We'll " See the Light" in November/Kurzel Talks the "Scottish" Film/Malick Moves to 2016

Good Morning World...Welcome to Tuesday...


WE'LL "SEE THE LIGHT" IN NOVEMBER

Sony Pictures Classics has announced that its Hank Williams biopic starring Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen will be released on Nov. 27th smack in the middle of awards season.  The conventional wisdom is that SPC will push for Hiddleston for Best Actor at a minimum.  The film could also make a play in a number of other categories.

"I Saw the Light" was at #5 on last week's first "Ten Bets" list.  The selection of a late November release date doesn't harm its Telluride chances in the least and actually stokes the T-rode flames just a little bit.

Here's coverage of the SPC announcement:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/i-saw-the-light-release-date-tom-hiddleston-1201530904/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/sony-pictures-classics-adds-hank-williams-biopic-i-saw-the-light-starring-tom-hiddleston-to-awards-slate-20150629

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/sony-slates-i-saw-the-light-for-awards-slot-tom-hiddleston-looking-for-first-nom/


"I Saw the Light" was directed by Marc Abraham ("Flash of Genius" TFF 2008).  Here's the film's IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3789828/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_1


KURZEL TALKS THE "SCOTTISH" FILM

"Macbeth" teaser via YouTube

Writer/director Justin Kurzel spoke recently to the British version of Yahoo Television about his upcoming "Macbeth" starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard.  The film is being distributed by The Weinstein Company and played the Cannes Film Festival.  It is not yet scheduled for a U.S. release but is set for an October 2nd  release in the U.K.

"Macbeth" was listed on last week's "Ten Best" as being "on the outside" but close.

Here's the interview:

https://uk.tv.yahoo.com/foul-fair-macbeth-director-194415755.html



MALICK MOVES TO 2016

"Knight of Cup's" trailer via YouTube

Speaking of release dates and their effect on their Telluride potential...

The already tenuous possibility that we could see Terrence Malick's latest "Knight of Cups" took a hit with the announcement over the weekend that the film will not be released until 2016.

The Playlist and Thompson on Hollywood provide the details:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/terrence-malicks-knight-of-cups-wont-arrive-until-2016-austin-music-scene-drama-not-titled-weightless-20150627


http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/meet-the-hammonds-indie-films-new-kids-on-the-block-20150619

That'll do for a Tuesday...check back tomorrow...


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New Trailer for the "Queen"/"Mountains May Depart" Interview/"45 Years" Wins at Edinburgh

Good day on a Monday...hope you had a great weekend...


NEW TRAILER FOR THE "QUEEN"

I had Werner Herzog's "Queen of the Desert" listed as one of the first "Ten Bets" for Telluride last Friday...but I still have some questions about how absolute its position.  Dicey reviews from the Berlin Film Fest and U.S. distribution from the "Atlas Shrugged" distrib the Atlas Distribution Co. made me put it at #10...

Nevertheless, a new trailer without subtitles dropped over the weekend.  Here it is:

"Queen of the Desert" trailer via YouTube

And a story from The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-international-trailer-for-werner-herzogs-queen-of-the-desert-with-nicole-kidman-robert-pattinson-and-more-20150613



"MOUNTAINS MAY DEPART" DIRECTOR JIA ZHANGKE INTERVIEW

Mubi's Amir Ganjavie talks to the director of the Cannes competition film that was widely regarded critically as one of the three of four best films at the competition.  "Mountains May Depart" is on the Telluride radar as a result of its reception at Cannes. Kino Lorber has the U.S. distribution for the film.  Kino was represented last year at Telluride with "The Decent One".

Here's the link to the interview:

https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/the-status-of-love-in-the-age-of-consumerism-an-interview-with-jia-zhangke/



"45 YEARS" WINS AT EDINBURGH

Andrew Haigh's "45 Years" which scored acting wins at Berlin for Tom Courtenay and Charlotte Rampling continued to gain honors this time at the Edinburgh Film Festival.  Rampling won Best Actress again and the film was named Best British Film.  Here's coverage from Variety and Thompson on Hollywood:


http://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/andrew-haighs-45-years-wins-british-film-award-at-edinburgh-1201529078/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/45-years-leads-edinburgh-film-fest-winners-20150626

"45 Years" was on my first "Ten Bets" last week at #7.


That's all for a Monday...check back tomorrow...


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Future Telluride: "Wilson" Begins Filming/Coppola and Insdorf Talk Film/2015's First "Ten Bets"

Welcome to Friday...


FUTURE TELLURIDE: "WILSON" BEGINS FILMING

Once director now producer of "Wilson", Alexander Payne

Principal photography has begun on "Wilson" a film that, at one point was to be directed by Alexander Payne but is now under the direction of Craig Johnson ("The Skeleton Twins").  Payne is still listed as a producer which makes me think that it is still a film that we probably should have on our T-ride 2016 watch lists.


"Wilson" will star Woody Harrelson, Judy Greer and Laura Dern.

I have linked reporting from Thompson on Hollywood and The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/wilson-starring-harrelson-and-dern-starts-filming-for-fox-searchlight-20150625

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/production-begins-on-adaptation-of-dan-clowes-wilson-starring-woody-harrelson-full-cast-revealed-20150625



COPPOLA AND INSDORF TALK FILM

It seems like it should have, has happened at Telluride.  Long time Telluride interviewer Annette Insdorf sat down with legend Francis Ford Coppola for 92Y's Reel Pieces series.  The 30 minute interview and brief story can be found here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/watch-francis-ford-coppola-on-the-future-of-cinema-marlon-brando-and-regrets-20150625



2015'S FIRST "TEN BETS"

It's the last Friday in June and that means it's ponce again time for me to put my figurative money where my mouth is and take a stab at naming ten films that I think have a real shot at making the Telluride lineup for this year.

If the past is any guide, anywhere from five to seven of the following films will actually end up being a part of the TFF #42 lineup.

I'll continue through the rest of the summer posting revised "Ten Bets" lists each Friday right up to the final "Ten Bets" a day or two before the official lineup is announced.

So...here goes nothin':

#10) "Queen of the Desert" Despite it's sub par critical reception at Cannes I expect Werner Herzog's film to make The SHOW.

#9) "Suffragette"  Makes the list, barely, on the thinnest of clues...it's "European" premiere designation for the London Film Fest.

#8) "Truth" The Dan Rather story starring Robert Redford from SPC

#7) "45 Years"  Double acting wins at Berlin and from the Sundance Selects/IFC Films stable.

#6) "13 Minutes" Also a Berlin standout from SPC

#5) "I Saw the Light"  Other than it's from SPC, I have no other really great reason that I think it'll play T-ride...but I have a feeling...

#4) "Youth" Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel earned high praise at Cannes and it may be Fox Searchlight's strongest shot at awards season.

#3) "Carol" from Todd Haynes, who I'm predicting returns to Telluride with this awards season shot from The Weinstein Company.

#2) "Son of Saul"  SPC's Cannes sensation.

#1) "Dheepan"  I really do anticipate that Jacques Audiard returns to Telluride with this year's Palme d"Or winner.

On the outside...but close: "Macbeth", "Our Little Sister", "He Named Me Malala", "Demolition", Freeheld", and something from Warners: "Our Brand is Crisis", "Black Mass" or "In the Heart of the Sea"


That's your first "Ten Bets" and that's all for this week...more on Monday...

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First "Ten Bets" Happens Tomorrow/Oscar Stays the Same/Trailer Park: "Macbeth" and "Valley of Love"

Welcome to Thursday...

REMEMBER THAT THE FIRST "TEN BETS" LIST FOR TELLURIDE 2015 IS COMING TOMORROW!

Now onto to day's post:

OSCAR STAYS THE SAME

The Board of Governor's of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced yesterday that they had decided to stay with the recent, three year old practice of having anywhere between five and ten nominees for Best Picture.  In the three year experiment, AMPAS has nominated nine, nine and then last year, eight films for Best Picture.


I have included details from stories from Variety, Awards Daily and Gold Derby.  They also cover a couple of minor tweaks that The Academy changed in a few other categories.


http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/06/rules-for-88th-oscars-no-changes-to-best-picture/

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/oscar-tweaks-best-picture-visual-effects-rules-1201527228/

http://www.goldderby.com/news/9620/oscars-best-picture-academy-awards-news-entertainment-13579086-story.html


TRAILER PARK: "Macbeth" and "Valley of Love"

A new international trailer for a film that I have written about quite a bit and another that I really haven't mentioned are included here.

Justin Kurzel's Macbeth starring Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender has the new international trailer.  The film is being domestically distributed by The Weinstein Company and has had a good deal of buzz in terms of awards consideration especially for Cotillard's performance as Lady Macbeth.   Here's the new trailer:

"Macbeth" International Trailer via YouTube

Check the accompanying story from flickeringmyth.com:

http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2015/06/international-trailer-for-macbeth-starring-michael-fassbender-and-marion-cotillard.html


Additionally, another Cannes competition film (as "Macbeth" was) that has just dropped a french language trailer with English subtitles.  "Valley of Love" stars Gerard Depardieu and Isabelle Huppert and is directed by Guillaume Nicloux.

The film centers on the story of a estranged couple brought back together by the suicide of their son.

  It currently is without U.S. distribution but certainly Depardieu and Huppert are no strangers to being in films that play at Telluride.

Here is the trailer for "Valley of Love":

"Valley of Love" Trailer via YouTube

And the accompanying story from The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/cannes-first-trailer-for-competition-film-valley-of-love-with-isabelle-huppert-and-gerard-depardieu-20150511

And "Valley of Love's " IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4120210/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1



Come back for more tomorrow...

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The Other Universals: "Everest", "Steve Jobs" and "By the Sea"/"A Perfect Day" Perfect for Telluride?

Good Wednesday to All...


THE OTHER UNIVERSALS

I mentioned in yesterday's post the outside possibility of Universal's Guillermo Del Toro's"Crimson Peak" making  an appearance at The SHOW.  Which led to me to think very seriously the past 24 hours about other Universal films that might have the T-ride chops if Universal makes an attempt to get them in

Honestly, the most likely Universal film to break their now-bordering-on seven-year Universal drought is Danny Boyle's "Steve Jobs" biopic starring Michael Fassbender as the Apple co-founder.

"Steve Jobs" First Look via YouTube

Other Universal properties that have some T-ride feel are the Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt film "By the Sea" which could get a hand from The Universal Clooney Theory (addressed in a later blog post this summer) and "Everest".

"Everest" is directed by Baltasar Kormakur who previously made the trip to Telluride in 2007 with his "Jar City".  "Everest" is the true story of the disaster that occurred on the world's tallest mountain in 1996.  Jon Krakauer wrote about it in his outstanding "Into Thin Air" which was made into a a television film in 1997.

"Everest" trailer via YouTube

"Everest" does not claim to be based on the Krakauer book but is based on the same incident.  Recently a trailer for the film was released which is included here as a part of a story from The Playlist:


http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-jake-gyllenhaal-josh-brolin-keira-knightley-more-take-on-everest-in-first-trailer-for-mountain-climbing-thriller-20150604


"A PERFECT DAY" PERFECT FOR TELLURIDE?

"A Perfect Day" Trailer via YouTube

It's a film that sounds like a Telluride choice.  International cast, played at Cannes, distributed by IFC Films and it's described as a drama by IMDb and a comedy by The Playlist.  Benicio Del Toro stars in a film about NGO aid workers in a war zone trying to provide clean water.

Stories accompanying the release of the trailer for the film can be found at Variety or The Playlist:

http://variety.com/2015/film/global/first-look-trailer-for-a-perfect-day-starring-benicio-del-toro-tim-robbins-exclusive-1201517142/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-new-trailer-for-a-perfect-day-starring-benicio-del-toro-tim-robbins-olga-kurylenko-and-melanie-thierry-20150611



That's all for now.  More to come on Thursday...

DON'T FORGET...THE FIRST "TEN BETS" LIST FOR TFF #42 IS COMING ON FRIDAY!!!


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RIP James Horner/"Our Brand" Could Be Our Brand/Not Really Thinking This Could Happen...But.../First "Ten Bets" Coming Friday

Welcome to Tuesday...


RIP JAMES HORNER

Bad news yesterday as we learned that Oscar winning composer James Horner ("Titanic", "Apollo 13") was killed in an airplane crash in California.  Horner's latest score is for the Jake Gyllenhaal film "Southpaw".  Horner won two Oscars for score and song for "Titanic" in 1998.  He was also nominated for an additional eight Oscars.  His talent will be sorely missed.


Horner's IMDb page is here:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000035/?ref_=nv_sr_1#composer



OUR BRAND MIGHT BE "OUR BRAND"

Jeff Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere reported yesterday that David Gordon Green's "Our Brand is Crisis" is in screen testing mode in L.A.  Wells concludes that this means that an awards season release date is likely.  He says October/November.

My feeling for a number of months is that its distributor, Warner Brothers, is likely to at least make the attempt to screen one or two of four films at Telluride.  In addition to "Our Brand" (which I think might be a realistic choice), WB has Ron Howard's  "In the Heart of the Sea", Jeff Nichols' "Midnight Special" and Scott Cooper's "Black Mass".

Also, playing into my "Our Brand" could be a T-ride pick, is the fact that it's produced by Grant Heslov and George Clooney (check out my "Unified Clooney Theory" post later this summer).

Here's the link to the Wells' post from yesterday:

http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2015/06/simmer-softly-hurry/


NOT REALLY THINKING THIS COULD HAPPEN...BUT...

They've been called the Three Amigos...Mexican film makers and friends Alejandro Inarritu, Alfonso Cuaron and Guillermo Del Toro.  Innaritu has become a veritable fixture at Telluride and Cuaron made the journey (and very successfully) in 2013 with the multiple Oscar winning "Gravity" but their amigo Del Toro hasn't made the trip to the San Juans.

We know that Cuaron won't this year as he is presiding over the Venice jury.  Inarritu may or more likely may not be ready to screen his latest "The Revenant" but Del Toro's Gothic horror "Crimson Peak" should be ready as it has an October 16 release date.

Could this be the year that the third amigo makes a trek to Telluride?  Admittedly the chances are small.  Universal is distributing and to the best of my research ability, they haven't had a film at Telluride since 2008's "Flash of Genius".

But... don't completely rule it out as I imagine Alejandro and Alfonso have both talked up the T-ride experience.

Add to this blurb the release of character posters over the weekend for the film covered here by The Playlist:


Also "Crimson Peak's" IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2554274/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1


And ultimately add that I want Jessica Chastain in Telluride...


DON'T FORGET, 2015'S FIRST "TEN BETS" FOR TFF #42 IS COMING ON FRIDAY!!!


More on Wednesday...



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Trailers: "He Named Me Malala and "45 Years"/InContention in Limbo

Welcome back from the weekend folks!


TRAILERS: "HE NAMED ME MALALA" AND "45 YEARS"

These are two films that I have a pretty good vibe for showing up at the SHOW for differing reasons.  "Malala" is a much hyped documentary from Fox Searchlight".  "45 Years" was well reviewed and award winning at Berlin with U.S. distribution by Sundance Selects.  Both could show up Friday on the season's first MTFB Ten Bets List.  Check to see on Friday.

Anywho...since Friday, both films have released trailers.  "Malala's" can be viewed here:

"He Named Me Malala" trailer via YouTube

Additionally, you can look at a number of stories that accompanied the trailer release here:



https://www.facebook.com/MalalaFund/videos/1098538976826620/

http://time.com/3927769/malala-documentary-education-activist/

http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2015/06/18/he-named-me-malala-yousafzai/

http://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-malala-yousafzai-triggers-change-in-trailer-for-davis-guggenheim-doc-he-named-me-malala-20150619


Meanwhile, you can catch the "45 Years" trailer here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/the-trailer-for-45-years-starring-charlotte-rampling-will-break-you-20150619

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-moving-first-trailer-for-andrew-haighs-acclaimed-45-years-starring-charlotte-rampling-and-tom-courtenay-20150619


INCONTENTION IN LIMBO

It popped over the weekend...the four year mix of HitFix being the home for Kristopher Tapley's InContention Oscar awards coverage will come to an end.  The two joined in 2011, but have come to a parting of ways.

It matters to me because Kris has been a generous soul to me over the last few years that I've been plunking along at this blog.  Always kind. Always quick to introduce me to real players in the biz that he knows.  A class act all the time.  So, naturally the shift caught my eye.

This story is the announcement from Tapley:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/in-contention-signing-off-at-hitfix

Also coverage from Anne Thompson/Thompson on Hollywood and Jeff Wells/Hollywood Elsewhere:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/in-contention-is-on-the-move-20150619

http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2015/06/tapley-left-hitfix/


More on Tuesday...

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Telluride's Annual Party/"Sicario" Trailer/Looks at "Carol", "Youth", "Macbeth", "The Lobster"

It's Friday!

TELLURIDE'S ANNUAL PARTY

Each summer, the Telluride Film Festival hosts a swank party at The London Hotel in Los Angeles and celebrates the festival with friends.  The 2015 version of that happened Wednesday evening.  I've tried to use it to read the tea leaves with limited success the last couple of years.  Fortunately, I can rely on Pete Hammond's/Deadline.com report of the story to provide a little bit of film choice speculation for TFF #42.

Hammond mentions that a number of the "usual suspects" were at the wing ding: Werner Herzog, bigwigs from Sony Pictures Classics, Fox Searchlight and Roadside Attractions.

Hammond specifically mentions SPC projects "Son of Saul" and "Truth", The Weinstein Company's "Carol" (see below), Fox Searchlight's :"Youth" (also see below).

The presence of the folks from Roadside Attractions is interesting.  RA has a couple of films that could well be in the mix come Telluride time: "The Sea of Trees" and "A Hologram for the King", for example.  They could also dip into the films that their partners Lionsgate ("Freeheld" and "Sicario"...see below) have available.

Read Hammond's entire report here:


http://deadline.com/2015/06/telluride-film-festival-hits-hollywood-but-which-oscar-bait-movies-will-they-take-back-to-colorado-1201448864/



'SICARIO" TRAILER

Speaking of Denis Villeneuve's "Sicario", which I did above as well as in yesterday's post, we have a trailer!

"Sicario" trailer via YouTube

I've linked a few stories that dropped the trailer as well:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-sicario-trailer-emily-blunt-crosses-the-border-in-violent-first-look-20150618

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/sicario-trailer-emily-blunt-josh-brolin-1201523189/

http://thedissolve.com/news/6007-emily-blunt-gets-caught-in-the-crossfire-in-the-si/



LOOKS AT "CAROL", "YOUTH", "MAC BETH" AND "THE LOBSTER"

Anne Thompson/Thompson on Hollywood shared a compilation of footage put together by the European production house (and in on all four of these films) Film4.  The compilation is about 10 minutes from the four films.  You can look at it on Anne's post here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/watch-blanchett-mara-embrace-in-new-carol-footage-plus-scenes-from-macbeth-the-lobster-youth-20150618

Of the four, all could play T-ride.  I'd list them in order of likelihood as 1) "Youth", 2) "Carol", 3) "Macbeth" and 4) "The Lobster"


Speaking of lists, the first Ten Bets for 2015 is a week away.  Look for it in next Friday's post.

And with that...have a great weekend everyone...

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Animation in France/Future Telluride: Villeneuve's Next Project/There is Another

Welcome to Thursday...

ANIMATION IN FRANCE

The annual Annecy Animation Film Festival is on the run in Annecy, France as I write.  The fest runs through June 20th.  As most of you know, Annecy films have often made a splash at Telluride so having a look at what's going on there can sometimes give insight into some of the shorts and occasional feature animated films that make up a portion of the Telluride program.

Both "Paperman" and "Get a Horse" made an appearance at Annecy before showing up at the SHOW.

Variety is keeping track of the goings on in France and you can take a look at their reporting here:

http://link.variety.com/public/4578832


Annecy's official website is here:

http://www.annecy.org/home

FUTURE TELLURIDE: VILLENEUVE'S NEXT PROJECT

Denis Villeneuve, who has made a couple of stops at Telluride over the years ("Incendies" in 2010 and "Prisoners" in 2013) and who could be back again this year ("Sicario") has a number of irons in the proverbial fire.  Villeneuve is famously on board to direct the long gestating sequel to Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" but before that happens, he will finish work on "Story of Your Life".

"Story" is scheduled to be release in 2016 and is set to be distributed through Paramount and FilmNation Entertainment.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed yesterday that character actor Michael Stuhlbarg has been added to the cast of the film that already has Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner in key roles.

Whether we see the film in 2016 at Telluride may depend on how Villeneuve and Lionsgate play the roll out of his upcoming "Sicario" which played at Cannes and is set for U.S. release on Sept. 18. The disposition of the "Sicario" vis-a-vis Toronto (Villeneuve is Canadian) could give us some clues.

Here's the THR story on the Stuhlbarg casting:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michael-stuhlbarg-star-opposite-amy-803112



THERE IS ANOTHER

I've spent a lot of time and energy over the last year and a half on the chances that Werner Herzog's "Queen of the Desert" might or might not make a play at Telluride.  Despite middling reviews from its premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, I still feel like it's a reasonably good shot at playing The SHOW.

It seems, however, that Werner may also have another poker in the fire.  Following on yesterday's "Venice" speculation piece, which casually suggested that Herzog's "Salt and Fire" might be ready for that fest which would also mean that it'd be ready for T-ride.

"Salt and fire" is listed by IMDb as being in post-production.  The film's cast is reported to include Michael Shannon and Telluride favorite Gael Garcia Bernal.

IMDb calls it a thriller and lists the ambiguous "2015" as a release date.

So, maybe Herzog brings one or both films to the San Jauns over Labor Day.

"Salt and Fire's" IMDb page is here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4441150/companycredits?ref_=tt_ql_7



More on Friday...

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Knight of Cups/New from Michel Gondry: "Microbe and Gasoline/Predicting Venice

VIEWS FROM "KNIGHT OF CUPS"

Terrence Malick remains the auteuriest of auteurs.  His next feature: "Knight of Cups" has been gestating for a good long while and from reports seems to be ready to launch.  Malick has never played Telluride, though you'd think that his best stuff would do very well there.  And a reminder, purportedly "Tree of Life" was screened in Telluride in 2011 for Fox Searchlight which led to them acquiring and distributing the film.

To the end that "Knight" could make the T-ride 2015 lineup, here's this note that a bunch of new stills can be found in this post from The Playlist:


http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/christian-bale-natalie-portman-and-cate-blanchett-brood-in-new-images-from-terrence-malicks-knight-of-cups-20150614


NEW FROM MICHEL GONDRY: "MICROBE AND GASOLINE"

Michel Gondry's latest film "Microbe and Gasoline" dropped an International trailer yesterday (it's in French) and that's what you can view here:

"Microbe and Gasoline" trailer via YouTube

The film currently lacks distribution but Gondry was feted by Telluride in 2004, not as a tribute recipient, however.  Nevertheless, Gondry's latest has to be at least a consideration for T-ride inclusion.

PREDICTING VENICE

Nicholas Bell writing for Ioncinema posted a set of predictions for possible selections for the Venice Film Fest.  Regular readers of MTFB know that, on average, Venice and Telluride will share about three titles (last year it was five: "Birdman", "Ida", "The Look of Silence" "99 Homes" and "The Price of Fame").

If Bell's prognostications are close, one wonders, what might double as a Venice/Telluride play?Among the films he lists as possible Venice fare, the films that seem most likely to make the quick turnaround to Telluride are:

Jeff Nichols' "Midnight Special"
Todd Solondz's "Wiener Dog"
Werner Herzog's "Salt and Fire"
Frederick Wiseman's "In Jackson Heights"
Luca Guadaginino's " A Bigger Splash"


There's more.  Take a look at the following link from Ioncinema:

http://www.ioncinema.com/the-conversation/cinema-italiano-2015-venice-film-festival-predictions


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Haneke's Plans Change/Future Telluride: "It's Only the End of the World"/"Elser" becomes "13 Minutes" and Drops a Trailer

Hello on a Tuesday in June...



HANEKE'S PLANS CHANGE

In the run up to this year's Cannes Film Fest there was some thought in some quarters that auteur Michael Haneke's secretive "Flashmob" might show up as a part of one of the programs during the fest.  I also had it as an outside shot film to keep an eye out for at Telluride because Haneke has made a home there with frequency.  But the Cannes screening did not happen, of course, and now we know why.

Haneke has abandoned the project and moved on according to a number of reports.  Apparently, things did not come together to his liking and thus, after having postponed the film for some time, Haneke has turned the page and moved on to something new.

Here's the reporting from The Playlist and Rope of Silicon:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/michael-haneke-drops-flashmob-working-on-new-film-set-in-france-20150609


http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/michael-haneke-wont-incite-flashmob-working-something-else/




FUTURE TELLURIDE: "IT'S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD"

Marion Cotillard in the first image from Xavier Dolan's "It's Only the End of the World" via The Playlist

Xavier Dolan joined the ranks of Telluride alumni with the presentation of his film "Mommy" in 2014.  In 2012, Marion Cotillard was feted as a recipient of a TFF tribute which was accompanied by Jacques Audiard's "Rust and Bone".  We found out the last 24 hours that Dolan and Cotillard are teaming for a new film: "It's Only the End of the World" which focuses on a family dealing with a member with a terminal illness.  

The film is expected to be released in 2016 and IMDb lists it as currently filming.  One could reasonably expect that the film might make its way to TFF #43 next year.  

Parenthetically, one also might see both Audiard and Cotillard return to Telluride this year.  Audiard with "Dheepan" and Cotillard with Justin Kurzel's "Macbeth"  (yes please!)

Here's reporting on the Dolan film from The Playlist and Rope of Silicon:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-look-marion-cotillard-in-xavier-dolans-its-only-the-end-of-the-world-20150613


http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/first-picture-of-marion-cotillard-in-xavier-dolans-next-film-plus-tom-at-the-farm-coming-to-u-s-theaters/



"ELSER" BECOMES "13 MINUTES" AND DROPS A TRAILER

UK Trailer for "13 Minutes" (formerly "Elser") via YouTube

One of the films that emerged as a result of the Berlin International Film Festival back in February was Oliver Hirschbiegel's "Elser".  The film was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics and was generally well received critically.

We found out yesterday that the film has changed titles.  It is now called "13 Minutes".

The film is based on a true story about a lesser known attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1939 (as opposed to the more well known attempt immortalized by Tom Cruise in Bryan Singer's 2008 film "Valkyrie".

I may have "13 Minutes" on the very first "Ten Bets" list for 2015 which is coming in about 10 days...

"13 Minutes" reporting is linked here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-trailer-for-downfall-director-oliver-hirschbiegels-hitler-assassination-thriller-13-minutes-20150615

http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/must-watch-first-trailer-for-13-minutes-from-oliver-hirschbiegel/


And its IMDb page is here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1708135/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1



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"Hateful" Release Date and Strategy Revealed/First Look at "Freeheld"/Trailering the "Queen"

Welcome back from the weekend...It's Monday!


"HATEFUL" RELEASE DATE AND STRATEGY REVEALED

Last week, I reported that Quentin Tarantino had committed to retro-fitting 50 screens across the nation to be able to screen "The Hateful Eight" in 70mm.  News emerged over the weekend that revealed the release date and strategy for the film that was shot near Telluride last winter.

The film will be released on Christmas Day in 70mm and then go wide two weeks later digitally.  Over the weekend a number of the Telluride Film Fest faithful and I engaged in a fairly involved Twitter convo about the chances that we might still see "Hateful" at TFF #42.

My feeling is that time doesn't favor that approach but that we might see a sequence or a selection of clips.  It would be a thrill to get Tarantino in Telluride during Labor Day weekend.  We'll see...

Here's coverage of the "Hateful" release story from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Indiewire, The Playlist, Rope of Silicon and The Wrap:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/quentin-tarantino-hateful-eight-christmas-release-1201518619/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/quentin-tarantinos-hateful-eight-gets-802117

http://www.indiewire.com/article/quentin-tarantinos-the-hateful-eight-to-be-widest-70mm-release-in-over-20-years-20150612

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/the-hateful-eight-sets-christmas-day-release-2-week-70mm-roadshow-to-be-followed-by-digital-wide-release-20150612

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/quentin-tarantinos-hateful-eight-gets-70mm-digital-release-dates/

http://www.thewrap.com/quentin-tarantinos-hateful-eight-to-hit-theaters-in-70mm-on-christmas-day/


FIRST LOOK AT "FREEHELD"

Julianne Moore and Ellen Page in "Freeheld" via Entertainment Weekly

Lionsgate has the distribution for the Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Steve Carell starrer "Freeheld" based on the true life experience of policewoman Laurel Hester (Moore) who fought the power when she was faced with dying and wanted her survivor benefits to go to her same sex partner (Page).

The Lionsgate as distributor might seem to be a TFF disqualifier (listed as a distrib for "all is Lost" in 2013...and that's all) but the Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions (also "All is Lost" as well as "Mommy", "The Homesman", "'71") /Saban ( "The Homesman") connections make it a possibility.  "Freeheld" is directed by Peter Sollett ( "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist").

Entertainment Weekly had the image (above) and the story:


http://www.ew.com/article/2015/06/11/ellen-page-julianne-freeheld-first-look


TRAILERING THE "QUEEN"

Lots of new pics last week from Werner Herzog's "Queen of the Desert" and over the weekend, an international trailer for the film which you can see in any of the below linked stories from The Playlist, First Showing and Rope of Silicon:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-international-trailer-for-werner-herzogs-queen-of-the-desert-with-nicole-kidman-robert-pattinson-and-more-20150613

http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/watch-werner-herzogs-queen-of-the-desert-international-trailer/

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/nicole-kidman-is-the-queen-of-the-desert-in-first-trailer-poster/



More on Tuesday...

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Armstrong Film Has a Trailer/Spotlight on "Spotlight"/The Era of Netflix

Good Thursday World!

ARMSTRONG FILM HAS A TRAILER

Director Stephen Frears "Lance Armstrong" project has a new name.  It was being referenced as "The Icon" and now it is being billed as "The Program".  The film is still unattached to a distributor in the U.S. but does have a late September release date in France.  Frears presence means we have to take the film seriously as a potential Telluride player.

Ben Foster stars as the disgraced former Tour de France champion.


At any rate, the film has an international trailer that dropped yesterday.  It's in German.  I have linked a couple of stories with the trailer here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-international-trailer-for-stephen-frears-lance-armstrong-pic-the-program-starring-ben-foster-20150610

http://www.businessinsider.com/lance-armstrong-the-program-movie-biopic-trailer-2015-6


SPOTLIGHT ON "SPOTLIGHT"

News yesterday that "Spotlight", the Tom McCarthy film that focuses on the reporters that broke the case of Catholic priests and their pattern of abuse in the Boston area, has a release date of Nov. 6th.   Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, Rachel McAdams and Liev Schreiber, among others, star.

The film is distributed by Open Road which was at Telluride last year with Jon Stewart's "Rosewater".

Open Road also has Oliver Stone's "Snowden" and John Hillcoat's "Triple 9".  The same news blast yesterday revealed that "Triple 9" has been moved to a March 2016 release date.

Here's the story from Variety:


http://variety.com/2015/film/news/michael-keaton-mark-ruffalo-spotlight-1201516706/


THE ERA OF NETFLIX

The big announcement came from Netflix this week that the video delivery service has struck a deal with Brad Pitt and David Michod to produce and distribute "War Machine" a satire of America's military involvement in the War on Terror.

This comes in the wake of the earlier news that Netflix will do the same with Cay Fukunaga's "Beasts of No Nation".

I'm very interested to see how Netflix plays this and if it has an effect on film festivals in any fashion.  "Beasts" seems to me to be catnip for most film fests if it was being handled traditionally.  However, the new "Netflix" (and others) world may turn film festivals to making different decisions concerning how and what they program.  Stay tuned...

Various stories about the Netflix/Brad Pitt project.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/netflix-nabs-brad-pitt-film-794769

http://variety.com/2015/digital/news/netflix-acquires-brad-pitts-war-machine-1201514495/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/netflix-picks-up-david-michods-war-machine-starring-brad-pitt-20150608

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/netflix-lands-brad-pitts-next-movie-war-machine-from-the-rover-director/


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"Mountains May Depart" Acquired/Views of the "Queen"/Future Telluride: Wither J.C. Chandor?

Good Wednesday to All,


"MOUNTAINS MAY DEPART" ACQUIRED

It was announced yesterday that Cannes competition film "Mountains May Depart" from director Jia Zhangke has been acquired for U.S. distribution by Kino Lorber.  Here's the story via Variety:


http://variety.com/2015/film/asia/us-deal-on-jia-zhangke-mountains-1201501457/

"Mountains May Depart" was very well respected critically at Cannes as you may recall from my round-up of various critical groups posted on May 8: http://michaelstelluridefilm.blogspot.com/2015/05/cannes-and-oscar-analysiscannes-and.html )

"MMD" ended up as a top three film from three of the four critical compilations that I was keeping track of.

Kino Lorber has had a noticeable presence at Telluride over the last couple of years so it's acquisition of "MMD" could easily presage a TFF #42 play for the film.  Here's Kino Lorber's T-ride play the last two years:

2014- "The Decent One" ("Der Anstandige")
2013- "Burning Bush", "Manuscripts Don't Burn" and "La Maison de la Radio"

In addition, Kino Lorber will distribute Berlin's Golden Bear winner "Taxi" which is also a very real Telluride candidate.


"Mountains May Depart" IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3740778/


NEW VIEWS OF THE "QUEEN"

Werner Herzog's "Queen of the Desert" suffered middling reviews from its play at the Berlin Film Fest but still has to be considered a very realistic possibility for inclusion in this year's Telluride lineup.

The Playlist dropped a ton of new images from the true life story that stars Nicole Kidman.  I have included a couple and you can take a look at the rest here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/new-images-of-nicole-kidman-and-james-franco-in-werner-herzogs-queen-of-the-desert-20150609



FUTURE TELLURIDE: WITHER J.C. CHANDOR?

I was really expecting that J.C. Chandor's "A Most Violent Year" would play T-ride last year, and, of course, I was wrong.  Really wrong.  Reportedly the film wasn't ready for Labor Day...so no J.C. and no Oscar Isaac and no Jessica Chastain and no "Most Violent Year".

Now, looks like we might have another opportunity next year as Chandor's newest project came to light in multiple reports yesterday.

Chandor looks set to direct "Liar's Ball" which puts him in a general sense back in some of the territory he dealt with in  his first feature "Margin Call".  "Liar's Ball" us set in the middle of the NYC real estate scene and is based on a true story.

A24 is producing and distributing.  They have appeared at Telluride with "Ginger and Rosa" in 2012 and "Under the Skin" in 2013.  So a future Telluride play is a possibility.

Here's the story from a number of sources:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/jc-chandor-liars-ball-real-estate-movie-1201515363/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/a24-jc-chandor-adapting-liar-801254

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/jc-chandor-goes-to-the-liars-ball-with-a24-20150609

http://www.thewrap.com/j-c-chandor-zachary-quinto-producing-the-liars-ball-adaptation/


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"Hateful Eight" is a Dish Served Cold...Really Cold and Other "Hateful" News/"Black Mass" Poster and Pics/"Suffragette" Musings

Hoo-dee-hoo on a Tuesday...


"HATEFUL EIGHT" IS A DISH SERVED COLD...REALLY COLD AND OTHER "HATEFUL" NEWS

Samuel L. Jackson told the world last week that Quentin Tarantino kept his "Hateful Eight" set chill...very chill.  Jackson was quoted as saying that the set was refrigerated to create and keep the reality of the freezing, snowy conditions.  Check the story here from Rope of Silicon:

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/samuel-l-jackson-reveals-hateful-eight-shot-refrigerated-set/

We still wish that we'd see it on Labor Day weekend...but doubt that will happen.

In other "Hateful" news, Rope of silicon was reporting yesterday that Tarantino is going to aid in the retro-fitting of up to 50 screens nationwide to be able to screen the new film in the 70mm format that he's shot it in.  I'd also point out that T-ride has the capability to screen in 70 mm.

Here's the story from ROS:

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/tarantino-rumored-to-be-retrofitting-50-theaters-with-70mm-projection-for-hateful-eight-release/



"BLACK MASS" POSTER AND PICS

"Black Mass" poster

Scott Cooper's "Black Mass", the story of gangster Whitey Bulger played by Johnny Depp remains one of four films from Warners that are on my watch list for T-ride '15.  The others: "In the Heart of the Sea", "Our Brand is Crisis" and "Midnight Special".  

The film dropped what was described by The Playlist as a teaser poster, which you see above.

Take a look at the new pics from the film that are also included as a part of The Playlist's post from yesterday:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-johnny-depp-turns-cold-blooded-mob-boss-in-the-new-trailer-for-crime-drama-black-mass-20150522

"SUFFRAGETTE" MUSINGS

"Suffragette" trailer via YouTube

I keep coming back to the London Film Festival announcement form last week that Sarah Gavron's "Suffragette" will open the BFI LFF in early October and their listing of the film as its "European" premiere. (MTFB-June 4)

As Anne Thompson mentioned in her "Screen Talk" podcast that I linked here yesterday...the "European" designation means that the film will have played somewhere in North America before LFF.  As others noted in the analysis of the original announcement, that also means that it will not have played Venice.

I think the key to parsing this out is whether or not the LFF announcement and its designating the film as an "European" premiere means that it is NOT the film's "International" premiere.  If LFF is designating it as "European" as opposed to "International" because they wish to be specific in terms of that designation, then I believe the chances that "Suffragette" plays Telluride go way up. If the choice to designate as "European" makes this distinction, then it likely means that the film will have played Toronto and either New York or T-ride (or both).  In the scenario of choosing one over the other, Telluride may have the upper hand.

If, on the other hand,  it is NOT an LFF distinction of any real consequence, then the odds for "Suffragette" in the San Juans remain moderate at best.  Of course, there's no way (at least that I have found yet) to determine whether LFF officials made this calculation when they announced the film as a "European" premiere last week,

Something to think about, though...


More on Wednesday...


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