After "Missing Pieces"/A New Trance/Thompson's List/Oscilloscope

Larry Mallard's photo of fireworks in Telluride last night...Oooh....AAAHhhhhh

Good Morning everyone.  I hope you had a terrific Independence Day celebration.  The Patterson's did their traditional morning grilled steak and eggs breakfast complete with mimosas.  We were coast to coast yesterday with all members of the clan firing up grills to celebrate America by eating a ridiculous amount of food to start the day.  It's a tradition in our family that goes back 40 years or so.  Try it.  Nothing beats a grilled slab of beef as a way to start your 4th of July holiday (unless, of course, you're a vegetarian/vegan...then grill up some asparagus and join the party!)

THANKS!

A big thank you to start today to all of you that took a peek at my All Time Top Ten (11) Films of All Time List.  It's been one o the most popular posts of the summer.

AFTER "MISSING PIECES"

Last week I got the chance to publish an actual review for Kenton Bartlett's independent feature film "Missing Pieces" (check June 28).  Couple of things about that...I have my first attributed blurb.  Check out Kenton's "Missing Pieces" website... http://kentonbartlett.com/ Feel like a big shot. 

Additionally, apparently ascribing to the "moss won't grow on a rolling stone" theory, Bartlett is moving on to his next film project.  Take a peak at those details on his website as well...
http://www.kentonbartlett.com/futureproject.htm
The new film project is entitled "When It's Cold, I'll Keep You Warm."

NEW "TRANCE" NEWS

We reported last week that recent Telluride fave Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours)was setting up his next film (not expected until 2013 so he can direct the Olympics ceremonies in London next year).  It's called "Trance" and was scheduled to feature James McAvoy (Last King of Scotland, The Last Station) and Michael Fassbender (Hunger).  The word over the long weekend was that Fassbender is out and Boyle is looking to replace him with...drum roll please...Oscar Winner Colin Firth (The King's Speech, When Did You Last See Your Father?).

The switch in casting, should it pan out, may actually increase the chances that we see this film in Telluride in 2013.  Also reported this weekend was that Boyle was hot to cast Scarlett Johansson as well.

Incidentally, in other Colin Firth/Telluride related news.  He will be appearing this Oscar season in support of Gary Oldman in Telluride possible "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and is filming the Coen Brothers scripted "Gambit" directed by Michael Hoffman.  If Hoffman's name sounds familiar, that's because he was in T-ride in 2009 as director of "The Lsst Station."  So, perhaps "Gambit" is a 2012 Telluride possible as well.

THOMPSON'S LIST

Anne Thompson of Indiewire's Thompson on Hollywood has her Oscar watch list up.  I have included her Best Picture list here Best Bets for Telluride have a *):

BEST PICTURE

Front Runners:
The Artist*
Jane Eyre
The Tree of Life
Win Win


Contenders:
Beginners
Carnage
A Dangerous Method*
The Descendants*
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Hugo Cabret
J. Edgar
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball*
On The Road*
Super 8
The War Horse

Long Shots:
A Better Life
Contagion
The Ides of March
The Impossible
The Iron Lady
One Day
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
We Bought A Zoo
Wuthering Heights
Young Adult*

You can find her entire list that includes Acting, Directing and Screenplay possibles at:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/09/09/oscar_predicts_chart/
 
ANOTHER FILM COMPANY AND TELLURIDE
 
Looking today at Oscilloscope Pictures which has had a limited presence at the Telluride Film Festival over the last few years.  They were a significant presence in 2008 with 2 films appearing at T-ride: "Youssou Ndour:I Bring What I Love" and "Kisses."  Since then films under their banner that made some noise but were not at Telluride included: "The Messenger," "Exit Through the Gift Shop,"and "Meek's Cutoff" (which, rumor has it, almost appeared at TFF #37 last year).
 
As to this year, they are part of the team responsible for "We Need to Talk About Kevin" which played Cannes and received a good deal of potential Oscar buzz about Tilda Swinton's performance.  I actually think it's chances of being at Telluride are reasonably good. 
 
Have a good Fifth of July friends and neighbors!