Beaks here...

First off, please join me in congratulating director Chris Weitz for guiding TWILIGHT: NEW MOON to an extraordinary $1 kalillion dollar opening this weekend. I've always heard he's a decent guy, so "Huzzah!" to a seemingly decent guy finding success in an industry populated by Rothman-wannabes.

Now that Weitz has done Summit Entertainment a solid, it looks like they're gonna do him one right back by financing THE GARDENER, a smallish father-son drama which he claims will be his homage to Vittorio De Sica's BICYCLE THIEVES. According to Variety, the film is about "a hard-working [Mexican] immigrant who lives in Los Angeles" and endeavors to protect his son. Earlier this week, Weitz told Moviemaker Magazine he believes the film, while small, will have "very grand" implications. I have no idea what he means by this, but if he somehow forces Summit to pony up for a new DVD of the Dardennes' LA PROMESSE, give the motherfucker a Thalberg.

THE GARDENER was written by Eric Eason, and is currently scheduled to begin principal photography in early 2010. Weitz will produce along with Summit's Griffin Mill.

By the way, if directing an almost-watchable TWILIGHT installment = your next movie on Summit, allow me to nominate Charles Burnett for BREAKING DAWN.