Thursday, March 29, 2012

The Master Has a Date/Cannes in Three Weeks

Good Morning!

After a week away, I'm back...

THE MASTER HAS A DATE



The biggest news from the last week is the announcement of a release date for Paul Thomas Anderson's highly anticipated "The Master" (or whatever it will be called...there seems to be conflicting information about whether this title will, in fact, be what the film is called).  Oct. 12 has been announced.  Which leaves the film in a position for Telluride (and Venice, Toronto and/or New York).

The Huffington Post actually specifically references T-ride as a possibility here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/the-master-release-date-paul-thomas-anderson_n_1384717.html

Also from Awards Daily:
http://www.awardsdaily.com/2012/03/paul-thomas-andersons-the-master-set-for-oct-12/

CriterionCast.com:
http://criterioncast.com/2012/03/28/paul-thomas-andersons-the-master-hitting-in-october/

Celebrity Cafe:
http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2012/03/paul-thomas-anderson-s-next-film-master-hit-theaters-october-12


CANNES ANNOUNCEMENT IN THREE WEEKS




The word is that the 65th Cannes International Film Festival will announce its lineup on Apr. 19th.  We have another speculative post from The Hollywood Reporter that makes some pretty solid claims about what films could be expected in that announcement including several that I are on my list as potentially being in this year's Telluride program.


Check it here from The Hollywood Reporter:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-2012-films-preview-305064

And The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/on-the-road-cosmopolis-cogans-trade-appear-headed-to-cannes-who-else-will-walk-the-red-carpet

Telluride possibilities in the two articles include:
"On the Road", "Rust and Bone", "Amour" and"Cosmopolis".

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2

Later...

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Cannes is Closer/Willy and Biff/Spring Break

Good Evening!

This morning's regularly scheduled post had some serious trouble, so I am trying to resurrect it.

CANNES IS CLOSER



Cannes is getting closer and closer to an official announcement.  Hollywood News.com speculates on possible titles and stars that might appear there and the article includes many films that I have on my Cannes/Telluride #39 radar.  Look:

http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2012/03/20/which-stars-will-be-in-cannes-marion-cotillard-david-cronenberg-robert-pattinson/

WILLY AND BIFF



The same source has a nice introduction to the opening on Broadway of the Mike Nichols directed version of "Death of a Salesman" featuring past Telluride attendees Philip Seymour Hoffman and Andrew Garfield.

Here:
http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2012/03/18/philip-seymour-hoffman-and-andrew-garfield-in-death-of-a-salesman/


SPRING BREAK

As you may have surmised, this post is truncated as I am on Spring Break!

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Later...

Monday, March 19, 2012

Confirmation/On the Road/The Kid/Dark Trailer

Good Morning!

Going to see the President this week.

CONFIRMATION



I reported in this space 12 days ago that I believed that I had uncovered reliable evidence that this year's Telluride Film Festival guest director would be British author Geoff Dyer.  Now comes confirmation from none other than TFF co-founder Tom Luddy who was present at a reading by the author in the San Fran Bay Area last Thursday night.  Luddy was interviewed by The El Cerrito Patch which reported the following:

"In what may be a world scoop for El Cerrito Patch, Luddy confided to the audience that Dyer will be the guest director this year for the 39th Telluride festival. Luddy's revelation elicited audience applause. "We haven't officially announced that because we'd like to have a press release to announce the fact a little bit later in the year," Luddy said. The guest director selects six of the films."

Nice try Patch, but readers found that info in this space on March 6.  Still, good to see the confirmation this soon after I dropped the story.  Frankly I thought I was going to have to wait until the official announcement which is likely to be in June.

You can see the entire El Cerrito Patch article here:
http://elcerrito.patch.com/articles/british-writer-draws-100-plus-to-cerrito-theater

ON THE ROAD



I have a reasonably good vibe that Walter Salles "on the Road" adaptation of the Jack Kerouac classic will be on the bill of fare in Telluride this September.  Salles has a history with the fest and Film4 (one of the film's producers) has had a presence there recently with such fare as :"Shame" "Never Let Me Go", "Another Year" and "Slumdog Millionaire".  If it shows up at Cannes, as I suspect it will, I will have it on my first "Ten Bets" list.  Over the last week I saw a couple of "On the Road " related tidbits. 

A new poster featuring past Telluride tributee Viggo Mortensen (maybe another reason to suspect that the film could be there).  The Playlist had the story and the poster:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/viggo-mortensen-says-the-best-teacher-is-experience-in-new-on-the-road-poster

Rope of Silicon had the poster story as well:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/viggo-on-the-road-riddick-creature-men-in-black-iii-in-japanese-and-lily-in-mortal-instruments/

"On the Road's" IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337692/

THE KID



The Dardennes Brothers TFF #38 film "The Kid with a Bike" had a generally warm reception at Telluride this year.  My take was less enthusiastic.  I thought it was well enough executed but just an average film.  For me the big take away from my "Kid" experience was a chance to talk a little shop with big time Hollywood blogger Scott Feinberg.  Nonetheless, "Kid" got a limited e U.S. this weekend and consequently merited some coverage. 

Both Anne Thompson/Thompson on Hollywood:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/cecile-de-france-talks-not-giving-a-performance-for-the-dardennes-kid-with-a-bike

and The Playlist had "Kid" stories:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/the-dardenne-brothers-say-they-originally-planned-a-different-ending-for-kid-with-a-bike

"Kid's" IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1827512/

DARK TRAILER


 And though it's not related to Telluride in any way, I couldn't resist dropping a link to the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp "Dark Shadows" trailer (via Rope of Silicon).  Though I have to say, the boys may have gone to far into the "camp" camp.  See for yourself here:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/dark-shadows-trailer-poster/

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Changes/Oscar 2013 Spec/Next for Farhadi/Posters/Cosmopolis

Good Morning!

CHANGES



Big news from The Academy...nomination announcement day has been moved up on the calendar to Jan. 15, 2013.  The actual Oscar presentation will stay on the same concluding February weekend (the 24th) according to numerous sources.  Check out the variety of posts about the new nomination day:

Movie City News:
http://moviecitynews.com/2012/03/academy-sets-85th-academy-awards%C2%AE-date

Thompson on Hollywood:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/academy-sets-dates-for-2013-oscar-nominations-and-awards-does-not-move-up-date

Variety:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118051455/

MORE CHANGES



The Venice Film Festival has announced its intention to structure a pre-festival tie period for a buyers' market.  Sources say that will open Aug. 30, the day before the open of TFF #39.  You have to wonder if this will have any effect on Telluride's lineup.  The Hollywood Reporter has details here:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/venice-film-festival-market-alberto-barbera-299106


NEXT OSCAR

Oscar 2012 is barely done and the 2013 speculation has already sprouted up.  USA Today put together a quick roundtable of Oscarologists and posted this:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/story/2012-03-12/possible-oscar-nominees-of-2012/53502654/1

NEXT FOR FARHADI



Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi (A Separation) is an Iranian film maker and says he will always be Iranian but his next film won't be shot there.  Yahoo News had that story:
http://news.yahoo.com/love-iran-am-filming-abroad-oscar-winner-114952959.html

POSTERS PLEASE

Looking for a movie poster...but finding it difficult to track down.  Roger Ebert says "look here"...The Movie Poster database:
http://www.movieposterdb.com/

COSMOPOLIS



Had an interesting Twitter convo last night with @twilidiot about the new David Cronenberg film "Cosmopolis" being at T-ride in September.  I put its chances at about 25%.  She says Cronenberg is on record that he doesn't think it will be ready for Cannes which would have a been a good entry for its possible inclusion at TFF #39. 

As I told her..."we'll see"...

Follow Me on Twitter @Gort2

Later

Monday, March 12, 2012

Cannes Spec Heats Up/The Master/Carey on the Coens' Set

Good Morning!

Bought the new Bruce Springsteen album this weekend...recommended!  also new Lyle Lovett...also worth the money.

CANNES SPEC HEATS UP

A lot of shuffling and potential Cannes 65 news this past week.  Not the least of which was the announcement that Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" will open the fest.  It's not a TFF #39 possible because of its summer release date.

Also this week...Cannes' #65's poster featuring Marilyn Monroe:

Also, some serious speculation that jut announced French release dates indicate the increased possibility that two films will be bowing in the Cannes lineup somewhere: David Cronenberg's "Cosmopolis" and Jacques Audiard's "Rust and Bone".

That post is from The Playlist here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/are-they-headed-to-cannes-cosmopolis-rust-and-bone-get-may-release-dates-in-france

I'm pretty high on the Audiard's films chances of being in Telluride in September...less convinced that Cronenberg's follow up to "A Dangerous Method" will be there.

Also...a big P.R. push this weekend for Walter Salles' "On the Road" which has certainly received some Cannes/Telluride speculation.  Stills and a trailer.  I have linked to Rope of Silicon's post with the trailer link:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/on-the-road-trailer-featuring-kristen-stewart-garrett-hedlund-sam-riley/

 


And finally, a really interesting spec piece about possible Cannes selections and their chances of winning this year's Palme D'Or at Neil Young's Film Lounge. Posted at Jigsawlounge.co.uk. Take a look here:
http://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/film/reviews/cannes12odds/

Hot TFF #39 possible titles included on the list include: "Rust and Bone" "Beyond the Hills" "Something in the Air" "Love" and "Big House".


THE MASTER


Big news floating from the Paul Thomas Anderson fan site Cigarettes and Red Vines that it seems pretty likely that his new film which may or may not be entitled "The Master" looks to be released in October...which would keep it in play for a possible Telluride bow.  Here's the link to that story:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/paul-thomas-andersons-the-master-eyeing-an-october-release-date

CAREY ON THE COENS' SET

It's no secret that I'm always intensely interested on whatever the Coen Brothers are working on and endlessly dreaming of the year that they are represented by a new film at Telluride.  This year it's "Inside Llewyn Davis" which, among others, features TFF mainstay from the past three years Carey Mulligan.    I found this till of her from the Llewyn Davis set this week...


Come on Carey back to the San Juans and bring Ethan and Joel with you!


Follow me on Twitter @Gort2

Later...


Thursday, March 8, 2012

At Long Last

Good Morning...

Oscar is in the rear view mirror and here finally is the post I have been promising that provides a little insider information and reaction to what happened on Oscar night.  I have mined my sources one more time to entreat them to share some of their thoughts concerning the Academy's soiree.  My little group includes a producer, director, editor, a film student and marketing exec.  It's a pretty diverse slice of the industry/Academy.  Here are some of the comments they had about this year's Oscar party.



SURPRISES...NOT SO MUCH:

There was general agreement that the evening lacked much in the way of an upset.  One member of the group said:

"2 big surprises: Dragon Tattoo for editing, and Meryl for Actress."

The Streep response continued withe another respondent:

"I love being surprised with unexpected winners, but I do feel bad for Viola Davis. She had all of the momentum she could get and still couldn't pull it off. I didn't see The Iron Lady, but I'm guessing this is just a "Sorry we haven't given you more of these" type of win for Streep. I heard The Iron Lady was not particularly great, but hey, she's pretty good in everything she does. I'm not shocked, but I really thought it was going to Davis."

The same person also was surprised by the editing Oscar:

"I am thinking Editing was strange. But TGWTDT was edited well, so I cannot complain that it won. I just thought for sure it would go to The Artist or Hugo, that were also both well edited."

They were also surprised at the Cinematography Oscar:

"Cinematography caught me off guard. I'm reminded of Haneke's The White Ribbon. Voters have had 2 chances in the last 3 years to vote for a black and white film in this category, and they haven't. I think The Tree of Life deserved it, but no big deal."

TELECAST CRITIQUE:

There was generally a warm response to the telecast itself, but not overly enthusiastic.

"I thought it was a good Academy Awards.  While Billy Crystal can do the job, his ad-libs prove he's not Johnny Carson.  The focus group sketch was a good time."


Another of my friends noted:


"Thought they should have let Dujardin do his curtain call a la what he did in the movie, after winning his Oscar. Could have been hilarious, but the director cut away.

Think they should either have the best song category with performances, or cut the thing out. Half-assing it is no fun for anybody.

Billy was good, but he's become the only host worth watching in this kind of format or style. If anyone else hosts it, they need to completely rethink the concept of the show."


THINGS THAT PLEASED THEM:

Each respondent had one or two events that they isolated as something that had made them happy about the night's results.  To wit:

"I really thought Christopher Plummer's speech was classy."

"Personally, I was happy to see Midnight in Paris nab the screenplay statuette. I bet Woody Allen was at home watching the NBA All-Star Game."

"Sad that IN DARKNESS didn’t win but A SEPARATION was pretty outstanding in spite of a frustrating ending.

Very pleased about RANGO. The fact that they had an outstanding d.p. As consultant made all the difference."


QUIRKS:

And a couple of odd facts pointed out along the way:


"Tapley made an interesting note. Dragon Tattoo was first film to have Editing be it's only win since Bullitt in 1968."

"I am told that THE ARTIST was one of only two films shot in Hollywood last year. An ironic and interesting observation if true."

BACK TO TFF #39 BUSINESS...



Repeating what I reported yesterday: it appears that we know the identity of this year's TFF #39 guest director.  This does not come from a press release or news account but the source seems solid.  That person is British author Geoff Dyer. 

Remember you saw it here first and nearly 3 months before the announcement of last year's guest director came from the Festival.

Of course, I'll look pretty silly if this turns out to be wrong...

Finally, here are links to two more spec pieces concerning film expectations for this year.  One is a Cannes wish list and contains a good number of Telluride prospects.  The other is an Oscar 2012 spec piece that focuses largely on Big Studio films that by and large are very unlikely for Telluride...but it's still kind of interesting.

http://www.indiewire.com/article/cannes-wish-list-30-films-we-hope-make-the-festivals-2012-lineup

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/for-your-consideration-list-of-25-potential-2013-best-picture-oscar-contenders/

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2

Later...

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

BREAKING: TFF #39 Has a Guest Director

BREAKING:

TFF #39 Has a Guest Director:

Well placed sources report that it will be British author Geoff Dyer as guest director of the 39th edition of the Telluride Film Festival.



Amazon search result for Geoff Dyer:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=geoff+dyer&sprefix=geoff+dye%2Caps%2C349

Barnes and Noble search result:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/geoff-dyer?keyword=geoff+dyer&store=allproducts

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

TFF #39 Has a Guest Director

BREAKING:

TFF #39 Has a Guest Director:

Well placed sources report that it will be British author Geoff Dyer as guest director of the 39th edition of the Telluride Film Festival.



Amazon search result for Geoff Dyer:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=geoff+dyer&sprefix=geoff+dye%2Caps%2C349

Barnes and Noble search result:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/geoff-dyer?keyword=geoff+dyer&store=allproducts

Sunday, March 4, 2012

And Now for Telluride #39 (2012)

First, apologies for not having posted the Academy member/industry insider Oscar response yet.  Been a little busy.  I'll get that together in the next few days...I promise.

Today, though, the first look in an organized, semi-researched fashion speculating on what seem the most likely prospects for films that we could see in Colorado on Labor Day weekend.

This first post-Oscar stab at what might play in Telluride is always a fun exercise.  Last year, at this time, I correctly speculated about: "The Descendants", "Albert Nobbs", "A Dangerous Method" and "Shame".  I also added "We Need to Talk About Kevin" to the possibles list three weeks later.  Of course, I missed a lot too.

In my 2010 post-Oscar first stabs I had: "127 Hours'" "Another Year," Biutiful," "Black Swan," and "Never Let Me Go".

So the bottom line is that you'd be able to reasonably expect that five or so of the following films will make their way into the San Juans in early September.  (Actually, I am hoping I'm getting better at this and that this year's first attempt is better than the last two).  Here we go:




"Rust and Bone"  Co-written and directed by Jacques Audiard.  Stars Marion Cotillard.  Why in T-ride?  Audiard was in TFF with "A Prophet" in 2009 and it's being fronted by Sony Pictures Classics.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2053425/



"Amour"  written and directed by Michael Haneke.  Stars Isabelle Huppert and Jean-Louis Tintignant.  Why Telluride?  Haneke has been a Telluride favorite with "Cache" and"The White Ribbon".  I expect he'll be back.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1602620/



"Something in the Air" written and directed by Olivier Assayas.  Another Telluride favorite with past appearances including"Carlos" and "Irma Vep".  The fest even had "Goodbye First Love" as an entrant last year written and directed by Mia Hansen-Love, Assayas" significant other, that drew Assayas to Telluride for her presentation.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1846472/



"Beyond the Hills" written and directed by Christian Mungiu. Expect the creator of "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" is back with this film and one would expect that it would be a likely consideration for TFF inclusion.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2258281/



"Song for Marion" written and directed by Paul Andrew Williams.  Terrence Stamp and Vanessa Redgrave in a film from The Weinstein Company.  One of three Weinstein films that you figure have a reasonable shot at Telluride.  TWC probably won't park more than one or two at T-ride.  Of the three, my guess is that this is the most likely.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1047011/



"Hyde Park on Hudson"  Bill Murray as FDR.  Why should it be in Telluride?  Directed by Roger Michell, another frequent Telluride invitee ("Venus" and "Enduring Love") and a starring role for part-time Telluride resident Laura Linney.  I'm betting that Ms. Linney will return after missing last year's fest.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1477855/



"Big House" Co-written and directed by Matteo Garrone.  Garrone, after having been a part of the fest with "Gomorrah" and "First Love" could well return with this film.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1846487/




"The Master"  Paul Thomas Anderson's follow up to "There Will Be Blood" is the second of the Weinstein's projects that could be in Telluride.  It will certainly be TWC's biggest awards horse (at least as it appears now) and PTA was in Telluride as a part of the Daniel Day-Lewis tribute that included 20 min. of "Blood" in 2007.  Those factors make it possible.  BUT...see the note about TWC only parking one or two films at TFF ("The King's Speech" in 2010 and "The Artist" and "Butter" in 2011).  This won't need any TFF boost to be a big part of the 2012 awards conversation...and I have to admit, it's real wishful thinking in my part.  Oh, and one last thing that might suggest it will be in Telluride is that star Philip Seymour Hoffman might return to the place that started him to his Best Actor  Oscar for "Capote".
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1560747/




Other possibles: Ang Lee's "Life of Pi", TWC's Bradley Cooper starrer "The Silver Linings Playbook", David Cronenberg's "Cosmopolis" and Walter Salles "On the Road".

Key developments that we can look for over the next few months:  Cannes' selections and what magic that SPC, Fox Searchlight and The Weinsteins work over the next few months.

Here are some links to posts/articles that try to shed some light on the likely awards contenders and/or Cannes selections for 2012:

From The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/Could-The-Dark-Knight-Rises-The-Master-Be-Contenders-We-Prematurely-Predict-The-2013-Best-Picture-Oscar-Nominees#l

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/2012/03/02/could-bill-murray-and-keira-knightley-soon-be-oscar-winners-we-prematurely-predict-best-actor-and-actress-at-the-2013-academy-awards

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/are-leonardo-dicaprio-and-vanessa-redgrave-heading-for-the-oscars-predicting-best-supporting-actor-actress-2013#

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/022012/will-the-master-terrence-malicks-new-film-james-grays-latest-and-more-actually-premiere


From Rope of Silicon:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/top-40-anticipated-films-2012-1-10/

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2

Later...