The Playlist Names “Small Apartments” One Of Most Anticipated Indie Films Of 2012

BY OLIVER LYTTELTON | JANUARY 10, 2012 | Indiewire.com

"Small Apartments"

Synopsis: An overweight man, Franklin Franklin, lives in an apartment complex and dreams of Switzerland, but finds his neighbors leaking into his life.

What You Need To Know: On the "randomly assembled cast" meter, only one film in 2012 is able to compete with "Battleship" -- "Small Apartments." The latest film from music video veteran Jonas Akerlund, it features among its ensemble James Caan, Billy Crystal, Johnny Knoxville, Rosie Perez and Dolph Lundgren. Based on Canadian (huh? Canadian?) writer Chris Millis' award-winning novel, British comedian Matt Lucas ("Bridesmaids," "Alice in Wonderland") toplines this quirky dark comedy, compared by some to "A Confederacy of Dunces," with Juno Temple, Amanda Plummer, Saffron Burrows, DJ Qualls, Rebel Wilson, Peter Stormare and David Koechner also along for the ride. Akerlund's hyperactive style did no favors to his near-unwatchable "Spun" or "Horsemen," but this seems like enough of an oddity that we're intrigued to see more. Also intriguing to note, ex-Roxette frontman Per Gessle is scoring the film (actually, Roxette is still touring and selling out stadiums).

When? Slated for Sundance, but absent from the line-up, we're sure it'll do the festival route later in the year. (“Small Apartments” will premiere in March 2012 at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin). Read full article here.

"Small Apartments" World Premiere at SXSW Film Festival in March

From The Hollywood Reporter (1/12/12)...

Small Apartments (World Premiere)

Director: Jonas Åkerlund, Writer: Chris Millis

When Franklin Franklin accidentally kills his landlord, he must hide the body; but, the wisdom of his beloved brother and the quirks of his neighbors, force him on a journey where a fortune awaits him. Cast: Matt Lucas, Billy Crystal, James Caan, Johnny Knoxville, Juno Temple, James Marsden, Dolph Lundgren, Saffron Burrows, Rosie Perez, DJ Qualls. Full article here.

Host Billy Crystal in upcoming movie by writer Chris Millis

By BARBARA LOMBARDO, The Saratogian

SARATOGA SPRINGS — An upcoming independent film written by Chris Millis of Saratoga Springs is getting a big, unanticipated boost: Playing a supporting role is Billy Crystal, who will be hosting the Oscars — just two weeks before the movie’s debut.

And Millis was also name-dropped in the New York Times.

“If you’ve been waiting to see Billy Crystal, last a movie lead nine years ago in ‘Analyze That,’ back on the big screen, wait no more,” wrote Michael Cieply in an item in Friday’s New York Times. “Directed by Jonas Akerlund, ‘Small Apartments’ is a comedy, based on a script and novel by Chris Millis, about a deadbeat who kills his landlord.”

“It’s awesome,” Millis said Saturday from Los Angeles about making the movie.

“I was on the set every day and worked very closely with Akerlund. He’s kind of a rocker dude. I love him,” he said.

Millis, a 1990 Saratoga Springs High School graduate, lives in Saratoga Springs with his wife, Lisa, and their twin boys, who will turn 5 this month.

During frequent trips to L.A., he stays with fellow Class of 1990 grad Scott Sheldon, who Millis said plays a police officer in “Small Apartments” and will also be a police officer this Thursday in the TV show “Private Practice” at 10 p.m. Thursday on ABC.

The novel “Small Apartments” was originally published in 2001 by Anvil Press. His first novel, it won the 23rd Annual International Three-Day Novel Contest.

Millis is now putting the finishing touches on the ebook, among other things.

“I have a bunch of open projects right now,” he said. “I am doing a film with Mark Piznarski, the director of the CW TV show ‘Gossip Girl.’ ”

“Small Apartments” will screen for the first time in mid-March at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, just two or three weeks after the Feb. 26 Oscars.

Millis adapted the screenplay and is executive producer.

In the movie, in addition to Crystal, are Matt Lucas, Johnny Knoxville, James Caan, Dolph Lundgren, Juno Temple, Peter Stormare, James Marsden, Amanda Plummer, Saffron Burrows, David Koechner, David Warshofsky, Rebel Wilson and Rosie Perez, according to Millis’ blog.

How the movie will be distributed after the festival has yet to be determined.

“I’d really love to do something big in Saratoga,” Millis said.

New Jonas Åkerlund film "Small Apartments" to feature soundtrack by Per Gessle

As Per Gessle revealed today on Facebook, the songs he's recently written and recorded for a "soundtrack" are for Jonas Åkerlund's new movie "Small Apartments." Read the message by the man himself:

Yes Box Alright! I've done the soundtrack, based on the Son of a Plumber vibe, for Jonas Åkerlund's new movie "Small Apartments". The music has been recorded at the AGM Studio and as expected the mighty Mr Lundquist & Mr Ofwerman have been the cornerstones. The film? Well, it's a "dark comedy" (based on the S.A. novel) starring Matt Lucas, Billy Crystal, James Caan and Peter Stormare in the leading parts. And yes, it's a wonderful movie. And yes, there will be a soundtrack. And yes, we have to release it on vinyl as well. I'm really proud to be part of this. Cheers, P. (P.S. Jonas is God.)

The novel this movie is based upon was written by American writer Chris Millis in 2001. He has adapted the screenplay and is the executive producer of the movie. Here's the blurb for the book:

Small Apartments is the offbeat tale of an obese, slovenly peeping tom, his odd brother, his pothead neighbour, and their quest to hide the body of an unfortunate landlord. The story is accented along the way by murder, strange fingernail collections and the occasional blast from a treasured alphorn.

Behind-the-scenes photos of the shooting of the movie are available on Chris Millis' website and the complete cast is available on the Internet Movie Database.

Another soundtrack Per Gessle has contributed to in the past was that for the 2008 movie "Låt den rätte komma in (Let the Right One In)". In this movie, you can hear parts of the still officially unreleased song "Kvar i min bil (Left in My Car)".

Billy Crystal Returns to Big Screen at South by Southwest

By MICHAEL CIEPLY, New York Times

LOS ANGELES— If you’ve been waiting to see Billy Crystal, last a movie lead nine years ago in “Analyze That,” back on the big screen, wait no more.

Jason Redmond/European Pressphoto AgencyBilly Crystal

Mr. Crystal, this year’s Oscar host, will appear in a supporting role in “Small Apartments,” an indie film that will screen at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Tx., during a film program that runs from March 9 through March 17, the festival announced on Thursday. Directed by Jonas Åkerlund, “Small Apartments” is a comedy, based on a script and novel by Chris Millis, about a deadbeat who kills his landlord. Click here for New York Times article.