Cannes Announces/"Jobs" is Done/"Suffragette" Teaser

CANNES LINEUPS ANNOUNCED

Here's the complete list of films announced this morning for the Cannes Film Festival via Greg Ellwood at HitFix:

Competition
"Dheepan," (Working Title) Jacques Audiard
"A Simple Man," Stéphane Brize
"Marguerite and Julien," by Valérie Donzelli
"The Tale of Tales," Matteo Garrone
"Carol," Todd Haynes
"The Assassin," Hsiao-Hsien Hou
"Mountains May Depart," Jia Zhang-Ke
"Our Little Sister," Hirokazu Kore-Eda
"Macbeth," Justin Kurzel
"The Lobster," Yorgos Lanthimos
"My King," MaiWenn
"Mia Madre," Nanni Moretti
"Son of Soul," László Nemes
"Youth," Paul Sorrentino
"Louder than Bombs," Joachim Trier
"The Sea of Trees," Gus Van Sant
"Sicario," Denis Villeneuve

Midnight Screenings
"O Piseu (Office)," Hong Won-Chan
"Amy," Asif Kapadia

Special Selections
"Amnesia" Barbet Schroeder
"A Tale of Love and Darkness," Natalie Portman
"Panama," Pavle Vuckovic
"Oka," Souleymane Cisse
"Hayored Lema'Ala," Elad Keidan

Out of Competition
"Irrational Man," Woody Allen
"Asphalte," Samuel Benchetrit
"Mad Max: Fury Road," George Miller
"Inside Out," Pete Doctor and Ronaldo De Carmen
"The Little Prince," Mark Osbourne

Un Certain Regard
"Fly Away Solo," Neeraj Ghaywan
"Rams," Grímur Hakonarson
"Journey to the Shore," Kurosawa Kiyoshi
"I Am A Soldier," Laurent Lariviere
"The High Sun," Dalibor Matanic
"The Other Side," Roberto Minervini
"One Floor Below," Radu Muntean
"The Shamless," Oh Seung-Uk
"The Chosen Ones," David Pablos
"Nahid," Ida Panahandeh
"The Treasure," Corneliu Porumboiu
"The Fourth Direction," Gurvinder Singh
"Madonna," Shin Suwon

Jumping out to me as a Telluride junky are:

From the Palme d'Or competition titles:  "Dheepan", "The Tale of Tales", "Carol", "Macbeth", "The Sea of Trees" and "Sicario".

Also catching my eye is Barbet Schroeder's "Amnesia".

Ellwood says that other titles will likely be added next week including up to an additional two competition titles so stay tuned for that.

Cannes Analysis:

HitFix:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/inside-out-carol-and-macbeth-highlight-the-2015-cannes-film-festival-selections

 Indiewire:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/5-observations-about-the-2015-cannes-film-festival-lineup-20150416


The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/macbeth-todd-haynes-carol-pixars-inside-out-lead-2015-cannes-film-festival-line-up-20150416


'JOBS" IS DONE

On a different note, The Film Stage tweeted news this week that principal phtography has been completed on Danny Boyle's Steve Jobs biopic that stars Michael Fassbender as the APple founder.  The film is set for an October release so the news that it's "wrapped" means that it could have an appearance at Telluride.  Boyle was at T-ride previously with "Slumdog Millionaire" and "127 Hours".  Check the tweet from The Film Stage:

https://twitter.com/TheFilmStage/status/587720599226736640/photo/1



"SUFFRAGETTE" TEASER

This week also saw the appearance of a  teaser for Sarah Gavron's "Suffragette".  The film looks to me like a moderately likely Telluride choice.  Check the teaser below via YouYube:

More on Monday...Have a great weekend everyone...

A Look at Mr. Holmes/Jobs Has a Date/Trailer for Wild Tales/A Plea Like Mine

Good Thursday to Everyone...


Oscar Night is just 16 days away!

A LOOK AT MR. HOLMES

We have our first moving glimpse of Bill Condon's Mr. Holmes starring Sir Ian McKellan as a retired version of the famed detective.  The film also stars Laura Linney.  Best reasons to think it could play Telluride: Linney,  Condon and Roadside Attractions.  Damper: Condon has only played T-ride once.

"Mr. Holmes" Clip via YouTube

Coverage:

The Playlist, Rope of Silicon, HitFix

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-ian-mckellen-is-sherlock-holmes-in-first-clip-for-mr-holmes-20150204


http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/watch-ian-mckellen-talks-kid-new-clip-mr-holmes/


http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/first-look-ian-mckellen-is-an-old-sherlock-in-new-clip-of-mr-homes


JOBS HAS A DATE

Universal announced yesterday that Danny Boyle's Steve Jobs biopic "Jobs" will be released Oct. 19th which means that it could certainly be ready for a screening at Telluride.  It' still a close call but doable.  Best reason to think it will play: Boyle.  Damper: Universal

Coverage:

The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, FirstShowing:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/universals-steve-jobs-movie-gets-770209


http://variety.com/2015/film/news/steve-jobs-movie-release-date-1201423722/


http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/steve-jobs-biopic-is-coming-fast-as-universal-sets-october-release/


TRAILER FOR WILD TALES

"Wild Tales" trailer via YouTube

One of the hits of last year's festival and the highest flying foreign entry per the Telluride Peoples and Professionals polls reported here was Damian Szifron's Oscar nominated "Wild Tales".  NOw comes a trailer cut for the United States which is above.

Coverage from The Dissolve and FirstShowing:

http://thedissolve.com/news/4661-new-trailer-for-oscar-nominee-wild-tales-is-suitab/

http://www.firstshowing.net/2014/indie-trailer-sunday-brilliant-argentinian-anthology-film-wild-tales/

AND A PLEA LIKE MINE

HitFix's Greg Ellwood filed a story this week about potential 2016 Oscar contenders that screened at Sundance.  He points at two possible Best Picture candidates "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" and "Brooklyn"  We take note here as Ellwood makes a plea directly to the programmers at Telluride to make an exception to the "no Sundance/only North American first screenings" policy and sites the appearance of "An Education" in 2009 as I have done from time to time..  Ellwood suggests that "An Education" was an anamoly due to some connection to a tribute, though I can't find that.  TFF #36 tributed Viggo Mortensen, Margarethe von Trotta and Anouk Aimee that year.  Here's Elllwood's Sundance Oscar dispatch:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/did-the-2016-oscars-race-start-at-sundance-again

More on Monday.  Have a great weekend!

Queen of the Desert Clip/Birdman News/Deepwater Horizon Switch/Foxcatcher Script Notes/Jobs Images/Notes on The Imitation Game

Good Monday World...Oscar night is less than three weeks away!


QUEEN OF THE DESERT CLIP


We have our first filmic glimpse of Werner Herzog's Berlin premiering "Queen of the Desert".  For the time being, I have high expectations that it will be on the program at TFF #42:

"Queen of the Desert" clip via YouTube

Additionally, here is The Playlist's story announcing the clip:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-nicole-kidman-is-not-ready-for-romance-in-first-clip-from-werner-herzogs-queen-of-the-desert-20150129


BIRDMAN NEWS

"Birdman" trailer via YouTube

A couple of new "Birdman" features popped up this week.  The first, linked below, is a video conversation with Michael Keaton.  The other link is a story that looks at the development of the Times Square scene in the film:

http://www.indiewire.com/awardsspotlight/michael-keaton-dug-deep-to-deliever

http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/30/shooting-birdman-and-drawing-soccer-style-cheers/


DEEPWATER HORIZON SWITCH

J.C. Chandor (and Robert Redford) at TFF #40

It was an unlikely 2015 Telluride choice because of timing, but I could have seen it as a 2016 possibility with J.C. Chandor on board but word came this weekend that "Deepwater Horizon", the film about the BP Gulf of Mexico Oil Drilling Platform disaster will not have Chandor in the director' s chair.  Rather, Peter Berg has bee brought in as Chandor has departed. That switch will move "Deepwater" way, way down on my "Telluride" lookout list for 2016.  The Playlist and Hollywood Elsewhere are linked here with coverage of Chandor's departure:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/directors-peter-berg-in-jc-chandor-out-for-deepwater-horizon-james-fraco-to-helm-in-dubious-battle-and-more-20150130

http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2015/01/deeper-chandors-departure/


FOXCATCHER SCRIPT NOTES

"Foxcatcher" trailer via YouTube

Oscar nominated screenwriters for "Foxcatcher" Dan Futterman and E. Max Frye talked to Variety about the development of the script about the murder of an American Olympian by one of the wealthiest men in the country:

http://variety.com/2015/biz/news/poppolitics-parks-rec-makes-final-trek-to-d-c-foxcatcher-and-the-truth-of-john-du-pont-listen-1201420314/

JOBS IMAGES

Danny Boyle, Seth Rogen and Michael Fassbender working at "Jobs"

Danny Boyle has started shooting "Jobs" with Michael Fassbender and Seth Rogen working from and Aaron Sorkin script and the first images of the film have surfaced.  I've re-posted a couple here:


Yahoo Movies has a bit of a story and some images here:

https://www.yahoo.com/movies/michael-fassbender-steve-jobs-first-look-109606458777.html


NOTES ON THE IMITATION GAME

'The Imitation Game" trailer via YouTube

Screenwriter Graham Moore and author were awarded the USC Scripter Award over the weekend.  The award is given to the Best Adapted Screenplay of the year to both the screenwriter as well as the author)s) of the original source material that has been adapted.  the award is often a harbinger of which film will go on to win the same award on Oscar night.  HitFix has the story:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/the-imitation-game-wins-the-2015-usc-scripter-award

"Imitation Game: star Benedict Cumberbatch, who created a bit of a stir with his seemingly racist word choice last week, has called for an official pardon for the nearly 50,000 British gay men who were persecuted under the same laws that Alan Turing (Cumberbatch's character in the film).  HitFix has that story here:


http://time.com/3691013/benedict-cumberbatch-gay-pardon/

More on Thursday.  Have a great week everyone!

Coming Attractions: Bring the Payne; New Jobs/Birdman Flies/Foxcatcher Interview/The Homesman: TLJ and the Times

Welcome one and all to the three dimensional production we'll call Monday...

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Periodically, as you know, I like to highlight some news that comes from the film world about films that may have some possibility of ending up as a part of a Telluride Film Festival of the future (or that I just happen to be captivated by).  There was some news toward the end of last week and over the weekend that fit into that category, so, as you might expect, here it is:



BRING THE PAYNE

Alexander Payne

Director/writer Alexander Payne has become an incredibly consistent part of the Telluride Film Fest landscape over the past five years.  He's guest directed, presented "The Descendants" and "Nebraska" and curated films as well so when news broke this week that he's set to put together his next project my ears perked up.

Announced at the end of last week was "Downsizing" expected to star Matt Damon (more about him in a sentence or two).   The film is described as a social satire that features Damon as a man who is shrunk...("Honey, I Shrunk Matt Damon").

I fully expect that Payne (who co-wrote with frequent collaborator Jim Taylor) and Damon's project will shoot in 2015.  My guess would be a shot at Cannes in May 2016 followed by a Telluride #43 presentation.  I'd also expect Damon to show up in the San Juans as Damon pal George Clooney did for "The Descendants" in 2011 and other pal and fellow member of "The Unified Clooney Theory", Ben Affleck with "Argo" in 2012.

Below are links to the announcement story from Variety, The Playlist, The Wrap, Rope of Silicon and Deadline:

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/matt-damon-downsizing-casting-alexander-payne-1201348813/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/matt-damon-to-star-in-alexander-paynes-long-gestating-sci-fi-ish-geopolitical-comedy-downsizing-20141105

http://www.thewrap.com/matt-damon-to-star-in-alexander-paynes-downsizing/

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/alexander-paynes-downsizing-finally-moving-forward-matt-damon/

http://deadline.com/2014/11/matt-damon-alexander-payne-downsizing-1201274509/


NEW JOBS

Danny Boyle

Meanwhile, another Telluride favorite, Danny Boyle, is still trying to land the lead for his Steve Jobs biopic as Christan Bale, who appeared to be set to play the title role has left the project.  The hot story over the weekend was that Michael Fassbender might be Boyle's answer.

Other casting rumors focus on Jessica Chastain and Seth Rogen (as Steve Wozniak).

Boyle presented "Slumdog Millionaire" at Telluride in 2008 and "127 Hours" in 2010.  Fassbender was in Telluride for Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave" in 2013 and was the star of McQueen's other two T-ride presentations: "Hunger" also in 2008 and "Shame" in 2011.

The script is by Oscar winner Aaron Sorkin.

All of that sounds promising for a Telluride slot.  The fly in the ointment is that the film is currently set for domestic distribution from Columbia which has no history to speak of with TFF...

Still, a guy can hope and maybe this is finally the film that gets Jessica Chastain to T-ride.  Please!

Here's some of the hubbub about the Fassbender possibility from Variety and The Playlist:

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/michael-fassbender-in-talks-to-play-steve-jobs-in-biopic-1201346741/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/michael-fassbender-now-eyed-to-play-steve-jobs-in-danny-boyles-jobs-20141104


BIRDMAN FLIES

Michael Keaton and Edward Norton in "Birdman"

Alejandro G. Inarittu's "Birdman" continues to soar and expand to more theaters.  As it does so, Fox Searchlight continues to feed the P.R. machine and sometimes in very, very clever ways.

The first article below from Entertainment Weekly focuses on the play within the film that serves as the vehicle for Riggan Thompson's (Michael Keaton) possible redemption.

The second article takes a look at the trickier involved in the mind-blowing editing and cinematography involved to create the illusion that film looks like a series of incredibly long takes.

The third, and one of my favorite things of the week, from The Playlist, is the story about Fox Searchlight releasing a faux teaser for "Birdman Returns".  Presumably the second film of the "Birdman" trilogy that starred Riggan Thompson.  I've loaded the teaser from YouTube.  Watch it and then read the story.


http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/11/06/birdman-michael-keaton-exclusive/?hootPostID=80028e897d946a70d795d93af35511f1

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/watch-birdman-achieved-seamless-one-shot-look/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-awesome-teaser-trailer-for-birdman-returns-starring-riggan-thomson-20141106


FOXCATCHER INTERVIEW

Bennett Miller's "Foxcatcher" is just a couple of weeks away from release and this week Radio Times Marty Ross Coane talked to him and Dave Schultz's widow Nancy.  That interview is here:

http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/2014/11/03/bennett-millers-new-film-foxcatcher/

THE HOMESMAN: TLJ AND THE TIMES

"The Homesman" trailer via YouTube

Tommy Lee Jones talks to The New York Times about "The Homesman" starring Hilary Swank and Jones who also directed and co-wrote:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/movies/tommy-lee-jones-on-the-homesman.html



More on Thursday...