Variety Begins to Focus

Brad Pitt and co-stars in Terrance Malick's "The Tree of Life"

Variety's Pamela McClintock and Nick Vivarelli posted a large article yesterday that talks about all three September fests (Telluride, Toronto, Venice)...

The link is here:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118022115.html?categoryid=1061&cs=1&query=toronto+telluride+venice

Among the highlights...

Confirmation that David O. Russell's "The Fighter" WILL NOT be at Telluride or anywhere else, for that matter, quoting: "Paramount, for example, has decided not to take David O. Russell's "The Fighter" to Venice, Toronto or Telluride. That's because the film -- toplining Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale -- doesn't open until Dec. 10, and Par feels it would be too hard to keep up the momentum."

Also, some good news and a line about Malick's "The Tree of Life." Again quoting: "If there's a bright spot for Venice, Telluride and Toronto, it's that there should be a glut of premium product to choose from, since a number of films weren't ready in time for the Cannes Film Festival.
One such film that everyone expected to turn up at one of the fall fests was Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life," starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. But there are rumblings the film still isn't ready."

An interesting inclusive list: "Sofia Coppola's "Somewhere," Julian Schnabel's "Miral," Tom Hooper's "The King's Speech," Ben Affleck's "The Town" and Kelly Reichardt's "Meek's Cutoff" have been tipped for Venice, and could turn up in Toronto and Telluride as well."

An encouraging note about Sean Penn would seem to foreshadow "Tree" and/or Doug Liman"s "Fair Game"...quoting: "For a time, Sean Penn steered clear of Toronto or Telluride, but then had such a good experience with "Into the Wild" that he's far more amenable now to both."

Finally, another hint about Julian Schnabel's post World War II Freida Pinto starrer, "Miral." :

"Telluride is the hip, rich uncle who lives tucked away in a remote corner of the Rockies that's difficult to get to. And because the lineup isn't unveiled until the fest begins, there's less media in attendance. Rather, Telluride is about garnering critical acclaim.
Filmmaker loyalists include Schnabel, whose "Miral" could easily show up at Telluride this year."

All in all, a terrifically intriguing post.

Venice/Toronto Speculation

The Cast of the Coen Brothers version of True Grit

Indie Wire has a post up with 40 films that they say have a shot at either/or Venice and Toronto. You have to also figure a chunk of them end up in Telluride...

Here's the link:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/toronto_venice_wish_list_40_new_films_to_hope_for/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed

On the list that we'd love to see in Colorado in 5 weeks: 127 Hours, Miral, Hereafter, The Tree of Life, True Grit, The Tempest, The Fighter, and The Way Back...

Uncle Boonmee...Maybe Not

Another pic from "Uncle Boonmee." He can remember his past lives, but he may not know how to get to Telluride!

In Contention.Com reports that Strand Releasing has picked up the distribution for Cannes Palme D'Or winner "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives". That actually may portend a decrease in the chances that it will unspool in Telluride in 8 weeks.

It's not absolute, but the last Strand film I saw listed at a TFF was 2005's Lemming.

And Telluride doesn't always program the Palme winner. Cannes winner from 2008, "The Class" didn't play...sooo...maybe no Boonmee in the San Juans.

In other news...SPC has picked up "Life, Above All" which created a good deal of stir at Cannes. It was generally well received critically (earning a collective "B" average). This probably increases its chance of being a part of TFF #37. SPC also has "Inside Job" and "Of Gods and Men" making them prime suspects for Telluride inclusion.

Lots of quiet surrounding the following: "True Grit," "The Tempest, " "Love and Other Drugs," "Miral," "Biutiful," "The Social Network," "The Descendants," "Eagle of the Ninth," "Conviction," "Brighton Rock," Howl, " and "127 Hours." So keep them hanging around in the "maybe" column.

Also, not much recently about Malick's "Tree of Life." There had been a good deal of back and forth about its readiness prior to a speculated appearance as a part of the Venice Film Fest...included in that has been some spirited disagreement as to whether Venice is the target or not. As we have said here before, Venice inclusion doesn't automatically mean that a film won't play Telluride ("Life During Wartime" and "The Road" did both last year)...it's just that the overlap between these two festivals is very small.