Takin' Care of Business / Trailering "Amazing Grace" / Official "Spotlight" Poster and EW Interview / Burning Questions / Peeps and Pros...Be a Peep!

It's Thursday!

TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS

I've always got new details to deal with or clean up the day after a major film fest announcement and that isn't any different today following Toronto's final and massive release of films that they have scheduled that happened yesterday.  So, a couple of things...

First, an anonymous commenter pointed out after yesterday's post went up that Toronto has listed "The Treasure" as a North American premiere...which, if true, implies that it won't be a Telluride play.  That contrasts with how the film was announced by the New York Film Fest last week-absent any premiere designation which implies that it will have played somewhere in the United States before NYFF.  Telluride is pretty much the only option.

Both things cannot be true so something has to give.  I have no real intuition which way this goes either but I'm not completely writing off its chances of showing up in T-ride in a couple of weeks.

Linked here are the relevant sections from both TIFF and NYFF where you'll see the premiere designation or lack thereof:

http://tiff.net/festivals/festival15/contemporaryworldcinema/the-treasure

http://www.filmlinc.org/nyff2015/daily/the-new-york-film-festival-sets-26-films-for-the-2015-main-slate/


We also discovered yesterday, through good friend Christopher Schiller, that director Mark Cousins "Atomic" will play at the Cambridge Film Fest in England.  That fest runs from Sept. 3-13 so it does overlap Telluride's entire run.  Cousins film is scheduled to run there on Sept. 4 and 11.  I have no real idea if that absolutely means that Cousins is not attending Telluride but it sure means it's less likely.

Here's the Cambridge Film Fest program:

http://www.cambridgefilmfestival.org.uk/assets/documents/brochure-2015.pdf


Final notes for this segment...I had some "behind-the-scenes" convos last night about an item or two of interest that I'll pass along for your consumption.  Although I still think it's very solid for Telluride, there is some concern about whether "Carol" will actually play.  Additionally, some of us are starting to think on terms of Tributes...and that could get interesting.

If you have any thoughts...pass them along using any of the contact methods below.


TRAILERING "AMAZING GRACE"

We're still not 100% certain that this lost 40 year old documentary of a live performance from an in-her-prime Aretha Franklin is going to male it to Telluride.  We think so.  The producer is on record as saying so...but we also know that there could be legal issues.  Right this moment, I'm cautiously optimistic.

It's also set to play Toronto which has led to this release of a trailer for the film and here it is from YouTube:

And the story for its release from The Playlist here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-trailer-for-sydney-pollacks-lost-aretha-franklin-documentary-amazing-grace-screening-at-tiff-20150819



OFFICIAL SPOTLIGHT POSTER AND EW INTERVIEW

Now that I've gone over to the "Spotlight will play The SHOW" amp, here's the Entertainment Weekly official rollout of the poster for that film starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Stanley Tucci, Billy Crudup and John Slattery.  The film is directed by Tom McCarthy.  EW interviews him for the story that you can find here:

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/19/spotlight-poster-exclusive


And if you haven't caught it yet, here's the current trailer for the film via YouTube:

BURNING QUESTIONS


The Wrap was up with an article yesterday asking nine "burning questions" about the fall/winter film and awards season and the films that will play as apart of that.  Many of them involve, s you might expect, films that are probable for our little shindig in the San Juans in two weeks time.  Films like "Steve Jobs":

Trailer for "Steve Jobs" via YouTube

Check out the article here with special attention on The Questions of Telluride Relevance: #1 (Black Mass), #2 (Steve Jobs), #3 (Carol) and #8 (The 33).


http://www.thewrap.com/9-fall-movie-burning-questions-will-johnny-depp-snap-his-losing-streak-can-any-holiday-film-survive-star-wars/



PEEPS AND PROS...BE A PEEP

For the fourth straight year Michael's Telluride Film Blog is asking you to join in rating the films you see at the fest.  I want your input as I gather your ratings on a 1-5 scale.  You can email them or tweet them or put them in a comment on this blog.  I'll compile and a week or so after the fest, I'll report to you what you, The People (The Peeps), thought about the films that play TFF #42.

I'll also be compiling ratings from some of the industry professionals that'll be in town for the festivities as well.  Included in this year's pros will be writers from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, Awards Daily and more.

That'll be a full bag for Thursday...Check back tomorrow for an UPDATED "TEN BETS" LIST...It may have (probably will have) more than 10 films.



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Ten Bets #5/More News of "The Revenant" from THR/"Miles Ahead" Will Be at the End/"Son of Saul" and "Freeheld" Have Trailers

Hello to All on a Friday!



TEN BETS #5

For the fifth time this summer and the last time prior to the beginning of announcements from the Toronto International Film Festival on Tuesday (and the likelihood that their announcement gives solid clues about what could be playing Telluride), here are your latest, best "Ten Bets' for TFF #42 starting with a refresher of the "Ten Bets" from last week:

10) "The Club"

9) "Truth"

8) "Queen of the Desert"

7) "Suffragette"

6) "Youth"

5) "45 Years"

4) "I Saw the Light"

3) "Carol"

2) "Dheepan"

1) "Son of Saul"

Now, taking into consideration the Jeff Wells piece from last week as well as this week's Guardian piece and the comment traffic here on MTFB and this week's review of "The Usual Suspects" here's the latest incarnation of my "Ten Bets" list:

10) "Black Mass"
9) "Suffragette"
8) "He Named Me Malala"
7) "The Club"
6) "45 Years"
5) "Carol"
4) "Truth"
3) "I Saw the Light"
2) "Son of Saul"
1) "Dheepan"


COUSINS ON "BELFAST" AND OTHER TOPICS

Mark Cousins and Helena Bereen of "I Am Belfast"

Earlier this week, as a part of the first wave of "The Usual Suspects" I wrote about director Mark Cousins and his latest documentary "I Am Belfast".  Coincidentally, Britains' Fred: The Festival Insider posted a podcast interview with the film maker about that film and his "Hibrow Trilogy" that has just played as a part of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival.  Check the 11+ minute podcast here:

http://www.fred.fm/uk/mark-cousins-i-am-belfast-the-mark-cousins-hibrow-trilogy-kviff2015/


MORE NEWS OF "THE REVENANT" FROM THR

Following the very insightful Grantland piece about the making and finishing of Alejandro Inarritu's "The Revenant" comes another, separate long piece from Kim Masters of The Hollywood Reporter:


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-leonardo-dicaprios-revenant-shoot-810290

Still (sigh), this reminder that the film won't be ready in time for a Labor Day screening.


"MILES AHEAD" WILL BE AT THE END



Meaning that we found out Wednesday that Don Cheadle's Miles Davis biopic/passion project will close the New York Film Festival and they are labeling it a world premiere.  That designation, assuming that everyone is following the protocol from last year, means that the film is definitely off the Telluride radar.

In reality, I haven't had it on my radar in any significant fashion as it is still looking for U.S> distribution.

The film would have earned a mention on Monday's post when I will be addressing this year's version of "The Unified Clooney Theory" ahead of Tuesday's first announcement of films from the Toronto International Film Festival.

New York has already also announced that it will open with Robert Zemeckis' "The Walk".

Here's a bit of coverage on the NYFF announcement from Wednesday:

http://www.filmlinc.com/daily/entry/don-cheadles-miles-ahead-to-make-its-world-premiere-on-the-closing-night-of

http://www.awardscircuit.com/2015/07/22/don-cheadles-miles-ahead-selected-as-the-closing-film-for-new-york-film-festival/



"SON OF SAUL" AND "FREEHELD"  HAVE TRAILERS

Yesterday, we saw the release of an international trailer for Cannes sensation "Son of Saul".  I have that film sitting at the #2 spot on today's latest "Ten Bets" list.  We also saw the release of this first trailer for the Julianne Moore social drama "Freeheld".  Here they are via YouTube:

"Freeheld"

Here are three stories to accompany the "Freeheld" trailer:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-julianne-moore-and-ellen-page-will-break-your-heart-in-romantic-freeheld-trailer-20150722

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-ellen-page-and-julianne-moore-fight-for-gay-rights-in-first-trailer-for-freeheld-20150722

http://www.buzzfeed.com/kateaurthur/freeheld-trailer-julianne-moore-ellen-page#.jmkQpXnbMO

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/watch-freeheld-trailer-starring-ellen-page-and-julianne-moore/

"Son of Saul"

And a couple of stories that came with the "Son of Saul" trailer release:


http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/first-trailer-for-cannes-winner-and-oscar-contender-son-of-saul/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-operatic-first-international-trailer-for-cannes-winner-son-of-saul-20150723


LATEBREAKING

An interesting tidbit from the Italian online edition of Vanity Fair that claims that Tom McCarthy's "Spotlight", the drama concerning the revelation of  wrong doing and cover up in the Boston Archdiocese of the Catholic Church, will play as a part of the Venice Film Fest.  If accurate, that would be a bit of a surprise as it has been heavily rumored as a likely opener for Toronto.  A Venice play also opens the door a tiny bit to a Telluride play.

Google translate the story that is linked here:


http://www.vanityfair.it/show/cinema/15/07/19/mark-ruffalo-al-giffoni-film-festival-2015-intervista-e-foto

That's all for Friday.  Expect more Monday though special reports could pop up this weekend depending on the information that shakes out in the run up to Toronto's first announcement of films on Tuesday.

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"Last Face" at Telluride?/The Usual Suspects: Part One/A Note from "Anonymous"

Good Tuesday Everyone!


"LAST FACE" AT TELLURIDE?

Sean Penn and Charlize Theron on the set of "The Last Face" via The Daily Mail

I have mentioned Sean Penn's "The Last Face" as a Telluride possibility only fleetingly the past several months (I count five MTFB mentions since January) because I just haven't felt a T-ride vibe for it.  The lack of a U.S. distributor has had a lot to do with that.

That said, a David Poland piece about potential Oscar contenders posted at Movie City News last weekend got me to re-examining its possibilities.

Poland mentions the film as a way, way outside shot for some Oscar consideration and its the only film in the piece that he actually puts in a Telluride perspective.  Poland suggests that the film makers are hoping for a Telluride berth, in so many words.  Poland's exact line is, "after it is screened at TIFF (and they will hope, Telluride..."

Perhaps Poland knows something, or is just spitballing.  Nevertheless, this lead me to re-assess, at least to some degree.

Admittedly, under normal circumstances, I would have probably taken the film as a serious Telluride contender because it's the first directing effort from Penn since "Into the Wild" which played T-ride in 2007 and the story line sounds like the kind of film that might play well there (see the IMDb link below).

But...I have always thought that Penn had to have been displeased with the way that film was received.  It was thought to be a Best Picture/Best Director Oscar contender (and it was nominated for two Oscars, Supporting Actor for the great Hal Holbrook and film editing) but that didn't happen despite generally great critical response.

As I re-examined the film in light of the Poland mention, I discovered that Telluride regular Bill Pohlad is one of the films producers.  Pohlad has been a huge supporter of Telluride over the years (listed last year as a"major supporter in the fest's film guide) and has been a producer on a  significant number of films that have played Telluride over the years. Examples: "Brokeback Mountain ('05), "Fur" ('06), "Into the Wild ('07), "12 Years a Slave" ('13) and "Wild" ('14).  (So, Pohlad is really the first entrant in my "Usual Suspects" piece below)

So, Pohlad's participation and Poland's mention make me think that "The Last Face" might actually be a more serious consideration for Labor Day.

Still, I don't think it's a lead pipe cinch.  One reason, I'd love to know why Pohlad's own directing effort, the Brain Wilson biopic "Love and Mercy" which has been really well reviewed since its June release, did not play Telluride last year, but did play Toronto (in the midst of that "can't play Telluride first" controversy).

Bottom line, "The Last Face's Telluride chances are up, but it's not likely to be on this week's "Ten Bets" update on Friday.

Here's the David Poland piece from Movie City News;

http://moviecitynews.com/2015/06/30-weeks-to-oscar-setting-the-field/

"The Last Face" IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3286560/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt


THE USUAL SUSPECTS: PART ONE

Each summer for the past few years, I have analyzed a number of people that have become fixtures at Telluride as a way of trying to read the tea leaves fro what films might make the program.  These "Usual Suspects", as I call them, aren't always predictive, but sometimes, it leads to some good conclusions.

Last year, the "Ususal Suspects" posts predicted the presence of "The Look of Silence", "99 homes", "Wild", "Birdman", "Mr. Turner", "Two Days, One Night"and "Salt of the Earth".

As I mentioned above, the first "Usual Suspect" for this year, I suppose, is Bill Pohlad.

Next is the most usual of the "Usual Suspects", Werner Herzog.  Herzog is as regular to Telluride as anyone I can think of and is listed as one of their "Esteemed Council of Advisers".  Last year, I was dead certain his "Queen of the Desert" would play and it stayed in my Telluride calculus for a long time last summer (until Aug. 12).

Instead, "Queen" opened at the Berlin Fest in February to middling reviews.  It currently has no announced U.S. release date and its distributor, Atlas Distribution Company has no past Telluride relationship and is best known for distributing the "Atlas Shrugged" films.

Honestly, I've had this film in the lower levels of this year's "Ten Bets" lists, but, I honestly wouldn't be shocked if it DID NOT make the Telluride lineup.

Fear not T-ride Herzog fans.  The ever-busy Herzog has another trick up his sleeve.  "Salt and Fire" which stars Michael Shannon and Gael Garcia Bernal (and Herzog apparently as well) is listed as being in post-production at IMDb.  So maybe it gets a play at Telluride.  I have included an empireonline.com story about "Salt and Fire" here:

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=43394

They describe the film as a "drama and romance".  IMDb lists it as a "thriller".

Doesn't sound like typical Telluride fare but I have a hard time believing that Herzog wouldn't have at least one of these films at Telluride.  After all, the fest played "Bad Lieutenant" and "My Son, My Son..." so...


Next on this first list of "Usual Suspects" for 2015 is Mark Cousins.  Cousins has been a frequent guest of the fest and is, like Herzog, a member of the"Esteemed Council of Advisers".  Cousins was not in Telluride last year but prior to that had appeared in previous years:

2010: The First Movie
2011: The Story of Film
2012: What is This Film Called Love?
2013: The Story of Children and Film

With that kind of track record, I have a feeling that Cousins could well be back in the Sn Juans in a few weeks with his latest documentary, "I am Belfast", which, as you might expect, takes an in depth look at the Northern Irish city.  "Belfast" may actually sneak onto this week's "Ten Bets" list.

Our final look at a "Usual Suspect" today is Jacques Audiard.  Audiard played Telluride to great success in 2009 with "A Prophet" and again in 2012 with "Rust and Bone".  Audiard first played Telluride in 1996 with "A Self-Made Hero".

His latest, "Dheepan", won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in May and is being domestically distributed by Sundance Selects.

I've had it in the top one or two spots on my "Ten Bets" list each time this summer and barring some weirdness, I suspect it's as good a bet as you could imagine without direct confirmation.

Chances of today's "Usual Suspects" and their films at TFF #42:

Pohlad's "The Last Face" 25%
Herzog's "Queen of the Desert" 60%
Herzog's "Salt and Fire" 40%
Cousins' "I Am Belfast" 60%
Audiard's "Dheepan" 90%

Tomorrow's "Usual Suspects; Part Two" will include: Laura Linney, Stephen Frears, Wim Wenders and The Dardennes Brothers.

A NOTE FROM "ANONYMOUS"

I always enjoy, well...most of the time enjoy, comments and emails to the blog.  In the nearly seven years that I've been doing this, I have published all but a handful and the ones I haven't published have either been solicitations or just mean.  Otherwise, I publish.  Even the few that have, on occasion been a little uncomfortable.

I don't usually mention a comment in the text of a following blog, but this, from "Anonymous" seems particularly knowledgeable.  If you want to see the original it was a response to last Friday's (7/17) post (that contained my most recent "Ten Bets").  Here's the comment:


Michael,
your blog is great. I would agree with you that 'Dheepan' and 'Son of Saul' are a lock at this point. I don't think 'Youth' is coming to Telluride though. What i've heard is that Searchlight is only bring the Malala documentary. Also Warner Brothers really believes in 'Black Mass' expect that to show up at Telluride and Toronto as well. Don't be surprised if the Weinstein co hangs onto 'Carol' until AFI Fest and doesn't show it in Telluride. Also something to consider is Focus is pushing two big films this year. 'Suffragette' and 
'The Danish Girl'. Don't be surprised if 'The Danish Girl' screens at Telluride instead of 'Suffragette', which i suspect is going straight to Tornto. That will depend on the talent and director and who is available. Telluride won't take the movie unless either the actors or the director is available as is the case for 'Youth'. Best of luck with your prognosticating

This also comes three weeks (6/26 post) after a previous "Anonymous"Balck  comment that also seems very smart about Telluride:

I totally agree with your assessment of 'Dheepan', 'Son of Saul', '45 Years', and 'Carol'. Telluride patrons are smart and generally an older crowd and so I think they curate the festival knowing this. I think there is going to be one big documentary premiere sneak like in years past with 'Salinger' and 'Tales of the Grimm Sleeper'. I think 'He Named Me Malala' is poised to be that big doc sneak and it is very much in line with Telluride patrons' sensibilities so I wouldn't rule that one out.


So the two "Anonymous" comments seem to agree on "Dheepan" and "Son of Saul", the "Malala" documentary and disagree on "Carol".

I am particularly intrigued by the "7/17 Anonymous" claim about "Black Mass' which would fit neatly into my theory that Warners is likely to return to Telluride with some film this year.  I am also intrigued by the "7/17 Anonymous" claim that "The Danish Girl" might be more of a Telluride possibility than "Suffragette".  You could certainly make that case as I could see Tom Hooper returning to Telluride in light of his 2010 success with "The King's Speech"

All in all...fun stuff to think about.

And a good place to remind any and all that comments/emails and such are always (well almost) welcome.

Email me at michael_speech@hotmail.com or mpgort@gamil.com
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That'll do for a Tuesday...more tomorrow...

Cousins Return?/"Youth" Arrives in December/"Three Generations" Release Date Too/Thompson Talks "Carol" with Haynes and Nagy

Welcome to Wednesday...


COUSINS RETURN

Mark Cousins had been a consistent part of the Telluride program this last half decade until last year. Cousins had been involved in Telluride's program for many years beginning in 2009 with "The First Movie" and continuing in  2011 with "The Story of Film: An Odyssey".  He continued in 2012 with "What is this Film Called Love?" and in 2013 with "The Story of Children and Film" and "Here Be Dragons".

In 2014 Cousins didn't make the Telluride SHOW (despite having "Life May Be" as a possible entrant).

So, in 2015?  Cousins could return.  His "I Am Belfast" is finished and has been announced for the Karlovy Vary documentary lineup (that fest runs in early July).  Cousins has often played Karlovy Vary prior to bringing his films to Telluride.

I have linked a couple of stories about the announcement of "I Am Belfast's" inclusion for the Karlovy Vary Fest as well as the film's IMDb page:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/karlovy-vary-festival-unveils-lineup-799426

http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/karlovy-vary/karlovy-vary-unveils-2015-competition-line-ups/5088907.article

http://www.kviff.com/en/news/824-new-films-by-helena-trestikova-a-mark-cousins-in-the-documentary-competition-of-the-50th-kviff

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3847390/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1


"YOUTH" ARRIVES IN DECEMBER

Fox Searchlight has dated Paolo Sorrentino's Cannes competition entry "Youth" for a Dec. 4 release date in the U.S. according to Anne Thompson/Thompson on Hollywood:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/cannes-youth-gets-awards-friendly-release-date-20150602

The awards friendly date continues to suggest that the film which received relatively good reviews, especially for Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel and Jane Fonda's performances, could easily slide into the program in T-ride on Labor Day.  Sorrentino's last film "The Great Beauty" won the Best Foreign Language Oscar in 2014.



"THREE GENERATIONS" RELEASE DATE TOO

The Weinstein Company is wasting little time.  TWC acquired Gaby Dellal's transgender drama "Three Generations" for $6 million during the Cannes Fest last month and has already slated it for a September release.  The 18th to be exact.  That's a small two week window after this year's Telluride Fest begins but it's not without precedent that a TWC film could play T-ride and then hit theaters that quickly.

Two years ago, "Salinger" opened in the U.S. a week after it was s screened in Telluride.  So don't count out "Three Generations" in your Telluride speculation.


http://www.thewrap.com/transgender-drama-starring-elle-fanning-3-generations-acquired-by-weinstein-co-at-cannes/

http://www.thewrap.com/elle-fanning-transgender-drama-three-generations-gets-release-date/


IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4158624/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1


THOMPSON TALKS "CAROL" WITH HAYNES AND NAGY

Anne Thompson recently talked to "Carol" director Todd Haynes and screen writer Phyllis Nagy about the upcoming film starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.



http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/cannes-todd-haynes-and-writer-phyllis-nagy-talk-carol-glamorous-stars-highsmith-and-more-20150601



That's all for now..more tomorrow...


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