The Weinstein Company picks up 'A Single Man'...could 'Nine' be on its way out of 09?

Variety has the story on the pickup of the buzzed about film at Toronto, which reads:

In the first splashy buy of the Toronto Film Festival, the Weinstein Co. has picked up U.S. and German rights to "A Single Man." The Tom Ford-directed adaptation of the Christopher Isherwood novel is fresh in from Venice, where Colin Firth won actor kudos.

Deal was made after an all-night negotiating session between distributors and Ford's CAA agents following a Monday evening premiere here heavily attended by indie distribs.

Those buyers massed at a post-premiere party at the Gardiner Museum, where Clive Owen was among the guests, and the film's suitors included Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Miramax's Daniel Battsek and Summit's Rob Friedman.

At the fete, there was hope in the air that "Single" might break the dealmaking logjam and prod distributors to begin locking in distribution deals for a slew of available films with strong casts that are unspooling at the fest. There had been no major showdown over a pic until Ford's debut arrived Monday.

While the pickup prices and P&A commitments may be lower in the current buyer's market, deals could materialize for acquisition titles such as Atom Egoyan-directed "Chloe," Darwin drama "Creation," Robert Duvall period drama "Get Low," Brit thriller "The Disappearance of Alice Creed," Demi Moore-David Duchovny starrer "The Joneses," Michael Douglas starrer "Solitary Man," Neil Jordan's "Ondine," Tilda Swinton starrer "I Am Love," Venice winner "Lebanon," Helen Mirren period pic "The Last Station" (a Telluride fest entry) and gritty Michael Caine starrer "Harry Brown." Also drawing interest were docus including "The Art of the Steal."

Agents and buyers were beginning to feel that more deals may start to crystallize.

"A Single Man" takes place in 1960s L.A. and stars Firth as a gay British college professor attempting to cope with the death of his partner. TWC plans to release the film in a limited run to qualify it for the Academy Awards. Pic will then go out wider in early 2010.

"Though I've gone through this with my collections in the past, this is so much more personal, and much more a reflection of my soul," said fashion designer-turned-director Ford, who optioned the novel three years ago and shot the film in just 21 days.

"I have always admired Harvey's great passion for film," Ford said. "Harvey and I have talked about a collaboration for years, in fact, since our first meeting more than 10 years ago."

-The Hollywood Reporter adds this headache inducing bit:
Now the banner's end-of-year calendar is even more crowded, even though "Man" is likely to be platformed at the end of December and not widen beyond New York and Los Angeles until January on the back of potential awards and critical plaudits. The Weinsteins could move "Nine" into 2010, though TWC said Tuesday that there have been no changes to its release schedule.

-The rumors are flying (and likely false) that 'Nine' may be pushed to next year to make room for this and 'The Road' as the Brother's Weinstein's hopes for Oscar (along with 'Inglourious Basterds' to some extent)...would that be a good idea?