New York Announces...What's It Mean?/Inside Llewyn Music/Palo Alto Pics/A Look at The Fifth Estate/Reminders!

Good Tuesday All...things are moving and shaking as we get down under 10 days left until TFF #40.

NEW YORK ANNOUNCES...WHAT'S IT MEAN?

The New York Film Festival announced its lineup complete yesterday.  The NYFF organizers had previously announced their Opening -"Captain Phillips", Closing- "Her" and Special Gala-"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty".  Yesterday they added 32 films to the lineup.

The NYFF usually has a good deal of overlap with Telluride and I expect that this year that will be no different.

In 2010 the two fests shared: "Another Year", "Carlos", "Inside Job", "Le Quattro Volte", "Of Gods and Men"and "Poetry"(6).

In 2011: "The Descendants", "A Dangerous Method", "A Separation", Footnote", "George Harrison: Living in the Material World", "Goodbye First Love", "Le Havre", "Pina", "Shame", "The Artist", "The Kid with a Bike" and "The Turin Horse" (12).

In 2012: "Amour", "Barbara", ""Frances Ha", "The Gatekeepers", ""Ginger and Rosa", "Hyde Park on Hudson"and "No" (7).


So, as you can see, we could reasonably expect to see anywhere from 6-12 films in Telluride that are on the list that the NYFF announced yesterday.  Here's the lineup:

The complete list of main slate films announced on Monday for the New York Film Festival appears below:

ABOUT TIME
Director: Richard Curtis

ABUSE OF WEAKNESS (Abus de Faiblesse)
Director: Catherine Breillat

ALAN PARTRIDGE
Director: Declan Lowney

ALL IS LOST
Director: J. C. Chandor

AMERICAN PROMISE
Directors: Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson

AT BERKELEY
Director: Frederick Wiseman

BASTARDS (Les Salauds)
Director: Claire Denis

BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR (La Vie d’Adèle)
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche

BURNING BUSH (Hořicí Keř)
Director: Agnieszka Holland

CHILD OF GOD
Director: James Franco

GLORIA
Director: Sebastián Lelio

THE IMMIGRANT
Director: James Gray

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

THE INVISIBLE WOMAN
Director: Ralph Fiennes

JEALOUSY (La Jalousie)
Director: Philippe Garrel

JIMMY P: PSYCHOTHERAPY OF A PLAINS INDIAN
Director: Arnaud Desplechin

THE LAST OF THE UNJUST (Le Dernier des Injustes)
Director: Claude Lanzmann

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON (Soshite Chichi ni Naru)
Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda

THE MISSING PICTURE (L’Image Manquante)
Director: Rithy Panh

MY NAME IS HMMM… (Je m’appelle Hmmm…)
Director: agnès B

NEBRASKA
Director: Alexander Payne

NOBODY’S DAUGHTER HAEWON (Nugu-ui ttal-do anin Haewon)
Director: Hong Sang-soo

NORTH, THE END OF HISTORY (Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan)
Director: Lav Diaz

OMAR
Director: Hany Abu-Assad

ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE
Director: Jim Jarmusch

THE SQUARE
Director: Jehane Noujaim

STRANGER BY THE LAKE (L’Inconnu du Lac)
Director: Alain Guiraudie

STRAY DOGS (Jiao You)
Director: Tsai Ming-liang

A TOUCH OF SIN (Tian Zhu Ding)
Director: Jia Zhangke

LE WEEK-END
Director: Roger Michell

WHEN EVENING FALLS ON BUCHAREST OR METABOLISM (Când se Lasa Seara Peste Bucuresti sau Metabolism)
Director: Corneliu Porumboiu

THE WIND RISES (Kaze Tachinu)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki

From that list there are films that we're already pretty confident about appearing at TFF #40:

"All is Lost", "Blue is the Warmest Color", "The Immigrant", "Inside Llewyn Davis", "The Invisible Woman", "Nebraska".  So six in total that I'm pretty confident about.  If there were to be more than six, and I think there will be; what are the other most likely cross-overs between TFF and NYFF?

My best guesses would include:

"At Berkeley", "Burning Bush", "Gloria", "Like Father, Like Son", "Only Lovers Left Alive", "Stranger by the Lake", "Le Weekend" and "The Wind Rises".

If I was forced to, my guess is that this year would end up with about 10 crossovers, the six I'm pretty sure about plus 4 more from the secondary list.

Here are a series of links to massive coverage of the announcement from the New York Fest from

The Film Society of Lincoln Center (the NYFF people): http://www.filmlinc.com/daily/entry/nyff-new-york-film-festival-main-slate-announced

The New York Times: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/19/new-york-film-festival-announces-its-main-slate/

Awards Daily: http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/official-new-york-film-festival-lineup/

HitFix/InContention: http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/2013-new-york-film-festival-line-up-unveiled-inside-llewyn-davis-the-wind-rises-and-more

The Hollywood Reporter: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-york-film-festival-announces-
608936

Thompson on Hollywood: http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/nyff-inside-llewyn-davis-coen-brothers

The Playlist: http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/new-york-film-festival-inside-llewyn-davis-nebraska-the-immigrant-more-round-out-2013-slate-20130819

The Wrap: http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/coen-brothers-alexander-payne-james-gray-coming-new-york-film-fest-111636

Rope of Silicon: http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/complete-2013-new-york-film-festival-line-up/


INSIDE LLEWYN MUSIC

The Coen Brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis" is currently sitting at # 4 on my "Ten Bets" list.  I'm pretty sure we're going to have the opportunity to catch it at Telluride and I'm very, very excited.  Nevertheless, New York City gets a special "Llewyn" program on Sept. 29th.  That evening Town Hall in NYC will host "Another Day, Another Time" a concert centered on the folk music that is at the heart of "Llewyn Davis".  Artists such as Joan Baez, Jack White and Gillian Welch are on board as well as "Llewyn" cast members Carey Mulligan, Oscar Issac and John Goodman.

Reportedly cast member Justin Timberlake will  not be making an appearance.  Timberlake is scheduled to perform that evening in London.

The concert will  be one of  a series associated with the film and is being done to raise funds for the National Recording Preservation Foundation.

Who's wrangling this?  None other than T. Bone Burnett who handled the music for The Coens' "O Brother Where Art Thou?"

Check the coverage of yesterday's announcement here:

HitFix: http://www.hitfix.com/news/jack-white-marcus-mumford-avett-bros-set-to-play-inside-llewyn-davis-concert

Awards Daily: http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/another-day-another-time-celebrating-the-music-of-inside-llewyn-davis-sept-29-nyc/

The Hollywood Reporter: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/inside-llewyn-davis-team-announce-608986

The Wrap: http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/jack-white-perform-inside-llewyn-davis-concert-no-justin-timberlake-111711


PALO ALTO PICS

I wrote yesterday that James Franco as apparently let slip that Gia Coppola's "Palo Alto" has made the Telluride lineup via Twitter and Instagram yesterday.  Now, today, comes a serious look at stills from that film via The Playlist.  Take a look at the post which also includes stills from Franco's own directorial effort "Child of God":

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/new-images-from-james-francos-child-of-god-adaptation-of-his-book-palo-alto-starring-emma-roberts-20130816

"Palo Alto" is described as a dark drama focused on the lives of a group of teens.

AND A LOOK AT THE FIFTH ESTATE

The Playlist and Rope of Silicon also put up stills from Bill Condon's "The Fifth Estate" the story of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Bruhl and Laura Linney.  I still am holding my breath that this film is annonced as part of the TFF #40 lineup on Aug. 28th...or shows up as a "sneak" over the weekend.

The Playlist story is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/new-images-from-james-francos-child-of-god-adaptation-of-his-book-palo-alto-starring-emma-roberts-20130816

Rope of Silicon:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/first-poster-for-wikileaks-thriller-the-fifth-estate-starring-benedict-cumberbatch-and-daniel-bruhl/

REMINDERS!

Don't forget your invitation to this year's "Guide to the Ride" featuring yours truly.  We're set up for 5:00 pm Thursday, Aug. 29th at The River Club, 550 Depot in Telluride.  I promise we'll be done to get to the Thursday night feed downtown or make a 6:00 o'clock film.

Also...don't forget to send me your film ratings.  0-5 with 0 being awful.  Email them, Tweet or DM me, Facebook... or just comment here on the blog.  You can do it as the fest goes along or all at once after it's all over.  It'll take me about a week to get that all collated.

Remember that I'm doing the same thing with a select group of industry watchers, Oscar experts and critics including:

Alex Billington/FirstShowing

Scott Feinberg/The Hollywood Reporter

Scott Foundas/Variety

Eric Kohn/IndieWire

Eugene Novikov/Film Blather

Kristopher Tapley/InContention-HitFix

Sasha Stone/Awards Daily

I'm still working for and hoping to add another two or three folks to this lineup.  You'll want to check their reactions from  the festival.

A third reminder: I'll be writing daily summaries this year fro Screencraft.org.  The plan is a quick overview of key films on Wednesday, Aug. 28th when the lineup is announced and then a summary of film news, scuttlebutt, reaction and buzz each evening of the fest.  Look for that at www.screencraft.org.

And finally...

I posted my "Wish List" of films on Friday.  What's on your Telluride "Wish List"?  Drop me a line or two in any way that's convenient for you.  Let me hear what you'd like to see.


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More on Wednesday...

On Salinger/Herzog's Latest/The Fifth Estate Needs a Lawyer?/The Book Thief Gets a Date

Good Tuesday Everybody...16 Days Until Nirvana...

ON SALINGER

Yesterday I posted the speculation form Ioncinema that the documentary "Salinger" might make the stop in Telluride.  I observed that I had some doubts mostly due to the fact that the film opens 4 days after the festival closes which seems to me to be insufficient time for the doc to benefit from the Festival appearance.

Word cam to me yesterday on background that the film is definitely NOT going to be on the T-ride program.  Let me tell you that I trust the source so don't plan on seeing it in the San Juans on Labor Day weekend.

HERZOG'S LATEST FILM

I don't think you'll be seeing Werner Herzog's latest project in Telluride in two weeks...which normally would be an insane statement as Herzog's latest is almost always on display in T-ride.  Not this, however.  Herzog has directed and anti-texting and driving short film for a collection of phone entities.  Take a look at the story via AdAge.com:
http://adage.com/article/creativity-pick-of-the-day/werner-herzog-s-anti-texting-driving-documentary/243583/?qwr=FullSite

Thew film is entitled "From One Second to the Next" and you can view it at the above address.

THE FIFTH ESTATE NEEDS A LAWYER

The Hollywood Reporter posted last week that Dreamworks was girding up for legal challenges arising from the Wikileaks/Julian Assange picture "The Fifth Estate".  The film was directed by Bill Condon and stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Bruhl and Laura Linney.  I still am holding onto a thin read of hope that the film could still pop up at Telluride.

Here's the link to the THR story:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-prepares-fight-wikileaks-fifth-595743

THE BOOK THIEF GETS A DATE

An intriguing film has landed square in the middle of awards season.  "The Book Thief" starring Geoffrey Rush has been set for release on Nov. 15.  Kris Tapley at InContention/HitFix reports that the film will fore go festivals altogether.  Seems a little odd to me as it probably could have benefited from some fest exposure as it has been flying way under the radar up until now.  Check Tapley's story here:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/fox-quietly-positions-the-book-thief-from-downton-abbey-director-brian-percival-in-the-middle-of-awards-season


MERYL IN SUPPORTING

Regarded as one of the biggest Oscar stalking horses for the upcoming season, "August: Osage County" was the focus of a lot of stories yesterday that Meryl Streep may be campaigned in the Supporting Actress category rather than lead.  If you know the stage play and you know that Streep is playing Violet Weston then you know that seems weird.  Violet and the role of Barbara (Julia Roberts) are clearly co-leads.  Still, I wouldn't be all that surprised.  Again, Tapley's take from InContention/HitFix:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/will-meryl-streep-be-campaigned-for-best-supporting-actress-in-august-osage-county

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More on Wednesday...

Best of the Week/Wells Speculates

Good Saturday...hope your weekend has gotten off to a great start!

BEST OF THE WEEK

WELLS SPECULATES...MIND BLOWN

Jeff Wells/ Hollywood Elsewhere tweeted enigmatically the link to this bit of Telluride #40 speculation:
"All is Lost"
"Inside Llewyn Davis"
"Blue is the Warmest Color" and
"Captain Phillips"

Hope he's right.

Here's the link to his post from yesterday:
http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2013/07/homework-assignment/

 TEN BETS #4

Not much movement in the "Ten" this week.  Anxiously waiting for the Toronto and Venice fests to announce lineups next week and see how that news impacts the thinking about Telluride.

This week's Ten Bets:

1) Nebraska
2) The Invisible Woman
3) The Unknown Known
4) The Story of Children and Film
5) The Past
6) The Immigrant
7) Daughter of the Dawn
8) Labor Day
9) Blue is the Warmest Color
10) Aguirre: The Wrath of God

Just below the "Ten": "The Lunchbox", "Like Father Like Son", "Life Itself", "Only Lovers Left Alive", "12 Years a Slave", "Quai d'Orsay", "Heli", "Philomena" and "The Selfish Giant".  With the Jeff Wells speculation from Thursday add "Inside Llewyn Davis", "Captain Phillips" and "All is Lost" as additional possibilities.

Also be looking out for SPC additions (reportedly) "Foxcatcher" and "Jodorowsky's Dune" as possibles.

DEADLINE DAY

http://www.telluridefilmfestival.org/film_entry

Monday was the deadline for submissions to the Telluride Film Festival.  I have been told on occasion that some of the "higher-ups" in the TFF hierarchy actually take a look at this space from time to time.  I'm not sure I believe that but I'd like to.  So, in that spirit, here's my list of 20 films that I'd sure like the Telluride Film Festival to consider programming.  Some of these I'm very sure will play.  Others don't have a snowball's chance of being in San Miguel County on Labor Day but it's a "wish list" (most with some kind of clip or trailer)of sorts so...

And to those film makers out there that are responsible for the films on this list...come on...apply...(of course, I fully realize that there are sometimes "late additions" to the Telluride lineup...that's OK too).

In alphabetical order they are:

"12 Years a Slave"- Steve McQueen's third feature following "Hunger" and "Shame" tells the true story of a free black man taken slammed into slavery and his struggle to regain that freedom.  Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender lead a massive and talent-laden cast.  Rumors are strong that it will play the Venice fest.

"All is Lost"- J.C. Chandor's follow-up to "Margin Call" features Robert Redford, a boat and the ocean...and not much dialogue.  It played at Cannes out of competition and was rapturously received.  Lot of buzz for Redford vis-a-vis awards season.

"American Hustle" -David O. Russell is on a hot streak.  "Silver Linings Playbook" last year and "The Fighter" in 2010.  "AH" is a true story of political corruption that features a phenomenal cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro from "SLP" and Christian Bale and Amy Adams from "Fighter" plus throw in Jeremy Renner.

"August: Osage County"-Meryl Streep leads the all star cast in this adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning play about a dysfunctional Oklahoma family.  Other cast mates: Julia Roberts, Ewan MacGregor, Chris Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch and Sam Shepard.

"Captain Phillips"- Tom Hanks plays the real life Captain of the U.S. ship hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009.  Paul Greengrass directs.

"The Counselor"- Ridley Scott (?) directs an original Cormac McCarthy script abut a lawyer who gets in over his head when dealing with the illicit drug trade.  The cast is intriguing: Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz.

"Dallas Buyers Club"- Matthew McConnaughey looks to continue his current acting winning streak with this true story of a homophobic Texan who contracted AIDS in 1986 and his attempts to find ways to treat it.  Jean-Marc Vallee (The Young Victoria) directs.Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner also star.

"The Fifth Estate"- Director Bill Condon's take on Julian Assange and the development of WikiLeaks.  Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Bruhl and Laura Linney star.

"Foxcatcher"- Bennett Miller has directed two straight winners: "Capote" and "Moneyball".  I'm hopeful that "Foxcatcher" will give him a hat trick.  "Foxcatcher" is another true story (notice that there are a lot of those on this list?).  This focuses on millionaire John DuPont and his murder of Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz.  Mark Ruffalo, Steve Carell and Channing Tatum star.

"Gravity"-Alfonso Curaon is back.  The director finally follows up his 2006 gem "Children of Men" with another sci-fi piece.  Now, I really liked "Children of Men" but Frankly was just lukewarm about this "lost in space" story starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney...most Bullock I understand.  That is until I saw the teaser...now, I'm kind of hot to see the film.

"Her" Spike Jonze directs, Joaquin Phoenix acts in a story about a men in love with his computer's operating system.  Yes.  Plus a lot of beautiful talented women: Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, Rooney Mara and Olivia Wilde.  The combo of Jonze and Phoenix is a enough for me.

"The Immigrant"  James Gray's story of a young women trapped in a bad life in 19th century America with Marion Cotillard Jeremy Renner and Joaquin Phoenix.  I've been hot to see it since they teased it last year at TFF#39.

"Inside Llewyn Davis"-The Coen Brothers ode to music (folk music specifically) was roundly applauded at Cannes.  The buzz is very, very good.  Oscar Issac stars as the title character who appears to be a struggling New York folk musician in the early 60's.  Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, F. Murray Abraham and Justin Timberlake co-star.  This might be the #1 film on this fall's "must see" list.

"Labor Day"- I sure hope that Jason Reitman returns to Telluride.  I enjoyed "Juno" and "Up in the Air" and a brief conversation with Reitman both times.  This project sounds intriguing.  Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin star.  Brolin's on the run from the law whose path crosses with Winslet's character.

"The Monuments Men"- George Clooney and company save art from Nazis.  Clooney directs, stars and co-wrote the film which also features Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman, Bill Murray and Jean Dujardin.  Come on back to Telluride George!

"Nebraska"- Alexander Payne's story of a father-son road trip to claim a potential fortune.  Bruce Dern and Will Forte star (see story below).

"Out of the Furnace"- Scott Cooper follows "Crazy Heart" with this hard scrabble film about a man looking for justice for his brother.  Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson and Zoe Saldana star.

"The Past"-Berenice Bejo won Best Actress at Cannes in May in this film from "A Separation's" Asgahr Farhadi.  "A Separation" was one of the best films of 2011.  If this story of domestic difficulties is remotely in the same ball park, it should be worth our time.

"The Wolf of Wall Street"-Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio team up yet again for this true story of high finance, crime and corruption.  McConnaughey and Dujardin are both in this as well in addition to Jonah Hill and Jon Favreau.

"The Zero Theorem"-Terry Gilliam playing at satirizing our world with Christoph Waltz in the lead...yes please...in Telluride please.

Late word from this weekend is that director Terry Gilliam has confirmed that "The Zero Theorem" will be playing at the Venice Fest.  The Playlist reports:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/terry-gilliam-says-the-zero-theorem-headed-to-venice-film-festival-jessica-chastains-eleanor-rigby-also-rumored-20130714

SCHILLER'S 2FERS

Friend of the blog Chris Schiller tweeted out an interesting thought this weekend.  He speculated on some possible TFF#40 "2fers".  People that might star in 2 films showing as a part of the SHOW.  Last year Mads Mikkelsen fit that bill being in both "A Royal Affair" and "The Hunt" (see below, by the way).

Schiller's tweet:

2fer predictions/hopes for #TFF40 Benedict Cumberbatch(THE FIFTH ESTATE, AUGUST:OSAGE COUNTY) Tilda Swinton(THE ZERO THEOREM, ONLY LOVERS…)

So that got me to thinking, "what other '2fers' could pop up?" Not that they will or that I think that they will, but, you know, what could? Here's the list I came up with:

Michael Fassbender: "The Counselor' and "12 Years a Slave"
Joaquin Phoenix: "Her" and "The Immigrant"
Christian Bale: "Out of the Furnace" and "American Hustle"
Amy Adams: "American Hustle" and "Her"
Jeremy Renner: "American Hustle" and "The Immigrant"
Tom Hanks: "Captain Phillips" and "Saving Mr. Banks"
Matthew McConnaughey: "Dallas Buyers Club" and "The Wolf of Wall Street"
Daniel Bruhl: (actually a 3fer): "A Most Wanted Man", "Rush" and "The Fifth Estate"
Jean Dujardin; (also a 3fer): "The Monuments Men", "The Wolf of Wall Street" and "Mobius"
George Clooney (kind of a 3fer): "The Monuments Men", "Gravity" and producing "August: Osage County"
And this note...Cumberbatch also a "3fer" as he appears in "12 Years a Slave".

Who else? Drop me a line if there are others that you can think of that are "2fers" or more!

12 YEARS TRAILER

It dropped last night, the first trailer for Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave".  I have multiple links to stories with the trailer attached:

HitFix:
http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/12-years-a-slave-trailer-drops-with-looks-at-chiwetel-ejiofor-brad-pitt-and-michael-fassbender

The Hollywood Reporter:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/12-years-a-slave-trailer-585636

FirstShowing:
http://www.firstshowing.net/2013/must-watch-steve-mcqueens-12-years-a-slave-theatrical-trailer/

The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-trailer-for-steve-mcqueens-twelve-years-a-slave-starring-chiwetel-ejiofor-michael-fassbender-more-20130715

Awards Daily:
http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/12-years-a-slave-trailer-and-screencaps/

The Wrap:
http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/chiwetel-ejiofor-gets-sold-slavery-first-12-years-slave-trailer-video-103401

Rope of Silicon:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/12-years-a-slave-trailer-and-poster-premiere/

THE FIFTH ESTATE TRAILER

Much as "12 Years a Slave" did the other day, we had a trailer drop late last night for Bill Condon's "The Fifth Estate" starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Bruhl and Laura Linney.

I have thought this had promise and some Telluride possibilities because of Condon's and Linney's presence and I still do.  After seeing the trailer, I'm even more eager.  Here it is via YouTube:

I have also linked to a number of posts from early this morning that included the trailer as well:

The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-trailer-for-the-fifth-estate-starring-benedict-cumberbatch-as-julian-assange-20130717

FirstShowing:
http://www.firstshowing.net/2013/benedict-cumberbatch-as-julian-assange-in-the-fifth-estate-trailer/

Rope of Silicon:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/fifth-estate-wikileaks-official-trailer-pictures/

Movie City News:
http://moviecitynews.com/2013/07/trailer-the-fifth-estate-aka-the-wikileaks-movie/

"The Fifth Estate" opens Oct. 11th or 18th depending on which website you believe.

DOMESTIC COUNSELOR TRAILER

A new domestic trailer for Ridley Scott's "The Counselor" is making the rounds.  I have stories linked here through The Playlist, FirstShowing and Rope of Silicon:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-new-teasers-for-the-amazing-spider-man-2-ridley-scotts-the-counselor-feature-fresh-footage-20130718

http://www.firstshowing.net/2013/watch-another-seductive-new-trailer-for-ridley-scotts-the-counselor/?uid=8264cacf1f1cdc13fee895bdf87a2b0bc913f67c

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/counselor-official-trailer-michael-fassbender/

It will be interesting to see where this film lands next week when Venice and Toronto begin announcing their lineups.


BLUE SAGA CONTINUES

Pete Hammond at Deadline.com and Keuth Jagernauth at The Playlist reported late yesterday that, despite some serious efforts to change the outcome, Cannes Palme d'Or winner "Blue is the Warmest Color" is still ineligible for Best Foreign Language Oscar consideration.  The film is set to open in France (its home country) 9 days after The Academy's deadline.  U.S. distributor Sundance Selects has it set for here on Oct. 25.

Maybe of more importance to the concerns of this blog space is the unsurprising reveal that the film has been submitted to Telluride (and Toronto and New York).  I've thought that its chances of a T-ride play were pretty good and now with the confirmation that it was submitted, I feel that its even a bit more likely.

Check the stories here:

Deadline:
http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/oscars-sundance-selects-rejected-in-plea-to-make-cannes-palme-dor-winner-eligible-for-foreign-language-academy-award/

The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/cannes-hit-blue-is-the-warmest-color-sets-fall-release-date-academy-wont-bend-rules-to-allow-oscar-consideration-20130717

HitFix:
http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/sundance-selects-fails-in-plea-against-blue-is-the-warmest-color-oscar-ineligibility

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More on Monday...Have a good weekend!

The Fifth Estate Trailer/Werner and Errol/Mandela Teaser Trailer

Good Wednesday Everyone...

THE FIFTH ESTATE TRAILER

Much as "12 Years a Slave" did the other day, we had a trailer drop late last night for Bill Condon's "The Fifth Estate" starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Bruhl and Laura Linney.

I have thought this had promise and some Telluride possibilities because of Condon's and Linney's presence and I still do.  After seeing the trailer, I'm even more eager.  Here it is via YouTube:

I have also linked to a number of posts from early this morning that included the trailer as well:

The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-trailer-for-the-fifth-estate-starring-benedict-cumberbatch-as-julian-assange-20130717

FirstShowing:
http://www.firstshowing.net/2013/benedict-cumberbatch-as-julian-assange-in-the-fifth-estate-trailer/

Rope of Silicon:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/fifth-estate-wikileaks-official-trailer-pictures/

Movie City News:
http://moviecitynews.com/2013/07/trailer-the-fifth-estate-aka-the-wikileaks-movie/

"The Fifth Estate" opens Oct. 11th or 18th depending on which website you believe.

WERNER AND ERROL

TFF regulars and board of advisor members Werner Herzog and Errol Morris have been making the rounds to promote the Josh Oppenheimer's documentary "The Act of Killing" which showed prominently at last year's festival.  The two men acted as producers of that film.  Here they are talking about that film with Thompson on Hollywood:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/werner-herzog-errol-morris-act-of-killing-video-interview-vice

I fully expect both men to be a part of Telluride's 40th celebration.  Herzog gets the new Town Park/Hockey Pavilion venue named in his honor (I'm still pushing for the nickname of the new venue to be "The Zog").  I've been thinking that it will be christened with a screening of a restored print of his "Aguirre: The Wrath of God".  Actually, it wouldn't surprise me to see TFF program an entire Herzog retrospective during the course of the five day festival.

Meanwhile, Morris has a new documentary under his belt: "The Unknown Known: The Life and Times of Donald Rumsfeld".  I fully expect that to be a part of this year's lineup.

Morris has a couple of other things on his plate.  He is supposed to have been working on a narrative feature entitled "Freezing People is Easy" but word came this week that he is set to direct "Hollland, Michigan".  This film is described as a "suburban thriller with black humor".  Thompson on Hollywood has that story as well:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/errol-morris-to-direct-narrative-feature-holland-michigan


MANDELA TEASER

I wrote yesterday that The Weinstein Company had a number of prospects going into the awards season.  One of those is "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" featuring Idris Elba in the title role.  This past weekend a teaser trailer was released:

I have also included a couple of stories about the trailer from The Playlist and The Wrap:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-teaser-trailer-for-biopic-mandela-long-walk-to-freedom-starring-idris-elba-20130712

http://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/mandela-long-walk-freedom-trailer-touts-message-great-man-video-102686

"Mandela" was directed by Justin Chadwick whose "The First Grader" appeared at Telluride in 2010.


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Deadline Day/Only at TFF

Good Monday Everyone...

Hope it was a fantastic weekend.

DEADLINE DAY

http://www.telluridefilmfestival.org/film_entry

Today is the deadline for film submissions for the Telluride Film Festival.  I have been told on occasion that some of the "higher-ups" in the TFF hierarchy actually take a look at this space from time to time.  I'm not sure I believe that but I'd like to.  So, in that spirit, here's my list of 20 films that I'd sure like the Telluride Film Festival to consider programming.  some of these I'm very sure will play.  Others don't have a snowball's chance of being in San Miguel County on Labor Day but it's a "wish list" (most with some kind of clip or trailer)of sorts so...

And to those film makers out there that are responsible for the films on this list...come on...apply...(of course, I fully realize that there are sometimes "late additions" to the Telluride lineup...that's OK too).

In alphabetical order they are:

"12 Years a Slave"- Steve McQueen's third feature following "Hunger" and "Shame" tells the true story of a free black man taken slammed into slavery and his struggle to regain that freedom.  Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender lead a massive and talent-laden cast.  Rumors are strong that it will play the Venice fest.

"All is Lost"- J.C. Chandor's follow-up to "Margin Call" features Robert Redford, a boat and the ocean...and not much dialogue.  It played at Cannes out of competition and was rapturously received.  Lot of buzz for Redford vis-a-vis awards season.

"American Hustle" -David O. Russell is on a hot streak.  "Silver Linings Playbook" last year and "The Fighter" in 2010.  "AH" is a true story of political corruption that features a phenomenal cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro from "SLP" and Christian Bale and Amy Adams from "Fighter" plus throw in Jeremy Renner.

"August: Osage County"-Meryl Streep leads the all star cast in this adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning play about a dysfunctional Oklahoma family.  Other cast mates: Julia Roberts, Ewan MacGregor, Chris Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch and Sam Shepard.

"Captain Phillips"- Tom Hanks plays the real life Captain of the U.S. ship hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009.  Paul Greengrass directs.

"The Counselor"- Ridley Scott (?) directs an original Cormac McCarthy script abut a lawyer who gets in over his head when dealing with the illicit drug trade.  The cast is intriguing: Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz.

"Dallas Buyers Club"- Matthew McConnaughey looks to continue his current acting winning streak with this true story of a homophobic Texan who contracted AIDS in 1986 and his attempts to find ways to treat it.  Jean-Marc Vallee (The Young Victoria) directs.Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner also star.

"The Fifth Estate"- Director Bill Condon's take on Julian Assange and the development of WikiLeaks.  Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Bruhl and Laura Linney star.

"Foxcatcher"- Bennett Miller has directed two straight winners: "Capote" and "Moneyball".  I'm hopeful that "Foxcatcher" will give him a hat trick.  "Foxcatcher" is another true story (notice that there are a lot of those on this list?).  This focuses on millionaire John DuPont and his murder of Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz.  Mark Ruffalo, Steve Carell and Channing Tatum star.

"Gravity"-Alfonso Curaon is back.  The director finally follows up his 2006 gem "Children of Men" with another sci-fi piece.  Now, I really liked "Children of Men" but Frankly was just lukewarm about this "lost in space" story starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney...most Bullock I understand.  That is until I saw the teaser...now, I'm kind of hot to see the film.

"Her" Spike Jonze directs, Joaquin Phoenix acts in a story about a men in love with his computer's operating system.  Yes.  Plus a lot of beautiful talented women: Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, Rooney Mara and Olivia Wilde.  The combo of Jonze and Phoenix is a enough for me.

"The Immigrant"  James Gray's story of a young women trapped in a bad life in 19th century America with Marion Cotillard Jeremy Renner and Joaquin Phoenix.  I've been hot to see it since they teased it last year at TFF#39.

"Inside Llewyn Davis"-The Coen Brothers ode to music (folk music specifically) was roundly applauded at Cannes.  The buzz is very, very good.  Oscar Issac stars as the title character who appears to be a struggling New York folk musician in the early 60's.  Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, F. Murray Abraham and Justin Timberlake co-star.  This might be the #1 film on this fall's "must see" list.

"Labor Day"- I sure hope that Jason Reitman returns to Telluride.  I enjoyed "Juno" and "Up in the Air" and a brief conversation with Reitman both times.  This project sounds intriguing.  Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin star.  Brolin's on the run from the law whose path crosses with Winslet's character.

"The Monuments Men"- George Clooney and company save art from Nazis.  Clooney directs, stars and co-wrote the film which also features Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman, Bill Murray and Jean Dujardin.  Come on back to Telluride George!

"Nebraska"- Alexander Payne's story of a father-son road trip to claim a potential fortune.  Bruce Dern and Will Forte star (see story below).

"Out of the Furnace"- Scott Cooper follows "Crazy Heart" with this hard scrabble film about a man looking for justice for his brother.  Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson and Zoe Saldana star.

"The Past"-Berenice Bejo won Best Actress at Cannes in May in this film from "A Separation's" Asgahr Farhadi.  "A Separation" was one of the best films of 2011.  If this story of domestic difficulties is remotely in the same ball park, it should be worth our time.

"The Wolf of Wall Street"-Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio team up yet again for this true story of high finance, crime and corruption.  McConnaughey and Dujardin are both in this as well in addition to Jonah Hill and Jon Favreau.

"The Zero Theorem"-Terry Gilliam playing at satirizing our world with Christoph Waltz in the lead...yes please...in Telluride please.

Late word from this weekend is that director Terry Gilliam has confirmed that "The Zero Theorem" will be playing at the Venice Fest.  The Playlist reports:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/terry-gilliam-says-the-zero-theorem-headed-to-venice-film-festival-jessica-chastains-eleanor-rigby-also-rumored-20130714



There you have it.  The deadline is tonight at midnight.  Get that paperwork filled out.


ONLY IN TELLURIDE

I ran across a story this past weekend that underlines the uniqueness of the Telluride Film Festival.  The L.A. Times was reporting on the resurgence in the use of black and white film making and isolated a story about Noah Baumbach ("Frances Ha") and Alexander Payne (the forthcoming and above mentioned "Nebraska meeting at Telluride last year and spending substantial time together.  Payne was yet to begin shooting "Nebraska" and wanted to get pointers from Baumbach who had completed "Frances".

I'm not sure that kind of organic (and reportedly lengthy) meet up happens any way else.

Take a look at the story here:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-black-and-white-20130714,0,7580244.story
 

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Best of the Week/Usual Suspects Part Three: The Conclusion

Good Saturday to All...

BEST OF THE WEEK

Here's the flashback best the best material I posted this past week:

TEN BETS #2

Last week's Ten Bets were:

1) Nebraska
2) The Past
3) Daughter of the Dawn
4) Aguirre: The Wrath of God
5) The Immigrant
6) Life Itself
7) The Invisible Woman
8) Labor Day
9) 12 Years a Slave
10) Like Father, Like Son

This week's Ten Bets:

1) Nebraska
2) The Invisible Woman
3) The Past
4) The Unknown Known
5) A Story of Children and Film
6) Daughter of the Dawn
7) The Immigrant
8) Aguirre: The Wrath of God
9) Labor Day
10) The Selfish Giant

Note:  With the removal of "Life Itself" (see Tuesday's blog post) a spot opened up.  It wasn't difficult to fill.  I added "The Unknown Known"  as its replacement on the list. "

"A Story of Children and Film" replaces "12 Years a Slave", though I still am fairly bullish that we'll see the McQueen film.

"The Selfish Giant" replaces "Like Father Like Son " but the two of them are part of four Sundance Selects films any or all of which might be in Telluride.  The other two being "Blue is the Warmest Color" and "Young and Beautiful".  They seem virtually interchangeable in as far as the "Ten Bets" list is concerned and probably will be for the next few weeks unless I garner some compelling evidence that one has a greater chance than the others.

DISTRIBS WITH HISTORY

Today I'm looking at Roadside Attractions and Magnolia.

Roadside Attractions:  This entity has just become a player at Telluride in the last four years.  Prior to 2010 they didn't have a presence in the previous decade.  Even then, they've been limited to one film in each of the past three years but they've been fairly impressive films:

2010: Biutiful
2011: Albert Nobbs
2012: Stories We Tell

Between them, Biutiful and Albert Nobbs were nominated for 5 Oscars.  "Stories We Tell" is almost certainly headed to an Oscar nomination this year for documentary and there is some scuttlebutt that we could see it break into the Best Picture, Director categories as well.

So what does Roadside Attractions have in its quiver.  3 possibilities, it seems:

"All is Lost"
"Blood Ties"
"Gloria"

"All is Lost" is J.C. Chandor's follow up to his well received, Oscar nominated (Original Screenplay) 2011 film "Margin Call".  It stars Robert Redford in a performance with minimal dialogue that played phenomenally well out-of-competition at Cannes.  Actually, there was some commentary that it SHOULD have been in the competition and that Redford might well have been named Best Actor.  Certainly the film is on a lot of radars for potential year end recognition.

I'll be interested to see if it shows at Telluride especially in light of the films Sundance Film Fest connections: Redford, of course, and "Margin Call" got its start there.

Still, if you want to keep attention on Redford's performance, Telluride would be a cool move.

"Gloria"  made a big splash at the Berlin Film Fest in February winning 3 awards including Best Actress for Paulina Garcia.  TFF often includes a title or two from the Berlin fest and this seems like a real possibility.

"Blood Ties"  This film from French actor/director/writer Guillaume Canet was pretty high on my list of Cannes films to consider for Telluride but its cool critical reception at Cannes has made me back off my bullishness about it.  Still, James Gray co-wrote and executive produced and it seems that he will likely have a presence at this year's fest.

This could also be the year that Roadside Attractions has more than one film in the lineup.

Chances:
"Gloria" 50%
"All is Lost" 50%
"Blood Ties" 50%

Today's other exploration of domestic distributors is Magnolia Pictures.  Their Telluride history for the past decade looks like this:

2004: Keane
2005: The Lost City
2006: Severance
2007: Redacted, The Princess of Nebraska, A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, Terror's Advocate
2012: The Hunt, A Royal Affair

As you can see, Magnolia had a four year dry spell between 2008-11 but came back last year with two films.  Magnolia's only possible player is Lars Von Trier's "Nymphomaniac".  Von Trier has had some presence at TFF in the past, but it's been a good long time.

My expectation is that Von Trier and Magnolia aren't represented at this year's TFF.

Chances of "Nymphomaniac": 5%


MORE DISTRIBS AND TELLURIDE

Last week I started looking at U.S. film distributing companies and their relationship with the Telluride Film Festival to see what that might tell us about possible TFF #40 fare.  Today I'm looking at Focus Features and Film Movement.

FOCUS FEATURES

Focus used to have  a presence at Telluride. Then last year, after a lengthy absence, they returned. Here's the list:

2003: Lost in Translation
2004: The Motorcycle Diaries
2005: Brokeback Mountain
2006: Catch a Fire
2011: Hyde Park on Hudson

The only real shot I think they have for TFF #40 is "Dallas Buyers Club" directed by Jean-Marc Vallee and starring Matthew McConnaughey.  McConnaughey seems to be continuing his streak of high profile and risky roles and is getting some serious Best Actor vibe.  Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner co-star.  Garner has actually been in Telluride the last two years running with her own "Butter" in 2011 and with husband Ben Affleck for his "Argo" last year.

Although I'd personally love this to be on the TFF list, I'm not that hopeful.  Put its chances at 35%...at least for now.  Say this, though..."Dallas Buyers Club" IS the sort of high profile thing that Telluride and Focus seem to partner on.

FILM MOVEMENT

This little known distribution outfit has been in and out as a presenter at Telluride over the past few years.

2004: Aaltra
2005: Be with Me
2009: Gigante
2010: If I want to Whistle, I Whistle

Film Movement has a couple of Cannes titles that might find their way onto the Telluride playlist:

"Ilo Ilo" from writer/director Anthony Chen and "2 Autumns, 3 Winters" from writer/director Sebastien Betbeder.  I give both films about a 30% chance.

Just yesterday, The Playlist tweeted that Film Movement had acquired rights to "Grigris" directed by Mahamet-Saleh Haroun.  "Grigris" played in competition at Cannes.  This could also mean a spot for the film at Telluide.  Put it at the same 30%.

DOMESTIC DISTRIBUTORS FINALE

After a week and a half of looking at U.S. film distributors, today I'll conclude the series by looking at three small outfits that occasionally have a film in play at the Telluride Film Festival and that might again this year.

STRAND RELEASING

Here's what Strand has had at Telluride in the recent past:

2010: Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
2011: Bonsai
2012: Paradise: Love

So, Strand has been very consistent recently.  Another common thread is that all three of the above films played in some capacity at Cannes.  So the question becomes, does Strand have a project that fits this profile?  The answer is yes...

"Stranger by the Lake" played in the Un Certain Regard section and was fairly well received.  It also picked up the directing award for the UCR section for director/writer Alain Guiraudie.

All in all, this is strong circumstantial evidence that we'll probably have a chance to see the film at TFF #40.

Chances: 65%

A24

A24 has also been a smallish player at Telluride...and by smallish, I mean, their only past appearance was last year with Sally Potter's "Ginger and Rosa".  That probably had as much to do with it being Potter's film as anything as she has been at Telluride with previous work (Yes-'04).  A24 has also only been around for a couple of years.

However, just this week A@$ announced that they had closed a deal to distribute "The Rover" which makes it something to watch for come Labor Day weekend.  "The Rover" is directed and co-written by David Michod (written with actor Joel Edgerton).

Here's a link from Thompson on Hollywood about the A24 acquisition:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/a24-acquires-the-rover-david-michod-robert-pattinson-guy-pearce

And from Hit Fix: http://www.hitfix.com/news/robert-pattinson-thriller-the-rover-acquire-by-bling-ring-distributor


 Chances for "The Rover" 30%

LD ENTERTAINMENT

LD Entertainment is also a relative newcomer to the distribution game having just started in 2009.  In that short time, however, the company has been represented at Telluride twice.

2010: Biutiful
2011: Albert Nobbs

This year the firm has Charlie Stratton's "Therese" with Elizabeth Olsen, Jessica Lange and not for nothing, Oscar Issac ...who also plays the title role in the Coen Brothers "Inside Llewyn Davis" as a possible feature for Telluride consumption.  "Therese" is based on the novel by Emile Zola and is not to be confused with the Audrey Tautou film of essentially the same name.

"Therese" has a 30% chance to play at Telluride.

FOXCATCHER AT SPC?

Over the weekend Kristopher Tapley at InContention/HitFix posted a story about Bennet Miller's "Foxcatcher" and where it might end up distribution-wise.

The film stars Mark Ruffalo, Steve Carell and Channing Tatum and is based on the true story of John DuPont and  the murder of Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz.

I've had it on the edge of the SHOW's 2013 radar but haven't been particularly bullish on it.  Miller's directing debut "Capote" was a big hit out of TFF in 2005.  It earned Philip Seymour Hoffman the Oscar for Best Actor and 4 other nominations including Picture, Direction and Adapted Screenplay.  Bot Miller's sophomore effort, "Moneyball" didn't play Telluride in 2011 and that has really colored my thinking about "Foxcatcher"

Now comes Tapley's story in which he speculates that the film may be put into the hands of Sony's specialty shop Sony Pictures Classics...which is where "Capote" was distributed in '05.  That makes me re-think the situation.  It certainly increases our chances of seeing it Labor Day weekend.

Tapley writes:

"Multiple sources have told me the film could be distributed through Sony Pictures Classics, no stranger to juggling numerous films during an awards season. However, it's also possible the film, which hasn't been dated yet, doesn't make it out for 2013 at all."

He also adds:

"Sony Classics wouldn't confirm a move and Sony Pictures did not respond to a request for comment, so treat all this as (awful, terrible, rumor-mongering) speculation for now, but it seems to me it would be a good fit. "Foxcatcher" would give SPC a latter year release with real meat on its bones, and Miller is hot, coming off of 2011's "Moneyball," which went out through Sony."

Here's the link to Tapley's complete story:
http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/where-will-bennett-millers-foxcatcher-end-up

So, "Foxcatcher" may be a possibility after all.

COUNT ON COUSINS

Mark Cousins has become a common presence at the Telluride Film Festival (2009: "The First Movie", 2011; "The Story of Film: An Odyssey", 2012: "What is This Film Called Love?")  and although I didn't have his latest work listed last Friday on the first "Ten Bets" list for TFF #40...he'll almost certainly be on that list this week.  His latest compilation played at Cannes and continues his exploration of film.  It's entitled "A Story of Children and Film".

The Guardian recently profiled Cousins and the film retrospective.  Here that is:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/may/20/mark-cousins-children-film-cannes

TCM will be playing Cousins entire 15 part "Odyssey" beginning on Sept. 2...the day this year's festival concludes...Coincidence?  I doubt it.

Thompson on Hollywood had that story:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/story-of-film-mark-cousins-tcm-tv-debut

I'm saying that Cousins will be back and "A Story of Children and Film" will play.


NEW TRAILER FROM "INSIDE"

A new trailer for the Coen Brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis" dropped yesterday.  It's very good.  If you've ever cared about music deeply...

I have linked four posts:

The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-the-coen-brothers-inside-llewyn-tunes-tunes-up-a-brand-new-teaser-trailer-20130701

Awards Daily:
http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/inside-llewyn-davis-trailer-3/

and FirstShowing.net:
http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/inside-llewyn-davis-trailer-3/

Rope of Silicon:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/watch-new-inside-llewyn-davis-trailer/

If I haven't mentioned this, I would really love to see this in Telluride...

12 YEARS NEW DATE

Last Friday I listed Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave" as #9 on my initial "Ten Bets" list.  It is one of my most anticipated titles of 2013.  News came at the end of the week last week that the films release date has been moved dramatically forward.  It had been scheduled for a December release.  Now it'll be bowing on October 18.

Multiple posts about the move and its implications are listed here:

Thompson on Hollywood: http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/mcqueens-12-years-a-slave-release-date-moved-forward-to-october-18

The Playlist: http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/adjust-your-calendar-12-years-a-slave-moves-up-three-months-for-october-release-20130627

InContention/HitFix: http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/fox-searchlight-moves-12-years-a-slave-to-october

Rope of Silicon: http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/12-years-a-slave-release-date-october-2013/

Movie City News: http://moviecitynews.com/2013/06/12-years-a-slave-moves-to-october-18-2013/

Anne Thompson says in her post that the date change increases the chances that it will play "the early fall festival circuit".  She cites Venice specifically.

Kevin Jagernauth of the Playlist also says that "it's probably safe to say that the studio thinks it can build on a strong showing on the fall festival circuit".  He also cites Venice specifically.

My hope is that "fall film festival circuit" includes Telluride in addition to Venice and Toronto.

PAYNE TALKS

Speaking of Alexander Payne, he recently sat down to an interview at the Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna, Italy.  Meredith Brody reports for Thompson on Hollywood:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/cinema-ritrovato-alexander-payne-q-a


THE USUAL SUSPECTS PART ONE

Today I begin a three part series about "The Usual Suspects".  Not the film, though it IS fantastic.  No.  What I'm referring to are the company of film makers and film biz pros, actors, directors and others that seem to appear as a part of the Telluride Film Festival with some frequency.  The reason: paying attention to these "usual suspects" can often provide solid clues as to films that may show at The SHOW.

This week I posted the Mark Cousins story that suggests that his most recent work "A Story of Children and Film" is a likely title for TFF #40.  That's largely because Cousins has been on the T-ride slate for 3 of the last 4 years and has this new project ready...and it was also well received at Cannes.  Cousins has made it onto the list of "The Usual Suspects".  It's a surprisingly lengthy list, currently 35 names.

Some people don't stay on the list...in its early days, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese would have probably been on a "Usual Suspects" list.  They haven't been a part of a Telluride fest in years...so they're no longer on the list.

Some people go on and off...Buck Henry and Peter Bogdanovich are good examples.

Certainly not every one of the 35 currently on my list have projects every year but with that many people, there are usually plenty of "usual suspects" to contemplate.

In addition to Cousins, two of the most "usual" are Werner Herzog and Ken Burns.  They're festival fixtures and almost always have some project that is possible for inclusion.  In addition, Herzog will have the new 650 seat venue in Town Park christened in his honor.  So you have to believe Herzog will be represented by film or films.  My bet is the recently restored "Aguirre: Wrath of God" that is currently being screened in England.

Burns is said to be involved with the restored silent film "Daughter of the Dawn" which I expect to be a part of the TFF #40 lineup.

Another of the most recent "Usuals" is Alexander Payne who has Guest Directed, shown his own work and has scouted and aided in programming.  All this coming in the last few years.  I'm very confident his new film, "Nebraska" will make this year's program.

There are another 8 "usual suspects" that I think have a shot at being involved with a film at this year's SHOW and I'll be looking at them in "The Usual Suspects Parts Two and Three" over the next two days.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS PART TWO

Yesterday I began a three part series focusing on some of the Telluride "Usual Suspects" and what they might have in store for this year's festival.  In Part One I mentioned Mark Cousins, Werner Herzog, Ken Burns and Alexander Payne

I today's Part Two we begin with Steve McQueen.  McQueen certainly has one of the higher profile films of the fall season awaiting.  His "12 Years a Slave" is expected to make a lot of noise.  McQueen's thrid feature follows his "Hunger" and "Shame" which both played at Telluride.  I fully expect, as do many others, that "12 Years" will be a part of the Venice lineup.  The question becomes whether the film follows the path "Shame" did as it also played Venice...Telluride...Toronto and New York.

For awhile, I thought that I was the only one that thought that "12 Years" might follow the "Shame" path...but I have since discovered that there are a number of others who thin it could happen.  Enough so that "12 Years" made it onto my initial "Ten Bets" list last week.

Usual Suspect #6: Roger Michell.  The South African born director appears at T-ride with some frequency.  Last year he had "Hyde Park on Hudson".  In prior years he has been included with "Venus"and "Enduring Love".  Michell's new film "Le weekend" stars Jeff Goldblum (present in Telluride in 2008 for "Adam Resurrected"), Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan.

Frankly, I could see this being on the SHOW list, but for some reason, I'm rather dubious.  The U.S. distributor is Music Box Films... which distributed Herzog's "Happy People: A Year in the Taiga" in 2010" so there is some tenuous history there. Still, I'm doubtful.  Put "Le Weekend's chances at 25%.

Usual Suspect #7 is Errol Morris.  Errol plays in Telluride a good bit too.  Last year as a producer on "The Act of Killig"  In 2010: "Tabloid".  "Fog of War" in 2003.  Morris has a go at his first directing gig of a fictional work with "Freezing People is Easy" starring Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Christopher Walken.  But it doesn't seem to be ready.  What does seem to be ready is the Morris directed documentary about Donald Rumsfeld: "The Unknown Known: The Life and Times of Donald Rumsfeld'.  I think you can almost count on it being on the playlist for TFF #40.

And you have to wonder a little...when Morris did "Fog of War" in 2003, his subject, Robert McNamara came along.  Any chance Rumsfeld would?

Usual Suspect #8: Stephen Frears:  The Brit director was last represented in Telluride with "Tamara Drewe".  He was tributed in 1987 along with a screening of "Sammy and Rosie Get Laid".  His latest project has "prestige" smeared all over it.  Perpetual Oscar nominee Judi Dench stars in "Philomena" which also has The Weinstein Company as its distributor.

I think it seems like about a 40% chance of playing this year.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS PART THREE: THE CONCLUSION

And now for the final four "Usual Suspects" that I've been talking about the latter half of this week.  People that are frequent guests, contributors, etc. to the Telluride Film Festival that may have a dog in the hunt this year.

Usual Suspect #9: Laura Linney: She's a past tributee. She's a part time Telluride resident, married to a full time Telluride resident.  She's been in many a Telluride film: "Kinsey", "The Savages", "Hyde Park on Hudson", "P.S."and "Jindabyne".  

She's in a hot commodity film that has Telluride potential: Bill Condon's  (Linney's "Kinsey" director) "The Fifth Estate" which stars Benedict Cumberbatch as WikiLeaks guru Julian Assange.

Personally, I'd really love for this to be a part of The SHOW and it ha the above characteristics in its favor...but...Touchstone/Disney has the distribution and there is such a thin, virtually non-existent Telluride relationship from the past as to make it seem less likely.  DreamWorks SKG  and Participant Media are listed by IMDb as the production companies. Participant was a producer for Pablo Larrain's "No" in 2012.  I can't find a DreamWorks SKG produced film in the last decade that has played T-ride.

All in all it seems a wash to me.  Put "The Fifth Estate" at a 40% chance.

Usual Suspect #10 is Sylvain Chomet.  The animation director has been a part of Telluride with both "The Triplets of Belleville" (2003) and "The Illusionist" (2010).  Now, he has his first live action film as a Telluride possibility.  "Attila Marcel" may not be ready in time, however. Its IMDb page is here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2474438/?ref_=ttco_co_tt

Chances 20%

Usual Suspect #11 is Kevin Macdonald.  Macdonald's Telluride start has come and gone but could be coming back again.  His films at Telluride include: "The Last King of Scotland" (2006), "My Enemy's Enemy" (2007) and "Touching the Void" (2003).  He currently has the documentary "Christmas in a Day" and the feature "How I Live Now" starring Saoirse Ronan in the hopper.  Of the two, I think "How I Live..." might have the better shot.  Film4 and the UK Film Council both have had a hand in the production and are often represented with films at Telluride.

Chances: "How I Live Now" 30%

"Christmas in a Day" 15%

"Usual Suspects" #12: Bertrand Tavernier: He's a member of TFF's "Esteemed Council of Advisers" (along with Herzog and Morris among others).  Tavernier's last Telluride presentation of a film came in 2010 with "The Princess of Montpensier". Other Tavernier films that have played T-ride: "A Sunday in the Country"('84), "L.267" ('93), "Fresh Bait" ('95), "Captain Conan" ('97), "Safe Passage" ('02).

There's a lot of Tavernier history at Telluride.

His latest film is "Quai d'Qrsay".  I really don't have much more info on the film, but because its Tavernier, my guess is that there's an excellent chance that it makes the TFF #40 program.

"Quai d'Orsay" chances: 55%

So, those are this year's "Usual Suspects."  We'll almost certainly see work from Herzog, Morris, Cousins, Burns and Payne.

We may see work from Linney, McQueen and Frears.

Outside possibilities include work from: Chomet, Macdonald and Michell.

Have a great weekend...More on Monday.

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