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Jack Black and Director Michael Winterbottom Really Need a 'Bailout'

by Ethan Anderton
May 12, 2011
Source: Variety

Though he's kept to mostly mainstream comedies and family films like Gulliver's Travels, Kung Fu Panda and School of Rock, actor Jack Black will next team with The Killer Inside Me director Michael Winterbottom for his next project. Variety reports on the collaboration called Bailout which is actuallyan adaptation of Jess Walter's novel The Financial Lives of the Poets, and the material is certainly darker than what Black is usually accustomed to on the big screen. The story follows a down-and-out man who is jobless, crippled with debt, convinced his wife is having an affair and is weeks away from losing his home. Read on!

Here's a more detailed rundown of the story:

Matt Prior quits his job as a business reporter to start Poetfolio.com, a Web site featuring poetry about finance, or money-lit. Unsurprisingly, it tanks, and Matt returns to the newspaper, only to be laid off with a meager severance package. Now not only are the Priors in danger of losing their house, but Matt is convinced that his wife, Lisa, is having an affair with an old boyfriend she rediscovered during her lengthy nightly Facebook sessions. With two sons in overpriced Catholic school and his increasingly senile father to support, Matt's bank accounts dwindle amid his financial planner's dire predictions (diagnosis: fiscal Ebola). When an appealing but illegal moneymaking opportunity presents itself, Matt jumps at the chance.

With a script from the author himself, the project is slated to begin shooting this August. Honestly, I'm excited to see Black take on something like this. He's previously dabbled in some indies like Margot at the Wedding, and he's starring in Richard Linklater's forthcoming dark comedy Bernie, so it's nice to have him venture outside of cheesy, family films every now and then. The guy has a lot of genuine talent, comedic timing and just an amazing amount of energy and charisma that he brings to every role. I'm quite excited to see what he can do with a director like Winterbottom overseeing his talents. How about you?

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