Ondaatje Part Deux

Jay Fernandez and The Hollywood Reporter add some detail to what we reported yesterday, that author Michael Ondaatje (The English Patient) will be this year's guest director for TFF #37. Here's the link:

http://riskybusiness.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/06/30/telluride-film-festival-taps-michael-ondaatje-as-2010-guest-director/

The TFF #37 Guest Director Is....

Author Michael Ondaatje has been selected to Guest Direct the 37th Telluride Film Festival according to Kris Tapley at In Contention.


Ondaatje is best known as the author of "The English Patient" which won the Booker Prize and, of course, became the film of the same name that won 9 Academy Awards including Best Picture. Ondaatje shared the USC scripter award that year with Director/Screenwriter Anthony Minghella.

Ondaatje was born in Sri Lanka in 1943...but moved to England in 1954 and then to Canada in 1962. He's lived there ever since. He was primarily a poet in his early writing career.

Interesting tidbit: He authored a book in 2002 about Walter Murch and editing. Murch was a Telluride tributee in 2006.

It will be interesting to see what the author of "The English Patient" programs as his selections in this year's festival.

You can check out Ondaatje's "Contemporary Writers" page at:
http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth205

Clooney and Venice and TFF #37

George Clooney takes aim at the Venice Film Festival

A couple of reports that Clooney's "The American" is set for Venice which decreases its likelihood of being in Telluride.

Also, quite a bit of pundit back-and-forth on Malick's "The Tree of Life" being at Venice or not. Sasha Stone at Awards Daily is the latest to opine that "Tree" is probably NOT at Venice, but is likely for Toronto, which oddly, makes Telluride continue to be a possibility. http://www.awardsdaily.com/?p=23068

One other tidbit, "Betty Anne Waters" has a different title..."Conviction"

TFF #37...Coppola...Sofia not Francis Ford

Scene from Sofia Coppola's "Somewhere"

Anne Thompson reports that Sofia Coppola's new directorial effort "Somewhere" has been tabbed to premiere at the Venice Film Fest making it unlikely to be a pick at TFF #37.

TFF #37...Schnabel

(Freida Pinto in Julian Schnabel's "Miral")

Hollywood News Reports that The Weinstein Company has picked up distribution for Julian Schnabel"s "Miral." It tells the story of an attempt to establish an orphanage in post WWII Jerusalem and stars "Slumdog Millionaire" beauty Freida Pinto.

This probably signals a boost for its chances to appear at TFF #37. I was surprised it did not show up at Cannes.

The Weinstein Co. had "The Road" at Telluride last year and Schnabel was in Telluride with "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" in 2007...a really great film... and Schnabel was Oscar nominated as Best Director for that.

It's IMDB page is http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1366409/

TFF #37 and Post-Cannes

A shot from Palme D'Or winner "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives"...will it be recalled in Telluride in September?

Belatedly, here's a quick rundown of the Cannes scuttlebutt and what it may mean for Telluride's 37th Film Fest.

A Partial List of Cannes Winners (the complete list can be found at http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/theDailyArticle/57863.html):

Palme D'Or: "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives"

Grand Prix: "Of Gods and Men"

Director: Mathieu Almaric/"On Tour"

Jury Prize: "A Screaming Man"

Actor (tie) Javier Bardem/"Biutiful" and Elio Germana/"Our Life"

Actress: Juliette Binoche/"Certified Copy"

Screenplay: Lee Chang-dong/"Poetry"

From the "Un Certain Regard" Segment:

"Ha Ha Ha" and "October"

Indiewire put together a compendium of critical reactions to the Cannes festival...I've listed the films that rated a combined "B" or better (complete grades are here: http://www.indiewire.com/article/cannes_2010_the_guide )

Four films earned a collective "A-": "Uncle Boonmee," The documentary "Inside Job," "The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceausescu," and "Draquila - L'Italia che trema"

Films earning a collective "B-plus" were: "Abel," "Chantrapas," "Blue Valentine," Certified Copy," "Poetry, " "Carlos,"and Mike Leigh's "Another Year."

Films earning a collective "B" were: "Of Gods and Men," Life, Above All, "Tuesday, After Christmas," "I Wish I Knew," "Angelica," "Countdown to Zero, " "Heartbeats," and Godard's "Socialism"

What does all this mean???

As mentioned in earlier posts, I think "Another Year" is a virtual lock. And "Uncle Boonmee" and "Biutuful" have increased their likelihood of being in Telluride on Labor Day. I also think "Certified Copy," "Poetry," "On Tour," and "Of Gods and Men" have upped their chances.

I also still think that "Blue Valentine" might follow the path blazed by "An Education" last year and cruise into Telluride despite having been preemed at Sundance.

And Woody Allen's new film ("You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger)....maybe not so much.

Still hoping for Malick's "The Tree of Life"....

And finally, I am headed to Telluride for the the graduation of Ms. Katie Mallard (THS Class of 2010) We understand that "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" will be playing at The Nugget. Might try to catch it there. I have a friend that says its the best movie he's seen in a long time...

More as it becomes available (and as Toronto begins to announce its lineup, because there is usually a big overlap between the two...while almost zero overlap with the Venice Film Fest)...