News

In today’s film news roundup, Cybill Shepherd’s “Being Rose” gets acquired, Booboo Steward gets a lead role, Itvs reaches a Sundance milestone, and oilfields drama “The Iron Orchard” gets a release.

Acquisition

Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights to Rod McCall’s romance “Being Rose,” starring Cybill Shepherd, James Brolin, and Pam Grier, Variety has learned exclusively.

The film will be available in theaters and on demand on Jan. 4. Shepherd plays an ex-cop diagnosed with serious health issues who goes on a road trip in a wheelchair to search for her estranged son. Along the way, she falls in love with Brolin’s cowboy character, who has come to a crossroads of his own.

“I consider ‘Being Rose’ the crown jewel of my career,” Shepherd said. “Rod McCall, who wrote and directed the film is one of the finest directors I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.

Cybill Shepherd, James Brolin and Pam Grier have signed on to star in Rose, written and directed by Rod McCall, which starts shooting this month in New Mexico. The dramatic comedy follows Rose (Shepherd), a recently disabled and widowed woman with a short time to live, taking a solo road trip through the "land of enchantment" in an effort to reconcile with her estranged son and make her peace with life. Along the way, she fends off surly predators, makes new friends, and…...

Zachary Heinzerling’s debut documentary may not have packed the political punch that many of its Sundance competition did last year, but Cutie and the Boxer currently stands as an Oscar nominated feature, holding its own with a fervid story of enduring the anguish of living with love and art. While becoming friends and living with the eccentric, acclaimed action artist Ushio Shinohara and his talented and loyal wife, Noriko, Heinzerling discovered a very tragic love story within their dedication to the lifestyle of married artists. Despite reasonable notoriety within the art world and fame back in his homeland of Japan, Ushio has remained a struggling New York artist, dragging Noriko and their son through years of alcoholism and noncommercial production. Thanks to their playful sense of humor and a great appreciation for the unique lives they’ve led, the Shinoharas’ tale is a hilarious and heart-wrenching journey of long...

"The Resident" (2011)

Directed by Antti Jokinen

Released by Image Entertainment

This actually isn't the first time Hilary Swank has seen one of her films go direct to DVD after the films "Red Dust" and "Birds of America" suffered the same fate, but surely there was more riding on this horror film from the resurgent Hammer Films about a recently separated doctor who learns her Brooklyn loft isn't quite as wonderful as she thought it would be. "Secretary" screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson co-wrote this film, which co-stars Christopher Lee, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Lee Pace.

"The Mikado" (1939)

Directed by Victor Schertzinger

Released by Criterion Collection

"Topsy-Turvy" (1999)

Directed by Mike Leigh

Released by Criterion Collection

Sold separately, Criterion is making no secret of trying to appeal to Gilbert and Sullivan fanatics with special editions of "The Mikado," a straight-up adaptation of the musical duo's most famous opera, and Mike Leigh's "Topsy-Turvy,...