Weinstein Co. gets a ‘Valentine’ and nears deal for Pat Tillman documentary

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Weinstein Co. had a busy Sundance. The production company has sealed a deal for ‘Blue Valentine,’ a dark drama about a failed marriage starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, and is near a deal for ‘The Tillman Story,’ a documentary about Pat Tillman, the NFL star who quit football to join the military after the Sept. 11 attacks and was killed in a ‘friendly fire’ incident in Afghanistan.

‘Blue Valentine’ cost Weinstein Co. just north of $1 million, a person familiar with the deal said. The movie got a lot of attention at the festival. We haven’t seen it, but a friend did and noted that it has some fairly graphic sex scenes and that it deals with abortion. ‘The Tillman Story’ has also been a darling of the festival. Its price will be in the same ballpark as ‘Blue Valentine’s.’

At the same time Weinstein Co. is spending money, it’s cutting staff. About 14 people were let go today. The company has been saying for several months that it is trimming its staff to less than 100 people. Right now, there are about 120 employees. There will be additional cuts or contracts not renewed in the months ahead.

-- Joe Flint