I was in Dallas, Texas all of last week working as a part of the staff for the National Speech and Debate Association's National Speech Tournament. It was good.
THE DISTRIBUTORS 2019: WARNER BROS.
This week I'm continuing to look at film production/distribution companies whose past record and current stash of films point to a possible choice for the 46th Telluride Film Festival. Up until today's post I have been focused on specialty firms and streaming services. Today is our first look at a major studio: Warner Bros. Warners has, over the past half dozen years or so, made a mark on the festival.
Here's their recent run at Telluride:
2018: No Show
2017: No Show
2016: Sully
2015 Black Mass
2014: No Show
2013: Gravity, Prisoners
2012: Argo
Warner Independent played Telluride in 2006 with Infamous and 2007 with Rails and Ties.
Last year Warners only likely Telluride play was A Star Is Born and we all know that didn't happen.
Despite not having a film at Telluride the past two years, 2019 could mark the return of the WB to the San Juans with four films that should be considered as possibles:
Bill Condon's The Good Liar starring Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren set for releases on Nov. 15th. Condon has Telluride history (Kinsey-2004).
John Crowley's The Goldfinch starring Nicole Kidman and Ansel Elgort set for release Sept. 13th. Crowley has Telluride history (Intermission-2003).
Edward Norton's Motherless Brooklyn starring Norton, Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin and more. It is set for release on Nov. 1. Norton has no history with Telluride as a director - this is his second feature as a director- and I can't find any indication that Norton has been a guest of the fest in the past. He has appeared in films that have played the festival: Birdman (2014), Frida (2002). Also of note, Motherless Brooklyn is based on the novel by Jonathan Lethem who served as the fest's Guest Director last year. That could be a signal.
Gavin O'Connor's Torrance (now reportedly renamed Long Time Coming) starring Ben Affleck as a former star athlete looking for redemption. Affleck also acts as a producer for the film and his past success with Argo, which started its run to Oscar glory at Telluride, could make it a potential SHOW choice.
I honestly think any of the three could make the lineup and this could be the second time Warners lands more than a single film at TFF.
Chances:
The Goldfinch 60%
Motherless Brooklyn 50%
The Good Liar 40%
Long Time Coming 25%
THE AERONAUTS
I posted my analysis for Amazon Studios Telluride chances on June 17th and in it,a film I didn't even mention is Tom Harper's The Aeronauts.
Couple of reasons for that: Amazon is loaded with films that have a shot at Telluride and the film, which has a logline that reads like a straight thriller/action-adventure flick, just didn't seem like a film and director Tom Harper, to the best of my knowledge hasn't been near the festival in the past.
But after news this weekend, it seems that I may have miscalculated.
The International Film Critique Twitter account tweeted that:
The Goldfinch 60%
Radioactive 50%
Les Miserables 40% (Cannes prize winner: Jury Prize)
Against All Enemies 40%
The Report 35%
The Aeronauts 30%
Warner Independent played Telluride in 2006 with Infamous and 2007 with Rails and Ties.
Last year Warners only likely Telluride play was A Star Is Born and we all know that didn't happen.
Despite not having a film at Telluride the past two years, 2019 could mark the return of the WB to the San Juans with four films that should be considered as possibles:
Bill Condon's The Good Liar starring Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren set for releases on Nov. 15th. Condon has Telluride history (Kinsey-2004).
John Crowley's The Goldfinch starring Nicole Kidman and Ansel Elgort set for release Sept. 13th. Crowley has Telluride history (Intermission-2003).
Edward Norton's Motherless Brooklyn starring Norton, Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin and more. It is set for release on Nov. 1. Norton has no history with Telluride as a director - this is his second feature as a director- and I can't find any indication that Norton has been a guest of the fest in the past. He has appeared in films that have played the festival: Birdman (2014), Frida (2002). Also of note, Motherless Brooklyn is based on the novel by Jonathan Lethem who served as the fest's Guest Director last year. That could be a signal.
Gavin O'Connor's Torrance (now reportedly renamed Long Time Coming) starring Ben Affleck as a former star athlete looking for redemption. Affleck also acts as a producer for the film and his past success with Argo, which started its run to Oscar glory at Telluride, could make it a potential SHOW choice.
I honestly think any of the three could make the lineup and this could be the second time Warners lands more than a single film at TFF.
Chances:
The Goldfinch 60%
Motherless Brooklyn 50%
The Good Liar 40%
Long Time Coming 25%
THE AERONAUTS
I posted my analysis for Amazon Studios Telluride chances on June 17th and in it,a film I didn't even mention is Tom Harper's The Aeronauts.
Couple of reasons for that: Amazon is loaded with films that have a shot at Telluride and the film, which has a logline that reads like a straight thriller/action-adventure flick, just didn't seem like a film and director Tom Harper, to the best of my knowledge hasn't been near the festival in the past.
But after news this weekend, it seems that I may have miscalculated.
The International Film Critique Twitter account tweeted that:
If it were to be chosen to open Venice that means I definitely need to pay attention as a number of films that have been the Venice opener in recent years have then jumped to Telluride: Birdman, Gravity, La La Land, First Man, Downsizing. So, should this be the choice for Venice, I'd better pay attention.
Adding fuel to the fuel to the fire was reporting from World of Reel's Jordan Ruimy.
Ruimy updated a fest-centric article from late May with news of The Aeronauts (as well as The Good Liar and Jojo Rabbit). That updated post is linked here. Ruimy also posted a small blurb about the film yesterday suggesting he's thinking that it might make the T-ride lineup. See that here.
Put The Aeronauts on the list that I originally published a week ago for Amazon Studios as follows:
Radioactive 50%
Les Miserables 40% (Cannes prize winner: Jury Prize)
Against All Enemies 40%
The Report 35%
The Aeronauts 30%
COUNTRY MUSIC PREVIEW
PBS has released a 25 minute preview of Ken Burns' upcoming multi-party documentary : Country Music. Here's a link that will get you to the preview:
I still believe there's a reasonable chance that TFF #46 attendees may be able to see at least part of the doc over Labor Day weekend.
That's a wrap for MTFB on this Monday. More on its way to you tomorrow and coming FRIDAY...the first TFF #46 Ten Bets list of the summer!
EMAIL: mpgort@gmail.com OR michael_speech@hotmail.com
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