We have reported a bit about the goings on at Sundance in Park City (the dramas with Tracy Morgan and more) but today we have news about a film that is causing a bit of a stir because of its wonderful story and brilliant acting and writing. That film is The Surrogate. Read on for more details about what the film is about and who stars in it.
The film stars the wonderful Helen Hunt, and indie household name, John Hawkes. The story follows a poet, Mark O’Brien, played by the Sundance ‘God’ Mr Hawkes, who is dying of severe polio and has no muscle movement in his body, except for in his head and neck. He decides that before he passes on he wants to lose his virginity so hires a “sex surrogate,” played by Helen Hunt, to help.
Making it even more powerful and poignant, the film is directed by Ben Lewin (an Australian writer and director) who had polio as a child and lost the use of his legs. The film is based on a true story and gives me shivers.
John Hawkes is no stranger to Sundance. Though he’s still not quite a household name, he’s managed to achieve a certain indie ubiquity in Park City over the year’s — featured in 2011′s “Martha Marcy May Marlene” and picking up an Oscar nomination for his role in another Sundance favorite, “Winter’s Bone.” This year, he’s back at the festival with “The Surrogate,” which judging from its reception at its premiere this week, looks to be an early contender for next year’s Oscar season.
Even just reading the plot and hearing who is in it makes me so excited for this film. Evidently, everyone at the festival agreed. At the Q&A after the premiere when Lewin approached the stage, with his crutches, he received a roaring standing ovation.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Fox Searchlight bought the rights to the film for $6 million, making it the biggest sale of the festival. I think we should definitely keep our eyes on this one as it is already got Oscar written all over it.
I love John Hawkes, I wish he could get more recognition!
I’m loving how some of the extra news coming through does mention stuff going on with Australian’s working in the entertainment industry, great job Mel!
Great to see Helen back and is sure to create a lot of buzz for her. The only problem I have, is these sorta films pick up flare during this time and very early during the year but then get side-kicked to the larger budget films that are primarily produced for the Oscars and released in Nov-Dec. The Academy are very lazy at recognising films produced earlier during the year and succumb to the big production companies that put on those private screenings to sway votes.
Good luck to the film though!
I love me sum John Hawkes. It seems like everyone from the best tv series of all time…Deadwood….has gone on to great careers. People who like Hawkes, Timothy Olyphant and some bloke named Ian McShane…please find it and watch it. On a side note, my college girlfriend was Helen Hunt’s stand in double on the film, Twister. They shot it around Univ. Of Oklahoma and it was well known she was the bitchiest bitchipoo on set and you were actually told not to look at her in her eyes. Like she was some a-list regular sized forehead talent? The myths of d-bag celebs pulling crap like that doesn’t deserve kudos.
Thank you! I was wondering why I recognized him and was just about to Google it! Deadwood is the best TV series of all time! I’ll definitely be looking out for this movie now!