Will Harvey Weinstein pull his support from Nicole Kidman’s ‘Grace’ disaster?

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Nicole Kidman scored the role of a lifetime, in a film that was supposed to be incredibly high-end, artistic, challenging and awards-baity. Nicole was cast as a 33-year-old Grace Kelly in Grace of Monaco, detailing Princess Grace’s work to ensure that Monaco stayed independent of France in the 1960s. There were problems from the get-go. First of all, most of us laughed at the idea of Kidman playing the 33-year-old Grace. It IS absurd, especially when there were so many better candidates. And then the film evolved into a silly soft-focus Lifetime movie, where Kidman just wandered around exotic locales in pretty clothes.

Harvey Weinstein has produced this mess, and he’s been fighting with the director, Olivier Dahan, for the better part of a year about the film. Grace of Monaco was supposed to come out last year, but Harvey kept pushing it back to give Dahan time to “fix” it. It was supposed to open the Cannes Film Festival, and Harvey even asked for some of the Grimaldis to support the film at Cannes, but they declined and are now publicly bashing the film. And now, Variety reports, Harvey doesn’t even know if he wants the film to be seen in America:

Harvey Weinstein is considering dropping U.S. distribution rights to “Grace of Monaco” just two weeks before the Nicole Kidman biopic is scheduled to premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Variety has learned. The problem, according to sources, is that Weinstein is still unsatisfied with the version of the film that the Cannes jury selected to open the festival on May 14.

Director Olivier Dahan (“La Vie En Rose”) has said his film is completed. The two sides have been at a standstill since last year, when “Grace” was originally scheduled for a November 2013 theatrical release in time for Oscars season. A second release date of March 2014 also was missed.

Among Weinstein’s notes, Variety has learned, he wants the film to expand upon the time Grace Kelly (Kidman) spent in Hollywood and provide further context for the political situation in Monaco, a French principality blockaded by Charles de Gaulle during the early years of Kelly’s marriage to Prince Rainier III (played by Tim Roth). It’s unclear if these extra scenes exist or would have to be reshot. Though the project was not conceived with Oscar ambitions in mind, Weinstein seems to think that he can make it into an awards contender, a la 2011’s “My Week With Marilyn” starring Michelle Williams.

According to France’s “droit d’auteur,” French directors are legally entitled to final cut of their films, though “Grace’s” producers are still open to allowing a Weinstein-edited version in the United States. Distributors in other territories are said to be happy with the festival version, with the release date in France (via Gaumont) pegged to its May 14 premiere in Cannes, and other major territories rolling out over the following three weeks.

Last fall, the Weinstein Co. announced that “Grace” was delayed because it wasn’t ready, even though a completed version of the movie had been shown at a private New York screening. In October, the behind-the-scenes bickering went public, when Dahan said in an interview with the French newspaper Liberation that he would fight to keep his version of the picture. “It’s right to struggle, but when you confront an American distributor like Weinstein, not to name names, there is not much you can do,” Dahan said at the time. “Either you say ‘Go figure it out with your pile of sh-t’ or you brace yourself so the blackmail isn’t as violent.”

If the Weinstein Co. bails, it could be a blessing in disguise for producers Arash Amel and Pierre-Ange Le Pogam, who could then offer the biopic to another U.S. distributor. As it is, “Grace” is just one of many projects caught in limbo at TWC, where stories of “Harvey Scissorhands” have reached a fever pitch, affecting everything from “The Grandmaster” and “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” last summer to upcoming “Snowpiercer” (which is finally opening on June 27 as the director’s cut), “The Immigrant” (receiving a virtually unpublicized four-screen release on May 16) and “The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet” (still undated).

A press release from the Weinstein Co. sent to journalists last week about the company’s Cannes omitted “Grace of Monaco” and instead touted the re-edited version of “Eleanor Rigby,” which premiered at Toronto as two back-to-back features (“His” and “Hers”) last September. The Weinstein Co. did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Weinstein is expected to make a final decision this week.

[From Variety]

While I think Grace of Monaco looks like utter crap and everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves, I do think that Harvey has been going particularly insane lately. He’s been picking fights all over the place and trying to assert his authority (he’s a grown-up Cartman) with auteurs who know what story they want to tell. The behind-the-scenes struggle over Snowpiercer got so bad that the star of the film, Tilda Swinton, even spoke out against Harvey. I would behoove everyone involved to just come to the understanding that Grace of Monaco is a turd and there is no way to cut it to make it a good film.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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62 Responses to “Will Harvey Weinstein pull his support from Nicole Kidman’s ‘Grace’ disaster?”

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  1. UGH. First Naomi as Diana and now this.

    It really does make you wonder about how few decent roles there are left for actresses in the 40-60 age range. I mean, that’s the only reason I could see for great actresses signing on to do these AWFUL biopics that really should never be made.

    • paola says:

      It always baffles me that movie producers have to dig the past to find some interesting roles for women in general. Not only the 40-60 age gap. Are Hollywood writers really so bad that they can’t come up with a nice script without having to rearrange a story from the past? If it’s not a film on Marylin or some other famous woman is a remake of another movie from the past. This is so boring.

      Plus Diana and Grace seem to me like the same movie. Really bad timing putting them out both at almost the same time.

      • I agree with every single thing you said here, Paola.

      • InVain says:

        I’ve thought this about Hollyweird for years…there’s hardly ANY great original parts – especially for women. They just keep reusing the same old crap. This is why I never go to the movies. Put something original onscreen that an author didn’t write or that isn’t some remade, regurgitated story.

      • Hiddles forever says:

        paola

        If you write a script with a woman as a lead it gets thrown into the bin.

        Firsthand experience….

      • kimber says:

        Oh no it’s not the writers! It’s the bloated, egotistical, over compensating producers and execs that think they have to tell us normal people what we are suppose to like. Second to blame would be us normal people who go see a “summer blockbuster” in May.

        *summer starts June 21 NOT in april or May, so that’s for you Spiderman trailer I was shaking my head to! It’s a spring blockbuster if anything… ok I got that off my chest…

    • lex says:

      Meryl will just get all of the roles anyway…. everyone get writing screenplays! We need roles for strong mature women other than grandmother or sad divorcee

      • Totally…and that’s just a testament to what a national treasure Streep is.

      • kri says:

        Totally agree with better roles for women of ALL ages/ethnicities in H’Wood. Enough of the sexist, racist “placement” of women in particular. I think what is needed is more women producers, directors-i.e. more ladies in power positions. Give Cartman/ Harvey a bag of cheesey poofs and put in in time-out.

    • LAK says:

      i think the Diana/Grace/Winnie Mandela/Nina Simone people were hoping for a Maggie Thatcher type film and reception.

      • K says:

        I was thinking My Week With Marilyn – more tragic blonde biopic Oscar bait. Hollywood’s always slavish about imitating successful ideas.

    • Milla says:

      You do know that many moons ago men played all the parts? First part of what you wrote is age discrimination.

      On another note, I will watch the movie only cos House of Grimaldi bashed it. I doubt I will like it, but then again I cannot remember the last time I saw a good, new movie.

  2. Jackson says:

    I want a fancy dress!!!
    That’s all I came to say.

  3. QQ says:

    Hahahahhaha that poster looks like a Barbie Movie poster, you know like when they do the Barbies in cgi computer whatever? hahahahha

    • It really does. It’s super-cheap and cheesy-looking.

    • MonicaQ says:

      I was just about to comment that the photoshopping looks janky as hell. What’s up with her bun being completely different than her hair?

      • Snazzy says:

        OMG I just went back to look at the bun … they could have at least matched the clip-on’s hair colour to her roots!

    • reba says:

      Let’s see, I went to school in France, so here is how we would analyze this:
      She (Princess Grace) looks like a barbie because she needs to project an image of perfection to the outside world while keeping her real self out of view; she is still an actress (Grace Kelly) in a role. Here hair is two colors because she is of two minds, she is divided in her loyalties.
      Ugh, this is exhausting ! I give up! (but I bet you anything the director will say, mais oui, c’est ça! Bravo Nicole !!

    • reba says:

      Let’s see, I went to school in France, so here is how we would analyze this:
      She (Princess Grace) looks like a barbie because she needs to project an image of perfection to the outside world while keeping her real self out of view; she is still an actress (Grace Kelly) in a role. Here hair is two colors because she is of two minds, she is divided in her loyalties.
      Ugh, this is exhausting ! I give up! (but I bet you anything the director will say, mais oui, c’est ça! Bravo Nicole !!
      soorry clicked twice while trying to put italics !!

  4. aims says:

    For some reason Harvey scares the poop out of me. Like he looks like he can be a real prick and dirtbag. That being said, I think this movie is a train wreck. From the casting to the script, it looks like a real mess.

  5. Green Is Good says:

    Nicole Kidman’s embalming is coming along nicely.

    • LOL
      I love her but this comment is gold.

    • paola says:

      ahaha!! so true,
      I was watching ‘Just go with it’ yesterday (that comedy with Nicole Kidman, Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston) and Nicole looked like a wax figure. Jennifer Aniston was gorgeous compared to her, with all her flaws. Nicole couldn’t even move her lips and her face was frozen.

    • QQ says:

      *deadddd*

    • I Choose Me says:

      Okay, I straight out guffawed at this. Comment of the day!

    • Tessy says:

      I know, right? If they want her to do more scenes to expand the hollywood years, its too late. Her face will have already morphed into something else and the scenes will come out like Melanie’s shrinking breasts in Bonfire of the Vanities.

  6. Talie says:

    Nicole would have only done this film to work with Olivier — she chases auteurs. For her, once it’s done, it’s done. I doubt she cares either way. And ultimately, she still gets to play movie star at Cannes on the opening night.

    • neelyo says:

      I agree.

    • Pinky Rose says:

      I agree that Nikki K is mostly interested in who is directing (though as late her filmatography is only failed oscar bait and poor quality mainstream films, with her Werner Herzog movie being the only interesting to look forward) than the movie itslef, but since when Olivier Dahan is considered an auteur or risky filmaker by anyone. He’s style is as bland as an oatmeal.

  7. trishy says:

    “Harvey Scissorhands.” heh.

  8. Gine says:

    Her face in that picture. Terrifying.

    I agree that the movie probably is awful, but that Harvey has been power-tripping more than usual lately. I hope more people start standing up to him.

  9. YummyMummy says:

    Who do you think would have been a better choice to play Grace? Just curious.

    • Scarlet Vixen says:

      January Jones? Or at least someone not in their 40s and who can actually move her face.

      • raindrop says:

        January would make an excellent Grace. But that’s sort of a given; she landed the role of Betty Draper in part because of her resemblance to Grace Kelly.

      • Santolina says:

        I’d have voted for January, too. She has that icy, aloof beauty that recalls Grace so perfectly. I watched the trailer and all you see is Nicole Kidman playing a role. She doesn’t even get Grace’s forced, patrician accent right. She’s not acting; she’s modeling.

      • TWINK says:

        But JJ cannot act, Kidman can.

    • Kori says:

      Charlize Theron?

    • Penny says:

      It’s a hard one, because Grace didn’t really look like a lot of people think she looked, she was always photographed and filmed very carefully. She was an attractive woman, but her real asset was her poise and elegance. Without that she wasn’t really anything special looks-wise, not in Hollywood, her features were relatively plain and she had a very wide jaw which was carefully worked around. By 33 she was looking quite matronly, nothing like a 33yr old actress today looks. In theory casting an actress Kidman’s age wasn’t a bad idea.

      The trouble is no one really likes Grace in Hollywood anymore. Film actresses have much daintier features these days. Isabella Rossellini might have worked years ago. Merrit Weaver has similar bone structure to Grace apart from her ose, but not the height or body shape. Other than that Amber Heard is probably as close as you get, everyone else I can think has such delicate features and a narrow face. Laura Linney and Renee Zellweger have the right face shape but totally wrong features. January Jones looks great with similar styling to Grace, but she really looks nothing like her. It’s like when people dress up as Marilyn or Audrey…just because you look at them and think of the actress doesn’t mean they actually look similar beyond the the clothing and hairstyle.

  10. GoodNamesAllTaken says:

    Nicole is very beautiful, but she looks nothing like a 33 year old. Just a bad idea.

  11. T.Fanty says:

    Tim Roth is in it?!?!? Get that movie out to me, now!!!

    • Sixer says:

      Are you missing the Roth in the Discovery Channel drama, Klondike? It’s pretty bad (Robb Stark stomping around with a bad accent) but it has classic Roth-as-baddie. I am instituting a Get Tim Better Roles Society when I’m feeling more up to things – wanna join?

      • T.Fanty says:

        Join? I will co-chair with you. Apparently, he was in that Tarantino film that got pulled when the script leaked.

        Did you ever see his version of Gregor Samsa in the BBC version of Berkhoff’s play? It’s possibly the ONLY video that one can’t find on YouTube, but was utterly utterly brilliant.

      • Sixer says:

        YES.

        I cannot understand how he isn’t regarded as Oldman is regarded.

        I think we should um… picket someone or somewhere or something.

      • T.Fanty says:

        I feel exactly the same way. He came up with Oldman, and his body of work is equally respectable. Every year, I force my students to watch Rosencrantz and Guildernstern Are Dead and appreciate his brilliance.

        Okay, I’ll bring the wine and sandwiches, you bring the blanket. Oh, wait, you said picket? Okay, let’s also bring a placard, and we’ll be all set.

      • Sixer says:

        We concur, my bella.

        If we made it cheese and pickle sandwiches, do you think Miss Jane could be persuaded to join us? I recruited Eve a while ago.

      • T.Fanty says:

        I think if we throw in a nice cheese plate and maybe a bellini, we’ll have a hard time keeping that bonneted hussy at bay.

        Maybe we’ll bring Hiddles to take turns rowing us on the lake, and Cumby to sit on the blanket, smoke, and complain about the fact that he’s cold and thought he saw an ant on his leg. But we’ll still have our placard, so we’ll still be social activists.

      • Sixer says:

        I haven’t done any agitprop for YEARS. How exciting!

      • LAK says:

        i used to think Oldman and Roth were toe to toe, but somewhere along the way, Roth lost his way. very sad indeed.

        I die of second hand embarrassment for him when i read that he is playing Ranier in a turd of a film like this one.

        He really deserves better.

        Please may i join the ‘save Tim Roth’ society?

      • T.Fanty says:

        Oh, don’t. Now I’m having flashbacks to being a performance art undergrad and doing invisible theatre in our local Tescos. I think I’ll stick to fighting the man from my blanket.

        Lak – all are welcome!

        To be fair, though, Gary Oldman has done his fair share of terrible movies. I made the mistake of trying to watch something called Backwoods the other day. The man will hustle for a paycheck, and stumbles into crap more often than he does into brilliance. I think Oldman used his job to work out a LOT of his demons, and now doesn’t feel the need to push himself in quite the same way.

        For the record, I would have given my right arm to see young Gary Oldman doing Saved.

      • Sixer says:

        My late mum was a Greenham Common lady, dontchaknow.

        Lak – come in and welcome!

      • j.eyre says:

        *stretches*

        *yawns*

        Good Morning ladies. My Grace just rousted me from the most beautiful dream saying that there were some tarts in sandwich boards on the front lawn and look at that, here you are. So what is all this ruckus about, anyway?

        Oh dear, get me my best sash and picketing bonnet because if there is a March for Tim, I stand with my fellow Rothians.

        (the Hiddlez and cheeze zandwichez are a nice touch, thank you)

      • Sixer says:

        We are suffROTHettes. No hunger strikez for uz, however. We need the cheeze.

    • Marcelmarcel says:

      I’ve never commented on this site but dear lord, your society for saving Tim Roth has me intrigued. If I make a small float to parade down the street can I please join?

  12. tracking says:

    So weird that she looks like her usual frozen self and wasn’t made to look like Grace (i.e. hair color, makeup). That alone makes me lose interest.

  13. fanty says:

    Isn’t indicative of the state of the movies that the best roles for women are written for the tv in it’s golden age: Glenn Close, Robin Wright, now Julia Roberts (she’s not in the same league as Glenn and Robin, but whatever) and a lot of talented A listers Spacey McCougnahey, Harrelson, Ruffalo,… there are too many to name them all, they all are migrating where the meaty storytelling is. Netflix pay 100 million for two seasons of the David Fincher produced House of Cards, without asking for a pilot. The result is an amazing product, never seen before. Something is happening to movies, something bad. And is also our fault, as viewers with low expectations and lazy attention to quality films. Bring on the next Avengers and Xmen and all that kinda crap, we’ll go to the cinema like zombies anyway.

    • WillowDreamer says:

      That is an interesting thought….maybe the movies are geared towards kids or youth as they will go in droves to see Transformers…the fifth movie?
      The point is, it is all about making a profit not about creating something worth while or eloquent.
      Honestly when i have the time i love watching Jane austin movies…i love the communication, interaction, and deep meaning which is quite absent in todays movies.
      It is quite sad that aging women in movies today do not want to represent their exact age but want to continually look eternally young. There must be plenty of ideas and material to create substantial movies and series about intelligent and interesting women.

  14. Liz says:

    January may seem icy but that’s all. She doesn’t come close to Grace’s beauty nor personality. She’s too boring. I would have looked in the direction of a French actress who could do a good American actress. Someone such as Eva Green. While she has the wrong look she can portray iciness but in an intelligent, intriguing way.

    The movie poster is so amateur and embarrassing.

  15. Ash says:

    I’ve never really been a fan of Kidman, but I do like how she seems to keep her private life private for the most part.

  16. Amaria says:

    I saw “Stoker” yesterday, an amazing movie – and I have to say that Kidman’s face actually made her role better, LOL. She played an aloof, emotionally unstable, bourgeois mother (pathetically) pining for her late husband’s younger brother. Her artifice fit there well.
    “Grace” will be probably one of those movies so bad you want to actually see them.

  17. jwoolman says:

    I’m old enough to remember Grace Kelly in the news after her marriage, and I don’t remember her as being particularly expressive or young looking. Maybe makeup styles have changed a lot, so many women today seem desperate to look younger than they are. Also Grace was from a rich family, basically American aristocrats into arranged marriages. Different body language than commoners… If you watch movies from much earlier decades, you’ll see quite a difference in how women move and look.

    When I looked at the poster with Nicole on it, the image seemed right to me. So maybe she really was the right choice.