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As the year goes on, I have been trying to keep tabs on all of my favorite films from this year’s Sundance Film Festival, a task that has proved to be relatively difficult. With the exception of The Wackness, a film that I find myself writing about almost weekly, I have allowed quite a few of my Sundance ’08 favorites to dangle in oblivion, without much recognition beyond the positive reviews that I wrote in January.

One particular film that I seem to have lost sight of is The Great Buck Howard, which stars John Malkovich as an aging, washed up stage performer looking to make his last big mark on the world before he is washed away by old age. Produced by Tom Hanks, Buck Howard was an incredibly smart and endearing film, with a supporting cast (including Colin Hanks, Steve Zahn and the lovely Emily Blunt) that all deliver solid performances around the brilliance that is John Malkovich. Malkovich’s performance, to say the least, was astounding.

I tell you all of that to tell you the Buck Howard-related news of the day. According to Indiewire, Magnolia Pictures has purchased the North American distribution rights to the film today. The announcement was made by Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles, who called The Great Buck Howard “a rare find in the current marketplace – a charming, incredibly likeable film that has something for everyone.” And as someone who has seen the film and enjoyed it thoroughly, I can only agree with that sentiment.

Magnolia Pictures is planning a fall theatrical rollout for the film. We will keep you posted, should updates become available.

For more, check out my review of The Great Buck Howard from Sundance.