It may be Fahrenheit 9/11 day here in New York, but the most interesting news on the front page of Variety (sub req’d) has to be that HBO Films plans to produce “an original period tuner starring OutKast’s Andre 3000 and Big Boi.” For the Variety-lingo-challenged out there, that basically means a full-on singin’-n-dancin’ musical, and apparently it will be set in the South in the 1930s (that’s the “period” part) during Prohibition, although the music — which Outkast will write — will be of a contemporary bent. According to the article, “Andre 3000 is the house piano player (at a Speakeasy), while Big Boi will play the lead performer and manager, who’s trying to stave off gangsters who want to get their hooks into the place.” Hopefully the story will develop into something more original and interesting, but it sounds like a creative production that could help advance the film musical genre, as long as it doesn’t turn out like this. Thankfully, I have faith that HBO Films wouldn’t let that happen. And even more important to those of you sans cable, the film will be released theatrically before appearing and the pay cable net.
On a slightly related note, this Saturday night on HBO is the premiere of Jim McKay’s latest film Everyday People which premiered earlier this year at the New Directors/New Films festival cosponsored by The Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Museum of Modern Art. I saw the film at ND/NF, and while it’s worth watching, it left me kind of saying “meh.” I didn’t find it as compelling as McKay’s earlier film Our Song. But I don’t need to repeat myself.
Out of Focus 