The Invitations/Mystery Date/Blue is Very Blue?/Parkland Trailer/"Zero"-ing In

Good Thursday Everybody...Heaven opens for business in ONE WEEK...TFF #40!

THE INVITATIONS

With a week left to go I am wanting to make sure that everyone within the sound of this blog...so to speak...knows that I am issuing a number of invitations and reminders:

1) "THE GUIDE"-Come and visit, talk a little film, have a beverage and a nosh at The 3rd "Guide to the Ride".  It's an opportunity for us all to get together before the serious business of watching film until our heads spin.  "The Guide" will be hosted by Mitzi and Larry Mallard at The River Club in Telluride (550 Depot) at 5:00 pm on Thursday, Aug. 29.

Seriously, come and join us...it'll be fun.

2) RATE THE FILMS- For the second year MTFB is calling on you readers to share your impressions of the films you chose to watch during Labor Day weekend.  I call it "The People's Telluride".  Rate what you see on a 0-5 scale and send those ratings to me.  Email, DM, Facebook...whatever.  I'll collect and collate and report to everyone the week after the Festival concludes.  Also don't forget to check out "The Critic's Telluride".  Some very kind and generous people have agreed to rate the films they see as well:

Alex Billington/First Showing
Scott Feinberg/The Hollywood Reporter
Scott Foundas/Variety
Eric Kohn/IndieWire
Eugene Novikov/Film Blather
Sasha Stone/Awards Daily
Kristopher Tapley/HitFix/InContention

I have feelers out and would like to snag a couple of more of the "pros".  We'll see.

3) Bebop over to Screencraft.org (www.screencraft.org) during the fest.  I'll be posting there as well.  A daily summary of what is going on, impressions of the films I see and the buzz about the weekend.

MYSTERY DATE

Telluride.com tweeted out a link last night to a "Schedule of Special Events" for TFF #40.  Most of the items on that schedule are fairly routine for every festival but the first item listed...not so much.

A "Special Anniversary Celebration" is listed for Wednesday evening (Aug. 28) from 5:00pm to 6:30 at the Town Park Stage.  What is it?  We don't know...though I have heard some interesting rumblings.  If I can nail it down I'll be sure to post details.


Check here for the complete list of "Events":
http://www.telluride.com/blog/telluride-film-festival-schedule-special-events


BLUE IS VERY BLUE?

The Motion Picture Association of America ratings bulletin for this week includes an NC-17 rsing for Cannes Palme d'Or winner "Blue is the Warmest Color".  The word is that Sundance Selects, which is hadling the film here in the states, has determined that they won't appeal nor will they ask direcotr Abdellatif Kechiche to alter the film.

I am 90% convinced that "Blue" will be a part of the TFF #40 lineup when it is unveiled next Wednesday.

Links to the ratings stories below are from HitFix and The Hollywood Reporter:

http://www.hitfix.com/news/palme-dor-winner-blue-is-the-warmest-color-gets-nc-17-rating

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/blue-is-warmest-color-palme-609966



PARKLAND TRAILER

We have a trailer for Peter Landesman's "Parkland", a film that I've been intrigued by and that has a smal shot of being on next week's playbill.  "Parkland" focuses on the events surrounding JFK's assassination 50 years ago using the hospital where the wounded President was taken after the deadly shots were fired.

The cast is stellar featuring Billy Bob Thornton, Marcia Gay Harden, Paul Giamatti, Zac Efron and more.

We were treated to a trailer for the film yesterday:

I think it definitely looks interesting.  I have linked other stories that were posted about the trailer and the film from FirstShowing, Rope of Silicon and Thompson on Hollywood:

http://www.firstshowing.net/2013/compelling-trailer-for-jfk-assassination-ensemble-drama-parkland/

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/parkland-movie-trailer-jfk-assassination/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/parkland-trailer

"Parkland" is set for release on Sept. 20.  The "Parkland" IMDb is here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2345112/?ref_=sr_1


"ZERO"-ING IN

Terry Gilliam's "The Zero Theorem" remains just on the threshold of possibility for Telluride.  It is certainly set for Venice and consequently we saw yesterday afternoon the release of a poster and a director's statement from Gilliam about the film which stars Christoph Waltz.

I'd love for this to play...and I know that anumber of followers of this blog feel the smae way...still could happen.  Gilliam could play both T-ride and Venice.  There will be other films that do both this year.  "The Unknown Known" and "The Armstrong Lie" come to mind.

Keep a good thought.

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More on Friday including my latest "Ten (+) Bets" List...

Best of the Week/15 Films Looking for Home

Good Saturday to Everyone...

To quote Henry John Deucthendorf "Gee it's good to be back home again"...

BEST OF THE WEEK

Here's a rundown of the best material I posted from the last week:

This week's "Ten Bets"

1) Nebraska
2) The Invisible Woman
3) The Past
4) The Immigrant
5) Inside Llewyn Davis
6) Labor Day
7) The Story of Children and Film
8) Blue is the Warmest Color
9) The Unknown Known
10) The Lunchbox

No additions this week and minimal movement within these ten.

Lurking just below these "Ten Bets": "Aguirre: The Wrath of God", All is Lost" (which gets a little boost of confidence due to its mention yesterday as "likely" for Telluride in a HitFix post...see below), "12 Years a Slave", "Like Father Like Son", "Life Itself", "Quay d'Orsay", "Philomena", "Heli", "Only Lovers Left Alive", "The Good Lie".

NO NEWS IS…



Well, part of Big theory #2 didn’t pan out at all.  If you were reading last week, you know that I floated a theory that the Telluride Film festival was going to announce this year’s Guest Director (which is way past the usual time frame for announcing) during the week last week in a bit of “counter-programming” while the Toronto and Venice Fests were announcing the bulk of their lineups (though Toronto will announce more titles and Venice could as well).

If you noticed, no announcement from Telluride…so…you know…poop.

On the other hand, the second part of the theory is still alive and well and that is that TFF #40 has kept the identity of this year’s Guest Director under wraps because it is someone very, very BIG.

A couple of readers of the blog over the past few days have suggested Francis Ford Coppola as a possibility.  I’d say that’s certainly in the ballpark.  Coppola was feted at the first TFF as one of the three original tributes.  He’d certainly fill the bill in terms of being someone BIG.  No doubt, his programming choices would be incredibly interesting.

Personally, I still have a different vibe.  No real reason.  I certainly have no inside dope on this topic but I continue to think that this year’s GD might come from either music or politics.  Like I said last week, I have some very crazy ideas…

If you have some crazy idea about the Guest Director…drop me a comment/email and share that.

But, as of this moment, we still don’t know and we’re staring right into the maw of August…very, very odd.

NEWS FROM OTHER FESTS:

Announcements yesterday that Paul Greengrass' "Captain Phillips" will also open the BFI Fest (London) on Oct. 9.  The "Captain" is now set to open BFI, New York and the Tokyo Fests.  Below is the release from the BFI:

http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/announcements/captain-phillips-opens-57th-bfi-london-film-festival

Meanwhile, Venice film fest head Alberto Barbera revealed last week (as we expected) that they will announce a couple of other American films for the Venice lineup in the next few days.  Screen Daily has that story:

http://www.screendaily.com/news/venice-head-impressed-by-uk-films/5058687.article?referrer=RSS

Barbera also revealed a list of films that were possible Venice choices but that he says aren't ready. That list included: "Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street", Clooney's "The Monument Men", Lee's "Old Boy" and Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel".  That means that they're also not ready for Telluride and they can come off the wish list.  I would have really liked to have seen any of these over Labor Day weekend.

Among the films still being thought of as possible late additions to the Venice lineup (according to the Screen Daily post): "American Hustle", "The Counselor" and "Labor Day".  Again, the additions to lineup are expected in early August.

PARKLAND PICS

Paul Giamatti as Abraham Zapruder in "Parkland"

I have had about half an eye on Peter Landesman's "Parkland" for a good long while and though I haven't seen/heard anything that really makes me think it will be on the the Telluride lineup this year, the film still intrigues me.  It reportedly focuses on the ordinary people that were swept up in the events of Nov. 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas, especially at Parkland Memorial Hospital where the dying President was taken immediately after he was shot.  The cast is intriguing including Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton and (my Telluride buddy...OK, I spoke to her briefly in 2007 when she was there with "Rails and Ties") Marcia Gay Harden.

Brad Brevet/Rope of Silicon posted stills of the film which is scheduled to open Sept. 2oth after showing in Toronto.  It's not a ridiculous notion to think it might play Telluride first.

Here's the link to the ROS post:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/parkland-pictures-jfk-zac-efron-billy-bob-thornton/

And "Parkland's" IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2345112/?ref_=ttco_co_tt


WALTER HEADS TO NEW YORK

We saw the fantastic trailer earlier this week and in its wake yesterday came the announcement the Ben Stiller's "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" will be the centerpiece gala for this year's New York Film Festival.  That takes it off of any potential Telluride showing.  Kind of too bad because the trailer did look intriguing.  Of course, that's what trailers are supposed to do.

I have linked a couple of stories about the selection below:


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/secret-life-walter-mitty-screen-597985

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/ben-stillers-the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty-to-premiere-at-new-york-festben-stillers-the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty-to-premiere-at-new-york-fest

http://moviecitynews.com/2013/08/world-premiere-of-ben-stillers-the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty-as-the-centerpiece-gala-selection-for-the-51st-new-york-film-festival/


ALL IS TRAILERED

Telluride prospect, Cannes sensation and potential Oscar player "All is Lost" from J.C. Chandor and starring Robert Redford dropped an actual trailer yesterday.  Multiple links are posted below.  I got a good feeling about this playing Telluride and have had since it made its first splash at Cannes.  The HitFix post is also very bullish on its Telluride chances:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/the-trailer-for-all-is-lost-strands-robert-redford-out-at-sea

http://thedissolve.com/news/151-the-all-is-lost-trailer-robert-redford-sending-out/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-trailer-for-robert-redfords-shipwreck-drama-all-is-lost-20130801

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/all-is-lost-trailer

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/all-is-lost-trailer-robert-597998

"HUSTLE" UP A TRAILER

Yesterday I posted links to new pictures from David O. Russell's 1970's set, Abscam inspired "American Hustle".  The film stars Christian bale, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence.

I don't have this as a big possibility for a Telluride slot as much as I would like it to be true.  Still, it hasn't popped up on any other festivals announcement yet.  It's quite possible that it will avoid festivals altogether.

Wednesday "American Hustle" dropped a trailer into the universe.  Take a look at the post from Thompson on Hollywood:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/american-hustle-trailer-david-o-russell

DOCS IN TWO PLACES

Undeniably there will be a good deal of crossover in documentaries between the Telluride and Toronto festivals.  I continue to believe that Errol Morris will run from Venice to Telluride to Toronto with "The Unknown Known" among others.

Movie City News' David Poland talked to Toronto Doc programmer Thom Powers about the films that they announced this week on his DP30 segment.  Check it here:
http://moviecitynews.com/2013/07/dp30-via-skype-toronto-international-film-festival-doc-programmer-thom-powers-on-2013-docs/


CHILD'S POSE AND OSCAR

Berlin prize winner and Telluride possible "Child's Pose" has been chosen by Romania as its entrant for this year's foreign language competition.  The film has been very well received since its Berlin premiere (and I really do think it has a very real shot to play T-ride).

The Hollywood Reporter posted this story about the film's selection:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/best-foreign-language-oscar-romania-595458


15 FILMS LOOKING FOR A HOME

HitFix/InContention posted an interesting story yesterday that took a look at 15 films that are still looking for distribution but are playing a major fest and are also thought to have some awards potential.  The article also points at some of the 15 that they feel might make the Telluride lineup. Those films are:
Attila Marcel (dir. Sylvain Chomet)
Joe (dir. David Gordon Green)
The Railway Man (dir. Jonathan Teplitzky)
Serena (dir. Susanne Bier)

There are three other films among the 15 that they don’t tag with the “maybe Telluride” label that I would continue to include as outside possibilities:
Terry Gilliam’s “The Zero Theorem”
Kelly Reichardt’s “Night Moves” and
Matthew Weiner’s “You Are Here”.

Check they entire gallery with commentary at:
http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/15-potential-awards-players-still-looking-for-a-home



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Have a great weekend.  More on Monday.

Ten Bets/News from the Other Fests/Parkland Pics/Walter Heads to New York/All is Trailered

Good Friday Everyone!

I head back to the Oklahoma Panhandle today after a terrific time in Southern California visiting family. I'll be back at home tomorrow afternoon.

TEN BETS #6

Here's the sixth edition of the Telluride "Ten Bets" list.  These are 10 films that I feel very strongly are likely to play at this year's 40th Telluride Film Festival.  Last week's "Ten Bets" were:

1) Nebraska
2) The Invisible Woman
3) The Immigrant
4) The Past
5) Inside Llewyn Davis
6) Labor Day
7) The Unknown Known
8) The Story of Children and Film
9) Blue is the Warmest Color
10) The Lunchbox

This week's "Ten Bets"

1) Nebraska
2) The Invisible Woman
3) The Past
4) The Immigrant
5) Inside Llewyn Davis
6) Labor Day
7) The Story of Children and Film
8) Blue is the Warmest Color
9) The Unknown Known
10) The Lunchbox

No additions this week and minimal movement within these ten.

Lurking just below these "Ten Bets": "Aguirre: The Wrath of God", All is Lost" (which gets a little boost of confidence due to its mention yesterday as "likely" for Telluride in a HitFix post...see below), "12 Years a Slave", "Like Father Like Son", "Life Itself", "Quay d'Orsay", "Philomena", "Heli", "Only Lovers Left Alive", "The Good Lie".

NEWS FROM OTHER FESTS:

Announcements yesterday that Paul Greengrass' "Captain Phillips" will also open the BFI Fest (London) on Oct. 9.  The "Captain" is now set to open BFI, New York and the Tokyo Fests.  Below is the release from the BFI:

http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/announcements/captain-phillips-opens-57th-bfi-london-film-festival

Meanwhile, Venice film fest head Alberto Barbera revealed last week (as we expected) that they will announce a couple of other American films for the Venice lineup in the next few days.  Screen Daily has that story:

http://www.screendaily.com/news/venice-head-impressed-by-uk-films/5058687.article?referrer=RSS

Barbera also revealed a list of films that were possible Venice choices but that he says aren't ready. That list included: "Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street", Clooney's "The Monument Men", Lee's "Old Boy" and Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel".  That means that they're also not ready for Telluride and they can come off the wish list.  I would have really liked to have seen any of these over Labor Day weekend.

Among the films still being thought of as possible late additions to the Venice lineup (according to the Screen Daily post): "American Hustle", "The Counselor" and "Labor Day".  Again, the additions to lineup are expected in early August.

PARKLAND PICS

Paul Giamatti as Abraham Zapruder in "Parkland"

I have had about half an eye on Peter Landesman's "Parkland" for a good long while and though I haven't seen/heard anything that really makes me think it will be on the the Telluride lineup this year, the film still intrigues me.  It reportedly focuses on the ordinary people that were swept up in the events of Nov. 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas, especially at Parkland Memorial Hospital where the dying President was taken immediately after he was shot.  The cast is intriguing including Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton and (my Telluride buddy...OK, I spoke to her briefly in 2007 when she was there with "Rails and Ties") Marcia Gay Harden.

Brad Brevet/Rope of Silicon posted stills of the film which is scheduled to open Sept. 2oth after showing in Toronto.  It's not a ridiculous notion to think it might play Telluride first.

Here's the link to the ROS post:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/parkland-pictures-jfk-zac-efron-billy-bob-thornton/

And "Parkland's" IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2345112/?ref_=ttco_co_tt


WALTER HEADS TO NEW YORK

We saw the fantastic trailer earlier this week and in its wake yesterday came the announcement the Ben Stiller's "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" will be the centerpiece gala for this year's New York Film Festival.  That takes it off of any potential Telluride showing.  Kind of too bad because the trailer did look intriguing.  Of course, that's what trailers are supposed to do.

I have linked a couple of stories about the selection below:


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/secret-life-walter-mitty-screen-597985

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/ben-stillers-the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty-to-premiere-at-new-york-festben-stillers-the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty-to-premiere-at-new-york-fest

http://moviecitynews.com/2013/08/world-premiere-of-ben-stillers-the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty-as-the-centerpiece-gala-selection-for-the-51st-new-york-film-festival/


ALL IS TRAILERED

Telluride prospect, Cannes sensation and potential Oscar player "All is Lost" from J.C. Chandor and starring Robert Redford dropped an actual trailer yesterday.  Multiple links are posted below.  I got a good feeling about this playing Telluride and have had since it made its first splash at Cannes.  The HitFix post is also very bullish on its Telluride chances:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/the-trailer-for-all-is-lost-strands-robert-redford-out-at-sea

http://thedissolve.com/news/151-the-all-is-lost-trailer-robert-redford-sending-out/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-trailer-for-robert-redfords-shipwreck-drama-all-is-lost-20130801

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/all-is-lost-trailer

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/all-is-lost-trailer-robert-597998


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Check out the "Best of the Week" tomorrow.