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| Still from The Surrogate |
When a Film gets a standing ovation at the Sundance Film Festival, we take notice over here. Oscar-nominated John Hawkes has been on a long road to success and recognition and a couple of his latest works, Winter's Bone and Martha Marcy May Marlene have raised the 52-year-old Actor's profile significantly. The Surrogate has him starring as Mark O'Brien, a Poet and Journalist suffering severely as a result of a fight with Polio, who hires a Woman (Helen Hunt) to help him lose his Virginity, on his road to fully becoming a Man. Hunt shockingly spends much of her screen time fully nude in this role.
It is said following a screening earlier this week, the audience gave Hawkes and the Film a standing ovation. One of my favourite Critics, Peter Debruge at Variety Magazine Tweeted, "If it were running in this year's Oscar race, THE ARTIST would be toast.". Big Fan of The Artist, so we'll have to see about that!
Fox Searchlight paid $6 million for U.S. distribution of The Surrogate, from Director/Writer Ben Lewin. The Deal is said to be the largest thus far at the Festival. Crossing fingers it'll surface this September at TIFF!
(Photo credit: Suchmuch Films/Rhino Films)
