Yay!!!!! Great news. :) I loved that his family went in his place.

Add me to the list of folks so happy that they got picked up. So far Walking Out has an 88.8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

"The Smiths said in a statement that they were “over the moon to be working with IFC Films on the theatrical release of our intimate epic, ‘Walking Out.'” They praised IFC for a track record of “cutting edge yet classic and internationally revered” films, saying they thought the company was perfect for promoting a small film that explores big ideas and emotions. The “Walking Out” makers noted that IFC had previously released films by Richard Linklater, Kelly Reichardt, Lars Von Trier, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Werner Herzog and Olivier Assayas and said they were honored to be in that illustrious company."

I was hoping to see some shots of Matt at the SXSW premier, but it was really neat to see the photos he tweeted out of his family, the Bomer clan representing! Especially nice that his grandmother got to walk the red carpet.

On a bit of bad news, I read an article recently that seems to confirm that Monty probably won't be happening. The writer didn't seem to hold out much hope that Sachs was still on board. This seemed like such a great vehicle for Matt, sad to think it won't be happening. However on the bright side, we have Walking Out and The Last Tycoon to look forward to.

Oh no! What a shame about Monty I can totally see Matt pull off the role. Thanks for sharing that article lucky there's been a brilliant response to *Walking Out *

I'm sad about Monty, for the sake of his memory and for Matt, since it was so close to his heart. But I've always had reservations on how smart a project it was.

There's nothing wrong with it - it would have been fantastic. I'm the first to plow forward with a project just because I'm in love with it. But I've always felt that Monty's less known enough for this film not to have much of a built-in audience to begin with, let alone interest from the younger generation. It's such a personal character-driven (rather than plot-driven) story, and I think it's rare for those to have much success unless there's huge existing star power or the main character is extremely well known. I feel as though Matt would pour his heart and soul into this and very few people would have much interest.

I hope I'm wrong, and also that it finds a second chance.

IFC... can anyone tell me how big a deal this is? I looked at a list of their films and the only one I recognize is My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I'm sure I missed some, and I see that they've distributed over 200 films, but are they wide release?

I'm so happy about this no matter what, but just curious as to how they are at marketing and how many theaters might see this.

This is the article I came across about Monty. It was posted in "Hollywood-elsewhere" March 4, 2017.

_What’s Happened To HBO’s Monty Clift Biopic? During the 2015 Spirit Awards ceremony I asked director Ira Sachs, whose Love Is Strange (’14) had been nominated for Best Feature and Best Screenplay, about his plans for a Montgomery Clift HBO biopic that he had begun to write with Mauricio Zacharias. He said it was a bit too early to discuss but I saw something in his eyes as we chatted — Clift’s saga was somehow too big for him.

(l.) Matt Bomer; (r.) the late Montgomery Clift. Sachs has alway struck me as a somber internalist, a low-key indie guy, a dweeby explorer of quiet intimate material. He could never be mistaken for a director who feeds off the glare of the marquee, and Clift was and is “big” — a tragic brooding hunk (at least before the car accident), a famously closeted icon after his death and easily the charismatic equal of Marlon Brando and James Dean in the ’50s. Call me crazy but I heard a voice that said “Clift might be beyond Sachs’ grasp…they just don’t seem like a match.” Well, here it is two years later and I haven’t heard zip about the Clift project, which was going to be a big score for Normal Heart costar and Clift look-alike Matt Bomer, and not a word about Sachs and Zacharias’ screenplay. But maybe I’m out of the loop so I’m openly asking the producers — Anonymous Content’s Tony Lipp and Alix Madigan, Pier 3 Pictures’ Michael Din and Larry Moss — what’s up. It just seems a shame that they might — I say “might” — have dropped the ball on this. Posted on 1.7.15: “Deadline‘s Nellie Andreeva ran a piece today about Matt Bomer (The Normal Heart, Magic Mike) playing Montgomery Clift in an HBO Films biopic down the road. “Bomer is nearly a dead ringer for the late actor, but his plan to star in Monty Clift was announced over two months ago during the Savannah Film Festival, which Bomer attended. (I was there also and tried to speak to Bomer about the Clift project, but festival publicists stiffed me.) “The HBO film will be “centered around the acclaimed actor’s tumultuous personal life,” Deadline says. That alludes to Clift having been psychologically screwed up (to some extent due to his being deeply closeted) with a major drinking problem going back to the early ’50s, and the fact that he all but destroyed his looks and his matinee-idol career when he piled a car into a telephone pole in ’56, after which he added prescription drugs and pain pills to the boozing.   “In my mind Clift, the first method-y actor to punch through the studio system and become a major star, peaked from Red River through From Here To Eternity — a seven-year run. But after the accident he went from being one of the best-looking actors who’d ever lived to a twitchy geek with big ears and a crackly, spazzy voice. “It took Clift ten years to kill himself. Upon his death in July 1966 the final decade of his life was called ‘the slowest suicide in show-business history‘ or words to that effect.”_

IFC is a pretty big deal in the world of independent film production and distribution. I think Walking Out will do well under their management. Probably the biggest recent film they took over was Linklater's "Boyhood" with Ethan Hawke. It premiered at Sundance, went on to six academy award nominations: including for best picture, and director. I totally agree that no matter what, so happy for Walking Out being picked up.

The reviews for Walking Out continue to be impressive. Here's an excerpt from one of the latest:

The rugged yet stunning beauty of Montana is ably captured by director of photography Todd McMullen (Friday Night Lights, The Leftovers). The twin Smith brothers have filmed all three of their features in Montana, although Andrew taught filmmaking at UT for several years. The state is an apt backdrop for the natural severity and wonder endemic to father-and-son transactions. Bomer, cast against type, and Wiggins (Hellion, Max) deliver phenomenal performances that justify the Smiths’ placing the entire burden of the drama on their shoulders. Little prepares the viewer for the physical and emotional trial that David confronts with intelligence and grace, but by the time the precipitating event occurs (and let’s just say that Leo DiCaprio isn’t the only actor in recent film history to perform epic scenes with a bear), we are ready to witness his valorous emergence. Sections of the film pass with little dialogue but they are still rich with the sounds of babbling brooks, wind in the trees, and footsteps in the fresh snow. By the end of the film, David, indeed, walks like a man.

Lucky - thank you so much for all the info!!

Thanks for posting, enjoying all the great reviews for this. Probably aiming too much but wouldn't it be wonderful if it could reach the dizzy heights similar to Moonlight?

It would indeed be wonderful. No one thought Moonlight would find both the audience and acclaim it did. Just hoping Walking Out gives a wider audience the opportunity to see Matt in both a leading role and very different character. One reviewer said something to the effect that it was captivating seeing him play against type.

Has anyone here seen Walking Out? I've been waiting forever for a chance to watch it. I hear it will come to theaters in Oct. Missing everyone here:(

What sort of release is Walking Out getting? Your referring to US? A nominal release day's before release to streaming services?

I still haven't seen it yet! It's getting some distribution here in the UK but not sure how much. Andrew I ve also read somewhere of a release on streaming, but cannot remember the date.

Yes, something about UK streaming in October. Will have to see at the time.

I haven't heard anything about US release in theaters. Fingers crossed!!!