Hugo Unleashed/On the Road/Descendants Date Change/Errol Talks Tabloid

Viggo Mortensen and Amy Adams are in Walter Salles "On the Road"...will that road lead them to Telluride?

Good Morning All.  I didn't go to Harry Potter's conclusion at midnight last night...does that make me a bad muggle?

HUGO-NOT CABRET ANYMORE-UNLEASHED

Martin Scorsese's much anticipated 3D children's story adaptation has been all over the internet the past 2-3 days.  There's the poster above and now, at iTunes, the first trailer.  As you might expect, the trailer is very impressive.

I have said on a number of occasions in this space that I feel like there's almost zero chance that this film is at Telluride.  But, Scorsese was represented there last year with his collaboration on "A Letter from Elia" so you can't completely close the door on the chance that it could be there.

Here's a link to Incontention.com's story about the trailer.  It includes the link to the iTunes trailer.
http://incontention.com/2011/07/14/hugo-trailer/

The "Hugo" IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970179/

ON THE ROAD

Kristen Stewart in a scene from "On the Road" via daemonmovies.com

One motion picture that I haven't spent much time on in this space that will be rolling around this fall season and that could be a Telluride possibility is the Walter Salles directed adaptation of the classic book by Jack Kerouac.  It stars Sam Riley and Garrett Hedlund and features a stunning list of actors in support including: Viggo Mortensen (2009 TFF Tributee), Kristen (Twilight) Stewart, Kirsten (Melancholia/Best Actress Cannes 2011) Dunst, Steve Buscemi, Amy Adams, and Terrence Howard.  Francis Ford Coppola is an Executive Producer. 

Film4 is one of four production companies listed as having a hand in the project.  Film4 has been involved with Telluride presentations of: "Never Let Me Go and "Another Year" (both TFF #37), "Slumdog Millionaire," "Hunger" and "Happy-Go-Lucky" (TFF #35).

In addition to "On the Road" Film4 has some connection to three other films that are Telluride possibilities:
"The Iron Lady," "Wuthering Heights" and "Shame."

Anne Thompson from Indiewire's Thompson on Hollywood has a story about Salles and his quest for authenticity for the picture and the form that the quest took.

You can read that story here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/07/14/on_the_road_director_walter_salles_quest_for_authenticity_road_trip_with_st/#.Th91f8PkEaU.email


NEW DESCENDANTS DATE

 I reported here in March that Alexander Payne's "The Descendants" had a December release date.  Now comes news that the roll out for the George Clooney starrer has had a change of strategy and will instead open earlier in limited release on Nov. 23 and then be "platformed."  A "platformed" release means that additional theaters will be added from week to week through December and perhaps into January 2012 as opposed to a mass release like you're seeing this weekend with the final Harry Potter movie in thousands of theaters simultaneously.

Brad Brevet at Rope of Silicon has the details here:
http://t.co/NT8Ewk8

"The Descendants" still remains as the #1 most likely film we'll see on the Telluride bill of fare this year.

ERROL TALKS TABLOID

All week long we've seen and heard about Errol Morris' new doc "Tabloid" which appeared at Telluride last year and was generally well received.  I liked it quite a lot.  Maybe the biggest laugh of last year's festival came during Tabloid's screening. 

The Playlist at Indiewire has an interview up with Morris as the film is set for release in selected cities today.  You can find that interview here:
http://t.co/jWiZRLN

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.

Morris Makes a Movie/Schnabel on Miral/This Week's Ten Bets

Good Morning all.  Back from New Mexico and really hit in the face the last 24 hours with the fact that occasionally people read this space...gives one pause.

MORRIS MAKES A MOVIE

One of the highlights (at least for me) of last year's Telluride Film Festival was Errol Morris' "Tabloid".  The documentary is in the news lately as Morris makes the rounds and a trailer is out in preparation for it to be released.
In the flurry of activity has come a torrent of news about future projects from Morris and not necessarily from his position as an award winning documentarian.  The Playlist has isolated the latest Errol Morris plans in a couple of stories.  They report that Morris is involved in directing a project called "We Froze the First Man" that will feature actor Paul Rudd in the lead.  Steven Zaillian is producing and the script is to come from "Stranger than Fiction" scribe Zach Helm.
Morris has dabbled in non-documentary film work before and one could certainly say that he brings a lively approach to how he frames his documentary work.  The premise sounds humorous and I like Rudd a lot so I'll hope for the best.
The Playlist story is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/paul_rudd_to_star_in_errol_morris_adaptation_of_we_froze_the_first_man/

Morris' other project  in the works would focus on biological weaponry.  Titled "The Demon in the Freezer," it is based on Richard Preston's book of the same name.  You can some detailed description of that project at The Playlist also at this link:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/exclusive_errol_morris_adapting_the_demon_in_the_freezer/

Finally, the link to the "Tabloid" trailer at IMDb is here:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi899914777/

SCHNABEL ON MIRAL

Yesterday I mentioned that Julian Schnabel and Johnny Depp were set to get together on a film project with Depp scheduled to star in a film that will explore Dante's Divine Comedy.  This comes in the midst of the DVD release of Schnabel's "Miral".  "Miral" stirred up a good deal of controversy last year and as I have said, I was fairly certain that we would see it in Telluride and was more than a little surprised that it was not on The SHOW's lineup.  I can't help but wonder if it got sidetracked as a consequence of the hoopla that it engendered and that's why we didn't see it (or maybe it was the lukewarm reviews).  Now Schnabel sits down with Jeff Otto of The Playlist and talks about the film.  That interview is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/exclusive_director_julian_schnabel_discusses_blu-ray_dvd_release_of_miral/

I have to say that I loved Schnabel's "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" when I saw it in Telluride in 2007 and have been waiting for the DVD release so that I could get a look at this film.

THIS WEEK'S TEN BETS

Last week's Ten Bets for Telluride List:

1) The Descendants

2) A Trip to the Moon
3) Young Adult
4) The Artist
5) The Kid with a Bike
6) Le Havre
7) Gazing Into the Abyss
8) Dark Horse
9) We Have to Talk About Kevin
10) Shame


This week's Ten Bets:
1) The Descendants
2) A Trip to the Moon
3) Young Adult
4) Gazing Into the Abyss
5) The Artist
6) Dark Horse
7) The Kid with a Bike
8) Shame
9) Le Havre
10) Coriolanus

Topping the Chinese/Schnabel's Got Depp/Dream Team

Good Morning from Santa Fe!

We're heading home today after a whirlwind "vacation" here in northern New Mexico.  Hate to leave, but things to do.

TOPPING THE CHINESE

The Long and Winding Road that leads to the Olympics?

I've mentioned in this space that Telluride favorite, director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours) has an unenviable next project.  Boyle is directing the ceremonies for the Summer Olympics in London next year.  I like Danny Boyle.  He's a clever, inventive director (and writer too).  He's always been very pleasant as he's presented his work at TFF in 2008 and last year.  I've gotten to rub shoulders and speak with him a couple of times as we've crossed paths at the Telluride Film Festival.  So, I was concerned that he was in a no win situation for him in this endeavor.  The Chinese in 2008 set the bar so incredibly high that I (and I'm sure many others) believed that whoever accepted this gig was starting from the bottom of an insurmountable mountain. 

Now comes word that Boyle and the London Olympic folks may be putting the pieces in place to present one of the few things that could electrify the world at the same level that the Chinese achieved 3 years ago.
"What could that possibly be?" you ask.  The Wrap has the potential answer...

Can you say "Fab  Four"?  Or, perhaps more accurately, the Fab Two and the closest thing we can get to the other two that are no longer with us.  The Wrap reports that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr would potentially be joined by Julian Lennon or Sean Lennon and Dhani Harrison to perform as part of the Olympic ceremonies.

You can read The Wrap's story here:
http://www.thewrap.com/media/article/report-beatles-reunion-works-2012-olympic-games-28962

Can you say (sing) "Let it Be"?

 SCHANBEL AND DEPP

The Playlist has the story that Julian Schnabel may have his next film project to develop and that it includes collaboration with Johnny Depp.  Schnabel has also been a Telluride participant.  He presented his best film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" at Telluride in 2007 and has also been the festival's poster artist in the past.

Last year I was somewhat surprised that his "Miral" wasn't part of TFF#37.  I was relatively certain that it would be.  But nope.  Now comes news that Schnabel has a new film project that re-pairs him with his "Before Night Falls" star Johnny Depp.  The proposed project would pair the two in an adaptation of the Nick Tosches book "In the Hand of Dante". 

As you might expect from the title, the focus, in part, on Dante's "Divine Comedy".  The tenor of the story suggests that neither man is in a big hurry to get the project adapted and made and Depp has at least 2-3 films lined up currently including his expected turn as Tonto in "The Lone Ranger".  So don't expect to see this at TFF #39  or maybe 40...or...well, who knows.  But you have to believe that if it DOES get made, it would be a prime possibility for Labor Day in the San Juans (unless, of course, there's any bad blood over the "Miral" exclusion from last year).

The Playlist story is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/exclusive_julian_schnabel_planning_in_the_hand_of_dante_with_johnny_depp/

DREAM TEAM

Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in "My Week with Marilyn"

Yesterday's post included a list of a few films that we have on our Telluride film list.  Today I'm flinging out into the Universe my wish list for individuals that I'd love to see on Colorado Avenue in September.

And I make no apology about still be entirely star struck.  Maybe that makes me uncool.  But I'm still stunned when I see, stand by, or exchange words with some of the people that I've run into in the last five years.  Passing words with Oscar nominees/winners like Boyle, Laura Linney, James Franco, Sean Penn, and  Jason Reitman (to shamelessly name drop) has been one of the highlights of my festival experience so forgive me my adolescent joy at being in the same room as Daniel Day-Lewis, Ed Harris, Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush.

All that aside, who would I love to see, bump into, pass words with at this year's SHOW?  I've tried to limit the list to those people who have at least a scintilla of a chance to have a film there ( and I realize that it all won't happen and that Telluride often has the director of a film on hand rather than any of the talent, but a guy can dream...right?)

This isn't a complete list, but a first pass.  I'm sure I'll add to it over the next six weeks as we get closer to Labor Day.

Meryl Streep/The Iron Lady
Glenn Close/Albert Nobbs
George Clooney/The Descendants and/or The Ides of March
Philip Seymour Hoffman/Moneyball
Brad Pitt/Moneyball (I'd like to talk to him about his connections to Oklahoma)
Colin Firth/Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Gary Oldman/Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Charlize Theron/Young Adult
Ralph Fiennes/Coriolanus
Vanessa Redgrave/Coriolanus
Michelle Williams/My Week with Marilyn
Jodie Foster/Carnage
Kate Winslet/Carnage
Christoph Waltz/Carnage
and, of course, my girl friend, Laura Linney...

Later!

Tintin Trailer/Fassbender's Jump/Dreaming/Tree of Life

Good Morning Everyone from New Mexico!

We took down Kris' one woman exhibition yesterday in Taos, NM at the fantastic Trading Post Cafe and Gallery.  Eat there.  It's terrific and tell Kimberly hello.  Sounds like Kris will have the opportunity to return with another show in the future so she was very happy after to be invited back after having the series of food still lifes hanging there for 6 weeks.  Good day.

TINTIN TRAILER

This morning The Playlist posted a link to the teaser/trailer to the "other" Steven Spielberg film coming out later this year.  The unwieldy title is :"The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn" which sounds kind of goofy.  The film uses motion capture animation and Peter (Lord of the Rings) Jackson is a producer.  The trailer looks very cool, however.  The link to the story and trailer is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/watch_new_tintin_trailer_looks_like_the_indiana_jones_sequel_we_should_have/

The Tintin IMDb page is here:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2977741056/tt0983193

Now, I don't really think that there's any chance that this will play in Telluride's 38th edition of the SHOW...but it has dominated a lot of discussion about whether it meets the AMPAS standards for being an "animated" film. 

And it looked cooler than I though it would...

FASSBENDER IS FAST

I passed along the information last week that Michael Fassbender (who has a couple of films on the list that could play T-ride this year: "A Dangerous Method" and "Shame) had exited Danny Boyle's 2013 film project "Trance" and that Boyle was looking to snag last year's Telluride tributee and Best Actor Oscar winner Colin Firth for that role.  Now comes word, also via The Playlist, that Fassbender has moved into another commitment.  He's now expected to be in Brandon Gleeson's directorial debut entitled "At Swim-Two-Birds."  You gotta love the title.

The Playlist story is linked here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/michael_fassbender_joins_brendon_gleesons_at-swim-two-birds/

DREAM SLATE

So what films that DO have a chance at playing Telluride this year would make my "dream" slate of films?  What am I just really hoping will be there?

Three films that have excellent prospects to be a part of the fest that I am definitely looking forward to and that would be on that "dream list" are Alexander Payne's "The Descendants," Jason Reitman's "Young Adult" and Michael Hazanavicius' "The Artist".

Films whose prospects are sketchy that I would love to see on the SHOW list are: Ralph Fiennes' directorial debut of Shakespeare's rarely performed "Coriolanus," George Clooney's sophomore directing gig "The Ides of March"  and David Cronnenberg's "A Dangerous Method."

Then there are four big Oscar baity type films that have almost 0% chance to be in Telluride, but it would be cool if any of them made a bow there:

Leo DiCaprio on the set of "J. Edgar"

Eastwood's "J. Edgar"

Spielberg's "War Horse"
Scorsese's "Hugo"
and Stephen Daldry's "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"

What about you?  What films are YOU looking forward to as we rush headlong into awards season?

TREE OF LIFE

Finally saw Terrence Malick's  Palme D'Or winner last night.  Still processing it.  My initial impression is that the Cannes jury was probably right.

Have a great Monday everyone!

Add Thompson/Busy Peeps/Other Companies

Hello, Sports fans...

ADDING ANNE THOMPSON

Last Tuesday we posted Anne Thompon's (Indiewire:Thompson on Hollywood) first stab at Oscar prognostications and since the n I've taken the time to add them to the previous "first stabs" that have popped up here and there..and so with Thompson's added, here are your Oscar Best Picture front runners (* indicates those that I think have the best shot at Telluride):

On all 5 lists:
The Descendants*
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo (used to be Hugo Cabret...word is they've dropped the "Cabret")
J. Edgar
The Tree of Life
War Horse

On 4 lists:
The Artist*
Carnage
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Ides of March
The Iron Lady
Moneyball
Young Adult*

On 3 lists:
Super8
A Dangerous Method

Other guessers included in the counting: Kris Tapley/incontention.com, Scott Feinberg, Film Misery and The Envelope at the LA Times (and roughly using each sources top 20).

BUSY PEEPS

Some people will just be very busy during Festival/Award season...like George Clooney who headlines Alexander Payne's "The Descendants" and has directed, co-written and will be featured in "The Ides of March."  Who else is busy, busy?

Michael Fassbender: Shame, A Dangerous Method

Carey Mulligan: Shame, Drive

Ryan Gosling: Drive, The Ides of March

Viggo Mortensen: A Dangerous Method, On the Road

Mia Wasikowska: Albert Nobbs, Restless, The Wettest County in the World

Who else can you think of that will be multi-tasking during the next few months in projects that will be Festival fodder and Oscar bait?

OTHER COMPANIES

Telluride players in recent years...like:

IFC (Independent Film Channel) Films has had a hand in these Telluride films:
2006: Jar City
2007: 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days
2008: Flame and Citron, Hunger, Gomorrah, The Good, the Bad and the Weird, Everlasting Moments
2009: Red Riding 1974, 1980, 1983
2009: Fish Tank, Vincere, Life During Wartime
2010: Carlos, The Princess of Montpensier

So you'd think that they'd have a stable of TFF #38 possibles...but looking at their IMDb page...I see zippy-dee-doo-dah that looks Telluride-like.  Weird, and I could be wrong (and probably am) but...

A couple of other company notes:

See-Saw Films was a part of "The King's Speech" last year and they have a hand in on Steve McQueen's "Shame"...so it could certainly be at T-ride and Lipsync Productions was tied into the Red Riding Trilogy in 2009 and "The First Grader" last year.  They have some connection to both "My Week with Marilyn" and "We Need to Talk About Kevin" so put them down as continuing "maybes" for 2011.

Restless Trailer/Women of Oscar at TFF#38?/Play Dates/Marlon and Me

Good Morning Ladies and Germs,

RESTLESS TRAILER

Gus Van Sant has been to Telluride more than once with films that he's directed.  In 2008 we thought he could be there with "Milk."  Of course, that didn't happen.  Now the auteur has a new film described, probably pretty accurately, as "quirky".  "Restless" could be a part of Telluride's lineup this year.  It features red hot actress Mia Wasikowska (one of the busiest actresses during this year's coming awards season), Henry Hopper (Dennis Hopper's son), Jane Adams and Ryo Kase.  It involves a dying girl, a Japanese ghost and a young man who likes to attend funerals.  Sounds "Van Santy."
The film also appeared at Cannes as the opener to the Un Certain Regard segment.  It is also in the Sony Pictures Classics stable.  All of which are good indicators that "Restless" could be programmed at TFF #38.  But...
The critical reception at Cannes wasn't raving...so maybe not.
All of that to say this:  a couple of outlets posted the trailer for it yesterday.  You can access it at firstshowing.net here:
http://www.firstshowing.net/2011/newest-theatrical-trailer-for-gus-van-sants-quaint-indie-restless/
or via The Playlist here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/watch_new_trailer_for_gus_van_sants_relentless_quirk_fest_restless/


WOMEN OF OSCAR

Movieline.com had an interesting piece on the perceived looming Best Actress battle between Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) and Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs) both of which could be on the Telluride slate in September.
You can see that story here:
http://www.movieline.com/2011/07/who-gets-your-unqualified-vote-in-the-2011-oscar-race-thus-far-meryl-or-glenn.php#.ThYu9Xx1gFE.email

Add to that the chance that we could also have "My Week with Marilyn" starring Michele Williams and "We Need to Talk About Kevin" starring Tilda Swinton and (I suppose) the still outside shot that Lars Von Trier's "Melancholia" with Kirsten Dunst all at the Opening Night Feed on Colorado Avenue and this could be the year that the Best Actress battle starts and ends in Telluride.
Wouldn't that be cool?
And that would also defy recent Telluride convention.  Best Actor Oscar winners have been coming out of Telluride with a lot of frequency in recent years, 4 of the last 6...

2010: Colin Firth-"The King's Speech"
2007: Daniel Day-Lewis-"There Will Be Blood"
2006: Forest Whitaker-"The Last King of Scotland"
2005: Philip Seymour Hoffman-"Capote"

And, yes, I know that Natalie Portman won for "Black Swan" last year, but you have to go back to 2005 and Reese Witherspoon in "Walk the Line" to find the next previous Best Actress Oscar winner from Telluride.  The women could be dominant this year...no jokes please...

PLAY DATES

A nice article yesterday from Brad Brevet at ropeofsilicon.com about release dates for Oscar bait-type films including these which I think have at least some potential to play at this year's Telluride Film Festival:

Carnage
The Artist
Coriolanus
W.E.
My Week with Marilyn
The Iron Lady
That post is here:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/oscar-update-start-engines-release-dates-set-flag-waved

MARLON AND ME

I sometimes forget that this happened when I was in college but I met Marlon Brando.  Yeah, I know.  It happened on Labor Day (there's your tenuous connection to Telluride) 1978.  I was in school at Southwestern Oklahoma State University ("Standing firmly on the hilltop..." Go Bulldogs!) in Weatherford, Oklahoma.  I was in my senior year as a Speech/Theater Ed major and working almost full time at a local motel as Asst. Manager and general flunky.  Thanks to my wife (who was working at the Weatherford Police Dept. at the time) I found out that Brando was in Weatherford and staying secretly at the motel where I was employed and though I hadn't planned to go in on that Labor Day...I changed plans in a heartbeat.  As a result, I got a chance to meet and talk to a man who is arguably America's finest actor...ever.

Brando was purportedly in the area scouting locations for a project he wanted to do and to attend a large Pow Wow that was going on just down the road from Weatherford.  At the time he had just finished shooting as Joe-El for the original "Superman" and was about to film his stunning turn as American Nazi George Norman Rockwell in "Roots II."  He won an Emmy for that.

Needless to say, as a theater major, I was on the verge of exploding.  And I'm fairly certain that Brando thought I was mentally challenged as I don't think I strung together a single coherent sentence.  But what a thrill for a 20 year old college kid in nowheresville south central Oklahoma to stand next to one of the all time greats.

The picture above is my college copy of "A Streetcar Named Desire".  Below is me and the 2 time Oscar winner (On the Waterfront and The Godfather):

Who is that young kid standing to Brando's left...HE PUT HIS ARM AROUND ME!

Here's the inside cover of my copy of "Streetcar":

Yes, that's right, an autographed copy of "A Streetcar Named Desire"

Other than the pictures (and there are one or two others), the only objective proof I have that any of this actually happened was this blurb that ran the next day in the local Weatherford newspaper:

Brando had already achieved his reputation for prickliness when this happened, but I will tell you that he was nothing less than pleasant, kind and charming to a grinning kid who was clearly overwhelmed to have the opportunity to be in the same room with him.

It's all in a small shrine in my living room bookshelves.

First Look at Iron Lady/What Oscars New Rules Could Have Changed/Rinko Gets a Job/Film Companies and T-ride

Good Morning Peeps!

FIRST PEEK AT "THE IRON LADY"

One of the possible films for Telluride with a considerable amount of buzz already is "The Iron Lady" starring Meryl Streep as British PM Margaret Thatcher.  Buzz because a lot of Oscar handicappers think that this might be the role that earns Streep her third Oscar.  I've detailed in this space reasons that it could be in the TFF#38 lineup (it's a Weinstein project, Oscar buzz, Streep is a past TFF Tributee) .  Now comes the first teaser/trailer of the film at FirstShowing.net.  It's modestly entertaining. Here's the link:

http://www.firstshowing.net/2011/must-watch-first-teaser-trailer-for-the-iron-lady-with-meryl-streep/

OSCARS NEW RULES-WHAT THEY MIGHT HAVE CHANGED

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced new rules for Best Picture nominations on June 15.  Now the folks at HitFix have done some detective work to make some retro-predictions about what would have happened if those rules had been in place from 2001-2008 (2009 and 2010 had 10 nominations under what are now superseded rules).  HitFix starts their analysis with the revelation from the Oscar accountants, Price Waterhouse, that had the new rules been in effect during those years that no year would have produced 10 Best Picture nominations but that years with 5,6,7,8 and 9 nominations would have happened.

It's fascinating stuff if you're an Oscar watcher, which this blog becomes once the Telluride Film Festival  (and Venice and Toronto) concludes.

That article is here:
http://www.hitfix.com/galleries/new-oscar-rules-who-would-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-2001-2008

REMEMBER HER IN BABEL

The very first film I ever saw at a Telluride Film Festival was in 2006 when I stood in line at the Chuck and got into see "Babel."  We had no idea at the time what we were in for in as far as the festival or the film was concerned.  Kris and I stood in line with a young guy who was part of the underwriting company for the film.  He thought he might be in the credits.  We were so impressed.  Then we go in and the MC introduces Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, himself, and he introduces the film.  Kris and I looked at each other, realizing at that moment that we had been allowed to be a part of something very, very special.

Two acting Oscar noms came out of that film both for Supporting Actress: Adrianna Barraza (who, whimsically, Kris was mistaken for on the Gondola ride back to Telluride) and Rinko Kikuchi (pictured above) who, for my money should have won the Oscar that year (Jennifer Hudson won for Dreamgirls).

Now comes word that Kikuchi has been cast in the lead for the big budget Guerillmo Del Toro's "Pacific Rim."  Kikuchi has been virtually undetectable to American audiences since Babel.  This new role will likely change that.  "pacific rim" is set to be released in July of 2013.

The link to The Playlist story announcing the casting is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/babel_oscar-nominee_rinko_kikuchi_bags_female_lead_in_guillermo_del_toros_p/

ANOTHER BRITISH FILM COMPANY AND TELLURIDE

Recently I've been back tracking the slate of films from the past 4-5 years of Telluride Film Festivals in an effort to correlate to whatever degree possible past  participation from film companies and if it tells us anything about what we might expect to see this year.  Today I'm looking at BBC Films which has had a substantial presence in that time period...well, really, the last couple of years.

2009: An Education, Fish Tank, Bright Star
2010: Tamara Drewe, The First Grader

2011 possibles: We Need to Talk About Kevin and My Week with Marilyn.  Both of these could be on the Telluride film lineup.  Both Tilda Swinton (Kevin) and Michelle Williams (Marilyn) will likely be in the Best Actress conversation this year.  I'd place a higher likelihood on seeing "Kevin" at T-ride.

Have a great Thursday everybody!

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!

A Couple of Lists

Happy Independence Day to everyone.  Today's post will be truncated due to the holiday.  I'm sure you understand.

THIS WEEK'S TOP TEN BETS FOR TFF #38

Here's last week's ten bets in order of greatest likelihood of playing at this year's Telluride Film Festival:

1) The Descendants
2) The Artist
3) The Kid with a Bike
4) Young Adult
5) Le Havre
6) A Trip to the Moon
7) Gazing Into the Abyss
8) Dark Horse
9) We Have to Talk About Kevin
10) Shame

This week's Top Ten Bets:
1) The Descendants
2) A Trip to the Moon
3) Young Adult
4) The Artist
5) The Kid with a Bike
6) Le Havre
7) Gazing Into the Abyss
8) Dark Horse
9) We Have to Talk About Kevin
10) Shame

MY PERSONAL TOP TEN LIST

Frequently when talking about films I will find myself claiming that some film in the discussion is one of the ten best films ever made.  Over the years friends, students, passersby, have asked what's on  my list.  I had to answer "Well, I don't actually have a list, but that film would be on it..." So I finally decided to come up with one so that I have an actual answer.  Here it is in chronological order.  I just can't make myself put it into an order of tenth best to all time best. (And you'll see that I have cheated, there are 11):

CASABLANCA (1942)...Greatest romance film of all time.  Bogie, Bergman, Rains, Henreid, Greenstreet, Lorre and let's not forget Conrad Veidt and Dooley Wilson!  More quotable film lines than any other film...ever!

ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)  Brando (who I met in 1979!) at the height of his powers.  Great support from Karl Malden, Rod Steiger, Eva Marie Saint (saw her in a live performance in New Mexico in 1980) and the irrepressible Lee J. Cobb.  Elia Kazan directed this after he named names in front of HUAC.  regardless of the political and personal implications, it is an undeniably great film with a one of the great performances in film history.

THE APARTMENT (1960)  Billy Wilder's take on corporate culture and what it takes to get ahead as American was getting ready to move from the 50's to the 60's.  "Mad Men" long before Don Draper entered the scene.  Tremendous work from Shirley McLaine as the object of everyone's interest, Fred McMurray as the sleazeball boss and Jack Lemmon as the poor schmo that wants to get ahead but is challenged because he finds he has a conscience.  And let's not forget the fine work from long time character actor Jack Kruschen as the good doctor next door.  You might say this is dated...but again...look at how popular that "Mad Men" is...

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)...It's so rare when a film does justice to its source material.  It's even rarer when the source material is monumentally great.  It NEVER happens that a book is monumentally great and then the film is also...except here.  Robert Mulligan directed this adaptation of Harper Lee's classic and the film does a magnificent job of translating the novel to the screen.  Gregory Peck is perfect as Atticus.  PERFECT.  And the kids...great performances from Mary Badham (Scout), Phillip Alford (Jem) and John Megna (Dill).  And I can't forget to mention the rest of the supporting players that knock it out of the park.  Brock Peters as the wrongly accused Tom Robinson, Collin Wilcox and James Anderson as the morally repugnant Ewells, William Windom as the County Prosecuter (I met William Windom once at a performance of Thurber material, he taught me a bar trick...really) and finally, but not incidentally, Robert Duvall launching his film career as Boo Radley and he is PERFECT.

THE GRADUATE (1967)...Plastics!  Dustin Hoffman stars as Benjamin Braddock...done with college and hopelessly lost within himself.  Who will he be?  Desperately trying to define himself through the two Robinson women played by Katherine Ross and Anne Brancroft.  Mike Nichols directs the screenplay from Buck Henry and Calder Willingham.  The scene at the end when Hoffman and Ross are riding off together and clearly still lost...priceless.  A film that says a whole lot about where young people were at this point in America.

MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)...Boy, was Hoffman hot at this point, or what?  Hoffman creates his second iconic character in just two years.  Joining him was Jon Voight who would never be any better again.  Director John Schlesinger creates a New York that you can smell through the screen.  Working from Waldo Salt's screenplay, Hoffman and Voight create two characters that we should find reprehensible, but their essential humanity and their attempts to survive and, God help them, reach their pitiable  dreams make you empathize with them.  "I'm walkin' here!"

THE GODFATHER: PART II (1974)...For my money it's a better film than Godfather I.  Al Pacino (who I saw live in Central Park last year on the closing night of "The Merchant of Venice.  He was Shylock.  He broke character to wave at passing helicopters)  picks up Michael Corleone where he left him, as the new Godfather.  Meanwhile, Francis Ford Coppola shows us the story of the rise of Vito Corleone with Robert DeNiro in the role that Brando (did I mention that I met Brando once?) had created in the earlier film and had won the Oscar for.  DeNiro is PERFECT.  He would win the Oscar as well.  Oh, and John Cazale as Fredo.  Tough role.  Cazale =PERFECT. Godfather I was the practice round.  Godfather II got it right.

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)...Jack Nicholson becomes R.P. McMurphy.  Who's crazy?  Us or them?  Who is "us'?  Who is "them"?  Is there any difference.  And, like a lot of Nicholson's film work, it's about rules...and breaking them.  And the cast of crazies: Danny DeVito, Chistopher Lloyd, William Redfield and Brad Dourif...PERFECT and Will Sampson as the Chief fully realizes the creation Kesey set out in the book.  Like "Mockingbird" above, this was a tremendous adaptation of the Ken Kesey novel.  Bo Goldman and Lawrence Hauben somehow managed to translate the book, told from the point of view of Chief Bromden to the screen and keep the feel of the book in tact.  Nicholson shines, winning an Oscar, as did director Milos Forman, Hauben and Goldman, Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched.  This was the first film since "It Happened One Night" in 1934 to win the Big Five Oscars (Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay).  "Silence of the Lambs" would do it again in 1991.

TAXI DRIVER (1976)...Robert DeNiro as Travis Bickle...also insane...but in such a different way than R.P. McMurphy.  This is Martin Scorsese's best film.  You can have your "Raging Bull" and your "Goodfellas" and your "The Departed".  This was his best.  DeNiro...again PERFECT and scary and so very much a reflection of the American zeitgeist at the time.  And that scene with Scorsese in the back seat of the cab...wow!  And the scene that concludes Travis' rampage to rescue Jodie Foster's character with DeNiro out of ammo and unable to put the exclamation point on it all through what he clearly plans to be his suicide...maybe the singularly most chilling character moment in the 70's.

SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)...Steven Spielberg's masterwork.  He had never been better.  I don't think he'll be this good again (although "Saving Private Ryan" comes close).  Liam Neeson plays the title role and he's fine, but its Ben Kinglsley's Itzhak Stern and Ralph Fiennes' Amon Goeth that set the bar in this true story of a man who saved thousands of Jews in World War II Germany.  You ask yourself if you could do what these people did?  And the conclusion when we see the actual people that are portrayed in the film...brilliant.

THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007)...Paul Thomas Anderson's meditation on greed, corruption and religion in America through the prism of the oil boom in the early 20th century.  Brilliantly written by Anderson and fully realized by Daniel Day-Lewis.  Day-Lewis' creation of Daniel Plainview is every bit as frightening as Brando's Vito Corleone or Boris Karloff's monster in the original "Frankenstein."  Johnny Greenwood's score is PERFECT.  It's the newest addition to my list but I just couldn't knock off any of the existing top ten.

  Close but no cigar: "It's a Wonderful Life" "Dr. Strangelove" "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" "American Graffiti" "Chinatown" "L.A. Confidential" "Pulp Fiction" "Saving Private Ryan" and "Annie Hall"

What do you think?  What's on your top ten list?  Comment? 

Have a great 4th of July!