Harvey Weinstein has announced that its new film "Begin Again" will close the Tribeca Film Festival. The news is no surprise for Tribeca but it is a big surprise that the film's original title "Can Song Save Your Life?" was changed.
The film originally opened at the Toronto Film festival where it played to mostly good reviews. The title had intrigued many pundits ever since it was announced and it was one of the most anticipated that year. As a result it is interesting that Weinstein would change the title. There was no explanation by the distributor but perhaps Weinstein felt uncomfortable with it or perhaps he had no idea how to market the title or the film.
However this is not the first time the company changes a movie's title or films all together. Last year "Fruitvale Station" premiered at Sundance with the title "Fruitvale" but when the film's release date was announced the "Station" portion was added to the title. No explanation was given once again.
In 2011 when "The King's Speech" won Best Picture the company decided to chop up the film to make it family friendly and to receive a PG-13 rating. The film also got a new poster which included Colin Firth and Helena Boham Carter with a child. The poster gave the film an image that had nothing to do with the film's content.
The company was also famously in contention with Joon-Ho Bong over the cut of his film "Snowpiercer." The company wanted to cut the film and not show the complete version. However after many disputes the Weinstein Company decided to release the movie in July. However the company will not release it through its main division, instead it will release it through Radius TWC. The result will be less exposure and less marketing for the movie.
The Weinstein Company has also been in rough disputes with director Oliver Dahan over the final cut of his new movie "Grace of Monaco." According to the director the company wants to release a movie that he is not happy with. The film was delayed twice but hopefully after opening the Cannes Film Festival, the company will decide on a release date.
Another film the company has put off for a number of months is James Gray's "The Immigrant." Originally named "Lowlife" and "Nightingale," the film was expected to be a 2013 release. However after its mild reception at the Cannes Film Festival and difficult subject matter, the Weinstein Company gave it to Radius TWC. However no news over the movie's release has been announced.
Tribeca is known for premiering New York set movies and John Carney's film has a New York plot with musical elements. The film stars Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfeld and Adam Levine and tells the story of a dejected music business executive who forms a bond with a young singer-songwriter new to Manhattan. The film is set to is set to hit theaters in July and will close the Tribeca Film Festival on April 26.