TIFF 2011 Buyer’s Club: #4. Oren Moverman’s Rampart

#4. Rampart
The Gist: This is an adaptation of James Ellroy’s novel where Cube will play a homicide detective sent to investigate a dirty cop (Harrelson) in a drama that is squarely based on the scandal involving crooked L.A.P.D. cops in the 1990s.

Director: Oren Moverman (The Messenger)
Sales Agent: WME Entertainment
Selling Point/Suited For: The Messenger was/is distinct indie fare, but Moverman’s sophomore effort might fall into the “Drive” category — accessible, larger audience film with an auteur treatment with plenty of attention to the details (look, performance, tone). The James Ellroy adapted dirty cop tale is based on true events and with a larger, more recognizable cast, and a re-pairing of Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster, there would appear to be more guarantee for the buck (award nominations, wide theatrical release). I’m guessing this might be a surprise break-out hit for the fest – meaning  a distributor such as Oscilloscope Laboratories (who might want to rework with Moverman again) will have to shell out more dollars. Look for for Steve Buscemi’s perf — he was brilliant in the allocated time he had in The Messenger.