In Contention

Tag: Olivier Dahan

  • Zellweger sings Dylan in ‘My Own Love Song’

    Back in 2008, I professed myself less than ecstatic at the prospect of “My Own Love Song,” the first English-language effort from “La Vie en Rose” helmer Olivier Dahan, in which Renée Zellweger plays a wheelchair-bound country singer on a road trip with her eccentric best friend Forest Whitaker, in search of her long-lost son. (I believe my exact words may have been: “This could literally be the worst film of all time.”)

    The film opens in France next week, and while the trailer (after the cut) suggests I may have been a tad overdramatic, I can wait a very healthy amount of time to see it. I suppose we might be forced to endure a measure of Oscar chatter for Zellweger — “ZOMG it’s the female ‘Crazy Heart!’” — but the film is really looking to make a splash in the Best Original Song category.

    The Playlist reports that Bob Dylan (a former Oscar champ for the 2000 “Wonder Boys” cut “Things Have Changed,” in case you forgot) has composed no fewer than 16 original songs for the film. One of them, “Life is Hard,” is performed in the film by Zellweger, and features quite prominently in the trailer.

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  • 5/25 Web Round-up (MEMORIAL DAY EDITION)

    Spider-Man vs. Morbius• Tom O’Neil asks the question of the week: Will Cannes winners repeat at the Oscars? [Gold Derby]

    • On the attraction to Amelia Earhart, featured in two films this year. [Los Angeles Times]

    • Charles McGrath talks to director Sam Raim, whose “Drag Me to Hell” is more fun than it has any right to be. [New York Times]

    • Arbitrary collective of the day: The top 15 movie boats of all time. [Premiere]

    • Nathaniel Rogers stumbles onto a short film series, “Lady Dior,” starring Marion Cotillard from “La Vie en Rose” director Olivier Dahan. [The Film Experience]

    • /Film gets a beautiful new layout. [/Film]

    • William Goss on the latest vampire movie/TV trend, which could extend to…Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 4?” [Cinematical]

  • Anyone want to see this?

    Sorry this news is a few days old, but it escaped my notice until now. Variety reports on a new independent drama that enters production next month. I’m just going to lay down the details, one by one:

    Renee Zellweger plays a wheelchair-bound former singer.

    Forest Whitaker plays an emotionally damaged fireman.

    Together, they embark on a road trip to Memphis, wherein they work through the tragedy they have both faced in their lives.

    And apparently find love.

    It’s written and directed by Olivier Dahan, he of “La Vie en Rose.”

    And it’s called “My Own Love Song.”

    I should keep an open mind. Maybe it’s a masterpiece in the making. But based on those facts, is there not a strong possibility this could literally be the worst film of all time?