Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Kirk Kerkorian-Backed “The Promise” with Christian Bale, Oscar Isaac Set for Toronto Film Fest

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I told you a year and a half ago exclusively that 97 year old billionaire Kirk Kerkorian was backing a major movie about the Armenian genocide.

And so it has to come pass: Terry George’s “The Promise” will debut next month as a gala at the Toronto Film Festival. Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac vie for the attentions of Charlotte LeBon in a love story set against the genocide. The movie was shot in Spain, filling in for Turkey.

George is the director of “Hotel Rwanda,” one of the great films of all time, and writer of Jim Sheridan’s classics “In the Name of the Father” and “The Boxer.” We’re crossing our fingers on this one. “The Promise” should be catnip for studios in search of a big Oscar release at Christmas.

Kerkorian died 13 months ago, but his vision has been fulfilled.

The other gala announced by TIFF today is “Norman,” directed by Joseph Cedar, and starring Richard Gere and Steve Buscemi.

Robin Swicord wrote the screenplay with George, but Swicord also has a movie he directed debuting in Toronto. It’s called “Wakefield,” starring Bryan Cranston and Jennifer Garner. I have to concentrate on Swicord. He’s not Robin Colcord, from “Cheers.” And “Wakefield” is not about Dan Wakefield.

TIFF looks very promising this fall.

 

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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