With two Oscar-nominated actresses co-leading a project about making a difference with the problems in American education, you can be sure that we’re in for great things in Won’t Back Down.
Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis lead the cast alongside Oscar Isaac, Ving Rhames, and Holly Hunter, and the first trailer for the film has just debuted at Yahoo Movies.
Daniel Barnz (Beastly) is directing from his own script, co-written by Brin Hill, and inspired by a true story. Judging from this trailer, the film will almost certainly be gaining strong Oscar buzz later this year, with a US release set for September, making it a prime candidate for the awards campaigns heading into the end of 2012.
“Two mothers from different backgrounds–a postal worker and a reporter–join forces to take on a failing public school system and institute a charter school for children in the neighborhood, including their own.”
Whilst it’s naturally still very early days yet, with Viola Davis coming off her Oscar nomination in The Help, it’s definitely a possibility that one (or both) of her and Gyllenhaal will be entering the Oscar race in the Best Actress category, and quite possible that Won’t Back Down will be in the coveted Best Picture category, too.
I don’t want to jump the gun, but this is a project I’ve been really looking forward to, and this first trailer has made my spine tingle (in part because the music sets the tone brilliantly). Very promising, hitting all the right notes.
Won’t Back Down will be released in the US by 20th Century Fox on 28th September. No word yet on a UK release date, but given the talent involved, and the subject material, I’d guess there’s no way we won’t get it here to help push the awards appeal. More as we get it. For now, the brilliant first trailer for Won’t Back Down. Enjoy.
