Articles - Black Hawk Down

''Black Hawk'' swoops in on December

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Based on stellar early screenings, Sony has opted to open "Black Hawk Down'' for a limited Oscar qualifying run Dec. 28.
The Ridley Scott-directed military actioner will open in two theaters in both L.A. and New York before expanding to 2,500 screens on Jan. 18. It initially was penciled in for fall, but then got bumped to March and again to January. One challenge in scheduling the picture has been its subject matter, which was sticky even before Sept. 11.
The picture, which stars Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor and Eric Bana, details the disastrous U.S. military mission in Somalia that resulted in the deaths of 18 Americans and hundreds of Somalis. It's based on a book by Mark Bowden.
The schedule shift restores some punch to a December slate that has seen the exit of Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York'' and an opt-out by "The Road to Perdition,'' starring Tom Hanks. Universal's "A Beautiful Mind,'' starring Russell Crowe, also moved to a limited bow before widening in January.
Sony's Will Smith vehicle "Ali,'' which just slid back to Christmas Day, remains the most awaited wide launch in December's final week.

By Dade Hayes and Tim Swanson
Reuters/Variety REUTERS

Black Hawk Down
In the immediate aftermath of September 11, there were fears this film would be shelved because of the subject matter- a true-life incident when an elite US force was stranded when after two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down.But the release is brought forward to December (US) and January (UK).
I don't buy the idea that every American is now after escapism. The most-requested videos in New York right now are fims like "die hard"- realism served with a asugar-coated
patriotic twist. Black Hawk has a great cast- Ewan McGregor, Josh Hartnett, Tom Sizemore- and if there´s a hotter film-maker in the world right now than Ridley Scott, I don't know him.'

arena; january 2002 p52

'Sony's 'Hawk' targeting Oscar with Dec. liftoff
LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Another big gun has just moved into prime Oscar qualification territory.

"Black Hawk Down," director Ridley Scott's action-drama about the ill-fated 1993 battle in Mogadishu, Somalia, during which 18 U.S. Army Rangers were killed, will open Dec. 28 in one or two theaters in Los Angeles and New York, thus making it eligible for Academy Award consideration.
It will then move out into 2,500-plus theaters Jan. 18.
The movie, which stars Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore and Ron Eldard, had originally been set for release March 1.
Two weeks ago, Scott showed a cut of the film -- produced by Joe Roth's Revolution Studios, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Scott's Scott Free and Columbia Pictures -- to executives at Sony Pictures, which will distribute it, and they greeted it enthusiastically.
"It really came down to Joe and Sony and their distribution team," Bruckheimer said of the decision to shift into high gear to complete the movie in time for a year-end release. "They saw the picture, and they saw the power of the movie and changed the release date."
Sony distribution chief Jeff Blake said: "When we saw the film, we felt it deserved Academy Award consideration but that it would also be a wide commercial release as well. We always hoped to get it out as soon as possible, and now we were able to commit to this plan, which should serve it well."
"Hawk," which according to some reports plays like a modern-day Alamo, is entering uncharted territory because it focuses on misconceived U.S. military action at a time when U.S. forces are once again in action, bombing Afghanistan (news - web sites).
But Bruckheimer insisted that world events did not play into the decision to release the film. "A good movie is a good movie," he said. "You can never predict what the world situation will be like. We don't know what is going to happen tonight, so how can you predict what might happen Dec. 27?"
In recent weeks, more movies have stepped back from the upcoming Oscar derby than have entered the race. Miramax Films' decision not to release Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York" this year opened up some space on Oscar handicappers' score cards. And such other highly anticipated films as Paramount Pictures' "The Hours" and DreamWorks' "The Road to Perdition" are steering clear of year-end opening dates in favor of 2002 releases.
But "Hawk" will face one contender right in Sony's own back yard: The same studio will release "Ali," a biopic about Muhammad Ali starring Will Smith and directed by Michael Mann. It is scheduled to open in 2,500 theaters Dec. 25, only three days before "Hawk" arrives. "But there is plenty of room between the two wide releases," Blake said.
Scott is no stranger to the Oscars (news - web sites): In last year's competition, he was nominated for a directing Oscar for "Gladiator," which won the Academy Award for best picture.

By Gregg Kilday