Nebraska Blast/Labor Day Pie/Latest Feinberg/Jane Saga Continues/Chiwetel on Record/The Music of Llewyn Davis

God Thursday to Everyone...

NEBRASKA BLAST

A week away from limited release, Nebraska continues to draw a good deal of media attention.  Bruce Dern is definitely a part of the Best Actor Oscar conversation as is the film, actress June Squibb and Bob Nelson's screenplay.

Dern talked to Anne Thompson about the film:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/bruce-dern-tells-hollywood-tales-on-the-nebraska-promo-trail

The Playlist posted a ton of new stills from the film:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/alexander-paynes-nebraska-unloads-a-state-full-of-new-photos-bruce-dern-will-forte-bob-odenkirk-20131103

And distributor Paramount announced that it would play in some cities on a double bill with the Peter Bogdanovich classic "Paper Moon":
http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/paramount-plays-up-nebraskas-old-fashioned-charms-with-paper-moon-double-bill

LABOR DAY PIE

The Wrap reported this week that actor Josh Brolin really embraced the pie making that is a central plot point for Jason Reitman's "Labor Day".  That's here:
http://www.thewrap.com/josh-brolin-labor-day-pie-scene-sexiest-movie-ghost

LATEST FEINBERG FORECAST AND GURUS OF GOLD

Feinberg:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/feinberg-forecast-field-is-set-652813

Gurus:
http://moviecitynews.com/2013/11/gurus-o-gold-let-the-games-begin-2/


JANE GOT A GUN...THE SAGA CONTINUES

I couldn't let this pass by.  I've been following the twists and travails of the "Jane Got a Gun" shoot for months and there was new one this week.  The film's producers have filed suit against one time director Lynne Ramsay:
http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/jane-got-a-gun-producers-sue-director-lynne-ramsay

CHIWETEL ON RECORD

 
Potential Best Actor nominee and star of Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave" continues to be the focus of much attention as the film continues its slow roll out this week (finally in Oklahoma City and Santa Fe tomorrow).  Both IMDb and Gold Derby posted video of him talking about the film this week:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2027857945/

http://www.goldderby.com/news/5003/oscars-12-years-a-slave-chiwetel-ejiofor-interview-entertainment-news-64297518.html

THE MUSIC OF LLEWYN DAVIS

A couple of interesting developments this week concerning the music from the Coen Brothers "Inside Llewyn Davis".  First, NPR's First Listen has posted the entire soundtrack at their website so that you can stream it...I've been doing that all week.  Here's that link:

http://www.npr.org/2013/11/03/242103173/first-listen-soundtrack-inside-llewyn-davis

And Nonesuch Records, the label for the soundtrack released a vinyl version to sell in indy record stores at the "era" price of $5.98.  This is the complete soundtrack (and I've ordered 6 of them... some for Christmas gifts).  Those of us who were able to attend the Patron's Brunch at Telluride this year had already received a 6 song vinyl EP from the soundtrack as a part of the Patron swag.  The CEO also has the CD version on order as a part of my birthday gifts.  Needless to say, I like this soundtrack a lot.  Rolling Stone has the story of the vinyl LP release:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/inside-llewyn-davis-soundtrack-is-now-available-on-vinyl-20131105



More on Monday...Have a great weekend...

More Gravity Gravitas/Redford Choosing Lost/12 Years with McQueen and Ejiofor/Payne's Nebraska/Labor Look/Oscar Matters

Good Thursday Ya'll...



MORE GRAVITY GRAVITAS

One of the more interesting side stories that emerged as "Gravity" was rolling out at Telluride this year was the companion piece short film that was included elsewhere in the program.  Written and directed by Alfonso Cuaron's son and collaborator, Jonas Cuaron, the film, entitled "Aningaaq" could find its way into the Oscar discussion as a Live Action Short according to this post from HitFixInContention:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/alfonso-and-jonas-cuaron-talk-gravity-short-film-companion-piece-aningaaq

REDFORD CHOOSING LOST

TFF #40 Tributee Robert Redford spent some time during this year's festival talking about how he came to make "All is Lost" for writer/director J.C. Chandor.  www.tampabay.com explored that as well in this post.


http://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/movies/redford-says-bold-invite-script-enticed-him-to-do-all-is-lost/2149588

12 YEARS A SLAVE: EJIOFOR AND MC QUEEN

Chiwtel Ejiofor who plays Solomon Northup, the "Slave" for 12 years spoke with The Fader about the role and the film:

http://www.thefader.com/2013/10/25/12-years-a-slave-chiwetel-ejiofor-intervie/

Also, from YouTube, this featurette about "12 Years" director Steve McQueen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgSzYe94FBQ&feature=share&list=PLWthn6pZiBNXb-o6Ak_vQ0DoGj-rP6PSw

PAYNE'S NEBRASKA

Director Alexander Payne spoke recently about the feel and look of "Nebraska" at the Savannah Film Fest. The Playlist reports:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/savannah-film-fest-alexander-payne-talks-nebraska-visual-effects-asks-where-adult-dramas-have-gone-20131027


LABOR LOOK

FirstShowing.net reports that there is a second poster out for Jason Reitman's "Labor Day" and that a trailer for the film is expected to arrive later today.

http://www.firstshowing.net/2013/second-poster-for-jason-reitmans-labor-day-before-trailer-tomorrow/

OSCAR MATTERS

Here's the link to the latest installment of Awards Daily's Oscar Podcast with Sasha Stone:

http://www.awardsdaily.com/oscarpodcast/?p=2159

More on Monday...Happy Halloween Everybody!

Lots of 12 Years Material/Kechiche on Blue: Show It/Dern for Lead/Foreign Film Oscar Analysis and Predictions/Llewyn and Wind

Good Monday to All...


LOTS OF 12 YEARS MATERIAL...

With its screening as apart of The New York Film Festival this week, Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave" saw a burst of media attention.  Dutifully, I have compiled some of that here for your perusal.  It also allows me to remind all of you that read this space, that I still think that it was the best thing I saw at TFF #40 and I'm feeling confident that it will be the best film I will see this year (Scorsese's "Wolf", Clooney's "Monuments Men", Jonze's "Her", Stiller's "Walter Mitty", Greengrasses' "Capt. Phillips" notwithstanding).  Frankly, looking at what's still out there to be seen, the film that looks to me to be the biggest challenge to "12 Years" supremacy might be David O. Russell's "American Hustle".  I still have serious reservations about "Saving Mr. Banks".

I've said it before and will say it again... "12 Years a Slave" is the film we'll still be talking about 10-20-50 years from now.  That said, here's some of the coverage from this week:

The Playlist provides a look at the NYFF Q+A with McQueen:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/nyff-steve-mcqueen-talks-12-years-a-slave-20131010

IndieWire independently with the same notion here:
http://www.indiewire.com/article/nyff-13-steve-mcqueen-on-12-years-a-slave-the-effects-of-slavery-today-and-working-with-michael-fassbender

And The Hollywood Reporter:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nyff-12-years-a-slave-646444

Fox Searchlight has provided the link to The Charlie Rose Show interview with McQueen and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender:
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/post/3837/watch-ejiofor-mcqueen-and-fassbender-on-charlie-rose/

And new stills from the film popped up via IMDb:
http://www.imdb.com/media/index/rg1360960000?ref_=hm_snp_t1

Pete Hammond at Deadline.com links this featurette and post about star Ejiofor:
http://www.deadline.com/2013/10/12-years-a-slave-featurette-chewitel-ejiofor-video/

KECHICHE ON BLUE: SHOW IT

Well, you can't say that Cannes Palme d'Or winner "Blue is the Warmest Color" hasn't had its share of controversy in the five weeks since it payed at Telluride.  First, just the general furor about the explicitness of the lesbian love scenes, then the stories that stars Lea Seydoux and Adele Excharopolous felt violated (by the way, I meT Ms. Excharopolous briefly at this year's Patron Brunch...she is as lovely in real life as she appears to be on screen...she was also very kind to this small-time blogger).  Then came the story that director Abdellatif Kechiche didn't even want the film released.  On top of all that, came the decision from the French not to allow a limited release there to act as a qualifying run for the Foreign Language Oscar.  It's been intriguing to say the least.

Now Kechiche is reported by IndieWire as wanting the film released...read it here:
http://www.indiewire.com/article/abdellatif-kechiche-corrects-the-record-on-lesbian-drama-blue-is-the-warmest-color-the-film-should-be-released#

Meanwhile, The Playlist has posted the entire 27 1/2 min. NYFF press conference for the film here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/nyff-abdel-kechiche-open-to-blue-is-the-warmest-color-sequel-says-his-directors-cut-will-be-40-minutes-longer-20131011

DERN FOR LEAD

Bruce Dern thinks he should be campaigned for Best Actor for "Nebraska".  Some Oscar experts have gone on record saying that he should go Supporting as he'd be a virtual lock for a nomination and the probable favorite to win.  Further, the experts say, the Best Actor race is crazy competitive...Redford, McConnaughey, Hanks, DiCaprio, Bale, Issac, Ejiofor, Phoenix and more.

You can argue that Will Forte is the lead...you'd be wrong, but you can make the argument.  I'm all for Bruce's position.  He's a lead...that's where he should be considered.  Frankly, I think  he'll get the nomination.  I doubt he wins, though.

Nevertheless, Daniel Montgomery at Gold Derby takes a look at Dern's position here:
http://www.goldderby.com/news/4902/nebraska-bruce-dern-entertainment-news-273645198.html

FOREIGN FILM OSCAR ANALYSIS AND PREDICTIONS

The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg took a look this week at the Foreign Language Oscar field.  Feinberg sets the favorite as Asghar Farhadi's "The Past" but argues that it's by no means a prohibitive favorite.  TFF #40 as well as #39 films are mentioned favorably by Feinberg as possible challengers including "Bethlehem", "The Hunt", "Wajdja" and "Gloria".  As mentioned above, "Blue is the Warmest Color" is off the table for this year's Oscar Foreign Language consideration as is "The Lunchbox".  Peruse Scott's complete post here:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/foreign-language-oscar-can-past-646371

And here is the latest Feinberg Forecast from Scott Feinberg at The Hollywood Reporter:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/feinberg-forecast-updated-projections-20-648133


LLEWYN AND THE WIND

Writing for IndieWire, Shelley Farmer makes a case that The Coens' "Inside Llewyn Davis" and Hiyao Miyazaki's "The Wind Rises" have more in common than you might think.  Take a look:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/criticwire/inside-llewyn-davis-the-wind-rises-review


That's enough for now...More on Thursday...

Telluride Day Two/Day Three TBAs and Sneaks

Telluride Day Two…

This is the eighth SHOW I’ve attended and I’ve had some wondrous experiences but Friday might take the cake.

I began the day with the tribute to Robert Redford which was wonderful.  An hour or so of clips which reminded me of so much great work that Redford has done and also made me want to re-watch some of my personal favorites: “All the President’s Men”, “A River Runs Through It” which he narrated and directed, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”…many others.  The clip reel was followed by an entertaining Q&A led by John Horn of the Los Angeles Times.

Robert Redford

Following the tribute, I caught Penn and Teller’s documentary “Tim’s Vermeer”.  The film focuses on Texas inventor Tim Jenison and his search for a way to replicate the complex painting style of Johannes Vermeer.  Sounds pretty dull, but nope.  In fact, it’s the second most enthusiastic reception for a film I’ve seen this weekend.  Penn Jillette produced; Teller directed a film that ends up with an audience rooting for Tim to be successful.  The emotion was no doubt heightened by the presence of Mr. Jenison in the theater.

Then I caught J.C. Chador’s sophomore effort, the highly anticipated “All is Lost” starring Redford.  Redford plays “Our Man” a nameless guy who is sailing solo in the Indian Ocean.  Things go awry and quickly spiral out of control.  Soon “Our Man” is in desperate straits and all alone.  The man vs. the elements story is tight.  I wrote via Twitter “All is Lost” is simple, spare, beautifully shot and Redford acts his ass off”.   It really may be the legend’s finest film performance…and with almost no dialogue.

 Brad Pitt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong'o and Michael Fassbender

I ended the day with sneak preview showing of Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave”.  McQueen as well as stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o and star/producer Brad Pitt were in attendance.  The film is incredible.  Following the film there came a standing ovation for the director and cast as they took the stage for a brief Q&A.  Reactions from across the board Friday night were effusive in praise for McQueen, the cast, John Ridley’s screenplay.  I tweeted “The Oscar race might be over.  Ejiofor, Fassbender and Nyong’o shine.  McQueen is genius.”

Other comments: Jeff Wells/Hollywood Elsewhere called it “Masterful, tender and eloquent”.  Eric Kohn/IndieWire called it “maybe the best movie about slavery ever”.  Alex Billington/FirstShowing said, “A profound cinematic achievement on every level”.  Greg Ellwood/HitFix said, “Powerful…a stunning turn by Chiwetel Ejiofor”. 

There are a number of mentions of probable Oscar nominations.  You have to think McQueen, Ridley, Ejiofor, Fassbender, Nyong’o and, of course Best Picture.  Also score, costumes seem likely to me at least.

My final analysis of “12 Years a Slave”…transcendent film making that seems to me to be in a class with “Schindler’s List”. 

Day Three will include the Coen Brothers tribute and Ralph Fiennes “The Invisible Woman” and more.

More from Telluride tomorrow.

SATURDAY TBAs and SNEAKS

Prisoners                  Palm/Sat 8:30a

A father (Hugh Jackman) goes ballistic trying to punish the suspected abductor (Paul Dano) of his daughter and another girl, while running afoul of the diligent cop (Jake Gyllenhaal) working the case. Sounds like countless hours of TV procedural-cop dramas? Nope. Director Denis Villeneuve (INCENDIES, TFF 2010), working from Aron Guzikowski’s fiendishly inventive script, reaches Dostoyevskian depths, creating a terrifying, morally ambiguous universe where ordinary human decency faces the harshest of tests. The superb supporting cast includes Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, and Melissa Leo. It may surprise you that Hollywood genre moves can still be this good. (U.S., 2013, 158m) In person: Denis Villeneuve



Prisoners Q&A                 Palm/Sat 8p



12 Years a Slave           Chuck Jones Cinema/Sat 8p

Solomon Northrup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), an impeccable middle-class attorney with a happy family and superb skills as a violinist, is an African American free from birth who has never spent a moment of his life confronting the horrors of black experience down South. Pursuing a business opportunity in Washington, DC, he is kidnapped and enslaved, and descends into a harrowing nightmare of moral corruption and irrational violence. Director Steve McQueen (HUNGER, SHAME) and screenwriter John Ridley shape Northrup’s memoir into a vivid, compelling historical fresco, with superb performances from Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, in his third collaboration with McQueen, Lupita Nyong'o, Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti and Brad Pitt. (USA, 2013, 133m) In person: Steve McQueen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o

12 Years a Slave    Q&A    Werner Herzog/Sat noon

3 All Is Lost CJC/Sat 11p

15 Tim’s Vermeer Masons/Sat 6p   

7 The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden  Le Pierre/Sat 12:30p             

19 Fifi Howls from Happiness   Q&A Le Pierre/Sat 9p  

Conversation

4p Elks Park

Steve McQueen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o with Scott Foundas

12 Years Trailer/Schiller's 2fers/Judi and Philomena/The Hunt

Good Tuesday to All...

12 YEARS TRAILER

It dropped last night, the first trailer for Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave".  I have multiple links to stories with the trailer attached:

HitFix:
http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/12-years-a-slave-trailer-drops-with-looks-at-chiwetel-ejiofor-brad-pitt-and-michael-fassbender

The Hollywood Reporter:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/12-years-a-slave-trailer-585636

FirstShowing:
http://www.firstshowing.net/2013/must-watch-steve-mcqueens-12-years-a-slave-theatrical-trailer/

The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-trailer-for-steve-mcqueens-twelve-years-a-slave-starring-chiwetel-ejiofor-michael-fassbender-more-20130715

Awards Daily:
http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/12-years-a-slave-trailer-and-screencaps/

The Wrap:
http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/chiwetel-ejiofor-gets-sold-slavery-first-12-years-slave-trailer-video-103401

Rope of Silicon:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/12-years-a-slave-trailer-and-poster-premiere/

SCHILLER'S 2FERS

Friend of the blog Chris Schiller tweeted out an interesting thought this weekend.  He speculated on some possible TFF#40 "2fers".  People that might star in 2 films showing as a part of the SHOW.  Last year Mads Mikkelsen fit that bill being in both "A Royal Affair" and "The Hunt" (see below, by the way).

Schiller's tweet:

2fer predictions/hopes for #TFF40 Benedict Cumberbatch(THE FIFTH ESTATE, AUGUST:OSAGE COUNTY) Tilda Swinton(THE ZERO THEOREM, ONLY LOVERS…)

So that got me to thinking, "what other '2fers' could pop up?" Not that they will or that I think that they will, but, you know, what could? Here's the list I came up with:

Michael Fassbender: "The Counselor' and "12 Years a Slave"
Joaquin Phoenix: "Her" and "The Immigrant"
Christian Bale: "Out of the Furnace" and "American Hustle"
Amy Adams: "American Hustle" and "Her"
Jeremy Renner: "American Hustle" and "The Immigrant"
Tom Hanks: "Captain Phillips" and "Saving Mr. Banks"
Matthew McConnaughey: "Dallas Buyers Club" and "The Wolf of Wall Street"
Daniel Bruhl: (actually a 3fer): "A Most Wanted Man", "Rush" and "The Fifth Estate"
Jean Dujardin; (also a 3fer): "The Monuments Men", "The Wolf of Wall Street" and "Mobius"
George Clooney (kind of a 3fer): "The Monuments Men", "Gravity" and producing "August: Osage County"
And this note...Cumberbatch also a "3fer" as he appears in "12 Years a Slave".

Who else? Drop me a line if there are others that you can think of that are "2fers" or more!


JUDI AND PHILOMENA

The Weinstein Company has a crazy lineup of end of the year/awards season/high profile films in its basket:

"The Immigrant"
"August: Osage County"
"Grace of Monaco"
"Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"
"The Butler"
"Only God Forgives" and others...

Perhaps the "smallest" of these is "Philomena" starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan of all people.


If you read this blog much, you know that I'm pretty high on the notion that James Gray's "The Immigrant" will make this year's program and if the TWC peeps are going to have a second film at TFF #40...this might be the one.

Over the weekend we began to see pictures from the film.  Both HitFix and Rope of Silicon posted.  Here are the links to those stories:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/is-judi-dench-in-philomena-the-weinsteins-secret-weapon

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/first-look-at-judi-dench-in-her-oscar-bid-philomena/

Why do I think that we could see this film over Labor Day?

I just have a feeling that the TWC train is going to have more than one pony at TFF this year.  Last year they were repped by "The Sapphires" and the 5 min. (or so) of "The Immigrant" that was a part of the Marion Cotillard tribute and though one TWC film is really the norm at TFF...again, I just have a feeling and "Philomena" is the film that's giving me the vibe.

Also, it's directed by Stephen Frears who has had films crop up at Telluride from time to time: "Tamara Drewe" "Sammie and Rosie Get Laid".  He was a 1987 TFF tributee as well.


THE HUNT

Thomas Vinterberg's "The Hunt" opened in limited release last weekend.  I have linked interviews with Vinterberg and his star, TFF#39 tributee Mads Mikkelsen below:

Vinterberg from The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/video/2013/07/11/movies/100000002322424/thomas-vinterberg-on-the-hunt.html?smid=tw-nytmovies&seid=auto

Mikkelsen from IndieWire:
http://www.indiewire.com/article/mads-mikkelsen-on-his-cannes-winning-performance-in-the-hunt-and-the-three-paths-he-sees-for-hannibal-in-season-two


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More tomorrow...