Future Festival Films?/Pix of Possibles/More Le Havre/TTSS

Waiting...waiting...waiting...

FUTURE FESTIVAL FILMS?

It's become a habit of mine to start to try to identify possible TFF films as far out as possible.  Sometimes I miss (The Tree of Life).  Sometimes I hit (Black Swan).  In that tradition I have been tracking the progress this summer of a few films that look like they would at least be a consideration for inclusion at TFF #39 or #40.

One of these is Danny Boyle's "Trance" which has had some interesting casting bumps this summer in terms of one of the male leads.  First it was supposed to be Michael Fassbender, then Colin Firth and currently Vincent Cassel.  And actually, any of those fellows would probably strengthen the chances of the film getting picked up for Telluride.  The other male lead also does no harm to the film's Telluride profile.  That's James McAvoy.

Now comes word of the casting of Rosario Dawson from The Playlist.  You can find the link to that story here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/rosario_dawson_joins_danny_boyles_trance_vincent_cassel_confirmed

I wouldn't expect to see "Trance" until TFF#40.

Trance's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1924429/

Also on the horizon is news of a new film that could have some Telluride potential next year.  It's called "Darling Companion" and both Ioncinema and The Hollywood Reporter have tidbits about it.

An ensemble piece from Lawrence Kasdan featuring Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Richard Jenkins and Sam Shepherd among others, "Darling Companion" is under the auspices domestically of Sony Pictures Classics.

The Ioncinema story (with a synopsis) is here:

http://networkedblogs.com/kWypX

The Hollywood Reporter version of the story is here:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sony-pictures-classics-takes-domestic-216104

Darling Companion's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1730687/

PIX OF POSSIBLES

A slew of Telluride film possibles have been flooding the internet and news outlets with stills of their wares.  I thought I'd pass some of those along this morning.

"Drive" starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan (and implied as a lock for Telluride by Ioncinema) has a new poster out now.  It (not surprisingly) features Mr. Gosling.

Drive's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780504/

Also from Rope of Silicon, new pictures from the set of Ralph Fiennes directorial debut "Coriolanus."  Here's a teaser. 

Check out the full story at:

Coriolanus' IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1372686/

The Playlist dropped some beautiful photos from Madonna's directing debut as well.  "W.E." tells the story of Wallace Simpson and Prince Edward (the King who abdicated in England that made "The King's Speech" possible).

Again a teaser:

The whole post with more pix can be found here:

W.E.'s IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1536048/

MORE LE HAVRE NEWS


 "Le Havre" is a film that I have been thinking could/would be on this year's Telluride playlist since it debuted at Canes in May.  Last week's announcement that it had been picked up by Janus Films only strengthened my belief that we'll see it in the Rockies in four and a half weeks. 

In the midst of the news it was being picked up came a tweet from Anne Thompson (Thompson on Hollywood) that she believed that it is to be the first of a trilogy from director/writer Aki Kaurismaki.  That would be interesting by itself and it also would be interesting to see if the rest of the string of films might also make their way to Cannes and then T-ride.  We'll have to wait and see.

Here's the text of the Thompson tweet:
"Me too @GuyLodge Surprised that SPC didn't go for it. Apparently 1st of trilogy: wouldn't be surprised if Aki adopts different tone for next."


Le Havre's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1508675/


TTSS

Soooo..."Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"...not in Toronto...not the opener for The New York Film Festival (Roman Polanski's "Carnage" is).  There is a good deal a speculation that it might close the NYFF.  (There's also speculation that the closing spot might go to Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar).

Personally, I think that this is one instance where a film's absence from Toronto increase it's chances of being in Telluride's program.  Jeff wells at Hollywood Elsewhere isn't ruling that out.

See here:
http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2011/07/ohsorry_missed.php

I would love to see Gary Oldman kick his Oscar campaign off on Colorado Ave.  (Do I smell a tribute possibility here?)

TTSS's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340800/

Until tomorrow...

Contagious Contagion/Penn Preview/Another Trance Shift

Hello film fans. 

Today I have a look at a couple of films that have borderline prospects to play as a part of this year's Telluride Film Festival...

CONTAGIOUS CONTAGION

Stephen Soderbergh's "Contagion" has been all over the internet the last 24 hours.  Stills and a trailer have emerged and its release date has been moved up to Sept.9...which makes it an awfully tight but not impossible fit for Telluride. 

Soderbergh's film boasts an all star cast to tell the story of a pandemic breakout and how the world deals with it.  Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Laurence Fishburne lead the ensemble.

Here is the trailer from Awards Daily:
http://www.awardsdaily.com/2011/07/trailer-breaks-out-for-steven-soderberghs-contagion/

Should "Contagion" somehow make it onto the SHOW's play list, it would definitely be on my must see list and would certainly add a number of intriguing possibles to my list of people that could be there in support of the film.

PENN PREVIEW

If Paolo Sorrentino's "This Must Be the Place" had received a warmer critical reception at Cannes, it is a film that would probably have made my "Ten Bets" list for Telluride.  As it is, it's still on my list of possible films.  It stars Sean Penn as a quasi-washed up rock star who decides to try to track down a past Nazi who was involved in the interment of his father during the World War II
. 

As these posters attest, it certainly has a novelty factor going for it.  And after yesterday, it also has a trailer going for it.  Here's the link to that trailer:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/watch_trailer_for_sean_penns_weird_goth_holocaust_dramedy_the_must_be_the/#.Th3f6ex2HoY.email


ANOTHER TRANCE SHIFT

Vincent Cassel...In?

I've been chronicling the ebb and flow of Danny Boyle's next scheduled film, "Trance,"  over the past few weeks because Boyle has been such a dynamic presence at the film festival for his last two films (Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours).  Additionally, Boyle's casting news has included people who have also had or been in films that have had significant Telluride presence the past few years as well. 

Originally Michael Fassbender (Hunger, 2008) was in.  Then he dropped out and the story was that he would likely be replaced by Colin Firth (When Did You Last See Your Father, 2008 and The King's Speech, 2010).  Now comes word that Firth may be on the outs only to be replaced by another actor who was in a film that made a T-ride splash last year.  The Playlist at Indiewire reports that Vincent Cassel (Black Swan, 2010) may be the object of Boyle's pursuit for what is expected to be a 2013 release.

That story is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/will_vincent_cassel_fall_under_danny_boyles_trance/#.Th3gNe4edvE.email

"Trance" will likely be on the Telluride #40 watch list assuming that it is finished in time for the Labor Day festival.

Trance Links/Le Havre News/Dardennes "Bike"/Nobbs

Me and my buddy Oscar winner Colin Firth...will he be at T-ride this year (TTSS) or in 2013 (Trance)?

Good Morning Peeps!

TRANCE LINKS

Yesterday I posted news that Danny Boyle's next film project, "Trance," has apparently lost Michael Fassbender and that Boyle was seeking Colin Firth to replace him.  I thought you'd like more detail and so have provided some links to various versions of that news (and the additional news that Boyle was seeking to sign up Scarlett Johannson as well).  Here are the various links:

Slashfilm:
http://www.slashfilm.com/danny-boyle-eyeing-colin-firth-scarlett-johansson-trance/#more-106947


Cinemablend:
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Colin-Firth-Scarlett-Johansson-For-Danny-Boyle-s-Heist-Thriller-Trance-25525.html

The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/danny_boyle_wants_colin_firth_and_scarlett_johansson_to_join_james_mcavoy_i/

Trance" IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1924429/
 

LE HAVRE NEWS

One of the well received films from the Cannes film festival that I think has a reasonably good chance of being a Telluride film pick this year is Aki Kaurismaki's "Le Havre."  I reported a few weeks back that there was a hint that The Weinstein Company was about to secure distribution for the U.S. for the film but since that time there has been no news, no confirmation.

Now comes the news from The Hollywood Reporter that "Le Havre" has won the Best International Film award at the Munich Film Festival which should put it back into the conversation for Telluride and for someone to pick up its distribution rights. I maintain that it's still a definite possibility for TFF #38.

Here is the story from The Hollywood Reporter:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/aki-kaurismakis-le-havre-paddy-207913

Le Harve IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1508675/

DARDENNES "BIKE"

Another Cannes film that I think has an excellent chance of being at Telluride is the Dardennes Brothers "The Kid with a Bike."  Anne Thompson reports that the brothers are continuing to pick up a slew of awards for the film and their career in the next few months leading me to believe that the film would be a tremendous addition to the TFF playlist.  However, Thompson notes that one of the awards that the Brothers Dardennes are set to receive happens at the Venice Film Fest.  But since the film is already playing in Europe (and specifically in Italy) and since one would expect the award presentation to come at the end of the Venetian festivities ( it closes on Sept. 10) I have to believe that there is still a large window of opportunity for the film to play in T-ride.

The link to the Thompson story (which also includes a link to the trailer) is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/07/05/dardennes_the_kid_with_the_bike_wins_awards_needs_us_distribution/#more

The Kid with a Bike IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1827512/

ALBERT NOBBS WHERE ARE YOU?

Way back in March when I foolishly began to pontificate about what pictures could make their way to the San Juans, one of the films that I thought just sounded like a Telluride possibility was "Albert Nobbs" starring Glenn Close.  Since then there has been very little news about the project and its disposition.  Over the last two days, however, there has been some movement that indicates that we could see the film lined up for a serious Oscar run especially for Close.

The Playlist and The Hollywood Reporter both had stories yesterday detailing the involvement of Roadside Attractions and Liddell Entertainment which have secured the U.S. rights to the film.  Close co-wrote the screenplay and produces as well as acts the title role which she reprises from her 1982 performance in the play.

The Telluride connection?  Roadshow and Liddell teamed up last year on Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu's "Biutiful."  It's not beyond the realm of possibility that they will seek to  follow the same path that resulted in an Oscar nom for Javier Bardem.

Here is the Playlist's story:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/albert_nobbs_picked_up_by_liddell_entertainment_and_roadside_attractions/

And the Hollywood Reporter version:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/glenn-close-drama-albert-nobbs-208022

Albert Nobbs IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1602098/

After "Missing Pieces"/A New Trance/Thompson's List/Oscilloscope

Larry Mallard's photo of fireworks in Telluride last night...Oooh....AAAHhhhhh

Good Morning everyone.  I hope you had a terrific Independence Day celebration.  The Patterson's did their traditional morning grilled steak and eggs breakfast complete with mimosas.  We were coast to coast yesterday with all members of the clan firing up grills to celebrate America by eating a ridiculous amount of food to start the day.  It's a tradition in our family that goes back 40 years or so.  Try it.  Nothing beats a grilled slab of beef as a way to start your 4th of July holiday (unless, of course, you're a vegetarian/vegan...then grill up some asparagus and join the party!)

THANKS!

A big thank you to start today to all of you that took a peek at my All Time Top Ten (11) Films of All Time List.  It's been one o the most popular posts of the summer.

AFTER "MISSING PIECES"

Last week I got the chance to publish an actual review for Kenton Bartlett's independent feature film "Missing Pieces" (check June 28).  Couple of things about that...I have my first attributed blurb.  Check out Kenton's "Missing Pieces" website... http://kentonbartlett.com/ Feel like a big shot. 

Additionally, apparently ascribing to the "moss won't grow on a rolling stone" theory, Bartlett is moving on to his next film project.  Take a peak at those details on his website as well...
http://www.kentonbartlett.com/futureproject.htm
The new film project is entitled "When It's Cold, I'll Keep You Warm."

NEW "TRANCE" NEWS

We reported last week that recent Telluride fave Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours)was setting up his next film (not expected until 2013 so he can direct the Olympics ceremonies in London next year).  It's called "Trance" and was scheduled to feature James McAvoy (Last King of Scotland, The Last Station) and Michael Fassbender (Hunger).  The word over the long weekend was that Fassbender is out and Boyle is looking to replace him with...drum roll please...Oscar Winner Colin Firth (The King's Speech, When Did You Last See Your Father?).

The switch in casting, should it pan out, may actually increase the chances that we see this film in Telluride in 2013.  Also reported this weekend was that Boyle was hot to cast Scarlett Johansson as well.

Incidentally, in other Colin Firth/Telluride related news.  He will be appearing this Oscar season in support of Gary Oldman in Telluride possible "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and is filming the Coen Brothers scripted "Gambit" directed by Michael Hoffman.  If Hoffman's name sounds familiar, that's because he was in T-ride in 2009 as director of "The Lsst Station."  So, perhaps "Gambit" is a 2012 Telluride possible as well.

THOMPSON'S LIST

Anne Thompson of Indiewire's Thompson on Hollywood has her Oscar watch list up.  I have included her Best Picture list here Best Bets for Telluride have a *):

BEST PICTURE

Front Runners:
The Artist*
Jane Eyre
The Tree of Life
Win Win


Contenders:
Beginners
Carnage
A Dangerous Method*
The Descendants*
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Hugo Cabret
J. Edgar
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball*
On The Road*
Super 8
The War Horse

Long Shots:
A Better Life
Contagion
The Ides of March
The Impossible
The Iron Lady
One Day
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
We Bought A Zoo
Wuthering Heights
Young Adult*

You can find her entire list that includes Acting, Directing and Screenplay possibles at:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/09/09/oscar_predicts_chart/
 
ANOTHER FILM COMPANY AND TELLURIDE
 
Looking today at Oscilloscope Pictures which has had a limited presence at the Telluride Film Festival over the last few years.  They were a significant presence in 2008 with 2 films appearing at T-ride: "Youssou Ndour:I Bring What I Love" and "Kisses."  Since then films under their banner that made some noise but were not at Telluride included: "The Messenger," "Exit Through the Gift Shop,"and "Meek's Cutoff" (which, rumor has it, almost appeared at TFF #37 last year).
 
As to this year, they are part of the team responsible for "We Need to Talk About Kevin" which played Cannes and received a good deal of potential Oscar buzz about Tilda Swinton's performance.  I actually think it's chances of being at Telluride are reasonably good. 
 
Have a good Fifth of July friends and neighbors!

Peter Falk/Small World/Danny Boyle!/More Beatty

RIP Peter Falk (1927-2011)..."As you wish..."


Sorry for the late post today...busy, busy!

IT'S A SMALL WORLD

You know, I've always heard the cliche that Hollywood is a small town and everybody knows everybody in the "Biz" but I've always kind of thought that that statement was probably more apocryphal than real.  However, in the last month I've started to thunk there's more truth to the claim than I thought possible.  Allow me to explicate...(and all of this revolves around my good fortune to get to play at the Telluride Film Festival for the past five years).

1) Made a friend  (Casey Twenter..."Hi Casey, if you're reading this") who is an aspiring screenwriter after he reached out to me following TFF #36.  You've read about his project in this space the last couple of weeks.  "Rudderless" is the screenplay currently set to be the directorial debut for Oscar nominated actor William H. Macy (remember this for later).  Casey has been kind enough to keep me in the loop and correspond over the past 2 years as this project has been moving forward.  It's been fun.  This week, we were catching up and as a part of that conversation, he asked me if I had seen or heard anything about a film called "Girlfriend".

2) Last year at TFF #37 I sat next to and struck up a friendly conversation with a fellow named Seth Chatfield (Hi Seth, if you're reading this).  I asked Seth the normal..."What do you do?  Why you here?" type questions.  Seth said he's there as part of a group that's the producing team for a film that's going to debut  a week or so later at Toronto.  The film..."Girlfriend".  So, as you might imagine, when Casey asked me about it yesterday, I was stunned..."What are the chances?"  I thought.  Seth and I have also kept up something of a correspondence the last ten months.  "Girlfriend" was well received at Toronto and has its premiere in NYC on July 15.  But wait, there's more...

3) Another friendship I forged a couple of years back came as a result of being on line for some film with  my mom and dad and as we were waiting we struck up a pleasant conversation with a nice couple from California.  Again, asked them the routine questions.  She says he's an editor and director.  She's an arts advocate.  We smile and nod.  My wife and I teach arts in the public schools.  We have a very nice conversation about that and what films might be "sneaked" later in the weekend.  They seem to know some things.  So, I get back to the room that evening and curiosity forces me to search the IMDB.  He turns out to be the real deal and I feel like an idiot that I had no idea (at the time, I do now).  His name: Mark Helfrich (her name: Alexandra.  "Hi Mark and Alexandra, if you're reading this").  Mark has edited a ton of stuff...BIG TIME STUFF.  Currently he is editing "Tower Heist" the next big thing from director Brett Ratner.  Yes, he edits Ratner's stuff.  All the time.  His other editing credits include: All three "Rush Hour" films, "Red Dragon," "X-Men: The Last Stand," and the original "Scary Movie" among others.  He has directed for television and the feature film "Good Luck Chuck." (remember this for later as well).  Mark and Alexandra and I have also kept in touch over the past two years...

4) Most readers know that I am a speech/debate/drama teacher and have been for a good long time.  I have former student who has just graduated from college and is working to set aside money and head for the west coast in January.  She's interning this summer  in Oklahoma City with a local casting director and as a result has gotten extra work on the Nick Cassavetes film that is lensing in that vicinity.  It's title: "Yellow."  As a part of all that she met the casting director, a fellow named Matthew Barry.  He has along list of credits including casting for...wait for it..."Good Luck Chuck".  Yeah...I know.  Mark confirmed it was the same guy late last week.  Also, "Yellow" features, among others, Sienna Miller.  Sienna just dropped out of the film adaptation of Elmore Leonard's "Freaky Deaky".  Also dropping out...wait for it...William H. Macy.  Again...I know.

5) And finally, I got asked to review a new independent film this week by writer/director Kenton Bartlett. The film is called "Missing Pieces" and features, among others, Melora Walters perhaps best known for roles in two Paul Thomas Anderson films "Boogie Nights" which I like and "Magnolia" which I love.  Both films co-star...William H. Macy.  And as a topper, I sat behind Paul Thomas Anderson at Telluride in 2007 in a screening of Noah Baumbach's "Margot at the Wedding."

Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon?  I feel like I'm this close (I'm holding my thumb and index finger on my right hand a half an inch apart) to knowing almost everyone in the film industry.

"Rudderless" IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798243/
"Rudderless" Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Rudderless-The-Movie/194390831736
"Girlfriend" IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1470859/
"Girlfriend" Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/GIRLFRIEND/247774270511
"Good Luck Chuck" IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452625/
Mark Helfrich's IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0375068/
"Yellow" IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588898/
"Missing Pieces" IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1579242/
"Missing Pieces" Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kenton-Bartlett-Movie/74342639138?ref=ts
"Missing Pieces" website: http://kentonbartlett.com/
Matthew Barry's IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0058089/
William H. Macy's IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000513/
Sienna Miller's IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1092227/
Melora Walters IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001828/

BOYLE UP A NEW FILM FOR TFF #40?

The word last night was that Danny Boyle's next project will feature actor James McAvoy in a film called "Trance."  It appears to be under the Fox Searchlight banner.  All of these factors make it a film that should be considered likely as a Telluride prospect.  To wit: Boyle has attended the festival with his last two films, "Slumdog Millionaire" and "127 Hours," to great success critically.  McAvoy hasn't physically been present to my knowledge but he has had films with high profiles at Telluride recently.  McAvoy's "The Last King of Scotland" (for which Forest Whitaker won the Best Actor Oscar) and "The Last Station" (nominations for Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren) played at Telluride.  And Fox Searchlight seems to always be represented strongly at the Festival.
Sources indicate that 2013 is the prospective release date.   Of course, Boyle has his hands full currently as he is set to direct London's opening ceremonies for next year's summer Olympics.

Here are posts about  "Trance" from both Rope of Silicon and The Playlist.

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/mcavoy-caught-boyles-trance-superman-casting-terminator-talk


http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/james_mcavoy_takes_over_for_michael_fassbender_in_danny_boyles_trance/


MORE DETAILS EMERGE ABOUT WARREN AND HIS HOWARD MOVIE

Rope of Silicon also has more details concerning the announced film from Warren Beatty that broke this week.  The picture will be directed, written produced and feature Beatty as Howard Hughes.  And maybe it's a comedy.  Check the story at:


http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/beattyhughes-update


"BLACK SWAN" COLLABORATORS COLLABORATING

Mark Heyman who wrote the screenplay for "Black Swan" is reported to have a new script that he's shopping around and has Darren Aronofsky attached to produce.  The Playlist reports that the film titled "XOXO" is something of a mashup between "Swan" and "The Social Network."  Heyman and Aronofsky are said to be looking for financing and distribution.  Assuming that they find that, you'd have to think that the finished product would also be on a future Telluride watch list.  No word on director (maybe Heyman himself) or cast.  Check The Playlist's story at:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/black_swan_writer_mark_heyman_pens_facebook_thriller_xoxo_darren_aronofsky/

Coming up tomorrow...more detail on the new Oscar voting rules...maybe clarification, maybe more confusion?  And also, more on Casey Twenter's "Rudderless".