A First Look at Dog Eat Dog / Poland and Wells Talking Oscar / What's to Come This Week

Welcome to Monday film fans...


A FIRST LOOK AT DOG EAT DOG

I've been saying for some time that we may well see Paul Schrader's latest, Dog Eat Dog starring Nicolas Cage and Willem Dafoe on the list of films that play TFF #43.

The film played at Cannes to reasonably good reviews and Schrader has certainly been a frequent visitor at Telluride.

We got a new trailer for the film over the weekend.  It's above and here's coverage:


http://theplaylist.net/nicolas-cage-willem-dafoe-get-crazy-first-trailer-paul-schraders-dog-eat-dog-20160806/

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/dog-eat-dog-trailer-nicolas-cage-willem-dafoe-paul-schrader-1201714115/

http://www.firstshowing.net/2016/watch-first-trailer-for-paul-schraders-dog-eat-dog-with-nicolas-cage/

https://thefilmstage.com/trailer/nicolas-cage-and-willem-dafoe-plan-the-perfect-crime-in-first-trailer-for-paul-schraders-dog-eat-dog/



Here's a link to Dog Eat Dog;s IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4054654/?ref_=ttco_co_tt


POLAND AND WELLS TALK OSCAR

David Poland at Movie City News was up this weekend with his first take on the possible Oscar scene for this year.  Jeff Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere was also up this weekend with  a critique of the Poland article as well.

Films that we're pretty sure about for Telluride and films that might be T-ride bound that are addressed by both posts are:  Probable T-riders Poland suggests for Best Picture: Manchester by the Sea, Bleed for This, La La Land, Moonlight.  Possible T-riders:  The Founder, Allied, The Accountant.

Poland's piece is here:

http://moviecitynews.com/2016/08/29-weeks-to-oscar-let-the-wild-rumpus-start/

Well's' analysis of the Poland post is here (needless to say, he's not necessarily on the same page as Poland):

http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2016/08/polands-best-picture-assessments-with-grain-of-salt/


WHAT'S TO COME THIS WEEK

We're expecting the third wave announcement from Toronto this week as well as the announcement from the New York Film Festival of the rest of its lineup.

Last year both sets of information were very valuable in nailing down as many as seven films that would play at TFF #42.  It might be more than that as last year was a tad anomalous in that TFF and NYFF didn't share as many titles as they often have.

Whatever the case, we ought to have good intell by the end of the week on a number of films that will probably play TFF #43.


That's it for this Monday.  More to follow...

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Nocturnal Animals to Be Released / Acquisition Wrap-up from Cannes-So Many Telluride Possibilities / More Than the Palme Could Play

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS TO BE RELEASED

Nocturnal Animal stars Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal via MovieWeb

News this week that Tom Ford's sophomore directorial effort, Nocturnal Animals, will be released in November.  Telluride fans might want to take notice.  The film is being distributed by Focus Features (which we already are eyeballing because they're also distributing Jeff Nichols' Loving).  I really do expect Focus is likely to try to play Telluride and up until now that meant a play for Loving.  This dating of the release for Nocturnal Animals might change that calculus.

Additionally, a couple of the stories in the Big Time Press say that Telluride regular Laura Linney is in the cast, which might boost its T-ride profile.  However, a late check of Ms. Linney's IMDb credits shows no such affiliation with the film.  Can anyone clear that up?

Here's coverage of the date announcement:

http://variety.com/2016/film/news/jake-gyllenhaal-nocturnal-animals-release-date-1201784012/

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/26/jake-gyllenhaal-amy-adams-michael-shannon-film-release

https://thefilmstage.com/news/tom-fords-nocturnal-animals-starring-jake-gyllenhaal-and-amy-adams-gets-november-release/

ACQUISITION WRAP-UP FROM CANNES-SO MANY TELLURIDE POSSIBILITIES

Toni Erdmann

I have linked this report from The Hollywood Reporter that runs down a good deal of the acquisition news that came out of Cannes from last week.

Based on those acquisitions and past Telluride associations we should probably pay some attention to:

Sony Pictures Classics pickups: Toni Erdmann, Elle and The Red Turtle.

Sundance Selects: I, Daniel Blake

Amazon (with Cohen Media): The Salesman

Check the story here:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-deals-wrap-fest-was-897057

MORE THAN THE PALME COULD PLAY

Last Thursday I put up a ranking of all 21 Cannes Palme competition entries in the order of what I think their probability of playing The SHOW.  But as you know, not all films that make the crossover from Cannes to Telluride are Palme competition films.  On average (over the last 10 years) one film from the Un Certain Regard section will double the two fests and another 2.2 films will come from other segments; Directors Fortnight or Special Screenings for example.

Based on directors, critical response, past Telluride plays and/or distributors, these ten films seem to me to be the most likely candidates for those 3-4 spots:

My best guess at the order of likelihood:

The Red Turtle
Hell or High Water
Dog Eat Dog
Neruda
Exil
Risk
Peshmerga
Endless Poetry
After the Storm
The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki


Tha's a wrap for Memorial Day...more on Thursday...when I'll begin the summer posting schedule of Monday through Friday.

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michael_speech@hotmail.com OR

mpgort@gmail.com OR

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Warren's Coming Nov. 11 and the Rules Don't Apply / Checking the Critics at Cannes / The Salesman Makes a Sale / Views from Cannes / Latebreaking: The Red Turtle Goes to SPC

Welcome to Thursday from Michael's Telluride Film Blog...



WARREN'S COMING ON NOV. 11 AND THE RULES DON'T APPLY

Warren Beatty as Howard Hughes in Rules Don't Apply (from Entertainment Weekly)

Taking a break from the incessant Cannes coverage (at least until a little bit later in this post) news splashed across the internet yesterday that the long-awaited Warren Beatty "Untitled Howard Hughes Project" has both a title and a release date.

The title: Rules Don't Apply
The date: Nov. 11, 2016.

The film has been something of a hit-or-miss obsession here at MTFB.

The Nov. 11 date would be perfect timing for plays at fests like Telluride, Venice, Toronto and New York.  However, remember that Beatty is reported to sluiced cold water all over that notion in a ShowBiz411 story back in the middle of April.

I wrote at the time that Beatty might be bluffing.  His personality as such that I wouldn't be surprised if he responded that fall fests were unlikely simply as a way of having some fun with the press.

Additionally, there appears to be some negative buzz about the films quality and rumors that it was even possibly turned down by Cannes.

Finally, 20th Century Fox is distributing and they have virtually zero history with Telluride save for releases through their Fox Searchlight division.

All of which leads one to believe that the chances that we'll see Rules Don't Apply at T-ride are ridiculously small.  No Warren Beatty Tribute seems in the offing.

Still, the whole thing is fascinating...

Here's a bunch of links of the coverage from yesterday, most of which stemmed from an original story from Entertainment Weekly:


http://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/18/warren-beatty-howard-hughes

http://variety.com/2016/film/news/warren-beatty-howard-hughes-movie-release-date-1201778002/

http://www.indiewire.com/article/rules-dont-apply-pictures-warren-beatty-film-lily-collins-alden-ehrenreich-20160518

https://thefilmstage.com/news/first-look-at-warren-beattys-rules-dont-apply-starring-alden-ehrenreich-and-lily-collins/

http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/rules-dont-apply-to-the-long-rumored-howard-hughes-film-by-warren-beatty



CHECKING THE CRITICS AT CANNES

As we make the turn toward the last few days of the Cannes Fest (it closes on Sunday)...here's what the various critic collectives have told us seem to be the consensus quality films in competition for the Palme d'Or

Screen Daily critics panel says the top three films thus far are (ratings are on a 0-4 scale):

1) Toni Erdmann 3.7
2) Paterson 3.5
3) Aquarius 3.1
Just outside: Sieranevada

Ioncinema's critics panel top three (using a 0-5 scale)

1) Toni Erdmann 4.0
2) Aquarius 3.6
3) Paterson 3.5
Close: Loving and Slack Bay

Todas Las Criticas top three (on a scale of 1-10)

1) Sieranevada 8.38
2) Toni Erdmann 8.21
3) Paterson 7.97
Close: Aquarius

Reini Urban Collation (scale of 1-10)

1) Toni Erdmann 8.23
2) Paterson 7.41
3) Sieranevada 7.33
Close: Aquarius

Check the current critical line for all of the films playing in competition and in the rest of the Cannes Fest at these links:

http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/cannes/cannes-aquarius-debuts-strongly-on-screen-jury-grid/5104129.article

http://www.ioncinema.com/news/film-festivals/2016-cannes-critics-panel-day-8-brillante-mendozas-slumdog-manila-in-ma-rosa

http://www.todaslascriticas.com.ar/cannes/2016

http://cannes-rurban.rhcloud.com/2016


So...what films win the Palme and other prizes?


THE SALESMAN MAKES A SALE

Ahead of its World and Cannes premiere as the last film in the Palme d'Or competition, Asghar Farhadi's The Salesman has picked up distribution for the United States.  Amazon and The Cohen Media Group have teamed up to take the distrib rights for the film.

That's a departure for Farhadi whose Academy Award winning A Separation and The Past were both distributed by Sony Pictures Classics.  SPC had both of those films make the T-ride lineup.

Despite the switch of distributor, however, I suspect that the sake yesterday doesn't diminish the film's chances of making kits way to the San Juans on Labor Day weekend.  The Cohen group had the largest distrib presence at Telluride last year with three films in the SHOW: Hitchcock/Truffaut, Marguerite and Rams.  Additionally, I'm already on record having said that I expect that Amazon will follow the trail blazed by Netflix last year and have some presence at Telluride this year.  The Salesman seems made to order.

Here's coverage of the sale:

http://variety.com/2016/film/news/cannes-amazon-cohen-media-group-nab-asghar-farhadis-the-salesman-1201777693/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-amazon-cohen-media-take-895317


VIEWS FROM CANNES

A collection of clips, teasers and trailers that have dropped for films playing at Cannes:

Personal Shopper:

via YouTube

http://www.indiewire.com/article/personal-shopper-trailer-kristen-stewart-ghosts-olivier-assayas-cannes-2016-20160517

https://thefilmstage.com/trailer/kristen-stewart-sees-a-ghost-in-first-trailer-for-olivier-assayas-personal-shopper/


The Unknown Girl:

https://thefilmstage.com/news/watch-first-trio-of-clips-for-dardennes-cannes-drama-the-unknown-girl/



American Honey:

https://thefilmstage.com/news/watch-first-clip-and-full-cannes-press-conference-for-andrea-arnolds-american-honey/


Dog Eat Dog:

via YouTube

https://thefilmstage.com/news/new-images-and-clips-from-paul-schraders-dog-eat-dog-starring-nicolas-cage-and-willem-dafoe/


LATE BREAKING: THE RED TURTLE GOES TO SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

News very early this morning is that Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the very well received Cannes animated film The Red Turtle.  The film is currently sitting with a 6.32 composite critics score which is fourth best among Un Certain Regard films that have screened in France thus far.

The SPC acquisitions places The Red Turtle into the Telluride conversation in a big way.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-sony-pictures-classics-takes-895659

http://www.thewrap.com/sony-classics-buys-animated-movie-the-red-turtle/

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The Playlist Looks at 25 Cannes Films / The Pre-Cannes Peep Show Continues

Welcome back from the weekend and Welcome to Monday...


THE PLAYLIST'S LOOK AT 25 CANNES FILMS

The Playlist (at their new web address www.theplaylist.net) put up a lengthy piece this weekend examining 25 films playing Cannes in various segments of the festival.  They are:

American Honey
The BFG
Cafe Society
Dog Eat Dog
Elle
Graduation (was Family Photos)
The Handmaiden
It's Only the End of the World
Julieta
The Last Face
Loving
Money Monster
The Neon Demon
Neruda
The Nice Guys
Paterson
Personal Shopper
Risk
The Salesman
Sieranevada
Slack Bay
Staying Vertical
Toni Erdmann
Two Lovers and a Bear
The Unknown Girl

On The Playlist's Honorable Mention list are:

I, Daniel Blake
Blood Father
Hell or High Water
Sweet Dreams
Endless Poetry
After the Storm
From the Land of the Moon
Ma Rosa
Gimme Danger
The Wailing
Aquarius


What does The Playlist's list mean for Telluride?

Start with the films that you don't/can't consider: Cafe Society, The BFG, The Nice Guys and Money Monster.

One group of films is that which come from film makers that have had a significant presence at Telluride in the past:

The Dardennes (The Unknown Girl) at least three Telluride appearances: The Child (05)...at which they were recipients of a Tribute,  The Kid with a Bike (11), Two Days, One Night (14).

Asghar Farhadi (The Salesman)...two T-ride appearances: A Separation (11) and The Past (13).

Pedro Almodovar (Julieta) has screened multiple films at Telluride: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and a tribute in 1988, Talk to Her in 2002, Bad Education in 2004, Volver in 2006.

Paul Schrader (Dog Eat Dog) has been a frequent attendee/presenter at Telluirde: He was a guest in 1980, 1988, 1990, 1997 with Affliction, 2000, was tributed in 2002, 2003 and screened and Adam Resurrected in 2008.

Olivier Assayas (Personal Shopper) who has played T-ride with Irma Vep in 1996 and Carlos in 2010.


Then there are the Telluride single players:

Sean Penn (The Last Face) who played T-ride in 2007 with Into the Wild

Andrea Arnold (American Honey) Telluride in 2009 with Fish Tank (and has guested before as well)

David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water) his Starred Up was at Telluride in 2013)

Xavier Dolan (It's Only the End of the World) TFF #41 with Mommy in 2014

Pablo Larrain (Neruda) No at Telluride in 2012

Cristian Mungiu (Graduation/Family Photos) who was at TFF #34 in 2007 with 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days


That's a bunch (10) of directors from the Playlist 25 (plus Honorable Mentions) that have played Cannes/Telluride before.

If recency indicates anything that would point the finger at The Dardennes, Farhadi, Dolan and Mackenzie have the best shot at coming back.  I'm feeling bullish about Farhadi and The Dardennes Brothers.

Check the complete Playlist article here:

http://theplaylist.net/25-anticipated-films-2016-cannes-film-festival-20160505/



THE PRE-CANNES PEEP SHOW CONTINUES


As we count down the days to the opening of Cannes #69...we continue to get views/stills. teasers/trailers for films playing in France and, as a result, looks at films that could end up in southwest Colorado over Labor Day weekend.

I have collected more of those for your pleasure here.

It's Only the End of the World (clips):

https://thefilmstage.com/news/watch-first-clips-from-xavier-dolans-cannes-bound-its-only-the-end-of-the-world/


Personal Shopper (stills):

http://www.indiewire.com/article/kristen-stewart-cafe-society-personal-shopper-new-images-20160503


Multiple posters including: American Honey, Slack Bay, Julieta:

https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/movie-poster-of-the-week-the-posters-of-the-2016-cannes-competition/

Stills and poster for Hell or High Water:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/hell-or-high-water-first-look-chris-pine-jeff-bridges-cannes-2016


Stills from Neruda, Dog Eat Dog, Endless Poetry and more:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/cannes-film-festival-2016-preview-directors-fortnight-risk-sweet-dreams-neruda-dog-eat-dog

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