Invitation/The New Rumors/The Newly Nearly Confirmed/New Bets

And here's the last "Hello" from the Oklahoma Panhandle before the 38th Telluride Film Festival gets underway.  The Chief Executive and I will be departing for 9,000 feet in about 4 hours.  I'm watching the clock....

Telluride Daily Planet photo of film cans ready to go up the mountain

1 DAY  and then it begins...and hold onto your hats, it's going to be an insane festival.

We've reached that point that we reach every year when the internet has gone crazy with rumor, counter-rumor, claims, denials...and even when we see the actual lineup later today (and I'll be tweeting [@Gort2] and posting flash updates while I'm on the road!) and even then we won't know the full story because, of course, Luddy, Meyer and Huntsinger will some stuff back and sneak it as the weekend unfolds.  All that  being said, let's try to sort the wheat from the chaff! (hey, I'm an Oklahoma Panhandle boy).

First though, this reminder...

YOUR ENGRAVED INVITATION WOULD LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THIS:

Come and join me for the first ever Michael's Telluride Film Blog get together ( I thought about calling it a "Hootenanny" but I think that legally obligates you to sing folk songs and Union dirges) called: "The Guide to the Ride; The Flow of the SHOW" on Friday, Sept. 2 from 5:00 to 5:30 PM in The River Club in Telluride. Larry and Mitzi Mallard of the Club will be our hosts and I am told that refreshments will be provided. The River Club is located at 550 Depot in Telluride. That's 4 blocks west of the Gondola station. Come by and say hello and we'll talk a little film.


THE NEW RUMORS (AND THEY'RE JUST RUMORS!)

I am always back and forth about passing on blatant hearsay.  I'd much rather be able to cite a source or more than one, or at least if I can't attribute the story, then I want to be on pretty good terms with the source I can't name.  However...sometimes stuff seems like it's just too good to pass up passing on...so, forgive me...

TwitchFilm's posts that they're "hearing" (are you sitting down) both "Carnage" and "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" at Telluride this weekend.  The story also says the Herzog doc "Into the Abyss", but if you read this blog regularly, you've been onto the Herzog "news" for a good long while.

Now, I'll be honest, I don't know the reliability of TwitchFilm to save my soul.  It hasn't been a blog that I have visited terribly often in this summer's run-up to the fall festivals...and you know that this space has all but written off the chances for both of these films...

But what if I'm wrong and they're right?  The inclusion of the Polanski play adaptation and the Alfredson thriller would make Telluride's slate stratospherically vital.

Look at the story as it was posted Wednesday afternoon on the TwitchFilm website here:
http://twitchfilm.com/news/2011/08/herzog-polanski-and-alfredson-headed-to-telluride.php

And in another "rumor" fueled bit of intrigue, unnamed sources on the ground in Telluride have mentioned a certain "Pirate-y" actor purportedly has been sighted.  Now, there's absolutely no confirmation from any published source as of this morning of the veracity of the claim...but...one could envision the appearance of said actor in conjunction with, say a film that reminded us all of a certain "Gonzo" journalist.  It might involve the consumption of rum...

There, I've said it without saying anything and if you forced me to wager actual money, at this point I'd still be inclined to bet against any of these three films  being on the SHOW's lineup...but it's fun to dream!

And speaking of rumors...independent of TFF #38...who will be in town for the Lauren/Bush wedding?

THE NEWLY NEARLY CONFIRMED

Two BIG lockdowns yesterday...First...

George Clooney WILL BE IN TOWN and is a tributee.  Expect to see him in both "The Descendants" and his own directorial effort "The Ides of March" which opened the Venice Fest yesterday as well.

A blog reader by the name of Mo was kind enough to point me this New York Post story which ran yesterday and seems to remove all doubt:
http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/clooney_rolls_with_his_pals_cNHop2Y03Ie9UvnfqBZy3M?utm_campaign=Post10&utm_source=Post10Alpha

Later in the day The Denver Post got on the bandwagon and confirmed in this story (thanks to @EzeeE1983 for dropping that to me):
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_18797394

Clooney's "Ides" seems to be garnering generally good to great reviews after hits bow at Venice.  I've included links to a sample of the critical response:
Dave Karger at Entertainment Weekly:
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/08/31/george-clooney-the-ides-of-march-best-picture-oscar/

Guy Lodge at Incontention.com:
http://incontention.com/2011/08/31/review-the-ides-of-march/

Oliver Lyttleton at The Playlist via IndieWire:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/venice_11_review_the_ides_of_march/#

And a sampling from Hollywood News:
http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2011/08/31/the-ides-of-march-reviews-from-venice-awards-alley/

The Ides of March IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1124035/

The Descendants IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1033575/

Mr. Clooney's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000123/

The other BIG LOCKDOWN (that I had already become pretty certain of in the last 72 hours...) "A Dangerous Method."  David Cronenberg's Freud vs. Jung period piece WILL PLAY IN THE SHOW! 

How do we know.  Word was around yesterday that there was a new domestic trailer for the film. Friend of this blog Eugene Novikov at FilmBlather.com took a look...and then dropped me a tweet.  (Thanks, Eugene.  Looking forward to shaking your hand tomorrow!)

Right at the beginning of the trailer the "Official Selection of The Telluride Film Festival" comes up...so pretty compelling evidence I think and a thrilling addition to the slate.  Check it for yourself via this link to the story and trailer from Rope of Silicon:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/watch-domestic-trailer-cronenbergs-a-dangerous-method

Method's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1571222/


NEW BETS

In light of today's developments I have put together a revise "Ten Bets" list and expanded it to "Twenty Bets."  Here it is (in order of greatest likelihood of being in the SHOW):
1) The Descendants
2) Into the Abyss
3) We Have to Talk About Kevin
4) The Ides of March
5) A Dangerous Method
6) Shame
7) Goodbye First Love
8) The Skin I Live In
9) The Artist
10) Footnote
11) A Trip to the Moon
12) The Birds Upstairs
13) Prohibition
14) Le Havre
15) The Lady
16) Dark Horse
17) Butter
18) Miss Bala
19) Drive
20) Martha Marcy May Marlene

I'm still greedy enough to pull for "Coriolanus," "The Kid with a Bike," "Wuthering Heights"  "W.E." and the Georgre Harrison Doc directed by Martin Scorsese.

We'll know more later today!

More from the road!!!



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@Gort2

Nobbs Premiere/Carnage Trailer/A Taste of Butter/New Fassbender?

Good Morning from Telluride!  I'm just here for the weekend and the performance of the Telluride Rep's Shakespeare in the Park production of "as You Like It" featuring the very talented Kelsey Patterson (my youngest) as Rosalind.  "All the world's a stage..."

But I will be back, of course, in less than two weeks for the 38th Telluride Film Festival.  Woo Hoo!

NOBBS TO "PREMIERE" IN TORONTO

The word yesterday was that the Glenn Close starrer (and potential Oscar vehicle for her) "Albert Nobbs" will be a "world premiere" at Toronto's fest.  Although Telluride generally doesn't get caught up in the whole rhetoric of "World/North American/U.S." premieres, it is my belief that Toronto takes the terminology very seriously.  Consequently, I have to think that their use of that kind of language indicates a lessening of the chances that "Albert" appears in Telluride.

And that's too bad.  I've had "Albert on the T-ride watch list for a very long time and it would certainly be on my watch list if it were to show up at the SHOW.  But maybe it's just not meant to be.

You can check the story at The Hollywood Reporter here:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/glenn-close-debut-alfred-nobbs-225120

Albert's IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1602098/

CARNAGE TRAILER

Although I think that the chance of seeing "Carnage" at Telluride has declined dramatically, there are still a few people that think it might be a "sneak/TBA."  That would be cool, but let me emphasize that I'm dubious.

Nevertheless, there is a trailer out now for the Roman Polanski film that stars Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly.  A number of sources had links to it.  I have included one from The Daily Mubi for your perusal:
http://twitchfilm.com/news/2011/08/kate-winslet-will-wipe-her-ass-with-your-human-rights-in-trailer-for-polanskis-carnage.php
The Carnage IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1692486/


A TASTE OF BUTTER

Up yesterday at The Playlist was a new view of Jennifer Garner from the reportedly quirky comedy "Butter" which is going to play Toronto and for which I just have had a Telluride vibe.  No tidbits or rumors from anywhere to make me believe that, just a feeling...

"Butter" also starts Hugh Jackman and Olivia Wilde.  See the new image here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/first_look_at_jennifer_garner_in_butter/

Butter's IMDb [page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1349451/

NEW FASSBENDER?

Michael Fassbender made a strong impression in Telluride in 2008 in Steve McQueen's "Hunger."  He also has two films that could easily be in the San Juans in two weeks, McQueen's "Shame" (likely) and David Cronenberg's "A Dangerous Method" (less likely).

And maybe he's already a future T-ride possible as rumors have surfaced that he is likely to sign on for a revenge thriller entitled "Prisoners" directed by Denis Villaneuve...also a past Telluride participant last year with "Incendies"

Check The Big Picture for the "Prisoners" story:
http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2011/8/19/michael-fassbender-will-take-prisoners-instead-of-leo.html?

Shame's IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1723811/

A Dangerous Method's IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1571222/

More on Monday...

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@Gort2

New York Galas/Thompson and Wells on the NYFF/Posters of Possibles

Good Morning All.

I may have further personal developments concerning this year's festival by the end of the week...or maybe not.  We'll see.

NEW YORK GALAS

The New York Film Festival (in October) announced two more gala presentations yesterday afternoon (in addition to "My Week with Marilyn" which had already been announced) and both of the films chosen have been on our Telluride watch list.  Gala presentations were announced for David Cronenberg's Freud vs. Jung duel  "A Dangerous Method" (Viggo Mortensen, Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender) and Pedro Almodovar's "The Skin I Live In" (Antonio Banderas).

This leaves New York's fest with its closing night film still yet to be named and that is supposed to happen by the end of the week. 

In all likelihood the addition of "Method" and "Skin" to New York's lineup while not eliminating the chance that one or both might play Telluride diminishes the chances that they turn up there. 

THOMPSON AND WELLS ON NEW YORK

Three posts from yesterday afternoon provide some context and in one case, sort of opposing perspectives from two of the best in the business.  I have included two posts from Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood.  The first is a straight up presentation of the two films that have been added to the NYFF slate as Gala Presentations:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/15/nyff_cronenbergs_dangerous_method_and_almodovars_skin_i_live_in_added_to_ga/

Following that is Anne's discussion in a separate post of the chances that "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" might be offered the closing night slot at NYFF.  She also mentions "The Iron Lady" as a possible for that spot but it almost seems as if that is a secondary consideration.  Clearly, if TTSS closes New York it is my belief that it will definitely be off the Telluride list.  That second Thompson post is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/15/will_tinker_tailor_soldier_spy_or_iron_lady_land_new_york_film_festival_ber/?utm

However, Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere in his post late yesterday about New York's selections seems to at least imply that TTSS is all but off the table as far as any participation in the New York Festival is concerned.  And Wells suggests in the comments section that he thinks TTSS at Telluride is still a possibility.  The Wells post is linked here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/15/will_tinker_tailor_soldier_spy_or_iron_lady_land_new_york_film_festival_ber/?utm

It will be really interesting to see what comes out later this week as the NYFF actual closer.

So, in review:

Chances for "Method" DOWN
Chances for "Skin" also DOWN (but not down as much as "Method" I think)
Chances for "TTSS":  HOLDING STEADY

NEW POSTERS

A big post from Rope of Silicon with new poster art for a number of films including at least three that I have been including on the TFF #38 watch list.  "Drive," "Carnage" and "Moneyball" (see above).  Of the three, "Drive" may be the most likely to actually be in Colorado in two and a half weeks. Then "Moneyball."  "Carnage" is unlikely as it is the NYFF opener.

Take a look at the new poster art for them plus sevearl other films at this link to ROS:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/posters-drive-american-reunion-moneyball-carnage-harold-kumar


Hope you're having a good week...more on the morrow...

I'm Official/Three More Off the Books/More Kevin/Posters

Well...some waiting is done (see below)...other waiting...still waiting

I'M OFFICIAL

I received word yesterday that the blog has been fully accredited as a member of the press for the 38th Telluride Film Festival. 

I am truly very excited and simultaneously kind of freaked out.  In reality, I'm not entirely sure what it will ultimately mean.  It's my hope that the designation will allow me to have access to the guests at the festival.  Just don't know.  I am going to reach out to a couple of real journos who have experience at Telluride and see if I can get some guidance from them.

I do know two things:  I have to attend press orientation on Friday Sept. 2 and I get a yellow colored lanyard to wear my pass on (also a red one which is normal for my pass level).  "Yellow" journalism?  Subtext?  Hmmm?

Anyway, a giant thank you to the fest for the credential.  Also thanks to Mitzi and Larry Mallard who make the whole festival experience possible (when Telluride stay at The River Club, it's the best!) and the biggest thank you to my wife and kids who indulge this obsession.

THREE MORE FILMS EXIT STAGE LEFT

No Dev Patel or "Marigold Hotel" in Telluride

Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood (at IndieWire) is reporting that Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar," Kenneth Lonergan's "Margaret" and John Madden's "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" will all skip the fall festival scene.

That news ripples in terms of Telluride in a couple of ways.

Just yesterday I was talking about the possibility that "J. Edgar" might close the New York Film Festival which would mean that "Tinker, Tailor..." was still in the Telluride possible list (and it still is).  Now that Eastwood's film is out of the running for that coveted closing slot, you have to think "Tinker" is a real possibility and so a lesser possibility for Telluride.

As to "Marigold"...We haven't very much about this film.  I have some expectations for it because of the cast (Dev Patel of Slumdog Millionaire and a million Brits of a certain age including the fantastic Bill Nighy) and director John Madden.  It's also in the Fox Searchlight stable.  But Thompson makes it clear that it won't be playing in T-ride.

Same for "Margaret." 

All tenor of the Thompson piece makes it sound like all three films aren't quite ready to hit the circuit.

Here's the link to the Thompson post:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/08/eastwoods_j._edgar_and_searchlights_marigold_hotel_to_skip_fall_fests_twixt

And your IMDb links for...
Exotic Marigold: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1412386/
J. Edgar: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1616195/
Margaret: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0466893/

MORE KEVIN

Guy Lodge had a piece up yesterday at Incontention.com about the trailer and poster for Lynne Ramsey's "We Need to Talk About Kevin." 

Lodge saw the film at Cannes and liked it quite a lot.  I have it currently at #5 on my "Ten Bets" list for Telluride and that position is the result of Ioncinema reportage/tweeting during Toronto's announcements.  Lodge's post throws a little gasoline on the fire as he also speculates that "Kevin" could be on the Telluride program.

Here's the link to Lodge's story:
http://incontention.com/2011/08/08/french-trailer-and-poster-for-we-need-to-talk-about-kevin/

And Kevin's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1242460/

POSTERS

The Playlist (at IndieWire) has revealed poster work for two Telluride possibles. 

One, I think, is very, very possible.  Todd Solondz's "Dark Horse" (#10 on this week's Ten Bets). 

The other is David Cronenberg's "A Dangerous Method" which I had, at one point, all but written off for Telluride, but have reconsidered since Kris Tapley's (Incontention.com) Telluride spec piece that suggests that Sony Pictures Classics may play the film in Telluride as well as its already announced positions at both Toronto and Venice. 

You can find Tapley's guesswork here:
http://incontention.com/2011/07/28/telluride-guessing-game/

You can also peruse The Playlist article here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/cronenbergs_a_dangerous_method_solondzs_dark_horse_gilliams_wholly_family_g/

Dark Horse IMDb:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1690455/

Dangerous Method IMDb:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1571222/

More as it becomes available...

PS...

Re-reading David Poland's three part Toronto piece at Movie City News and ran across his blurb that Polanski's "Carnage" might still be a possible for Telluride...What???

It's here:
http://moviecitynews.com/2011/08/6-weeks-to-tiff-a-20-weeks-to-oscar-prequel-part-3-of-3/

Carnage Slipping Away/Cannes Titles Reconsidered/The SPC Film List/What About?/Hammond Dittoed?

Good Morning from Colorado Springs!  Heading home today after a great show from Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers last night.

CARNAGE SLIPPING AWAY

Word from multiple sources yesterday afternoon that Roman Polanski"s "Carnage" will open the New York Film Festival.  That puts a dagger into its heart for all practical purposes in as far as Telluride is concerned.  NYFF will have required exclusivity for booking it as the opener.  So, Goodbye Jodie!  Goodbye Kate!  Goodbye Christoph and John. 

Can't say that I'm really surprised though.


CANNES RECONSIDERED

With the announcement earlier this week that the Toronto International Film Festival Special Presentation list included "Habemus Papum" (We Have a Pope), it seems we might have to reconsider some of the other titles of films that played at Cannes and that could conceivably be in Telluride in September. 

In addition to "Habemus Papum," ( IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1456472/) I think we might give a slight chance to three other Cannes films:

Polisse (a Police procedural written and directed by one time actress Maiwenn Le Bosco..she was The Diva in "The Fifth Element")  IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1661420/

Footnote (dueling father/son Jewish scholars dir. Joseph Cedar) IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1445520/

and, of course, Gus Van Sant's "Restless" featuring Mia Wasikowska.  IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1498569/

 THE SPC SLATE

Sony Pictures Classics most commonly has a significant presence at Telluride.  Last year for example:

Inside Job
The Illusionist
Of Gods and Men
Tamara Drewe
Incendies
Another Year

But this year...maybe not as much.  To wit:

Carnage...at Venice and it would be a surprise to show up anywhere else, much less Telluride.
A Dangerous Method...at Toronto and Venice and I'll bet that's it.
The Skin I Live In...after Cannes, I was dubious.  Now I think it has a 60/40 shot at T-ride
Footnote...lukewarm reception at Cannes, but a thin SPC slate makes it more likely.
Restless...the same note here as for Footnote above.
In Darkness...we know almost nothing...WWII rescue film.
Damsels in Distress...closing film for Venice...so it's off the table.

And I think that's it as far as what SPC has available in its stable right now.  Kind of hard to believe.

AND WHAT ABOUT???

Three really interesting sounding films that aren't on the Toronto list;

Angelina Jolie's directing (and writing) debut "In the Land of Blood and Honey"
John (Shakespeare in Love) Madden's "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"
and John Hillcoat's (The Road/The Proposition) "The Wettest County"

Where are these?  Done?  Undone?  Headed to Telluride?  Somewhere else?  New York's Film Fest perhaps.

I don't know, but I am interested.

HAMMOND DITTOED

I reported earlier this week that Pete Hammond is adamant that Jason Reitman's "Young Adult" starring Charlize Theron will NOT play ANY of the festival circuit, including what I thought was a virtually certain stop in Telluride.

Jeff Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere picked up on that report late in the week and repeated it.  But I have to say, Wells seems kind of dubious...a sliver of doubt?

Check the Wells story and see what you think:
 http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2011/07/adult_surprise.php

Pictures of Carnage/Melancholia Happens/Companies/More Marlon

Hope everyone has started off the weekend well.  To my friends in LA...hope you are surviving "CARMAGEDDON!!!!"

PICTURES FROM CARNAGE (NOT CARMAGEDDON)

Still via The Playlist

The Playlist put up some stills from Roman Polanski's "Carnage" this week and I thought I'd pass them along.  "Carnage" is based on Yasmina Reza's stage play "God of Carnage" and features Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly.

I think that the chances of "Carnage" being at Telluride are about 1 in 3.  And the reason the odds are even that good are because it's on Sony Pictures Classic's slate of fall films.  So I have to at least consider it.

As I have said here before, you know Polanski won't accompany the film here because of his on-going legal problems.  I could see Jodie Foster there to represent the film as she was a tributee in 1991.  That would be cool.

The "Carnage" pix and accompanying story at The Playlist are here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/meet_the_leads_of_roman_polanskis_carnage/

"Carnage" IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1692486/companycredits

LARS' MELANCHOLY

I have been really pouring cold water on the notion that we'd see Lars Von Trier's "Melancholia" at The SHOW this year since his infamous press blunder at Cannes and his subsequent banishment as persona non grata from that festival in May.  but I'd be less than honest if I didn't admit that there is still a small chance that the film could play in Telluride.

Clearly there wasn't a massive backlash against Von Trier or the film as Kirsten Dunst won Best Actress at Cannes.  Additionally, as I have reported before, Von Trier has often had films in Telluride's lineup. So let's not dismiss it out of hand.

Well, now the film has a release date.  The Playlist at Indiewire reporting that it will open on Nov. 11.

I have a reader who confidently tells me that Von Trier doesn't fly...so, much like "Carnage" you have to wonder who'd accompany the film.  My guess would be Charlotte Gainsbourg.

The Playlist story is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/lars_von_triers_melancholia_will_end_the_world_with_sadness_on_november/

The "Melancholia" IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1527186/

COMPANIES ON PARADE

Icon Film Distribution has had  a couple of films that have played as part of the Telluride Film Festival in recent years. 
"Hunger" in 2008 and "The Road" in 2009.

They have a hand this year in the Jack Kerouac inspired "On the Road"...so maybe it gets a little bump in the "it's possible" department.

Could we see Angelina Jolie at the Labor Day Picnic?

GK Films hasn"t really been a player at Telluride but has connections to 2-3 properties that might see their bow at in the San Juans on Labor Day weekend. 
From most likely to least likely they are:
Angelina Jolie's directing and writing debut "In the Land of Blood and Honey," (IMDb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1714209/ )
Bruce Robinson's "The Rum Diary" featuring Johnny Depp in the Hunter Thompson-esque role (IMDb  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376136/ )
and Martin Scorsese's "Hugo." (IMDb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970179/ )

MORE MARLON

Last week I posted my picture with screen legend Marlon Brando and recounted the story of how I met him in 1978 in my last year of college.  I mentioned that I had a couple of other pictures of the two time Oscar winner.  Well, I found them and since there seemed to be a good deal of curiosity, here they are.  Now, I'm not in these.  These were a couple of pics that are sort of hard to believe on their own.  They show Brando exiting the rear of the camper that he and the couple he had with him were travelling in.  You read it right...camper...ON THE BACK OF A PICKUP...look for yourself:

Marlon Brando Goes Camping?

Have a great rest of your weekend everyone!

Topping the Chinese/Schnabel's Got Depp/Dream Team

Good Morning from Santa Fe!

We're heading home today after a whirlwind "vacation" here in northern New Mexico.  Hate to leave, but things to do.

TOPPING THE CHINESE

The Long and Winding Road that leads to the Olympics?

I've mentioned in this space that Telluride favorite, director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours) has an unenviable next project.  Boyle is directing the ceremonies for the Summer Olympics in London next year.  I like Danny Boyle.  He's a clever, inventive director (and writer too).  He's always been very pleasant as he's presented his work at TFF in 2008 and last year.  I've gotten to rub shoulders and speak with him a couple of times as we've crossed paths at the Telluride Film Festival.  So, I was concerned that he was in a no win situation for him in this endeavor.  The Chinese in 2008 set the bar so incredibly high that I (and I'm sure many others) believed that whoever accepted this gig was starting from the bottom of an insurmountable mountain. 

Now comes word that Boyle and the London Olympic folks may be putting the pieces in place to present one of the few things that could electrify the world at the same level that the Chinese achieved 3 years ago.
"What could that possibly be?" you ask.  The Wrap has the potential answer...

Can you say "Fab  Four"?  Or, perhaps more accurately, the Fab Two and the closest thing we can get to the other two that are no longer with us.  The Wrap reports that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr would potentially be joined by Julian Lennon or Sean Lennon and Dhani Harrison to perform as part of the Olympic ceremonies.

You can read The Wrap's story here:
http://www.thewrap.com/media/article/report-beatles-reunion-works-2012-olympic-games-28962

Can you say (sing) "Let it Be"?

 SCHANBEL AND DEPP

The Playlist has the story that Julian Schnabel may have his next film project to develop and that it includes collaboration with Johnny Depp.  Schnabel has also been a Telluride participant.  He presented his best film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" at Telluride in 2007 and has also been the festival's poster artist in the past.

Last year I was somewhat surprised that his "Miral" wasn't part of TFF#37.  I was relatively certain that it would be.  But nope.  Now comes news that Schnabel has a new film project that re-pairs him with his "Before Night Falls" star Johnny Depp.  The proposed project would pair the two in an adaptation of the Nick Tosches book "In the Hand of Dante". 

As you might expect from the title, the focus, in part, on Dante's "Divine Comedy".  The tenor of the story suggests that neither man is in a big hurry to get the project adapted and made and Depp has at least 2-3 films lined up currently including his expected turn as Tonto in "The Lone Ranger".  So don't expect to see this at TFF #39  or maybe 40...or...well, who knows.  But you have to believe that if it DOES get made, it would be a prime possibility for Labor Day in the San Juans (unless, of course, there's any bad blood over the "Miral" exclusion from last year).

The Playlist story is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/exclusive_julian_schnabel_planning_in_the_hand_of_dante_with_johnny_depp/

DREAM TEAM

Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in "My Week with Marilyn"

Yesterday's post included a list of a few films that we have on our Telluride film list.  Today I'm flinging out into the Universe my wish list for individuals that I'd love to see on Colorado Avenue in September.

And I make no apology about still be entirely star struck.  Maybe that makes me uncool.  But I'm still stunned when I see, stand by, or exchange words with some of the people that I've run into in the last five years.  Passing words with Oscar nominees/winners like Boyle, Laura Linney, James Franco, Sean Penn, and  Jason Reitman (to shamelessly name drop) has been one of the highlights of my festival experience so forgive me my adolescent joy at being in the same room as Daniel Day-Lewis, Ed Harris, Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush.

All that aside, who would I love to see, bump into, pass words with at this year's SHOW?  I've tried to limit the list to those people who have at least a scintilla of a chance to have a film there ( and I realize that it all won't happen and that Telluride often has the director of a film on hand rather than any of the talent, but a guy can dream...right?)

This isn't a complete list, but a first pass.  I'm sure I'll add to it over the next six weeks as we get closer to Labor Day.

Meryl Streep/The Iron Lady
Glenn Close/Albert Nobbs
George Clooney/The Descendants and/or The Ides of March
Philip Seymour Hoffman/Moneyball
Brad Pitt/Moneyball (I'd like to talk to him about his connections to Oklahoma)
Colin Firth/Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Gary Oldman/Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Charlize Theron/Young Adult
Ralph Fiennes/Coriolanus
Vanessa Redgrave/Coriolanus
Michelle Williams/My Week with Marilyn
Jodie Foster/Carnage
Kate Winslet/Carnage
Christoph Waltz/Carnage
and, of course, my girl friend, Laura Linney...

Later!

The Wettest County???

Shia LaBeouf and extras on the set of "The Wettest County in the World"

A really interesting post from The Hollywood Reporter yesterday about the upcoming Oscar race.  That article necessarily includes a ton of films that I've put on the Telluride film watch list.  Including: "The Artist'" "Young Adult," "The Descendants," "The Ides of March," "The Iron Lady," "Moneyball," "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," "My Week with Marilyn," "Carnage," and new to the discussion in the article is John Hillcoat's ("The Road'" "The Proposition,") "The Wettest County in the World."

 "Wettest County" is listed by IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212450/) as having a 2012 release date but author Greg Kilday apparently thinks there is at least some possibility that it might be in play for a 2011 Oscar qualifying run.  Hillcoat's presence at Telluride in 2009 and The Weinstein Company's participation make it a possibility if it's ready for a run at TFF #38.

You can see all of Kilday's article here:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-2012-why-meryl-streep-197024

Meanwhile, as obsessed as I am becoming with the new Paul Thomas Anderson project, I noticed this post from The Playlist yesterday which hints that the next Coen Brothers project may include a serious music component...a Coen Brothers Musical?  What would that be like?  Here's a link to that article as well:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/the_coen_brothers_say_they_are_working_on_a_new_music-based_film/

Another film to stalk incessantly for the next few months...YES!  And maybe I can compose the score  for some of the Coen's past films.  After all, if this new thing is a success, why not "Raising Arizona:The Musical"  featuring such hits as: "Boy, You Got a Panty on Your Head," "Not Unless Round is Funny,"  "The Huggies Shuffle," and the show stopping closer, "Maybe It Was Utah."

I can see it now...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBVesAXZPzA

Some Films Reconsidered for TFF #38

Ralph Fiennes modern version of Shakespeare's "Coriolanus"

Kris Tapley at Incontention.com has his first stab at Oscar contenders up and it makes us pause and take another look at some films that we have previously mentioned as Telluride possibles but are currently lost in the fog that surrounds the upcoming Cannes Film Festival (starting up a week from today).

You can find Tapley's entire initial Oscar Contender list at:

http://incontention.com/the-contenders-best-picture/

On his list we are reminded of the following that might make their way to TFF #38:

"Carnage" with Jodie Foster, Christoph Waltz, Kate Winslet and John C. Reilly. Based on Yasmina Reza's award winning play (God of Carnage) and directed by Roman Polanski. You have to think that this could be a big time contender for Oscar next February. Although IMDB has it scheduled to release in 2012. The fact that it is set to be distributed by Sony Pictures Classics raises its profile as a possible Telluride film.

"Coriolanus" directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes. Also starring Gerard Butler, Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life), Vanessa Redgrave and Brian Cox in one of Shakespeare's least produced plays. From The Weinstein Company...which you figure has to have at least one film play at Telluride.

"The Descendants" Despite having not been chosen for Cannes, you still have to think that Alexander Payne's first directorial effort since 2004's "Sideways" is still a pretty good bet to be in Telluride. Also, it's a Fox Searchlight project...so that boosts its chances too.

"My Week with Marilyn" Michelle Williams as Norma Jean from The Weinstein Company.

And the Jason Reitman/Diablo Cody collaboration starring Charlize Theron, "Young Adult."

In the "still wishful thinking dept." Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar, " Martin Scorsese's "Hugo Cabret," and George Clooney's "The Ides of March."

Next week, Cannes and the critical response to what's happening there...