After closing the chapter on his surprisingly successful Silver Linings Playbook, David O. Russell has laid the groundwork for his next picture, which looks poised to feature in this season’s award ceremonies. The film, while still unnamed, stars Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence. A talented ensemble, no doubt, boasting two Academy nominees and two Academy winners, respectively.
O.Russell seems eager to reteam with his leading duo from Silver Linings Playbook, and the fact that Christian Bale worked under the director for 2009’s The Fighter adds an interesting spice to his upcoming feature.
Produced by Atlas Entertainment, the story is based on the real life events of an infamous con artist and his associate, who seek the help of an ex-federal agent in order to turn the tide against local mobsters, crooks and politicians. Adding dramatic weight to the story, the film will also include the 1980’s Abscam Scandal in some capacity.
Today, EW is reporting that the film has secured a Winter release date, which is a feather in the hat for O. Russell and his creative team. Not only does it show that the studio has confidence in the film, it also highlights the pedigree on display both in front of and behind the camera. If things go according to plan, the movie could go toe to toe with other films in what has now become the purple patch of cinematic releases. Ridley Scott’s The Counsellor and Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf on Wall Street are just a sample of this year’s Oscar palette and adding O. Russell’s drama into the mix will only infuse a fresh layer of excitement.
Last month, the director topped off a remarkable awards circuit at the Oscars in February, and although his film lost out in most of the major categories, until Silver Linings Playbook came along, securing nominations in all four acting categories hadn’t been achieved since 1982. The American filmmaker knows how to get the best out of his stars with a nuanced blend of drama and emotion and I can’t wait to see what he has cooked up with his upcoming film.