Scene - Blogs - Tim Blake Nelsons Leaves changes

Tim Blake Nelson's "Leaves" changes
Published: 4/2/2010 9:02 AM
Last Modified: 4/2/2010 9:02 AM

"Leaves of Grass," the stoner comedy-thriller written and directed by Tulsa's Tim Blake Nelson and starring Edward Norton as identical twins in the Oklahoma-set film, will not open Friday in New York. Or anywhere else for that matter.

That's good news, according to Nelson. Indie distributor First Look Studios was releasing the film in a limited number of markets (it was to open April 16 at Circle Cinema), but this week the film was bought by a new distributor with bigger plans for an August release.

The anonymous investor (reported to be a new distributor, Telepathic Pictures, on Anne Thompson's "Thompson on Hollywood" blog) has more aggressive plans for the film after it played so well at the recent South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin.

"This new release is great -- wider and more aggressive -- very much a result of SXSW, the great reception there, and the great advance reviews by (Roger) Ebert, (Peter) Travers and others," Tim wrote in an e-mail on Thursday. Ebert saw the film last year at the Toronto International Film Festival and wrote a rave at that time.

I've seen the film, too, and I'll save my full review for when the film opens, but it's special in many ways. Many locally should enjoy the Tulsa and "Little Dixie" flavor he adds throughout the film. Will the highly intellectual pot comedy play well with everyone? No, it's a unique creation.

"Leaves of Grass" also stars Nelson, Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss and Keri Russell, who plays a Walt Whitman-quoting catfish noodler. I told you it was different.

Take a look, and I'll keep you posted on new developments.

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“I was born a poor, black child” … not me, actually, but Steve Martin’s character in the “The Jerk.” That absurd opening line is just one of the absurd number of film facts, quotes and minutiae contained in movie critic Michael Smith’s brain, at his disposal to toss out on a moment’s notice. It’s a key requirement as Tulsa World film critic to know these things. Michael learned a few other life facts along the way (seven years as a Crystal’s Pizza & Spaghetti manager) before attempting journalism and joining the Tulsa World in 1996, where he’s covered everything from a school shooting in Fort Gibson to a tornado in Stroud to witnessing an execution. A little community theater coverage was sprinkled in there, too. Movies engender many of his happiest memories, from standing in line for “Star Wars” and “Grease” at the Southroads Cinema to the James Bond and Pink Panther movies that always premiered at the enormous Continental Theater.

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Past Articles By Michael Smith

2/16/2013		Broken Arrow movie theater moves to discount showings
2/15/2013		Review: 'Amour'
2/15/2013		Review: 'A Good Day to Die Hard'
2/15/2013		Review: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/14/2013		Review: 'Quartet'
2/14/2013		Shirley MacLaine to speak at Osage Casino
2/14/2013		Weekly rewind: February 14
2/14/2013		REVIEW: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/12/2013		Belgian best picture hopeful 'Amour' opens in Tulsa on Friday
2/10/2013		'Die Hard' marathon at AMC Southroads on Wednesday ends with new film
2/9/2013		Review: 'Identity Thief' a stupid movie from stupid idea
2/8/2013		Oscar audit: Critics choices for best picture hold up over time

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