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| - Reach Out and Touch Someone is a 2014 American Dark Comedy Drama film written and directed by Seth MacFarlane starring Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Emma Roberts, Justin Bartha, Ethan Embry, Chris Rock, Viola Davis and Mila Kunis. The film was a phenomenal box office success and was universally well received by critics. It secured an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and three other Oscar Nominations among many other award nominations and wins. The Oscar Nominations were for Best Actor: Dustin Hoffman, Best Supporting Actress: Emma Roberts and Best Supporting Actor: Chris Rock.
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| - Reach Out and Touch Someone is a 2014 American Dark Comedy Drama film written and directed by Seth MacFarlane starring Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Emma Roberts, Justin Bartha, Ethan Embry, Chris Rock, Viola Davis and Mila Kunis. The film was a phenomenal box office success and was universally well received by critics. It secured an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and three other Oscar Nominations among many other award nominations and wins. The Oscar Nominations were for Best Actor: Dustin Hoffman, Best Supporting Actress: Emma Roberts and Best Supporting Actor: Chris Rock. Actors Hoffman and Rock as well as actresses Roberts and Davis secured Golden Globes for their respective roles. The film earned triple it's budget size and rejuvinated the career of actor Ethan Embry who had converted to television after failing to continue in large mainstream film. It earned critical attention for director/writer/producer MacFarlane who is globally known for the hit animated television shows Family Guy and American Dad, who had only previously made the jump into film with the hit 2012 comedy Ted, which also starred Mila Kunis and featured Hollywood A-List Actor Wahlberg portraying the lead role. Following the film's success MacFarlane was greenlit a sequel to the hit comedy Ted and granted the chance to create another project he had written that year. Universal Studios however had initially thought to decline his idea as it wasn't along the lines of his comic genius but rather a very dark, daylight set dramedy. He however raised half the budget on his own means and his passion to make the project impressed the chairmen of Universal and by November 17th, 2012 the project was greenlit for production. Casting began on January 12th, 2013 with the casting having been completed on January 20th, 2013. MacFarlane had actor Jamie Foxx originally in mind to portray the part of closet homosexual Lars Emmet but he dropped the project due to scheduling conflicts and to his surprise in the open auditions for the part came in comedic actor Chris Rock, who MacFarlane deemed would fit the comedic side of the character but he originally believed would not be able to flesh out the broken misery of the conflicted character. However after reading only two paragraphs, one concerning an intimate moment between him and Anthony Thimball and a heated moment between him and abusive mother Lia Emmet he secured the part. Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep were both who MacFarlane modelled the character Lana Robertson on but ultimatley Mirren declined an audition and Streep came in for auditioning to MacFarlane and Universal's astonishment stating she loved the story, characters, script and sincerity of the character he modelled after her and Mirren. Principal Casting then followed Rock and Streep with them focusing on the Thimball Brothers: Actors Logan Lerman, Chris Massoglia, Nicholas Hoult and Adam Brody were considered for the part of the begrieved younger Thimball Arthur whilest Embry was who the part was written for: MacFarlane stating on account of his leading part in the hit 1998 teenage comedy Can't Hardly Wait. However all the considered actors for the part of Arthur declined the part except for Massoglia who came into audition but after reading the rest of the material declined stating the character to be too difficult. Ultimatley Hangover, The New Normal and Failure To Launch star Justin Bartha came in for Arthur and was asked to read lines aside Embry and the two then secured the roles. Casting closed with the lead dying father Julius Caesar and his estranged daughter Cassie Gillis. Actresses Shailene Woodley, Kirsten Prout, Bella Heathcote and Kay Panabaker auditioned for the part of Cassie and Oscar nominated actress Anna Kendrick was called into audition but pulled due to scheduling conflicts. Eventually actress Emma Roberts came into audition and almost immediatley secured the role, being described as simply astounding, terrifying and broken beautiful by MacFarlane. Actor Robert De Niro was considered for the part of Julius Caesar as was actor Stanley Tucci but ultimatley when a spec script was sent through to De Niro for reading he passed the part over to actor Hoffman who he had famously colloborated with on Meet The Fockers and it's sequel. Hoffman was immediatley entranced by the part and came in for auditioning. His manneurisms and sheer awkwardness in asking MacFarlane questions in concern to the character secured him the lead without a warranted audition. Actresses Panabaker and Prout who had auditioned for the role of the Cassie were called back to fill the added in roles of two supporting characters who serve as Cassie's only friends apart from a role played out by actor Daniel Franceze. Casting then closed as the narrator character Dr. Hartley was closed for MacFarlane himself and his wife and son were filled by cameo performances from prestigious Oscar nominated actress Amy Adams and Hugo star Asa Butterfield.
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