"Inglourious Basterds" is off to a good start in Europe, scoring the best opening day ever in France for a Quentin Tarantino pic with a Wednesday gross of $1.4 million from 499 playdates.

Universal Pictures Intl. also opened the film in Belgium and French-speaking Switzerland to best-ever numbers for Tarantino. Pic also finished No. 1 in Australia, where it opened Thursday, grossing $490,000 from 201.

"Basterds," about a tough band of soldiers who slip into Germany to battle Nazis, kicks into high gear Friday, when it opens in 3,165 theaters domestically. The Weinstein Co., U's partner on the film, is domestic distrib. Overseas, the pic rolls out into a total of 2,620 playdates in 22 territories, including the U.K. and Germany.

It opened last night (Wednesday) in three territories -- Belgium, France, French-Switzerland -- and scored the highest Tarantino opening ever in those three markets. "The results are great. We opened No. 1 in all three markets and grossed: Belgium $143K at 63 locations, biggest Tarantino opening day; France $1.4M at 499 locations, biggest Tarantino opening day; French-Switzerland $61k at 24 locations, biggest Tarantino opening day," an insider tells me.

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Weinstein Company Facing Bankruptcy?

The Weinstein Company is on the brink of bankruptcy, according to multiple sources. The firm has hired Miller Buckfire & Co to strategize the company's future.

But today the Wall Street Journal's Lauren Schuker reports that The Weinstein Co has hired financial adviser Miller Buckfire & Co to "explore possible restructuring or refinancing". One of my sources confirms and notes, "You don't hire Miller Buckfire to raise money. You hire Miller Buckfire because they are one of top restructuring experts in the country. They currently represent several top institutions going through bankruptcy."

Today, Nikki Finke reports that Quentin Tarantino is worried that Weinstein won't be able to come up with the $30 million for the release and marketing budget for Inglourious Basterds, starring Brad Pitt.

What this all means is that TWC is "hoarding whatever cash they have left to be able to release Inglorious Basterds," a film financer analyzes. Tarantino's film is scheduled for release August 21st.

What a mess. Add these woes to the Project Runway fiasco and you have a very bad year indeed for the Weinsteins.

Posted on June 8, 2009
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Inglourious Basterds Will Compete at Cannes Film Festival

Quentin Tarantino and his World War II film Inglourious Basterds will compete the Cannes Film Festival this year.

The Brad Pitt starrer, set in Nazi-occupied France, has been invited to play in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Insiders said Tarantino, a longtime favorite of the French, has accepted the offer and has told the film's backers -- the Weinstein Co. and Universal Pictures -- that the pic will be ready for its world premiere during the May fest.

The movie, which follows a band of Jewish-American soldiers whose mission is to take down a group of Nazis, will bow Aug. 21. Both the Weinstein Co. and U declined comment. Cannes organizers, who will announce the fest's lineup April 23, could not immediately be reached. Tarantino is no stranger to the Palais. The helmer became one of Hollywood's most in-demand directors after his "Pulp Fiction" won Cannes' Palme d'Or in 1994.

The 2008 festival runs May 13-24, 2009. Can Tarantino pull off another win? It's hard to say. Buzz about the unspellable film has been mixed.

Posted on April 1, 2009
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