RIP Max Von Sydow / The History Continues #41 and #42

RIP MAX VON SYDOW

Photo from the BBC

Legendary Swedish actor Max Von Sydow died on Sunday, March 8th.  He was 90.  The venerable star was nominated for an Oscar twice.  Once for Best ACtor for Pelle the Conqueror in 1988 and for Best Supporting Actor in 2012 for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

Among hs numerous film credits were:


The Seventh Seal
Wild Strawberries
The Emigrants
The Exorcist
Three Days of the Condor
Pelle the Conqueror***
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Shutter Island
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close***
Echoes of the Past

Of course, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly played TFF in 2007.

Von Sydow's last film is Echoes of the Past which IMDb lists as being in post-production.


THE HISTORY CONTINUES

My project to complete the Expanded History section of this blog has continued with my recent additions of information for TFFs 41 and 42 (2014 and 2015).

Among the films that were screened at T-ride in 2014 were: Apocalypse Now (the film was a tribute recipient), Birdman, California Split, Foxcatcher, The Imitation Game, Leviathan, The Look of Silence, Two Days One Night, Wild and Wild Tales.


Guests included: Steve Carrel, Francis Ford Coppola, Laura Dern, Alejandro Inarritu, Tommy Lee Jones, Jon Stewart, Channing Tatum, Reese Witherspoon and tributee Hilary Swank.

2015 films included: 45 Years, Anomalisa, Beats of No Nation, Black Mass, Carol, He Named Me Malala, Room, Son of Saul, Spotlight, Steve Jobs and Suffragette.

Guests included: Laurie Anderson, Idris Elba, Cari Fukunaga, Todd Haynes, Michael Keaton, Brie Larson, Rachel McAdams, Seth Rogen, Aaron Sorkin, Meryl Streep and Kaye Winslet.

The new segments are on The Expanded Telluride Film Festival History Part Two: 1996-Present page of this blog.

Four more years to add...

EMAIL:  mpgort@gmail.com

TWITTER @Gort2 

MTFB's Facebook Page

MTFB is published on Mondays and Thursdays

New Toronto Titles Reveal No Telluride News / Views from Angelina Jolie's "By the Sea" / New Trailer for Cousins' Project/ I'm Official...Again

Thursday is here and so are you...thanks!

NEW TORONTO TITLES REVEAL NO TELLURIDE NEWS

The Toronto International Film Festival announced a number of new titles that were all from Canadian based film makers yesterday and were across a broad spectrum of that fests various programs.

Almost all of the films announced were labeled "World" or "North American" premieres.  The few that were labeled "International" or "Canadian" premieres all appear to have played their North American debuts at Sundance (Guy Maddin and Even Johnson's "The Forbidden Room" and Bruce McDonald's "Hellions") or have no real chance of being a part of the Telluride lineup.

Here's the linked coverage of Toronto's announcement yesterday:



http://variety.com/2015/film/news/toronto-film-festival-born-to-be-blue-into-the-forest-1201556975/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-canadian-film-lineup-showcases-813283

http://www.indiewire.com/article/toronto-international-film-festival-reveals-short-film-and-canadian-programs

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/tiff-first-looks-ellen-page-rachel-evan-wood-in-into-the-forest-ethan-hawke-in-born-to-be-blue-20150805

http://www.thewrap.com/toronto-film-festivals-canadian-program-includes-ethan-hawke-ellen-page-films/


VIEWS FROM ANGELINA JOLIE'S "BY THE SEA"

Photo from the set of "By the Sea" via Awards Daily

Here's a film that has only a very small potential to play at Telluride.  The romance starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and directed by Jolie hasn't been announced for any fest as yet and my guess is that it's an unlikely film fest entrant at best.

Scheduled for a Nov. 13th domestic release, if it does play at a festival, New York or AFI are probably the best bets. and even they seem weird.  New York has already named its three big films that are opening, closing and acting as its centerpiece and AFI Fest is the week of the film's release.

The strongest chance of a Telluride play is that Pitt is persuasive about T-ride after his 2013 "12 Years a Slave" experience.  That said, Universal, which is producing and distributing the film, doesn't have long/strong Telluride ties.

Nevertheless, Awards Daily has the first look at stills from the film via People here:


http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/08/first-look-at-angelina-jolie-and-brad-pitt-in-by-the-sea/


NEW TRAILER FOR COUSINS PROJECT

"Atomic" trailer via YouTube

I have been proceeding all summer with the notion in my head that we'd likely see Mark Cousins "I Am Belfast" documentary as a part of the Telluride lineup next month but another project that the prolific film maker has been working on may also make the T-ride grade either with "Belfast" or instead of.

Cousins has completed a BBC project entitle "Storyville: Atomic-Living in Dread and Promise" which focuses on the place that the atom has captured in our lives since the dawn of the proverbial "Atomic Age.

The Playlist posted a story yesterday looking at the project and its soundtrack and also introducing a trailer (see above).

The documentary is set to air on the BBC this week...but sounds like a golden opportunity for a Telluride screening.

Here's The Playlist post:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-trailer-for-mark-cousins-documentary-storyville-atomic-living-in-dread-and-promise-film-scored-by-mogwai-20150805


I'M OFFICIAL...AGAIN

For the fourth consecutive year, Michael's Telluride Film Blog has been accredited as an official entity covering the Telluride Film Festival.  My thinks to Shannon Mitchell, VP of Publicity, Richard Parkin, PR Coordinator and Kean Bauman, Lead Press Staff for the Fest for granting the accreditation.

As always, I will do my level best in the next month to prepare for and then  report on the 42nd edition of the Telluride Film Festival.  It's truly an honor and such a special experience.


That's all for today.  Tomorrow: a look at the latest "Ten Bets" list for TFF #42 as well as ruminations on the latest announced project for the Coen Brothers.  Stay tuned...

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

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

Tweet/Follow at me @Gort2 on Twitter

You can also message me on Facebook (and "Like" me too)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michaels-Telluride-Film-Blog-and-The-Film-Awards-Clearinghouse/107846269309712

A Look at Mr. Holmes/A Look at Lubezki/Step Right Up

Good Late Thursday morning to everyone...

Today's post is up a little later than usual due to weather issues here in the Great Plains.  Bouncing back today, though.


A LOOK AT MR. HOLMES

After its premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, the producers/distribs for Bill Condon's "Mr. Holmes" have set a June 19th date to open the film in the U.K. but no U.S. date is set as yet.  I still am hoping/campaigning for it to be a Telluride choice.

At any rate, a teaser/trailer has appeared.  It looks cool.

Here are links to some posts that include the trailer and have additional information:

http://time.com/3733028/mr-holmes-ian-mckellen-sherlock-sherlock-holmes-mitch-cullin/


http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-sherlock-holmes-tackles-an-unsolved-case-in-first-trailer-for-mr-holmes-starring-ian-mckellen-20150304


http://www.hitfix.com/harpy/ian-mckellen-playing-sherlock-holmes-is-the-casting-you-didnt-know-you-needed


A LOOK AT LUBEZKI

The last two Best Cinematography Oscars have gone to Emmanuel Lubezki and both for Telluride films: "Gravity" and "Birdman".

The Playlist, among others, has linked to a Vimeo supercut of the masters work.  It's also cool.  Look here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-breathtaking-supercut-celebrates-the-work-of-cinematographer-emmanuel-lubezki-20150304


STEP RIGHT UP

And perhaps you got this in your email earlier this week:

Join us for the 42nd Telluride Film Festival this Labor Day Weekend Friday, September 4th through Monday, September 7th, 2015.

Our online Box Office opens today Monday, March 2nd, 2015 at 9AM PST. You will need a headshot for your pass at the time of purchase — take the time now to scan that special shot, or better yet take a selfie with your camera phone. Any picture that is a close-up of your face will do.

If filling in information online gives you pause, use our downloadable form to complete your order. Available on our website, simply download the form, fill it out by hand and then mail your check and order form to Festival Headquarters. We'll still need those gorgeous photos.

If you have any questions on the best way to order your pass, or other general inquiries regarding the Festival, give us a call at 510.665.9494.

We are deeply grateful for your generosity and continuous support. Thank you, and see you at the SHOW!

That's right, passes went on sale for TFF #42.  It begins!

Here's the link to the official website for pass info:

http://www.telluridefilmfestival.org/show/passes

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

Telluride and Oscar in 2015/Already Oscar #88 Musings/News and Notes from Past Tellurides/Birdman Action Figure Commercial

Good Thursday everyone.

TELLURIDE AND OSCAR

As you might expect, I didn't shy away from mentioning on Monday that with "Birdman's" Best Picture Oscar win on Sunday night that Telluride has now hosted the Best Pic winner for the last five consecutive years and six of the last seven.

As you might also expect, I'm not the only one who noticed.  Kristopher Tapley, who, by the by, had the best prognostication record among the Oscar experts at 20/24 and who is an annual Telluride attendee, made note of it as well in this post that appeared earlier this week:


http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/birdman-oscar-win-again-proves-telluride-an-oscar-season-good-luck-charm


ALREADY OSCAR #88 MUSINGS

As expected, the body of the 87th Oscars isn't even cold yet, but Oscar detectives have already started mulling over the next edition with some fearless picks about what films could make the cut a year from now.  Their musings also give us some information to mull an=bout some of the films that could be programmed for TFF #42.  Check predictions from The Hollywood Reporter and The Chicago Sun Times:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-2016-predictions-best-picture-774353


http://entertainment.suntimes.com/movies/2016-oscars-guessing-game-begins/


NEWS AND NOTES FROM PAST TELLURIDES

I stumbled across a couple of interesting news bits this week that included past Telluride Film Festival connections.

The former President of the Maldives who was featured in the TFF documentary "The Isalnd President" has been arrested and charged with treason in the Maldives and Clark Terry, one of the musicians involved with the doc "Keep On Keepin' On" died.  Both of those stories are here from The New York Times and Time.com:


http://time.com/3718344/maldives-president-mohamed-nasheed-arrest-protests-charges-terrorism/


http://time.com/3718438/clark-terry-obit-jazz-trumpeter-educator/




BIRDMAN ACTION FIGURE FAUX COMMERCIAL

And finally, from the whimsy department.  A commercial exists for a Birdman action figure.  Check it here:

Rope of Silicon has the story:

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/watch-birdman-action-figure-commercial/


More on Monday...