The FAC #3 Part Two/Interviews: The Coens, Penn and Teller/The Past Trailer/Gravity's Companion

Good Thursday Everyone...

Here's the second part of the latest Film Awards Clearinghouse focusing on Supporting Acting and Screenplays.

I use the publicly posted predictions of these Oscar experts:

Sasha Stone/Awards Daily

Kris Tapley/HitFix-InContention

Anne Thompson/Thompson on Hollywood

Peter Knegt/IndieWire

Alex Carlson/Film Misery

Nathaniel Rogers/Film Experience

Scott Feinberg/The Hollywood Reporter

Clayton Davis/Awards Circuit

Brad Brevet/Rope of Silicon

The position on the last FAC is in parenthesis.  Telluride #40 films are Bold.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

1) Michael Fassbender/12 Years (2)

2) Jared Leto/Dallas Buyers Club (1)

3) Tom Hanks/Saving Mr. Banks (3)

4) Barkhad Abdi/Capt. Phillips (5)

5) Daniel Bruhl/Rush (4)

6) James Gandolfini/Enough Said (6)

7) Bradley Cooper/American Hustle (7)

8) Jonah Hill/Wolf of Wall Street (NR)

9) John Goodman/Inside Llewyn Davis (10)

10) Jeremy Renner/American Hustle (8)

Drop Out: Matthew McConnaughey

Hot: Jonah Hill

Not: Renner

Comment:

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

1) Lupita Nyong’o/12 Years (2)

2) Oprah Winfrey/The Butler (1)

3) June Squibb/Nebraska (3)

4) Julia Roberts/August: Osage County (4)

5) Jennifer Lawrence/American Hustle (5)

6) Margo Martindale/August: Osage County (8)

7) Octavia Spencer/Fruitvale Station (6)

8) Sally Hawkins/Blue Jasmine (7)

9) Carey Mulligan/Inside Llewyn Davis (9)

10) Sarah Paulson/12 Years (NR)

Drop Out: Amy Adams

Hot: Martindale

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

1) 12 Years a Slave (1)

2) Captain Phillips (2)

3) Before Midnight (3)

4) August; Osage County (4)

5) Philomena (5)

6) The Wolf of Wall Street (6)

7) Blue is the Warmest Color (8)

8) Labor Day (7)

9) Short Term 12 (9)

10) The Book Thief (10)

No drop outs.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

1) Blue Jasmine (3)

2) Inside Llewyn Davis (1)

3) Nebraska (2)

4) American Hustle (4)

5) Her (5)

6) Saving Mr. Banks (7)

7) Gravity (6)

8) Fruitvale Station (9)

9) The Butler (8)

10) Enough Said (NR)

Drop Out: Dallas Buyers Club

Hot: Blue Jasmine

Eight Telluride #40 films have a presence in this edition of the FAC led by "12 Years a Slave".

"12 Years": Six "Noms": Picture, Direction, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress and Adapted Screenplay.  Also a new "possible": Sarah Paulson for Best Supporting Actress.

"Nebraska": Four "Noms": Picture, Actor, Supporting Actress and Original Screenplay. "Possible" for Direction.

"Inside Llewyn Davis": Three "Noms": Picture, Direction and Adapted Screenplay.  "Possibles" for Actor, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress.

"Gravity": Three "Noms": Picture, Direction and Actress and one "Possible" for Original Screenplay.

"All is Lost": Two "Noms": Picture and Actor.  One "Possible" for Direction.

"Blue is the Warmest Color" has two "Possibles": Actress and Original Screenplay.

"Labor Day" has two "Possibles": Actress and Adapted Screenplay.

"The Past" has one "Possible" for Actress.

Total for Telluride films in the Big Eight Categories: 18 "Nominations" and 12 "Possibles".  Three weeks ago those numbers were: 18 "Noms" and 10 "Possibles".

Among non-Telluride films, Paul Grengrass' "Captain Phillips" has five "Noms" and  David O. Russell's "American Hustle" has four "Noms" and four more "Possibles".  "august: Osage County" and "Saving Mr. Banks" also appear strong as they each would have three "Noms" and two other "Possibles".

The film with the most "Possibles" and no expected nominations is Ryan Coogler's "Fruitvale Station" with four "Possibles".

Next Monday, I'll take a look at how The FAC stacks up to The Gold Derby website and also "The Gurus of Gold" from Movie City News.

INTERVIEWS:

Kris Tapley of HitFix/InContention talks to Joel and Ethan Coen about "Inside Llewyn Davis"...The soundtrack is playing in stereo in my office as I type this.

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/joel-and-ethan-coen-discuss-inside-llewyn-davis-long-time-collaborations-and-the-allure-of-new-york

Meanwhile, Beth Hanna of Thompson on Hollywood talks "Tim's Vermeer" with Teller...

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/teller-speaks-talking-wondrously-mind-boggling-art-doc-tims-vermeer


THE PAST TRAILER

Asghar Farhadi's "The Past" now has a U.S. trailer.  Rope of Silicon posted that here:

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/past-official-u-s-movie-trailer-berenice-bejo/

GRAVITY'S COMPANION

Alfonso Cuaron's son, Jonas, co-wrote the film with his father and also directed a short film that played at Telluride as well.  It is a companion piece to "Gravity".  If you haven't seen the film, you may want to wait until you catch it before taking a look at the short which you'll find in any of the following posts:

CriticWire:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/criticwire/gravitys-companion-short-aningaaq-finally-hits-the-web

The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-jonas-cuarons-7-minute-gravity-spin-off-short-aningaaq-in-full-20131120

The Hollywood Reporter:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gravity-spinoff-watch-side-sandra-657919

Rope of Silicon:

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/watch-jonas-cuarons-gravity-companion-piece-short-film-aningaaq/


More on Monday...

Nebraska Footage/Fassy Talks Evil/Teller Speaks (Some More)/Starred Up Picked Up

Good Monday to Everyone...hope you had a very good weekend...Here's some Telluride Film Festival related news...

NEBRASKA FOOTAGE

Paramount Pictures posted what they purport is exclusive looks at Alexander Payne's "Nebraska" on iTunes since my Thursday post.  You can take a look at that here:

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/paramount_vantage/nebraska/

I think that "Nebraska" is continuing to float just below the tide created by "12 Years" and "Gravity" as is Llewyn Davis" and that both films are likely to pick up steam as we move through the rest of November and into December.  Frankly, I agree with Awards Daily's Sasha Stone that "Nebraska" is going to be embraced more warmly by the Academy than most of the Oscar prognosticators think.  It'll definitely be on my top ten list at the end of the year...maybe even top five...

FASSY TALKS EVIL (and other things)

"12 Years a Slave" co-star Michael Fassbender, who stars as the malignant Edward Epps in Steve McQueen's masterpiece (yup...said it...masterpiece...quote me Fox Searchlight!) talked to Gold Derby recently about his role in the film.  Academy members...please give him the Best Supporting Actor Oscar...thank you..that is all...

http://www.goldderby.com/news/5013/12-years-a-slave-michael-fassbender-entertainment-news-29384751.html

TELLER SPEAKS

I've written in this space previously that one of the most electrifying moments of this year's festival was at the Q&A following "Tim's Vermeer" when Teller (who directed) spoke.  Audible gasps could be heard in the capacity crowd at the Chuck Jones theater.  It was very, very cool.

Well, Teller, as you might expect, has continued as the documentary about inventor Tim Jenison's obsession with the art of Johannes Vermeer edges closer to its release- Dec. 6th (limited).

The Wrap's Screening series focused on the Penn and Teller doc this week.  Listen to Teller here:

http://www.thewrap.com/tims-vermeer-teller-penn-jillette-tim-jenison-wrap-screening-series

STARRED UP PICKED UP

Every year there are films that you hear a lot of buzz about that you just can't get to.  One of the films that fell into that category this year was David Mackenzie's prison drama "Starred Up".  I heard a lot of good stuff but could just never get it worked into my schedule.  Now, it seems I may still get a chance as Tribeca Films has landed the North American distribution for the film.  BroadwayWorld.com has the story:

http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmovies/article/Tribeca-Film-Acquires-North-American-Rights-to-British-Drama-STARRED-UP-20131107


More on Thursday...Have a good week everyone...

Telluride Day Two/Day Three TBAs and Sneaks

Telluride Day Two…

This is the eighth SHOW I’ve attended and I’ve had some wondrous experiences but Friday might take the cake.

I began the day with the tribute to Robert Redford which was wonderful.  An hour or so of clips which reminded me of so much great work that Redford has done and also made me want to re-watch some of my personal favorites: “All the President’s Men”, “A River Runs Through It” which he narrated and directed, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”…many others.  The clip reel was followed by an entertaining Q&A led by John Horn of the Los Angeles Times.

Robert Redford

Following the tribute, I caught Penn and Teller’s documentary “Tim’s Vermeer”.  The film focuses on Texas inventor Tim Jenison and his search for a way to replicate the complex painting style of Johannes Vermeer.  Sounds pretty dull, but nope.  In fact, it’s the second most enthusiastic reception for a film I’ve seen this weekend.  Penn Jillette produced; Teller directed a film that ends up with an audience rooting for Tim to be successful.  The emotion was no doubt heightened by the presence of Mr. Jenison in the theater.

Then I caught J.C. Chador’s sophomore effort, the highly anticipated “All is Lost” starring Redford.  Redford plays “Our Man” a nameless guy who is sailing solo in the Indian Ocean.  Things go awry and quickly spiral out of control.  Soon “Our Man” is in desperate straits and all alone.  The man vs. the elements story is tight.  I wrote via Twitter “All is Lost” is simple, spare, beautifully shot and Redford acts his ass off”.   It really may be the legend’s finest film performance…and with almost no dialogue.

 Brad Pitt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong'o and Michael Fassbender

I ended the day with sneak preview showing of Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave”.  McQueen as well as stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o and star/producer Brad Pitt were in attendance.  The film is incredible.  Following the film there came a standing ovation for the director and cast as they took the stage for a brief Q&A.  Reactions from across the board Friday night were effusive in praise for McQueen, the cast, John Ridley’s screenplay.  I tweeted “The Oscar race might be over.  Ejiofor, Fassbender and Nyong’o shine.  McQueen is genius.”

Other comments: Jeff Wells/Hollywood Elsewhere called it “Masterful, tender and eloquent”.  Eric Kohn/IndieWire called it “maybe the best movie about slavery ever”.  Alex Billington/FirstShowing said, “A profound cinematic achievement on every level”.  Greg Ellwood/HitFix said, “Powerful…a stunning turn by Chiwetel Ejiofor”. 

There are a number of mentions of probable Oscar nominations.  You have to think McQueen, Ridley, Ejiofor, Fassbender, Nyong’o and, of course Best Picture.  Also score, costumes seem likely to me at least.

My final analysis of “12 Years a Slave”…transcendent film making that seems to me to be in a class with “Schindler’s List”. 

Day Three will include the Coen Brothers tribute and Ralph Fiennes “The Invisible Woman” and more.

More from Telluride tomorrow.

SATURDAY TBAs and SNEAKS

Prisoners                  Palm/Sat 8:30a

A father (Hugh Jackman) goes ballistic trying to punish the suspected abductor (Paul Dano) of his daughter and another girl, while running afoul of the diligent cop (Jake Gyllenhaal) working the case. Sounds like countless hours of TV procedural-cop dramas? Nope. Director Denis Villeneuve (INCENDIES, TFF 2010), working from Aron Guzikowski’s fiendishly inventive script, reaches Dostoyevskian depths, creating a terrifying, morally ambiguous universe where ordinary human decency faces the harshest of tests. The superb supporting cast includes Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, and Melissa Leo. It may surprise you that Hollywood genre moves can still be this good. (U.S., 2013, 158m) In person: Denis Villeneuve



Prisoners Q&A                 Palm/Sat 8p



12 Years a Slave           Chuck Jones Cinema/Sat 8p

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

12 Years a Slave    Q&A    Werner Herzog/Sat noon

3 All Is Lost CJC/Sat 11p

15 Tim’s Vermeer Masons/Sat 6p   

7 The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden  Le Pierre/Sat 12:30p             

19 Fifi Howls from Happiness   Q&A Le Pierre/Sat 9p  

Conversation

4p Elks Park

Steve McQueen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o with Scott Foundas

The Secret Life/More from Toronto/Magic in Telluride?

Good Wednesday to Everyone...

THE SECRET LIFE...

A lot of buzz emerged yesterday surrounding the trailer for Ben Stiller's "The Secret life of Walter Mitty" which I have read isn't so much a remake of the Danny Kaye classic as a re-imagining of the James Thurber story.  Reportedly there's a good deal of belief that the film has some under the radar awards potential.  Frankly, I don't give it much of a chance of being a selection for the Telluride Fest.  It certainly doesn't have any real Telluride signatures, but you never know.  "Argo" didn't really either and you know what happened there.

At any rate, here a number of links to posts with the trailer for the film.  At last word the studio had taken the trailer down from YouTube so you'll want to go to one of the below to look at it:

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty-trailer-is-here/

 http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/watch-first-trailer-for-ben-stillers-oscar-hopeful-the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty

 http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-ben-stiller-takes-the-red-one-in-surprising-trailer-for-the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty-20130730

MORE FROM TORONTO

The Toronto International Film festival announced a bunch more titles yesterday in a variety of their sections.  Documentaries included work from Errol Morris and Mark Cousins who both are very likely to present their work in T-ride beforehand.  In Morris' case, I expect him to run the Venice-Telluride-Toronto trifecta. 

Again, I have posted a number of links to Toronto stories/posts from yesterday:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/tiff-reveals-international-documentary-line-up-thom-powers-talks

 http://www.ioncinema.com/news/film-festivals/2013-tiff-vanguard-section-grabs-highly-anticipated-preems-from-aja-cattet-forzani-brillante-mendoza

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-eli-roth-hitoshi-matsumoto-595143

 MAGIC IN TELLURIDE

Word came yesterday that Sony Pictures Classics had acquired the rights to "Tim's Vermeer" a documentary about the attempt to discern how Vermeer achieved the kind of photo-realistic art that he achieved.  The film is directed by Teller of "Penn & Teller".  As SPC has nabbed it and we're still 4 weeks away from the festival, I think there's a chance that it shows.  Penn Gillette, Teller's partner is a producer for the film which is good as one imagines a rather strained Q&A session after the film is presented since Teller's schtick is to remain silent.  May, if it plays, Penn steps in to answer questions.

Here's the story from Thompson on Hollywood:



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More on Thursday...