David O. Russell

[MacGuffin]

David O. Russell Working On Action-Drama With Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura Called 'Mission'
Also Circling Disney's 'Maleficient'; Director Confirms He's Been Talking To Angelina Jolie, Plus Robert De Niro For 'The Silver Linings Playbook'
Source: Playlist

Update: Ahh, so this was the one of the "several projects" that David O. Russell was talking to Angelina Jolie about. According to THR, now that Tim Burton has dropped the project "The Fighter" filmmaker is one of the director's "circling" the Sleeping Beauty project "Maleficient." Russell never met a meeting he didn't like, so we're sure he's interested, but knowing his creative differences with studios, we would bet this one is not going to stick. The many things one has to love about colorful, sometime mercurial, director David O. Russell ("The Fighter," "Three Kings") is that not does he not discriminate stylistically (see a body of work that also includes loopy comedies like "I Heart Huckabees" and "Flirting with Disaster"), his is ideologically nonpartisan; meaning: he'll take an indie project, a studio tentpole, a mainstream film, pretty much any film that comes down his way if it interests him, regardless of any "indie-film" baggage. In a THR piece about why Russell parted ways with Sony on their live-action adaptation of the video game "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune"—we get it already, creative differences—the 'Fighter' director added one more project to his ever-growing list. Apparently he's now working with producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura on a project called, "Mission." "It's very cool," Russell told THR. "It's sort of an action-drama." The producer of such gems like "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and "Shooter," di Bonaventura might be slightly below Akiva Goldsman on the scale that judges dumb, bland action pictures (of course they worked hand in hand on 2005's forgettable "Constantine"), but clearly Russell works on whatever project excites him, pre-judgements aside. We'd try and guess what the di Bonaventura project is, but with over 40 films in development, that might be a project for another night. And yet there's more. So Russell's next project is hopefully the Weinstein Company's long in-development "The Silver Linings Playbook" which will star Mark Wahlberg (the re-team will be their fourth collaboration). But more actors may join the fold. "I was just speaking to Mr. [Robert] De Niro about that today," he revealed. De Niro of course, being one of the actors that was circling "Drake's Uncharted," so it appears that they at least still want to work together. There's also been rumors that Angelina Jolie has been in discussions for the female lead, and in a separate interview with Vulture, the filmmaker revealed that he has been in talks with the "Salt" actress. "You know, Angelina would really be awesome," he said. "I think Angelina would love to be in it, but I don't know if that'll happen because of some conflicts in scheduling and other stuff. But I love her and I've loved talking to her about several projects ... I think that she's a loaded weapon and ready to be deployed." So sounds like Jolie and ' Silver Lining's Playbook' may not happen, but there's clearly mutual interest at hand. What about that Buddy Cianci biopic? He's still interested. "That's such an amazing project," he told Vulture. "That guy is such an amazing character" —and though that film may be a ways off, I have somebody in mind who I'd like to play him. Guess who is famous who is a youngish movie star who looks a little bit like Buddy Cianci? Good luck! That's a homework assignment for you." We'll leave the guessing to you on that one. As always, take all Russell projects with a pinch of salt. It's not that he's lying or even exaggerating, but his career path is already littered with a litany of film gigs he was supposed to have directed and many fell through for some reason or another ("The Grackle," "Pride & Prejudice & Zombies," "Aaron & Sarah" and "H-Man Cometh" are just a small example of those that never came to be). For those that are trying to keep score, well, good luck. His current laundry list includes an Untitled Ice Cube project, "Old St. Louis" and "2 Guns" both set as vehicles for Vince Vaugh, a Russ Meyer biopic called, "King Of The Nudies"; the list goes on and on. Apparently Russell's script for "Uncharted" is being ditched in favor of a rehaul by other writers (probably tells you how out of synch he and Sony were vision-wise). Frankly, we're just glad we can cross one off our to-watch list.

[72teeth]

David O. has too much time...

he is no longer a quirky delight either.

[Gold Trumpet]

David O. has too much time...

he is no longer a quirky delight either.

For his sake, he's now working. He had 6 years of trying to continue his filmmaking identity and got nowhere. I understand your concern because at best, he's a good director who knows what are good projects to direct. The Fighter is fine and the film hit its low ceiling in every way I could imagine it doing. It will be more interesting how his future progresses because he did try to take on a gaming movie and fully revamp it and he got shot down by studio and producers. Even though he's working from the inside of Hollywood now, I still think the best qualities of his assholishness could be in play.

[72teeth]

Even though he's working from the inside of Hollywood now, I still think the best qualities of his assholishness could be in play.

I hope so... i always wanted him to be the wildcard, dangerous filmmaker that everyone makes Von Trier out to be...

[Jeremy Blackman]

Huckabees was great.

[72teeth]

Huckabees was great.

as is Flirting with Disaster and Spanking the Monkey! With those 3, he had one of the most distinct careers, it was awesome... and i guess The Fighter (good movie, don't get me wrong, just a bit run-of-the-mill) only makes his repertoire all the more prolific, but it just feels less personal, and that's what i loved best about him, every film was his, undeniably...

[polkablues]

Even Three Kings, a more "serious" movie than those three, is full of quirky delights, and is very distinctly his own.

[72teeth]

O shit! How can i forget Three Kings!!!

...man, i miss O. Russell.

[MacGuffin]

Warner Bros Mobilizing Colombia Hostage Drama 'The Mission,' Courting David O Russell And Brad Pitt
BY MIKE FLEMING | Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: In the wake of Osama Bin Laden's killing by a Navy SEAL team, Hollywood is suddenly obsessed with politically-charged fact-based mission movies. Momentum is building on one of those at Warner Bros, The Mission. David O Russell is circling the picture and the studio is courting Brad Pitt to star. This could all happen very quickly.

The picture is basically the methodical six-year mission planned by American and Colombian covert operatives to free 15 hostages from the Colombian jungle. The hostages included three Americans and Ingrid Betancourt, once a candidate for President of Colombia. The script is by Peter Landesman. Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Scott Z. Burns will produce with McLarty Media, the showbiz consulting arm of D.C.-based international advisory firm McLarty Associates.

The hostages were held by the Colombian guerilla group FARC from between six and 15 years. It was a nightmarish existence as the hostages were moved around the jungles, often cruelly chained to trees at night by their necks. The central focus of the film isn't the ordeal of those hostages but rather on Operacion Jaque, a covert effort involving numerous governments, diplomats and intelligence services and a vast network of spies, military advisers and soldiers plus high-tech surveillance measures. Nobody would confirm that Pitt was at all involved, and I'm not sure he'll be set, but I am convinced they are talking. The studio wants this to happen quickly, and Russell is also considering The Silver Linings Playbook with Mark Wahlberg. Pitt is busy shooting World War Z. Let's see how this one plays out.

[theyarelegion]

^ we've all seen this movie before and we know this version of its probably gonna suck I could be wrong

[MacGuffin]

David O. Russell Set to Direct 'American Bulls**t'
The director of "The Fighter" and "I Heart Huckabees" is in the early stages of tackling the true story of a Congressional sting that was set up in 1980 by "the world's greatest con man."
Source: THR

David O. Russell is attached to direct American Bullshit, a crime drama set up at Son being produced by Atlas Entertainment's Charles Roven and Richard Suckle.

Written by Eric Warren Singer, American tells the true story of the FBI's 1980 undercover sting operation of Congress, dubbed Abscam, which was created by "the world's greatest con man" to root out corruption. The script was in the top 10 of the 2012 Black List.

Russell is only attached at this point and moving forward may depend on casting the project's two main leads.

The director earned an Oscar nomination for his most recent film, 2010's The Fighter. His next project, the Bradley Cooper-Jennifer Lawrence comedy The Silver Linings Playbook, is due in the fall. Other credits include I Heart Huckabees and Three Kings.

[MacGuffin]

David O. Russell's latest turn: New England city politics
Source: LA Times

The very busy David O. Russell has another story to occupy his post-"Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" time: He's officially involved with a biopic about longtime Rhode Island mayor Buddy Cianci that will be produced by  the New York-based production company of Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal ("Little Fockers," "Being Flynn").

Based on Cianci's elaborately titled "Politics and Pasta: How I Prosecuted Mobsters, Rebuilt a Dying City, Advised a President, Dined With Sinatra, Spent Five Years in a Federally Funded Gated Community and Lived to Tell the Tale," the new untitled biopic tells of the 21-year mayor who — oh yes — went to jail for nearly five years on racketeering charges after a career rooting out corruption in his New England hometown. Cianci has had more lives than a bungee-jumping cat; there's even talk he will run for public office again.

About a year ago, Rosenthal had mentioned informally that she'd like Russell to come aboard the film. Now it's official. According to his arrangement with the producer, he'll direct but won't write, Rosenthal said, though he will have a hand in the script too.
Since he parted ways with Sony's "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune,"  Russell has been making use of his spare time.  Most recently, he signed on to a 1980s story about an FBI sting that exposed congressional corruption -- even as he finishes cutting "The Silver Linings Playbook," his fall relationship movie that stars Jennifer Lawrence,  De Niro and Bradley Cooper.

The Cianci film also marks a further turn for Russell, who, after hitting it big with "The Fighter," has moved from oddball comedies to more hard-boiled and dramatic material; witness, also, his development of a Russ Meyer biopic (though Cianci's larger-than-life personality will ensure his film subjects remain colorful).

Rosenthal has been developing the Cianci movie independently at Tribeca Films, the company she and De Niro run, but says that she is close to a financing deal.

As she prepares for the Wednesday kickoff of the 11th annual Tribeca Film Festival that she co-founded, Rosenthal has kept up her prolific producing efforts. She's working with English producer Graham King on the upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic starring Sacha Baron Cohen, a spinoff of sorts from her long-running West End musical "We Will Rock You."

And Rosenthal has shepherded and executive produced an hourlong television series, "NYC 22," a sidewalk-wise cop story that debuted on CBS on Sunday night.

One passion project, however, may not enjoy the same success. Fans of "Lombardi," the long-gestating football film from writer Eric Roth about the Green Bay Packers head coach, has had little forward progress. Rosenthal sounded pessimistic when asked if the film could be going in front of the cameras any time soon.

"As a producer I feel everything should be made for a price," she said of the movie, which requires  significant period sets and costumes. "But a lot of the numbers I've heard [from financiers] are simply way too low."

[Pozer]

whatever resulted from this guy pervin on his transgender niecephew?

Chriiiiiiistian??

[BB]

whatever resulted from this guy pervin on his transgender niecephew?

Film executives agreed that they too would've "pinched that titty" and all was forgiven.

[MacGuffin]

CBS Buys Legal Drama Written By Danny Strong, Directed By David O. Russell And Produced By Robert De Niro
BY NELLIE ANDREEVA | Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: Game Change writer Danny Strong, The Fighter director David O. Russell and Oscar winner Robert De Niro have teamed for a legal drama series inspired by a famous New York father/daughter lawyer duo, which has sold to CBS. The project hails from De Niro and Jane Rosenthal's Tribeca Prods. and CBS TV Studios. Strong is writing, Russell is set to direct, with the two executive producing alongside De Niro, Rosenthal and Diane Nabatoff. The drama is inspired by the father-and-daughter defense attorneys Murray and Stacey Richman. It will center on a fictionalized version of the Richmans' Bronx firm, where clients as notorious on the street as they are on Page Six.

In the almost 50 years of practicing law, Murray Richman, nickname "Don't Worry Murray," has worked for clients ranging from hip-hop stars like Jay-Z to the upper echelon of the Genovese and Lucchese crime families to former NY Governor Eliott Spitzer's escort procurer. In addition to his cases, Murray is famous for his courtroom quips, like "I love a murder trial — one less witness to worry about" and "I'll be brief... I'm already short." (He is 5'6″). Below is documentarymaker Errol Morris' video interview/portrait of Murray that provides a glimpse into his background, philosophy, personality as well as some of his cases. In it, Murray boasts about winning an acquittal for a client who had stabbed a guy to death seven times by convincing the jury that the victim kept "backing into the knife." Stacey Richman, a star attorney of her own, has a clientele that includes Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Ja Rule, Scout Willis, Kid Cudi and Freekey Zekey.

This marks the pilot writing debut for actor-turned-writer Strong who switched to writing with the HBO movie Recount. It was followed by HBO's Game Change, both earning him Emmy writing nominations. Strong made his feature writing debut with Lee Daniels' upcoming The Butler. The CBS drama would make the TV directing debut for O'Russell, an Oscar nominee for The Fighter. The project stems from Tribeca's overall deal at CBS TV Studios, which already has yielded a series on CBS, last season's NYC 22. The company's Berry Welsh will serve as a producer on the new project. Strong, O'Russell and Tribeca are with CAA.