Michael's Telluride Film Blog : MTFB Oscar Update: Screenplays / The Playlist's 100 Most Anticipated for 2024 / TFF #50 and The New York Film Critics Circle / The Wrap's Big Look at International Features / Interviews and Profiles: Payne, Friedel and More

MTFB OSCAR UPDATE: SCREENPLAYS

Here's your Oscar Update for today's post. This is a check on predicted nominees for the Screenplay categories. They were last posted here on Nov. 20th. Previous positions on the MTFB Oscar Update Chart are listed to the right in parentheses. As always TFF films are Bold.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

1) The Holdovers (1)

2) Barbie (2)

3) Past Lives (3)

4) Anatomy of a Fall (5)

5) Maestro (4)

Alternates: May December, Air, Saltburn.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

1) Oppenheimer (1)

2) Poor Things (2)

3) American Fiction (3)

4) Killers of the Flower Moon (4)

5) All of Us Strangers (5)

Alternates: The Zone of Interest, Barbie, The Color Purple and The Taste of Things.

Coming Thursday, I'll update Best Picture and Direction.

If my current predictions for the Big Eight categories are 100% correct here's where TFF films stand for Oscar nominations.

Poor Things is predicted for five nominations and one other possibility: Best Picture, Direction, Actress (Stone), Supporting Actor (Ruffalo) and Adapted Screenplay. The other chance is Willem Dafoe for a second Best Supporting Actor nomination.

The Holdovers is predicted for four nominations with another two possible: Best Picture, Actor (Giamatti), Supporting Actress (Randolph) and Original Screenplay. Also possible: Direction and Supporting Actor (Sessa).

Anatomy of a Fall is predicted for two nominations with another possibility: Best Picture and Original Screenplay. Also possible: Actress (Huller).

The Zone of Interest is predicted for two nominations and another possibility: Best Picture and Direction with an Adapted Screenplay nomination possible.

Nyad is predicted for two nominations: Best Actress (Bening) and Supporting Actress (Foster).

All of Us Strangers is predicted for one nomination with another possible: A nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and the the other chance is Best Actor (Scott).

Rustin is predicted for one nomination for Best Actor (Domingo).

Saltburn isn't predicted for any nominations ...yet, but could crack Original Screenplay.

Total nominations and other possibilities for these eight TFF film in the Big Eight Oscar Categories: 18 nominations and another five possibilities.

THE PLAYLIST'S 100 MOST ANTICIPATED FOR 2024

The Playlist has posted its annual preview of films though to be possible/probable releases in 2024. As usual, I've perused the list for possible players at TFF #51. Last year I culled 20 possible films from their 2023 list, six of which actually screened at TFF #50: Rustin, The Royal Hotel, All of Us Strangers, El Conde, The Zone of Interest and Poor Things.

There were two films on the list for 2023 that did not make it to my guesses but that did make it to Telluride: Saltburn and The Bikeriders.

There were also a number of films from their list last year that did not get a 2023 release. Seven of those are repeated on this year's speculative list and I have indicated them with an asterisk.

Here's a rundown of titles from this year's list that I think have a shot at playing TFF #51:

98) Alto Nights

79) Echo Valley

66) Shirley*

56) Materialists

37) The End*

26) Anora

23) The Actor*

18) The Way of the Wind*

14) Love Lies Bleeding*

13) Kind of Kindness

12) Queer

10) Bird

9) Blitz*

8) Megaopolis*

7) Maria

6) Mickey 7

2) Polaris

Here's the link to the complete list.

TFF #50 AND THE NEW YORK CRITICS

The New York Film Critics Circle announced their film superlatives for 2023 over the weekend. TFF #50 picked up nods for Best Supporting Actress for Da"Vine Joy Randolph's performance in Alexander Payne's The Holdovers. Meanwhile Justine Triet's Anatomy of a Fall was named Best International film.

Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon was named the Best Film of the Year by the organization while Christopher Nolan was named Outstanding Director for Oppenheimer.

Other acting winners were Lily Gladstone-Best Actress for Killers of the Flower Moon, Franz Rogowski-Best actor for Passages and Charles Melton for Best Supporting Actor for May December.

Here's the complete set of winners.

THE WRAP'S BIG LOOK AT INTERNATIONAL FEATURES

The Wrap has put out a lengthy flipboard project focused on a number of international films of note including several films that will likely be a part of the conversation for the Best International Feature Oscar. Many of those were films that screened at TFF #50.

In its pages you can find features on: Anatomy of a Fall, La Chimera, El Conde, The taste of Things, The Zone of Interest, The Promised Land, Fallen Leaves, Perfect Days, Totem, Godland (fromTFF #49) and The Monk and the Gun,

Check out the entire compilation here.

INTERVIEWS AND PROFILES: PAYNE, FRIEDEL AND MORE