Sunday Extra to The FAC

Good Morning...down to under 48 hours until Oscar nominations are announced by The Academy.


CEASE THAT CORONATION!

This morning I have two pieces that suggest that there is still a reasonable level of suspense about what will ultimately win the Oscar next month (Feb. 26) for Best Picture.

First from The Playlist's Oli Lyttleton: 5 Reasons The Artist might not win best picture (in fairness, he strains to get to 5):
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/the-amazing-race-its-not-over-yet-five-reasons-the-artist-might-not-win-best-picture

And also from Sasha Stone at Awards Daily a rumination on the possibility that The Descendants could pull off the upset:
http://www.awardsdaily.com/2012/01/the-descendants-poised-to-upset-in-best-picture/

MY TOP TEN FOR 2011

Well, after much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, here is my Top Ten list for the films that I saw in 2012 (somewhere north of 50...not "critic" type numbers...but a lot of films)...But admittedly, I haven't seen everything.  Haven't caught War Horse or Extremely Loud yet.  Nor critical darlings like Melancholia, Take Shelter or Martha Marcy Mae Marlene.  Someday, I'll get 'em in.

#10 HUGO (dir. by Martin Scorsese)... Scorsese steps into a completely different filmic milieu and succeeds very well.  It's a beautiful film to look at.  The 3D isn't a bother (as it so often is in most 3D films) and sounds one of the biggest themes from serious films this year...the nostalgic reverence for the history of film and its place in our lives.  (my runner -up #11 picture...Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).
Hugo's IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970179/

#9 ALBERT NOBBS (dir. by Rodrigo Garcia)  Glenn Close's passion project that took decades to get made was largely dismissed by most critics, but I contend that her performance as a woman masquerading as a mild mannered MAN and Janet McTeer's supporting performance are enough to put it on my list.  I think that a number of critics just didn't get how difficult it is to do what Close does in this film.  Probably headed to 3-4 Oscar nominations.
Albert Nobbs' IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1602098/
Check out my actually published Albert Nobbs review from Telluirde for The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/telluride_11_review_albert_nobbs_glenn_close_mia_wasikowska

#8 RANGO (dir. Gore Verbinski)  I'm also a bit surprised that this hasn't gotten more critical love at the end of the year.  It also hasn't benefited from what has been a yearly "Will The Academy nominate an animated film for Best Picture?" push.  This despite the fact that it is a clear front runner to win the Oscar for Animated Feature.  Nonetheless, it's funny, quirky, and inventive.
Rango's IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1192628/

#7 BEGINNERS (dir. Mike Mills)  Christopher Plummer is headed to an Oscar nomination (and probable win) as Supporting Actor as a widower who finally comes out in his 70's and Ewan MacGregor plays the son dealing with the new circumstances.  It's a beautiful, touching funny and very human film from Mills.  It would be nice to see him get an Original Screenplay nomination as well and it could happen; it's not very likely, though.
Beginners' IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1532503/

#6 MONEYBALL (dir. Bennett Miller)  A top flight job from all involved.  Steve Zallian and Aaron Sorkin's adaptation is brilliantly done.  Miller directs with confidence (I am fast getting to the point where I'll go see a film just because he's the director) and Brad Pitt is more than fine as Billy Beane.  And the surprise is how good Jonah Hill is.  Probable Oscar nods to Zallian, Sorkin, Pitt and Hill.  Miller's odds for a directing nomination are fairly long, though.
Moneyball's IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/

#5  A SEPARATION (dir. Asghar Farhadi)  A miracle of a film from Iran.  I contend that this is the best written film of any type this year.  Almost certain to be a Best Foreign Language Film nominee (and the likely winner), I've been advocating n Original Screenplay nomination for months...not likely, but it's also not impossible.  And here's the thing...it's Iranian...I saw it with subtitles and it still translated to great writing...do you have any idea how difficult that is?  Steady direction and great committed performances also.  Talk about your films that transcend boundaries...
A Separation's IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1832382/

#4 THE DESCENDANTS (dir. Alexander Payne)  A nice return from Mr. Payne who had been away from directing for 7 years.  George Clooney stars as a man with family issues.  He's probably going to win his second Oscar for this and perhaps he should, it's one of his best turns on screen.  Good support up and down the cast as well with relative newcomer Shailene Woodley a very possible nominee for Supporting Actress.  This will probably net 4-7 nominations Tuesday morning.  Check my Playlist review from Telluride for further details here: http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/alexander_payne_george_clooney_riff_on_family_love_loss_death_and_the_choic#
The Descendants IMDb page is here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1033575/

#3 THE TREE OF LIFE (dir.Terrence Malick)  No one tried anything bigger, bolder and more adventurous this year than Terrence Malick.  So many people have said, "what's it about?"...best answer  "Life" sort as the title implies.  Malick juxtaposes macro and micro versions of "life" with each illuminating the other.  Brad Pitt is very good as a domineering 50's era father.  it also helps that the film is incredibly beautifully shot and that Malick (clearly drawing from his own experiences as a young boy in Texas and Oklahoma) gets the look and tone of the place and time of the micro story just right.  This film and my #1 are the two films that I saw this year that kept returning to me mind to turn over again and again.
The Tree of Life's IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478304/

#2 THE ARTIST (dir. Michel Hazanavicius)  I was intrigued from the moment I heard the premise and started to hear the reactions and descriptions out of Cannes.  Firstly, how bold do you have to be to pitch a black and white silent film in the 2000's???  Pretty bold.  And then the execution!  And it works so so well.  Hazanavicius' vision is beautifully realized especially from Jean Dujardin in the lead.  To my mind, 75 years removed from the days when this was the ONLY way films were done, this was like re-inventing the form from scratch.  Remarkably well done.  The Artist will likely be in double digit nominations (and it may be the only film to get there this year, though Hugo has a real chance as well) on Tuesday morning and deservedly so.
The Artist's IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1655442/

#1 SHAME (dir. Steve McQueen).  Yeah, I know.  It's NC-17.  And a lot of people do NOT like it, love it, care for it.  Many actively hate it.  It was certainly not universally embraced at Telluride.  But, I'm telling you, this film stuck with me all fall.  Shattering, searing, unflinching.  And the performances from Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan are phenomenal.  Fassy will probably get the only nomination here and he'd be winning the Best Actor Oscar if I had a ballot.  Mulligan would also be at the top of my Supporting Actress ballot, but she appears to have only a marginal chance of being one of the five nominees on Tuesday.  I'd also include McQueen and Abi Morgan for screenplay.  Perhaps McQueen for direction and likely cinematography as well.
Shame's IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1723811/

What are your Ten Best of 2011??

Coming tomorrow...Michael's Telluride Film Blog and The Film Award Clearinghouse predicts the Oscar nominations!

Follow me on Twitter  @Gort2

Special to the FAC: Best Actor and WGA nominations

SPECIAL TO THE FILM AWARDS CLEARINGHOUSE: BEST ACTOR 18 DAYS OUT

The FAC takes a snapshot look at individual categories using the predictive resources of:

Awards Daily (Sasha Stone)

Incontention.com (Kristopher Tapley at HitFix)

The Hollywood Reporter (Scott Feinberg)

Entertainment Weekly (Dave Karger)

Hollywood Elsewhere (Jeffrey Wells)

Thompson on Hollywood (Anne Thompson)

Film Misery

Film Experience

Awards Circuit

BRAD PITT MAKES A MOVE

For the first time since I began tracking the various Oscar prognosticators back in September the Best Actor leader is NOT either George Clooney or Jean Dujardin.  It’s Brad Pitt for Moneyball (by a single point over Clooney).  It’s a tight race and here’s where it stands as of this morning (with Telluride #38 actors in bold).  If the nominations were announced this morning they would be (according to the combined wisdom of these prognosticators):

1) Brad Pitt/Moneyball

2) Geroge Clooney/The Descendants

3) Jean Dujardin/The Artist

4) Michael Fassbender/Shame

5) Leonardo DiCaprio/J. Edgar

In the running:

6) Gary Oldman/Tinker, Tailor and Demian Bichir/A Better Life (tie)

8) Michael Shannon/Take Shelter

9) Woody Harrelson/Rampart

10) Ryan Gosling/The Ides of March

Others receiving votes:

Ryan Gosling/Drive

Joseph Gordon-Levitt/50/50

The top five are all pretty solid right now.  There has been slight erosion on the part of DiCaprio so he’s the most vulnerable to a surprise, although I don’t think that Fassbender is a cinch yet either.  Among the “in the running” types, if there was to be a surprise or two, I think that Gosling is the only one who is entirely unlikely.

Overall, if I were a wagering man (and it was legal), I’d be pretty comfortable with these top 5 being the nominees.

Tomorrow: Best Actress!

WRITER’S GUILD NOMINATIONS

WGA and writing nominations were announced yesterday and here they are:

WGA ORIGINAL BEST SCREENPLAY NOMS: 50/50, WIN WIN, BRIDESMAIDS, YOUNG ADULT AND MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

WGA BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY NOMS: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, THE DESCENDANTS, THE HELP, HUGO AND MONEYBALL

Of course, so many scripts were ineligible because of the particular quirks of the rules for this organization that the Oscar predictive value isn’t all that remarkable.  Still, it doesn't hurt either.

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2HlH

George and Martin/M x 4/Pitt Pitched for Moneyball/Bale and Malick

Hello everyone...

10 days and counting...

GEORGE AND MARTIN

I'm already relatively sure that Werner Herzog's death row doc "Into the Abyss" will be on the TFF #38 playlist in 10 days.  Another documentary that I think could pop up in Telluride is Martin Scorsese's doc about the life and music of the late, great George Harrison.  It's already booked for Toronto, but I think it's a real possibility for T-ride as Scorsese had a good deal of noise from his presentation last year of "A Letter to Elia." 

So I don't think it's beyond the real of possibility that we might have some chance to see this in Colorado. 

Jeffrey Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere has a brief story and a link to the trailer for the doc here:
http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2011/08/george.php

The Playlist at IndieWire also has a story and link to the trailer as well as a pic or two here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/watch_trailer_for_martin_scorseses_doc_george_harrison_living_in_the_materi/

George and Martin's IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1113829/


MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE

Of the Sundance films this year that might follow the path that "An Education" blazed two years ago (from Park City to T-Ride) the one that seems to have the most heat and greatest chance is "Martha Marcy May Marlene."  A film that played to great acclaim at Sundance winning a directing award for Sean Durkin and earning raves for the acting of Elizabeth Olsen and John Hawkes.

Yesterday the interweb was all aquiver with material concerning the film...posters, trailers, etc.  In that we could have it as an offering in ten days I am passing on links to various and sundry of what was posted yesterday.

Awards Daily put up a good sized story and links which you can find here:
http://www.awardsdaily.com/2011/08/martha-marcy-may-marlene-official-site-materializes/

Yahoo Movies also with links to posters and the trailer:
http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-talk/martha-marcy-may-marlene-motion-poster-revealed-

Also you can find links from Entertainment Weekly here:
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/08/22/martha-marcy-may-marlene-posters-trailers/

Martha's IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1441326/

PITT PITCHED FOR MONEYBALL

I would be more than a little surprised to see "Moneyball" starring Brad Pitt show up at the SHOW but because it was directed by Bennett Miller I can't rule it out completely.  And admittedly, I would enjoy seeing it in Southwest Colorado in a week and a half.

That being said, New York Magazine Online has a nifty story up about Pitt's willingness to go to bat for the unconventional baseball based true story.  You can find that story here:
http://nymag.com/guides/fallpreview/2011/movies/moneyball/

Moneyball's IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/


BALE AND MALICK

A lot of hoopla the last couple of days about Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life" and what co-star Sean Penn has had to say about the Cannes Palme D'Or winner.  As that has been going on, a good deal of other Malick related news has seeped out.

For example his latest (filmed partly here in Oklahoma and perhaps entitled "The Burial") may be ready for a 2012 release.  Although, I'm dubious as Malick has never been fast about post-production. 

Also news from several sources that Malick is looking ahead to his next project and has reportedly looked at casting one of his "New World" collaborators, Oscar winner Christian Bale.

Get the Big Picture.com has that story here:
http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2011/8/21/terrence-malick-to-cast-christian-bale-in-future-

Also another version of that story and the blurb about "The Burial" from Rope of Silicon here:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/bale-rumored-malicks-next-kirk-talks-rambo-5-toy-story-short-coming

Malick's IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000517/


More on the Morrow...

New York Galas/Thompson and Wells on the NYFF/Posters of Possibles

Good Morning All.

I may have further personal developments concerning this year's festival by the end of the week...or maybe not.  We'll see.

NEW YORK GALAS

The New York Film Festival (in October) announced two more gala presentations yesterday afternoon (in addition to "My Week with Marilyn" which had already been announced) and both of the films chosen have been on our Telluride watch list.  Gala presentations were announced for David Cronenberg's Freud vs. Jung duel  "A Dangerous Method" (Viggo Mortensen, Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender) and Pedro Almodovar's "The Skin I Live In" (Antonio Banderas).

This leaves New York's fest with its closing night film still yet to be named and that is supposed to happen by the end of the week. 

In all likelihood the addition of "Method" and "Skin" to New York's lineup while not eliminating the chance that one or both might play Telluride diminishes the chances that they turn up there. 

THOMPSON AND WELLS ON NEW YORK

Three posts from yesterday afternoon provide some context and in one case, sort of opposing perspectives from two of the best in the business.  I have included two posts from Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood.  The first is a straight up presentation of the two films that have been added to the NYFF slate as Gala Presentations:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/15/nyff_cronenbergs_dangerous_method_and_almodovars_skin_i_live_in_added_to_ga/

Following that is Anne's discussion in a separate post of the chances that "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" might be offered the closing night slot at NYFF.  She also mentions "The Iron Lady" as a possible for that spot but it almost seems as if that is a secondary consideration.  Clearly, if TTSS closes New York it is my belief that it will definitely be off the Telluride list.  That second Thompson post is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/15/will_tinker_tailor_soldier_spy_or_iron_lady_land_new_york_film_festival_ber/?utm

However, Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere in his post late yesterday about New York's selections seems to at least imply that TTSS is all but off the table as far as any participation in the New York Festival is concerned.  And Wells suggests in the comments section that he thinks TTSS at Telluride is still a possibility.  The Wells post is linked here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/15/will_tinker_tailor_soldier_spy_or_iron_lady_land_new_york_film_festival_ber/?utm

It will be really interesting to see what comes out later this week as the NYFF actual closer.

So, in review:

Chances for "Method" DOWN
Chances for "Skin" also DOWN (but not down as much as "Method" I think)
Chances for "TTSS":  HOLDING STEADY

NEW POSTERS

A big post from Rope of Silicon with new poster art for a number of films including at least three that I have been including on the TFF #38 watch list.  "Drive," "Carnage" and "Moneyball" (see above).  Of the three, "Drive" may be the most likely to actually be in Colorado in two and a half weeks. Then "Moneyball."  "Carnage" is unlikely as it is the NYFF opener.

Take a look at the new poster art for them plus sevearl other films at this link to ROS:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/posters-drive-american-reunion-moneyball-carnage-harold-kumar


Hope you're having a good week...more on the morrow...

Future Brand of Lamb/Crowe News/Moneyball New Trailer

Waiting Times Three...

BRAND IS THE FUTURE LAMB?

Pic via The Playlist

Well, not exactly.  Sources are reporting that Brit comedian Russell Brand has been offered a large role in Diablo Cody's "Lamb of God."  The Oscar winning writer of "Juno" is set to direct her own script and is on my TFF #39 watch list as a result (although you have to wonder about that in light of the news that Reitman and Cody will not be in Telluride this year with their "Young Adult").

The Playlist on IndieWire offers their version of the story in this post:
http://dlvr.it/dZx5S


Diablo Cody's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1959505/
A COUPLE OF CROWE NOTES

Cameron Crowe's "We Bought a Zoo" is on my list of films with an outside shot of playing at Telluride this year.  His "Almost Famous" is a favorite of mine as is "Say Anything."  So this part of the post is a two for one.

First, news that Crowe might actually consider a sequel to "Say Anything."  That also via The Playlist here:
http://dlvr.it/dPHhs

They also have some  new stills from the "Zoo" shoot.  That link is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/more_photos_from_cameron_crowes_we_bought_a_zoo_including_a_first_look_at/

"We Bought a Zoo IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1389137/


MONEYBALL NEW TRAILER

I'm still holding some hope that "Moneyball" also shows up in Telluride.  There is a new trailer for it via YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaTEGJOBZmQ

Moneyball IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/

Posters!!!/Drive Trailer/Odds and Ends

Back home this morning from debate camp...great week, but glad to be at the homestead...

POSTERS!!!

Two quick poster notes this morning.  One about a poster that is just out for a possible Telluride film...the other a story about a poster for a TFF #37 film that didn't happen.

First, the poster that you CAN see..."Moneyball" directed by Bennet Miller and starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Philip Seymour Hoffman.  Thanks to Rope of Silicon we have a look...




It's really...um...green...

The link to the ROS story is here:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/poster-brad-pitts-moneyball-debuts

Moneyball's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/

The other poster tidbit comes from Roger Ebert who has an interesting story about the poster work for Errol Morris' documentary from last year's festival, "Tabloid."  This is the poster they DID NOT use:

Ebert has the explanation for it's exclusion here:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/art-in-many-forms/the-poster-errol-morris-decide.html

Tabloid's IMDB page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1704619/

DRIVE TRAILER

Several outlets yesterday with the release of a red band trailer for Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive" that features Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan and, as a really bad guy, comedian Albert Brooks.  Brooks is already getting some significant Oscar buzz for a Supporting Actor nomination.  Check out the trailer by taking a look at this story from The Playlist at Indiewire. 
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/watch_take_the_phone_off_the_hook_the_red_band_trailer_for_drive

The trailer looks great.  "Drive" has some Telluride "markers."  It was at Cannes (Refn won Best Direction) and Carey Mulligan has made Telluride a second home for the past two Labor Days.   My excitement for it's possible inclusion at the Telluride Film Festival has steadily increased through this summer.

Drive's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780504/

Drive is being distributed by Film District which is also distributing two other possible Telluride films: "The Rum Diary" and "In the Land of Blood and Honey."


ODDS AND ENDS

---The Venice Film Festival is reportedly going to announce their lineup on July 28.  Clues?
---I'll be glad when Comic Con closes up shop...it has sucked the air out of reporting much of anything else film wise.
---This week I have added links to a number of the sites I reference frequently so you can get to them easily and peruse them yourself.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Under the Banner/TTSS Poster Part Deux/Moneyball Spot/The Master and Moby

Live from Lawton, Oklahoma...It's Wednesday!

UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN

Multiple sources all over the place yesterday with the news that Ron Howard will direct and Dustin Lance Black (Milk) will write the film adaptation of "Under the Banner of Heaven."  The Telluride connection comes from the book's author Jon Krakauer whose "Into the Wild" (directed by Sean Penn and featuring Emile Hirsch who would also appear in "Milk") was a well received feature at the 2007 Telluride Film Festival.

The book delineates the real life tale of murder and mayhem in a Mormon family in Utah.  Think of it as the antithesis to the Broadway hit show "The Book of Mormon" currently running in NYC.

The flood of posts/stories came yesterday after the collapse of plans for Howard to shepherd the development of an adaptation of Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" series.  despite the fact that Howard reportedly is on record as saying that "The Dark Tower" project still has a pulse...he seems to have lined up a number of other projects to keep himself occupied over the next few years in addition to the announcement of this project.

You can find various versions of the "Under the Banner" story at The Wrap here:
http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/warner-bros-wants-ron-howard-dustin-lance-black-adapt-under-banner-heaven-29251

At The Hollywood Reporter here:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ron-howard-brian-grazer-adapt-213094

and at The Playlist at Indiewire here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/ron_howard_dustin_lance_black_are_under_the_banner_of_heaven/#.TiYd-TAH-NM.email

TTSS ONE SHEET...MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE?

Yesterday we posted this one sheet for the upcoming Tomas Alfredson production of "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."  Looks good.  The article mentions that it could be on the Telluride lineup.  Cool.

Then we stumble across this Anne Thompson (Thompson on Hollywood/Indiewire) post yesterday that says that the poster is coded.  WHAT???

Maybe so.  After debate camp (yes, I'm at debate camp this week) I'm going to have to take a run at the thing and see if I can decipher anything.

The Anne Thompson story is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/07/19/decode_the_tinker_tailor_soldier_spy_poster/#.TiXW25ghQFg.email


MONEYBALL SPOT

The Playlist (at Indiewire) has a story up that introduces us to a 30 second TV spot for "Moneyball."  "Moneyball" stars Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Philip Seymour Hoffman in the story of the real life transition that was undertaken by the Oakland A's major league baseball team.

You can find the story and the spot here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/watch_brad_pitt_delivers_his_field_of_dreams_in_new_tv_spot_for_moneyball/#.TiXYzKoOB8I.email

THE MASTER AND MOBY

And finally, Jeff Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere had this blurb yesterday about Paul Thomas Anderson's new film "The Master" starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix.  The comparison is stunning and, not surprisingly, teases that Anderson is painting on a very, very big canvas.  Very exciting.

The Wells blurb is here:
http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2011/07/touch_of_melvil.php

More Ralph/More Busy Peeps/Ten Bets/The Perfect Storm

The weekend has come and gone...Carmageddon, we hardly knew ye...

MORE RALPH

Ralph Fiennes directs himself in Coriolanus

One of the films that I have been tracking sporadically and that has appeared on my "Ten Bets" list for Telluride is Ralph Fiennes film directing debut as he translates one of the Bard's lesser known works to the screen. 

"Coriolanus" is schedule to roll out this fall and has already been glimpsed at the Berlin Film Festival to good reviews especially for Vanessa Redgrave.  Already some Supporting Actress Oscar buzz swirling around her performance in the film.

Now comes word that Fiennes has picked up his second directing assignment.  The Playlist at Indiewire reports this morning that Fiennes will direct a Charles Dickens biopic entitled "The Invisible Woman."  It's based on the book by Claire Tomalin and scripted by Abi Morgan (The Iron Lady, Shame...both on this year's Telluride watch list). 

Past Telluride attendee Carey Mulligan (An Education, Never Let Me Go) is said to be on Fiennes list of possible actresses for the title role.  Also said to be on his list is Abbie Cornish (Bright Star). 

Two names mentioned as possibles for Dickens: Ben Whishaw (Bright Star) and Daniel Day-Lewis (2007 Tributee/There Will Be Blood).

Fiennes has a number of obligations to attend to before he will be able to get to this job, so put down "The Invisible Woman" as a potential film for Telluride in 2013.

The Playlist story is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/ralph_fiennes_directing_charles_dickens_biopic_the_invisible_woman/#.TiRF4gHVPvQ.email

MORE BUSY PEEPS

We started a list a couple of weeks ago of actors that were potentially going to be very busy this fall between the festival circuit and awards season.  Add three more names to the earlier list:

Philip Seymour Hoffman; The Ides of March, Moneyball

Jude Law: Contagion, Hugo

Matt Damon: Contagion, We Bought a Zoo

TEN BETS FOR THIS WEEK

Last week's "Ten Bets" list for this year's Telluride Film Festival looked like this:

1) The Descendants
2) A Trip to the Moon
3) Young Adult
4) Gazing Into the Abyss
5) The Artist
6) Dark Horse
7) The Kid with a Bike
8) Shame
9) Le Havre
10) Coriolanus

This week's list is as follows:

1) The Descendants
2) A Trip to The Moon
3) Gazing Into the Abyss
4) Young Adult
5) The Artist
6) Dark Horse
7) Shame
8) The Kid with a Bike
9) Coriolanus
10) Le Havre

THE PERFECT STORM

I started last week to put together a list of the "dream Team" of people that I think it would be fun to have a conversation with that at least have some minuscule chance of being at this year's festival.  The list wasn't completed last week, but as I have been mulling it over, I was reminded this weekend that I had contemplated a "Perfect Storm" of possibilities back in the spring.  And "Perfect Storm" is a pretty good filmic place to begin the discussion because George Clooney is one of the possibles that helps to connect a lot of this.  Clooney with Alexander Payne's "The Descendants" is a possible attendee. 
His "Ides of March" opens the Venice Festival  on Aug. 31...so he could make an appearance on Colorado Ave.  And, if he does, that opens the door to some of that cast...like Philip Seymour Hoffman. 
And maybe it becomes an "Oceans 11-12-13"  reunion and Clooney's buddy and Hoffman's Moneyball co-star Brad Pitt comes to town with "Moneyball." 
Since Brad's decided to make the trip, maybe his significant other, Angelina Jolie comes to town as well with her directorial debut "In the Land of Blood and Honey." 
Since we've decided the Ocean's gang is meeting up for Labor Day hi-jinks in the San Juans...why not Matt Damon in support of "Contagion."  It makes some sense since "Contagion" is directed by Stephen Soderbergh who is often a producing partner with Clooney. 
And if "Contagion's" playing...why not bring co-star Kate Winslet along...she can double dip as she can also be there in support of "Carnage" with Jodie Foster in tow as well.

And since Matt's there...how about double dipping as well with Cameron Crowe's "We Bought a Zoo"?

So lets' see, that means we see the following films: The Descendants, The Ides of March, Moneyball, In the Land of Blood and Honey, Contagion, Carnage and We Bought a Zoo.

And in person: Clooney, Hoffman, Pitt, Jolie, Damon, Winslet, Foster.

Yes, please.

Topping the Chinese/Schnabel's Got Depp/Dream Team

Good Morning from Santa Fe!

We're heading home today after a whirlwind "vacation" here in northern New Mexico.  Hate to leave, but things to do.

TOPPING THE CHINESE

The Long and Winding Road that leads to the Olympics?

I've mentioned in this space that Telluride favorite, director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours) has an unenviable next project.  Boyle is directing the ceremonies for the Summer Olympics in London next year.  I like Danny Boyle.  He's a clever, inventive director (and writer too).  He's always been very pleasant as he's presented his work at TFF in 2008 and last year.  I've gotten to rub shoulders and speak with him a couple of times as we've crossed paths at the Telluride Film Festival.  So, I was concerned that he was in a no win situation for him in this endeavor.  The Chinese in 2008 set the bar so incredibly high that I (and I'm sure many others) believed that whoever accepted this gig was starting from the bottom of an insurmountable mountain. 

Now comes word that Boyle and the London Olympic folks may be putting the pieces in place to present one of the few things that could electrify the world at the same level that the Chinese achieved 3 years ago.
"What could that possibly be?" you ask.  The Wrap has the potential answer...

Can you say "Fab  Four"?  Or, perhaps more accurately, the Fab Two and the closest thing we can get to the other two that are no longer with us.  The Wrap reports that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr would potentially be joined by Julian Lennon or Sean Lennon and Dhani Harrison to perform as part of the Olympic ceremonies.

You can read The Wrap's story here:
http://www.thewrap.com/media/article/report-beatles-reunion-works-2012-olympic-games-28962

Can you say (sing) "Let it Be"?

 SCHANBEL AND DEPP

The Playlist has the story that Julian Schnabel may have his next film project to develop and that it includes collaboration with Johnny Depp.  Schnabel has also been a Telluride participant.  He presented his best film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" at Telluride in 2007 and has also been the festival's poster artist in the past.

Last year I was somewhat surprised that his "Miral" wasn't part of TFF#37.  I was relatively certain that it would be.  But nope.  Now comes news that Schnabel has a new film project that re-pairs him with his "Before Night Falls" star Johnny Depp.  The proposed project would pair the two in an adaptation of the Nick Tosches book "In the Hand of Dante". 

As you might expect from the title, the focus, in part, on Dante's "Divine Comedy".  The tenor of the story suggests that neither man is in a big hurry to get the project adapted and made and Depp has at least 2-3 films lined up currently including his expected turn as Tonto in "The Lone Ranger".  So don't expect to see this at TFF #39  or maybe 40...or...well, who knows.  But you have to believe that if it DOES get made, it would be a prime possibility for Labor Day in the San Juans (unless, of course, there's any bad blood over the "Miral" exclusion from last year).

The Playlist story is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/exclusive_julian_schnabel_planning_in_the_hand_of_dante_with_johnny_depp/

DREAM TEAM

Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in "My Week with Marilyn"

Yesterday's post included a list of a few films that we have on our Telluride film list.  Today I'm flinging out into the Universe my wish list for individuals that I'd love to see on Colorado Avenue in September.

And I make no apology about still be entirely star struck.  Maybe that makes me uncool.  But I'm still stunned when I see, stand by, or exchange words with some of the people that I've run into in the last five years.  Passing words with Oscar nominees/winners like Boyle, Laura Linney, James Franco, Sean Penn, and  Jason Reitman (to shamelessly name drop) has been one of the highlights of my festival experience so forgive me my adolescent joy at being in the same room as Daniel Day-Lewis, Ed Harris, Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush.

All that aside, who would I love to see, bump into, pass words with at this year's SHOW?  I've tried to limit the list to those people who have at least a scintilla of a chance to have a film there ( and I realize that it all won't happen and that Telluride often has the director of a film on hand rather than any of the talent, but a guy can dream...right?)

This isn't a complete list, but a first pass.  I'm sure I'll add to it over the next six weeks as we get closer to Labor Day.

Meryl Streep/The Iron Lady
Glenn Close/Albert Nobbs
George Clooney/The Descendants and/or The Ides of March
Philip Seymour Hoffman/Moneyball
Brad Pitt/Moneyball (I'd like to talk to him about his connections to Oklahoma)
Colin Firth/Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Gary Oldman/Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Charlize Theron/Young Adult
Ralph Fiennes/Coriolanus
Vanessa Redgrave/Coriolanus
Michelle Williams/My Week with Marilyn
Jodie Foster/Carnage
Kate Winslet/Carnage
Christoph Waltz/Carnage
and, of course, my girl friend, Laura Linney...

Later!

Herzog on Death/Moneyball Trailer/Skin/Diablo's Dream/Noah

Charlize Theron starring in "Young Adult"

After a quiet Sunday, a number of items to pass on to you today:

WERNER'S DOC ABOUT DEATH ROW

Variety reported this morning that  German Production company ZDF has signed onto the Werner Herzog documentary "Gazing into the Abyss."  The doc is being produced by The Discovery Channel folks for American television.  But I would not be surprised to see at least some of it on the playbill for TFF #38.  Herzog is a constant on the Telluride Film playlist and the festival likes to have docs on the bill of fare.  As for it being developed for TV rather than theatrical release, well, TFF has peeked at some of Ken Burns TV documentary projects over the years.  So it wouldn't be out of line for Herzog's doc to show there.
The project focuses on interviews with Texas death row inmates.  The IMDB site for the Herzog project (where it's still listed by the title "Death Row') is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1843894/

MONEYBALL TRAILER

Last week we saw the first bits of the trailer for "Moneyball," the baseball film from Bennett Miller starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Philip Seymour Hoffman.  Here's the full trailer without the Entertainment Tonight stuff:
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810166670/video/25625800

The "Moneyball" IMDB page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/

SKIN TRAILER

Speaking of trailers, here's the teaser for Pedro Almodovar's "The Skin I Inhabit (or "Live In"...depending)."  Thanks to Anne Thompson:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/06/20/trailer_watch_the_skin_i_live_in_teaser_is_crazy_sexy_scary/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_content=Twitter

Skin's IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1189073/


DIABLO'S DREAM

Oscar winner and former Telluride guest (2007/Juno) Dibalo Cody was a guest on a panel yesterday where she revealed that her dream gig/screenplay would be a Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) biopic.  Cody (who I met in 2007 at the festival thanks to an introduction from Jason Reitman) is set to see the releases of her next film "Young Adult" this fall.  It's another collaboration with Reitman and stars Charlize Theron and Patrick Wilson.  I think there's a reasonable chance that we'll see it in T-ride.  The Playlist has a nice post about the panel:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/diablo_cody_dreams_of_brian_wilson_biopic_teases_her_own_directorial_ambit/

The "Young Adult" IMDB page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1625346/


ARONOFSKY'S "NOAH"

Darren Aronofsky was the toast of last year's festival with his "Black Swan" for which Natalie Portman won the Best Actress Oscar.  Now he says that his NEXT BIG THING  may be his magnum opus...a re-telling of the story of Noah.  The IFC website has some interesting tidbits along those lines here:
http://www.ifc.com/news/2011/06/darren-aronofsky-noahs-ark-christian-bale.php

Jason Reitman News/Moneyball/Oscar Calculations and BIG LEBOWSKI:THE MUSICAL

Jason Reitman's next project: "Labor Day."  Will we see it Labor Day 2012?

Always looking ahead is where we start today...

JASON REITMAN'S NEXT PROJECT AFTER "YOUNG ADULT"

I'm obviously including Jason Reitman's "Young Adult" on the 2011 Tellruride Film Festival "probable" list.  After all, he's had such great success with "Juno" (4 Oscar noms including Picture and Director, Diablo Cody wins Original Screenplay, makes a bazillion dollars) and "Up in the Air" (6 Oscar Noms including Picture, Actor, Original Screenplay and Director) at TFF that I'd be goofy not to think it'll play this fall (though I'm not as sure of that as you might think).  Now, The Playlist is reporting this morning that Reitman's next project is set.  Entitled "Labor Day," The Playlist says that Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet are attached to star in the adaptation of the book by Joyce Maynard.  The link for The Playlist story is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/kate_winslet_josh_brolin_join_jason_reitmans_labor_day/
And, as I'm sure you've guessed...put it on our Telluride 2012 speculation list.

MORE MONEYBALL SCUTTLEBUTT
Bennett Miller's "Moneyball" has been on my radar as a Telluride film possibility for some time and with the peak at it via Entertainment Tonight that has happened this week, interest elsewhere has been heightened.  Jeffrey Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere is the latest to comment.  His take is here:
http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2011/06/brad_and_jonah.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=Daily/Hourly+Hollywood+Meditation&utm_content=Opinion,+wisdom,+tin+foil,+attitude


OSCAR CLEARINGHOUSE...THE INCREDIBLY EARLY EDITION
Over this past week, I've tumbled across a couple of Oscar Best Picture predictions since we're about half way through the year.  I've started the process of compilation and put it together, because I'm a little crazy?  Herewith your early, early line on the Best Picture race with information drawn from Incontention.com, Scott Feinberg, Film Misery and The Envelope at the LA Times (and roughly using each sources top 20 or so and what I think are Telluride possibles in CAPS AND BOLD):

ON ALL FOUR LISTS: 9 films..."THE DESCENDANTS," "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," "Hugo Cabret," "THE IDES OF MARCH," "THE IRON LADY," "J. Edgar," "The Tree of Life," "War Horse," "YOUNG ADULT."

ON THREE OF THE LISTS: "CARNAGE," "MONEYBALL," "THE ARTIST," "EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE."

ON TWO OF THE LISTS: "Super 8," "We Bought a Zoo," Contagion," "Like Crazy," "TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY," " THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL."

ONE VOTE WONDERS: "50/50," "Harry Potter/Deathly Hallows #2," "CORIOLANUS," "DRIVE," "The Help," "Martha Marcy May Marlene," "Midnight in Paris," "One Day," "Take Shelter," and "THE WETTEST COUNTY IN THE WORLD."

And with yesterday's announcement from the Academy peeps, who knows how many Best Picture nominations we will ultimately see (somewhere between 5 and 1o under the new rules).

TODAY'S BROADWAY MUSICAL BASED ON A COEN BROTHERS FILM..."THE BIG LEBOWSKI: THE MUSICAL"
Hit songs will include: "Gutterball of Love," "Not on the Rug, Man," "I'm the Dude, Duder, Duderino," "You Want a Toe, I Can Get You a Toe," "Not on the Shabbos," and "Nihilists on Parade!"

How Many Nominations?/Moneyball/Rudderless/COENS MUSICAL #4

George Clooney and Ryan Gosling on the set of "The Ides of March" (thanks to thehollywoodstory.com)

A busy 24 hours in terms of news and such that may or does have a bearing on the Telluride Film Festival. 

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY BEST PICTURES THERE ARE!
First, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS...the Oscar people) announced in the middle of last night that beginning this year there will be between 5 and 10 Best Picture nominees.  For most of its existence the Academy had nominated 5 films each year.  Then the last two years, they have nominated 10 (they used to nominate more than 5 way back in the beginning days of Oscar as well). 

Well, now, this year if will be at least 5, not more than 10 and could be any number of films in between.  So in a "down" year...(like 2008) maybe only 5 get nominated.  In a good year (like last year) maybe 7 or 8 or 9.  In a great year you might get 10.  Apparently it will all hinge of the percentage of first place votes a picture gets during the nominating process.  The threshold is going to be 5% if I'm reading their press release correctly.  You can read that release here:
http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2011/20110614a.html

Most critical reaction this morning seems generally positive, but it will make prognostication a bit trickier...

ANOTHER EARLY, EARLY OSCAR PREDICTION!
Next, The LA Times is out today with its list of 15 films it says are possible Oscar contenders.  That list and descriptions of the films are here:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/awards/2011/06/oscars-preview-15-front-runners-for-best-picture.html
TFF#38 suspects on The Envelope's list are: "The Artist," "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," "Carnage," "The Descendants," "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," "The Ides of March," "The Iron Lady," and "Young Adult."
Also on their list that I don't realistically think will be at Telluride (and why):
"War Horse"-Spielberg doesn't need to festival and hasn't "Tellurided" (though his compadres Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall are both members of the festival's Board of Advisors and are frequently in Telluride for it).
"The Tree of Life"-Terrence Malick's film was released May 27.
"Like Crazy"-a Sundance Festival hit...which almost totally precludes it (though not 100%- "An Education" played both Sundance then Telluride, but it's unlikely).
"J. Edgar"-Clint Eastwood's biopic about the former FBI director starring Leonardo DiCaprio. It's been a long time since Clint has been to Telluride and he doesn't need to "festival" for people to pay attention to this film.
"Hugo Cabret"-Martin Scorsese also doesn't need the T-ride exposure..and it's in 3D...which I'm guessing is not something that Telluirde has prepared technically to project.
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"-Despite the fact that director David Fincher was a tributee in 2008, I have to doubt that he'll return with this American adaptation of the Swedish phenomena..if he didn't pop "The Social Network" at Telluride, I have a difficult time believing he'd bring "Tattoo" to the San Juans.
"A Dangerous Method"-David Cronenberg's film about Freud and Jung starring Viggo Mortensen and Michael Fassbender.  I believe Cronenberg will play Venice and Toronto and be happy with that (despite Viggo being a Tributee in 2009).

MONEYBALL!
One film NOT on the LA Times Envelope list today is Bennett Miller's "Moneyball."  I think it has a shot to play at Telluride because it IS Bennett Miller's first feature since "Capote" which was at Telluride in 2005.  The Playlist has a nice story about its trails and tribulations and a set of clips shown on last night's Entertainment Tonight...here that is:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/watch_first_brief_clips_from_moneyball_starring_brad_pitt_jonah_hill/

RUDDERLESS!
Yesterday we teased our minuscule connection to the film "Rudderless."  We already know that William H. Macy is set to direct, but perusing the IMDB entry we also find that casting director and music supervisor (and the music is crucial to the film) are signed on as well.  Casting is in the hands of Ronnie Yeskel whose previous credits include: "Reservoir Dogs," "Pulp Fiction," and "The Long Kiss Goodnight" among others.  The music supervisor is Debra Baum who has been involved with the music for "The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood," "A Walk to Remember," and "3000 Miles to Graceland' again among others.

COENS BROTHERS MUSICALS CONTINUE...
Despite the fact that I'm pretty sure most of you are tired of the joke...it's till making me laugh, so, with apologies...as you are now  aware the next Coen Brothers film may be a musical.  I've had some fun this week with suggesting that we go back over the Coen canon and re-make all their films as musicals...today's example: "Burn After Reading: The Musical" featuring such hit tunes as: "Intelligence is Relative,"  "Raw Data," "Osborne Cox:Secret Agent Man" and "I Did Not See That Coming."

AND FINALLY...
The Playlist has an article about David Lynch and his opening a "Mullholland Drive" based theme night spot in Paris...and what they think would be a better use of Lynch's time.  It's kind of funny.  Here's the link:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/five_things_wed_rather_see_david_lynch_do_then_open_his_mulholland_drive/

More Early Oscar Predix/Le Havre Goes Weinstein/Rudderless/AND ANOTHER COEN MUSICAL!

Poster for Simon Curtis' Telluride possible: "My Week with Marilyn"

Ioncinema is hinting this morning that The Weinstein Company will be picking up "Le Havre."  It was a critically and publicly popular film at Cannes last month and a film that I think has a better than average chance of being at this year's Telluride Film Festival.

Also, The Playlist is reporting that Christian Bale and Darren Aronofsky may be getting together for Aronofsky's "Noah" project.  http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/christian_bale_in_talks_to_star_in_darren_aronofskys_noah/

Film Misery has its first stab at Oscar predictions up this morning.  You can find those here:
http://www.filmmisery.com/?p=7500
On the list there are these TFF#38 possibles: "The Descendants," "The Iron Lady," "The Ides of March," "We Need to Talk About Kevin," and "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."  Other TFF #38 "maybes" on his list of other possible Best Picture nominations would be: "Drive," "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," "The Artist," "Moneyball," "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," (John Madden's new film, Fox Searchlight is involved) "Young Adult," "My Week with Marilyn," and "Carnage."

I also discovered that Scott Feinberg had his first attempt up a couple of weeks ago.  You can find that here:
http://scottfeinberg.com/2011projections1
Added films from the Feinberg list of Telluride interest that are not included in Film Misery's list: "Coriolanus" and"The Wettest County in the World."

And now for something completely different (and I feel OK about including this in the blog because it is such a Telluride Film Festival story)...In November 2009 I received an email from someone who actually read this blog in the run-up to TFF#36.  He said he enjoyed it and was an aspiring screenwriter, had some things working, etc. etc.  His name: Casey Twenter.  Would I want to read the script he was currently working on?  Me...I said sure.  Entitled "Rudderless," I read it, liked it and we struck up an email, twitter, facebook friendship.  Got to meet Casey last summer in Kansas City (during the National Speech Tournament).  We had lunch and a really pleasant discussion about film, and the background about how "Rudderless" had come to be up to that point.

Back in 2009, Casey (and his writing partner Jeff Robison) were looking for financing to independently produce the film.  Over the last year and a half, that effort has ebbed and flowed and taken on a number of different forms.  Now, it looks increasingly like the film will get made and not just out of Casey and Jeff's pockets and fund raising.  Some big, BIG names are already on board and there are other names in the mix.  Some of them I can talk about, some not.

The biggest reveal that I am allowed to pass on is that veteran actor/writer/director and Oscar nominee (for Fargo..which fits right in with this week's Coen Brothers musical rant that I've been on) William H. Macy has signed on to direct and produce.  You read that right.  WILLIAM H. MACY!

There are other Oscar nominee/winner types in talks for the male lead and the main female supporting character that I can't get into...yet. But it is all terribly exciting.  As things progress I'll pass it on when I can.

My hope is that "Rudderless" gets made, is great and in a Kharmic full circle ends up at Telluride's 39th Film Festival next year.

You can find the "Rudderless" IMDB page here:   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798243/
The "Rudderless" facebook page is here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Rudderless-The-Movie/194390831736

Again, as more information becomes available, I'll pass it along in this space.

Now...as you're almost certainly aware, we've had hints the last few days that the Coen Brothers next film might be a musical, which necessarily has caused me to speculate that if it were successful that we should go back and re-imagine their body of work in that light.  I've already made some suggestions for "Raising Arizona:The Musical" and "Fargo:The Musical. 

And now...the next Coen Brothers musical..."O Brother, Where Art Thou?" which is already got some music that you'll just have to include like: "Down to the River to Pray," and "Man of Constant Sorrow."  But because it'll be a big Broadway style musical it will have to include new musical numbers such as: "I'm with you Fellas," "Gopher, Everett?," "I'm a Dapper Dan Man," "Dumber than a Bag of Hammers," and "Damn, We're in a Tight Spot."

More Coen's musicals to come...