Today I'm almost concluding my "Usual Suspects" rundown as it relates to TFF #41. In parts one and two I looked at the prospects of "Usuals": Herzog, Burns, Payne, Cousins, Morris, Inarritu, Leigh, the Dardennes and Assayas. Six more today and a small addendum for tomorrow.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS 2014 PART THREE
Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach in Telluride in 2012 (photo via Kristy Patterson)
Today we start with Noah Baumbach. Baumbach is interesting "Usual Suspect" this year as he may...and I stress "may", have two potential projects that could play the fest. Baumbach's past with Telluride includes "Margot at the Wedding" in 2007 and his collaboration with Greta Gerwig in 2012, "Frances Ha".
Baumbach has collaborated again with Ms. Gerwig in what is still being referenced as "Untitled Public School Project". IMDb lists it as being in post-production as of late April. If you'll recall, however, "Frances Ha" was similarly under-the-radar when it appeared at Telluride two years ago.
The other Baumbach project seems to be farther along and more is known about it. Entitled "While We're Young" it stars Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts and Amanda Seyfried. It is also listed by IMDb as being in post as of late February.
My expectation is that one of these two films play Telluride. Each would have its merits. I love me some Greta Gerwig, loved "Frances Ha" and am curious about what she and Baumbach might have cooked up. On the other hand, the inclusion of "While We're Young" might also get Ben Stiller in town on Labor Day weekend and I would add him to my currently imaginary panel of comic actors working serious that at the moment would include Michaell Keaton from Inarritu's "Birdman" and Steve Carell from Miller's "Foxcatcher".
Again, I'll bet one if not both Baumbach's play.
IMDb pages for "While We're Young" and "Untitled Public School":
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1791682/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_1
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2872462/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_2
Stephen Frears
Stephen Frears...if reports are to be believed, and I do believe them, was supposed to have been a late addition to Telluride last year with "Philomena". That didn't work out. There was even some rumor floating about that Frears might have been Guest Director or one of them but that didn't work out either.
Nevertheless, Frears has another project this year that could make appearance and that is his "Untitled Lance Armstrong Biopic" starring Ben Foster as the now disgraced bicyclist.
Frears was the recipient of a TFF tribute in 1987 that included a screening of "Sammy and Rosie Get Laid' and was back in 2010 with "Tamara Drewe".
My feeling is that this is an "iffy" proposition for Telluride. IMDb lists it as being in post-production as of mid-January but Frears (despite my listing him as an "Usual") has a hit and miss record with T-ride. It's also difficult to assess what effect the events of last year might have.
Ultimately, I think the chances of us seeing the Frears project this Labor Day is about 30%.
IMDb:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3083008/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1
Next up is Wim Wenders. Wenders was an early Telluride participant and then came back strong recently. Wenders, like Baumbach, has a couple of projects that could show at The SHOW. First, his Cannes documentary "Salt of the Earth" that looks at the life of photographer Sebastiao Salgado. The film won a couple of awards at Cannes and is in the Sony Pictures Classics stable so you have to think it's a very real T-ride possibility (I've already had it on my "Ten Bets" list this summer).
Wim Wenders
The other Wenders project is the feature film "Every Thing Will Be Fine" which stars James Franco and Rachel McAdams. It is listed as being in post-production as of last month. I think that it's much less likely to show up on the program.
"Salt" chances: 60%
IMDb:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3674140/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Every Thing" chances: 20%
IMDb:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1707380/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1
Lone Scherfig
Then there's Lone Scherfig. Scherfig played Telluride in 2001 with "Italian for Beginners" in 2001 and was back again in 2009 with "An Education" (in one of those really rare instances where a film played at Sundance and then at Telluride...it happens about once a decade). Scherfig has a new film in post-production called "Riot Club" starring Natalie Dormer which focuses on Oxford's "Riot Club". The film is set to premiere in England and Ireland on Sept. 19th so a Telluride play would work nicely for it. The lack of a U.S. distribution deal may slow its chances, however.
Right now I'd give "Riot Club" only a 25% chance of playing Telluride.
"Riot Club's" IMDb:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2717860/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Finally, today, two guys that used to be "Usuals" that might return to the party.
John Boorman is listed on Telluride's "Esteemed Council of Advisers" and has been for a good long time as has Peter Bogdanovich.
Peter Bogdanovich and John Boorman
Boorman has a sequel in the can of his Oscar nominated "Hope and Glory". This film is entitled "Queen and Country". Bogdanovich also has a film entitled "Squirrels to the Nuts" which reportedly hearkens back to the film maker's heyday of comedies like "Paper Moon" and "What's Up Doc?" It stars Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson as well as past Bogdo stars Cybil Shepherd and Tatum O'Neal.
IMDb for "Queen and Country":
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2392810/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Of these two, I feel "Queen and Country" has a reasonable shot to make the lineup...say 40%. "Squirrels" seems to be less likely to me. Out its chances at 25%.
IMDb for "Squirrels":
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1767372/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Tomorrow, a small addendum to this year's "Usual Suspects"...
CRAVE ONLINE TAKES A STAB
Take a look at this CraveOnline video touting the upcoming Telluride Film Festival. It's kind of entertaining. "Crave's" film guy William Bibbiani takes a stab at prediciting the Telluride lineup. He mentions Fincher's "Gone Girl" (see below) , Nolan's "Interstellar", Inarritu's "Birdman" and Scott's "Exodus".
Frankly, I don't know anyone who thinks that "Gone Girl" or "Exodus" are likely and, though I have seen one mention of "Interstellar's " possibility for Telluride, I'd still be surprised if it is in the lineup. I'd like that, but I'd be surprised.
"Birdman"...yes. I think so as well.
I left a comment suggesting that they needed to check this space.
"GONE" TO NYC
"Gone Girl" trailer from YouTube
Variety posted last night that David Fincher's "Gone Girl" will open the New York Film Festival and though I have been consistent in saying it wasn't likely for Telluride, this announcement makes it all but official. Check the Variety story here:
http://variety.com/2014/film/awards/gone-girl-to-open-new-york-film-festival-exclusive-1201263704/
Incidentally, the announcement stirred up some Twitter traffic about other possible NYFF possible choices for closing night and the mid-fest special screening and as a part of that there was some further mention that there is some buzz about Nolan's "Interstellar" playing Telluride. Rumors are rumors, but it's still fun to think about,
COMING ATTRACTIONS: MR. HOLMES?
Ian McKellen as Sherlock Holmes in "Mr. Holmes" from Rope of Silicon
Earlier this week, we saw the first image from Bill Condon's "Mr. Holmes" starring Ian McKellen as a 93 year old version of Sherlock Holmes and Laura Linney as well. The film is currently filming and is expected to be released in 2015. Production companies on the film include See Saw Films, BBC Films and FilmNation, all of which have had a presence at past Tellurides. It sounds like the kind of film that could make the TFF #42 lineup.
Take a look at the ROS story here:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/first-look-ian-mckellen-sherlock-holmes-bill-condons-mr-sherlock/
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