Cannes Adds Nine Titles/Cinemacon: "Black Mass"/Cinemacon: "The Revenant"/Winterbottom and Ferrell Meet Ebert and Meyer

CANNES ADDS NINE TITLES

The 68th Cannes Film Festival completed its lineup this week by announcing nine more titles to its Palme competition section, Un Certain Regard and Special Screenings.  I had expected that when these additional films were announced there would be one or two that seemed like possible or even probable Telluride/Cannes crossover films but after parsing the list for a couple of days, I have to say...ummm.  not really.

What it leaves us with, at least initially and until the films actually start screening next month, is the same list we had on April 16th with the original Cannes announcement:

Audiard's "Dheepan"
Villeneuve's "Sicario"
Garoone's "The Tale of Tales"
Schroeder's "Amnesia"
Haynes' "Carol"
Kurzel's "Macbeth"
and
Van Sant's "The Sea of Trees"

Of course this will all change and shift when the festival actually kicks in and three factors begin to enter into my analysis: critical response, distribution deals and ultimately the awards presented by the Coen Brother's led jury.

The announcement of the additional nine films is covered here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/cannes-adds-titles-to-complete-official-selection-20150423

http://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/cannes-completes-2015-official-selection-lineup-1201478310/


CINEMACON: BLACK MASS

Cinemacon, the trade event in Las Vegas that was held last week allows a spring peak at a number of films that are scheduled to be released through the summer and fall.  It also gives journalists the first glimpses of footage of eagerly anticipated titles and this year, two, which I have on my Telluride watch list made big impressions: Scott Cooper's "Black Mass" with Johnny Depp and Benedict Cumberbatch and Alejandro Innaritu's "The Revenant" with Leonardo DiCaprio.  Coverage for both is below...including the teaser for "Black Mass":

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/johnny-depps-black-mass-provokes-strong-response-at-cinemacon-1201477124/

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/04/21/first-look-johnny-depp-whitey-bulger-black-mass

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-look-johnny-depp-goes-gangster-in-as-whitey-bulger-in-black-mass-20150422

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/watch-johnny-depp-is-whitey-bulger-in-black-mass-trailer/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/watch-black-mass-trailer-starring-johnny-depp-as-whitey-bulger-20150423

http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/04/watch-johnny-depp-in-black-mass/

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/this-black-mass-trailer-sets-the-stage-for-johnny-depps-return-to-form





CINEMACON: THE REVENANT REVEALED

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/leonardo-dicaprio-revenant-cinemacon-1201478399/

http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2015/04/lubezki-eyeing-3rd-oscar-forrevenant-lensing-dicaprio-vs-depp/

WINTERBOTTOM AND FERRELL MEET EBERT AND MEYER

And news this week that Michael Winterbottom will direct a film based on the development and collaboration that brought the cult classic "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" to the big screen.  Will Ferrell is reportedly on board to star as director Russ Meyer while Winterbottom and producers are still looking for an actor to play film critic Roger Ebert, who co-wrote the screenplay for the "Valley of the Dolls" sequel.

Could it be a future Telluride prospect.  As it will feature Ebert and will be directed by Winterbottom, at least initially...maybe.  I'll keep an eye on its development.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/michael-winterbottom-to-direct-will-ferrell-in-russ-roger-go-beyond-john-wick-duo-to-helm-bloodshot-20150422

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/will-ferrell-eyes-role-of-russ-meyer-in-russ-roger-go-beyond-20140801

http://deadline.com/2014/08/will-ferrell-circles-russ-meyer-role-in-russ-roger-go-beyond-wholl-play-ebert-813174/

More on Thursday...