First Images from MANURE – Playing at Sundance 2009
12/25/2008
Posted by Frosty
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Written by Steve ‘Frosty’ Weintraub
With the Sundance Film Festival taking place next month, I’ve been sent a ton of images from all the film’s playing. While I’d love to post all of them tonight, since I have images from 50 different films, it’s just not possible. So what I’ve done is taken a few of the new images I’ve been sent and I’m posting them as separate articles tonight. In the coming days and weeks you can expect a lot more image articles. Also, since not much info is known about the movies as no one has seen them yet, I’m using the synopsis’ that are on the official Sundance website.
Up now is “Manure” and it’s from the Polish Brothers. According to the info I was given, it's a comedy about manure salesmen in 1960s America. And just looking over these first images, it’s pretty clear the Polish Brothers are using CGI to help tell their story. Will it work? Is this a “300” inspired use of painted backdrops? We’ll all find out in mid January. “Manure” stars Billy Bob Thornton, Téa Leoni and Kyle MacLachlan. Here’s the synopsis and all the images I was sent:
When a tragic accident ends the life of Mr. Rose, the genius behind Rose's Manure Company, the livelihood of its loyal fleet of salesmen threatens to go, as they say, into the toilet. Enter estranged daughter Rosemary (Téa Leoni), a high-class- cosmetics salesgirl, who steps in to take control. She is not sure she has a nose for the family business, but she is determined to make foul into profit. Little does she know that a ruthless, slick-talking fertilizer rep (Kyle MacLachlan) is plotting a takeover. Whether she likes it or not, she must trust her top salesman, Patrick Fitzpatrick (Billy Bob Thornton), to devise a plan to regain Rose's rightful position on top of the heap.The Polish brothers have created a wholly original, decidedly irreverent, yet enchantingly classic comic adventure from the 1960s. Sassy dialogue gives Manure flair, but it is the period design with its sepia palate of painted backdrops that conjures up scaffolds and wind machines just off camera. The Polish brothers are complete originals, and their all-star cast stylishly matches their campy hybrid hijinks. Thornton masters just the right tone, while Leoni’s nostalgic throwback performance showcases her unique brand of physical comedy. In the Polish brothers' capable hands, Manure fills the screen with scene after scene of wonderfully rendered, pure cinematic imagination.






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