Some Shuffling at the Top/The Coens, Clooney and...Brolin/Beatty's Hughes Project Making Progress

Good Wednesday to Everyone...

SOME SHUFFLING AT THE TOP

I reported here yesterday that Anne Thompson (Thompson on Hollywood) had dropped a line or two in a story she ran about the Telluride/Toronto "rivalry" for films that indicated that TFF co-director Gary Meyer will have a new/different role with the fest beginning this year.  I reached out to TFF VP for P.R. Shannon Goodwin Mitchell who responded with this statement:

"Gary Meyer remains working with Telluride Film Festival as a consultant. In order to serve the changing needs of the festival and to pursue his own projects, Gary, under his new title of Senior Curator, will continue contributing on programming, scheduling and creating the Program Guide."


My thanks to Mitchell for her quick response to my query.



THE COENS, CLOONEY AND...BROLIN

Brolin and Clooney via Screencrush.com

We've reported here previously that the Coen Brothers' next project is "Hail Caesar".  We had also previously reported that George Clooney was onboard.  News broke yesterday that Josh Brolin has been added to the cast.  the film is expected to be ready for a late 2015 release.  Is it a Telluride 2015 possible?  Probably not.  But, then again, I originally thought that "Inside Llewyn Davis" was unlikely last year so...never say never.  Here's a plethora of coverage of the Brolin announcement (and the news that Universal has the film):

HitFix:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/george-clooney-and-josh-brolin-reuniting-with-coens-for-hail-caesar-at-universal

The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/josh-brolin-joins-george-clooney-in-coen-brothers-hail-casesar-20140609

Variety:

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/josh-brolin-to-co-star-with-george-clooney-in-coen-brothers-hail-caesar-1201216912/

Thompson on Hollywood:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/coen-brothers-hail-caesar-george-clooney-josh-brolin-universal-pictures#

Screencrush:

http://screencrush.com/george-clooney-josh-brolin-joel-ethan-coen-hail-caesar/


BEATTY'S HUGHES PROJECT MAKING PROGRESS

Warren Beatty and Annette Bening via Thompson on Hollywood

Thompson on Hollywood reports that Warren Beatty has wrapped principal photography on his untitled and very secretive Howard Hughes project.  The TOH post speculates that a Cannes 2015 screening is a possibility.  Here's the post, which does have some useful detail/information:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/warren-beatty-wraps-filming-on-untitled-howard-hughes-project

More on Thursday...

Follow/Like Michael's Telluride Film Blog on Facebook and Twitter (@Gort2)

Nebraska Blast/Labor Day Pie/Latest Feinberg/Jane Saga Continues/Chiwetel on Record/The Music of Llewyn Davis

God Thursday to Everyone...

NEBRASKA BLAST

A week away from limited release, Nebraska continues to draw a good deal of media attention.  Bruce Dern is definitely a part of the Best Actor Oscar conversation as is the film, actress June Squibb and Bob Nelson's screenplay.

Dern talked to Anne Thompson about the film:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/bruce-dern-tells-hollywood-tales-on-the-nebraska-promo-trail

The Playlist posted a ton of new stills from the film:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/alexander-paynes-nebraska-unloads-a-state-full-of-new-photos-bruce-dern-will-forte-bob-odenkirk-20131103

And distributor Paramount announced that it would play in some cities on a double bill with the Peter Bogdanovich classic "Paper Moon":
http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/paramount-plays-up-nebraskas-old-fashioned-charms-with-paper-moon-double-bill

LABOR DAY PIE

The Wrap reported this week that actor Josh Brolin really embraced the pie making that is a central plot point for Jason Reitman's "Labor Day".  That's here:
http://www.thewrap.com/josh-brolin-labor-day-pie-scene-sexiest-movie-ghost

LATEST FEINBERG FORECAST AND GURUS OF GOLD

Feinberg:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/feinberg-forecast-field-is-set-652813

Gurus:
http://moviecitynews.com/2013/11/gurus-o-gold-let-the-games-begin-2/


JANE GOT A GUN...THE SAGA CONTINUES

I couldn't let this pass by.  I've been following the twists and travails of the "Jane Got a Gun" shoot for months and there was new one this week.  The film's producers have filed suit against one time director Lynne Ramsay:
http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/jane-got-a-gun-producers-sue-director-lynne-ramsay

CHIWETEL ON RECORD

 
Potential Best Actor nominee and star of Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave" continues to be the focus of much attention as the film continues its slow roll out this week (finally in Oklahoma City and Santa Fe tomorrow).  Both IMDb and Gold Derby posted video of him talking about the film this week:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2027857945/

http://www.goldderby.com/news/5003/oscars-12-years-a-slave-chiwetel-ejiofor-interview-entertainment-news-64297518.html

THE MUSIC OF LLEWYN DAVIS

A couple of interesting developments this week concerning the music from the Coen Brothers "Inside Llewyn Davis".  First, NPR's First Listen has posted the entire soundtrack at their website so that you can stream it...I've been doing that all week.  Here's that link:

http://www.npr.org/2013/11/03/242103173/first-listen-soundtrack-inside-llewyn-davis

And Nonesuch Records, the label for the soundtrack released a vinyl version to sell in indy record stores at the "era" price of $5.98.  This is the complete soundtrack (and I've ordered 6 of them... some for Christmas gifts).  Those of us who were able to attend the Patron's Brunch at Telluride this year had already received a 6 song vinyl EP from the soundtrack as a part of the Patron swag.  The CEO also has the CD version on order as a part of my birthday gifts.  Needless to say, I like this soundtrack a lot.  Rolling Stone has the story of the vinyl LP release:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/inside-llewyn-davis-soundtrack-is-now-available-on-vinyl-20131105



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

12 Years Spot/Llewyn and Oscars and John/The Visible Invisible/Brolin Talks Labor Day/Oscar Matters

Good Monday to All...

12 YEARS SPOT

Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave" has run its first television promo.  It's here:

I'm still of a mind that this film is the best film I'm going to see all year.

LLEWYN AND OSCARS AND JOHN

The Coen Brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis" is not going to be everyone's cup of tea.  It's certainly Coens-y but it sets its own distinct tone and isn't afraid of that.  Its title character isn't warm and fuzzy.  The film is an interesting mix of comedy and drama...mostly comedy, I think, but of a sly, low key sort.  Some have suggested that it's plotless which I think is a little silly.  There's certainly a plot, it's just not big and grand.  It's small and introspective.

All of the above is offered as I get to these posts from this week about the film.  The first is an examination from FirstShowing's Joey Magidson regarding the awards prospects for this difficult-to-pigeonhole film:

http://www.firstshowing.net/2013/where-do-oscar-isaac-inside-llewyn-davis-fit-into-the-oscar-race/

The other post is a look at John Goodman's career in the films of the Coens including his turn in "Llewyn" that I believe has a chance to earn Goodman his first Oscar nomination.  The post is from Greg Cwik for CriticWire/IndieWire:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/criticwire/john-goodman-the-coen-brothers-common-man


THE VISIBLE INVISIBLE

Ralph Fiennes' "The Invisible Woman" has a trailer out this past week.  Here it is:

I've also linked a number of posts from around the web tied to the release of this trailer:

http://www.firstshowing.net/2013/watch-felicity-jones-in-ralph-fiennes-the-invisible-woman-trailer/

http://movies.yahoo.com/video/invisible-woman-trailer-211016775.html

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-charles-dickens-has-a-secret-in-trailer-for-ralph-fiennes-the-invisible-woman-20131004

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/watch-first-trailer-ralph-fiennes-invisible-woman/


BROLIN TALKS "LABOR DAY"

Recently HitFix's Greg Ellwood sat down with "Labor Day" star Josh Brolin to talk about the Jason Reitman film.  Here's a link to that interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSRZiUK_M4A&feature=youtu.be&a


OSCAR MATTERS

Scott Feinberg has updated his Feinberg Forecast for The Hollywood Reporter.  His "scorecard" for Telluride films looks like this at the moment:

Best Picture:
Frontrunners: "12 Years", "Gravity", "All is Lost".
Major Threats: "Inside Llewyn Davis" and "Nebraska".
Possibilities: "Blue is the Warmest Color" and "Prisoners".
Long Shots: "The Past" and "Labor Day"

Director:
Frontrunners: McQueen/12 Years and Cuaron/Gravity.
Major Threats: Chandor/Lost, Coens/Llewyn and Payne/Nebraska
Possibilities: Villenueve/Prisoners, Kechiche/Blue
Long Shots: Farhadi/Past, Reitman/Labor

Actress:
Frontrunners: Bullock/Gravity
Major Threats: Exarchopoulos/Blue, Winslet/Labor, Bejo/Past
Possibilities: Gerwig/Frances Ha (TFF #39)

Actor:
Frontrunners: Redford/Lost, Ejiofor/12 Years
Major Threats: Dern/Nebraska, Issac/Llewyn
Possibilities: Jackman/Prisoners
Long Shots: Fiennes/Invisible

Supporting Actress:
Frontrunners: Nyong'o/12 Years
Major Threats: Leo/Prisoners, Squibb/Nebraska, Seydoux/Blue
Possibilities: Mulligan/Llewyn, Jones/Invisible
Long Shots: Paulson/12 Years

Supporting Actor:
Frontrunners: Fassbender/12 Years
Major Threats: Gyllenhaal/Prisoners
Possibilities: Clooney/Gravity, Brolin/Labor

Adapted Screenplay:
Frontrunners: 12 Years
Possibilites: Labor Day
Long Shots: The Invisible Woman

Original Screenplay:
Frontrunners: Inside Llewyn Davis
Major Threats: Gravity, All is Lost, Nebraska
Possibilities: Prisoners
Long Shots: Bethlehem, The Past, Frances Ha (TFF #39)

Animated Feature:
Frontrunners: The Wind Rises

Documentary:
Frontrunners: Tim's Vermeer, Stories We Tell (TFF #39)
Major Threats: The Unknown Known, Jodorowsky's Dune, The Act of Killing (TFF #39)
Long Shots: Salinger

For those keeping track, Feinberg has Telluride films  listed as Frontrunners in these "Big 8" categories 15 times, "Major Threats" 20 times, "Possibilities" 12 times and "Long Shots" 11 times.

Here's the latest Scott Feinberg Forecast from The Hollywood Reporter:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/feinberg-forecast-updated-projections-21-639287

In other "Oscar Matters", Jeff Wells at Hollywood Elksewhere references David Thomson's look at Robert Redford and J.C. Chandor's "All is Lost" and suggests that the Best Actor race is all but over.  I'm not so sure that's the case.  Take a look here:

http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2013/10/redford-vs-chewy/


 More on Thursday...

Telluride Day One/Friday's TBA and Sneaks

Telluride 2013 Day One:

Busy day today occasionally interrupted by waiting.

The day got off to an amazing start at the annual Patron’s Brunch.  The Brunch affords Patrons and Sponsors pass as well as the Fest organizers and a number of the filmmakers a chance to meet and schmooze before any of the actual films have been screened.  The food is fantastic and it’s always fun seeing who shows up.  This year’s version did not disappoint.  Highlighting the morning (for me) was the appearance of Francis Ford Coppola, reportedly here to introduce his granddaughter Gia’s film “Palo Alto” during the weekend.  I actually got to shake the great man’s hand and thank him for the films he’s given us.  I’m sure that for him it is a common refrain, but for me it was a very nearly transcendent moment.  He was kind enough to stop a moment for a stranger.

Another incredible moment had actually occurred earlier in the morning.  Robert Redford had arrived and the grounds of Gray Head (the name of the facility where the brunch is held) was alive with electricity.  A few minutes later, Coppola appeared.  Redford broke away from the crowd that had engulfed him to greet him.  One legend greeting another, it was an incredible sight.  Fortunately caught on camera by my wife Kristy:

I also briefly met Bruce Dern this morning.  He was also very kind and funny.  He’s here starring in Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska”.  I’m planning to see that first thing in the morning.  More about my planned schedule for tomorrow a bit later.

Then a long wait for a bus made me almost late for the first screening of the day, the Patron’s screening of Jason Reitman’s “Labor Day” starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin.    The story of a chance meeting between a single mom, her son and an escaping convict seems to have been generally well received in early reviews.  My take: structural issues early in the film are a tough balancing act.  I have some issues of credibility in terms of the rapid development of the relationship between the two lead characters and that credibility is crucial to the second half of the film.  That said, the second half plays beautifully.  Winslet is good and Brolin is outstanding.  Child actor Gattlin Griffith is also very good as Winslet’s son.

Following the “Labor Day” screening we scurried over the mountain to my annual meet up with followers of my blog.

Then a quick dinner at the Opening Night Feed.  There the Mrs. Met and got a photo of the one and only Penn Jillette, here with the documentary “Tim’s Vermeer”.

We concluded the night with a screening of “Inside Llewyn Davis” with a Q & A after with Joel and Ethan Coen, T-Bone Burnett and Oscar Issac.  The film follows a week in the life of fictional folk singer, the Llewyn Davis of the title-played by Issac.  He’s terrific.  John Goodman and F. Murray Abraham are great. The music is terrific.  I loved the film quite a lot.  I think it speaks to anyone who has had any artistic aspirations and who hasn’t seen them fulfilled whether from lack of talent, lack of opportunity or the vagaries of life.

Day One was incredible.

On Day Two I’m currently planning the Robert Redford Tribute, , “Tim’s Vermeer”, “All is Lost”, The Coens tribute and “The Past” if I have enough energy.  Of course, that all could change with the announcement of the Friday TBAs. Seven slots to fill tomorrow afternoon and evening.

FRIDAY'S TBA'S AND SNEAKS

• 4pm Masons GLORIA (33)

• 6pm Herzog Sneak: PRISONERS

• 6:30pm Masons BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID

• 7:30pm Galaxy Sneak: 12 YEARS A SLAVE

• 9pm Nugget PARTICLE FEVER (I)

• 10pm Pierre STARRED UP (32)

• 10:30pm Galaxy LUNCHBOX (25)

Sneak Preview: Prisoners

A father (Hugh Jackman) goes ballistic trying to punish the suspected abductor (Paul Dano) of his daughter and another girl, while running afoul of the diligent cop (Jake Gyllenhaal) working the case. Sounds like countless hours of TV procedural-cop dramas? Nope. Director Denis Villeneuve (INCENDIES, TFF 2010), working from Aron Guzikowski’s fiendishly inventive script, reaches Dostoyevskian depths, creating a terrifying, morally ambiguous universe where ordinary human decency faces the harshest of tests. The superb supporting cast includes Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, and Melissa Leo. It may surprise you that Hollywood genre moves can still be this good. (U.S., 2013, 107m) In person: Denis Villeneuve

• Sneak Preview: 12 Years a Slave

In 1840s New York State, Solomon Northrup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), an impeccable middle-class attorney with a happy family and superb skills as a violinist, is an African American free from birth who has never spent a moment of his life confronting the horrors of black experience down South. Pursuing a business opportunity in Washington, DC, he is kidnapped and enslaved, and descends into a harrowing nightmare of moral corruption and irrational violence. Director Steve McQueen (HUNGER, SHAME) and screenwriter John Ridley shape Northrup’s memoir into a vivid, compelling historical fresco, with superb performances from Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, in his third collaboration withMcQueen, Lupita Nyong'o, Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti and Brad Pitt. (USA, 2013, 133m) In person: Steve McQueen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o

More tomorrow…

The Unified Clooney Theory/Weightless in Telluride/More from Hollywood Elsewhere/Coens and Television

Good Tuesday to All...

THE UNIFIED CLOONEY THEORY

If you've been reading this blog for the past couple of years, you've almost certainly seen my "Oceans 11" theory the past two summers.  You know, that moment each summer when I go crazy and suggest an incredible string of unlikely scenarios that involve that cast of the Clooney/Pitt/Damon "Oceans" films.

Well, here I go again...only this year...even worse.

Start with Clooney himself...was tributed 2 years ago.   Reportedly really enjoyed his own festival experience.  He's on record saying he'd like to come back.  Reportedly nudged Ben Affleck toward Telluride for "Argo"(on which Clooney was a producer) last year.  That seemed to work out pretty well for all involved.

What's he got that could play?  Scratch "The Monuments Men" which was reported last week  to be unready for Venice.  He is a producer on "August: Osage County".  It has The Weinstein Company as its distributor.  I wouldn't have thought it a likely Telluride choice but I was a little surprised that it appeared on the Toronto playlist last week...so not impossible.  Clooney also appears in Alfonso Curaon's "Gravity" which, likewise, I normally wouldn't regard as a possibility but Kris Tapley at HitFix/InContention suggested that it could happen last week (he reported that Warner's team for it and Denis Villenueve's "Prisoners" will be on the ground in Telluride...ALSO SEE THE "WEIGHTLESSNESS" STORY BELOW).  So, you won't be surprised that I conclude that Clooney could be in town with a flick or two.

How about Mr. Pitt?  Seems like every year on about Tuesday of the week of the Festival there's a "Brad Pitt" sighting in Telluride.  I haven't seen him yet...but that's not to say it couldn't happen.

Pitt is all over Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave".  He's in the film.  He's a producer on the film (as is T-ride-frequenter Bill Pohlad).  Further, my "12 Year" vibe has gotten stronger over the last couple of weeks. I just think it's going to play.  It's lack of inclusion for Venice (barring some late announcement) and its inclusion for Toronto make me feel like it has a very good chance to play The SHOW.

Pitt also is in Ridley Scott's "The Counselor" which I would love to see make Telluride's list but which also hasn't had many mentions in regard to a Telluride slot.

So Pitt has a couple of projects in the "possible" bag.

And Mr. Damon?

He's in "Elysium" out this weekend.  He's in "The Monuments Men"...see above...but hold on...he also appears in Terry Gilliam's "The Zero Theorem".  Gilliam's been to T-ride before.  Damon co-stars with Clooney's co-tributee from 2011...Tilda Swinton.  The cast is led by double Oscar winner Christoph Waltz. So, again, improbable but not impossible.

As sort of a subsidiary to the "Oceans 3" Ben Affleck appears in "Runner Runner"...so...you know...maybe.

And then there are the other webs that spring from all of this.

Like The Coen Brothers...

As you know, I've been thinking that "Inside Llewyn Davis" might be happening for a few weeks now.  It actually has made its way onto the "Ten Bets" list.  I think the Coens might be one of the Tributes this year.

And they do have a place in the "United Clooney Theory".  Clooney has appeared for them in "O Brother Where Art Thou?", "Intolerable Cruelty" and "Burn After Reading".  Also don't forget that Pitt was the lead in "Burn After Reading" and that Damon was in "True Grit" for them.

Then there's the Alexander Payne part of the "UCT"...Payne and Clooney working together on "The Descendants".  Payne is very likely to be in Tellruride with "Nebraska"

And finally, let's not forget Jason Reitman who cast Clooney in his 2009 Oscar nominee "Up in the Air" and whom I'm betting will return to Telluride this year with "Labor Day" starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin (also a Coens favorite of late with "No Country for Old Men" and "True Grit").

So, how much of any of this happens?

The most likely story is that "Llewyn", "12 Years" and "Labor Day" play.  "Osage County", "Zero Theorem", "Gravity", "Runner" while all possible, seem unlikely and Clooney, Pitt, Damon, Affleck and Brolin are not in town.  But, you never know...

WEIGHTLESSNESS IN TELLURIDE?

Jeff Wells and Sasha Stone sat down and re-opened their Oscar Poker collaboration on Sunday which included some talk of Telluride.  The big news is that they all but claim Alfonso Curaon's "Gravity" starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney (see above) will play the Telluride Festival.  Both seem a bit coy about it but they don't leave much doubt that they think it will play.

Both are also high on "All is Lost".  Wells says he's "heard" "Inside Llewyn Davis" is on its way and that a Coens Tribute is possible. They also toss around "An Invisible Woman" as a probable choice for T-ride.
Meanwhile, Wells says he thinks "Blue is the Warmest Color" is likely but Stone disagrees.

Stone says "Labor Day" is sure and they both agree "Nebraska" is likely.

You can find the entire podcast here:
http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/images/column/newyork2013/stone2.mp3

MORE FROM HOLLYWOOD ELSEWHERE

Yesterday I posted a link from Jeff Wells' Hollywood Elsewhere that declaimed the likelihood of "Inside Llewyn Davis", "All is Lost" and "Nebraska" as part of this year's Telluride lineup.  Today add to the pile: Ralph Fiennes "An Invisible Woman".  This adds credence to our posting for some time now that the film is a choice for T-ride going back to an English online newspaper account quoting Felicity Jones.

The Wells piece is here:
http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2013/08/an-appearance-of-propriety/



COENS AND TELEVISION?

As we get closer to this year's festival and the very real possibility that The Coen Brothers "Inside Llewyn Davis" as a part of the program I am very attuned to all things Coen so it was easy to notice this news: Word early this week that the Coen Brothers world will come to television, FX specifically, with a program based on "Fargo".  Coen Brothers semi-regular Billy Bob Thornton is reportedly set to star (and is said to be playing the Steve Buscemi role).  Take a look at the story as reported from The Wrap and The Playlist:

https://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/tca-billy-bob-thornton-signs-fxs-fargo-107986

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/billy-bob-thornton-reteams-with-coens-to-star-in-fargo-tv-series-20130802


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

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2.

More on Wednesday.

Cosmo No/Anna Pix/Coming Attractions

Good Friday!


COSMO NO

David Cronenberg's Cannes competition piece "Cosmopolis" is off the table as a Telluride possibility.  It was announced yesterday that the film will have an August 17 release here in the U.S. thus insuring a no show for T-ride.

"Cosmopolis" received mixed reviews at Cannes.

I had always thought that its Telluride prospects were dicey at best.  Then  with the critical reaction from Cannes being what it was, I was even less convinced that we'd see it in the mountains.

You have to wonder if there was a lack of interest  from the fall festivals (T-ride, Venice and New York particularly...it is scheduled to open in Canada today, which would also preclude a Toronto run) and if that might not have been a part of the decision process.

Additionally, Aug. 17 doesn't exactly scream awards positioning.

Here's the story from both Hollywood Elsewhere:
http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2012/06/cosmopolis_will.php

and The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/david-cronenbergs-cosmopolis-starring-robert-pattinson-hits-u-s-theaters-on-august-17th-20120607


ANNA KARENINA

Joe Wright's "Anna Karenina" had some stills up yesterday on the Playlist and Awards Daily this morning.  "Anna" doesn't have a large Telluride profile, but it's not completely outside the realm of possibility.

It's Nov. 9 scheduled release date means some awards positioning is occurring and production/distribution outfits Focus Features,  Studio Canal and Working Title have had some, albeit slight, presences at Telluride in the last 5-6 years with "Brokeback Mountain", "Babel", "Into the Wild" and "Catch a Fire".

So put "Anna" down as a bout a 10% chance.

Here's the link to The Playlist story:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/new-pics-of-keira-knightley-aaron-johnson-jude-law-in-joe-wrights-anna-karenina-20120607

and Awards Daily:
http://www.awardsdaily.com/2012/06/new-pics-from-joe-wrights-anna-karenina/


COMING ATTRACTIONS

Periodically, as this summer unfolds, I'm going to try to highlight a future film that may be in Telluride's sights for 2013 or beyond and provide some links to stories that have already appeared about them.

Starting with Jason Reitman's "Labor Day".  It stars Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet and is expected to be a 2013 release.  You have to think it will also be an awards stalker next year.

Also, since Reitman skipped Telluride this past year with "Young Adult", I'd be willing to bet serious money he returns to Colorado if it's at all possible with this new film.  Reitman has been very successful with previous Telluride bows for "Juno" and "Up in the Air".  And, come on, the film is titled "Labor Day".  How can it NOT play Labor Day weekend in Telluride?

On a purely personal level, I'd like to see him return to Telluride because I've had a couple of very nice, although short, conversations with him including a moment in 2007 when he introduces me to Diablo Cody.

Come back, Jason! And bring Josh and Kate with you!


Labor Day's IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1967545/

And stories from:

Just Jared:
http://www.justjared.com/2012/06/06/kate-winslet-labor-day-in-boston/

The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/exclusive-jason-reitman-talks-casting-labor-day-and-developing-projects-hopes-to-do-make-dark-ninja-film-bonzai-shadowhands-one-day

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/jason-reitman-confirms-labor-day-as-his-next-film


Thompson on Hollywood:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/paramount_produces_jason_reitmans_labor_day_with_kate_winslet_and_josh_brol

Deadline.com:
http://www.deadline.com/2011/09/paramount-takes-on-jason-reitmans-labor-day/


More later...

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2

Dangerous Method/More Reitman News/Tree of LOOOOOONG Life/Another Coen's Musical

Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin...The Cast of "Labor Day"? 

Maybe I spoke too soon...

"A DANGEROUS METHOD" RECONSIDERED

Earlier this week, I all but wrote off the chances that we'd see David Cronenberg's study of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung starring Viggo Mortensen and Michael Fassbender as a part of the program at Telluride this year.  My thinking: Cronenberg's film is in place for a Venice unveiling and, acknowledging Cronenberg's Canadian roots, I expect that the film will be front and center at Toronto.  That, I assumed would probably be enough as far as the fall fests are concerned. 
Until yesterday, that is...
Multiple sources reported a Sony Pictures Classics release saying that the specialty film house has nabbed the U.S. rights for the film.  I have included the link to the Kris Tapley/Incontention.com version of the story here:
http://incontention.com/2011/06/16/sony-classics-picks-up-cronenbergs-dangerous-method/#more-39932
That, alone, would have made me pause to reconsider my thinking as SPC has had a very good relationship with the Telluride Film Festival.  but there was more...
Tapley tweeted just a little while after posting the story the following:

Kristopher Tapley (@kristapley)
Can't wait to see Dangerous Method at Telluride. Surely it'll play peek-a-boo there (but maybe @guylodge will get a look in Venice first).

Well...
Now, I'm not saying that Tapley already has some inside dope, but...his guess is always going to be better than mine because he's wired in...so...put "A Dangerous Method" back on the list of possibles..
And, parenthetically, I'm really glad too, because this film is high on my list of Oscar contenders to see this year.

JASON REITMAN: BUSY DUDE.

Yesterday we had the story that Jason Reitman was positioning himself to direct "Labor Day" and was in pursuit of Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin to star (with various sources reporting the two stars participation at varying levels of certitude...[Weiner reference]).  A higher level of certitude came from Brad Brevet at Rope of Silicon this morning that Winslet and Brolin are on board, but (like me) less certitude that we'll actually see "Young Adult" at Telluride.  The link to the Brevet article is here:
 http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/winslet-brolin-join-jason-reitmans-labor-day
Now comes this nugget, again from a number of sources, that Reitman is about to become a script doctor.  He's expected to take a stab at working on the script for Steve Carell's "magician" film project tentatively titled "Burt Wonderstone."  I've included the link to the Hollywoodnews.com version of that story here:
http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2011/06/17/jason-reitman-hired-to-polish-steve-carell-comedy/
So sounds like Reitman will be very, very busy in what's left of 2011.

THE TREE OF LIIIIIIIIFFFFFE...
News from The Playlist this morning that Terrence Malick is STILL not done tinkering with "The Tree of Life."  The film, which we were talking about in terms of release and Oscar potential 2 years ago was the Cannes Palme D'Or winner last month and officially went into release on May 27th with the nationwide rollout continuing through June.  The Playlist post this morning says Malick wants to do a 6 hour version of the film.  Check the story at:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/too_much_of_a_good_thing_terrence_malick_preparing_6_hour_cut_of_the_tree/

AND TODAY'S COEN BROTHER'S MUSICAL: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL
Featuring the hit showtunes: "Call It, Friendo!" "The Ultimate Badass," "Agua!" and "Hard to Take Its Measure."