"Bullhead" director Roskam takes "The Tiger"

Michael R. Roskam (left) alongside Matthias Schoenaerts (right).

Among the less deplorable selections of this past year's Academy Awards nominations was the Foreign Language Film selection, which featured more intriguing picks than simply the magnificent winner that was "A Separation". There are still a handful of black marks in "Footnote" and "In Darkness", but there wasn't much cynicism to be had over "Monsieur Lazhar" or "Bullhead". The latter has gained a reputation as the unofficial runner-up of the award, all while giving a fair amount of press for star Matthias Schoenaerts, and more recently for director Michael R. Roskam. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker is now preparing to make a long-term name for himself.

"The Tiger", a project once meant for Darren Aronofsky before he turned himself onto "Noah", will now move forward with Roskam at the helm. Aronofsky is still in place as producer, along with Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Ari Handel, Mark Heyman and Jeremy Kleiner. "Bullhead" has been an object of desire to me for some time, not only due to lead Schoenaerts part in Cannes debut "Rust and Bone", but because it seems to be of a distinct visual style, as well as a certain brutality. Give the plot description attached to "The Tiger", Roskam sounds as fitting a decision as any to take it forward. I'd even indulge him as a far-off Best Director nominee when the time and film is right. Take a look at a basic plot description from the book after the jump!

OSCAR 2011 PREDICTIONS: Foreign Language Film

I have as little an understanding of the Foreign Language race this year as just about anybody could. I know that I absolutely love "A Separation", and it's everyone's favorite to win. I also know that the best choice is so rarely the one that's chosen. People don't really know what goes on in the minds of the people who vote in that category. I hold as testament: "In A Better World", "The Secret in Their Eyes", "Departures", "The Counterfeiters", and many others in the past. This is ultimately nothing more than a crap shoot, and it's often total crap. I can only find myself swinging sympathy under one fighter, and that's "A Separation". If things go as they should, it'll happen. I just have a sinking feeling it will go to something random and pointless that nobody is even going to try to see.