Ten Bets (with Bonus Bets) # 6 / More on the Dolan / 1917 Trailer...Too Late for Telluride?

Welcome to today's MTFB...



TEN BETS #6

Here's the sixth iteration of my "Ten Bets" about films to possibly play at the 46th Telluride Film Festival.


Last week's Ten Bets and Other Possibilities looked like this:

10) The Truth
9) Ford v. Ferrari
8) The Two Popes
7) Pain and Glory
6) Uncut Gems
5) Judy
4) Motherless Brooklyn
3) Marriage Story
2) Portrait of a Lady on Fire
1) Parasite


Other Possibilities:


Varda by Agnes, Family Romance LLC, Country Music/Ryman Concert, The Climb, Little Women, The Good Liar, Untitled Todd Haynes Project (Dry Run?), Atlantics, Nomadland, Synonyms, Ad Astra, Molly, Lucy in the Sky, Seberg, Wasp Network, The King, The Aeronauts, First Cow, A Hidden Life.


This week's Ten Bets:


10) The Aeronauts
9) Ford v. Ferrari
8) The Two Popes
7) Pain and Glory
6) Uncut Gems
5) Judy
4) Motherless Brooklyn
3) Marriage Story
2) Portrait of a Lady on Fire
1) Parasite


This week, I add some "Bonus Bets":

Bonus 1) The Truth
Bonus 2) Varda by Agnes
Bonus 3) First Cow
Bonus 4) Family Romance LLC
Bonus 5) Country Music

Other possibilities (in no particular order):

The Climb, Little Women, The Good Liar, Untitled Todd Haynes Project (Dry Run?), Atlantics, Nomadland, Synonyms, Ad Astra, Molly, Lucy in the Sky, Seberg, Wasp Network, The King, A Hidden Life, Matthias and Maxime, 1917.


MORE ON THE DOLAN

I mentioned in yesterday's post as a part of looking at the Canadian film lineup announced by Toronto the -what seemed to me to be unusual omission- of Xavier Dolan's Matthias and Maxime.  As it turns out, I wasn't the only one who noticed.

A Tweet from Tom Linay put me onto a story from The Globe and Mail about the TIFF announcement that included this passage about the Dolan film:

"One highly anticipated Canadian film that wasn’t announced on Wednesday, though, was Matthias et Maxime, the eighth film by Xavier Dolan that premiered at Cannes this spring.

Last year, TIFF waited until its splashy Canadian programming news conference to reveal that it had secured the world premiere of Dolan’s The Death and Life of John F. Donovan – a surprise to the assembled media, who were not informed of the move when presented with TIFF’s initial Canadian slate the day before. Gravestock, however, assures that there will be no such Dolan twist this year.

"I don't think there are going to be any surprises, not that I know of," he says. "There will be a whole slew of announcements over the next couple weeks, but no [on the Dolan]. There are lots of films that are not available to us, and that's just the way programming is."

So we can take from this that the film will NOT be announced for TIFF in future news releases.  We can also parse from the last sentence that the film...for whatever reason...is not "available" to TIFF.  We also know that it screened at Cannes back in May and that it is also set to screen today as a part of of the Melbourne Film Fest...so it's obviously ready.

Does it make a TFF #46 appearance? 

Here's the link to the complete Globe and Mail story.



1917 TRAILER...TOO LATE FOR TELLURIDE?

A first look trailer for Sam Mendes' 1917 landed yesterday.  Looks good, intriguing...a little reminded of Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk from a couple of years back.

The trailer says "December" at the end suggesting an as yet unannounced U.S. premiere date for that month which doesn't mean that it's necessarily too late Telluride to be part of Universal's strategy for its release and awards campaign.  We also learned, though, that the film's English debut is late January which may indicate that Telluride and even Toronto may be out of the picture.  Maybe any fest play at all including New York, AFI and London.


Here's the video from YouTube:

Here's a sampling of the stories that accompanied the trailer drop yesterday:

Deadline

Indiewire

Variety


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Toronto's Canadian Titles / Queen and Slim Trailer / New York's Centerpiece Is Baumbach

How's your August so far...

TORONTO'S CANADIAN TITLES

The Toronto International Film Festival made its second announcement of films for that fest and as is their custom, they named the full slate of Canadian based films that will be included across the many programming sections they include.  In all another 26 films were added to the list of Galas and Special Presentations that were announced last week

Usually the "Canadian Week" announcements have little bearing on illuminating the Telluride lineup is and yesterday's list of 2019 films for TIFF lived up to that history.  From my analysis not a single one of the 26 films named yesterday will play at Telluride.

As a matter of fact, the only film listed with the often telltale "Canadian Premiere" designation was the previously announced American Woman and, as we said last week, it earns its "Canadian Premiere" designation as a result of having screened at the Tribeca Film Fest back in April.

There was one interesting note, however.  Kind of one of those "dog that doesn't bark" things.  Not announced was Xavier Dolan's Cannes film Matthias and Maxime.  IMDb says the film has Canada as its nation of origin and news reports indicate that yesterday's TIFF announcement was the complete list of Canadian films that have been chosen.

So, maybe this lack of sign from TIFF is actually a hint that the Dolan film plays in Colorado.  Dolan has been in T-ride before with Mommy in 2014.  Worth a thought.

Here's the complete list of films added for Toronto from Indiewire.

QUEEN AND SLIM TRAILER

We got a trailer yesterday for Melina Matsoukas' Queen and Slim.  The film is out Nov. 27th from Universal.  I'd classify it as an outside-outside shot for TFF.

Here's the trailer via YouTube:

Here's coverage of the trailer drop and the film from The Film Stage and Trailer Track.

NEW YORK'S CENTERPIECE IS BAUMBACH

The New York Film Fest announced that Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story will be its centerpiece film this year and have labeled it a New York premiere which adds fuel to the flame of its Telluride appearance after it plays at Venice.

As a matter of fact, Marriage Story is, at this point, the only film that will likely play Telluride, Venice, Toronto and New York.  Very impressive.

Marriage Story is said to be semi-autobiographical and stars Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern and Alan Alda among others.

I have linked coverage of its New York selection here from the festival itself as well as:

Indiewire

The Playlist

The Wrap

And speaking of the wrap...that's today's.

CURRENT TEN BETS...

10) The Truth
9) Ford v. Ferrari
8) The Two Popes
7) Pain and Glory
6) Uncut Gems
5) Judy
4) Motherless Brooklyn
3) Marriage Story
2) Portrait of a Lady on Fire
1) Parasite

More tomorrow...including an updated and most likely expanded Ten Bets.


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One More Film Falls from Consideration (Maybe Two) / Canadians Announce Canadians / MTFB Makes Appearance at Awards Circuit /

Good Thursday Telluride Film Fans...

ONE MORE FILM FALLS FROM CONSIDERATION (MAYBE TWO)

The New York Film Festival named Julian Schnabel's At Eternity's Gate as its Closing Night Film yesterday and labeled it as a North American Premiere.  That effectively signals us that the film will not be making a stop at Telluride.

Schnabel has had a significant relationship with T-ride including acting as its poster artist (where's this year's poster?) in 2002:

His magnificent The Dining Bell and the Butterfly played TFF in 2007 but he hasn't been back since.

Additionally, Anne Thompson at Indiewire tweeted yesterday that Joel Edgerton's Boy Erased is likely to play the first weekend of Toronto which almost certainly means that it won't play T-ride:

Thompson later tweeted that the film's presence at TIFF is not confirmed as yet but The Playlist's Gregory Ellwood hinted last weekend that a Focus Feature film would be playing Toronto's opening weekend...and Boy Erased was speculated by some to be that film.

However, late yesterday afternoon and five and a half hours after the above tweet,  Thompson seemed to open the door back up for the potential of a play at Telluride revealing that director Joel Edgerton had screened the film for festivals "late" and, quoting Anne, "we may see it at Telluride".

Here's the story Thompson filed at Indiewire late yesterday afternoon.

I can't think of a reason that Thompson would have even done the story following her earlier tweet if there wasn't some possibility that still existed for the film to make the TFF #45 lineup.

Here's coverage of the Schnabel/NYFF announcement from: Variety and Deadline.

CANADIANS ANNOUNCE CANADIANS

The Toronto International Film Festival announced Canadian films that have been added to various portions of their program yesterday.  While the announced films didn't add or really eliminate films that we've been thinking about as Telluride potentials, the absence of an announcement for Xavier Dolan's The Death and Life of John F. Donovan made me think that another fall fest season is going to pass without that film showing up anywhere.

Then , yesterday afternoon, in a separate announcement, TIFF revealed that Dolan's film will World Premiere there thus removing it from Telluride consideration

The original TIFF Canadian announcement is here from Indiewire and Variety.

The story of the addition of John F. Donovan is here from The Playlist.

MTFB MAKES APPEARANCE AT AWARDS CIRCUIT

Mark Johnson of Awards Circuit posted his TFF #45 speculation piece yesterday and was kind enough to mention MTFB and link to the blog in the body of the article.

So a big thanks to Mark and the entire Awards Circuit crew for the shout out.  Those of you tuning in for the first time from A.C. ...Howdy!

Mark goes on to name 10 films he's predicting which mirror my latest Ten Bets closely but not 100%.

For example, Mark does name Backseat (The Adam McKay biopic about Dick Cheney that stars Christian Bale as the former Veep) which may be titled something else before its release.  I hope he's right because I would love to see that.

Mark's complete story is here.

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Another One Bites the Dust / Crazy Ideas Re-visited / A Trailer for Human Flow

Welcome back from your weekend.  It's Monday, August 21, 2017...ten days to TFF #44...

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST

I started seeing some social media mention on Friday that Xavier Dolan's The Death and Life of John F. Donovan was probably not going to be ready for exhibition.  Indiewrie confirmed that in a post on Friday afternoon.

The film's french distributor is sourced in the article specifically saying that the film won't be ready for Toronto which necessarily also means that it wouldn't be ready for the earlier occurring TFF #44. John F. Donovan has been on my dwindling list of films that could still pop up at Telluride but that changes now.

One other note about Toronto; they do have one more round of films to be announced Tuesday.  Last week one of the major film outlet had suggested that TIFF was finished naming films but a friendly reader messaged me with the news that TIFF wasn't quite done which made more sense to me as I had gotten used to TIFF making their announcements in five installments.  So, look for a final wave of films and parsing coming tomorrow.

Consequently, my list of films which might still make The SHOW is now:

Final Portrait
L'amant Double
Marshall
Mary Magdalene
Our Souls at Night
The Snowman
Wonder
You Were never Really Here

CRAZY IDEAS RE-VISITED

Four things that are really far-fetched but...you never know...

Alejandro Inarritu's VR installation Carne y Arena.  It's played at Cannes and the L.A. County Museum.  

Denis Villenueve surprises by showing up with, at a minimum, scenes from Blade Runner 2049. Maybe the whole film.

William Friedkin is feted and shows The Devil and Father Amorth plus the recently restored Sorcerer and perhaps even The Exorcist.

David Lynch drops the final two episodes of Twin Peaks:The Return in Telluride prior to them airing on Sunday night, Sept. 3rd on Showtime.

Final word: make all these crazy ideas happen...

A TRAILER FOR AI WEI WEI'S HUMAN FLOW

One of the documentaries we expect to see in Telluride in a few days is Ai Wei Wei's Human Flow. The film is known to bow in Venice and we then think it'll make the trip to southwest Colorado.  Wei Wei focuses on the global refugee crisis after having filmed in nearly two dozen countries according to Indiewire which reported over the weekend that the doc has a trailer.

And here it is from YouTube:

That's Monday.  More tomorrow...

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Ten (Plus) Bets #6 (AKA as 15 Bets) / Toronto's Platform Has No TFF #44 Crossover / The Cases for Mary Magdalene and John F. Donovan

Good Friday people!  The 44th Telluride Film Festival opens four weeks from today.


TEN (PLUS) BETS #6 (AKA 15 BETS)

Yes.  It's time to expand the list from 10 films we think will play TFF #44 to 15 as we get closer to The SHOW date and have learned more, it makes sense to expand the list.

Here's last week's Ten Bets and added possibilities:

1) Wonderstruck
2) Downsizing
3) Battle of the Sexes
4) A Fantastic Woman
5) The Shape of Water
6) The Rider
7) Hostiles
8) Lady Bird
9) First They Killed My Father
10) Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool

Additionally other detective work seems to be indicating Darkest Hour, Loving Vincent, Human Flow (see below) and Wormwood are likely for  Telluride.

Other films that could still play Telluride: Visages/Villages, The Other Side of Hope, Lean on Pete, Mektoub My Love Canto Uno, First Reformed, The Leisure Seeker, Ex Libris, Our Souls at Night, First Reformed, Sweet Country and La Camera Insabbiata, You Were Never Really Here, The Florida Project, Happy End, Loveless, Ken Burns' Vietnam and Mary Magdalene.

Here's is this week's 15 Bets:

1) Wonderstruck
2) Downsizing
3) Battle of the Sexes
4) The Shape of Water
5) Darkest Hour
6) A Fantastic Woman
7) Hostiles
8) Lady Bird
9) The Rider
10) Loving Vincent
11) Human Flow
12) First They Killed My Father
13) Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
14) Wormwood
15) The Florida Project and Visages/Villages (tie)

Other possibilities: Loveless, You Were Never Really Here, Lean on Pete, Mary Magdalene, The Other Side of Hope, Mektoub My Love, First Reformed, Happy End, Our Souls at Night, The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, Molly's Game.


TORONTO PLATFORM TITLES: NONE WILL BE IN T-RIDE

Yesterday the Toronto International Film Festival unveiled 12 titles for its Platform Section.  Last year, that section included one film that played Telluride and that was Barry Jenkins' eventual Best Picture Oscar winner Moonlight.

However, that situation will not be replicated in 2017 as none of the Platform choices appear to be playing Telluride first.  All 12 titles were listed either as World or North American Premieres meaning no T-ride.

Three films that were included had been on my radar for Telluride at some point but are now off:

The Death of Stalin
Brad's Status
Sweet Country

I was particularly bummed by The Death of Stalin from Veep creator Armando Ianucci.  I was really hoping that it would make the trip to Colorado but, alas, it seems that won't happen.

We expect more Toronto announcements next week.

Platform coverage is here from Indiewire.

And also here from Variety.


THE CASES FOR MARY MAGDALENE AND JOHN F. DONOVAN

Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara from Mary Magdalene via The Daily Mail

These are a couple of films that I haven't had high up on my Telluride expectations list but because of recent circumstances in both cases, they have been rising in the last week or so.

Mary Magdalene...why it could play:  First it's from The Weinstein Company.  I am on record saying that I thought that TWC would return this year to TFF.  I had been working on the assumption that The Current War was the most likely vehicle for that to occur but we found out last week that Current War will debut at Toronto leaving Mary Magdalene as TWC's only real prospect for fests

Second, the timing is right...the film is set for a Nov. 24th release date.  Carol opened Nov. 20th in 2015, The Imitation Game Nov. 28th in 2014, The Artist on Nov. 25, 2011  There's a track record that suggests the path starts at Telluride.

Third, reportedly star Rooney Mara has enjoyed her Telluride experiences these past two years with Carol in 2015 and Una in 2016 (BTW, Una has finally been dated for release this past week.  The film will open on Oct. 6th) and it can't hurt if your star does like the fest.

As for The Death and Life of John  F. Donovan, I haven't paid much attention because it has been ambiguously dated for 2018.  I have been assuming that it would probably debut at Berlin or Cannes. That got a jolt this last week as a Vanity Fair story about writer/director Xavier Dolan claims that he's working on the final edit to have it ready for fall film fests:

Additionally, the film has seen recent releases of character posters:

When you start seeing posters, teasers, trailers at this time of year you begin to think that involvement in a fest is a real possibility.

Also, Dolan has been a Telluride guest before in 2014 with Mommy.

So, chalk John F. Donovan in as an increased possibility for Telluride.  The complete Vanity Fair article is here.

There's your Friday...more can be had on Monday.  Have a fantastic weekend.

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Distribution: The Weinstein Company (and Variations) / Dardennes Re-Tool Unknown Girl / Trailering It's Only the End of the World

Good Wednesday World...


DISTRIBTUION: THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY (AND VARIATIONS)

Tracking the Weinsteins as distributors at Telluride for the past decade shows us that they've been a part of The SHOW for a good long while.  Here's their Telluride slate as Miramax or The Weinstein Company or Radius-TWC since 2006:


2006: Venus, Indigenes
2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, My Enemy's Enemy, I'm Not There
2008: Happy-Go-Lucky
2009: The Road
2010: The King's Speech
2011: The Artist, Butter
2012: The Sapphires  (also was represented during the Marion Cotillard tribute by James Gray and 5 min. of The Immigrant)
2013: The Unknown Known, Salinger, Tracks
2014: The Imitation Game", "Escobar: Paradise Lost"

2015: Carol

18 films over the past decade including Best Picture winners in 2010 and 2011.  With an average of 1.8 films and a presence every year at the fest, TWC and its ancillary companies are the third most prolific distributor and one of the most consistently represented at Telluride over the past decade.

Let's look at The Weinstein Company's playlist as it is listed today in IMDb:

Lion

Wild Oats

Ballerina

At this point, these look like the only films in the line at TWC that might have a shot at playing. Clearly the most probable is Garth Davis' Lion which is dated for a Nov. 25 release.  The other two films seem as if they don't have a big chance.  I wouldn't completely rule them out though.  Wild Oats stars Jessica Lange and Shirley McLaine and they're enough to make you wonder at least a little about the film.  

One other note...the dating for the release of John Lee Hancock's (The Blind Side, Saving Mr. Banks) The Founder starring Michael Keaton has me scratching my head.  It's set to come out a full month before T-ride/Toronto on Aug. 5th.  This is a film whose pedigree would (and did at one point) make me think that it would be both a T-ride possible and maybe a part of the Oscar convo.  That Aug. 5 date, though, takes it off the fall fest circuit and, for me anyway, sends up a red flare of concern.

Probabilities:

Lion 60%

Wild Oats 30%

Ballerina 15%

 Tomorrow we look at Fox Searchlight.


DARDENNES RE-TOOL UNKNOWN GIRL

Reports surfaced yesterday that the Dardennes Brothers have re-edited their Cannes entry The Unknown Girl.  The film is reported to have been shortened by seven minutes and had 32 separate cuts since its screening in May in France.

The film was received in a lukewarm fashion from critics when it debuted.  The Dardennes actions are said to have been in response to those concerns and further, they claim that some critics have seen the re-vamped version and say that it has improved.

If you read yesterday's post, you'll know that I still regard Unknown Girl as a real Telluride possibility.  Additionally, I had it on last week's initial Telluride Ten Bets list at #4.  This news, I think, strengthens the case that The Unknown Girl makes an appearance in the SHOW.

Coverage of the announced editing is here:

http://www.screendaily.com/dardenne-brothers-re-edit-cannes-drama-the-unknown-girl/5106274.article

http://variety.com/2016/film/global/the-dardennes-brothers-have-re-edited-the-unknown-girl-1201805048/

https://thefilmstage.com/news/the-dardennes-have-re-edited-the-unknown-girl-for-theatrical-release/

http://theplaylist.net/daredennes-re-edited-unknown-girl-muted-response-cannes-20160628/



TRAILERING IT'S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD

Trailer for Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World via YouTube

Prior to the Cannes Film Fest in May, I would have regarded Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World as a near dead certainty to make the TFF #43 lineup.  Dolan has been on fire here at the start of his career including success at Cannes and Venice and a Telluride slot in 2014.   Additionally, a cast that include Marion Cotillard, Lea Seydoux and Vincent Cassels seems T-ride friendly.

The critics chewed the film up after its premiere in France in May, however.  It had a dismal 4.46 average critic rating on the Urban composite (http://cannes-rurban.rhcloud.com/2016).

After that the film took a huge nose dive in as far as I was concerned in terms of its SHOW profile. Then, at the end of  Cannes, it was named winner of the Grand Prix award.  That knocked me back a little and kept the film on my watch list.

The film still lacks a U.S. distributor and release date, though the release of its trailer yesterday reminded us that it is scheduled for release in Quebec on Sept. 21.

Here are stories covering the release of the trailer:


https://thefilmstage.com/trailer/a-family-reunites-in-first-trailer-for-xavier-dolans-its-only-the-end-of-the-world/

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/06/its-only-the-end-of-the-world-trailer-xavier-dolan-cannes-winner-marion-cotillard-vincent-cassel-1201700306/

http://theplaylist.net/first-trailer-xavier-dolans-end-world-marion-cotillard-lea-seydoux-vincent-cassel-20160628/

http://www.firstshowing.net/2016/watch-first-trailer-for-xavier-dolans-its-only-the-end-of-the-world/


That concludes MTFB for Wednesday...come back for more tomorrow

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Haneke's Plans Change/Future Telluride: "It's Only the End of the World"/"Elser" becomes "13 Minutes" and Drops a Trailer

Hello on a Tuesday in June...



HANEKE'S PLANS CHANGE

In the run up to this year's Cannes Film Fest there was some thought in some quarters that auteur Michael Haneke's secretive "Flashmob" might show up as a part of one of the programs during the fest.  I also had it as an outside shot film to keep an eye out for at Telluride because Haneke has made a home there with frequency.  But the Cannes screening did not happen, of course, and now we know why.

Haneke has abandoned the project and moved on according to a number of reports.  Apparently, things did not come together to his liking and thus, after having postponed the film for some time, Haneke has turned the page and moved on to something new.

Here's the reporting from The Playlist and Rope of Silicon:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/michael-haneke-drops-flashmob-working-on-new-film-set-in-france-20150609


http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/michael-haneke-wont-incite-flashmob-working-something-else/




FUTURE TELLURIDE: "IT'S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD"

Marion Cotillard in the first image from Xavier Dolan's "It's Only the End of the World" via The Playlist

Xavier Dolan joined the ranks of Telluride alumni with the presentation of his film "Mommy" in 2014.  In 2012, Marion Cotillard was feted as a recipient of a TFF tribute which was accompanied by Jacques Audiard's "Rust and Bone".  We found out the last 24 hours that Dolan and Cotillard are teaming for a new film: "It's Only the End of the World" which focuses on a family dealing with a member with a terminal illness.  

The film is expected to be released in 2016 and IMDb lists it as currently filming.  One could reasonably expect that the film might make its way to TFF #43 next year.  

Parenthetically, one also might see both Audiard and Cotillard return to Telluride this year.  Audiard with "Dheepan" and Cotillard with Justin Kurzel's "Macbeth"  (yes please!)

Here's reporting on the Dolan film from The Playlist and Rope of Silicon:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-look-marion-cotillard-in-xavier-dolans-its-only-the-end-of-the-world-20150613


http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/first-picture-of-marion-cotillard-in-xavier-dolans-next-film-plus-tom-at-the-farm-coming-to-u-s-theaters/



"ELSER" BECOMES "13 MINUTES" AND DROPS A TRAILER

UK Trailer for "13 Minutes" (formerly "Elser") via YouTube

One of the films that emerged as a result of the Berlin International Film Festival back in February was Oliver Hirschbiegel's "Elser".  The film was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics and was generally well received critically.

We found out yesterday that the film has changed titles.  It is now called "13 Minutes".

The film is based on a true story about a lesser known attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1939 (as opposed to the more well known attempt immortalized by Tom Cruise in Bryan Singer's 2008 film "Valkyrie".

I may have "13 Minutes" on the very first "Ten Bets" list for 2015 which is coming in about 10 days...

"13 Minutes" reporting is linked here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-trailer-for-downfall-director-oliver-hirschbiegels-hitler-assassination-thriller-13-minutes-20150615

http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/must-watch-first-trailer-for-13-minutes-from-oliver-hirschbiegel/


And its IMDb page is here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1708135/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1



More on Wednesday...

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Looking at Macbeth/And Speaking of Cotillard/"Youth" and Fox

Good Thursday World!


LOOKING AT "MACBETH"

It's no secret that I have been banging the drum for Justin Kurzel's "Macbeth" to be a part of this year's Telluride lineup.  Its inclusion in the Palme d'Or competition in Cannes next month could be another step in that direction.  If it performs well in terms of critical response and picks up any buzz vis-a-vis awards from the Coen Brothers led jury that would also add to its chances to make the Labor Day lineup.

Earlier this week, we were treated to new images from the film that stars Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender as Shakespeare's most dangerous power couple.  You can find those images and coverage linked here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/cannes-new-images-from-macbeth-starring-michael-fassbender-and-marion-cotillard-20150428

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/cannes-first-look-michael-fassbender-and-marion-cotillard-are-evil-in-macbeth-20150428

http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/04/cannes-2015-first-look-at-macbeth/


AND SPEAKING OF COTILLARD...

As I was doing just above, casting news this week puts the former Telluride Tribute recipient in another future vehicle that could make its way to Telluride in 2016.  The announcement came for the latest plans for director Xavier Dolan's next project.  Dolan was part of the Telluride lineup last year with "Mommy".  Other cast members announced included Lea Seydoux who appeared at Telluride for TFF #40 with "Blue is the Warmest Color" and Vincent Cassel ("Black Swan").

The film will be based on a french play entitled "It's Only the End of the World".  It is reported that filming will begin soon.  Dolan is slated to serve as a part of the Cannes Palme d'Or jury next month.

Check the details below:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/marion-cotillard-lea-seydoux-end-of-the-world-1201481234/

http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/04/xavier-dolan-to-work-with-cotillard-and-seydoux/

http://www.ioncinema.com/news/casting-news/dolan-doubles-down-its-only-the-end-of-the-world-for-cotillard-seydoux-cassel-ulliel-nathalie-baye

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/marion-cotillard-lea-seydoux-vincent-cassel-and-more-to-star-in-xavier-dolans-next-film-just-la-fin-du-monde-20150428

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/marion-cotillard-lea-seydoux-vincent-cassel-more-to-star-in-xavier-dolans-next-movie/


"YOUTH" AND FOX

Also making news this week was the announcement from Fox Searchlight that they will distribute Paolo Sorrentino's Cannes competition film "Youth".  "Youth" stars Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz and Paul Dano.  The acquisition bodes well for the film and raises the chances that it could be a Telluride selection.  So much so, in fact that the below-linked post from Ioncinema suggests that a Telluride play is likely.  Check it:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-fox-searchlight-nabs-paolo-792048

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/cannes-fox-searchlight-sealing-deal-on-paolo-sorrentinos-youth-20150429

http://www.ioncinema.com/news/acquisitions-foreign-films/disparate-youth-fox-searchlight-fawn-over-fonda-in-palme-dor-cannes-contender


More on Monday...have a great weekend!