AFI Fest in Full Swing-Features TFF #43 Films / Werner Herzog and His Volcanoes / Oscar Pundits Update

Welcome to Monday...

AFI IS IN FULL SWING AND FEATURES FILMS FROM TFF#43

The American Film Institutes's Film Festival began late last week and will continue through the 17th. The fest is the last festival to feature premieres of films that could find their way into the Oscar conversation before we start to hear from critic's groups.  Films such as Miss Sloane and Rules Don't Apply that have gotten a good deal of awards speculation will screen or have screened at AFI.

The National Board of Review announces their list of films in just over two weeks (Nov. 29) with the New York Critics announcing on Dec. 1 and LA critics on Dec. 4.  AFI will announce their top films on Dec. 8. Golden Globe nominations are announced on Dec. 12 and Screen Actors Guild nominations are announced Dec. 14.  The British Academy announces nominees on Jan. 10.

Other key guilds announce as follows:

Writer's Guild: Jan. 4
Directors Guild Jan. 12
Producers Guild: Jan. 10

Oscar voters begin voting for nominees on Jan. 5 and that closes Jan. 13.  Oscar nominees are announced Jan. 24.

Thanks to Sasha Stone's Awards Daily for the comprehensive calendar of awards dates.  You can find that complete list here.

At any rate, Telluride 2016 films are a significant presence at this year's AFI fest:  Included in the AFI schedule from TFF #43 are: La La Land, Bright Lights: Starring Debbie Reynolds, Fire at Sea, Toni Erdmann, Graduation, Neruda, Things to Come and Mifune: The Last Samurai.

Here's the link to the AFI Fest's lineup search function.  Also, coverage of the AFI Fest with 14 films highlighted (including Toni Erdmann) by Indiewire.



WERNER HERZOG AND HIS VOLCANOES

Werner Herzog, not surprisingly premiered his Volcano Around the World documentary, Into the Inferno, at Telluride.  Herzog's doc travels the globe and seeks to place volcanic natural phenomena into the contexts in which various cultures have interacted with them.

Indiewire's Anne Thompson reports here.

Additionally, here's the official trailer for the film:

Into the Inferno opened on Oct. 28 and is available to stream on Netflix.

OSCAR PUNDITS UPDATE

I've got a new FAC update coming for Thursday's post that will update the acting races but until then, here are the latest updated Oscar pics from two of the Oscar experts that are used for The FAC metric. 

Sasha Stone's weekly update on Friday has TFF #43 films La La Land, Manchester by the Sea, Moonlight and Arrival as the top four films contending for Best Picture.  She also has Sully at #9. Best Actor candidates include: Casey Affleck/Manchester and Tom Hanks/Sully.  Actress: Emma Stone/La La Land, Amy Adams/Arrival.  Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali/Moonlight and Lucas Hedges/Manchester.  Supporting Actress: Naomie Harris/Moonlight and Michelle Williams/Manchester,  Best Director: Damien Chazelle/La La Land, Kenneth Lonergan/Manchester and Denis Villeneuve/Arrival.  Check the link above for the rest of Stone's updated predictions.

Meanwhile, The Playlist's Awards Campaign's Greg Ellwood also updated his picks:

Best Picture: La La Land, Sully, Manchester and Moonlight are his top four films.

Actor: Affleck/Manchester and Ryan Gosling/La La Land

Actress: Stone/La La Land

Supporting Actor:Ali/Moonlight

Supporting Actress: Harris/Moonlight and Williams/Manchester

Director: Chazelle/La La Land, Lonergan/Manchester and Barry Jenkins/Moonlight.

That's all I can muster for this Monday.  Return for more on Thursday.

EMAIL:  mpgort@gmail.com OR michael_speech@hotmail.com

TWITTER @Gort2 (and follow me there as well)

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COMMENT to the Blog itself.

New York by Way of Telluride / Maudie Has a Home / Screen Talk

Good Monday ladies and germs...

NEW YORK BY WAY WAY OF TELLURIDE

The New York Film Festival opened over the weekend with Ava DuVernay's documentary 13th as the opening night film.  NYFF will run through Oct. 16th and will double up on a number of films that played at TFF #43 including: Fire at Sea, Graduation, Manchester by the Sea, Moonlight, Neruda. Things to Come and Toni Erdmann among their Main Slate presentations.  Here is the complete NYFF Main Slate lineup.

Additionally, in its Retrospective section you will find Bertrand Tavernier's Journey Through French Cinema which also played TFF #43.
Tavernier and Journey Through French Cinema was recently profiled in this piece from Variety.

Other Telluride 2016 selections playing in NYFF are included in its Spotlight on Documentary section. Included there from Telluride are: The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman's Portrait Photography, Bright Lights; Starring Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher and I Called Him Morgan.



MAUDIE HAS A HOME

 A small film at Telluride that gained some notoriety and  a bit of buzz for Sally Hawkins' performance was Aisling Walsh's Maudie about real life artist Maud Walsh.  As a matter of fact, TFF filmgoers rated the film in MTFB's People's Telluride ratings at a very respectable 4.29 (out of 5) and it finished as the third highest rated film of this year's fest only trailing current Oscar buzzy films La La Land and Moonlight.

The film played T-ride without having been picked up for domestic distribution but that changed over the weekend as Sony Pictures Classics announced that they had grabbed the rights to the film.

Here's coverage of the acquisition from Variety  The Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap,

There's no word yet on whether SPC is planning to release the film this year but there is plenty of speculation that they might to get Hawkins into the conversation for the Best Actress Oscar. However, that field is crowded this year.


SCREEN TALK

As the New York Fest gets underway, Indiewire's Anne Thompson and Eric Kohn take aim at the films playing there in the context of the Oscar race with a special focus in this week's podcast on Oscar and film diversity.  Figuring into their conversation is Barry Jenkin's Telluride selection Moonlight.  Check out the latest version of ScreenTalk here.

That'll be a wrap for Monday.  More on Thursday!

EMAIL:  mpgort@gmail.com OR michael_speech@hotmail.com

TWITTER @Gort2 (and follow me there as well)

FACEBOOK Message me on FB MTFB's Facebook Page

COMMENT to the Blog itself.

Moonlight Shines / Foreign Films Oscar Speculation and Telluride Plays / The Guardian's Oscar Players and Telluride / Time to Start Thinking About Your Inner Critic

Welcome to your Thursday world...


MOONLIGHT SHINES

A24 tweeted this poster/image yesterday for Barry Jenkins Moonlight.  The film is near certainty to screen in Telluride.  The film is getting some notice in awards chatter circles prior to being seen by the public and I've been hearing good buzz from people who have seen it.

Additionally, the word is that a trailer might be expected to drop for the film today as well.  Look for that here tomorrow should it happen and check my Twitter account throughout the day as well (@Gort2).

Moonlight has been announced to screen at the New York Film Fest without a premiere designation which indicates a Telluride play.  Further, Hollywood Elsewhere's Jeffrey Wells implied it strongly in a post from last Tuesday.


FOREIGN FILMS OSCAR SPECULATION AND TELLURIDE PLAYS

Clayton Davis and his crew at Awards Circuit have updates their Oscar predictions as of yesterday including an extensive look at pre-national submission guesses for Best Foreign Language Film.

I took a look at the list in the context of probable/possible films we could see at Telluride and here's what I came up with.

From the AC "Predicted Nominees" are two very probable T-ride players: Toni Erdmann and Graduation.

From the "Also in Contention" list: Julieta

From the "Other Possibilities" list: The Red Turtle.

Take a look at the complete list of predictions here:

http://www.awardscircuit.com/oscar-predictions/best-foreign-language-film/



THE GUARDIAN'S OSCAR PLAYERS AND TELLURIDE

Nigel Smith of Britain's The Guardian posted a list of 25 films that he suspects are Oscar contenders on Wednesday.  Much like the above Foreign Language Film analysis, I've gone through Smith's list and searched out the films that are probable/possible Telluride players.

From his "Front-runners": La La Land, Arrival (and maybe The Founder and The Mercy)

Not included: Arrival, Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight.

The complete post/list is here:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/10/oscars-2017-predictions-movie-reviews-film-festival-favorites


TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT YOUR INNER CRITIC.

It's your annual call to rate the films you see at the Telluride Film Festival.  MTFB is once again asking YOU to participate in The People's Telluride...a gathering of film ratings from the ticket buying public at the fest.

It's simple...rate the films you see on a 1 to 5 scale (1 being awful and 5 being masterpiece) and then send those to me via email: mpgort@gmail.com or michael_speech@hotmail.com OR via the comments section here on the blog or to my twitter account @Gort2.

I'll pull it all together and publish the results a couple of weeks after the fest is in the books.

ALSO...as has become a tradition...I will also be putting together The Professionals Telluride.  I'll have more than a dozen industry pros weighing in with their ratings as well.  People from The Hollywood Reporter, Indiewire, Awards Daily, Awards Circuit, and many more will be participating.

The MTFB Ratings have provided an excellent snapshot of the reactions of the festival-goers to the program since 2012.  Here's what they have looked like in the past:

The Professionals:

2012

1) Central Park Five-4.7
2) Argo-4.5
3) Stories We Tell- 4.3
4) The Sapphires 4.25
5) (Tie) Frances Ha and The Attack- 4.2
7) Rust and Bone- 4.0
8) The Iceman- 3.8
9) At Any Price- 3.7
10) (Tie) Amour and Baraka- 3.5
12) No- 3.4
14) (Tie) Hyde Park on Hudson and The Gatekeepers 3.0
15) Everyday- 2.8

2013

1) 12 Years a Slave (4.7)
2) Blue is the Warmest Color (4.4)
3) Gravity (4.35)
4) Tim's Vermeer (4.3)
5) Nebraska (4.3)
6) All is Lost (4.2)
7) Inside Llewyn Davis (4.1)
8) Starred Up (4.0)
9) The Past (3.9)
10) Labor Day (3.6)
11) Bethlehem (3.6)
12) Prisoners (3.5)
13) The Lunchbox (3.5)
14) Salinger (3.3)
15) The Unknown Known (3.3)
16) Palo Alto (3.2)
17) Tracks (3.2)
18) Under the Skin (3.1)
18) (tie) The Wind Rises (3.1)
20) The Invisible Woman (3.0)

2014

 1)      Birdman (4.72)

 2)      Foxcatcher (4.63)

       3)      ’71 (4.25)

       4)      Wild Tales (4.20)

       5)      Leviathan (4.17)

       6)      Mr. Turner (4.10) 

       7)      The Imitation Game (4.06)

       8)      Mommy (3.92)

       9)      Two Days, One Night (3.90)

       10)    The Homesman (3.80)

       11)    Red Army (3.67)

       12)    Madame Bovary (3.30)

       13)    Wild (3.21)

       14)    Rosewater (3.06)

2015

1) ) Son of Saul (4.44)
2) Anomalisa (4.42)
3) Spotlight (4.41)
4) Steve Jobs (4.31)
5) Beasts of No Nation (4.27)
6) Carol (4.11)
7) 45 Years (4.06)
8) Taxi (4.00)
9) Black Mass (3.85)
10) Time to Choose (3.57)
11) Room (3.50)
12) Suffragette (3.49)
13) He Named Me Malala (2.83)


The People's:

2012

1) Stories We Tell- 4.80
2) Argo- 4.75
3) The Attack- 4.70
4) The Act of Killing-4.41
5) Wadjda-4.2
6) Amour 4.17
7) Barbara- 4.17
8) The Sapphires-4.11
9) Frances Ha-4.07
10) (Tie)The Hunt and Baraka - 4.00
12) Annecy Animation-3.83
13) The Central Park Five 3.75
14) (Tie) A Royal Affair and Corman's World-3.67
16) Rust and Bone-3.65
17) The Iceman- 3.61
18) The Gatekeepers-3.58
19) Superstar-3.50
20) Hyde Park on Hudson-3.33
21) No-3.21
22) Love, Marilyn-3.08
23) Ginger and Rosa-2.54
24) At Any Price-2.13
25) Everyday-2.08
26) Paradise, Love-1.1


2013

1) Tim's Vermeer (4.67)
2) 12 Years a Slave (4.55)
3) Gravity (4.40)
4) The Lunchbox (4.25)
5) Inside Llewyn Davis (4.15)
6) Nebraska (4.08)
7) All is Lost (4.06)
8) The Wind Rises (4.0)
9) Ida (4.0)
10) The Past (3.81)
11) Blue is the Warmest Color (3.75)
12) Tracks (3.64)
13) Prisoners (3.5)
14) Labor Day (3.40)
15) The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden (3.33)
16) Starred Up (3.25)
17) Palo Alto (3.20)
18) The Invisible Woman (3.19)
19) Before the Winter Chill (2.67)
20) The Unknown Known (2.43)
21) Under the Skin (2.0)

2014

1) The Imitation Game (4.73)
2) Birdman (4.46)
3) Wild Tales (4.23)
4) Foxcatcher (4.20)
5) Merchants of Doubt (4.04)
6) '71 (3.90)
7) Red Army (3.63)
8) Wild (Tie 3.50)
8) Escobar: Paradise Lost (Tie 3.50)
8) Mommy (Tie 3.50)
11) 99 Homes (3.47)
12) Rosewater (3.46)
13) Two Days, One Night (3.31)
14) Mr. Turner (3.00)
15) Madame Bovary (2.88)
16) The Homesman (2.58)

2015

1) Room (4.47)
2) Spotlight (4.45)
3) Beasts of No Nation (4.35)
4) Ixcanul (4.31)
5) Son of Saul (4.30)
6) Marguerite (4.23)
7) Black Mass (4.13)
8) Carol (4.02)
9) Rams (3.98)
10) Steve Jobs (3.86)
11) 45 Years (3.78)
12) Suffragette (3.58)
13) He Named Me Malala (3.39)
14) Anomalisa (3.36)


It seems pretty clear that you want your film to finish second in The People's ratings as the Oscar for Best Picture has gone to the film that finished with that rating each of the last four years:

12- Argo
13- 12 Years a Slave
14- Birdman
15- Spotlight

So what film will be #2 for The People this year?


That's all for Thursday.  More tomorrow including an update Ten (Plus) Bets for TFF #43.

Contact MTFB at:

mpgort@gmail.com

OR on Twitter @Gort2

OR check out Michael's Telluride Film Blog on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Michaels-Telluride-Film-Blog-and-The-Film-Awards-Clearinghouse-107846269309712/

Or leave a comment.

New York and Toronto Announcements Shine Some Light / Arrival Teaser Looks Phenomenal / My Life as a Courgette Ups Its Profile

Welcome to Wednesday...


NEW YORK AND TORONTO ANNOUNCEMENTS SHINE SOME LIGHT

The New York Film Festival revealed the bulk of its lineup yesterday after having already revealed it opener (The 13th), Centerpiece (20th Century Women) and Closer (The Lost City of Z).

With its revelations, I feel we can fairly confidently conclude that these films are headed to Telluride:

Fire at Sea
Graduation
Julieta (Almodovar returns to Telluride?)
Moonlight
and maybe a South Korean film called Yourself and Yours.

Additionally the NYFF announcement underscored the probable Telluride appearance for:

Neruda
Manchester by the Sea
Things to Come
Toni Erdmann

Maybe more interesting are the films that WON"T be playing TFF #43 if New York's premiere designations are accurate:

Aquarius
I, Daniel Blake
Sieranevada
Staying Vertical
The Unknown Girl (no Dardennes at T-ride)

Here are links to coverage of the NYFF films:

http://www.awardscircuit.com/2016/08/09/new-york-film-festival-reveals-heavy-lineup-including-manchester-by-the-sea-and-i-daniel-blake/

http://www.awardsdaily.com/2016/08/09/54th-ny-film-festival-lineup-announced/

http://moviecitynews.com/2016/08/new-york-film-fest-announces-main-slate/

Meanwhile, the Toronto International Film Fest announced a number of additions to its Docs, Vanguard and Midnight Madness sections.  That information allow us to suggest that docs from Errol Morris (The B Side) and Werner Herzog (Into the Inferno) will probably play Telluride.  Additionally a number of other docs could/might make The SHOW as well.

These are maybes:

Beauties of the Night
Chasing Trane
I Called Him Morgan
India in a Day
The Ivory Game
Water and Sugar

We can also scratch Paul Schrader's Dog Eat Dog, Nacho Vigolando's Colossal  and Ben Wheatley's Free Fire from Telluride's possible list.


Here's coverage of Toronto's announcement:

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/tiff-2016-midnight-madness-documentaries-vanguard-1201714643/

http://www.thewrap.com/toronto-film-festival-adds-movies-by-leonardo-dicaprio-werner-herzog-marlon-brando/

https://thefilmstage.com/news/tiff-2016-adds-the-bad-batch-free-fire-colossal-blair-witch-and-more/

http://theplaylist.net/tiff-sets-world-premiere-ben-wheatleys-free-fire-colossal-starring-anne-hathaway-20160809/


For those keeping track, these films are still in fall film fest limbo:

Rules Don't Apply
Allied
Fences
Gold
Passengers
Miss Sloane
Live by Night
The Accountant
Hidden Figures
Sully
The Founder
The Girl on the Train
The Mercy
Passengers
Wild Oats
Eternity

Three weeks (and a couple of days) out, all three fests may still have further films to reveal.  Venice head Alberto Barbera hinted at one more possibility but that's been two weeks ago and hasn't materialized, so maybe not.  TIFF should have one more announcement next week and NYFF programmers have said that more films could be added to their lineup as well.



ARRIVAL TEASER LOOKS PHENOMENAL

After bowing early yesterday morning on NBC, the first teaser for Denis Villenueve's Arrival arrived online.  I am very, very intrigued about this film and also torn about watching the teaser and leaving it all to be revealed at Telluride (because we're reasonably sure it's going to play).

However, I succumbed and have actually watched it a few times.

It's...uh...cool.

Coverage:

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/arrival-trailer-denis-villeneuves-amy-adams-jeremy-renner-best-actress-oscar-1201714471/

http://www.businessinsider.com/amy-adams-alien-movie-arrival-trailer-2016-8

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/arrival-trailer-amy-adams-can-918379



MY LIFE AS A COURGETTE UPS ITS PROFILE

Annecy Animation winner and possible Telluride selection My Life as Courgette (Courgette means Zucchini or Cucumber depending on who's doing the translation) quite probably boosted its Telluride chances/profile with the revelation this weekend that it will be Switzerland's Foreign Language Oscar submission.

I am fully of the belief that full length feature animated film The Red Turtle is on its way to T-ride and Courgette would be a second in that category which is somewhat unusual...but I just have a feeling that it could make The SHOW.

Here's coverage of the Swiss announcement from Variety:

http://variety.com/2016/film/global/switzerland-claude-barras-my-life-as-a-courgette-foreign-languageoscarrace-1201831359/



That's it for this Wednesday...

Contact MTFB at:

mpgort@gmail.com

OR on Twitter @Gort2

OR check out Michael's Telluride Film Blog on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Michaels-Telluride-Film-Blog-and-The-Film-Awards-Clearinghouse-107846269309712/

Or leave a comment.

Distribution: Sundance Selects and IFC / Let the Sunshine In: Aquarius' First Trailer

Good Tuesday everyone...here's the latest on TFF #43...


DISTRIBUTION: SUNDANCE SELECTS AND IFC

Yesterday I posted the first of this summer's pieces examining film distribution companies that have had serious presence at Telluride over the last decade or so.  As such, I began with Sony Pictures Classics which has had the biggest presence averaging around five films each year at the fest for the past 13 years.

With that as our introduction, it seems logical to me to continue our examination of distribs by generally taking them in the order of their general prevalence at the fest over the last dozen years or so which leads to today's combo pack of distribution organizations.  I pair Sundance Selects and IFC (Independent Film Channel) as they are partners.  They have collectively averaged around three films at Telluride each year which puts them in the second spot among distribs at T-ride.  So, let's look at their history at Telluride for these past several years:

Sundance Selects/IFC Films has been at Telluride recently as follows:

2003: Touching the Void, Intermission
2004: Nobody Knows
2005: Three Times
2006: Deep Water, Indigenes, Day Night Day Night
2007: Secret Sunshine, 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days, Jar City
2008: Hunger, Gomorrah, Flame and Citron, Everlasting Moments, The Good, the Bad and the Weird
2009: Fish Tank, Red Riding Trilogy, Life During Wartime, Vincere
2010: The Princess of Montpensier, Carlos, Tabloid
2011: Into the Abyss, Pina, The Forgiveness of Blood, The Kid with a Bike, Goodbye First Love
2012: Frances Ha, The Central Park Five, Everyday
2013: Blue is the Warmest Color
2014: Two Days, One Night, Seymour: An Introduction
2015: 45 Years

I, Daniel Blake trailer from YouTube

For 2016 consideration here is what IMDb reports for these distribution partners:

Sundance Selects:

Things to Come

Graduation

The Unknown Girl

I, Daniel Blake

Dancer

From the Land of the Moon

IFC Films

Personal Shopper

Analysis:  If you read yesterday's post, you already know that I'm under the impression that Personal Shopper is unlikely.  in as far as the Sundance Selects portion of the slates, I'm discounting From the Land of the Moon which was lambasted critically at Cannes and I know zippity-do-dah about Dancer (so...you know...it probably gets in and turns out to be the hit of the fest...).  The other four films have a real chance at making the T-ride lineup.

Things to Come has been in my sights since a successful play in Berlin.  Mia Hansen Love has also been to Telluride with Goodbye First Love...on the Sundance/IFC list above.  You might have noticed that I had it listed as being "close" to the "Ten Bets" list last Friday.

Graduation.  Critically well regarded at Cannes and also directed by a previous Telluride participant Cristian Mungiu who was in the SHOW in 2007 with 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days which you also see above as a past Sundance/IFC film.

I, Daniel Blake won the Palme which is enough for me to give it a serious look.  And finally...

The Unknown Girl which had a critically subdued reaction at Cannes but its from frequent Telluride players The Dardennes brothers which always makes a film a real threat to make the lineup.

As to IFC's Personal Shopper, if you saw my bit yesterday about Jeff Wells/Hollywood Elsewhere "hints", you'll know that it seems that the Olivier Assasyas film is probably not coming to T-ride.

Chances for these Sundance four:

The Unknown Girl 70%

Things to Come 65%

Graduation 50%

I, Daniel Blake 50%

Tomorrow's distributor: The Weinstein Company.

LET THE SUNSHINE IN: AQUARIUS' FIRST TRAILER

Aquarius starring Sonia Braga made a solid impression at Cannes in May.  Though it wasn't a winner in terms of prizes (many thought Braga would win Best Actress), it was universally lauded critically with the Reini Urban collective critical response putting it as the #8 film overall from all sections combined with a solid 7.22 average rating.

The film stars Braga as a woman who is the last hold out against a company that has bought all of the property surrounding the apartment in which she lives.

According to The Film Stage, Netflix currently has the U.S. distribution rights for the film which probably bodes well for a Telluride play as Netflix had its first presence at T-ride last year with Beasts of No Nation and Winter on Fire.

I had Aquarius just outside of last week's initial "Ten Bets" list.

The film's first international trailer appeared yesterday in a story from The Film Stage.  You can view it and peruse the story here:

https://thefilmstage.com/trailer/first-trailer-for-kleber-mendonca-filhos-cannes-drama-aquarius-starring-sonia-braga/



That's a wrap for Tuesday...more from MTFB tomorrow...

Contact MTFB at:

mpgort@gmail.com

OR on Twitter @Gort2

OR check out Michael's Telluride Film Blog on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Michaels-Telluride-Film-Blog-and-The-Film-Awards-Clearinghouse-107846269309712/

OR leave a comment...

Cannes Prizes Announced / The Critics and Cannes / Cannes and TFF #43

Good Monday world...

CANNES PRIZES ANNOUNCED

I, Daniel Blake from Screen Daily

Palme d'Or: I, Daniel Blake
Grand Prix: It's Only the End of the World
Jury: American Honey
Director: Tie- Mungiu/Graduation and Assayas/Personal Shopper
Screenplay: The Salesman
Actress: Jaclyn Jose/Ma' Rosa
Actor: Shahab Hosseini/The Salesman

Analysis:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/cannes-awards-wrap-george-miller-jury-winners-mads-mikkelsen-20160522

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-i-daniel-blake-wins-895315

http://www.indiewire.com/article/cannes-2016-award-winners-list-palme-dor

THE CRITICS AND CANNES

The critics loved Maren Ade's Toni Erdmann and hated Sean Penn's The Last Face.  Everything else fell somewhere between those two.  Here's the critical consensus.

Beginning with the massive critical collation from Reini Urban who collects the Cannes critical response from a vast number of sources (including two listed below).  Some sources include: Screen Daily, Ioncinema, Metacritic and Indiewire.

The top five from Urban:

1) Toni Erdmann (8.24)
2) Elle (7.94)
3) Sieranevada (7.35-tie)
43 Paterson (7.35-tie)
5) Aquarius (7.18)

The three biggest bombs: The Last Face, From The Land of the Moon, and It's Only the End of the World.

Urban also has collected critical responses for films playing in other sections for the festival.  The top films from Un Certain Regard were: Hell or High Water, The Red Turtle and After the Storm.

Urban's compilation is here:

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

Meanwhile, Todas Las Criticas compiles over 40 critical responses to Cannes.  Their top five films were:

1) Elle (8.87)
2) Sieranevada (8.46)
3) Toni Erdmann (8.21)
4) Paterson (7.98)
5) Aquarius (7.64)

Bombs: The Last Face, and It's Only the End of the World and From the Land of the Moon.

The complete Todas Las Criticas chart is here:

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

UCR high score: The Long Night of Francisco Sanctis, Hell or High Water and The Red Turtle.

From Screen Daily which was focused on the Palme competition films:

1) Toni Erdmann (3.7)
2) Paterson (3.5)
3) Graduation (3.0-tie)
3) Sieranevada (3.0-tie)
3) Elle (3.0-tie)

Bombs: The Last Face, It's Only the End of the World and The Neon Demon

The complete Screen Daily chart is here:

http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/cannes/cannes-sean-penns-the-last-face-sets-jury-grid-low/5104244.article


And from Ioncinema-which also focuses exclusively on the films in competition for the Palme d'Or:

1) Toni Erdmann (4.0)
2) Aquarius (3.6-tie)
2) Elle (3.6 -tie)
4) Paterson (3.5)
5) Graduation (3.4-tie)
5) Slack Bay (3.4-tie)

Bombs: The Last Face, Ma Rosa and From the Land of the Moon.

In Thursday's post I'll spend some time analyzing this year's disconnect between the critics and the jury.  I'll also look back at the past several Cannes to see how anomalous this year was or if it was an anomaly at all.


CANNES AND TFF #43

As we assess what has happened in France over the last couple of weeks in the context of what it means (if anything) for the lineup of films the make The SHOW on Sept. 2-5 remember that over the last 10 years that an average of 7-8 (7.5 to be exact) films double between Cannes and Telluride.  Of that number and average of 4.1 come from the main competition slate and 1.2 from Un Certain Regard.  The remaining 2.2 come from other sections of the festival.

Films that seem to have become very likely Telluride plays: Toni Erdmann and The Red Turtle.  Their critical reception plus acquisition by both films for U.S. distribution by Sony Pictures Classics make them likely additions to The SHOW.

Films that seemed like they had some Telluride chops that took a turn for the worst include Sean Penn's critically pilloried The Last Face, Xavier Dolan's poorly received It's Only the End of the World and Nicole Garcia's From the Land of the Moon.

Films that seemed hot prospects for Telluride that now seem a little less hot are Olivier Assayas' Personal Shopper, Asgahr Farhadi's The Salesman and The Dardennes Brothers The Unknown Girl, though the awarding of prizes to both Salesman and Personal Shopper may keep them warm enough to make the lineup.

Other T-ride possibles that seem to have neither increased nor decreased their status are Cristian Mungiu's Graduation (formerly Family Photos) and Jeff Nichol's Loving.

In addition to The Red Turtle from the UCR segment, David Mackenzie's Hell or High Water (once called Comancheria) seems to have scored a significant reception and certainly stays in the T-ride convo.

More about all of this in Thursday's post.

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michael_speech@hotmail.com OR

mpgort@gmail.com OR

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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

Contact me at:

michael_speech@hotmail.com OR

mpgort@gmail.com OR

via Twitter @Gort2 OR to

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Pre-Cannes PR Lets Us Look at Telluride Possibilities / Will There Be Moonlight in Telluride?

Welcome to Monday...

PRE-CANNES P.R. LET'S US LOOK AT TELLURIDE POSSIBILITIES

Many of the films that are set to play at the 69th Cannes Film Fest, set to start in under two weeks-May 11, are rolling out various levels of publicity prior to their screenings in France.  The last MTFB post highlighted a perfect example of this with the release of a teaser/trailer and poster for Oliver Stone's Snowden.

Several other Cannes choices that have some chance of making the Atlantic crossing in September to Telluride have also begun sharing stories, stills, clips and more as they seek to entice prior to their bow on the Croisette.

Consequently, I've snagged some of those and am passing them along to you today...

Christain Mungiu's Graduation poster, trailer and teasers and news that the film has U.S. distribution via Sundance Selects (which doesn't hurt and probably boosts its T-ride chances) via The Film Stage:

The official trailer from YouTube:

Here's the link to The Film Stage post which has more:

https://thefilmstage.com/trailer/first-trailer-for-cristian-mungius-cannes-bound-drama-graduation/



The Film Stage also posted a multi-film article with stills and posters from a number of Cannes films including Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World and Bruno Dumont's Slack Bay among several (Elle, The Red Turtle, Sieranevada, Make Beautiful Dreams and The Handmaiden).

Poster for Dolan's It's Only the End of the World from The Film Stage

Check all of this here:

https://thefilmstage.com/news/new-images-from-cannes-titles-by-paul-verhoeven-bruno-dumont-park-chan-wook-cristian-mungiu-more/

WILL THERE BE MOONLIGHT IN TELLURIDE?

Barry Jenkins leading the Q and A after 12 Years a Slave at Telluride in 2012. (Getty Images)

Friend of MTFB, and recently Kino Lorber intern invitee (congrats!) Jason Osaison  (JASON (metalmeatwad) @MichaelNot Cera on Twitter) shared that he felt very strongly that Barry Jenkins Moonlight would make the lineup for TFF #43.

Now remember, Jason won The Gold Derby's Oscar prediction contest this year...he does his research.

Jason points out that Jenkins has been a part of the TFF staff for more than a decade and has often curated the Calling Card, Student Prints and Great Expectations as well as serving as the Ringmaster at The Zog since it opened.  Jenkins has also been a frequent contributor to the TFF program.

Additionally, Moonlight's distributor is A24, which also doesn't hurt its chances.  

A24 at Telluride recently: Room (Oscar winner Brie Larson and additional Oscar nominations  for Best Picture, screenplay and direction), Under the Skin and Ginger and Rosa.

Additionally, among the film's producers are Brad Pitt and his Plan B Entertainment, which also doesn't hurt the film's TFF chances.

Plan B at Telluride: 12 Years a Slave.  I also think Plan B's The Lost City of Z and War Machine might be TFF possibilities this year.

Osiason's points are well taken...Moonlight moves right up the list of possible/probable Telluride films for 2016.

Thanks Jason!

Here's Moonlight's  IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4975722/

Contact me at:

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