The Usual Suspects Part Two/"The Revenant" News/The Guardian on the Fall Season

Welcome to Wednesday film fans...



THE "USUAL SUSPECTS" PART TWO

I'm continuing my metaphorical stroll through some of the directors, producers and others who seem to have a personal and frequent connection to Telluride to parse their participation to see if there are clues for the TFF #42 lineup.

Today we start with actress Laura Linney.

Linney hasn't appeared at the fest since 2012's "Hyde Park on Hudson".  For a good long while I thought she'd be back this year with Bill Conden's "Mr. Holmes" starring Sir Ian McKellen.  Then, some months ago, Fox Searchlight dated the film for a July release (it opened last weekend).

But fear not Linney fans, she's still in the TFF #42 possibility game as she appears also in Michael Grandage's "Genius" which is in the Lionsgate stable.  The film was listed by IMDb as being in post-production in February.  The film also stars Nicole Kidman, Jude Law and Colin Firth (TFF tribute 2010). Grandage is a first time director.

Our next "Usual Suspect" for today's post is Stephen Frears.  Frears is an interesting case.  He hasn't had a film at the fest since 2010's "Tamara Drewe" but was reportedly supposed to have had "Philomena" sneak in 2013 only to have it pulled at the last minute (The Weinstein Company replaced it with "Salinger").  Another story that I heard was that Frears was approached to be Guest Director for the 2013 fest but couldn't due to other obligations.

If all that's true, then Frears still is in the Telluride orbit.  His current project that could make the grade for TFF #42 is his long gestating Lance Armstrong examination "The Program" starring Ben Foster as Armstrong and Chris O'Dowd as the journalist who kept after the allegations of doping that eventually caught up to the multiple Tour de France winner.  The film is currently without U.S. distribution.

Number three on today's look at "Usual Suspects" is Wim Wenders. Wenders has been coming to Telluride since 1978 and has played there with "Paris, Texas", "Faraway, So Close", "Pina" and last year with "Salt of the Earth"  This year he has a feature film called "Every Thing Will Be Fine" that stars James Franco and has played the Berlin Fest.  The film wasn't received all that warmly in a critical sense, but Wenders past connection with Telluride might be enough to get the film into the lineup.  The film's U.S. distribution is still up for grabs.

Our final "Usual" for this Wednesday are the Dardenne Brothers.  Now, I can hear some of you saying, "Wait, Michael.  The Dardenne don't have a film in the can."  And you're right.  But they do act as producers on a film that may have some Telluride legs:  Benoit Jacqout's "Diary of a Chambermaid" which stars Lea Seydoux (who made the trip to Telluride in 2013 with "Blue is the Warmest Color").  "Chambermaid" played Berlin in February and a couple of other fests and has U.S. distribution from the Cohen Media Group.  That distributor was last represented in Telluride in 2012 with "The Attack".

These factors might edge the film into the T-ride lineup.

So, in review, your chances for each of these four (five, if you count both Dardennes) "Usual Suspects" and their projects:

Linney/"Genius" 30%
Frears/"The Program" 35%
Wenders/"Every Thing Will Be Fine" 30%
Dardennes/"Diary of a Chambermaid" 20%

Tomorrow's "Usual Suspects" will be a little different as I'll look at two directors who are close to being "Usuals' as well as three fellows that are "Usuals" that would be doing something unusual if they were to come to this year's SHOW: Ariel Vromen, Matteo Garrone, Steve McQueen, Alejandro Inarritu and Francis Ford Coppola.



 "THE REVENANT" NEWS...

Alejandro Inarritu's "The Revenant" moved up on my wish list this past weekend with the release of a fantastic teaser/trailer.  Admittedly, the film isn't going to be ready in time for Telluride as word is that the crew is re-shooting a sequence in South America (where it is winter).  I have mentioned that I have some serious concern whether it will be ready TO go by its stated Dec. 25th release date.

Adding some fuel to that concern was a weekend tweet from The Playlist that asked if Fox was really likely to release both "The Revenant" and David O. Russell's "Joy" on the same date, as is now what is announced.

As if in answer to these concerns, Jeff Well/Hollywood Elsewhere posted late Monday night a piece concerning the re-shoot plans and timing based on a translated version of an interview with Inarritu. The good news, the post suggests that the film will be done earlier than thought.  The bad news, still not early enough to make it to Telluride.  Wells extrapolation suggests that it could be finished by late September/early October.  AFI Fest perhaps?

Here's the link to the Wells post:

http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2015/07/revenant-will-actually-ready-sooner/

In other "Revenant" news, Chris Connelley was up yesterday at Grantland with a big piece on the film and interviews with DiCaprio and Inarritu.  If you're excited about the film, as I am, it's worth a read:

http://grantland.com/features/exclusive-leonardo-dicaprio-and-alejandro-g-inarritu-on-the-revenant/


Additionally, I have linked this Rope of Silicon story about cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki's interview about the difficulties in making the film here:

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/emmanuel-lubezki-talks-shooting-the-revenant-and-frozen-monitors/

THE GUARDIAN ON THE FALL SEASON

The Guardian's Nigel M. Smith posted his take on 40 films that he feels have the most serious Oscar potential late yesterday.  Included in the assessment of each of the 40 films, if they haven't already appeared at Cannes, are his guesses about where the films might show up in the fall festival lineup, including a number of Telluride guesses.  They include:

"Adam Jones" Dir: John Wells.  Stars Bradley Cooper.  Distrib: The Weinstein Company.  Release Date: Oct. 2.

"Black Mass" Dir: Scott Cooper. Stars: Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch. Distrib: Warners.  Release date: Sept. 18. (Parenthetical note...please let this be true...and the smoke is gathering that it might be).

"The Danish Girl" Dir: Tom Hooper.  Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander. Distrib: Focus Features.  Release date: Nov. 27.

"Everybody Wants Some" Dir: Richard Linklater. Stars: Tyler Hoechlin. Distrib: Paramount Pictures.  Release date: TBD.

"Freeheld" Dir: Peter Sollett.  Stars: Julianne Moore, Ellen Page. Distrib: Lionsgate. Release date: Oct. 2.

"I Saw the Light" Dir: Marc Abraham.  Stars: Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Olsen. Distrib. Sony Pictures Classics. Release date: Nov. 27.

"The Light Between Oceans" Dir: Derek Cianfrance.  Stars: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander.  Distrib: TDB.  Release date: TBD.

"Manchester-by-the -Sea" Dir. Kenneth Lonergan.  Stars: Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams.  Distrib: TBD.  Release date: TBD (but perhaps 2016).

"The Program" Dir: Stephen Frears.  Stars: Ben Foster, Chris O'Dowd.  Distrib: TBD.  Release dates: TBD.

"Suffragette" Dir: Sarah Gavron.  Stars: Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter.  Distrib: Focus Features.  Release date: Oct. 23.

"Truth" Dir: James Vanderbilt.  Stars: Robert Redford, Cate Blanchett.  Distrib: Sony Pictures Classics. Release date: TBD.

Among the Cannes debuts that Smith mentions that I feel have some shot at playing at Telluride are:

"Carol", "Son of Saul", "Macbeth" and "Youth"

And the films that Smith pegs as possible plays for Venice that I feel are also possible for T-ride:

"A Bigger Splash", "A Hologram for the King", "Our Brand is Crisis".

Other films that Smith includes in the list of 40 that might have Telluride legs would be "Steve Jobs".

Read the whole piece here:

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jul/21/and-the-oscar-may-go-to-40-key-movies-in-contention-for-2016-awards


That's enough for today...more tomorrow...

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Guess the Guest/Fox Searchlight and Malala/Steve McQueen's Next Gig:Not So Fast/"Suffragette" Has a Date/Wenders on "Salt of the Earth"

GUESS THE GUEST

The 42nd Telluride Film Festival has named its Guest Director.  It's author Rachel Kushner.  Kushner continues a long line of literary choices that have been asked to Guest Direct the festival.  Past literary lions that have acted as Guest Directors are Salman Rushdie, Don DeLillo and Michael Ondaatje among others.  I have included the links to Telluride's official announcement as well as coverage from Variety, Thompson on Hollywood and The Wrap:

http://telluridefilmfestival.org/news/2015-03

http://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/rachel-kushner-set-as-telluride-film-fest-guest-director-1201463439/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/telluride-film-festival-taps-rachel-kushner-as-guest-director-20150331

http://www.thewrap.com/telluride-film-festival-flamethrowers-author-rachel-kushner-named-2015-guest-director/



FOX SEARCHLIGHT AND MALALA

We found out this week that distributor Fox Searchlight has acquired the rights to the documentary about Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager that was nearly shot to death because she wanted an education.  The doc is called "He Named Me Malala".  The deal means that FS could have the film available for Telluride in September.  That's an interesting thought.  Coverage is here:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/malala-yousafzai-documentary-bought-by-fox-searchlight-1201462451/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-searchlight-acquires-malala-yousafzai-785269

http://www.indiewire.com/article/fox-searchlight-acquires-davis-guggenheim-doc-he-named-me-malala-20150330

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/fox-searclight-acquires-davis-guggenheims-malala-yousafzai-doc-20150330

http://www.thewrap.com/fox-searchlight-acquires-davis-guggenheims-malala-yousafzai-documentary-he-named-me-malala/



STEVE MC QUEEN'S NEXT GIG: NOT SO FAST

I reported in the last post that British director Steve McQueen had a project ready to go with "Gone Girl" scribe Gillian Flynn set to write the script.  Since Monday, The Playlist is reporting that McQueen will, instead, work on a television project for the BBC.  That story is here:


http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/after-hbos-codes-of-conduct-steve-mcqueen-to-direct-epic-series-for-bbc-20150330

Of course, that doesn't mean that we won't see a McQueen selection this year or next.  It just may mean that TFF goes with a presentation of either this or his ongoing HBO project rather than a feature film.


"SUFFRAGETTE" HAS A DATE

We've been expecting that, after its non-appearance last year, that Sarah Gavron's "Suffragette" would likely be held for release until the fall awards season and that seems to be true as it was announced this week with an October 23rd release date.  The Screen Daily report, linked below, even speculates Telluride as a possibility.  I've also linked the report from Variety.

http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/suffragette-lands-awards-slot/5085827.article

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/meryl-streeps-suffragette-set-for-awards-season-release-on-oct-23-1201461666/

WENDERS ON SALT OF THE EARTH

Vulture.com has a lengthy interview with director Wim Wenders about his Oscar nominated and TFF #41 presentation "The Salt of the Earth".  That's here:

http://www.vulture.com/2015/03/wim-wenders-on-salt-of-the-earth.html


That's all for now.  More on Monday.

The Usual Suspects 2014 Part Three/Crave Online Takes a Stab/"Gone" to NYC/Coming Attractions: Mr. Holmes?

Good Thursday everyone...

Today I'm almost concluding my "Usual Suspects" rundown as it relates to TFF #41.  In parts one and two I looked at the prospects of "Usuals": Herzog, Burns, Payne, Cousins, Morris, Inarritu, Leigh, the Dardennes and Assayas.  Six more today and a small addendum for tomorrow.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS 2014 PART THREE

Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach in Telluride in 2012 (photo via Kristy Patterson)

Today we start with Noah Baumbach.  Baumbach is interesting "Usual Suspect" this year as he may...and I stress "may", have two potential projects that could play the fest.  Baumbach's past with Telluride includes "Margot at the Wedding" in 2007 and his collaboration with Greta Gerwig in 2012, "Frances Ha".

Baumbach has collaborated again with Ms. Gerwig in what is still being referenced as "Untitled Public School Project".  IMDb lists it as being in post-production as of late April.  If you'll recall, however, "Frances Ha" was similarly under-the-radar when it appeared at Telluride two years ago.

The other Baumbach project seems to be farther along and more is known about it.  Entitled "While We're Young" it stars Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts and Amanda Seyfried.  It is also listed by IMDb as being in post as of late February.

My expectation is that one of these two films play Telluride.  Each would have its merits.  I love me some Greta Gerwig, loved "Frances Ha" and am curious about what she and Baumbach might have cooked up. On the other hand,  the inclusion of "While We're Young" might also get Ben Stiller in town on Labor Day weekend and I would add him to my currently imaginary panel of comic actors working serious that at the moment would include Michaell Keaton from Inarritu's "Birdman" and Steve Carell from Miller's "Foxcatcher".

Again, I'll bet one if not both Baumbach's play.

IMDb pages for "While We're Young" and "Untitled Public School":

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1791682/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_1

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2872462/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_2

Stephen Frears

Stephen Frears...if reports are to be believed, and I do believe them, was supposed to have been a late addition to Telluride last year with "Philomena".  That didn't work out.  There was even some rumor floating about that Frears might have been Guest Director or one of them but that didn't work out either.

Nevertheless, Frears has another project this year that could make appearance and that is his "Untitled Lance Armstrong Biopic" starring Ben Foster as the now disgraced bicyclist.

Frears was the recipient of a TFF tribute in 1987 that included a screening of "Sammy and Rosie Get Laid' and was back in 2010 with "Tamara Drewe".

My feeling is that this is an "iffy" proposition for Telluride.  IMDb lists it as being in post-production as of mid-January but Frears (despite my listing him as an "Usual") has a hit and miss record with T-ride.  It's also difficult to assess what effect the events of last year might have.

Ultimately, I think the chances of us seeing the Frears project this Labor Day is about 30%.

IMDb:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3083008/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1

Next up is Wim Wenders.  Wenders was an early Telluride participant and then came back strong recently. Wenders, like Baumbach, has a couple of projects that could show at The SHOW.  First, his Cannes documentary "Salt of the Earth" that looks at the life of photographer Sebastiao Salgado.  The film won a couple of awards at Cannes and is in the Sony Pictures Classics stable so you have to think it's a very real T-ride possibility (I've already had it on my "Ten Bets" list this summer).

Wim Wenders

The other Wenders project is the feature film "Every Thing Will Be Fine" which stars James Franco and Rachel McAdams.  It is listed as being in post-production as of last month.  I think that it's much less likely to show up on the program.

"Salt" chances: 60%

IMDb:

 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3674140/?ref_=nv_sr_1

"Every Thing" chances: 20%

IMDb:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1707380/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1

Lone Scherfig

Then there's Lone Scherfig.  Scherfig played Telluride in 2001 with "Italian for Beginners" in 2001 and was back again in 2009 with "An Education" (in one of those really rare instances where a film played at Sundance and then at Telluride...it happens about once a decade).  Scherfig has a new film in post-production called "Riot Club" starring Natalie Dormer which focuses on Oxford's "Riot Club".  The film is set to premiere in England and Ireland on Sept. 19th so a Telluride play would work nicely for it.  The lack of a U.S. distribution deal may slow its chances, however.

Right now I'd give "Riot Club" only a 25% chance of playing Telluride.

"Riot Club's" IMDb:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2717860/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Finally, today, two guys that used to be "Usuals" that might return to the party.

John Boorman is listed on Telluride's "Esteemed Council of Advisers" and has been for a good long time as has Peter Bogdanovich.

Peter Bogdanovich and John Boorman

Boorman has a sequel in the can of his Oscar nominated "Hope and Glory".  This film is entitled "Queen and Country".  Bogdanovich also has a film entitled "Squirrels to the Nuts" which reportedly hearkens back to the film maker's heyday of comedies like "Paper Moon" and "What's Up Doc?"  It stars Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson as well as past Bogdo stars Cybil Shepherd and Tatum O'Neal.

IMDb for "Queen and Country":

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2392810/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Of these two, I feel "Queen and Country" has a reasonable shot to make the lineup...say 40%.  "Squirrels" seems to be less likely to me.  Out its chances at 25%.

IMDb for "Squirrels":

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1767372/?ref_=nv_sr_1


Tomorrow, a small addendum to this year's "Usual Suspects"...


CRAVE ONLINE TAKES A STAB

Take a look at this CraveOnline video touting the upcoming Telluride Film Festival.  It's kind of entertaining.  "Crave's" film guy William Bibbiani takes a stab at prediciting the Telluride lineup.  He mentions Fincher's "Gone Girl" (see below) , Nolan's "Interstellar", Inarritu's "Birdman" and Scott's "Exodus".

Frankly, I don't know anyone who thinks that "Gone Girl"  or "Exodus" are likely and, though I have seen one mention of "Interstellar's " possibility for Telluride, I'd still be surprised if it is in the lineup.  I'd like that, but I'd be surprised.

"Birdman"...yes.  I think so as well.

I left a comment suggesting that they needed to check this space.

"GONE" TO NYC

"Gone Girl" trailer from YouTube

Variety posted last night that David Fincher's "Gone Girl" will open the New York Film Festival and though I have been consistent in saying it wasn't likely for Telluride, this announcement makes it all but official.  Check the Variety story here:

http://variety.com/2014/film/awards/gone-girl-to-open-new-york-film-festival-exclusive-1201263704/

Incidentally, the announcement stirred up some Twitter traffic about other possible NYFF possible choices for closing night and the mid-fest special screening and as a part of that there was some further mention that there is some buzz about Nolan's "Interstellar" playing Telluride.  Rumors are rumors, but it's still fun to think about,


COMING ATTRACTIONS: MR. HOLMES?

Ian McKellen as Sherlock Holmes in "Mr. Holmes" from Rope of Silicon

Earlier this week, we saw the first image from Bill Condon's "Mr. Holmes" starring Ian McKellen as a 93 year old version of Sherlock Holmes and Laura Linney as well.  The film is currently filming and is expected to be released in 2015.  Production companies on the film include See Saw Films, BBC Films and FilmNation, all of which have had a presence at past Tellurides.  It sounds like the kind of film that could make the TFF #42 lineup.

Take a look at the ROS story here:

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/first-look-ian-mckellen-sherlock-holmes-bill-condons-mr-sherlock/

Marion Cotillard and Two Days/Salt of the Earth/New Views of Imitation

Welcome to Friday!

MARION COTILLARD AND TWO DAYS (AND MAC BETH TOO)

Marion Cotillard in "Two Days, One Night"

The first "Ten Bets" for TFF #41 is two weeks away (or so) and almost certain to land somewhere on that list is "Two Days, One Night" from the Dardennes Brothers starring Oscar winner Marion Cotillard.
Cotillard was a tributee in 2012 at Telluride and could conceivably make a return this year to accompany the film (and also with Justin Kurzel's "MacBeth" with Michael Fassbender...Marion is one of this year's "twofer" possibilities).

The Playlist posted a big article yesterday with Cotillard's new pics from "Two Days", an interview with Charlie Rose, a Brit interview about MacBeth, the Cannes press conference for "Two Days", footage from "The Immigrant".  There's a lot of stuff.  Take a look here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-20-minute-marion-cotillard-james-gray-interview-on-charlie-rose-plus-new-photos-of-two-days-one-night-20140604

SALT OF THE EARTH

Wenders and Selgado via The Film Stage

Thompson on Hollywood posted links yesterday to clips from Wim Wenders documentary about Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Selgado entitled "Salt of the Earth".  "Salt" is one of a number of docs that seem like they have reasonably good chances to make the Telluride '14 lineup ("Red Army" is another).


 The Thompson piece links to those clips via The Film Stage. I have provided the links to both posts here:

 http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/watch-provocative-new-clips-from-wim-wenders-doc-salt-of-the-earth

http://thefilmstage.com/news/preview-wim-wenders-the-salt-of-the-earth-with-first-batch-of-clips/#BYEErCFKmFWTVZwi.03


NEW VIEWS OF IMITATION

Benedict Cumberbatch in "The Imitation Game" via Entertainment Weekly

Also up yesterday...a couple of new stills from the set of "The Imitation Game" directed by Morten Tyldum.  Anyone who reads this space with much frequency knows that this right at the top of my TFF #41 wish list.

Take a look at the post and the other pic from Entertainment Weekly/The Playlist here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/new-photos-of-benedict-cumberbatch-keira-knightley-in-the-imitation-game-20140605

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/06/05/benedict-cumberbatch-outwits-nazis-in-the-imitation-game-first-look/


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More tomorrow...

Oscar Breakdown/#OccupyOscar!/Editors' Speak/Wim Speaks/Oscar Surprises

OSCAR PREDICTION BREAKDOWN.

If the nominations were announced this morning and The FAC was 100% accurate, the nomination totals for feature films would look like this:

The Artist                              11

Hugo                                      10

War Horse                               9 (but I think that’s on the high side)

The Help                                  7

The Descendants                      5

Moneyball                                5

With three nominations each: Midnight in Paris, The Tree of Life, My Week with Marilyn, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (I’ll bet it has more than three), Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Albert Nobbs, The Adventures of Tintin and Transformers.

With two apiece: The Iron Lady, Bridesmaids, Harry Potter/Deathly Hallows, and The Muppets.

Single nominations for: J. Edgar, Beginners, Drive, Warrior, Win Win, 50/50, Tinker Tailor, Extremely Loud, Super 8 and Jane Eyre.

#OCCUPY OSCAR

How are my #occupyoscar projects faring a week away from nominations???

Michael Fassbender for Best Actor in Shame…looks reasonably likely.

Carey Mulligan for Best Supporting Actress in Shame…her chances exist but are slim.

Janet McTeer for Best Supporting Actress in Albert Nobbs…she has a decent shot.

Ezra Miller for Best Supporting Actor for We Need to Talk About Kevin…not happening.

Corey Stoll for Best Supporting Actor for Midnight in Paris…also not happening.

Asghar Farhadi for Best Original Screenplay for A Separation…it could happen, but it’s a stretch.

Mike Mills for Best Original Screenplay for Beginners…slim chance, very slim.

EDITORS SPEAK

The American Cinema Editors announced their nominees for excellence this year and they are (according to Awards Daily):

NOMINEES FOR 62nd ANNUAL ACE EDDIE AWARDS

BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (DRAMATIC):

The Descendants
Kevin Tent, A.C.E.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Angus Wall, A.C.E. & Kirk Baxter, A.C.E.

Hugo
Thelma Schoonmaker, A.C.E.

Moneyball
Christopher Tellefsen, A.C.E.

War Horse
Michael Kahn, A.C.E.

BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (COMEDY OR MUSICAL):

The Artist
Anne-Sophie Bion & Michel Hazanavicius

Bridesmaids
William Kerr & Michael L. Sale

Midnight in Paris
Alisa Lepselter

My Week with Marilyn
Adam Recht

Young Adult
Dana E. Glauberman, A.C.E.

BEST EDITED ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:

The Adventures of Tintin
Michael Kahn, A.C.E. 

Puss in Boots
Eric Dapkewicz

Rango
Craig Wood, A.C.E. 

This actually probably aids The Descendants in its uphill struggle to win Best Picture from The Artist.  It probably hurts the chances of The Help.  Our FAC metric for Editing Oscar looked like this prior to the A.C.E. announcement:

EDITING

1)       The Artist

2)       War Horse

3)       Hugo

4)       Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

5)       Moneyball

Also in play:

6)       Drive

7)       The Descendants

8)       Extremely Loud

9)       The Tree of Life

10)   The Ides of March

Other possibles: The Help, Tinker Tailor, J. Edgar, Contagion, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Midnight in Paris, Warrior

WIM SPEAKS

A Guy Lodge interview with director Wim Wenders on the possible double Oscar nominee “Pina” here:

http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/in-contention/posts/interview-wim-wenders-on-overcoming-loss-and-meeting-3d-in-pina

OSCAR SURPRISES???

Steve Pond at The Wrap wrote an interesting “what if” post last Friday (the day Oscar nomination ballots were due) about weird things that could happen.  Take a look; it’s kind of entertaining:

http://www.thewrap.com/awards/column-post/10-oscar-shocks-could-probably-wont-happen-34362?page=0,3

Shame News/Pina Trailer/Tilda Talks/Dangerous and Albert

SHAME NEWS...

Director Steve McQueen says that "Shame" will stay exactly as we saw it in Telluride over Labor Day weekend. The film which has created a sensation after showing in the San Juans and also in Venice and Toronto especially for the performances of Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan is almost certainly headed toward an NC-17 MPAA rating. McQueen says that he won't change anything to avoid the rating. McQueen's insistence is reported in this story from Hollywood News:
http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2011/09/12/%E2%80%9Cshame%E2%80%9D-director-wont-cut-anything-to-avoid-nc-17-rating/

Shame's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1723811/

PINA TRAILER

Wim Wenders film homage to dance pioneer and legend Pina Bausch that was well received by a lot of Telluride patrons.  The film "Pina" has a trailer up now and you can take a look at it from First Showing.net here:
http://www.firstshowing.net/2011/indie-trailer-sunday-wim-wenders-3d-dance-doc-pina-trailer

Pina's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1440266/

TILDA TALKS

Tilda Swinton was one of this year's three tributees and appeared at TFF #38 with her new film "We Need to Talk About Kevin."  The film premiered at Cannes in May and has created a good deal of Oscar buzz for her performance.  She sat down recently with Roger Ebert in an interview that I have linked for you to look at here:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/09/the_world_according_to_saint_t.html#

Kevin's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1242460/

DANGEROUS AND ALBERT

Reviews continue to pour in from Toronto screenings of Telluride #38 films.  David Cronenberg's "A Dangerous Method" is still swimming upstream (I agree) while Rodrigo Garcia's "Albert Nobbs" is still dividing critics (I thought it was very good).  Hollywood News posted brief reviews yesterday (along with a brief review of Sundance favorite "Take Shelter").  Here's the link:
http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2011/09/10/method-isnt-dangerous-but-albert-nobbs-is-wonderful-awards-alley/

Method's IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1571222/

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