Cooper, Hancock & Reitman revisited

In early 2010 I did a post about three directors, Scott Cooper, John Lee Hancock and Jason Reitman.

My praise for these three directors was that in 2009, despite their lack of celebrity status, they directed respected character films. These character films were relatively simple and focused on the actors and actresses in the performance in roles that connected both with audiences and with critics.

Based on their 2009 successes (Crazy Heart, The Blindside, Up In The Air) I expected that more than anything that they would have great casting power and that their films, and more specifically their casting decisions were worth watching.

Well in 2010 none of them directed a feature length film, as I would expect, but I was hoping that they would each be doing some work here in 2011. But the only one of them with a film set to come out this year in Jason Reitman who is coming out with the film Young Adult.

Young Adult pairs up Jason Reitman as director and Diablo Cody as screenwriter - after working together previously on the film Juno, which earned each of them an Academy Award nomination (and a win for Cody).

So, in getting on with my point I thought would speak to the cast that Raitman's film has attracted. The film stars Patrick Wilson and Charlize Theron.

Now Patrick Wilson sort of had his "critical success breakout" with Little Children but Oscar hasn't called his name yet, so I'm watching for that.

And Charlize Theron - well it's interesting because my January 2010 post about "casting" strangely mentions Theron - in describing the films these directors had done I said: "These aren't deglam projects like Charlize Theron in Monster, but performances that regular people will embrace as well." So...there's a little StrangeCulture trivia for you for the day.

But honestly, I think this could be the type of film directer that brings Charlize Theron back to Oscar night for the 3rd time (previously winning for Monster and being nominated for North Country).

So, if you're reading this wondering -- what's Young Adult even about, I will start by saying, based on my experience with Raitman, premise doesn't begin to tell you about the movie, but from what I've read it's the story about a divorced fiction writer (Theron) who returns to her home town to try to rekindle a relationship with her ex-boyfriend, who is now married with kids.

Generic premise, but I'm hopeful - it's Jason Reitman, who has impressed me with Juno, Thank You For Smoking, and Up In The Air.

And hopefully we'll see what Cooper and Hancock do soon.