The Distributors 2019: Warner Bros / The Aeronauts Flies Into the Conversation / Country Music Preview

I'm back.

I was in Dallas, Texas all of last week working as a part of the staff for the National Speech and Debate Association's National Speech Tournament.  It was good.

THE DISTRIBUTORS 2019: WARNER BROS.

This week I'm continuing to look at film production/distribution companies whose past record and current stash of films point to a possible choice for the 46th Telluride Film Festival.  Up until today's post I have been focused on specialty firms and streaming services.  Today is our first look at a major studio: Warner Bros.  Warners has, over the past half dozen years or so, made a mark on the festival. 

Here's their recent run at Telluride:

2018: No Show

2017: No Show

2016: Sully

2015 Black Mass

2014: No Show

2013: Gravity, Prisoners

2012: Argo

Warner Independent played Telluride in 2006 with Infamous and 2007 with Rails and Ties.

Last year Warners only likely Telluride play was A Star Is Born and we all know that didn't happen.

Despite not having a film at Telluride the past two years, 2019 could mark the return of the WB to the San Juans with four films that should be considered as possibles:

Bill Condon's The Good Liar starring Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren set for releases on Nov. 15th.  Condon has Telluride history (Kinsey-2004).

John Crowley's The Goldfinch starring Nicole Kidman and Ansel Elgort set for release Sept. 13th.  Crowley has Telluride history (Intermission-2003).

Edward Norton's Motherless Brooklyn starring Norton, Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin and more.  It is set for release on Nov. 1.  Norton has no history with Telluride as a director - this is his second feature as a director- and I can't find any indication that Norton has been a guest of the fest in the past.  He has appeared in films that have played the festival: Birdman (2014), Frida (2002).  Also of note, Motherless Brooklyn is based on the novel by Jonathan Lethem who served as the fest's Guest Director last year.  That could be a signal.

Gavin O'Connor's Torrance (now reportedly renamed Long Time Coming) starring Ben Affleck as a former star athlete looking for redemption.  Affleck also acts as a producer for the film and his past success with Argo, which started its run to Oscar glory at Telluride, could make it a potential SHOW choice.

I honestly think any of the three could make the lineup and this could be the second time Warners lands more than a single film at TFF.

Chances:

The Goldfinch 60%
Motherless Brooklyn 50%
The Good Liar 40%
Long Time Coming 25%



THE AERONAUTS

I posted my analysis for Amazon Studios Telluride chances on June 17th and in it,a film I didn't even mention is Tom Harper's The Aeronauts.

Couple of reasons for that:  Amazon is loaded with films that have a shot at Telluride and the film, which has a logline that reads like a straight thriller/action-adventure flick, just didn't seem like a film and director Tom Harper, to the best of my knowledge hasn't been near the festival in the past.

But after news this weekend, it seems that I may have miscalculated.

The International Film Critique Twitter account tweeted that:

If it were to be chosen to open Venice that means I definitely need to pay attention as a number of films that have been the Venice opener in recent years have then jumped to Telluride: Birdman, Gravity, La La Land, First Man, Downsizing.  So, should this be the choice for Venice, I'd better pay attention.

Adding fuel to the fuel to the fire was reporting from World of Reel's Jordan Ruimy.

Ruimy updated a fest-centric article from late May with news of The Aeronauts (as well as The Good Liar and Jojo Rabbit).  That updated post is linked here.  Ruimy also posted a small blurb about the film yesterday suggesting he's thinking that it might make the T-ride lineup.  See that here.

Put The Aeronauts on the list that I originally published a week ago for Amazon Studios as follows:

The Goldfinch 60%
Radioactive 50%
Les Miserables 40% (Cannes prize winner: Jury Prize)
Against All Enemies 40%
The Report 35%
The Aeronauts 30%

COUNTRY MUSIC PREVIEW

PBS has released a 25 minute preview of Ken Burns' upcoming multi-party documentary : Country Music.  Here's a link that will get you to the preview:

Ken Burns' Country Music on PBS

I still believe there's a reasonable chance that TFF #46 attendees may be able to see at least part of the doc over Labor Day weekend.

That's a wrap for MTFB on this Monday.  More on its way to you tomorrow and coming FRIDAY...the first TFF #46 Ten Bets list of the summer!

EMAIL:  mpgort@gmail.com OR michael_speech@hotmail.com

TWITTER @Gort2 (and follow me there as well)

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COMMENT TO THE BLOG

Quick Note / The Distributors 2018: Warner Brothers / Boy Erased and On the Basis of Sex Move / It's Nice to Have Friends

It's Tuesday and after an unexpected hiccup. MTFB has returned!

QUICK NOTE

As you may have noticed, there was no Monday post yesterday.  My apologies for that.  I was in Southern Colorado and caught up by the outage of Verizon, Comcast and Spectrum and had no real Internet connectivity from Friday until last night.

That kept me from getting MTFB's normal Monday post up.  I'm back today...

THE DISTRIBUTORS 2018: WARNER BROTHERS

Here's today's take on film distributors and their Telluride history which could give insight into films that might play at TFF #45.

I'm looking today at a major studio which used to have an independent arm that was a  serious presence at Telluride (Warner Independent) and who has, on occasion since the demise of that arm, still made the field of TFFs.

Warner Bros recent history:

2012: Argo
2013: Gravity, Prisoners
2014:
2015: Black Mass
2016: Sully

Warner Independent played Telluride in 2006 with Infamous and 2007 with Rails and Ties.

If Warners is to return to Telluride this year it would almost certainly be with Bradley Cooper's remake of A Star Is Born starring Cooper and Lady Gaga in the story that has been filmed four times now by Hollywood.  A Star Is Born has a ton of buzz and is set for releases on Oct. 5th.

WB had great success in '12 and '13 with Argo winning Best Picture and Gravity just being edged by 12 Years a Slave (but winning Best Direction and six other Oscars) but both Black Mass and Sully failed to generate that same success.

Ultimately, I regard A Star Is Born as a 1 in 3 shot at making the TFF lineup.  Maybe I should have it with slightly better odds.  If Warners really thinks it is a serious Oscar player (and considering Telluride's recent track record regarding Oscar winners) you'd have to think that they'll push to get it in the lineup.

Here's the trailer for A Star Is Born from YouTube:

BOY ERASED AND ON THE BASIS OF SEX MOVE

Focus Features announced yesterday that they were shifting release dates for two of their fall releases.  Joel Edgerton's Boy Erased has moved from its original Sept. 28th release to a prime Nov. 2nd and On the Basis of Sex has moved from Nov. 9th to Dec. 26th.

A number of outlets reported on the change suggesting that the moves were made to better position both for awards consideration.

Especially intriguing is the new spot for Boy Erased which moves into a release spot that would allow it to play any or all of the fall fests including New York.

Alan French at Awards Circuit says the changes increase the "traction" potential for Boy Erased and does not mean that On the Basis of Sex won't be a part of the Festival scene.

Anne Thompson at Indiewire says that Boy Erased is "Expected to debut at the fall festivals".

My feeling here is that the move probably increases the Telluride chances for Telluride audiences to see Boy Erased and lowers them for On the Basis of Sex though it doesn't remove its chances of making The SHOW.

Coverage is linked here from Variety, Indiewire, Deadline and Awards Circuit.


IT'S NICE TO HAVE FRIENDS

I posted the first Ten Bets list of predictions for the Telluride lineup for 2018 last Friday. I always see an uptick in traffic to the blog each summer when I start the Ten Bets lists as people’s interest in the fest increases as we get closer to Labor Day weekend.

Friday’s post got an extra boost, however, thanks to an article written by Sasha Stone and posted to her website Awards Daily. Sasha has been a good friend to me as well as a supporter and booster of MTFB for quite awhile.

Many readers of the blog can’t help but noticing that I’m a big fan of hers as well as I often link to film news, trailers and such at her site. Sasha has also served as one of the industry pros that rate films for me during TFF. I also rely on her Oscar predicting prowess once the fest is over each year and I begin focusing on which films from TFF will be a part of the awards season conversation. You’ve also probably noticed that I added a blurb recently from Sasha to the banner at the top of my posts.

We’re buddies.

Another note from her Friday post...the films she thinks sound like good T-ride bets are: Beautiful Boy, If Beale Street Could Talk and Cold War.

So, my thanks to Sasha and here’s the link to the story at Awards Daily.




That's today's MTFB.  More to come on Thursday as I get back to the regular summer posting schedule.

EMAIL:  mpgort@gmail.com OR michael_speech@hotmail.com

TWITTER @Gort2 (and follow me there as well)

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COMMENT TO THE BLOG

Re-Visiting Films from Warner Brothers / Free Fire to Close London / FFC's Distant Vision

Good Tuesday friends...

RE-VISITING FILMS FROM WARNER BROTHERS

I've written it a number of times, Warner Brothers has become a strong presence at Telluride over the past four years.  Beginning with the Oscar winning run for Ben Affleck's Argo in 2012.  They followed that in 2013 with Gravity (another Oscar heavy hitter) and Prisoners.  They weren't in T-ride in 2014 but returned last year with Black Mass.

Last week in his overview of Oscar in relation to the first wave of Toronto announcements and the Venice announcements, Variety's Kristopher Tapley wrote this:


"Getting back to Telluride, which sold out passes in record time this year, Warner Bros. has leveraged the fest in the past with films like “Argo,” “Gravity” and “Black Mass.” This year the studio has Gavin O’Connor’s “The Accountant” slated for the same early-October release granted to “Argo” and “Gravity”; Clint Eastwood’s “Sully” primed for release immediately after the festival concludes; and Ben Affleck’s “Live By Night” on the backstretch with an expected December qualifying run. Certainly they’ll come with something."

It's that last sentence that stands out.  He seems confident that WB will be back to Telluride this year. Problem is that none of the bog three WB possibilities seems like a strong candidate though there could be an under the radar player or two.

The Accountant stars Ben Affleck and is set to open Oct. 14. That's the right date but almost no one seems to think it's a Telluride-type film.

The Tapley post is here in its entirety:

http://variety.com/2016/film/in-contention/oscar-contenders-venice-telluride-toronto-film-festivals-1201825632/

The Accountant's second official trailer via YouTube

Sully stars Tom Hanks and is set to open almost immediately after TFF is over-Sept. 9.  That's essentially the same lead time that they took last year with Black Mass (9/18).   Director Clint Eastwood has been to Telluride before.  But, again, there are issues.  It's a really short time between T-ride and the open, Eastwood has lately avoided fall fests and last week Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera revealed in an interview with Screen Daily that:

"I’m sorry Warner Bros is missing this year because they have been our most dependable partner in recent years. I tried to get Sully, but it was simply not convenient for them as Clint Eastwood wouldn’t be coming and Tom Hanks would’ve been too busy promoting Inferno. That is my biggest and only regret this year."

So that doesn't bode well.

The Barbera interview is here:

http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/venice/venice-alberto-barbera-reveals-line-up-gems-regrets-and-this-years-big-oscar-contender/5107112.article

Finally, there's Ben Affleck's other WB film, the one he's directing.  The adaptation of Dennis Lehane's Live by Night.  The film may be positioned for awards consideration.  The reason we think that is that WB moved off of its original release to Jan. 13th.  Many are thinking that WB may well try to get the film a qualifying run in December.

I've heard that it's being test screened which would suggest that there is some nearly complete version but all of that is also pretty murky to hang your hat on for a guess at a Telluride berth.

Then there are a couple of wild cards.  One is a highly anticipated big name film: Collateral Beauty starring Will Smith and Kate Winslet.  It's directed by David Frankel and has a Dec. 16th release date.

The other is a smaller film that nonetheless has gained some pre-awards notice.  The Yellow Birds stars maybe the hottest young actor on the planet right now, Alden Ehrenreich and there is some awards buzz for his co-star Jennifer Aniston.  The Yellow Birds does not have an announced release date and IMDb seems to be torn as to whether it could appear in 2016 or 2017.  IMDb lists both films as being in post production with the last update for Collateral Beauty listed as April 22 and for The Yellow Birds it's Jan. 30.

Maybe one of these films shows up in September.



FREE FIRE TO CLOSE LONDON

Brie Larson in Free Fire (The Playlist)

We found out yesterday that Ben Wheatley's Free Fire would close the London/BFI Fest on Pct. 16.  The film was announced as an European premiere.  I haven't been thinking seriously about the Wheatley film as a Telluride candidate but the European Preem designation got me to thinking...could it be T-ride bound?

The film's first screening must already be scheduled somewhere besides Europe and that points to one of three fests: Telluride, Toronto and/or New York.  It could play one of those fests or any combination of them.

The greatest chance is a spot in the as yet unannounced field of the still 200+ titles that TIFF has yet to announce.  They're set to announce another batch tomorrow although it is my belief that they will focus on Canadian films then.

Of course, the film is distributed from A24 and stars Brie Larson which matches the same characteristics as a film from last year that you may recall: Room.

I'm still expecting A24 to have a presence at Telluride with Barry Jenkins Moonlight but the presence of Larson and Telluride can't be ruled out (at least yet) because of the success that Room experienced last year.


Coverage of the London announcement is here:

http://variety.com/2016/film/global/ben-wheatley-free-fire-brie-larson-close-bfi-london-film-festival-1201827442/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/brie-larson-starrer-free-fire-916072

http://theplaylist.net/ben-wheatleys-action-thriller-free-fire-close-bfi-london-film-festival-20160801/


FFC'S DISTANT VISION

FFC Works on Distant Vision (The Film Stage)

I have mentioned a couple of times that I believe that it is very possible that Francis Ford Coppola might return to Telluride this year to demonstrate, talk about, show his latest experiment in what he calls " kind of hybrid".  He also calls it "live cinema".  The project is named Distant Vision and Coppola has tackled a version of it twice now.  Once in Oklahoma City and most recently at UCLA.

I wouldn't be completely surprised if TFF #43 included a small demonstration of the project during the fest.

The Film Stage took a peak at what Coppola's been doing last week.  That story is here:

https://thefilmstage.com/news/watch-francis-ford-coppola-sharpens-distant-vision-in-rehearsal-for-next-film/

And a video of FFC at work and describing the project is here:

https://vimeo.com/175960112/3846472146


That's it for Tuesday.  Come back tomorrow for more...

Contact MTFB at:

mpgort@gmail.com

OR on Twitter @Gort2

OR check out Michael's Telluride Film Blog on Facebook:

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

Or leave a comment...

The Face of Cannes/"Crisis" for Telluride?/Another "Macbeth"?

Good Thursday everyone...Kind of treading a little water here as we wait, impatiently for Cannes to begin announcing its lineups for its various programs.  The word came down yesterday that the extension of the "Mad Max" franchise, "Fury Road" will play out of competition at Cannes but will not be the opening gala film.  Otherwise, we're still around three weeks away from an official announcement.

THE FACE OF CANNES

What we don't have to wait for is the official poster which was revealed this week and features the glorious Ingrid Bergman:

I have linked a couple of posts from major outlets that covered the release of the poster:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ingrid-bergman-graces-official-68th-783680

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/ingrid-bermans-smile-is-the-centerpiece-of-the-68th-cannes-film-festival-poster

Cannes is to announce the lineup on April 16th.

"CRISIS" FOR TELLURIDE?

I've mentioned in more than one post that I think that it's a reasonable likelihood that Warners will return to Telluride this fall with one or two films.  Warners' has had a rising presence over the last few years and a dynamic one at that.  Warners was at T-ride in 2013 with "Gravity" and "Prisoners" and in 2012 "Argo" landed in Telluride before anywhere else and went on to win the Best Picture Oscar.

Last year, Warner's two big awards films looked to be "Inherent Vice" and "American Sniper" neither of which seemed like Telluride-bound films...and they weren't.  

This year, however, Warners has at least four films that could be in the mix: Ron Howard's "In the Heart of the Sea", Jeff Nichols' "Midnight Special", Scott Cooper's "Black Mass and David Gordon Green's "Our Brand is Crisis".

Green was featured this week in a story from The Playlist and "Crisis" was one of the topics of discussion.  Look at that here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/david-gordon-green-talks-globetrotting-next-film-our-brand-is-crisis-and-taking-actors-safely-into-dangerous-places-20150323

"Crisis" IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1018765/

ANOTHER MACBETH?

For a couple of years now, I have been following the path of Justin Kurzel's "Macbeth" which is being hotly tipped for a Cannes slot, possibly in competition.  The film stars Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard as the Macbeths.  Yes please.

Now comes word from Kenneth Brannagh, no less, that another version may be coming to the screen fairly soon as well and under the direction of Martin Scorsese...

Well, I'd want to see that as well.  Maybe Telluride could program the two films in consecutive years as they did with "Capote" (in 2005) and "Infamous" (in 2006) both of which focused on the story of Truman Capote and his development of "In Cold Blood".

The Playlist reports that the Scorsese/Brannagh version would be a filmed version of Brannagh's stage production.  Check that story here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/kenneth-branagh-confirms-martin-scorseses-macbeth-plans-says-it-should-be-very-impressionistic-20150324


More on Monday...have a great weekend!

Venice/Hot Rumors/Cloud Atlas/More on The Master Trailer

Hope you're having a great Thursday...

VENICE

The Venice Film Festival announced its lineup early today.  Here it is via The Playlist:

Opening Film (Out Of Competition)
"The Reluctant Fundamentalist," Mira Nair (U.S.,Qatar)

Competition
"To The Wonder," Terrence Malick (U.S.)
"Something in the Air," Olivier Assayas (France)
"Outrage:Beyond," Takeshi Kitano (Japan)
"Fill The Void," Rama Bursztyn and Yigal Bursztyn (Israel)
"Pieta," Kim Ki-duk (South Korea)
"Dormant Beauty," Marco Bellocchio (Italy)
"E' stato il figlio," Daniele Cipri (Italy)
"At Any Price," Ramin Bahrani (US, UK)
"La Cinquieme Saison," Peter Brosens, Jessica Woodworth (Belgium, Netherlands, France)
"Un Giorno Speciale, " Francesca Comencini (Italy)
"Passion," Brian De Palma (France, Germany)
"Superstar, " Xavier Giannoli (France, Belgium)
"Spring Breakers," Harmony Korine (US)
"Thy Womb," Brillante Mendoza (Philippines)
"Linhas de Wellington," Valeria Sarmiento (Portugal, France)
"Paradise: Faith," Ulrich Seidl (Austria, France, Germany)
"Betrayal," Kirill Serebrennikov (Russia)

Out Of Competition
"L’homme qui rit," Jean-Pierre Ameris (France-Czech Republic)
"Love Is All You Need," Susanne Bier (Denmark-Sweden)
"Cherchez Hortense", Pascal Bonitzer (France)
"Sur un fil…," Simon Brook (France-Italy)
"Enzo Avitabile Music Life," Jonathan Demme (Italy-US)
"Tai Chi 0," Stephen Fung (China)
"Lullaby To My Father," Amos Gitai (Israel-France-Switzerland)
"Penance" (Shokuzai), Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Japan)
"Bad 25," Spike Lee (US)
"O Gebo e a Sombra," Manoel de Oliveira (Portugal-France)
"The Company You Keep," Robert Redford (US)
"Shark (Bait 3D)," Kimble Rendall (Australia-Singapore-China)
"Disconnect," Henry-Alex Rubin (US)
"The Iceman," Ariel Vromen (US)

Out Of Competition: Special Events
"Anton’s Right Here" dir Lyubov Arkus (Russia)
"It Was Better Tomorrow" dir Hinde Boujemaa (Tunisia)
"Clarisse," Liliana Cavani (Italy)
"Sfiorando il muro," Silvia Giralucci and Luca Ricciardi (Italy)
"Carmel," Amos Gitai (Israel-France-Italy)
"El impenetrable," Daniele Incalcaterra and Fausta Quattrini (Argentina-France)
"Witness: Libya," Michael Mann (US)
"Medici con l’Africa," Carlo Mazzacurati (Italy)
"La nave dolce," Daniele Vicari (Italy-Albania)

Orrizonti (Horizons)
"Wadjda," Haifaa Al Mansour (Saudi Arabia-Germany)
"The Paternal House," Kianoosh Ayari (Iran)
"I Also Want It", Alexey Balabanov (Russia)
"Gli Equilibristi," Ivano De Matteo (Italy-France)
"L’intervallo," Leonardo Di Costanzo (Italy-Switzerland-Germany)
"Winter of Discontent," Ibrahim El Batout (Egypt)
"Tango Libre," Frederic Fonteyne (Belgium-France-Luxembourg)
"The Cutoff Man", dir Idan Hubel (Israel)
"Fly With The Crane," Li Ruijun (China)
"A Hijacking," Tobias Lindholm (Denmark)
"Leones," Jazmin Lopez (Argentina-France-Netherlands)
"Bellas Mariposas," Salvatore Mereu (Italy)
"Low Tide," Roberto Minervini (US-Italy-Belgium)
"Boxing Day," Bernard Rose (UK-US)
"Yema," Djamila Sahraoui (Algeria-France)
"Araf - Somewhere In Between," Yesim Ustaoglu (Turkey-France-Germany)
"The Millennial Rapture," Koji Wakamatsu (Japan)
"Three Sisters," Wang Bing (France-Hong Kong-China)

If past history is any guide, you can expect about 3 of these titles to also appear at Telluride and your best bets would likely be : Mire Nair's "The Reluctant Fundamentalist", andOlivier Assassyas' "Something in the Air".  Perhaps Susanne Bier's "Love is All You Need".

Additionally, it doesn't appear to me that Venice's choices really undermne anything I've been contemplating as Telluride possibilities.  


It may reduce "Something in the Air's" chances a bit...maybe enough for it to change positions on Monday's "Ten Bets" list...


Here is some analysis of this morning's announcement from the Blogosphere:


The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/paul-thomas-andersons-the-master-leads-venice-line-up-terrence-malick-brian-depalma-harmony-korine-also-included-20120726

Deadline.com

http://www.deadline.com/2012/07/venice-film-festival-lineup-malick-redford/

The Wrap:

http://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/venice-film-festival-unveils-line-films-malick-de-palma-and-demme-49411

The Hollywood Reporter:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/venice-film-festival-terrence-malick-brian-de-palma-354875 

HOT RUMORS

It's an interesting read...I'm talking about Deadline.com's post dissecting the Oscar potential of the Toronto lineup of Galas and Special Presentations that were announced on Tuesday.  Why?

Because of the hints, rumors and such concerning our festival in the Rockies that's now only 5 weeks away.

Here's the link: http://www.deadline.com/2012/07/toronto-film-fest-what-looks-good-for-oscar/

Now, allow me to spoil the article by relaying the pertinent portions of text...

First, there's the "Cloud Atlas" info:

"It’s also known that Warners screened this for Telluride consideration but we will have to wait and see if it shows up there too."

Three things here...First, I think "Cloud Atlas" doesn't really sound like a Telluride-y film, BUT, I'm pretty hot to see it AND Warner's must think it's very special to make the pitch.

And second, we now have an answer to the question concerning which of the "majors" was exhibiting their wares for Telluride during the L.A. Film Fest...or, at least we can make that guess.  It may be wrong, but putting 2 and 2 together and that's what you get...

Third, it makes you wonder if "Cloud Atlas" is the ONLY thing WB pitched...other films in their stable that they might have additionally had some interest in promoting for T-ride include: Ben Affleck's "Argo", Robert Lorenz's "Trouble with The Curve" and Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby".

Intriguing, isn't it?

Next, there's this nugget from the same story:

"The Sundance hit, The Sessions (formerlyThe Surrogate)  should be 

a winner for (Fox) Searchlight with strong award-calibre performances from Helen Hunt and John Hawkes. The studio also wanted it to play Telluride but that fest doesn’t like going second to Sundance..."

Now, I've said it before and I'll say it again...T-ride excepted "An Education" from the "No Sundance" rule...so, perhaps, might they again for "The Sessions"?

It's at least a possibility...

And finally, toward the end of the story came this little tidbit:

"Where’s Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master rumored for all three Fall fests? Stay tuned . It’s only the beginning."

Rumored for  "ALL THREE FESTS" including Telluride???  That's at least a little ray of sunshine about the possibility.

But we now know from the Venice announcement that "The Master" isn't playing there and Toronto doesn't seem likely to add it after their Galas and SPecial Presentations announcement...so that only leaves Telluride as the last remaining possible of the "three".  Fingers still crossed.

All of it making me kind of dizzy...of course it could all be bunk...and not a bit of this makes me think you'll see any of these films added to the "Ten Bets" list next Monday...but wouldn't it be COOL?

Anyway, since this is what we start with today, we'll keep the focus on a couple of films mentioned above...




LATE EDIT:  VENICE OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE ONE MORE COMPETITION FILM TO ANNOUNCE...

CLOUD ATLAS

This is a BIG film and regardless of it's fate vis-a-vis Telluride, I want to see it badly.

A couple of sources I frequent were up yesterday with first pics from the film and some analysis about the nature of it.  Take a look at The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-images-of-tom-hanks-halle-berry-ben-whishaw-jim-broadbent-in-cloud-atlas-20120725

And also Screen Crush:

http://screencrush.com/cloud-atlas-images/

FirstShowing has a big Cloud Atlas post up this mroning complete with the international trailer linked here:

http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/phenomenal-5-minute-cloud-atlas-trailer-huge-new-photo-gallery/?uid=f3ccc42d9d7a22aca782321da12926b95b353efe

"Cloud Atlas's" IMDb entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/

MORE ON THE MASTER TRAILER

Obsessive much?  I plead guilty...but I'm clearly not alone.Eric Kohn at IndieWire breaks down the recently released full trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master" by focusing on 5 key images.  Obsess with me here:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/the-trailer-test-5-indelible-images-from-the-master

"The Master's IMDb entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1560747/

Exciting stuff indeed!

More later...

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Anna Teased/Gus Promise/Warner's

Good Thursday Everyone!


Finally saw "Prometheus" last night...liked it...a lot.  Kind of want to see it again and will be excited when the next chapter comes along...

ANNA TEASED

"Anna Karenina" is getting the P.R. roll out this week with a trailer and poster.  "Anna" is directed by Joe Wright and follows the generally well received 2007 film "Atonement" (83% all critics/88% "top" critics on Rotten Tomatoes),and his less well received  2011's "Hanna" (71%/59%) and 2009's "The Soloist" (56%/62%).

It's certainly a possible Telluride choice.  Factors pointing toward its possible inclusion: the occasional T-ride connection to distributor Focus Features ("Into the Wild" TFF '07, "Catch a Fire" TFF '06).  Focus also is distributing "Hyde Park on Hudson" which will appear on this summer's first "Ten Bets" list on Monday...so my bet is that Focus is in Telluride for that at least and might desire to double dip.


Both of "Anna's" production companies, Working Title and Studio Canal,  were a part of "Catch a Fire's" production.  


So, let's say it's a 25% possible...


Here's the trailer:

Also two recent posts from
Rope of Silicon:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/anna-karenina-trailer-keira-knightley-joe-wright/

And The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/glitzy-first-poster-unveiled-for-anna-karenina-starring-keira-knightley-aaron-johnson-jude-law-20120620

"Anna's" IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1781769/


GUS PROMISE

Gus Van Sant was once a frequent invitee to the Telluride Film Festival ("Elephant" in 2003, "To Die For" in 1995)...but hasn't been back in a long time ( last year's "Restless" was not well received critically and 2008's Best Picture contender "Milk" didn't come to T-ride).

But he's got a new film in play this year featuring his old "Good Will Hunting" collaborator Matt Damon and written by Damon and "The Office's" John Krasinski  (who also co-stars) entitled "Promised Land" and this week The Playlist contends that it just might be ready for the end of the year and that a "fall festival" appearance is a possibility.

Here's The Playlist story:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/gus-van-sants-the-promised-land-could-hit-theaters-by-the-end-of-the-year-not-an-anti-fracking-movie-says-john-krasinski-20120618

And the "Promised Land" IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2091473/

The producer and distributor is the above mentioned Focus Features...so...maybe they go for three films in TFF #39.


WARNER BROTHERS

Deadline. com reported last week that at least one "major" studio was showing film to TFF programmers in an effort to polish Oscar chances who were in L.A. during the L.A. Film Fest and so this week I have been trying to nail down some possibilities.  Today: Warner Brothers.

According to their IMDb page (http://www.imdb.com/company/co0026840/) WB is distributor for a ton of Oscar bait  films: Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby" (DiCaprio, Maguire and Telluride favorite Carey Mulligan), Ben Affleck's "Argo"( Affleck, Goodman, Arkin) , The Wachowski Bros."Cloud Atlas"(Hanks, Sarandon, Berry), Robert Lorenz's "Trouble with the Curve" (Eastwood, Adams), and Ruben Fleischer's "Gangster Squad" (Penn, Gosling, Brolin).  Oh, and that "Hobbit" thing.

There's a lot there and WB has played in Telluride before...just not recently.  They distributed "Slumdog Millionaire" in 2008 and "Rails and Ties" in 2007...Allison Eastwood's directing debut...I have a nice New Sheridan story about her.  WB also produce "Benjamen Button" and "zodiac" which were a pert of the festival's David Fincher tribute in 2008.

For my money...if it was Warners...I'd guess "Argo" and "Curve" would be the best possibilities and "Gatsby" on the outside.

Tomorrow, I'll spend a little time assessing these "majors" and why it might be true.

More later...


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