Goodbye, Norma Jean/Lonergan in Play/Twixt Trailer Makes Waves/Guy Lodge Weighs In

Waiting...

GOODBYE, NORMA JEAN

The New York Film Festival announced yesterday that Simon Curtis' "My Week with Marilyn" starring Michelle Williams will be their "Centerpiece Gala."  The Weinstein Company's decision to place it there all but takes it out of the Telluride conversation.

Admittedly, "Marilyn's" chances at being a part of the TFF #38 lineup were always shaky at best.  For my money the TWC focus for Telluride may solely be focused on "The Artist."  Despite the news two days ago that it had been selected to play the Montreal World Film Festival, I still have a strong sense that the Cannes favorite will play in the San Juans in a month.

You can check out various versions of this story from...
Anne Thompson/Thompson on Hollywood/IndieWire:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/08/04/my_week_with_marilyn_starring_williams_goes_to_new_york_fest_weinsteins_fac/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Sasha Stone/Awards Daily:
http://www.awardsdaily.com/2011/08/my-week-with-marilyn-centerpiece-for-the-new-york-film-fest/



My Week with Marilyn's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1655420/

LONERGAN IN PLAY

Matt Damon and Anna Paquin in"Margaret" via The Playlist

A good deal of Telluride speculation has erupted around the interwebs about Kenneth Lonergan's "Margaret" as a possible addition to the program at Telluride.   all this has blown up in the last few days after the announcement that the film was going to have a release date.  Matt Damon and Anna Paquin star.  The release is set  for Sept. 30 according to the story from The Playlist at IndieWire.  You can see that here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/kenneth_lonergans_long_awaited_margaret_with_matt_damon_anna_paquin_hits/

Ioncinema, among others were tweeting along these lines:

ioncinema (@ioncinema)

8/3/11 9:10 PM

"Wondering whether Telluride or TIFF will sneak in Kenneth Lonergan's Margaret --- would make sense."
 
So put it in play as a Telluride possible.
 
Margaret's IMDB page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0466893/
 
 
TWIXT TRAILER

 
Francis Ford Coppola's all over the web with this trailer for his new experimental live mix/mashup goth/historic thriller  "Twixt" which has garnered some Telluride speculation from Kristopher Tapley at Incontention.com.
 
Not to be outdone, but perhaps late to the party, MTFB has this link from First Showing.net to the trailer for your perusal:
 
http://www.firstshowing.net/2011/watch-first-extended-festival-trailer-for-francis-ford-coppolas-twixt/

Twixt's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1756851/

GUY LODGE WEIGHS IN

"The Ides of March"   One of Guy Lodge's Best Film Predictions

Guy Lodge over at Incontention.com has weighed in with his first, very early Oscar speculation.  I have included it below with asterisks beside the potential nominees which I feel have the greatest chance of being unveiled in Telluride over Labor Day weekend.  I have used a + sign for those films I think have some chance to be at Telluride.

You can read Guy's prep story here:
http://incontention.com/2011/07/28/starting-the-prediction-game/

 Best Picture

“The Artist”*
“The Descendants”*
“The Ides of March”+
“Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”+
“The Tree of Life”
“War Horse”



Best Director

Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”*
George Clooney, “The Ides of March”+
Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris”
Terrence Malick, “The Tree of Life”
Steven Spielberg, “War Horse”

Best Actor

George Clooney, “The Descendants”*
Leonardo DiCaprio, “J. Edgar”
Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”*
Gary Oldman, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”+
Michael Shannon, “Take Shelter”

Best Actress

Glenn Close, “Albert Nobbs”*
Olivia Colman, “Tyrannosaur”
Elizabeth Olsen, “Martha Marcy May Marlene”
Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady”
Tilda Swinton, “We Need to Talk About Kevin”*

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh, “My Week With Marilyn”+
Albert Brooks, “Drive”*
Colin Firth, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”+
Philip Seymour Hoffman, “The Ides of March”+
Christopher Plummer, “Beginners”

Best Supporting Actress

Bérénice Bejo, “The Artist”*
Jessica Chastain, “Take Shelter”
Anjelica Huston, “50/50”+
Vanessa Redgrave, “Coriolanus”*
Shailene Woodley, “The Descendants”*

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

“The Descendants”*
“Drive”*
“The Ides of March”+
“Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”+
“War Horse”

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

“The Artist”*
“Bridesmaids”
“Martha Marcy May Marlene”
“Midnight in Paris”
“Take Shelter”

More tomorrow...

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!

First Look at Iron Lady/What Oscars New Rules Could Have Changed/Rinko Gets a Job/Film Companies and T-ride

Good Morning Peeps!

FIRST PEEK AT "THE IRON LADY"

One of the possible films for Telluride with a considerable amount of buzz already is "The Iron Lady" starring Meryl Streep as British PM Margaret Thatcher.  Buzz because a lot of Oscar handicappers think that this might be the role that earns Streep her third Oscar.  I've detailed in this space reasons that it could be in the TFF#38 lineup (it's a Weinstein project, Oscar buzz, Streep is a past TFF Tributee) .  Now comes the first teaser/trailer of the film at FirstShowing.net.  It's modestly entertaining. Here's the link:

http://www.firstshowing.net/2011/must-watch-first-teaser-trailer-for-the-iron-lady-with-meryl-streep/

OSCARS NEW RULES-WHAT THEY MIGHT HAVE CHANGED

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced new rules for Best Picture nominations on June 15.  Now the folks at HitFix have done some detective work to make some retro-predictions about what would have happened if those rules had been in place from 2001-2008 (2009 and 2010 had 10 nominations under what are now superseded rules).  HitFix starts their analysis with the revelation from the Oscar accountants, Price Waterhouse, that had the new rules been in effect during those years that no year would have produced 10 Best Picture nominations but that years with 5,6,7,8 and 9 nominations would have happened.

It's fascinating stuff if you're an Oscar watcher, which this blog becomes once the Telluride Film Festival  (and Venice and Toronto) concludes.

That article is here:
http://www.hitfix.com/galleries/new-oscar-rules-who-would-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-2001-2008

REMEMBER HER IN BABEL

The very first film I ever saw at a Telluride Film Festival was in 2006 when I stood in line at the Chuck and got into see "Babel."  We had no idea at the time what we were in for in as far as the festival or the film was concerned.  Kris and I stood in line with a young guy who was part of the underwriting company for the film.  He thought he might be in the credits.  We were so impressed.  Then we go in and the MC introduces Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, himself, and he introduces the film.  Kris and I looked at each other, realizing at that moment that we had been allowed to be a part of something very, very special.

Two acting Oscar noms came out of that film both for Supporting Actress: Adrianna Barraza (who, whimsically, Kris was mistaken for on the Gondola ride back to Telluride) and Rinko Kikuchi (pictured above) who, for my money should have won the Oscar that year (Jennifer Hudson won for Dreamgirls).

Now comes word that Kikuchi has been cast in the lead for the big budget Guerillmo Del Toro's "Pacific Rim."  Kikuchi has been virtually undetectable to American audiences since Babel.  This new role will likely change that.  "pacific rim" is set to be released in July of 2013.

The link to The Playlist story announcing the casting is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/babel_oscar-nominee_rinko_kikuchi_bags_female_lead_in_guillermo_del_toros_p/

ANOTHER BRITISH FILM COMPANY AND TELLURIDE

Recently I've been back tracking the slate of films from the past 4-5 years of Telluride Film Festivals in an effort to correlate to whatever degree possible past  participation from film companies and if it tells us anything about what we might expect to see this year.  Today I'm looking at BBC Films which has had a substantial presence in that time period...well, really, the last couple of years.

2009: An Education, Fish Tank, Bright Star
2010: Tamara Drewe, The First Grader

2011 possibles: We Need to Talk About Kevin and My Week with Marilyn.  Both of these could be on the Telluride film lineup.  Both Tilda Swinton (Kevin) and Michelle Williams (Marilyn) will likely be in the Best Actress conversation this year.  I'd place a higher likelihood on seeing "Kevin" at T-ride.

Have a great Thursday everybody!

More Companies and their Telluride connections

"The Artist" has a chance to be at Telluride

A slow day around the interwebs about much of anything that rings a bell as far as the Telluride Film Festival is concerned.  Really, no good nuggets to share at this point. 

We had the last call for submissions for the festival this week with the deadline for student and short films passing yesterday and the deadline for feature film submissions looming on July 15.  And,of course, the Festival announced its guest director for 2011 this week.  It is Brazilian musician Caetano Veloso. 

We do have time, then to look at three more film companies that have had a presence at the festival recently and see what's in their respective quivers for possibles for this year.

FRANCE 3 CINEMA

2007: Persepolis, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
2008: I've Loved You So Long
2009: The White Ribbon
2010: Of Gods and Men, The Princess of Montpensier, The Illusionist

In play for 2011: The Artist and We Have a Pope.

Analysis:  Both films could be on the Telluride list.  Both were featured at Cannes.  "The Artist" had a better critical response and therefore, I think, has the greater chance of playing at T-ride. "Artist" had a cumulative 2.6 rating from participating critics in Ioncinema's poll that was held as Cannes was unfolding.  "We Have a Pope" had a 2.1.  Intuitively, I really think that "The Artist" is very likely to be at this year's Telluride Film Festival.

CANAL+

Canal+ has also had a substantial presence at Telluride recently:

2007: Terror's Advocate, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
2008: Flame and Citron, I've Loved You So Long
2009: Coco Before Chanel, A Prophet, The White Ribbon, Farewell
2010: The Illusionist,The Princess of Montpensier, Of Gods and Men, Carlos

Potential 2011 films at Telluride: Pater, Melancholia, The Kid with a Bike, We Have a Pope.

Analysis: "Pater" suffered from the same lukewarm response at Cannes that "We Have a Pope" did.  Lars Von Trier burned a lot of goodwill with his antics about Nazism during the Cannes fest.  So I have all but discounted "Melancholia" which leaves "The Kid with a Bike."  It WAS well received critically at Cannes (2.9 on the Ioncinema critics board)  and the Dardennes Brothers films have often played at Telluride.  I think it is very likely to be on the lineup on Labor Day.

UK FILM COUNCIL

Again, this company has been a frequent player at Telluride in the last five years...

2006: Venus, The Last King of Scotland, Severance
2007: When Did You Last See Your Father, Brick Lane
2008: Happy-Go-Lucky
2009: Bright Star, Fish Tank
2010: The First Grader, Tamara Drewe, Another Year

Possibles in 2011 include: The Iron Lady, My Week with Marilyn and Wuthering Heights

Analysis: I think all three films are 50/50 possibilities at best.  My strongest sense right now for any of them is for "Wuthering Heights" from director Andrea Arnold but even that is tepid.

Have a good Independence Day holiday everyone!

Big Day/The WeinsteinCo./Steven Soderbergh Maybe?

Steven Soderbergh's "Contagion" Could it be at TFF #38?

BIG DAY ON THE BLOG

Yesterday turned out to be a crazy day for this blog.  Very busy.  I was planning two separate posts anyway.  One, a long piece focusing on the presence over the last 5 years of Sony Pictures Classics and Fox Searchlight at the Telluride Film Festival. 
The second post, also lengthy, was a review for the new film "Missing Pieces" (so new that it's still looking for distribution).  So it was going to be the most involved day of the summer insofar as the blog was concerned to begin with. 
Then, mid-afternoon, the surprise word that the Festival had chosen and announced their Guest Director for this year...Brazilian musician Caetano Veloso.  Suddenly, I had a third post to get out quickly and a re-write of the first big post to include the breaking story. 
Whew!  Got it all done but it was a strain.  At the end of the day, it was one of the "most viewed" days in the three year history of this endeavor.  Thanks!

ANOTHER COMPANY ON THE PROWL AT T-RIDE

After looking at Fox Searchlight and SPC yesterday, I thought we might evaluate another company that has been something of a player at Telluride.  I reference none other than The Weinstein Company...Harvey Weinstein's shingle now that he's not with Miramax.  There participation the past 5 years hasn't been as involved as SPC, but the films they have had as a part of past TFF's have made a mark.  Look:

2007: "The Band's Visit," "Persepolis," "My Enemy's Enemy" and "I'm Not There"
2008: No TWC at TFF
2009: "The Road,"
2010: "The King's Speech"  (Won 4 Oscars: Picture, Actor, Director, and Screenplay)

Harvey has learned to come to Telluride and play with one or two films and you have to believe after the rousing success that was TKS last year that he'll try to repeat that with one or two pictures.
Currently it seems that there are 5 TWC films that could fit the bill ( with a caveat of a possible 6th or even 7th): "The Iron Lady," "My Week with Marilyn," W.E." "The Artist," and "Coriolanus."  The possible 6th could be "The Wettest County in the World." but IMDB lists it as a 2012 release.  The 7th could be "Le Havre"  which had a hint last week that it would be picked up by TWC, but to the best of our knowledge, that hasn't happened yet. 
What are the chances for each of these? 
At this point I'm guessing Harvey goes for two to play at TFF #38 but if he pushes only one there, my best bet is Cannes favorite "The Artist."   It's a mostly silent, black and white film but from all reports, it's a charmer.  There is even a good deal of early speculation that it could be in the Best Picture mix come Oscar night.  I really think it makes the cut.
After that I have no strong feelings about the rest of the TWC field.  At this point I'd say the next most likely is "Coriolanus" followed by "My Week with Marilyn,"  and "The Iron Lady."  I think there is virtually no chance that we'll see Madonna's "W.E." at Telluride.  Of course this guestimate could all change in a flash.  I personally think there's an excellent chance that "Le Havre" makes the list whether its under the TWC banner or not.

STEVEN SODERBERGH WHERE ARE YOU?
I haven't mentioned Soderbergh's two films ("Contagion" and "Haywire")  that have been bandied about as possible awards fodder because Soderbergh has no history with Telluride.  A report from The Playlist at Indiewire on the Soderbergh films has underscored the fact that this year is likely to be no different.  Reports are that "Haywire" has been bumped to 2012 for release and that "contagion" will be released Sept. 9...just 4 days after the Festival closes. 
That story is here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/pacific_rim_gets_july_12_2013_date_steven_soderberghs_contagion_moves_up_to/


Though it doesn't mean it's impossible for "Contagion" to be a part of Telluride's lineup...it may make it less likely.  It may mean that the film doesn't play at any of the big three festivals.

Anderson's"The Master" Caster/Weinstien's Oscar Play Dates/Barton Fink:The Musical

Early art for a poster for "The Master"

Just a couple of notes to pass along today.

NEW CAST MEMBERS FOR PT ANDERSON PROJECT

Variety reported last night additions to the cast for what apparently is now officially entitled "The Master," Paul Thomas Anderson's first film since 2007's brilliant "There Will Be Blood." (Best Film of the Aughts).
Already cast were Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams in the film that explores the genesis of a modern day belief system said to be not unlike Scientology.  Added cast members announced last night are Josh Close and Fiona Dourif.  The post from the PT Anderson fan site Cigarettes and Red Vines is here:
http://cigsandredvines.blogspot.com/2011/06/2-more-join-to-cast-film-now-officially.html

Various sources have it released in 2012 or 2013.  I'll be following it as I think it will be on the short list of Telluride possible films for TFF #39 or #40...
It's IMDB page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1560747/

WEINSTEIN SETS RELEASE DATES

The Weinstein Company has established release dates for four films that it has and I expect will be pushed in various ways for Oscar success.  The four films: "The Artist," "The Iron Lady," "Coriolanus," and "My Week with Marilyn."  All four are on our Telluride watch list and,  according to the article from The Playlist, all four have dates that would accommodate a Telluride screening.  I would expect that 2 of the 4 will end up in the San Juans and that the most likely is "The Artist."  As to the other three...I'd bet one of them also shows at The SHOW, but at this point I don't have any feel for which of the three is the most likely.
The Playlist article is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/weinsteins_set_oscar_dates_for_the_iron_lady_coriolanus_my_week_with/

TODAY'S COEN BROTHERS FILM AS MUSICAL: BARTON FINK!
Song titles from this sure to be a crowd pleaser: "That Barton Fink Feeling," "It's a Wallace Beery Wrestling Picture," "Wall Paper Melancholy," and "If the Girl in the Picture Would Just Turn Around."

The Wettest County???

Shia LaBeouf and extras on the set of "The Wettest County in the World"

A really interesting post from The Hollywood Reporter yesterday about the upcoming Oscar race.  That article necessarily includes a ton of films that I've put on the Telluride film watch list.  Including: "The Artist'" "Young Adult," "The Descendants," "The Ides of March," "The Iron Lady," "Moneyball," "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," "My Week with Marilyn," "Carnage," and new to the discussion in the article is John Hillcoat's ("The Road'" "The Proposition,") "The Wettest County in the World."

 "Wettest County" is listed by IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212450/) as having a 2012 release date but author Greg Kilday apparently thinks there is at least some possibility that it might be in play for a 2011 Oscar qualifying run.  Hillcoat's presence at Telluride in 2009 and The Weinstein Company's participation make it a possibility if it's ready for a run at TFF #38.

You can see all of Kilday's article here:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-2012-why-meryl-streep-197024

Meanwhile, as obsessed as I am becoming with the new Paul Thomas Anderson project, I noticed this post from The Playlist yesterday which hints that the next Coen Brothers project may include a serious music component...a Coen Brothers Musical?  What would that be like?  Here's a link to that article as well:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/the_coen_brothers_say_they_are_working_on_a_new_music-based_film/

Another film to stalk incessantly for the next few months...YES!  And maybe I can compose the score  for some of the Coen's past films.  After all, if this new thing is a success, why not "Raising Arizona:The Musical"  featuring such hits as: "Boy, You Got a Panty on Your Head," "Not Unless Round is Funny,"  "The Huggies Shuffle," and the show stopping closer, "Maybe It Was Utah."

I can see it now...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBVesAXZPzA

Some Films Reconsidered for TFF #38

Ralph Fiennes modern version of Shakespeare's "Coriolanus"

Kris Tapley at Incontention.com has his first stab at Oscar contenders up and it makes us pause and take another look at some films that we have previously mentioned as Telluride possibles but are currently lost in the fog that surrounds the upcoming Cannes Film Festival (starting up a week from today).

You can find Tapley's entire initial Oscar Contender list at:

http://incontention.com/the-contenders-best-picture/

On his list we are reminded of the following that might make their way to TFF #38:

"Carnage" with Jodie Foster, Christoph Waltz, Kate Winslet and John C. Reilly. Based on Yasmina Reza's award winning play (God of Carnage) and directed by Roman Polanski. You have to think that this could be a big time contender for Oscar next February. Although IMDB has it scheduled to release in 2012. The fact that it is set to be distributed by Sony Pictures Classics raises its profile as a possible Telluride film.

"Coriolanus" directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes. Also starring Gerard Butler, Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life), Vanessa Redgrave and Brian Cox in one of Shakespeare's least produced plays. From The Weinstein Company...which you figure has to have at least one film play at Telluride.

"The Descendants" Despite having not been chosen for Cannes, you still have to think that Alexander Payne's first directorial effort since 2004's "Sideways" is still a pretty good bet to be in Telluride. Also, it's a Fox Searchlight project...so that boosts its chances too.

"My Week with Marilyn" Michelle Williams as Norma Jean from The Weinstein Company.

And the Jason Reitman/Diablo Cody collaboration starring Charlize Theron, "Young Adult."

In the "still wishful thinking dept." Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar, " Martin Scorsese's "Hugo Cabret," and George Clooney's "The Ides of March."

Next week, Cannes and the critical response to what's happening there...