MPA Ratings Signal Two Films / Bitterbrush Trailer / Trailer for Brother and Sister

MPA RATINGS SIGNAL TWO FILMS

Next Best Pictures' Will Mavity reports that a couple of films on my TFF #49 watch list have been rated indicating that they are complete and thus would likely be available to screen at The SHOW.

Mavity Tweeted  on Tuesday that Sarah Polley's Women Talking had been rated PG-13. Polley's film makes the watch list because of a  past TFF appearance (Stories We Tell-2012) and its reception at TFF. The film topped the People's Telluride ratings that year and was #3 among the Professionals.  It still remains among the top ten all time for the Composite ratings.

The other film that Mavity mentions with an MPA rating that has TFF potential is Stephen Williams Chevalier.  Chevalier has been rated PG-13 and is on the watch list primarily because it is being distributed by Searchlight which has a long tradition of films screening at Telluride including last year's The French Dispatch.

BITTERBRUSH TRAILER

Emilie Mahdavian's documentary, Bitterbrush premiered at TFF #48 last year and though it didn't get enough responses to make the People or Pros ratings from the fest was, anecdotally, seemed to be well received.  I heard nothing but positive comments from the folks who had seen it as I was standing in line.  Iniedwire refers to the doc as a "Telluride breakout".

Now we have a trailer release for the film and a release date of June 17th.

Here's the trailer via YouTube:

Here's the Indiewire story about the trailer drop with added details about the film.

TRAILER FOR BROTHER AND SISTER

another Cannes film that is on the periphery of TFF speculation is Arnaud Desplechin's Brother and Sister.

The film features past TFF Tribute recipient Marion Cotillard.  The Film Stage describes the film as follows:

"Led by Marion Cotillard & Melvil Poupaud, the film follows the siblings as they near the age of 50. Cotillard plays Alice, an actress, while Poupaud is Louis, a teacher and a poet. After being estranged for many years, the death of their parents brings them closer together."

Here's the trailer form YouTube:

That's a wrap for today.

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Hidden Figures Unhidden / Pitt and Cotillard are Allied / Venice and Toronto Meditations / The People's Telluride Returns / It's Easier to Follow MTFB

Good Monday everyone.  Hope you had an excellent weekend.


HIDDEN FIGURES UNHIDDEN

It's a late entry in the end of the year film sweepstakes and not really a highly likely Telluride candidate but you never know.  Theodore Melfi's Hidden Figures (from Fox 2000) debuted a trailer during Olympic coverage last night and then any number of press outlets offered it as well.  The film tells the true story of African American employees of NASA and their contributions to America's successful entry into the space race.

Here's the trailer from YouTube:

Hidden Figures stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Keven Costner.  It's set for release (at least for the time being) on Jan. 13, 2017.  However, the film has been reportedly test screening.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hidden-figures-trailer-taraji-p-919428

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2016/08/14/hidden-figures-movie-sneak-peek/88568332/

http://www.awardscircuit.com/2016/08/14/watch-first-trailer-hidden-figures-debuted-olympics/

http://theplaylist.net/taraji-p-henson-octavia-spencer-calculate-history-first-trailer-nasa-drama-hidden-figures-20160814/

http://awardswatch.com/news/the-hidden-figures-trailer-and-new-pics-of-taraji-p-henson-octavia-spencer-janelle-monae/


PITT AND COTILLARD ARE ALLIED

We saw the release of trailers over the weekend for a couple of films that could well be Oscar contenders and are also not terribly likely films to end up in the Telluride #43 schedule.

Allied is directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Marion Cotillard and Brad Pitt in a WWII set romance/thriller.  Cotillard and Pitt have both attended a Telluride Film Fest and the film is from Paramount, which we're pretty sure is going to have Arrival on the T-ride schedule...so...you know...maybe.

Here's the trailer from YouTube:

Allied is set to open on Nov. 23.

Coverage of Allied and the trailer's release:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/allied-teaser-trailer-brad-pitt-919133

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/allied-trailer-brad-pitt-and-marion-cotillard-test-each-other-in-alluring-spy-thriller-1201716188/

http://www.awardsdaily.com/2016/08/12/first-look-at-allied-brad-pitt-and-marion-cotillard/

https://thefilmstage.com/trailer/brad-pitt-and-marion-cotillard-find-love-in-war-in-first-trailer-for-robert-zemeckis-allied/

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/08/12/allied-trailer-brad-pitt-marion-cotillard

http://theplaylist.net/brad-pitt-marion-cotillard-face-love-war-first-trailer-allied-20160812/



VENICE/TORONTO MEDITATIONS

The Venice Film Fest have unleashed the screening schedule and that, perhaps, it gives us some clues, questions and validations.

The first concern is whether films that the TIFF announcement's have hinted are probable Telluride films that are also playing in Venice have been scheduled in a manner that would allow their play in both fests.

Those films:

Arrival
La La Land
Frantz.

We already knew that La La Land would open Venice on Aug. 31 which fits with a Telluride play easily.  We now know that Arrival is set for its first screening on Sept. 1.  That works as well.  Of some concern is the Sept. 3 screening date for Frncois Ozon's Frantz.  That's dicey for The Ride.  All of those Venice competition films are slated as world Premieres which, if true, would suggest that Frantz would be on a tight schedule to get set-up for a 9/4 play at T-ride.  We think it's headed to Telluride due to its TIFF designation as a Canadian Premiere.  So...maybe it navigates the tight window, plays T-ride first (thus negating its Venice "world" premiere status) or that it doesn't really play at Telluride.

A couple of additional notes:  Wim Wenders The Beautiful Days of Aranjuez is scheduled for a Sept.1 screening  making it a very real possibility to fly to T-ride after that.  Also, jazz documentary I Called Him Morgan looks like it could make a play at Telluride as it is also scheduled for a Sept. 1 screening.  Three other Venice documentaries could still be in the Telluride conversation are: Chasing Trane, Beauties of the Night and American Anarchist.

THE PEOPLE'S TELLURIDE RETURNS FOR 2016

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

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

IT'S EASIER TO FOLLOW MTFB NOW

I've added a "FOLLOW" button to the blog page.  You'll see it in the upper right hand area of the page. Just click on it and you can make it much easier to keep up with what's going on here.

Contact MTFB at:

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Toronto Announces Canadian Based Titles / New York Will Close with The Lost City of Z / First Look at Allied

Good Thursday Everyone...

In the last 24 hours we've learned more about what won't be at Telluride...


TORONTO ANNOUNCES CANADIAN BASED TITLES

The Toronto International Film Festival announced its second wave of films for a variety of parts of their program yesterday.  As they have done traditionally, this second wave focused on Canadian films that would be playing across the spectrum of TIFF's sections.  From those announcements we can conclude that Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World will NOT play Telluride as TIFF lists it as a North American premiere.

I had thought its chances diminished in the wake of withering critical response at Cannes BUT the film did win the Grand Prize from the Jury as well as the Ecumenical Jury prize which stunned me and others but was enough for me to keep it mind for TFF #43.  Another factor that kept me from completely dismissing its Telluride chances were the fact that Dolan, despite his Canadian pedigree played Telluride two years ago to wide acclaim with his Mommy.

Seems like we have our answer now.

One other film was announced as a Canadian Premiere which is often an indication that a T-ride berth is in the works.  The film is Jean of the Joneses.  Some digging reveals that the film has previously played at South by Southwest, as well as the L.A. and Nantucket Film Fests...so the Canadian designation almost certainly is reflective of that rather than an indication that it might play in the San Juans.

Here's coverage from yesterday's Toronto additions:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-film-festival-unveils-canadian-916812

http://www.thewrap.com/toronto-film-festival-adds-canadian-dramas-about-rape-politics-journalism/

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/tiff-2016-its-only-the-end-of-the-world-mean-dreams-rising-stars-1201712678/


NEW YORK WILL CLOSE WITH THE LOST CITY OF Z

Along the same lines as the first story in today's blog, the announcement yesterday from the New York Film Festival that its closing night film will be the world premiere of James Gray's The Lost City of Z takes it off the Telluride table.


I have been convinced for the last four years that Gray would be headed to Telluride with a film as he was part of the presentation in 2012 of the tribute to Marion Cotillard.  Despite his appearance as an interviewer at T-ride recently (in 2014 for Apocalypse Now), he just hasn't made the trip.

Admittedly, I thought Z was a long shot to make the playbill this year but I also haven't thought that it was impossible.  Now, if the NYFF premiere status is to be believed, Z is lost to Telluride.

Coverage here:

http://www.filmlinc.org/nyff2016/daily/james-gray-the-lost-city-of-z-nyff-closing-night/

http://variety.com/2016/film/news/the-lost-city-of-z-new-york-film-festival-2016-1201829118/

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/08/03/new-york-film-festival-2016-closing-film-lost-city-z

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/new-york-film-festival-james-gray-the-lost-city-of-z-nyff-1201712674/


FIRST LOOK AT ROBERT ZEMECKIS' ALLIED

We got our first still from Robert Zemeckis' Allied starring Brad Pitt and the above-mentioned Marion Cotillard yesterday via the breaking exclusive from People:

You have to admit, they look pretty.  Allied's T-ride profile is all but non-existent save for the fact that both Pitt and Cotillard have been at the fest (Cotillard, as mentioned above in 2012, Pitt with 12 Years a Slave in 2013) and that Paramount, which is a rare player at Telluride most years, seems to be already planning to be there with Denis Villenueve's Arrival.  Allied has an announced release date of Nov. 23.

So...not likely...but not impossible.  We'll see if the film pops up in any further announcements for Toronto, New York and/or London.

http://www.people.com/article/first-look-brad-pitt-marion-cotillard-in-allied

https://thefilmstage.com/news/first-look-at-robert-zemeckis-allied-starring-marion-cotillard-and-brad-pitt/

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/allied-first-look-brad-pitt-marion-cotillard-robert-zemeckis-wwii-thriller-1201712758/

http://theplaylist.net/first-look-brad-pitt-marion-cotillard-allied-20160803/


That's it for Thursday...more tomorrow...

Contact MTFB at:

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Signs and Suppositions: From the Moon to The Lost City / Kickstart Key Transitions

Good Monday Peeps...

SIGNS AND SUPPOSITIONS: FROM THE MOON TO THE LOST CITY

Two bits of news that could portend films that I've really kept off the TFF #43 radar so far this early spring.  The first is focused on the Nicole Garcia film From the Land of the Moon starring Marion Cotillard.  Word came this week that the film had been acquired for U.S. distribution by Sundance Selects which (along with its partner IFC Films) has had a significant presence at Telluride over the years including such recent films as: 45 Years (last year), Seymour: An Introduction, Two Days One Night (the last Cotillard film that was screened at TFF) and Blue is the Warmest Color.

The acquisition by Sundance Selects is the biggest reason I think that the film could show at The SHOW.  Here's coverage from Variety:

http://variety.com/2016/film/news/marion-cotillard-from-the-land-of-the-moon-sundance-selects-1201741512/

Meanwhile, over the weekend we saw what The Film Stage characterized as a "sales trailer" drop for James Gray's The Lost City of Z.  Although The Lost City doesn't necessarily strike me as a Telluride film...I have been waiting for a James Gray project to show up at Telluride since 2012.

Gray was in Telluride that year and showed a few scenes from The Immigrant as a part of the tribute to Marion Cotillard that year.  I have also reported in the past that Gray has attended TFF's soring party in Los Angeles.

Finally both The Film Stage and The Playlist (stories linked below) suggest a "fall film festival" appearance is likely.  The Playlist speculates Venice.

So...maybe The Lost of City of Z gets found over Labor Day weekend in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado.  Check the story and trailer here:

http://thefilmstage.com/trailer/epic-first-trailer-for-james-grays-lost-city-of-z-starring-robert-pattinson-and-charlie-hunnam/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-trailer-for-james-grays-lost-city-of-z-starring-charlie-hunnam-robert-pattinson-20160403

http://www.thewrap.com/lost-city-of-z-first-trailer-charlie-hunnam-robert-pattinson-amazon-jungle/

http://www.awardsdaily.com/2016/04/03/lost-city-of-z-trailer-with-tom-holland-charlie-hunnam-sienna-miller-robert-pattinson/



KICKSTART KEY TRANSITIONS

Friend of MTFB Christopher Schiller has completed his short film project Key Transitions.  Schiller directed and wrote the film.  I suspect he did any number of other jobs in getting the film to completion.

Schiller has established a Kickstarter account to raise funds to "enhance its festival exposure". That seems like a more than worthy endeavor...so...go here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1115988707/key-transitions-short-film-fest-funds

MTFB heartily endorses Key Transitions.  Drop a dime or two...

Here's the trailer for Key Transitions via YouTube:

That'll be a wrap for Monday's blog post.  Come back for more on Thursday...

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michael_speech@hotmail.com OR

mpgort@gmail.com OR

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First Looks at "Burnt" / New "Hateful" Poster / Added Views from "Macbeth" / Toronto Part Three Later

Good Tuesday everyone

It's all about films from The Weinstein Company today as the TWC machine got working in a big way yesterday apparently.


FIRST LOOKS AT "BURNT"

This film stars Bradley Cooper and was originally titled "Adam Jones".  The film is directed by John Wells ("August, Osage County) and is set for domestic release on Oct. 23.

A number of outlets reported yesterday the film had a new poster (above)  as well as a first teaser via The Today Show.  Find the trailer in the stories linked here:


http://www.today.com/video/first-look-at-bradley-coopers-next-film-burnt-501431875698

http://theplaylistfilm.tumblr.com/post/126358877126/watch-bradley-cooper-in-the-first-brief-teaser-for

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/bradley-cooper-is-burnt-in-first-trailer-and-poster/


Of the three TWC films I'm talking about today, I suspect that this is in the middle spot in terms of Telluride possibility.


ADDED VIEWS FROM "MACBETH"

The film from today's post that probably is the most likely to show at The SHOW is Justin Kurzel's "Macbeth".  The film stars Michael Fassbender as the Scottish King and Marion Cotillard as Lady Macbeth.  I've had this on my Telluride watch list for more than a year and were it not for "Carol" I'd probably think it was a lock to play Telluride.

Fassbender and Cotillard have been receiving some potential awards attention for their performances since the film debuted in Cannes back in May.

Take a look at a couple of new stills from the film from this article from The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/fassbender-tv-spot-for-steve-jobs-with-new-footage-plus-pics-from-macbeth-trespass-against-us-20150807


NEW "HATEFUL" POSTER

We also have a new poster that appeared from Qunetin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight" (above).  The film isn't due until Christmas so the probability of a complete version playing Telluride seems incredibly remote.

Still, I wouldn't be completely surprised if it showed up in some uncompleted form over the Labor Day weekend.  A number of my fellow journo types have suggested the possibility of a Tarantino tribute with clips or an extended scene as a part of that.

That seems a reasonable possibility to me.  Fingers crossed.

Coverage for the poster release is here:

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/10/hateful-8-poster-exclusive

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/new-poster-for-quentin-tarantinos-the-hateful-eight-promises-ultra-panavision-70-picture-20150810


TORONTO PART THREE

The Toronto International Film Festival is set to drop more titles today.  Expected are their non-Canadian films in the Documentary program and their Midnight Madness program.  There have also been some hints that we might see/hear films that will be in their Vanguard program and further galas or special presentations.

I'll publish a special TIFF News post later today if the information we glean warrants.


More later...and for sure tomorrow...


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

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

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Toronto Apology / "Son of Saul" News / "Macbeth" Arrangements / "Everest" Leaves the Discussion

It's Wednesday and...

TORONTO APOLOGY

I got ahead of myself yesterday and thought/assumed that Toronto would be announcing their Canadian selections.  Not so.  My sincere apology.  It appears that those films could be announced today.  We'll see and we'll also see if the Canada based film titles reveal anything at all about Telluride.


"SON OF SAUL" NEWS

Last week's new #1 on my "Ten Bets" list was Lazslo Nemes Cannes sensation "Son of Saul".  The Holocaust set drama took the Croisette by storm and many thought it might well win the Golden Palm (Jacques Audiard's "Dheepan" actually won).

In the past day or two we've seen a couple of big items come out concerning the film that appears to be a lock for Telluirde.  First, Hungary has named the film as its official entrant for Academy Award Best Foreign Language Film consideration.  It may well have been the first film submitted by any nation and will certainly be considered among the front runners if not a prohibitive favorite.

We also learned the film has been dated for release here in the U.S. for Dec. 18th according to a Twitter  post from The Film Stage.

I'm looking forward to this film a great deal.

Here's the AwardsWatch.com post with the news about the film's Oscar submission:

http://awardswatch.com/news/official-submissions-list-for-2016-foreign-language-film-oscar-updating/


"MACBETH" ARRANGEMENTS

"Macbeth" trailer via YouTube

In this strange and evolving world of  new players in the world of feature films: Netflix, Amazon, etc. it seems we're going to see a good deal of trail and error from those players as they try to make the new frontier of film distribution succeed.

Case in point was this news in the last couple of days that Telluride-possible and Cannes competition entry Justin Kurzel's"MacBeth" which is under The Weinstein's Company tent will be getting an exclusive roll out on Amazon relatively quickly after its theatrical premiere.

The film is set to open in America in December.  Further news was that TWC has shifted the distribution to its Radius-TWC arm.

Neither announcement precludes a possible play at Telluride which seems to already have crossed into this new territory if the strongly-held belief that "Beasts of No Nation" will make the 2015 lineup.  "Beasts" is from Netflix and Bleeker Street.

I have linked stories about the "Macbeth" plans here from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/weinstein-co-s-macbeth-gets-exclusive-amazon-deal-1201554808/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michael-fassbender-starrer-macbeth-weinstein-812551



"EVEREST" LEAVES THE DISCUSSION

via YouTube

There had been some glimmer that Baltasar Kormakur's "Everest" might do the same thing that the last two films that opened Venice (as it is set to do).  Both "Gravity" and "Birdman" opened La Biennale and then made the trans-Atlantic hope to Telluride.

As late as July 28th The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg was suggesting the possibility:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/oscars-toronto-lineup-offers-clues-811546

But news yesterday makes that very unlikely.  The Deauville Film Fest has announced that "Everest" will also open their festival on Sept. 4, the same day that Telluride gets under way.  The THR story also reports that "cast and crew" are expected to attend the French fest.

Now, that doesn't make a T-ride play 100% impossible...but very unrealistic.  Here's the THR story on the Deauville selection:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/everest-open-deauville-film-festival-812814


That will do for the time being.  If Toronto adds their Canadian lineup today and if that announcement warrants some Telluride interpretaion, I could well post again later today.  If not, then...till tomorrow, Amigos!




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We'll " See the Light" in November/Kurzel Talks the "Scottish" Film/Malick Moves to 2016

Good Morning World...Welcome to Tuesday...


WE'LL "SEE THE LIGHT" IN NOVEMBER

Sony Pictures Classics has announced that its Hank Williams biopic starring Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen will be released on Nov. 27th smack in the middle of awards season.  The conventional wisdom is that SPC will push for Hiddleston for Best Actor at a minimum.  The film could also make a play in a number of other categories.

"I Saw the Light" was at #5 on last week's first "Ten Bets" list.  The selection of a late November release date doesn't harm its Telluride chances in the least and actually stokes the T-rode flames just a little bit.

Here's coverage of the SPC announcement:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/i-saw-the-light-release-date-tom-hiddleston-1201530904/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/sony-pictures-classics-adds-hank-williams-biopic-i-saw-the-light-starring-tom-hiddleston-to-awards-slate-20150629

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/sony-slates-i-saw-the-light-for-awards-slot-tom-hiddleston-looking-for-first-nom/


"I Saw the Light" was directed by Marc Abraham ("Flash of Genius" TFF 2008).  Here's the film's IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3789828/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_1


KURZEL TALKS THE "SCOTTISH" FILM

"Macbeth" teaser via YouTube

Writer/director Justin Kurzel spoke recently to the British version of Yahoo Television about his upcoming "Macbeth" starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard.  The film is being distributed by The Weinstein Company and played the Cannes Film Festival.  It is not yet scheduled for a U.S. release but is set for an October 2nd  release in the U.K.

"Macbeth" was listed on last week's "Ten Best" as being "on the outside" but close.

Here's the interview:

https://uk.tv.yahoo.com/foul-fair-macbeth-director-194415755.html



MALICK MOVES TO 2016

"Knight of Cup's" trailer via YouTube

Speaking of release dates and their effect on their Telluride potential...

The already tenuous possibility that we could see Terrence Malick's latest "Knight of Cups" took a hit with the announcement over the weekend that the film will not be released until 2016.

The Playlist and Thompson on Hollywood provide the details:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/terrence-malicks-knight-of-cups-wont-arrive-until-2016-austin-music-scene-drama-not-titled-weightless-20150627


http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/meet-the-hammonds-indie-films-new-kids-on-the-block-20150619

That'll do for a Tuesday...check back tomorrow...


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First "Ten Bets" Happens Tomorrow/Oscar Stays the Same/Trailer Park: "Macbeth" and "Valley of Love"

Welcome to Thursday...

REMEMBER THAT THE FIRST "TEN BETS" LIST FOR TELLURIDE 2015 IS COMING TOMORROW!

Now onto to day's post:

OSCAR STAYS THE SAME

The Board of Governor's of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced yesterday that they had decided to stay with the recent, three year old practice of having anywhere between five and ten nominees for Best Picture.  In the three year experiment, AMPAS has nominated nine, nine and then last year, eight films for Best Picture.


I have included details from stories from Variety, Awards Daily and Gold Derby.  They also cover a couple of minor tweaks that The Academy changed in a few other categories.


http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/06/rules-for-88th-oscars-no-changes-to-best-picture/

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/oscar-tweaks-best-picture-visual-effects-rules-1201527228/

http://www.goldderby.com/news/9620/oscars-best-picture-academy-awards-news-entertainment-13579086-story.html


TRAILER PARK: "Macbeth" and "Valley of Love"

A new international trailer for a film that I have written about quite a bit and another that I really haven't mentioned are included here.

Justin Kurzel's Macbeth starring Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender has the new international trailer.  The film is being domestically distributed by The Weinstein Company and has had a good deal of buzz in terms of awards consideration especially for Cotillard's performance as Lady Macbeth.   Here's the new trailer:

"Macbeth" International Trailer via YouTube

Check the accompanying story from flickeringmyth.com:

http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2015/06/international-trailer-for-macbeth-starring-michael-fassbender-and-marion-cotillard.html


Additionally, another Cannes competition film (as "Macbeth" was) that has just dropped a french language trailer with English subtitles.  "Valley of Love" stars Gerard Depardieu and Isabelle Huppert and is directed by Guillaume Nicloux.

The film centers on the story of a estranged couple brought back together by the suicide of their son.

  It currently is without U.S. distribution but certainly Depardieu and Huppert are no strangers to being in films that play at Telluride.

Here is the trailer for "Valley of Love":

"Valley of Love" Trailer via YouTube

And the accompanying story from The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/cannes-first-trailer-for-competition-film-valley-of-love-with-isabelle-huppert-and-gerard-depardieu-20150511

And "Valley of Love's " IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4120210/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1



Come back for more tomorrow...

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Haneke's Plans Change/Future Telluride: "It's Only the End of the World"/"Elser" becomes "13 Minutes" and Drops a Trailer

Hello on a Tuesday in June...



HANEKE'S PLANS CHANGE

In the run up to this year's Cannes Film Fest there was some thought in some quarters that auteur Michael Haneke's secretive "Flashmob" might show up as a part of one of the programs during the fest.  I also had it as an outside shot film to keep an eye out for at Telluride because Haneke has made a home there with frequency.  But the Cannes screening did not happen, of course, and now we know why.

Haneke has abandoned the project and moved on according to a number of reports.  Apparently, things did not come together to his liking and thus, after having postponed the film for some time, Haneke has turned the page and moved on to something new.

Here's the reporting from The Playlist and Rope of Silicon:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/michael-haneke-drops-flashmob-working-on-new-film-set-in-france-20150609


http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/michael-haneke-wont-incite-flashmob-working-something-else/




FUTURE TELLURIDE: "IT'S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD"

Marion Cotillard in the first image from Xavier Dolan's "It's Only the End of the World" via The Playlist

Xavier Dolan joined the ranks of Telluride alumni with the presentation of his film "Mommy" in 2014.  In 2012, Marion Cotillard was feted as a recipient of a TFF tribute which was accompanied by Jacques Audiard's "Rust and Bone".  We found out the last 24 hours that Dolan and Cotillard are teaming for a new film: "It's Only the End of the World" which focuses on a family dealing with a member with a terminal illness.  

The film is expected to be released in 2016 and IMDb lists it as currently filming.  One could reasonably expect that the film might make its way to TFF #43 next year.  

Parenthetically, one also might see both Audiard and Cotillard return to Telluride this year.  Audiard with "Dheepan" and Cotillard with Justin Kurzel's "Macbeth"  (yes please!)

Here's reporting on the Dolan film from The Playlist and Rope of Silicon:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-look-marion-cotillard-in-xavier-dolans-its-only-the-end-of-the-world-20150613


http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/first-picture-of-marion-cotillard-in-xavier-dolans-next-film-plus-tom-at-the-farm-coming-to-u-s-theaters/



"ELSER" BECOMES "13 MINUTES" AND DROPS A TRAILER

UK Trailer for "13 Minutes" (formerly "Elser") via YouTube

One of the films that emerged as a result of the Berlin International Film Festival back in February was Oliver Hirschbiegel's "Elser".  The film was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics and was generally well received critically.

We found out yesterday that the film has changed titles.  It is now called "13 Minutes".

The film is based on a true story about a lesser known attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1939 (as opposed to the more well known attempt immortalized by Tom Cruise in Bryan Singer's 2008 film "Valkyrie".

I may have "13 Minutes" on the very first "Ten Bets" list for 2015 which is coming in about 10 days...

"13 Minutes" reporting is linked here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-trailer-for-downfall-director-oliver-hirschbiegels-hitler-assassination-thriller-13-minutes-20150615

http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/must-watch-first-trailer-for-13-minutes-from-oliver-hirschbiegel/


And its IMDb page is here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1708135/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1



More on Wednesday...

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Much "Macbeth"/More Toronto Analysis/"The Walk" Takes a Walk to New York

Welcome to Friday...



MUCH "MACBETH"

A new trailer dropped yesterday for Justin Kurzel's Cannes competition adaptation of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" starring Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender.  The trailer is quite intriguing and "Macbeth" remains as a real T-ride possibility.   Here's the new look at the film:

New "Macbeth" teaser/trailer via YouTube

And a slew of stories that accompanied the trailer release:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-michael-fassbender-and-marion-cotillard-redefine-macbeth-in-stunning-trailer-20150604

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/watch-first-macbeth-trailer-starring-michael-fassbender-and-marion-cotillard/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-blood-will-have-blood-in-first-trailer-for-macbeth-starring-michael-fassbender-and-marion-cotillard-20150604

http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/must-watch-mesmerizing-teaser-trailer-for-justin-kurzels-macbeth/

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/macbeth-trailer-michael-fassbender-marion-cotillard-video-1201512431/

http://thedissolve.com/news/5872-the-new-macbeth-trailer-is-awesome-in-the-kantian-/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/all-hail-macbeth-justin-kurzels-bold-shakespeare-revision-starring-fassbender-and-cotillard-trailer-20150604

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/review-michael-fassbender-descends-into-a-fog-of-madness-in-macbeth


Meanwhile, recently, The Playlist posted a n article focusing on the ways that director Kurzel has used to provide a different take on the Bard's classic:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/5-innovative-ways-the-michael-fassbender-marion-cotillard-macbeth-differs-from-previous-versions-20150526


MORE TORONTO ANALYSIS

I have linked a number of further posts from film media outlets that seek to outline and analyze the Toronto International Film Fest announcement that came down Wednesday concerning their "adjustment" of their premiere policy and its relationship to Telluride.

Almost everyone is still characterizing it as TIFF "backing down".  If you've read yesterday's MTFB post, you'll know that I think that is a mis-characterization.

I think it's a passive/aggressive "tweak" that attempts to achieve the same thing they were looking for in last year's policy while simultaneously appearing to be regarded as "seeing the light".  My description in a couple of messages to friends yesterday was that Toronto wants "to have their cake and eat it too".

My feeling is that they still want to dissuade film makers from playing Telluride at all...and their "plausible deniability" is the defense that the first four days of TIFF is now accessible to any and all...albeit, you'll be relegated to smaller and less glitzy venues during that opening weekend if you played Telluride first. I don't think it's "backing down" in the least.  It's just a different way to achieve their desired result while appearing to have made the policy seem more "reasonable".

Additionally, a number of reports the last two days say that the TIFF bigwigs had conferred with "key stakeholders".  I would love a list of who/what those "stakeholders" are.

Anyhow...here's some more analysis from around the web about the decision:

http://thedissolve.com/news/5869-tiff-scales-back-its-year-old-policy-against-tellu/

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/06/04/toronto-film-festival-adjusts-telluride-premiere-policy

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2015/06/03/tiff-backs-down-on-film-premiere-demand-industry-journal-says.html

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/awards-and-festivals/tiff/tiff-backs-down-from-its-feud-over-premieres-with-telluride/article24797321/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/tiff-ditches-telluride-screening-policy-20150604


"THE WALK" TAKES A WALK TO NEW YORK

You can take Robert Zemeckis' "The Walk" off your Telluride watch list, if you ever had it there.  Frankly, I never thought it was a likely TFF player anyway.  The film was announced yesterday as the opening night gala for the 53rd New York Film Festival.  That seems about right.

The film stars Joseph Gordon_Levitt as the real life Phillipe Petit who set out in 1974 to walk a wire between the twin towers of The World Trade Center.

The trailer from "The Walk" is here via YouTube:

And from Entertainment Weekly, the story of its choice for NYFF:

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/06/04/walk-trailer-joseph-gordon-levitt-new-york-film-festival


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


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Cannes and the Critics/First Looks": "Dheepan"/Looking for "Jobs"/All I Want is Some "Truth"/"Macbeth" Director on the Record

Good Thursday to All..

Our focus continues to be what is happening in France at the Cannes Film Festival.  As the films unspool, I continue to sift through news reports, press releases, reviews and social media posts scouring for items that could give insight into the eventual TFF #42 lineup.  Here's what I have for today:


CANNES AND THE CRITICS

Here's the links to the latest from the critics collective response to films at the Cannes Film Festival:

http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/cannes/cannes-louder-than-bombs-drops-into-screen-jury-grid/5088411.article

http://cannes-rurban.rhcloud.com/2015

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

Ioncinema's critical roundup is down at post time.

FIRST LOOKS:  "DHEEPAN"

Jacques Audiard's last film was "Rust and Bone" and prior to that "A Prophet" both of which made the T-ride grade so you have to think that if this film is any good that it will also make the grade for 2015.  "Dheepan" also has a leg up in that it is being distributed domestically by Sundance Selects which has been a significant Telluride presence the last few years with films such as : "Two Days, One Night", "Seymour: An Introduction", "Blue is the Warmest Color" and "Goodbye First Love".

Here's the first teaser/trailer for the film:

"Dheepan" teaser via YouTube

Check the coverage here:

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/cannes-first-clip-pictures-from-jacques-audiards-dheepan/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-clip-from-jacques-audiards-cannes-drama-dheepan-has-a-secret-20150519


LOOKING FOR "JOBS"

"Steve Jobs" teaser via YouTube

Also up this week is our first look at a teaser for Danny Boyle's "Steve Jobs" starring Michael Fassbender.  Boyle's participation makes the film something to pay attention to as a Telluride possibility ("Slumdog Millionaire" and "127 Hours").  The fact that it's from Universal probably mitigates its chances.

Here's a couple of stories about the teaser and the film:

http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/05/first-trailer-for-steve-jobs-with-fassy-and-kate-winslet/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-michael-fassbender-takes-the-stage-in-first-trailer-for-steve-jobs-20150517


ALL I WANT IS SOME "TRUTH"

Sony Pictures Classics continues to grab titles during the business part of the Cannes fest.  SPC acquired U.S. rights to the James Vanderbilt film that focuses on the aftermath of Dan Rather's reporting about George W. Bush in the 2004 election.  Rather ended up gone from CBS after reporting that Bush had a questionable record regarding his service in the Alabama Air National Guard during the Vietnam War.

"Truth" stars Robert Redford as Rather and Cate Blanchett, Dennis Quaid and Elizabeth Moss.

The SPC buy moves the film into serious consideration for TFF #42.

Stories:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-sony-pictures-classics-acquiring-796302

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/sony-classics-buys-dan-rather-scandal-movie-starring-robert-redford-and-cate-blanchett-20150519


"MAC BETH" DIRECTOR ON THE RECORD

Justin Kurzel talked to The Hollywood Reporter recently about his adaptation of the Bard's classic that will be closing the competition slate at Cannes later this weekend.  The film stars Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-justin-kurzel-what-makes-796236


More to come on Monday...

Looking at Macbeth/And Speaking of Cotillard/"Youth" and Fox

Good Thursday World!


LOOKING AT "MACBETH"

It's no secret that I have been banging the drum for Justin Kurzel's "Macbeth" to be a part of this year's Telluride lineup.  Its inclusion in the Palme d'Or competition in Cannes next month could be another step in that direction.  If it performs well in terms of critical response and picks up any buzz vis-a-vis awards from the Coen Brothers led jury that would also add to its chances to make the Labor Day lineup.

Earlier this week, we were treated to new images from the film that stars Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender as Shakespeare's most dangerous power couple.  You can find those images and coverage linked here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/cannes-new-images-from-macbeth-starring-michael-fassbender-and-marion-cotillard-20150428

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/cannes-first-look-michael-fassbender-and-marion-cotillard-are-evil-in-macbeth-20150428

http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/04/cannes-2015-first-look-at-macbeth/


AND SPEAKING OF COTILLARD...

As I was doing just above, casting news this week puts the former Telluride Tribute recipient in another future vehicle that could make its way to Telluride in 2016.  The announcement came for the latest plans for director Xavier Dolan's next project.  Dolan was part of the Telluride lineup last year with "Mommy".  Other cast members announced included Lea Seydoux who appeared at Telluride for TFF #40 with "Blue is the Warmest Color" and Vincent Cassel ("Black Swan").

The film will be based on a french play entitled "It's Only the End of the World".  It is reported that filming will begin soon.  Dolan is slated to serve as a part of the Cannes Palme d'Or jury next month.

Check the details below:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/marion-cotillard-lea-seydoux-end-of-the-world-1201481234/

http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/04/xavier-dolan-to-work-with-cotillard-and-seydoux/

http://www.ioncinema.com/news/casting-news/dolan-doubles-down-its-only-the-end-of-the-world-for-cotillard-seydoux-cassel-ulliel-nathalie-baye

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/marion-cotillard-lea-seydoux-vincent-cassel-and-more-to-star-in-xavier-dolans-next-film-just-la-fin-du-monde-20150428

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/marion-cotillard-lea-seydoux-vincent-cassel-more-to-star-in-xavier-dolans-next-movie/


"YOUTH" AND FOX

Also making news this week was the announcement from Fox Searchlight that they will distribute Paolo Sorrentino's Cannes competition film "Youth".  "Youth" stars Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz and Paul Dano.  The acquisition bodes well for the film and raises the chances that it could be a Telluride selection.  So much so, in fact that the below-linked post from Ioncinema suggests that a Telluride play is likely.  Check it:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-fox-searchlight-nabs-paolo-792048

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/cannes-fox-searchlight-sealing-deal-on-paolo-sorrentinos-youth-20150429

http://www.ioncinema.com/news/acquisitions-foreign-films/disparate-youth-fox-searchlight-fawn-over-fonda-in-palme-dor-cannes-contender


More on Monday...have a great weekend!

The Film Awards Clearinghouse Vol. 6A: Picture, Director, Actress and Actor/Cotillard Talks/Foxcatcher and Makeup/Rudderless Top Ten/Critics Choice Awards

FILM AWARDS CLEARINGHOUSE VOL. 6A

Here's the latest FAC focused on Best Picture, Director, Actress and Actor.

The FAC uses the published predictions of the following to develop its list of likely Oscar nominees:

Kristopher Tapley/InContention/HitFix
Sasha Stone/Awards Daily
Bred Brevet/Rope of Silicon
Nathaniel Rogers/Film Experience
Anne Thompson/Thompson on Hollywood
Peter Knegt/IndieWire
Clayton Davis/Awards Circuit
Scott Feinberg/The Hollywood Reporter

Telluride #41 films are Bold (with their last rating in parentheses).

BEST PICTURE

1) Boyhood (1)
2) Birdman (3)
3) The Imitation Game (4)
4) Selma (2)
5) The Theory of Everything (5)
6) The Grand Budapest Hotel (15)
7) Whiplash (7)
8) Foxcatcher (9)
9) Unbroken (6)
10) Gone Girl (8)
11) Into the Woods (12)
12) Nightcrawler (NR)
13) Interstellar (10)
14) Mr. Turner (13)
15) A Most Violent Year (14)

Hot: Grand Budapest, Nightcrawler

Not: Selma, Unbroken, Gone Girl, American Sniper

Comment: "Grand Budapest" returns to a serious part of the conversation in light of good news from critics and Globes nominations.  "Selma's" drop is probably not all that crucial.


BEST DIRECTION

1) Richard Linklater/Boyhood (1)
2) Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu/Birdman (2)
3) Ava DuVernay/Selma (3)
4) Morten Tyldum/The Imitation Game (4)
5) Wes Anderson/The Grand Budapest Hotel (13)
6) David Fincher/Gone Girl (6)
7) Damien Chazelle/Whiplash (7)
8) Bennett Miller/Foxcatcher (10)
9) Angelina Jolie/Unbroken (5)
10) James Marsh/The Theory of Everything (8)

 Hot: Anderson, Miller

Not: Jolie, Marsh and Nolan

Comment:  the Director's race continues to tell me that "Imitation Game" is the more likely Best Picture spoiler compared to "The Theory of Everything".  Wes Anderson also benefits from "The Grand Budapest" explosion over the lat ten days.

BEST ACTRESS

1) Julianne Moore/Still Alice (1)
2) Reese Witherspoon/Wild (2)
3) Felicity Jones/The Theory of Everything (3)
4) Rosamund Pike/Gone Girl (4)
5) Jennifer Aniston/Cake (9)
6) Amy Adams/Big Eyes (6)
7) Hilary Swank/The Homesman (5)
8) Marion Cotillard/Two Days, One Night (11)
9) Emily Blunt/Into the Woods (7)
10) Shailene Woodley/The Fault in Our Stars (8)


Hot: Aniston and Cotillard.

Not: Swank, Blunt, Woodley and Mbatha-Raw

Comment:  Aniston is a hot enough candidate that I expect she might be parked at #2 when we re-visit the category in two weeks.  Ultimately, the five nominees might be known at this point.


BEST ACTOR

1) Michael Keaton/Birdman (1)
2) Eddie Redmayne/The Theory of Everything (2)
3) Benedict Cumberbatch/The Imitation Game (3)
4) David Oyelowo/Selma (4)
5) Steve Carell/Foxcatcher (5)
6) Jake Gyllenhaal/Nightcrawler (10)
7) Timothy Spall/Mr. Turner (7)
8) Ralph Fiennes/The Grand Budapest Hotel (11)
9) Oscar Isaac/A Most Violent Year (8)
10) Chadwick Boseman/Get On Up (14)

Hot: Gyllenhaal, Fiennes and Boseman

Not: Cooper.O'Connell

Comment: Gyllenhaal is definitely a part of the convo along with Oyelowo and Carell for the fourth and fifth spots.


COTILLARD TALKS

Thompson on Hollywood talks to the Telluride Tribute recipient,  Oscar winner and potential nominee about "Two Days, One Night" and other matters.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/from-the-immigrant-to-two-days-one-night-marion-cotillards-amazing-year-20141201


FOXCATCHER AND MAKEUP

Bennett Miller's "Foxcatcher" makes the final lineup of seven films that can still be Oscar nominated for outstanding hair and makeup:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/seven-features-make-the-oscar-hair-and-makeup-shortlist-20141215


RUDDERLESS TOP TEN

William H. Macy's (and Casey Twenter and Jeff Robison's) "Rudderless" makes Fred Topel/Crave Online's Top 15 film list from 2014.

Ahead of: "Unbroken", "Boyhood", "Begin Again" and "Gone Girl".

Check the list here:

http://www.craveonline.com/film/articles/800787-14-best-films-2014-final-opinion#/slide/1


CRITIC'S CHOICE AWARDS NOMINATIONS LED BY "BIRDMAN"

Continuing a trend that I have said will carry on into Oscar nomination morning, Alejandro Inarritu's "Birdman" led all films with 13 Critic's Choice Award nominations including Best Picture, Actor, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Direction and Screenplay.

Also among the nominees from Telluride:

"The Imitation Game": Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay

"Two Days, One Night": Best Actress

"Wild" Best Actress, Adapted Screenplay

"Foxcatcher" Best Supporting Actor

The complete list is here:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/birdman-leads-pack-13-critics-757554


More in Monday...