DreamWorks/Disney

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N.Y. Times reporters Brooks Barnes and Michael Cieply reported a few minutes ago that Universal Pictures "has issued a statement acknowledging that DreamWorks [is] shopping elsewhere" for a distribution deal. That means Disney. "Universal Pictures has ended discussions with DreamWorks for a distribution agreement," it said. "It is clear that DreamWorks' needs and Universal's business interests are no longer in alignment. We wish them luck in their pursuit of funding and distribution of their future endeavors."

Honest, really...who cares? What does it matter? How much better can DreamWorks partner Steven Spielberg, whom I sometimes think of as the bearded and beaming Noah Cross of modern Hollywood, live or eat or dress? What has this deal have to do with the price of rice and the basic nutrients that we all need from good movies on a regular basis? I'll tell you what it has to do with them. Not much.

What effect will this have, if any, upon Spielberg's finally stepping up and directing his Lincoln movie, if in fact he intends to direct it (which many people doubt). None, I'm guessing. Spielberg has blown the magic moment on the Lincoln project anyway. It should have been filmed last year and come out just after Barack Obama's election, or sometime in December and into January. The timing would have been perfect.

And yes, now that I've thought it over, Daniel Day Lewis should play Mr. Lincoln. It would break Liam Neeson's heart to lose the role, but when a friend suggested Lewis the other day, I knew it was the right call.