Tapley's Take/Connecting Some Dots/Skin Is Showing/Eyeing Tilda/Oscar, Oscar, Oscar

Good Morning everyone.  Excitement is building!

3 Days...and it's getting closer...

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED

Come and join me for a Michael's Telluride Film Blog soiree 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.



TAPLEY'S TAKE

Film blogger Kristopher Tapley at Incontention.com had his latest fall festival preview post up yesterday and it focused specifically on 25 films that will be a big part of the conversation over the next three weeks as we move from Venice (opens tomorrow), Telluride (come on, baby!) and Toronto opening Sept. 8.  He tackles his best stab at what he thinks, feels, intuits or plays heads and tails with as far as the Telluride lineup is concerned.

You can read the complete (and it is fairly comprehensive) article here:
http://incontention.com/2011/08/29/off-the-carpet-fall-fests-look-to-boost-early-oscar-hopes/#more-41266

Breaking down the specific references to T-ride, here's a thumbnail of the films he references in regard to our 38th fest and what he has to say:

Albert Nobbs- "The film could stop off in Telluride..."

The Artist- "I think The Weinstein Company will bring it to Telluride..."
Carnage- "The high profile New York berth means IT'S OUT for Telluride..." (my emphasis added)
Coriolanus- TWC "picked it up and might stop it off in Telluride..."
A Dangerous Method- "Cronenberg's latest looks to drop early at Telluride, I'm hearing..."
The Descendants- "The most sense for a Telluride bow (and I'm hearing that it will show up there)"
The Ides of March- "Fingers crossed for this to show up in Telluride, though it seems doubtful..."
The Lady- "Telluride is looking like a possibility..."

Shame- "It looks to be Fassbender's second film at Telluride this year."
Take This Waltz- Paraphrasing here...Tapley wonders if the lack of a big gala for this film means that it "was due to Telluride scheduling."
Tinker, Tailor...-"...doesn't look like this...will be making the Telluride trip..."
W.E.- "I don't think Telluride is in the cards, but maybe it'll surprise."
We Need to Talk About Kevin- "Telluride looks like a definite possibility..."
Wuthering Heights- "Arnold really dug Telluride...so maybe we'll get first dibs there."

So of the 25 Tapley mentions in the post, he references Telluride in respect to 14 of them.  By my estimation Tapley feels pretty confident about:
The Artist, A Dangerous Method, The Descendants, Shame, and We Need to Talk About Kevin (#3, #11, #1, #7, #5 respectively on this week's MTFB Ten Bets list)

Those that seem to be in his 50/50 club:
Albert Nobbs, Coriolanus, The Lady, Take This Waltz, and Wuthering Heights.
(All of these have been in my Telluride conversation at various times since spring.  Currently The Lady is at #17 on my list...the other three have floated in and out and around the Ten Bets).

Those that seem unlikely but that Tapley hasn't completely ruled out:
The Ides of March, W.E.

And the two that he shoots through the heart (as I pretty much have as well):
Carnage and Tinker, Tailor...

My take away is optimism that we still have a decent shot at Albert Nobbs and Coriolanus and that Tapley still thinks that their is a sliver of hope for both Ides and W.E.

Check out Tapley's post for the other 11 films he lists (and which he doesn't rule in or out for Telluride...so, you know...those could be possibles as well).  None of them are currently on the Ten Bets list, but all have been at least a part of the conversation up to this point.

CONNECTING SOME DOTS

So, as I was working last night on this morning's post I came across an entry from Telluride Inside and Out concerning how to do the festival on a shoestring (relatively speaking).  I thought, "that would be a useful article to link to for my readers."  So I pull it up and peruse it.

"Hey," I say to myself, "they got some pre-SHOW film info.  Cool.  Then I get to this line:
"Thursday's film is "Michael Clayton," starring George Clooney..."

My interior monologue goes: "Hmmm, that's interest....wait a minute..."

I flash back to last year's Thursday night pre-SHOW film..."Once Upon a Time in America" which featured Claudia Cardinale...one of the three TFF TRIBUTEES last year...so does this mean???

Could George Clooney BE one of the three Tributees this year?

Food for thought, isn't it?  Of course, I could be completely wrong, too...

Here's the link to the complete TIO article:

http://www.tellurideinside.com/2011/08/this-festival-the-telluride-film-festival-is-characterized-by-its-small-size-and-friendly-atmosphere-if-there-were-a-few-k-1.html


SKIN IS SHOWING

Pedro Almodovar's "The Skin I Live In" (#9 on the List this week) is close to a lock as far as I can tell.  It stars Antonio Banderas and showed at Cannes in  May.  You can take a look at the new trailer for the film at Yahoo Movies and also a The Playlist (at IndieWire)
Yahoo here:
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810221069/trailer#26453309
Playlist here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/watch_antonio_banderas_strange_contribution_to_human_progress_in_new_the_sk/

Incidentally, The American Film Institute has announced that Almodovar will betheir guest director for their fest in November.  Busy fall for Pedro!
Check that here from Deadline Hollywood's Pete Hammond:
http://www.deadline.com/2011/08/pedro-almodovar-to-be-guest-artistic-director-at-afi-fest/



EYEING TILDA

An Oscar winner and potential Oscar nominee who could (and I stress "could")  be in Telluride this weekend in support of her film is Tilda Swinton (Kevin).  Hollywood News is  profiling films and stars that will be playing Toronto and these are, of course, also films we could see this weekend at 9000 feet.  Check their entry for:
We Need to Talk About Kevin:
http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2011/08/29/tilda-swinton-in-we-need-to-talk-about-kevin-tiff-2011/

OSCAR, OSCAR, OSCAR

Man, everybody and their dog is doing "fall previews' and "Oscar watch" articles and as you might expect, they are loaded with Telluride possibilities.  Take a look at some of these overviews of the coming fall crop of films:

The Atlantic Monthly highlights 12 films including: Moneyball, The Ides of March, Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Descendants, A Dangerous Method, The Artist, W.E., Albert Nobbs and Rampart. 
It's here:
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/08/fall-movies-preview-12-oscar-contenders-to-watch-for/244246/#slide1

IndieWire has a really interesting article up entitled: "For Your Consideration: 10 Things the Fall Fests Can Tell Us About Award Season".  Read it here:
http://www.indiewire.com/article/2011/08/29/for_your_consideration_10_things_the_fall_fests_might_tell_us_about_award_s 

And Pete Hammond at Deadline Hollywood asks," Can Indies Steal Oscars Again?" as he breaks down the pre-Oscar field studio by studio.  You can find that here:
http://www.deadline.com/2011/08/hammond-big-names-in-small-films-can-indies-steal-the-oscars-again/

And in an interesting bit of counter coverage, The Playlist posts an article concerning the wisdom of NOT playing the festival circuit.  Interesting stuff here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/2011/08/29/the_amazing_race_is_hiding_your_films_til_dec_anti-_film_festival_circuit_b/


AND FINALLY...

On the basis of a random tweet I mined late last night, put "Butter" (dir. Jim Field Smith, Stars: Jennifer Garner, Hugh Jackman and Olivia Wilde) on the Ten Bets list at #19...I think it may be in Telluride...


More on the morrow, boys and girls...


FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
@Gort2

Two Trailers/Anne's Interviews/Gurus/Red Riding???Carlos???And???

"Howdy" is what we say in Oklahoma...not the musical, the place...well...OK, the musical too!

8 Days and ...tick...tick...tick...counting...

Come and join me for a Michael's Telluride Film Blog meet and greet 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 or "howdy" if you prefer.

TWO TRAILERS

New versions of trailers for two films that are on the "Ten (plus) Bets list this week.  "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and "Drive."

I must say I want both of these films to be in Southwest Colorado next week.  "TTTS" stars Gary Oldman. Colin Firth, John Hurt (one of my favorite under-used actors), Ciaran Hinds (another favorite), Toby Jones, Tom Hardy and Mark Strong in the John LeCarre spy story.  Tomas Alfredson directs.  The new trailer is up from First Showing.net here:
http://www.firstshowing.net/2011/another-great-international-trailer-for-tinker-tailor-solider-spy/

Meanwhile, The Playlist (IndieWire) has a new trailer up for the Nicolas Winding Refn noirish, existential thriller "Drive."  It features Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan and comedian Albert Brooks in a performance that is generating Oscar buzz.  The Playlist folks say that the new trailer might be "spoilerish" so I have chosen to avoid looking at it.  You can, though, if you want to here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/watch_another_great_though_potentially_spoiler-ish_trailer_for_drive/#

TTTS IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340800/

Drive's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780504/

ANNE'S INTERVIEWS

Anne Thompson (Thompson on Hollywood/IndieWire) gets to talk to interesting people and lately interesting people that may well have film(s) involved in the 38th Telluride Film Festival.  For example, recently she spoke with Antonio Banderas who stars in Telluride possible and Pedro Alomdovar film "The Skin I Live In."  Take a look at what Banderas has to say here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/24/banderas_talks_almodovar_reunion_betrayal

Skin's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1189073/

Also up on Anne's site is an interview with the red hot Jessica Chastain.  Chastain has had a crazy, meteoric rise this year.  She's already been seen in Malick's "The Tree of Life" and "The Help."  She could potentially be seen on the streets of Telluride in support of "Take Shelter," "Coriolanus," "The Wettest County," and/or "Texas Killing Fields."

Jessica Chastain with "Coriolanus" co-star and director Ralph Fiennes

Chastain's interview with Thompson can be found here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/23/jessica_chastain_talks_tree_of_life_the_help_the_debt_coriolanus/#

IMDb pages for:
Coriolanus: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1372686/
The Wettest County: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212450/
Texas Killing Fields: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1389127/
Take Shelter: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1675192/

GURUS!

Movie City News has its first "Gurus of Gold" chart up for the 2011 Oscar campaign.  MCN canvases a group of Oscar predictors and then collates their responses.  As you might expect a good number of Telluride possibles/probables are on the initial pre-fall film festival list.  If you're inclined the results are here via Sasha Stone at Awards Daily:
http://www.awardsdaily.com/2011/08/the-gurus-of-gold-pre-toronto-check/

On the Gurus top fifteen  are TFF#38 possibles: "The Ides of March," "The Artist," "The Descendants," "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," "We Bought a Zoo," and "Moneyball."  (and at #15 Jason Reitman's festival shunner "Young Adult"...though there's still a part of my that thinks it might still actually "sneak" at T-ride).

Anne Thompson's picks are missing from this chart but she has posted hers at her site:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/24/oscar_watch_war_horse_ides_of_march_the_artist_lead_early_gurus_o_gold_top_


AND WHAT DO YOU DO AFTER "RED RIDING" AND "CARLOS"?

New friend and fellow Telluride-bound journalist Eugene Novikov of FilmBlather.com asked me yesterday if I thought that German three part film "Dreileben" might be programmed for TFF #38 in the same fashion that "Red Riding" was in 2009 and "Carlos" was in 2010.

After some consideration, my response is a definite "maybe."  Certainly T-ride has established that pattern the last two years and this fits the bill...so it wouldn't surprise me all that much.  Maybe Eugene is prescient or maybe he has some inside dope.  Or (like me) he may just be guessing.

The Hollywood Reporter had this review up for the three parter after its run in Berlin:
 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/dreileben-film-review-167356

We'll find out next week.
Dreileben's three IMDb pages are here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1718775/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1718776/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1718777/

More on the morrow...

Trailers, Trailers, Trailers/Posters Too/And Pictures

Good Morning Starshine...the Earth says, "Hello."  with apologies to Rado, Ragni and MacDermot.

Telluride #38 in TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY.

I'm heading for Telluride later today (the 9 1/2 hour drive won't be complete until after midnight).  I'm going to see my daughter in the Telluride Rep's Shakespeare in the Park production of "As You Like It." 

I'll also be putting together the details of MTFB's meet and greet for Friday, Sept. 2 in Telluride called "The Guide to the Ride, the Flow of the Show."  I should have details in Monday's post.  See you in the park Saturday night???

TRAILERS (FOR SALE OR RENT?)

Clooney and Payne on the set of "The Descendants"

A veritable barrage of posts from a variety of sources yesterday with trailers (some seen previously and others not) of films that could make an appearance at TFF#38.

Starting with a big post from Anne Thompson/Thompson On Hollywood(IndieWire) that includes multiple links to trailer including Telluride possibles "The Descendants," The Skin I Live In," "The Ides of March, " and "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."  Other links are provided to:"Hysteria" and "Anonymous."

That post is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/18/trailer_watch_new_york_toronto_and_venice_film_festivals

Another Thompson post reveals that Telluride possible (and Sundance success) "Martha Marcy May Marlene" has two trailers that will be out today for those that can find them.  Kind of a trailer treasure hunt it would appear.  Check Anne's other story for the down low about how that's supposed to work here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/18/join_the_hunt_for_martha_marcy_may_marlene_trailer

Another late coming title to Telluride consideration is Michael Winterbottoms' "Tess of the D'Ubervilles" adaptation "Trishna" starring Frieda Pinto.  It has a trailer out as well this morning as we found out from The Playlist (IndieWire).  The link to that trailer and The Playlist post is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/watch_beautiful_deeply_romantic_trailer_for_michael_winterbottoms_trishna_w

And finally, Kris Tapley at Incontention.com has the "Machine Gun Preacher" trailer up on his site.  "Preacher" features Gerard Butler in a "true story" film about a man who changes his life to help others.  It is directed by Marc Forster (Finding Neverland)The link to that is here:

http://incontention.com/2011/08/18/machine-gun-preacher-trailer/


Warm up for a fortnight from now by taking a peek at some or all of these trailers.

POSTERS TOO

The Playlist also posted a story that included the "Coriolanus" poster that we passed along yesterday.  Their article does include the new "Contagion" poster pictured above as well as a new poster for "Safe."
You'll find the story and all 3 posters at:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/coriolanus_contagion_jason_stathams_safe_get_posters/


NEW ZOO PICS

I am a bit wary to even include Cameron Crowe's "We Bought a Zoo" as T-ride possible.  Not much buzz in that direction and additionally, like a lot of the planet, I was not fond of his last effort "Elizabethtown."  Nevertheless, Rope of Silicon has a post up with 5-6 new stills from the production including the one I have added above.

See the ROS story and other pics at:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/images-cameron-crowes-we-bought-zoo

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More on the morrow...from Telluride!

An Invite/New York Surprise/Coriolanus Poster/SPC at TFF/Inarritu's Next Gig

Good Morning America, How are ya?   Today's apologies to Arlo Guthrie.

The 38th Telluride Film Festival is 2 weeks and 1 day away...

AN INVITATION

You are invited to attend "The Guide to the Ride; The Flow of the SHOW" a brief discussion of Michael's Telluride Film Blog and the selections for the 38th Telluride Film Festival in Telluride on Friday, Sept. 2, 2011.   Location, timing and refreshment details are still being sorted through.  Watch the blog for more especially beginning with next Monday's blog post.

NEW YORK SURPRISE

The New York Film Festival will be featuring Alexander Payne's "The Descendants" as its closing night film.  That information was relayed by various sources yesterday.  The choice was a bit unexpected.  Most speculation had centered on "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and "The Iron Lady."

So what does the choice of "The Descendants" for NYFF tell us? 

First, rest assured, it DOES NOT MEAN that we won't see it in Colorado in two weeks.  It's going to be there (I have included the link below to Anne Thompson's "Thompson on Hollywood" post at IndieWire from yesterday and she flat says it's playing T-ride...and I've been saying it for some time). 

Second, I really think that it means that "Tinker" is now 50/50 for Telluride.  At this point it's the only game in town before it opens in Britain except for its Venice showing.  So I have a good vibe going on here.

Third, the overlap between TFF and NYFF may be very pronounced this year.  Look at the list of NYFF films and it is full of TFF possibles via the NYFF official website ( I have placed an *** by those films I've had on my Telluride radar).

The 49th New York Film Festival main slate:

Opening Night Gala Selection
CARNAGE
Director: Roman Polanski
Country: France/Germany/Poland

Centerpiece Gala Selection
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
Director: Simon Curtis
Country: UK

Special Gala Presentations
A DANGEROUS METHOD***
Director: David Cronenberg
Country: UK/Canada/Germany

THE SKIN I LIVE IN***
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Country: Spain

Closing Night Gala Selection
THE DESCENDANTS***
Director: Alexander Payne
Country: USA

4:44: LAST DAY ON EARTH
Director: Abel Ferrara
Country: USA

THE ARTIST***
Director: Michel Hazanavicius
Country: France

CORPO CELESTE
Director: Alice Rohrwacher
Country: Italy/Switzerland/France

FOOTNOTE***
Director: Joseph Cedar
Country: Israel

GEORGE HARRISON: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD***
Director: Martin Scorsese
Country: USA

GOODBYE FIRST LOVE***
Director: Mia Hansen-Løve
Country: France/Germany

THE KID WITH A BIKE***
Director: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
Country: Belgium/France

LE HAVRE***
Director: Aki Kaurismäki
Country: Finland/France/Germany

THE LONELIEST PLANET
Director: Julia Loktev
Country: USA/Germany

MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE***
Director: Sean Durkin
Country: USA

MELANCHOLIA
Director: Lars von Trier
Country: Denmark/Sweden/France/Germany/Italy

MISS BALA
Director: Gerardo Naranjo
Country: Mexico

ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA***
Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Country: Turkey

PINA
Director: Wim Wenders
Country: Germany/France/UK

PLAY
Director: Ruben Östlund
Country: Sweden/France/Denmark

POLICEMAN
Director: Nadav Lapid
Country: Israel/France

A SEPARATION***
Director: Asghar Farhadi
Country: Iran

SHAME***
Director: Steve McQueen
Country: UK

SLEEPING SICKNESS
Director: Ulrich Köhler
Country: Germany/France/Netherlands

THE STUDENT
Director: Santiago Mitre
Country: Argentina

THIS IS NOT A FILM
Director: Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba Mirtahmasb
Country: Iran

THE TURIN HORSE
Director: Béla Tarr and Agnes Hranitzky
Country: Hungary/France/Germany/Switzerland/USA

 

In 2010 Telluride and the NYFF shared these titles: Another Year, Carlos, Inside Job, Le Quattro Volte, Of Gods and Men and Poetry.

In 2009 they shared: Life During Wartime, Vincere, Room and a Half, Inferno and The White Ribbon.

So overlapping is going to occur and I think perhaps even more than has been the case the last two years.

The Anne Thompson post is here and it is extensive:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/17/george_clooneys_the_descendants_to_close_nyff_main_line-up_of_27_films/

CORIOLANUS HAS A NEW POSTER

I am really hoping that The Weinstein Company and TFF have agreed to include “Coriolanus” as a festival offering.  After watching the trailer I am amped to see the Ralph Fiennes directorial effort. 

TWC played at T-ride last year with “The King’s Speech.”  My hope is that they have more than one film in play this year.  I’m fairly confident that their “The Artist” will be in Colorado.  I’m also fairly confident that two TWC offerings won’t be: “The Iron Lady” and My Week with Marilyn.”  That leaves “Coriolanus” and Madonna’s “W.E.” as TWC films still in the Telluride mix.

The Hollywood Reporter had a new “Coriolanus” poster up yesterday and I pass that along to you here:

You can see the complete THR story here:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/first-look-coriolanus-poster-featuring-224505
The Coriolanus IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1372686/


SPC AT TFF

Scene from "Footnote"

I have often noted that Sony pictures Classics has had a big presence at TFF for a while now.  Anne Thompson (mentioned above) has a good look at the SPC slate for the fall awards season here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/17/oscar_watch_sony_pictures_classics_boasts_strong_fall_line-up_midnight_in_p/

I think we can almost guarantee that "Footnote" will be in the San Juans in two weeks.  It will probably show up somewhere in next week's "Ten(+) Bets list.  Thompson also mentions "A Separation" in the SPC stable...TFF bound?  Maybe so.

INARRITU'S NEXT GIG

I'm always trying to keep my eyes open to the earliest possible inkling of films that seem to be potential Telluride selections in the future and I have a new one today via The Wrap which posted that Telluride fave Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is set to direct his next project.  Inarritu's "Babel"
 and "Biutiful" both played at Telluride so you have to figure that his next project will bear watching.  The film is entitled "The Revenant" and is based on a novel by Michael Punke.

Check the complete Wrap post at:
http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/babel-director-alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu-attached-wbs-revenant-exclusive-30191

Inarritu's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327944/

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More on the morrow...

Opposing Drives/Looking at Tinker/Descendants Look/Thompson on Coriolanus

Good Morning America...and all the ships at sea!

Friday was a really interesting day.  A nice little bit of badinage with Sasha Stone of Awards Daily and a note that Jeffrey Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere has added me as a follower on Twitter.  Freaking out a little.

Also finished the first (and largest step) of a big, BIG summer project.

So all in all, a really nice day.  Now some film stuff...

DRIVE'S POSTERS COMPARED

I have high hopes that I have been reading the tea leaves correctly and that Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive" will unspool (a term that doesn't make sense in an age of digital film) in Telluride in less than three weeks.

I was lukewarm about it as I read descriptions coming out of Cannes in May (very good notices) but really came around after seeing the trailer.  Now I think it might have a shot to be one of the two or three best films of the year.  So hopes and expectations are high.

Yesterday, via different film sites, we got 2 views of differing posters for the film.  From Awards Daily this view of the "drive" poster for the U.K.

From FirstShowing.net this view of the official U.S. poster:

Personally I prefer the U.S. version.

"Drive" stars Ryan Gosling (as you can clearly see in the posters), Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks (Oscar buzz) and Ron Perlman (who I swear I saw in Telluride the first time I was there for the film fest in 2006).

Drive's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780504/

LOOKING AT TINKER

Another film I have a vibe for and that I am crossing my fingers for is Tomas Alfredson's spy thriller/existential meditation "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" from the John LeCarre novel and featuring Gary Oldman (Oscar buzz), Colin Firth (Oscar buzz), John Hurt, Mark Strong and Toby Jones.  Next week's announcement from the New York Film Fest about its closing film may tell us about TTSS' chances of actually being in the San Juans.  Again, I'm hoping...

The Playlist (at IndieWire) has a post up with a discussion of clips from the film.  They seem positively giddy with what they've seen.  That whets my appetite even more.

Here's the link to The Playlist's story:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/empire_big_screen_11_first_footage_from_tinker_tailor_soldier_spy_is_flat-o

Tinker's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340800/


DESCENDANTS LOOK

It's no secret that I'm 99.99% certain that Alexander Payne's "The Descendants" starring George Clooney will be in Telluride...the film...Clooney?...who knows.

This is also a film I am very high on and I've had it on the Telluride radar for more than a year.  Good buzz on it from some insider types has also built my anticipation.

Again, The Playlist was up this weekend with a new post and a new still from the film.  The post also has a good description via the press info out from the Toronto fest where it will also play after T-ride ( as well as a mention that they "won't be surprised" if it is headed to Telluride...go with that, I say).

Here's The Playlist story:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/new_photo_george_clooney_shailene_woodley_in_alexander_paynes_the_descendan

The Descendant's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1033575/

BTW... for those interested...The Playlist also has a couple of new posts up this weekend about "Carnage" and "My Week with Marilyn" both of which I have virtually dropped from serious Telluride consideration because of their positions in the New York Film Festival.

And Playlist...I'm still available...

THOMPSON ON CORIOLANUS

Anne Thompson is one of my favorite film bloggers (Thompson on Hollywood/IndieWire).  I had a chance to meet and talk with her briefly two years ago at Telluride #36.  She was very kind. 

Last year she went to Venice and missed Telluride #37 but I hear that she's returning to southwest Colorado this year and I say "Yea!"

Yesterday Thompson posted an informative piece about the initial reactions from those who have seen Ralph Fiennes' adaptation of Shakespeare's "Coriolanus."  Suffice it to say that the early buzz is very good (Vanessa Redgrave-Oscar buzz).
I have seen the trailer for the film and as a result I am extremely hopeful ends up on the TFF#38 playbill.  You can link to the trailer if you'll look at my Aug. 10th post of this blog. 

The Thompson story is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/12/coriolanus_fiennes_and_redgrave_stand_out

Coriolanus IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1372686/


AND TWO TIDBITS

News out of Hollywood the last 24 hours that really doesn't have Telluride implications but that I find interesting:

Disney has apparently pulled the plug on the Johnny Depp/Lone Ranger project...that's all over the Interweb...wow.

And the announcement that Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs) has grabbed the option to adapt and direct the new Stephen King novel "11-22-63."  This combination of material and auteur intrigues me.

The novel is out in November for us mere mortals and centers on time travel and the attempt to re-write history.

Have a great rest of your weekend!

Ralph Gets a Trailer/Contagion Contagious/Carey Talks/On Broadway

Well, not so much waiting now...choices...

The Telluride Film Festival starts in 23 days!

RALPH (PRONOUNCED "RAFE") GETS A TRAILER

Coriolanus: Oscar bait for Fiennes and Redgrave?

One of The Weinstein Company's films that I have thought has at least some possibility of playing at Telluride is the directing debut of English actor Ralph Fiennes.  He has undertaken an adaptation of Shakespeare's "Coriolanus."  It's not a play that gets many productions...maybe this film will change that.  And here's why I say that.  The TWC people have a Coriolanus trailer out for the Brits and FirstShowing.net has it up on their site.  It looks fantastic! 

Up to now I've been moderately interested in seeing what Fiennes had up his sleeve.  Additionally, there has already been some Best Supporting Actress buzz for Vanessa Redgrave who appears as Coriolanus' mother (the title role also played by Mr. Fiennes).  well, after looking at the trailer, I am more than moderately interested...now I am really hoping that it shows up in Telluride in three weeks.

Have a look at the FirstShowing story and the "Coriolanus" trailer here:
http://www.firstshowing.net/2011/watch-intense-uk-trailer-for-ralph-fiennes-shakespeare-coriolanus/

The Coriolanus IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1372686/

CONTAGION CONTAGIOUS

A blitz of "Contagion" (dir. Steven Soderbergh) material has been hitting the last few days.  Individual character posters and some TV clips as the opening (Sept. 9) approaches.  Admittedly, I think that "Contagion" is an unlikely entrant for the Telluride program but stranger things have happened.  that being said, here are some "Contagion" links for you to enjoy:

Links to two TV spots for the film via The Playlist at IndieWire:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/watch_matt_damon_is_highly_contagious_in_2_new_tv_spots_for_steven_soderber/

And a link to The Playlist again with a view of  the character posters that are out for the film:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/dont_talk_to_anyone_dont_touch_anyone_new_posters_pics_from_steven_soderber/

Contagion IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1598778/


CAREY TALKS

Carey Mulligan (An Education, Never Let Me Go) has made a habit of being in Telluride the last two years.  this year she could (and I feel like will) make it a third straight year with either "Drive" or "Shame" or both.

Hit Fix has put up a lengthy interview with the British sprite focused primarily o n Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive."  You can find that interview here:
http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/awards-campaign/posts/carey-mulligan-on-the-power-of-quiet-love-with-ryan-gosling-in-drive

I currently have "Drive" at #8 on the Ten Bets list and "Shame" at #9.

Drive's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780504/

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

ON BROADWAY

Colin Firth at last year's Labor Day Picnic in Telluride

Word all over the internet the past 48 hours of a tidbit that has been expected for some time...2010 Best Picture Oscar winner and Telluride #37 presentation "The King's Speech" will be coming to Broadway in play form in a little more than a year if all goes according to plan.

TKS was originally conceived by author David Seidler as a play but, of course, became the four time Oscar winning film last year that serves as the centerpiece of Telluride's tribute to Best Actor winner Colin Firth.

Now Seidler's original intent appears to be on the road to being fulfilled.  I have included a link to The Hollywood News' version of the story:
http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2011/08/07/the-kings-speech-coming-to-broadway-in-fall-2012/


 More on the morrow... (sounds very "Coriolanus-y" doesn't it?)

Future Festival Films?/Pix of Possibles/More Le Havre/TTSS

Waiting...waiting...waiting...

FUTURE FESTIVAL FILMS?

It's become a habit of mine to start to try to identify possible TFF films as far out as possible.  Sometimes I miss (The Tree of Life).  Sometimes I hit (Black Swan).  In that tradition I have been tracking the progress this summer of a few films that look like they would at least be a consideration for inclusion at TFF #39 or #40.

One of these is Danny Boyle's "Trance" which has had some interesting casting bumps this summer in terms of one of the male leads.  First it was supposed to be Michael Fassbender, then Colin Firth and currently Vincent Cassel.  And actually, any of those fellows would probably strengthen the chances of the film getting picked up for Telluride.  The other male lead also does no harm to the film's Telluride profile.  That's James McAvoy.

Now comes word of the casting of Rosario Dawson from The Playlist.  You can find the link to that story here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/rosario_dawson_joins_danny_boyles_trance_vincent_cassel_confirmed

I wouldn't expect to see "Trance" until TFF#40.

Trance's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1924429/

Also on the horizon is news of a new film that could have some Telluride potential next year.  It's called "Darling Companion" and both Ioncinema and The Hollywood Reporter have tidbits about it.

An ensemble piece from Lawrence Kasdan featuring Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Richard Jenkins and Sam Shepherd among others, "Darling Companion" is under the auspices domestically of Sony Pictures Classics.

The Ioncinema story (with a synopsis) is here:

http://networkedblogs.com/kWypX

The Hollywood Reporter version of the story is here:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sony-pictures-classics-takes-domestic-216104

Darling Companion's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1730687/

PIX OF POSSIBLES

A slew of Telluride film possibles have been flooding the internet and news outlets with stills of their wares.  I thought I'd pass some of those along this morning.

"Drive" starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan (and implied as a lock for Telluride by Ioncinema) has a new poster out now.  It (not surprisingly) features Mr. Gosling.

Drive's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780504/

Also from Rope of Silicon, new pictures from the set of Ralph Fiennes directorial debut "Coriolanus."  Here's a teaser. 

Check out the full story at:

Coriolanus' IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1372686/

The Playlist dropped some beautiful photos from Madonna's directing debut as well.  "W.E." tells the story of Wallace Simpson and Prince Edward (the King who abdicated in England that made "The King's Speech" possible).

Again a teaser:

The whole post with more pix can be found here:

W.E.'s IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1536048/

MORE LE HAVRE NEWS


 "Le Havre" is a film that I have been thinking could/would be on this year's Telluride playlist since it debuted at Canes in May.  Last week's announcement that it had been picked up by Janus Films only strengthened my belief that we'll see it in the Rockies in four and a half weeks. 

In the midst of the news it was being picked up came a tweet from Anne Thompson (Thompson on Hollywood) that she believed that it is to be the first of a trilogy from director/writer Aki Kaurismaki.  That would be interesting by itself and it also would be interesting to see if the rest of the string of films might also make their way to Cannes and then T-ride.  We'll have to wait and see.

Here's the text of the Thompson tweet:
"Me too @GuyLodge Surprised that SPC didn't go for it. Apparently 1st of trilogy: wouldn't be surprised if Aki adopts different tone for next."


Le Havre's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1508675/


TTSS

Soooo..."Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"...not in Toronto...not the opener for The New York Film Festival (Roman Polanski's "Carnage" is).  There is a good deal a speculation that it might close the NYFF.  (There's also speculation that the closing spot might go to Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar).

Personally, I think that this is one instance where a film's absence from Toronto increase it's chances of being in Telluride's program.  Jeff wells at Hollywood Elsewhere isn't ruling that out.

See here:
http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2011/07/ohsorry_missed.php

I would love to see Gary Oldman kick his Oscar campaign off on Colorado Ave.  (Do I smell a tribute possibility here?)

TTSS's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340800/

Until tomorrow...

More Ralph/More Busy Peeps/Ten Bets/The Perfect Storm

The weekend has come and gone...Carmageddon, we hardly knew ye...

MORE RALPH

Ralph Fiennes directs himself in Coriolanus

One of the films that I have been tracking sporadically and that has appeared on my "Ten Bets" list for Telluride is Ralph Fiennes film directing debut as he translates one of the Bard's lesser known works to the screen. 

"Coriolanus" is schedule to roll out this fall and has already been glimpsed at the Berlin Film Festival to good reviews especially for Vanessa Redgrave.  Already some Supporting Actress Oscar buzz swirling around her performance in the film.

Now comes word that Fiennes has picked up his second directing assignment.  The Playlist at Indiewire reports this morning that Fiennes will direct a Charles Dickens biopic entitled "The Invisible Woman."  It's based on the book by Claire Tomalin and scripted by Abi Morgan (The Iron Lady, Shame...both on this year's Telluride watch list). 

Past Telluride attendee Carey Mulligan (An Education, Never Let Me Go) is said to be on Fiennes list of possible actresses for the title role.  Also said to be on his list is Abbie Cornish (Bright Star). 

Two names mentioned as possibles for Dickens: Ben Whishaw (Bright Star) and Daniel Day-Lewis (2007 Tributee/There Will Be Blood).

Fiennes has a number of obligations to attend to before he will be able to get to this job, so put down "The Invisible Woman" as a potential film for Telluride in 2013.

The Playlist story is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/ralph_fiennes_directing_charles_dickens_biopic_the_invisible_woman/#.TiRF4gHVPvQ.email

MORE BUSY PEEPS

We started a list a couple of weeks ago of actors that were potentially going to be very busy this fall between the festival circuit and awards season.  Add three more names to the earlier list:

Philip Seymour Hoffman; The Ides of March, Moneyball

Jude Law: Contagion, Hugo

Matt Damon: Contagion, We Bought a Zoo

TEN BETS FOR THIS WEEK

Last week's "Ten Bets" list for this year's Telluride Film Festival looked like this:

1) The Descendants
2) A Trip to the Moon
3) Young Adult
4) Gazing Into the Abyss
5) The Artist
6) Dark Horse
7) The Kid with a Bike
8) Shame
9) Le Havre
10) Coriolanus

This week's list is as follows:

1) The Descendants
2) A Trip to The Moon
3) Gazing Into the Abyss
4) Young Adult
5) The Artist
6) Dark Horse
7) Shame
8) The Kid with a Bike
9) Coriolanus
10) Le Havre

THE PERFECT STORM

I started last week to put together a list of the "dream Team" of people that I think it would be fun to have a conversation with that at least have some minuscule chance of being at this year's festival.  The list wasn't completed last week, but as I have been mulling it over, I was reminded this weekend that I had contemplated a "Perfect Storm" of possibilities back in the spring.  And "Perfect Storm" is a pretty good filmic place to begin the discussion because George Clooney is one of the possibles that helps to connect a lot of this.  Clooney with Alexander Payne's "The Descendants" is a possible attendee. 
His "Ides of March" opens the Venice Festival  on Aug. 31...so he could make an appearance on Colorado Ave.  And, if he does, that opens the door to some of that cast...like Philip Seymour Hoffman. 
And maybe it becomes an "Oceans 11-12-13"  reunion and Clooney's buddy and Hoffman's Moneyball co-star Brad Pitt comes to town with "Moneyball." 
Since Brad's decided to make the trip, maybe his significant other, Angelina Jolie comes to town as well with her directorial debut "In the Land of Blood and Honey." 
Since we've decided the Ocean's gang is meeting up for Labor Day hi-jinks in the San Juans...why not Matt Damon in support of "Contagion."  It makes some sense since "Contagion" is directed by Stephen Soderbergh who is often a producing partner with Clooney. 
And if "Contagion's" playing...why not bring co-star Kate Winslet along...she can double dip as she can also be there in support of "Carnage" with Jodie Foster in tow as well.

And since Matt's there...how about double dipping as well with Cameron Crowe's "We Bought a Zoo"?

So lets' see, that means we see the following films: The Descendants, The Ides of March, Moneyball, In the Land of Blood and Honey, Contagion, Carnage and We Bought a Zoo.

And in person: Clooney, Hoffman, Pitt, Jolie, Damon, Winslet, Foster.

Yes, please.

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!

Tintin Trailer/Fassbender's Jump/Dreaming/Tree of Life

Good Morning Everyone from New Mexico!

We took down Kris' one woman exhibition yesterday in Taos, NM at the fantastic Trading Post Cafe and Gallery.  Eat there.  It's terrific and tell Kimberly hello.  Sounds like Kris will have the opportunity to return with another show in the future so she was very happy after to be invited back after having the series of food still lifes hanging there for 6 weeks.  Good day.

TINTIN TRAILER

This morning The Playlist posted a link to the teaser/trailer to the "other" Steven Spielberg film coming out later this year.  The unwieldy title is :"The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn" which sounds kind of goofy.  The film uses motion capture animation and Peter (Lord of the Rings) Jackson is a producer.  The trailer looks very cool, however.  The link to the story and trailer is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/watch_new_tintin_trailer_looks_like_the_indiana_jones_sequel_we_should_have/

The Tintin IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2977741056/tt0983193

Now, I don't really think that there's any chance that this will play in Telluride's 38th edition of the SHOW...but it has dominated a lot of discussion about whether it meets the AMPAS standards for being an "animated" film. 

And it looked cooler than I though it would...

FASSBENDER IS FAST

I passed along the information last week that Michael Fassbender (who has a couple of films on the list that could play T-ride this year: "A Dangerous Method" and "Shame) had exited Danny Boyle's 2013 film project "Trance" and that Boyle was looking to snag last year's Telluride tributee and Best Actor Oscar winner Colin Firth for that role.  Now comes word, also via The Playlist, that Fassbender has moved into another commitment.  He's now expected to be in Brandon Gleeson's directorial debut entitled "At Swim-Two-Birds."  You gotta love the title.

The Playlist story is linked here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/michael_fassbender_joins_brendon_gleesons_at-swim-two-birds/

DREAM SLATE

So what films that DO have a chance at playing Telluride this year would make my "dream" slate of films?  What am I just really hoping will be there?

Three films that have excellent prospects to be a part of the fest that I am definitely looking forward to and that would be on that "dream list" are Alexander Payne's "The Descendants," Jason Reitman's "Young Adult" and Michael Hazanavicius' "The Artist".

Films whose prospects are sketchy that I would love to see on the SHOW list are: Ralph Fiennes' directorial debut of Shakespeare's rarely performed "Coriolanus," George Clooney's sophomore directing gig "The Ides of March"  and David Cronnenberg's "A Dangerous Method."

Then there are four big Oscar baity type films that have almost 0% chance to be in Telluride, but it would be cool if any of them made a bow there:

Leo DiCaprio on the set of "J. Edgar"

Eastwood's "J. Edgar"

Spielberg's "War Horse"
Scorsese's "Hugo"
and Stephen Daldry's "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"

What about you?  What films are YOU looking forward to as we rush headlong into awards season?

TREE OF LIFE

Finally saw Terrence Malick's  Palme D'Or winner last night.  Still processing it.  My initial impression is that the Cannes jury was probably right.

Have a great Monday everyone!