Ang Lee’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk has been set to have its world premiere October 14 at the New York Film Festival. The bow of the TriStar Pictures pic comes ahead of its wide release November 11 as it positions itself for awards season.
The pic, based on Ben Fountain’s novel, is the first full-length narrative film shot in 4K, native 3D at the ultra-high rate of 120 frames-per-second — the fest event will be the first time the format will be screened publicly. The wide run will play in both 2D and 3D formats.
Fountain’s plot centers on an Iraq war hero (Joe Alwyn) who comes home with his fellow members of Bravo Company for a victory tour. This culminates in a halftime show at a Thanksgiving Day football game — a high-intensity media extravaganza summoning memories of the trauma of losing his beloved sergeant in a firefight. Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker, Garrett Hedlund, Vin Diesel and Steve Martin co-star. Jean-Christophe Castelli adapted the script. Lee, Marc Platt and The Ink Factory’s Rhodri Thomas and Stephen Cornwell are producers.
Lee is a semi-regular at the festival: his Life Of Pi opened the 2012 edition, as did his The Ice Storm in 1997. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was the closing-night film in 2000. As is the case with Life Of Pi, now-Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group boss Tom Rothman was instrumental sealing the deal for the special slot.
Ava Duvernay’s documentary The 13th opens this year’s NYFF on September 30, and the Charlie Hunnam-starring The Lost City Of Z from James Grey will close it October 15.
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