dan in real life - new Peter Hedges project

A widower (Steve Carell) with three daughters writes a parenting column for his local newspaper. His strict rules for behavior are tested when he falls for the girlfriend (Juliette Binoche) of his younger brother. Dianne Wiest also stars.

I guess you have to be a true movie geek to be a fan of a screenwriter, but count me the Founding President of the Peter Hedges Fan Club. He wrote the (terrific) screenplays for WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE and ABOUT A BOY, then wrote and directed PIECES OF APRIL, much loved around these parts. Word is he's just finished editing DAN IN REAL LIFE, which he also wrote and directed, slated to open October 19 (or maybe 12). It's a Touchstone picture, so count on a much bigger budget, and looks like a more conventional romcom, but we'll hope that takes away none of the heart and not too much of the originality that made PIECES OF APRIL such a favourite. (Didn't hurt ABOUT A BOY any...)