when it comes to Crazy Heart.
The story of washed-up country singer, starring Jeff Bridges, was made for about $7 million by Country Music Television, a unit of Viacom. Viacom’s Paramount Pictures division had the right to distribute the film, but it was not interested.
The agent of the movie’s writer and director, Scott Cooper, got permission to sell it to Fox Searchlight Pictures (who paid half of what the movie was made for). Believing that had something here Fox Searchlight promptly moved the release date to mid December. Bingo! The buzz started. Bridges, a four time nominee, being well liked didn’t hurt. Now the original backers of “Crazy Heart” have asked its producers to remove all Viacom-related credits. “In a nervous corporate world the only thing worse than losing money on a worthy little movie might be having one’s name on a film that scores for a competitor.”
Jeff Bridges and ‘Crazy Heart’ Shake Up Jittery Oscar Campaigns
A few weeks ago “Crazy Heart” was just another invisible movie, one with so little promise that the company that made it refused to put it into theaters. Now, suddenly, this low-budget film about a washed-up country singer finds itself at the heart of the Oscar race, with some awards watchers calling its star, Jeff Bridges, a likely best actor candidate. ● More from: NYTimes.com
