Madonna's latest film didn't make it to many screens, but hopefully will find an audience on DVD and Blu-Ray. Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company has send us over regarding the upcoming DVD and Blu-Ray combo pack release of her latest directorial effort "W.E." The film stars Abbie Cornish (Sucker Punch), Andrea Riseborough (Happy-Go-Lucky), James D’Arcy (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World), Oscar Isaac (Drive), Natalie Dormer (Captain America), and Richard Coyle (5 Days of War)and is co-written by Madonna and Alek Keshishian (Madonna: Truth or Dare). Special Features on the DVD and Blu-Ray include a “The Making of W.E.” featurette."W.E" streets on May 1st.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://we-movie.com

Press Release:

Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company announced today the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD release of the ultimate love story, W.E., directed by Madonna. Co-written by Madonna and Alek Keshishian (Madonna: Truth or Dare), the romantic drama stars Abbie Cornish (Sucker Punch), Andrea Riseborough (Happy-Go-Lucky), James D’Arcy (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World), Oscar Isaac (Drive), Natalie Dormer (Captain America), and Richard Coyle (5 Days of War). A beautifully crafted, passionate tale about the search for true love in the modern world, W.E. heads to retail on May 1, 2012 for an SRP of $39.99 for the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and $29.98 for the DVD.

W.E. has received numerous accolades, including a 2011 Academy Award® nomination for Best Achievement in Costume Design (Arianne Phillips, Walk the Line). The film won a 2012 Golden Globe® Award for Best Original Song (Motion Picture) for the song “Masterpiece”, and was nominated for a 2012 Golden Globe® Award for Best Original Score (Motion Picture) as well. The film’s lead actress, Andrea Riseborough, was honored with a 2011 Spotlight Award™ at the Hollywood Film Festival.

Baz Bamigboye, film critic for the Daily Mail, hailed W.E. as “one of the best dressed movies of the year.” Geoffrey Macnab, film critic for The Independent, described W.E. as “visually inventive with sheer zest and craftsmanship.” Wrote ELLE Magazine’s Nojan Aminosharei, “Andrea Riseborough’s performance is a gem. A dynamic portrayal of Wallis Simpson.” “Andrea Riseborough is superb!” added The Wall Street Journal’s, John Anderson.

Madonna’s Academy Award® nominated film (2011 Best Achievement in Costume Design, Arianne Phillips) delivers an elegantly stylish and beautifully dramatic look into the lives of two fragile yet passionate women intertwined across the decades. In 1998, New Yorker Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish) becomes enamored with what is believed to be the greatest romance of the 20th century – King Edward VIII’s (James D’Arcy) surrender of the crown for the woman he loved, the chic and charismatic American, Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough). Through a series of secret letters, Wally discovers the lifetime of romance Edward and Wallis shared together.

The W.E. Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD special features include a “The Making of W.E.” featurette. Note: Special features are subject to change.

Learn more about W.E. at: http://we-movie.com

Wow. I didn't even know that Madonna was directing a film, until The Weinstein Company send us out this release today say that they've picked her directorial debut film "W.E." for US distribution.

Press Release:

The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it has acquired U.S. distribution rights to "W.E.," Madonna's directorial debut of a feature film. W.E. is a romantic drama co-written by Madonna and Alek Keshishian, produced by Madonna and Kris Thykier and executive produced by Scott Franklin (BLACK SWAN). It stars Abbie Cornish (LIMITLESS), Oscar Isaac (DRIVE), James D'Arcy (MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD), Andrea Riseborough (NEVER LET ME GO), Natalie Dormer ("The Tudors"), Richard Coyle (PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME), James Fox (SHERLOCK HOLMES) and Laurence Fox ("Inspector Lewis"). The announcement was made by TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein and President of Production Donna Gigliotti.

Spanning six decades, W.E. juxtaposes a contemporary love story with that of King Edward VIII and American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

"W.E. is about the nature of true love, and the sacrifices and compromises that are often made. I've wanted to tell this story for a very long time, and bringing it to life has been a great adventure for me. I'm looking forward to working with Harvey and The Weinstein Company on this film," commented Madonna.

"Madonna has really come into her own as a filmmaker with W.E.," said Weinstein. "She's taken one of the most famous romances of the 20th Century and brought it to life in a smart, sexy and thoroughly modern way. It's a terrific addition to our US release slate."

Commented Gigliotti, "The advance footage for W.E. was some of the most impressive I've ever seen. I can't wait for American audiences to have the opportunity to see this film."

The deal was negotiated for TWC by Weinstein, COO David Glasser and Michal Steinberg, Senior Vice President Business Affairs and Acquisitions; and by CAA, on behalf of the filmmakers.

SYNOPSIS

W.E. tells the story of two fragile but determined women - Wally Winthrop and Wallis Simpson - separated by more than six decades. In 1998, lonely New Yorker Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish) is obsessed with what she perceives as the ultimate love story: King Edward's VIII's abdication of the British throne for the woman he loved, American divorcee Wallis Simpson. But Wally's research, including several visits to the Sotheby's auction of the Windsor Estate, reveals that the couple's life together was not as perfect as she thought. Weaving back and forth in time, W.E. intertwines Wally's journey of discovery in New York with the story of Wallis (Andrea Riseborough) and Edward (James D'Arcy), from the glamorous early days of their romance to the slow unraveling of their lives in the decades that followed.