Golden Globes And TFF / Producers Guild Names Nominees / Gurus o' Gold / ACE Nominates for Eddies / New Video (Old Man and the Gun) and Trailer (Cold War) / Tapley's New Predix for Oscar

Week Two of the New Year begins today...hope it's working out for you.  OSCAR voting starts TODAY! Editors (see below) Cinematographers, Sound Editors, Writers and Directors Guilds all announce their 2018 nominees today.

GOLDEN GLOBES

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association handed out its annual Golden Globe awards for excellence in film and television last night.  TFF films are Bold.

Best Film/Drama: Bohemian Rhapsody

Best Film Comedy/Musical: Green Book

Best Actress/Drama: Glenn Close/The Wife

Best Actress Comedy/Musical: Olivia Colman/The Favourite

Best Actor/Drama: Rami Malek/Bohemian Rhapsody

Best Actor Musical/Drama: Christian Bale/Vice

Best Supporting Actress: Regina King/If Beale Street Could Talk

Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali/Green Book

Best Direction: Alfonso Cuaron/Roma

Best Screenplay: Green Book

Best Foreign Film: Roma

Best Animated Film: Spiderman; Into the Spider verse

Best Score: First Man

Best Song: Shallow from A Star Is Born

Overall, Telluride films scored a total of four Globes: Roma (2-Foreign Language Film and Direction), The Favourite (1-Best ACtress/Musical-Comedy) and First Man (1-Best Score).  Green Book had three and Bohemian Rhapsody had two and they were big awards for Best Film/Drama and Best Actor Drama.

A Star Is Born was shut out of wins in the four main categories it was nominated for (Picture/Daram, Actress/Drama, Supporting Actor and Direction winning only Best Song.  That was something of a stunner as the Gurus o' Gold had the film as a unanimous favorite to win Best Picture/Drama.

PRODUCERS GUILD NAMES NOMINEES

Friday the Producers Guild of America (PGA) named their nominees for a variety of Film and Television categories.  Their 10 film list for Best of 2018:

Black Panther

BlacKkKlansman

Bohemian Rhapsody
Crazy Rich Asians
The Favourite
Green Book
A Quiet Place
Roma
A Star Is Born
Vice

The documentaries nominated by the PGA were (previously announced on Nov. 20th):

The Dawn Wall
Free Solo
Hal
Into the Okavango
RBG
Three Identical Strangers
Won't You Be My Neighbor

Animated Features nominated:

Dr. Seuss' The Grinch
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse

Three TFF #45 films made the PGA cut: The Favourite and Roma among theatrical films and Free Solo among documentaries.

Complete nominees coverage is linked here from Indiewire.


GURUS O' GOLD

The latest Movie City News' Gurus o' Gold went up on Saturday and included predictions for the two Best Picture Golden Globes categories.  Those, of course, are now known.  Also included is the latest snapshot of the Oscar Best Picture race.

Take a gander at the most recent Gurus guesses here.



ACE NOMINATES FOR EDDIES

The American Cinema Editors named their nominees fro excellence in film editing for film and television this morning.  TFF #45 films nominated included: Roma and First Man in the Film/Drama category, The Favourite in the Film/Comedy category, Free Solo in the Documentary category and in the Non-theatrical film category: A Final Cut for Orson: 40 Years in the Making, a short documentary about the recovery of Orson Welles The Other Side of the Wind.

The complete list of nominees is linked here from The Wrap.


NEW VIDEO AND TRAILER

Fox Searchlight released nine and a half minutes or so of David Lowery's The Old Man and the Gun on Friday.  Here that is from YouTube:

The film is now available to stream.

Meanwhile, Amazon Studios dropped a new trailer for Pawel Pawlikowski's Cold War this weekend as well.  Here it is:

TAPLEYS' NEW PREDICTIONS FOR OSCAR

Variety's InContention Awards expert, Kristopher Tapley had updated Oscar predictions Saturday ahead of the Golden Globes.

Telluride films included in his predictions include:

Roma (8): Picture, Direction, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Foreign Language Film

The Favourite (7): Picture, Actress, Supporting Actress (both Stone and Weisz), Original Screenplay, Costumes, Production Design

First Man (6): Cinematography, Film Editing, Score, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects

Can You Ever Forgive Me? (3): Actress, Supporting Actor, Adapted Screenplay

Cold War (3): Direction, Cinematography, Foreign Language Film

First Reformed (2): Actor, Original Screenplay***TFF #44

Shoplifters (1): Foreign Language Film

Free Solo (1): Documentary

Border (1); Makeup/Hair

A couple of notes...

If Tapley is 100% accurate, TFF #45 feature films earn 30 Oscar nominations.  TFF #44 (First Reformed) gets 2.

Tapley has no picks in the Shorts categories in this latest set of predictions and TFF #45 could snag an additional nomination or two there.

First Man now looks like it will be the most nominated film that doesn't get a Best Picture nomination.  I am dismayed.

I'm also a little surprised that both Can You Ever Forgive Me with a probable two acting nominations and a screenplay nod isn't more in the Best Picture conversation.  Same for First Reformed for the same reasons.

Tapley's inclusion of Pawlikowski for his direction of Cold War is a bold choice but I'd be stunned if that actually happens.

Here's Tapley's complete set of Oscar predictions.

And speaking of Tapley, Kris has kept up an annual tradition by posting his selections for the ten best individual shots from 2018 films at Variety.  That list with commentary went up on the Variety.com site in late December.

Among the films/shots included were TFF #45 and TFF #44 films (photos from Tapley's Variety.com post):

At #10-First Man:

At #8- First Reformed (from TFF #44):

At #7- Cold War:

At #3- Roma

The top shot in Tapley's list came from the horror film Hereditary.

The complete post is here.


That's this Monday's MTFB.  I'll have more on Thursday.

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

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COMMENT TO THE BLOG

Variety's Tapley Talks Telluride and Makes a Few Guesses / Farhadi Joins Cannes Competition Lineup

Good Monday Everyone.  Thanks for taking the time to take a look at Michael's Telluride Film Blog



VARIETY'S TAPLEY TALKS TELLURIDE AND MAKES A FEW GUESSES

Variety's awards co-editor Kristopher Tapley posted an intriguing piece late last week that talked about the rapidity with which The 43rd sedition of TFF sold out of passes.  Tapley analyzes some of what he sees as reasons for the quick sell out.

He also takes a some time to take a very, very preliminary look at some titles that he thinks might make the lineup over Labor Day weekend.  Some surprises included:

Ang Lee's Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

Asghar Farhadi's The Salesman

Garth Davis' Lion

Gavin O'Connor's The Accountant

Andrea Arnold's American Honey

The Dardennes' The Unknown Girl 

Nate Parker's Birth of a Nation

That last, of course was a Sundance hit but has already fairly warmly rumored to be a Telluride possibility.  Both Tapley and The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg have now mentioned the possibility.

Check Tapley's entire article here:

http://variety.com/2016/film/in-contention/telluride-film-festival-2016-sells-out-passes-1201758017/



FARHADI JOINS CANNES COMPETITION LINEUP

As we expected, the Cannes Fest added seven new films to various programs for next months 69th iteration.  Among the was Asghar Farhadi's The Salesman which was added to the Palme d'Or competition lineup.  The addition bodes well, I think, for Farhadi to make a third appearance at Telluride after successful runs there with A Separation and The Past.

I have linked three stories about the additions which also include the new film from David Mackenzie, He'll or High Water which has been added to the Un Certain Regard section.  Mackenzie's Starred Up played Telluride to wide acclaim in 2013 and this UCR selection could foreshadow a return for him this year.

The stories:

http://www.ioncinema.com/news/film-festivals/farhadis-the-salesman-completes-cannes-main-comp-mackenzies-hell-or-high-water-in-ucr

http://variety.com/2016/film/global/asghar-farhadi-the-salesman-cannes-festival-competition-1201758950/

http://www.thewrap.com/cannes-film-festival-adds-7-new-films/


That's it for this Monday...more to come on Thursday.

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mpgort@gmail.com OR

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Oscar Experts Update / Future Telluride? More Payne / Morris Off the Hook

Good Thursday Everyone...


OSCAR EXPERTS UPDATE

As Oscar Night continues to get closer, here's a snapshot of where a number of Oscar experts think the Best Picture race (and others) are right now.  I've linked a number of charts and podcasts from Gold Derby as well as the latest updated predictions form Kristopher Tapley of InContention at Variety.


http://www.goldderby.com/news/11694/oscar-predictions-best-picture-the-revenant-spotlight-the-big-short-13579086.html

http://www.goldderby.com/awardshows/experts/oscars-2015/best-picture.html

http://www.goldderby.com/news/11700/oscar-predictions-revenant-entertainment-381674925-story.html

http://variety.com/2015/film/in-contention/oscar-predictions-oscars-academy-awards-1201600870/



The British Academy of Film and Television Arts announce their winners this weekend and that will be the next nugget of precursor information.



FUTURE TELLURIDE? MORE PAYNE

I have reported here previously that Telluride regular Alexander Payne was producing Wilson and that his next directing effort will be Downsizing with Matt Damon.  Both of those films could figure into future Telluride film lineups.  Noe comes word of another directing job that Payne will undertake for the same producers that were behind his Nebraska and Election.

The film is tentatively titled My Saga.  Reports are linked below:

http://www.thewrap.com/alexander-payne-to-direct-karl-ove-knausgaard-my-saga-for-nebraska-producers/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/alexander-payne-to-direct-road-trip-flick-my-saga-20160209

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/bona-fide-acquires-movie-rights-to-knausgaard-new-york-times-series-my-saga-for-alexander-payne-exclusive-20160209


MORRIS OFF THE HOOK

A few weeks ago I posted a story that Errol Morris was being sued by the subject of his 2010 documentary Tabloid.  Word this week is that the suit has been dismissed.  Here are the details from The Hollywood Reporter:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hollywood-docket-errol-morris-steven-863043



That'll do for Thursday.  A new FAC Oscar update will be coming your way on Monday.


Contact me at:

michael_speech@hotmail.com OR

mpgort@gmail.com OR

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The Film Awards Clearinghouse Major Category Thanksgiving Update / Oscar Experts / Todd Haynes Interviewed by Gus Van Sant

Good Monday to everyone and welcome to Thanksgiving Week 2015...


THE FILM AWARDS CLEARINGHOUSE MAJOR CATEGORY THANKSGIVING UPDATE

Nearly a month has passed since our last snapshot of the four major Oscar categories and there have been some developments.  "Steve Jobs" took a dive at the box office and that has definitely altered the view among Oscar experts regarding its chances in the Best Picture and Directing categories.  "The Martian" appears to be coming on strong.  Let's take a look.


For the purpose of The FAC I gather data from the publicly posted predictions of the following:

Erik Anderson/Awards Watch
Clayton Davis/Awards Circuit
Scott Feinberg/The Hollywood Reporter
Peter Knegt/Indiewire
Joey Magidson/Hollywood News
Nathaniel Rogers/Film Experience
Sasha Stone/Awards Daily
Kristopher Tapley/Variety-InContention
Anne Thompson/Thompson on Hollywood

TFF #42 films are in Bold.

The positions that these possible nominees had in our last look at these categories is indicated in parenthesis.


BEST PICTURE

"Spotlight" trailer via YouTube

1) Spotlight (1)
2) The Revenant (3)
3) The Martian (12)
4) Room (5)
5) Bridge of Spies (6)
6) Brooklyn (4)
7) Joy (7)
8) Steve Jobs (2)

9) Inside Out (11)
10) Carol (10)
11) The Hateful Eight (9)
12) The Big Short (NR)

Hot: "The Martian", "Inside Out", "The Big Short"
Cold: "Brooklyn", Steve Jobs", "The Hateful Eight" and "The Danish Girl" which dropped off the list entirely.
Comment:  "The Martian" change and the "Steve Jobs" box office debacle have really shaken this race up.  I'm not so sure that "Jobs" is completely out of this as Fassbender still has a lot of Best Actor support (see below).  At this point, I could see any of the top four films taking the big prize...and yes, I'm including "Room" in that assessment.  People really love the film and its strength is reflected in Lenny Abrahamson's climb in the director's race and Brie Larson's support in the Best Actress race.  Remember too, that it won the Toronto audience award and finished in the top spot in my collection of viewers' ratings for The People's Telluride.


BEST DIRECTION

"Room" trailer via YouTube

1) Tom McCarthy/Spotlight (1)
2) Alejandro Inarritu/The Revenant (3)
3) Ridley Scott/The Martian (7)
4) Steven Spielberg/Bridge of Spies (5)
5) Lenny Abrahamson/Room (NR)

6) David O. Russell/Joy (4)
7) George Miller/Mad Max: Fury Road (10)
8) Todd Haynes/Carol (8)
9) Danny Boyle/Steve Jobs (2)
10) Quentin Tarantino/The Hateful Eight (6)

Hot: Scott, Abrahamsom and Miller.
Cold: Russell, Boyle and Tom Hooper (Danish Girl)
Comment:Danny Boyle's fall also underscores the drop in prospects for "Steve Jobs" as Abrahamson's ascendance emphasizes the popularity of "Room".  Also, "The Danish Girl" is taking a hit in both Picture and Directing categories.  Eddie Redmayne still seems to be competitive in the Best Actor category (see below).


BEST ACTRESS

"Carol" trailer via YouTube

1) Brie Larson/Room (1)
2) Jennifer Lawrence/Joy (2)
3) Saorise Ronan/Brooklyn (3)
4) Cate Blanchett/Carol (4)
5) Charlotte Rampling/45 Years (6)

6) Carey Mulligan/Suffragette (5)
7) Blythe Danner/I'll See You in My Dreams (10)
8) Lily Tomlin/Grandma (7)
9) Maggie Smith/The Lady in the Van (9)
10) Cate Blanchett/Truth (8)

Hot: Danner
Cold: Blanchett in "Truth"
Comment: A remarkably steady category.  Larson is the closest thing to a lock in any of the four major categories in a year where "locks" have been few and far between.


BEST ACTOR

"Steve Jobs" trailer via YouTube

1) Leonardo DiCaprio/The Revenant (3)
2) Michael Fassbender/Steve Jobs (1)
3) Eddie Redmayne/The Danish Girl (2)
4) Johnny Depp/Black Mass (4)
5) Matt Damon/The Martian (6)

6) Michael Caine/Youth (5)
7) Will Smith/Concussion (8)
8) Tom Hanks/Bridge of Spies (7)
9) Ian McKellen/Mr. Holmes (9)
10) Steve Carell/The Big Short (10)


Hot: DiCaprio
Cold:  No one really.
Comment:  Both Fassbender and Redmayne stay in the thick of the race despite their films having suffered some serious doubts in the Picture and Directing categories.  The same could be said for Johnny Depp.

Currently, if The FAC is 100% accurate Telluride #42 films will get 10 nominations from these major categories with another four possibilities.

I'll update the Supporting and Screenplay categories on Thursday so come back for that.



OSCAR EXPERTS

The latest Oscar assessments in detail from the pros: Kristopher Tapley, Scott Feinberg and Sasha Stone:

http://variety.com/2015/film/in-contention/oscar-predictions-oscars-academy-awards-1201600870/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/awards/predictions/awards/predictions/oscars/2015/academy-awards-112015/

http://www.awardsdaily.com/2015/11/20/predictions-friday-still-guessing-at-what-we-dont-know-for-sure/


TODD HAYNES INTERVIEWED BY GUS VAN SANT

Todd Haynes and Rooney Mara at the Patron's Brunch 

For Issue Magazine, Todd Haynes sat down with film maker Gus Van Sant to talk about "Carol" and other topics.  It's here:

http://issuemagazine.com/todd-haynes/#/


That's a wrap for Monday...remember to come back for Thursday's MTFB for a look at where The FAC says we are in the Supporting Acting and Screenplay races.

Contact me at:

michael_speech@hotmail.com OR

mpgort@gmail.com OR

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Trailers Times Three / Oscar Matters: Brie Larson and "Room" / Oscar Matters: InContention's Latest Look

Good Thursday to everyone.  MTFB/The FAC is on the road this week in Dallas, TX.  No film reason, though there was filming here last week for the forthcoming adaptation of Stephen King's "11/22/63" which is set to show up on Hulu.

Nope, we're in Big D for a Don Henley concert...then back to OKC for family fun.

It's fall break.

Thank God.


TRAILERS TIMES THREE

New trailer came down the pike this week for three Telluride 2015 films and I pass them on to you via YouTube with a story to accompany them.

First, a new look at the final trailer for Cary Fukunaga's "Beasts of No Nation":

And the story from MTFB friend (and one of "The Professionals" who rates films for the blog each year at T-ride) Alex Billington and FirstShowing.net:

http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/final-trailer-for-beasts-of-no-nation-go-see-this-film/


Also, a new trailer for Guatemala's Oscar Foreign Language entry "Ixcanul":

The Film Stage has a fantastic and extensive collection of the trailers for the 81 films that have been submitted for the Foreign Language Oscar.  You can find that here:

http://thefilmstage.com/features/your-guide-to-the-81-best-foreign-language-film-2016-oscar-contenders/


And we circle back to FirstShowing.net and the release of the official trailer for Stig Bjorkman's "Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words".  Here's that trailer:

And the story from Alex:


http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/watch-official-trailer-for-ingrid-bergman-in-her-own-words-doc/


OSCAR MATTERS: BRIE LARSON AND "ROOM"

Two big Brie Larson interviews showed up in the last day or two as "Room" gets ready to open this weekend.  Larson talks about the film with Jenelle Riley of Variety and Lauren Moraski of CBS News and both of those articles are linked here:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/brie-larson-room-oscars-1201615960/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/brie-larson-on-going-silent-for-buzzy-room-film/

Incidentally, I'm pretty sure I ran into Larson at Telluride playing darts at one of the local pizza places.  I didn't interrupt the game.


OSCAR MATTERS: IN CONTENTION'S LATEST LOOK

Now that the New York Fest is over, the Oscar prognosticators are re-calculating.  They'll do that again after the AFI Fest next month and again with the screening of big December releases such as "The Revenant" and "Joy".

Kristopher Tapley has re-calibrated at Variety/InContention and I have culled his latest for Telluride-centric Oscar predictions.  Here's what he's saying as of yesterday:

Telluride films/performers in the following categories will be nominees:

Best Picture: "Black Mass', "Room", "Spotlight", "Steve Jobs"
Best Director: Abrahamson/"Room", McCarthy/"Spotlight", Boyle/"Steve Jobs"
Best Actor: Depp/"Black Mass", Fassbender/"Steve Jobs"
Best Actress: Larson/"Room", Rampling/"45 Years"
Best Supporting Actor: Edgerton/"Black Mass', Keaton/"Spotlight"
Best Supporting Actress: Mara/"Carol", Winslet/"Steve Jobs"
Adapted Screenplay: "Room", "Steve Jobs"
Original Screenplay: "Spotlight"
Costumes: "Carol"
Film Editing: "Spotlight", "Steve Jobs"
Makeup/Hair: "Black Mass"
Production Design: "Carol"
Documentary: "The Look of Silence" (TFF #41)
Foreign Language Film: "Son of Saul", "Rams", "Viva"


For Tapley's complete predictions look here:


http://variety.com/2015/film/in-contention/oscar-predictions-oscars-academy-awards-1201600870/


That's Thursday's post...if you see me at the Henley concert tonight, say hello!


Contact me at:

michael_speech@hotmail.com OR

mpgort@gmail.com OR

via Twitter @Gort2 OR to

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Telluride Ten Bets (Plus Five) #9 / New Looks for Fukunaga's "Beasts of No Nation" / The Changing World of Online Film Writing / Rate TFF #42 Films!

We finally get to Friday...


TELLURIDE TEN BETS #9 (PLUS FIVE)

Here's your weekly assessment of the ten most likely films for the Telluride Film Festival beginning with a reminder of last week's Ten Bets:

10) "Amazing Grace"
9) "He Named Me Malala"
8) "Steve Jobs"
7) "Suffragette"
6) "Carol"
5) "Room"
4) "Beasts of No Nation"
3) "Anomalisa"
2) "Black Mass"
1) "Son of Saul"

And now here's the ninth 2015 installment of Ten Bets (plus five)

15) "Heart of a Dog"

14) "Rams"

13) "Hitchcock/Truffaut"

12) "Spotlight"

11) "Amazing Grace"

10) "45 Years"

  9) "Carol"

  8) "He Named Me Malala"

  7) "Steve Jobs"

  6) "Anomalisa"

  5) "Room"

  4) "Suffragette"

  3) "Beasts of No Nation"

  2) "Black Mass"

  1) "Son of Saul"

I think I have one other film nailed down and that's the documentary "Tyrus" that I mentioned earlier this week.  After that...

I have a list of three documentaries that could make a play in Telluride: "A Young Patriot", "Sherpa" and "Winter on Fire".  

Here's the trailer for "A Young Patriot" via YouTube:

Here's a four and a half minute profile of "Sherpa" with director Jennifer Peedom:

                                       

And an image from "Winter on Fire":

IMDb pages for each are here...

"A Young Patriot": http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4079566/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

"Sherpa": http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3746250/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

"Winter on Fire": http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4908644/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

NEW LOOKS FROM FUKUNAGA'S "BEASTS OF NO NATION"

Trailer for "Beasts of No Nation" via YouTube

 There's a good deal of buzz about Cary Fukunaga's "Beasts of No Nation" which is at the #3 spot on the latest "Ten Bets" list above.  I'm hearing that it may be hit with the same level of intensity as Steve McQueen's Best Picture Oscar winner "12 Years a Slave".  That's some pretty bold talk which I'd love to see pay off in a couple of weeks.

The Wrap put up a story this week which included a number of unified character posters.  I have re-posted them here:

You can peruse the entire post from The Wrap here:

http://www.thewrap.com/beasts-of-no-nation-teases-idris-elba-abraham-attah-in-new-character-artwork-photos/

THE CHANGING WORLD OF ONLINE FILM WRITING

It was a shock this week when Brad Brevet of Rope of Silicon posted that he was done.  I have linked to that sight for this blog many, many times and I am saddened that a resource that's has been useful for me and my readers disappears.  You can find Brevet's sign off here:

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/thats-a-wrap/

Meanwhile, on the same day, Kristopher Tapley, whose InContention recently departed from HitFix posted on the tenth anniversary of its founding and the fact that he's about to start his latest iteration at Variety.com.  Here's his meditation:

http://www.incontention.com/2015/08/19/on-in-contention-going-to-variety/

Sometimes I daydream about making this enterprise bigger...expanding to cover as many as 6-10 major film fests through the course of the year and their subsequent effect on awards season.  But then I look at the landscape and see how tough it is and think: "Buddy, you're just fine the way you are".

Glad there are some peeps who read me.

Speaking of Peeps...

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's a wrap for Friday, Aug. 21, 2015.  Enjoy the weekend and come back Monday for more MTFB!

Please feel free to leave a comment or question here at the blog.

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Toronto Part Two / Categorical Weirdness / Tapley Lands at Variety / The Continuing "Jane Got a Gun" Saga

Welcome to Tuesday Everyone.

TORONTO PART TWO

I am expecting the second wave of announcements of films that will play the Toronto International Film Festival to come later today.  I believe that they are announcing Canadian films as a part of a specific program of films for that fest.

Whatever is announced, check back here for analysis about the TIFF choices and revelations and what they tell us about Telluride's possible lineup choices.

Which leads to this next thing...

CATEGORICAL WEIRDNESS

If you read this space with frequency and certainly in the last week since TIFF's announced first wave of films, then you know that there has been some oddity regarding how the film "Spotlight" has been categorized.  Reportedly tabbed as a Canadian premiere in some places and International in others plus some confusion in as far as what TIFF views as an International premiere.  That has led to a number of outlets concluding that "Spotlight" could well be playing Telluride.

Now, this added weirdness at least a couple of  sources reported yesterday that Julie Delpy's "Lolo" will premiere in Venice even though the TIFF website claims their screening is its World premiere.

Here's "Lolo's" page at the TIFF website:

http://tiff.net/festivals/festival15/galapresentations/lolo


Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter and tell us that the film will premiere as a part of the Venice Days program during the Venice Fest.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/julie-delpy-lolo-premiere-venice-812666

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/watch-julie-delpy-writes-directs-and-stars-in-venice-premiere-lolo-20150803

Obviously, the film can't World Premiere twice and in two different places.  So, what gives?

My takeaway from this is that these film fests still haven't gotten all the kinks and communication worked out regarding any particular film's premiere status and that all of us who are trying to read these particular tea leaves would do well to remember that.

PS...in my fevered dementia surrounding the Toronto and Venice announcements last week, I even developed a theory that would allow "Spotlight" to play all three fests, including Telluride, and still be properly labeled an "International" premiere in what seems to be the most commonly accepted definition of the term.  Don't ask.  It's really almost impossible.

TAPLEY LANDS AT VARIETY

I'm really happy to pass on this note that Kristopher Tapley and his InContention awards coverage has landed at Variety.com.  Tapley, who has been kind enough to provide film ratings each year as a part of MTFB's "Telluride Professionals" and has also been a source that I have accessed for The Film Awards Clearinghouse portion of this blog, will be joining the venerable entertainment publication on Aug. 24th and will be back in Telluride providing Variety's coverage.

Tapley's InContention and HitFix.com had been together since 2011 but came to a parting of ways at the end of June.

It will be good to have Kris' voice back online (and in Variety's print edition as well) very, very soon.
Congratulations, Mr. Tapley!

Coverage is here:

http://variety.com/2015/biz/awards/kris-kristopher-tapley-joins-variety-in-contention-1201555437/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/variety-adds-kris-tapley-to-awards-coverage-20150803

http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/08/kris-tapley-lands-at-variety/


THE CONTINUING "JANE GOT A GUN" SAGA

"Jane Got a Gun" First Look from Movieclips and YouTube

If you've read this blog for some time, you know that I have often included stories about Gavin O'Conner's "Jane Got a Gun" which has been beleaguered to say the least.  It's struggle continued this week as half of its distributor plan- Relativity Media-declared bankruptcy.

The film had changes in director and cast and now this.  Vanity Fair posted a story of where this film is here:

http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/07/natalie-portman-jane-got-a-gun-delay


Will the film make it to its Sept. 4 release date or get pushed to 2016?


That's all for now.  Check back later today and tomorrow for news about the most recent announcements from Toronto.


Please feel free to leave a comment or question here at the blog.

Email me at michael_speech@hotmail.com or mpgort@gmail.com

Tweet/Follow at me @Gort2 on Twitter

You can also message me on Facebook (and "Like" me too)

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

Trailers: "He Named Me Malala and "45 Years"/InContention in Limbo

Welcome back from the weekend folks!


TRAILERS: "HE NAMED ME MALALA" AND "45 YEARS"

These are two films that I have a pretty good vibe for showing up at the SHOW for differing reasons.  "Malala" is a much hyped documentary from Fox Searchlight".  "45 Years" was well reviewed and award winning at Berlin with U.S. distribution by Sundance Selects.  Both could show up Friday on the season's first MTFB Ten Bets List.  Check to see on Friday.

Anywho...since Friday, both films have released trailers.  "Malala's" can be viewed here:

"He Named Me Malala" trailer via YouTube

Additionally, you can look at a number of stories that accompanied the trailer release here:



https://www.facebook.com/MalalaFund/videos/1098538976826620/

http://time.com/3927769/malala-documentary-education-activist/

http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2015/06/18/he-named-me-malala-yousafzai/

http://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-malala-yousafzai-triggers-change-in-trailer-for-davis-guggenheim-doc-he-named-me-malala-20150619


Meanwhile, you can catch the "45 Years" trailer here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/the-trailer-for-45-years-starring-charlotte-rampling-will-break-you-20150619

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-moving-first-trailer-for-andrew-haighs-acclaimed-45-years-starring-charlotte-rampling-and-tom-courtenay-20150619


INCONTENTION IN LIMBO

It popped over the weekend...the four year mix of HitFix being the home for Kristopher Tapley's InContention Oscar awards coverage will come to an end.  The two joined in 2011, but have come to a parting of ways.

It matters to me because Kris has been a generous soul to me over the last few years that I've been plunking along at this blog.  Always kind. Always quick to introduce me to real players in the biz that he knows.  A class act all the time.  So, naturally the shift caught my eye.

This story is the announcement from Tapley:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/in-contention-signing-off-at-hitfix

Also coverage from Anne Thompson/Thompson on Hollywood and Jeff Wells/Hollywood Elsewhere:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/in-contention-is-on-the-move-20150619

http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2015/06/tapley-left-hitfix/


More on Tuesday...

Follow/Like Michael's Telluride Film Blog on Facebook:

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


And on Twitter @Gort2

Correction and Apology/"Fury" Buzz Continues/Tapley on Telluride...And a New Thought/Thanks Sasha!/The Latest Look from "Two Days, One Night"

It's Tuesday everyone!  Telluride's 41st Film Fest kicks off in 10 days!

CORRECTION AND APOLOGY


Well, yesterday I mentioned that an alert reader had put me onto a story that confirmed "99 Homes" was headed to Telluride from thehindu.com.  Turns out, I credited the wrong reader...so here's the correction and apology.  BoomBoomChris gets the story right!  The original tweet:

BoomBoom ‏@BoomBoomChris  Aug 17

@Gort2 I'm sure you saw this but looks like "99 Homes" is confirmed for #TFF41 http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/ashok-amritrajs-latest-production-99-homes-makes-it-to-three-prestigious-film-festivals/article6324273.ece?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication …

"FURY" BUZZ CONTINUES

Brad Pitt and crew in "Fury" via Rope of Silicon

Suspicions that David Ayers' "Fury" (starring Brad Pitt as a war tested tank commander at the end of World War II in Europe) will pop up at Telluride.  Last week we learned that the film will close the London Fest on Pct. 19th.  It's set to open here in the U.S. on Oct. 17th,  That date was originally in November, but was pushed back presumably to co-ordinate with the London screening.  Nevertheless, within the past few days a number of publications have noted that the new date pushes the film closer to both Telluride and Toronto.  The L.A. Times and Tech Tell.com go even a bit farther.  The Times says, "So where will "Fury" play first?  The most likely spot is the Labor Day set Telluride Film Festival,"

Yes please...Here's the link to the complete "Fury" story from the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-brad-pitt-fury-movie-premiere-release-date-20140814-story.html

Meanwhile, technologytell.com says, "(it's) not in Venice, not in New York though, so that leaves Telluride in contention."

Here's the complete article:

http://www.technologytell.com/entertainment/49517/david-ayer-brad-pitts-fury-wrap-2014-london-film-festival/


Despite all this, and I make no bones about it, I'd like "Fury" to make a T-ride appearance, I'm still dubious. Kristopher Tapley at HitFix/InContention has said-and said again yesterday that he's heard no Telluride or Toronto for the film and I tend to believe Kris. See his latest post below...it's...very interesting.

So, bottom line, "Fury" would be a welcome add to the TFF #41 lineup, but it's probably not in the cards.


TAPLEY ON TELLURIDE...AND A NEW THOUGHT

Christoph Waltz and Amy Adams in Tim Burton's "Big Eyes"

As mentioned above, Kris Tapley posted a combo piece yesterday that focused on the surprise last minute addition of Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper" starring Bradley Cooper to the list of end of the year releases and the second half of the piece focuses on Telluride.

Kris mentions most of the titles that we've got on our radar and in the "Ten (Plus) Bets".  He continues to bum me about both "Fury" and J.C. Chandor's "A Most Violent Year".  The first with no T-ride plans and the latter not ready for another three weeks or so...come on J.C...you can do this!

The real excitement comes at the end of the post when he suggests the possibility of a presentation of Tim Burton's "Big Eyes" and a tribute for the director.  Now, I've suggested the possibility of both things here previously but admittedly without a great sense that the scenario would be likely.  I suggested late last week that it was (along with "Unbroken") perhaps the most likely of the "big" films still out there that might turn up at Telluride.  I also suggested at least the chance of a corresponding Burton tribute on Aug. 6th.

Now, I don't know if Tapley knows anything concrete or not...but wouldn't "Big Eyes" in the San Juans be cool?  And a Burton film at Telluride is not unprecedented.  "Ed Wood" was there in 1994.  Bring it!

Here's the link to the Tapley post:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/off-the-carpet-eastwood-crashes-the-season-as-telluride-gears-up-for-another-edition


THANKS SASHA!

A Big Shout Out to Sasha Stone and her site Awards Daily for posting  nice article yesterday that featured this blog.  It was very kind of her to shed a light on this slightly manic endeavor.

Did it boost traffic?  Ummm...yeah.  So, thanks again Sasha!  Right back atcha...

Here's the link to the Awards Daily story about Telluride from yesterday that featured Michael's Telluride Film Blog:

http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2014/08/spitballing-telluride-lineup/


THE LATEST LOOK AT "TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT"

At # 10 on the latest "Ten Bets" is the Dardennes Brothers "Two Days, One Night" which stars Oscar winner Marion Cotillard.  I'm telling you it's playing this year's fest.  Now, personally, I'd be thrilled if Ms. Cotillard returned to Telluride.  She received a tribute in 2012 with "Rust and Bone".  I don't really think that will happen...but a guy can dream, right?

At any rate, a new clip sprouted from the film late yesterday featuring Petula Clark singing in French.  Take a look here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLA_fovLifw


Accompanying stories are here from The Playlist and Rope of Silicon:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-marion-cotillard-listens-to-petula-clark-in-new-clip-from-two-days-one-night-20140818

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/watch-marion-cotillard-new-clip-dardennes-two-days-one-night/



Finally, this reminder...later this morning we should have more news from Toronto.  We'll read those tea leaves later today...stay tuned...

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2

Tapley Muses/A Look at What Was "Squirrel"/Don't Forget "The Tribe"

Good Tuesday All...I'm in Santa Fe, NM on the way back to the home place after a great weekend in Crested Butte, CO.

TAPLEY MUSES

"Fury" trailer via YouTube

HitFix/InContention's Kristopher Tapley posted a fairly extensive look at the awards season last night that also included his thoughts about what is/might be/is unlikely to be Telluride bound.  As you might expect, he comes to a number of the same conclusions that you've already read here.

He does mention a few things that are of specific interest...some intriguing...some a little disappointing.  Tapley suggests that David Ayer's "Fury" might have a reasonable shot at playing T-ride but that Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken" is unlikely/unprepared for fests.

Tapley mentions a couple of films that I haven't had on my Telluride radar at all.  Tom McCarthy's Adam Sandler starer "The Cobbler" and William Monahan's "Mojave" starring Mark Wahlberg.  Additionally, he suggests a Telluride screening of "Whiplash" as he includes it on a list of Sony Pictures Classics "possibles/probables".

Tapley also says that J.C. Chandor is still editing "A Most Violent Year" which doesn't mean that the film is completely off the Telluride table...but it sure isn't encouraging.

Check the entire story here:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/off-the-carpet-will-it-be-brad-pitt-vs-angelina-jolie-this-oscar-season


A LOOK AT WHAT WAS "SQUIRREL"

Jennifer Aniston and Peter Bogdanovich via The Playlist

Last week Venice Film Fest officials said that they knew that they had five films scheduled that would roll on to Telluride.  One of those could be Peter Bogdanovich's "She's Funny That Way" which for a good long while was titled "Squirrels to the Nuts".  The comedy stars Owen Wilson, Imogen Poots, Jennifer Aniston and more.  Bogdo has often been a part of past Telluride fests and it wouldn't surprise me greatly if this was included on the program this year.

The Playlist dropped a number of photos of the film late yesterday one of which is posted above.

Check the story and the other photos:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/venice-first-look-owen-wilson-imogen-poots-jennifer-aniston-in-peter-bogdanovichs-shes-funny-that-way-20140804


DON'T FORGET "THE TRIBE"

One of the more intriguing films that played at Cannes (Critic's Week section and won prizes) in May was the all-signed "The Tribe".  No speaking...all sign language.  The film is directed by Myroslav Sloboshpytskiy.  The film also won the top prize this week at the Motovun Film Festival.

I thought in May that it could be an interesting choice for Labor Day in The Rockies.

I did a little looking and the film's U.S. distributor is Drafthouse films which repped Joshua Oppenheimer's "The Act of Killing" in 2012...so perhaps it makes an appearance in just over three weeks.

Variety reports on the Motovun fest win here:

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/the-tribe-wins-motovun-film-festivals-top-honor-1201275507/


More tomorrow...

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2

Turning the Page in Full/Tickets for Sale/Yearbook Photos

Welcome to Thursday...

TURNING THE PAGE IN FULL

Oscar #86  is in the rearview mirror and The FAC is retired for a half a year.  This goes back to being what it always has been MTFB focused on the potential films for the upcoming Telluride Film Festival.  This year will be its 41st iteration and the ninth for me and the Mrs.

If you've been reading along since the first of the year, you have already seen a couple of posts that have assessed various "Films to Look Forward to in 2014" or some variation of that title.  I'll be re-visiting those soon but we're in post Oscar territory and that means the focus for a few posts will be on those outlets that have already begun to try to read the tea leaves for Oscar #87...starting with this from Glenn Whip and The Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/goldstandard/la-et-mn-next-years-oscars-predictions-angelina-jolie-20140303,0,4523470.story#axzz2uvTMj7cA

The story focuses on Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken" but also mentions a number of other films that could come into Oscar play including Bennett Miller's "Foxcatcher" which is on my Telluride watch list...again.

There will be more of these kinds of articles in the next few weeks...and trust me, I'll parse them within an inch of their lives.

Meanwhile...

Kristopher Tapley at HitFix/InContention posted on Tuesday an article entitled "On Telluride's New Found Place in the Season, and a Modest Glimpse Ahead."

Tapley talks about T-ride's growing effect on Oscar, the "Toronto Ultimatum" and some films that he thinks might end up in Telluride's venues on Labor Day weekend.

It's here:
http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/on-tellurides-newfound-place-in-the-season-and-a-modest-glimpse-ahead

Tapley writes in the article, "I can only imagine that a year after the fest's 40th anniversary drove record sales and attendance, it will be even more on fire after its impact, perceived or otherwise, on this season. I also imagine a number of studios and filmmakers will be desperate for a big reveal on that stage."

Among the films that he suggests might be Telluride possible: The latest Noah Baumbach/Greta Gerwig collaboration, "Foxcatcher", "Birdman" and "Mr. Turner".  All of which you will have seen on posts already centered on TFF #41 possibilities in this space.

There is another film mentioned, but I hesitate to list it here.  Let's just say tat the title has the word "Vice" in it.

Check the whole post.

TICKETS FOR SALE


I got this email on Monday:

Dear Michael:

Join us for the 41st Telluride Film Festival this Labor Day Weekend Friday, August 29 through Monday, September 1st, 2014.

Our online Box Office opens Friday, March 7th, 2014 at 9AM PST. You will need a headshot for your pass at the time of purchase, but uploading photos is easier than ever with our redesigned order form. Take the time now to scan that special shot, or better yet take a selfie with your camera phone. Any picture that is a close-up of your face will do.

If online forms give you heart palpitations, use our downloadable form to complete your order. Available on our website, simply download the form, fill it out by hand and then mail your check and order form to Festival Headquarters. We'll still need those gorgeous photos.

If you have any questions on the best way to order your pass, or other general inquiries regarding the Festival, give us a call at 510.665.9494.

We are deeply grateful for your generosity and continuous support. Thank you, and see you at the SHOW!

So, it's on again for another year as tickets will go on sale tomorrow.  You might want to strike early as Tapley says in the article linked above, with the success of TFF #40, you can expect #41 to be a hot ticket.


YEARBOOK PHOTOS

In an occurrence of nearly cosmic significance, I received my TFF #40 Yearbook Monday, the day after the Oscars.  Cool huh?

As always, it sparked a million memories of the five day dream that was last years festival...and, for the first time, yours truly makes it into a picture in the yearbook...barely.

You might remember me posting this shot not too long ago.  It is primarily of novelists and past Telluride guest directors Michael Ondaatje and Salman Rushdie.  I'm the guy in blue standing in the background.

It's in the yearbook.  On a page with Don Delillo and Geoff Dyer.  It's a literary page.