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It was supposed to win Academy Awards, but instead the biopic Grace of Monaco became little more than a Lifetime movie.
During its US television premiere on Tuesday, screenwriter Arash Amel live-tweeted the entire experience to set the record straight and was nothing short of scathing.
The movie - which starred Nicole Kidman as Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco as she struggled with leaving her Hollywood career - bombed at the Cannes Film Festival last year and missed the Oscar season entirely.
French director Olivier Dahan (La Vie en rose) and producer Harvey Weinstein (Shakespeare in Love) also produced two different versions of the film and had a public falling out.
In a series of tweets, Amel said the film had been ruined by over-the-top musical scores, legal upsets with the royal Grimaldi family and entire scenes being deleted.
Likening the film to a "sinking ship", he said the film had been plagued by people storming off set, disappearing production staff and entire sets going missing.
Despite much of the blame for the film's demise being heaped on Kidman, Amel said the actress had been a "real trooper against great odds".
He was full of praise for the actress who was "terrific to work with at every level", as well as actor Frank Langella who was "a real gentleman".
So what was the problem?
It appears Dahan denied any changes Weinstein and Amel wanted to make to the film, but under French law, the director's opinion is final.
"Director boycotted collaboration," Amel wrote.
"I fought the good fight. But the law is the law.
"One day the world will see the US writer's cut. I'm planning on being here a while."
OK folks, so here I am. In about 20 minutes, @lifetimetv will be showing #GraceofMonaco I will live tweet the whole thing & take questions.— Arash Amel (@arashamel)
May 26, 2015
Somebody help me #GOMFacts— Arash Amel (@arashamel)
May 26, 2015
This boat cost $250k a day. #GOMFacts— Arash Amel (@arashamel)
May 26, 2015
And this is me. This picture is up on the wall in my office. pic.twitter.com/ocDwx6US2y— Arash Amel (@arashamel)
May 26, 2015
This was never meant to be a thriller. It was meant to be real. We cut this whole boat and argument sequence from the US cut. #GOMFacts— Arash Amel (@arashamel)
May 26, 2015
I aim to entertain, even when the ship is sinking. https://t.co/cIM1eohqKr— Arash Amel (@arashamel)
May 26, 2015
Btw, our Unit Production Manager vanished in week 3 or 4. Never seen again. #GOMFacts— Arash Amel (@arashamel)
May 26, 2015
I think Nicole looks stunning in some of these shots. She was amazing to work with and a real trooper against great odds. #GOMFacts— Arash Amel (@arashamel)
May 26, 2015
TURN OFF THE MUSIC!!! #GOMFacts— Arash Amel (@arashamel)
May 26, 2015
Nicole was the best. Terrific to work with on every level. https://t.co/l3pNmcjWRA— Arash Amel (@arashamel)
May 26, 2015
Kept it tame tonight. I'll keep people storming off set, 3-hour shooting days and missing sets for my memoirs. #GOMFacts— Arash Amel (@arashamel)
May 26, 2015
I'm now lying in a dark room, drinking bone broth to recover. https://t.co/SJuh5UmoCS— Arash Amel (@arashamel)
May 26, 2015