New York Announces...What's It Mean?/Inside Llewyn Music/Palo Alto Pics/A Look at The Fifth Estate/Reminders!

Good Tuesday All...things are moving and shaking as we get down under 10 days left until TFF #40.

NEW YORK ANNOUNCES...WHAT'S IT MEAN?

The New York Film Festival announced its lineup complete yesterday.  The NYFF organizers had previously announced their Opening -"Captain Phillips", Closing- "Her" and Special Gala-"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty".  Yesterday they added 32 films to the lineup.

The NYFF usually has a good deal of overlap with Telluride and I expect that this year that will be no different.

In 2010 the two fests shared: "Another Year", "Carlos", "Inside Job", "Le Quattro Volte", "Of Gods and Men"and "Poetry"(6).

In 2011: "The Descendants", "A Dangerous Method", "A Separation", Footnote", "George Harrison: Living in the Material World", "Goodbye First Love", "Le Havre", "Pina", "Shame", "The Artist", "The Kid with a Bike" and "The Turin Horse" (12).

In 2012: "Amour", "Barbara", ""Frances Ha", "The Gatekeepers", ""Ginger and Rosa", "Hyde Park on Hudson"and "No" (7).


So, as you can see, we could reasonably expect to see anywhere from 6-12 films in Telluride that are on the list that the NYFF announced yesterday.  Here's the lineup:

The complete list of main slate films announced on Monday for the New York Film Festival appears below:

ABOUT TIME
Director: Richard Curtis

ABUSE OF WEAKNESS (Abus de Faiblesse)
Director: Catherine Breillat

ALAN PARTRIDGE
Director: Declan Lowney

ALL IS LOST
Director: J. C. Chandor

AMERICAN PROMISE
Directors: Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson

AT BERKELEY
Director: Frederick Wiseman

BASTARDS (Les Salauds)
Director: Claire Denis

BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR (La Vie d’Adèle)
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche

BURNING BUSH (Hořicí Keř)
Director: Agnieszka Holland

CHILD OF GOD
Director: James Franco

GLORIA
Director: Sebastián Lelio

THE IMMIGRANT
Director: James Gray

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

THE INVISIBLE WOMAN
Director: Ralph Fiennes

JEALOUSY (La Jalousie)
Director: Philippe Garrel

JIMMY P: PSYCHOTHERAPY OF A PLAINS INDIAN
Director: Arnaud Desplechin

THE LAST OF THE UNJUST (Le Dernier des Injustes)
Director: Claude Lanzmann

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON (Soshite Chichi ni Naru)
Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda

THE MISSING PICTURE (L’Image Manquante)
Director: Rithy Panh

MY NAME IS HMMM… (Je m’appelle Hmmm…)
Director: agnès B

NEBRASKA
Director: Alexander Payne

NOBODY’S DAUGHTER HAEWON (Nugu-ui ttal-do anin Haewon)
Director: Hong Sang-soo

NORTH, THE END OF HISTORY (Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan)
Director: Lav Diaz

OMAR
Director: Hany Abu-Assad

ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE
Director: Jim Jarmusch

THE SQUARE
Director: Jehane Noujaim

STRANGER BY THE LAKE (L’Inconnu du Lac)
Director: Alain Guiraudie

STRAY DOGS (Jiao You)
Director: Tsai Ming-liang

A TOUCH OF SIN (Tian Zhu Ding)
Director: Jia Zhangke

LE WEEK-END
Director: Roger Michell

WHEN EVENING FALLS ON BUCHAREST OR METABOLISM (Când se Lasa Seara Peste Bucuresti sau Metabolism)
Director: Corneliu Porumboiu

THE WIND RISES (Kaze Tachinu)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki

From that list there are films that we're already pretty confident about appearing at TFF #40:

"All is Lost", "Blue is the Warmest Color", "The Immigrant", "Inside Llewyn Davis", "The Invisible Woman", "Nebraska".  So six in total that I'm pretty confident about.  If there were to be more than six, and I think there will be; what are the other most likely cross-overs between TFF and NYFF?

My best guesses would include:

"At Berkeley", "Burning Bush", "Gloria", "Like Father, Like Son", "Only Lovers Left Alive", "Stranger by the Lake", "Le Weekend" and "The Wind Rises".

If I was forced to, my guess is that this year would end up with about 10 crossovers, the six I'm pretty sure about plus 4 more from the secondary list.

Here are a series of links to massive coverage of the announcement from the New York Fest from

The Film Society of Lincoln Center (the NYFF people): http://www.filmlinc.com/daily/entry/nyff-new-york-film-festival-main-slate-announced

The New York Times: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/19/new-york-film-festival-announces-its-main-slate/

Awards Daily: http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/official-new-york-film-festival-lineup/

HitFix/InContention: http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/2013-new-york-film-festival-line-up-unveiled-inside-llewyn-davis-the-wind-rises-and-more

The Hollywood Reporter: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-york-film-festival-announces-
608936

Thompson on Hollywood: http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/nyff-inside-llewyn-davis-coen-brothers

The Playlist: http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/new-york-film-festival-inside-llewyn-davis-nebraska-the-immigrant-more-round-out-2013-slate-20130819

The Wrap: http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/coen-brothers-alexander-payne-james-gray-coming-new-york-film-fest-111636

Rope of Silicon: http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/complete-2013-new-york-film-festival-line-up/


INSIDE LLEWYN MUSIC

The Coen Brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis" is currently sitting at # 4 on my "Ten Bets" list.  I'm pretty sure we're going to have the opportunity to catch it at Telluride and I'm very, very excited.  Nevertheless, New York City gets a special "Llewyn" program on Sept. 29th.  That evening Town Hall in NYC will host "Another Day, Another Time" a concert centered on the folk music that is at the heart of "Llewyn Davis".  Artists such as Joan Baez, Jack White and Gillian Welch are on board as well as "Llewyn" cast members Carey Mulligan, Oscar Issac and John Goodman.

Reportedly cast member Justin Timberlake will  not be making an appearance.  Timberlake is scheduled to perform that evening in London.

The concert will  be one of  a series associated with the film and is being done to raise funds for the National Recording Preservation Foundation.

Who's wrangling this?  None other than T. Bone Burnett who handled the music for The Coens' "O Brother Where Art Thou?"

Check the coverage of yesterday's announcement here:

HitFix: http://www.hitfix.com/news/jack-white-marcus-mumford-avett-bros-set-to-play-inside-llewyn-davis-concert

Awards Daily: http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/another-day-another-time-celebrating-the-music-of-inside-llewyn-davis-sept-29-nyc/

The Hollywood Reporter: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/inside-llewyn-davis-team-announce-608986

The Wrap: http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/jack-white-perform-inside-llewyn-davis-concert-no-justin-timberlake-111711


PALO ALTO PICS

I wrote yesterday that James Franco as apparently let slip that Gia Coppola's "Palo Alto" has made the Telluride lineup via Twitter and Instagram yesterday.  Now, today, comes a serious look at stills from that film via The Playlist.  Take a look at the post which also includes stills from Franco's own directorial effort "Child of God":

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/new-images-from-james-francos-child-of-god-adaptation-of-his-book-palo-alto-starring-emma-roberts-20130816

"Palo Alto" is described as a dark drama focused on the lives of a group of teens.

AND A LOOK AT THE FIFTH ESTATE

The Playlist and Rope of Silicon also put up stills from Bill Condon's "The Fifth Estate" the story of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Bruhl and Laura Linney.  I still am holding my breath that this film is annonced as part of the TFF #40 lineup on Aug. 28th...or shows up as a "sneak" over the weekend.

The Playlist story is here:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/new-images-from-james-francos-child-of-god-adaptation-of-his-book-palo-alto-starring-emma-roberts-20130816

Rope of Silicon:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/first-poster-for-wikileaks-thriller-the-fifth-estate-starring-benedict-cumberbatch-and-daniel-bruhl/

REMINDERS!

Don't forget your invitation to this year's "Guide to the Ride" featuring yours truly.  We're set up for 5:00 pm Thursday, Aug. 29th at The River Club, 550 Depot in Telluride.  I promise we'll be done to get to the Thursday night feed downtown or make a 6:00 o'clock film.

Also...don't forget to send me your film ratings.  0-5 with 0 being awful.  Email them, Tweet or DM me, Facebook... or just comment here on the blog.  You can do it as the fest goes along or all at once after it's all over.  It'll take me about a week to get that all collated.

Remember that I'm doing the same thing with a select group of industry watchers, Oscar experts and critics including:

Alex Billington/FirstShowing

Scott Feinberg/The Hollywood Reporter

Scott Foundas/Variety

Eric Kohn/IndieWire

Eugene Novikov/Film Blather

Kristopher Tapley/InContention-HitFix

Sasha Stone/Awards Daily

I'm still working for and hoping to add another two or three folks to this lineup.  You'll want to check their reactions from  the festival.

A third reminder: I'll be writing daily summaries this year fro Screencraft.org.  The plan is a quick overview of key films on Wednesday, Aug. 28th when the lineup is announced and then a summary of film news, scuttlebutt, reaction and buzz each evening of the fest.  Look for that at www.screencraft.org.

And finally...

I posted my "Wish List" of films on Friday.  What's on your Telluride "Wish List"?  Drop me a line or two in any way that's convenient for you.  Let me hear what you'd like to see.


Follow/Like Michael's Telluride Film Blog on Facebook.

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2.

More on Wednesday...

Milestones/At Least One Coppola?/Saturday Re-cap: Blue and Foxcatcher/Oscar Talk and Prisoners/Enough Said/Reminders

Good Monday Everyone.  10 days and counting to TFF #40!

MILESTONES

Just a quick note...over the weekend I posted to Michael's Telluride Film Blog  for the 750th time and, coincidentally, the blog past its 90,000th view...On to 100,000!  Never thought I'd write this much about anything ever.  Also never thought anyone would ever read it.

AT LEAST ONE COPPOLA?

Emma Roberts star of Gia Coppola's "Palo Alto"

FiveTwo Film Blog was on it first last night.  Actor/Director/Writer...etc. James Franco has apparently let slip via Twitter and Instagram that Gia Coppola's "Palo Alto" will screen at Telluride.  The film is co-written by Coppola and Franco and based on Franco's "Palo Alto Stories".  Last night Franco (who was at Telluride with Danny Boyle and Aron Ralstin for "127 Hours" in 2010) tweeted, " Palo alto by Gia Coppola- Venice/Tornoto/telluride".

You can see the original tweet here:
https://twitter.com/search?q=james%20franco&src=tyah

The FiveTwo film blog post is here:
http://fivetwofilmblog.wordpress.com/2013/08/18/james-franco-leaks-telluride-film-on-instagram/

"Palo Alto" is described (on IMDb) as "a dark drama centered on a group of teens with a penchant for finding trouble".  Franco appears in the film.  Emma Roberts stars.  Val Kilmer is also a member of the cast.  Gia Coppola is the grand daughter of Francis Ford Coppola.

Does this fan the flames of the FFC as Guest Director rumors?  Probably.



SATURDAY RE-CAP

Here are a  couple of new-ish stories that I passed along on Saturday:

"BLUE" HAS INTERNATIONAL TRAILER

The Cannes winner has an international trailer that dropped yesterday.  You can access it via any of the following posts from Awards Daily, Rope of Silicon and The Playlist:

http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/dive-into-the-beauty-blue-is-the-warmest-color-international-trailer/

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/blue-is-the-warmest-color-international-trailer/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-international-trailer-for-cannes-palme-dor-winner-blue-is-the-warmest-color-20130816

I'm still fairly bullish on our chances to see this film in Telluride in a week and a half.

FOXCATCHER FIRE DIMS

This week has seen a flurry of activity and speculation about Bennett Miller's "Foxcatcher".  We found out this week (officially) that Sony Pictures Classics has now got the distribution for the film and I (among others) thought that increased its chances of playing Telluride.

Now comes news via an anonymous comment to yesterday's blog post and Kris Tapley's (InContention/HitFix) twitter thread about the film that it's just not ready.  Tapley had a respondent who claims that the film is still far too long and unfinished and references a test screening from a couple of weeks ago.

If that's true..."Foxcatcher" goes back to the lower end of Telluride possibilities...not completely impossible, but incredibly unlikely.

Which is too bad because I am immensely intrigued by this project.  I think Miller is a real talent and I am embarrassingly anxious to see Steve Carell in a real departure for him.

OSCAR TALK AND PRISONERS

Anne Thompson (Thompson on Hollywood) and Kristopher Tapley (InContention/HitFix) have put up their first Oscar Talk podcast for the year.  Included in that is a fairly detailed discussion of Telluride and the films that they think are likely; "All is Lost" "Inside Llewyn Davis" "12 Years a Slave" "The Invisible Woman", "The Past", "Gravity", "Labor Day", "Nebraska" and "Blue is the Warmest Color".  They also mention "Prisoners" from director Denis Villenueve which I've had on the radar for a while but in recent days seems to be getting bandied about a bit more.  Sounds like I might have to re-evaluate it in relation to its position for Friday's "Ten Bets" list...which, again, will actually be more than ten.

Here's the link to OscarTalk from both Tapley and Thompson:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/oscar-talk-2013-so-far-fall-festival-preview-and-a-look-to-the-season-ahead

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/oscar-talk-season-five-episode-one-the-butler

And also, coming out this past weekend, a new television spt for "Prisoners".  The Playlist has that here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-new-tv-spots-for-hugh-jackman-thriller-prisoners-and-zack-snyder-produced-300-rise-of-an-empire-20130816

Jackman?  Gyllenhall? In Telluride?  Maybe.  Certainly looking more likely that the film is going to play.

ENOUGH SAID

Her in the late stages of pre-Telluride prediction a couple of films are generating some heat.  Kevin Macdonald's "How I Live Now" and Nicole Holofcener's "Enough Said".  It's the latter that benefited from the release of several new images over the weekend.  The film stars James Gandolfini (in one of his last films) Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Catherine Keener.  There's a lot of smoke out there that this could be on the Telluride schedule.  

I've included links to stories from The Film Stage...which also includes images and clips from other Telluride possibilities including Roger Michell's "Le Weekend", David Gordon Greene's "Joe" and Kelly Reichardt's "Night Moves":

http://thefilmstage.com/news/clips-and-photos-from-tiff-titles-visitors-night-moves-joe-enough-said-and-le-week-end/

Additionally, here are stories from The Hollywood Reporter and The Playlist:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/said-clip-james-gandolfini-julia-608213

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/7-new-photos-clip-from-enough-said-james-gandolfinis-penultimate-feature-film-20130816

REMINDERS...

Don't forget your invitation to this year's "Guide to the Ride" featuring yours truly.  We're set up for 5:00 pm Thursday, Aug. 29th at The River Club, 550 Depot in Telluride.  I promise we'll be done to get to the Thursday night feed downtown or make a 6:00 o'clock film.

Also...don't forget to send me your film ratings.  0-5 with 0 being awful.  Email them, Tweet or DM me, Facebook... or just comment here on the blog.  You can do it as the fest goes along or all at once after it's all over.  It'll take me about a week to get that all collated.

Remember that I'm doing the same thing with a select group of industry watchers, Oscar experts and critics including:

Alex Billington/FirstShowing

Scott Feinberg/The Hollywood Reporter

Scott Foundas/Variety

Eric Kohn/IndieWire

Eugene Novikov/Film Blather

Kristopher Tapley/InContention-HitFix

Sasha Stone/Awards Daily

I'm still working for and hoping to add another two or three folks to this lineup.  You'll want to check their reactions from  the festival.

A third reminder: I'll be writing daily summaries this year fro Screencraft.org.  The plan is a quick overview of key films on Wednesday, Aug. 28th when the lineup is announced and then a summary of film news, scuttlebutt, reaction and buzz each evening of the fest.  Look for that at www.screencraft.org.

And finally...

I posted my "Wish List" of films on Friday.  What's on your Telluride "Wish List"?  Drop me a line or two in any way that's convenient for you.  Let me hear what you'd like to see.


Follow/Like Michael's Telluride Film Blog on Facebook.

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2.

More on Tuesday...

Best of the Week/Blue InternationalTrailer/Foxcatcher Fire Dims

Good Saturday to You...only one more Saturday separates us from the 40th Telluride Film Festival!

As is the custom...here are the best posts from the past week...followed by the news that Cannes Palme d'Or winner "Blue is the Warmest Color" has an international trailer that popped up yesterday.

BEST OF THE WEEK


TEN (+) BETS

This week's Ten (+) Bets:

1) Nebraska
2) Labor Day
3) The Invisible Woman
4) Inside Llewyn Davis
5) All is Lost
6) The Unknown Known
7) Gravity
8) The Past
9) The Immigrant
10) The Story of Children and Film
11) 12 Years a Slave
12) Blue is the Warmest Color
13) The Lunchbox
14) Daughter of the Dawn
15) Enough Said

Just below the "Ten Bets"; "Life Itself", "Philomena", "Aguirre; The Wrath of God", "Quay d'Orsay", "Heli", "Only Lovers Left Alive", "Child's Pose","You Are Here", "LeWeekend" and "Gloria".

INVITATION

We're official...This year's Michael's Telluride Film Blog "guide to the Ride' is set for 5pm Thursday, Aug. 29th at The River Club in Telluride at 550 Depot St. in Telluride.  Come and join me for a brief discussion of what we might expect for the weekend as well as a glass (or two) of beverage and a nosh as well.  It'll be fun and YOU ARE INVITED...

ANOTHER INVITATION

Also, don't forget that you're also invited to take part in the Second "People's Telluride"...I'm asking you to rank the films that you see on a 0-5 scale and email those to me at the end of the fest.  As I did last year, I will crunch the numbers and we'll see what our collective view was.

I'll also be doing this with a select group of industry pros who have been kind enough to agree to rate the films they see as well.

Should be fun and informative...

SCREENCRAFT.ORG AND ME

I can tell everyone now.  In addition to posts here on the Blog I will be writing a series of reports from Telluride during the Festival for Screencraft.org. (http://www.screencraft.org/) Screencraft.org is an organization devoted to the development of screenwriters and getting their work in front of the right people.  My thanks to John Rhodes who really put this together.  Hope I can do them a good job.

Additionally, John has started the cross-pollination process.  Check out this post on Screencraft.org.
http://www.screencraft.org/blog/telluride-film-festival-2013-lineup-dates/


HERZOG'S LATEST FILM

I don't think you'll be seeing Werner Herzog's latest project in Telluride in two weeks...which normally would be an insane statement as Herzog's latest is almost always on display in T-ride.  Not this, however.  Herzog has directed and anti-texting and driving short film for a collection of phone entities.  Take a look at the story via AdAge.com:
http://adage.com/article/creativity-pick-of-the-day/werner-herzog-s-anti-texting-driving-documentary/243583/?qwr=FullSite

Thew film is entitled "From One Second to the Next" and you can view it at the above address.

THE FIFTH ESTATE NEEDS A LAWYER

The Hollywood Reporter posted last week that Dreamworks was girding up for legal challenges arising from the Wikileaks/Julian Assange picture "The Fifth Estate".  The film was directed by Bill Condon and stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Bruhl and Laura Linney.  I still am holding onto a thin read of hope that the film could still pop up at Telluride.

Here's the link to the THR story:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-prepares-fight-wikileaks-fifth-595743

THE WISH LIST...

We're two weeks away from the opening of the 40th Telluride Film Festival and as I now comes the time to categorize the films that are/could be/might have been T-ride selections.

Here are my categories:

Films (in no particular order) that I'm fairly confident will play.  This claim is based on any number of factors...not the least of which has been a claim from some quarters, in print or publicly stated, by film bloggers, reporters etc.:

“Inside Llewyn Davis”
“Labor Day”
“All is Lost”
“Gravity”
“The Past”
“The Immigrant”
“Nebraska”
“The Invisible Woman”
“The Unknown Known: The Life and Times of Donald Rumsfeld”
“Life Itself”
“Daughter of the Dawn”

Films that I feel have at least a 50/50 chance to play Telluride:

“12 Years a Slave”
“Blue is the Warmest Color”
“Heli”
“Gloria”
“Child’s Pose”
“Philomena”
“The Lunchbox”
“Only Lovers Left Alive’
“Enough Said”
“You Are Here”
“Quay d’ Orsay”
“The Selfish Giant”
“Aguirre: The Wrath of God”

Possible films that I feel have a less than 30% chance...but wouldn't be a complete surprise:

“August: Osage County”
“The Counselor”
“The Fifth Estate”
“The Dallas Buyers Club”
“Foxcatcher”
“Eleanor Rigby: His/Hers”
“A Most Wanted Man”
“Night Moves”
“Parkland”
“The Railway Man”
“The Rover”
“T.S. Spivet’
“The Zero Theorem”
"Unforgiven:
"The Wind Rises"
"Le Weekend"

Films that look unlikely to play Telluride for any number of reasons...

“American Hustle”
“Out of the Furnace”
“Her”
“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”
“The Book Thief”
“Oldboy”
“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
“Rush”
“The Monuments Men”
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
“Captain Phillips”
“Grand Budapest Hotel”
“Knight of Cups”
“Saving Mr. Banks”
“The Hobbit/Smaug”
“Grace of Monaco”
“Diana”

In a perfect world...these films would play in order of preference but regardless of likelihood:

1) "Inside Llewyn Davis"
2) "12 Years a Slave"
3) "The Monuments Men"
4) "Gravity"
5) "The Dallas Buyers Club"
6) "The Counselor"
7) "All is Lost"
8) "Labor Day"
9) "The Past"
10) "Nebraska"
11) "Foxcatcher"
12) "The Fifth Estate"
13) "American Hustle"
14) "Her"
15) "Out of the Furnace"
16) "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"
17) "Captain Phillips"
18) "August: Osage County"
19) "The Wolf of Wall Street"
20) "Blue is the Warmest Color"/"The Zero Theorem" (tie)

A couple of observations...

It looks to me like a terrific fall film slate...a lot of quality films to choose from.  Also, assuming that I'm anywhere close to right...this year's Telluride lineup is going to be incredible.

PEEPS THAT COULD ATTEND THE SHOW

 

So, if the Ten (+) Bets are correct...who might be in town for this year's fest?  The list is enticing. First, Think directors: Payne, Farhadi, Cuaron, The Coen Brothers, Reitman, Fiennes, Gray, McQueen, Holofcener and Chandor among others.

Then you have to think about the talent:  

Bruce Dern, Oscar Issac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Felicity Jones, Robert Redford, Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Berenice Bejo, Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Renner, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Of course not all of these people will attend...but some of them will and isn't that tantalizing?

WELLS' TAKE

Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere had his own take on the Toronto announcement yesterday in a very Telluride specific way. Wells continued with a theme he began with back a few weeks ago.

Check his blog post here: http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2013/08/confirmed-no-lost-davis-or-nebraska-at-toronto/

The upshot of this is that "Inside Llewyn Davis", "All is Lost" and "Nebraska" continue to look strong for Telluride inclusion.

NEW TO MTFB..."BLUE" HAS INTERNATIONAL TRAILER

The Cannes winner has an international trailer that dropped yesterday.  You can access it via any of the following posts from Awards Daily, Rope of Silicon and The Playlist:

http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/dive-into-the-beauty-blue-is-the-warmest-color-international-trailer/

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/blue-is-the-warmest-color-international-trailer/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-international-trailer-for-cannes-palme-dor-winner-blue-is-the-warmest-color-20130816

I'm still fairly bullish on our chances to see this film in Telluride in a week and a half.

FOXCATCHER FIRE DIMS

This week has seen a flurry of activity and speculation about Bennett Miller's "Foxcatcher".  We found out this week (officially) that Sony Pictures Classics has now got the distribution for the film and I (among others) thought that increased its chances of playing Telluride.

Now comes news via an anonymous comment to yesterday's blog post and Kris Tapley's (InContention/HitFix) twitter thread about the film that it's just not ready.  Tapley had a respondent who claims that the film is still far too long and unfinished and references a test screening from a couple of weeks ago.

If that's true..."Foxcatcher" goes back to the lower end of Telluride possibilities...not completely impossible, but incredibly unlikely.

Which is too bad because I am immensely intrigued by this project.  I think Miller is a real talent and I am embarrassingly anxious to see Steve Carell in a real departure for him.


Follow/Like Michael's Telluride Film Blog on Facebook.

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2.

More on Monday...Have a great weekend!

Screencraft.org and Me/Ten (+) Bets/Foxcatcher Flies to SPC/Peeps That Could Show at the SHOW/Invitation/Another Invitation/Monuments and Oscar

Good Friday All...Less than two weeks until lift off!

SCREENCRAFT.ORG AND ME

I can tell everyone now.  In addition to posts here on the Blog I will be writing a series of reports from Telluride during the Festival for Screencraft.org. (http://www.screencraft.org/) Screencraft.org is an organization devoted to the development of screenwriters and getting their work in front of the right people.  My thanks to John Rhodes who really put this together.  Hope I can do them a good job.


TEN (+) BETS #8

Here's my weekly evaluation of the Ten (actually more) films that I think have the best chance to be a part of the 40th Telluride Film festival.

Last week's Ten Bets were:

1) Nebraska

2) Inside Llewyn Davis

3) Labor Day

4) The Invisible Woman

5) The Unknown Known

6) The Past

7) The Immigrant

8) All is Lost

9) Gravity

10) The Story of Children and Film

This week's Ten (+) Bets:

1) Nebraska
2) Labor Day
3) The Invisible Woman
4) Inside Llewyn Davis
5) All is Lost
6) The Unknown Known
7) Gravity
8) The Past
9) The Immigrant
10) The Story of Children and Film
11) 12 Years a Slave
12) Blue is the Warmest Color
13) The Lunchbox
14) Daughter of the Dawn
15) Enough Said

Just below the "Ten Bets"; "Life Itself", "Philomena", "Aguirre; The Wrath of God", "Quay d'Orsay", "Heli", "Only Lovers Left Alive", "Child's Pose","You Are Here", "LeWeekend" and "Gloria".

FOXCATCHER FLIES TO SPC

I've been pretty certain that this news was coming for weeks...Bennett Miller's "Foxcatcher" will now be distributed by Sony Pictures Classics.  That news finally erupted into the light last night.  It immediately increases "Foxcatcher's" Telluride chances.  Perhaps, had the news come earlier last night, I might have included it on the list of titles bubbling just below the top 15.  As it is, we could see it pop into the "Bets" by next week depending what scuttlebutt pops up.

I will say this: the only other time Miller's film was handled by SPC it was "Capote" and that played Telluride.  Also, Kristopher Tapley of InContention/HitFix tweeted last night that he was "expecting "Foxcatcher to be a sweet Telluride exclusive a la "The Way Back" a few years ago".

I've linked numerous posts with the "Foxcatcher/SPC news below from InContention, The Hollywood Reporter, Rope of Silicon, The Playlist, The Wrap, Movie City News and Thompson on Hollywood:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/sony-classics-brings-foxcatcher-into-the-oscar-season

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/foxcatcher-jumps-sony-pictures-classics-602726

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/sony-classics-acquires-bennett-millers-foxcatcher-and-sets-december-2013-release/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/adjust-your-oscar-predictions-bennett-millers-foxcatcher-starring-steve-carell-channing-tatum-gets-awards-season-date-20130815

http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/sony-pictures-classics-release-bennett-millers-foxcatcher-111221

http://moviecitynews.com/2013/08/sony-pictures-classics-pins-annapurnas-foxcatcher/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/sony-pictures-classics-takes-over-release-of-bennett-millers-foxcatcher

In addition to Tapley, Brad Brevet of ROS explicitly muses on its Telluride possibilities as does Keith Jagernauth of The Playlist.

I'm holding my breath that the speculation is correct because I'd like this film to play.  If you read yesterday's post you know that "Foxcatcher" is just outside my Top Ten "Wish List" films.  Fingers crossed.

PEEPS THAT COULD ATTEND THE SHOW

 

So, if the Ten (+) Bets are correct...who might be in town for this year's fest?  The list is enticing. First, Think directors: Payne, Farhadi, Cuaron, The Coen Brothers, Reitman, Fiennes, Gray, McQueen, Holofcener and Chandor among others.

Then you have to think about the talent:  

Bruce Dern, Oscar Issac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Felicity Jones, Robert Redford, Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Berenice Bejo, Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Renner, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Of course not all of these people will attend...but some of them will and isn't that tantalizing?

INVITATION

We're official...This year's Michael's Telluride Film Blog "guide to the Ride' is set for 5pm Thursday, Aug. 29th at The River Club in Telluride at 550 Depot St. in Telluride.  Come and join me for a brief discussion of what we might expect for the weekend as well as a glass (or two) of beverage and a nosh as well.  It'll be fun and YOU ARE INVITED...

ANOTHER INVITATION

Also, don't forget that you're also invited to take part in the Second "People's Telluride"...I'm asking you to rank the films that you see on a 0-5 scale and email those to me at the end of the fest.  As I did last year, I will crunch the numbers and we'll see what our collective view was.

I'll also be doing this with a select group of industry pros who have been kind enough to agree to rate the films they see as well.

Should be fun and informative...


MONUMENTS AND OSCAR

Competing stories were out yesterday about the Oscar campaigning probabilities for George Clooney's "The Monuments Men".  Tom O'Neil at Gold Derby saying it wasn't going to happen and then Sony Pictures pushing back.  I have included links to posts from Gold Derby and The Wrap:

http://www.goldderby.com/news/4660/monuments-men-george-clooney-entertainment-news-381493726.html

https://www.thewrap.com/awards/column-post/sony-denies-report-george-clooneys-monuments-men-wont-get-oscar-push-110866

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More to come on Saturday including Best of the Week...

The Wish List/Japan Rising?/Zero Pics/Guide to the Ride/Judging Telluride

Good Thursday Everyone...

THE WISH LIST...

We're two weeks away from the opening of the 40th Telluride Film Festival and as I now comes the time to categorize the films that are/could be/might have been T-ride selections.

Here are my categories:

Films (in no particular order) that I'm fairly confident will play.  This claim is based on any number of factors...not the least of which has been a claim from some quarters, in print or publicly stated, by film bloggers, reporters etc.:

“Inside Llewyn Davis”
“Labor Day”
“All is Lost”
“Gravity”
“The Past”
“The Immigrant”
“Nebraska”
“The Invisible Woman”
“The Unknown Known: The Life and Times of Donald Rumsfeld”
“Life Itself”
“Daughter of the Dawn”

Films that I feel have at least a 50/50 chance to play Telluride:

“12 Years a Slave”
“Blue is the Warmest Color”
“Heli”
“Gloria”
“Child’s Pose”
“Philomena”
“The Lunchbox”
“Only Lovers Left Alive’
“Enough Said”
“You Are Here”
“Quay d’ Orsay”
“The Selfish Giant”
“Aguirre: The Wrath of God”

Possible films that I feel have a less than 30% chance...but wouldn't be a complete surprise:

“August: Osage County”
“The Counselor”
“The Fifth Estate”
“The Dallas Buyers Club”
“Foxcatcher”
“Eleanor Rigby: His/Hers”
“A Most Wanted Man”
“Night Moves”
“Parkland”
“The Railway Man”
“The Rover”
“T.S. Spivet’
“The Zero Theorem”
"Unforgiven:
"The Wind Rises"
"Le Weekend"

Films that look unlikely to play Telluride for any number of reasons...

“American Hustle”
“Out of the Furnace”
“Her”
“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”
“The Book Thief”
“Oldboy”
“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
“Rush”
“The Monuments Men”
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
“Captain Phillips”
“Grand Budapest Hotel”
“Knight of Cups”
“Saving Mr. Banks”
“The Hobbit/Smaug”
“Grace of Monaco”
“Diana”

In a perfect world...these films would play in order of preference but regardless of likelihood:

1) "Inside Llewyn Davis"
2) "12 Years a Slave"
3) "The Monuments Men"
4) "Gravity"
5) "The Dallas Buyers Club"
6) "The Counselor"
7) "All is Lost"
8) "Labor Day"
9) "The Past"
10) "Nebraska"
11) "Foxcatcher"
12) "The Fifth Estate"
13) "American Hustle"
14) "Her"
15) "Out of the Furnace"
16) "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"
17) "Captain Phillips"
18) "August: Osage County"
19) "The Wolf of Wall Street"
20) "Blue is the Warmest Color"/"The Zero Theorem" (tie)

A couple of observations...

It looks to me like a terrific fall film slate...a lot of quality films to choose from.  Also, assuming that I'm anywhere close to right...this year's Telluride lineup is going to be incredible.

JAPAN RISING

I noted yesterday that I had a "feeling' about Hayao Miyazaki's "The Wind Rises".  No real hard evidence...just a tickle.  It and Lee Sang-il's "Unforgiven" remake that transfers the Eastwood classic to 1800's Japan were both announced as additions to Toronto earlier this week and both could make a stop in Telluride first.

Both films popped up with English subtitled trailers yesterday.  Here's "Unforgiven" via YouTube:

And "The Wind Rises" as well:

I have also linked separate posts from The Playlist and The Dissolve:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/now-with-subtitles-tiff-trailers-for-ken-watanabe-starring-unforgiven-remake-hayao-miyazakis-the-wind-rises-20130814

http://thedissolve.com/news/242-miyazaki-controversy/


ZERO PICS

The Playlist also dips into a Terry Gilliam interview with Deadline.com in which he talks "The Zero Theorem" as well as his "Don Quixote" project.  The post also includes a couple of new stills of "Zero":

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/terry-gilliam-about-ready-to-give-up-on-don-quixote-doesnt-want-to-do-a-marvel-movie-new-pics-from-zero-theorem-20130814

"The Zero Theorem" is scheduled to play the Venice fest on Sept.2...could Gilliam show it in Telluride first?  Possible.

GUIDE TO THE RIDE

We're official...This year's Michael's Telluride Film Blog "Guide to the Ride' is set for 5pm Thursday, Aug. 29th at The River Club in Telluride at 550 Depot St. in Telluride.  Come and join me for a brief discussion of what we might expect for the weekend as well as a glass (or two) of beverage and a nosh as well.  It'll be fun and YOU ARE INVITED...


JUDGING TELLURIDE

Also, don't forget that you're also invited to take part in the Second "People's Telluride"...I'm asking you to rank the films that you see on a 0-5 scale and email those to me at the end of the fest.  As I did last year, I will crunch the numbers and we'll see what our collective view was.

I'll also be doing this with a select group of industry pros who have been kind enough to agree to rate the films they see as well.

Should be fun and informative...


Follow/Like Michael's Telluride Film Blog on facebook.

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2.

More on Friday...including a new "Ten Bets" list...with more than ten bets...

Toronto Announces...Clues?/Wells on Toronto/New Pics from Prisoners

Good Wednesday to All,

TORONTO ANNOUNCES...CLUES

The Toronto International Film Festival announced the addition of over 6 dozen titles to various sections of their slate of films yesterday.  As you might expect, there was a good deal of coverage across the interweb and I have kinked a number of those stories/posts below.

The Playlist: http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/tiff-2013-how-i-live-now-southcliffe-a-field-in-england-therese-blood-ties-child-of-god-more-added-20130813

Rope of Silicon: http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/2013-toronto-festival-90-new-titles-added-including-new-miyazaki-turturro-durkin-gibney-macdonald-and-wheatley/

The Wrap: http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/toronto-film-festival-2013-full-lineup-110251

IndieWire: http://www.indiewire.com/article/toronto-adds-75-titles-to-2013-edition-james-franco-alex-gibney-hayao-miyazaki-sean-durkin-and-kevin-macdonald-among-them

After looking at the films announced yesterday, I would venture to say that some films getting a hint of Telluride as a possible pre-Toronto destination included:

"Blood Ties"
"The Armstrong Lie"
"How I Live Now"
"Therese"
"An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker"
"Child's Pose"
"The Selfish Giant"

I am intrigued by John Turturro's "Fading Gigolo", Lee Sang-il's "Unforgiven" and Hayao Miyazaki's "The Wind Rises" (which I do think now may have a shot at Telluride).



WELLS' TAKE

Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere had his own take on the Toronto announcement yesterday in a very Telluride specific way. Wells continued with a theme he began with back a few weeks ago.

Check his blog post here: http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2013/08/confirmed-no-lost-davis-or-nebraska-at-toronto/

The upshot of this is that "Inside Llewyn Davis", "All is Lost" and "Nebraska" continue to look strong for Telluride inclusion.


NEW PICS FROM PRISONERS

The Playlist posted a story yesterday afternoon with new still from three films...one of which, "Prisoners" from director Denis Villenueve has some chance of playing Telluride.  One of those new views is above.  You can find the other plus pics from "Anchorman 2" and "Grudge Match" here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/new-images-from-anchorman-the-legend-continues-prisoners-grudge-match-get-in-the-ring-20130813


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More on Thursday...

On Salinger/Herzog's Latest/The Fifth Estate Needs a Lawyer?/The Book Thief Gets a Date

Good Tuesday Everybody...16 Days Until Nirvana...

ON SALINGER

Yesterday I posted the speculation form Ioncinema that the documentary "Salinger" might make the stop in Telluride.  I observed that I had some doubts mostly due to the fact that the film opens 4 days after the festival closes which seems to me to be insufficient time for the doc to benefit from the Festival appearance.

Word cam to me yesterday on background that the film is definitely NOT going to be on the T-ride program.  Let me tell you that I trust the source so don't plan on seeing it in the San Juans on Labor Day weekend.

HERZOG'S LATEST FILM

I don't think you'll be seeing Werner Herzog's latest project in Telluride in two weeks...which normally would be an insane statement as Herzog's latest is almost always on display in T-ride.  Not this, however.  Herzog has directed and anti-texting and driving short film for a collection of phone entities.  Take a look at the story via AdAge.com:
http://adage.com/article/creativity-pick-of-the-day/werner-herzog-s-anti-texting-driving-documentary/243583/?qwr=FullSite

Thew film is entitled "From One Second to the Next" and you can view it at the above address.

THE FIFTH ESTATE NEEDS A LAWYER

The Hollywood Reporter posted last week that Dreamworks was girding up for legal challenges arising from the Wikileaks/Julian Assange picture "The Fifth Estate".  The film was directed by Bill Condon and stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Bruhl and Laura Linney.  I still am holding onto a thin read of hope that the film could still pop up at Telluride.

Here's the link to the THR story:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-prepares-fight-wikileaks-fifth-595743

THE BOOK THIEF GETS A DATE

An intriguing film has landed square in the middle of awards season.  "The Book Thief" starring Geoffrey Rush has been set for release on Nov. 15.  Kris Tapley at InContention/HitFix reports that the film will fore go festivals altogether.  Seems a little odd to me as it probably could have benefited from some fest exposure as it has been flying way under the radar up until now.  Check Tapley's story here:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/fox-quietly-positions-the-book-thief-from-downton-abbey-director-brian-percival-in-the-middle-of-awards-season


MERYL IN SUPPORTING

Regarded as one of the biggest Oscar stalking horses for the upcoming season, "August: Osage County" was the focus of a lot of stories yesterday that Meryl Streep may be campaigned in the Supporting Actress category rather than lead.  If you know the stage play and you know that Streep is playing Violet Weston then you know that seems weird.  Violet and the role of Barbara (Julia Roberts) are clearly co-leads.  Still, I wouldn't be all that surprised.  Again, Tapley's take from InContention/HitFix:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/will-meryl-streep-be-campaigned-for-best-supporting-actress-in-august-osage-county

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More on Wednesday...

Salinger in Telluride?/How I Live Now Trailer/New Stuff from Saturday's Post

Good Monday Everyone...back from Colorado late last night and headed to my first In-Service for the new school year.  Bring it!


SALINGER IN T-RIDE?

Ioncinema tweeted yesterday that they believed the new documentary about J.D. Salinger from director Shane Solerno and The Weinstein Company would likely be a part of the Telluride lineup.
The tweet says, "Telluride slot?  J.D. Salinger doc from the Weinsteins will probably be in the lineup."

I've hedged my bets on this film simply because of the release date occurring so soon after Telluride concludes.  It's set to open Sept. 6th ( the Friday after T-ride ends.

That being said, the Ioncinema folks almost certainly have better info than I do.  Additionally, the film would definitely be on my list of films to see.  Although, ( if I have most if this stuff right)  I have to admit that my dance card is getting awfully full.

The "Salinger" trailer:

"Salinger's" IMDb page is here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1596753/?ref_=sr_1

FROM THE OUTSIDE POSSIBILITY DEPT.

Kevin Mcdonald's new feature is an outside possibility for Telluride.  "How I Live Now" starring Saoirse Ronan premiered a trailer over the weekend.

 

I've also linked stories from The Playlist and FirstShowing:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-trailer-for-kevin-macdonalds-apocalyptic-how-i-live-now-starring-saoirse-ronan-tom-holland-20130809

http://www.firstshowing.net/2013/saoirse-ronan-in-first-trailer-for-kevin-macdonalds-how-i-live-now/

SATURDAY MATERIAL RE-POST...

New material I posted originally on Saturday...

THE UNIFIED CLOONEY THEORY; PART TWO

Earlier this week I proposed the "Unified Clooney Theory", a suggestion of the connective web between Clooney and many of his friends and a number of the films that have the potential to be a part of this year's Telluride program.  You can see that I've re-posted it above as a part of the "Best of the Week" segment.

Well...there's more.  Julia Roberts is another part of the UCT.  She's appeared with Clooney, Pitt and Damon in the Ocean films and will be getting a lot of notice in the Clooney produced "August: Osage County".  Many Oscar observers believe that she'll be a player in the awards conversation at the end of the year.

Tilda Swinton is another actress that is a part of the UCT and has a lively Telluride possibility or two.  Swinton appeared with Clooney in Michael Clayton and they were both tributed at Telluride the same year.  Swinton also has appeared with fellow UCT members Brad Pitt in "Benjamin Button" and both Clooney and Pitt in the Coen Brothers "Burn After Reading"  (Coens...more UCT!)

Swinton is set to appear in Terry Gilliam's "The Zero Theorem" (with UCT member Matt Damon) and Jim Jarmusch's "Only Lovers Left Alive".  Both of those have some level of Telluride potential.

And we can't forget Cate Blanchett in this feminine examination of the Unified Clooney Theory.  Blanchett who is currently basking in breathless reviews for her performance in Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine" has had her moments in Clooney-land.  Blanchett is, of course, the female lead in Pitt's "Benjamin Button" and also plays the lead in the Steven Soderberg directed and Clooney  starrer "The Good German".  Blanchett has Clooney's "The Monuments Men" in the can (or nearly so) as well as co-starring as Pitt's wife in "Babel".  Blanchett also appeared in "The Talented Mr. Ripley" with Matt Damon.

Again, as with the male version of the UCT, the chances of all of these films playing and all of these women being in Telluride is very unlikely...actually, my guess is that Swinton and "only Lovers" is your best chance.  But, again, they're all possible at least to varying degrees.

COME AND PLAY

We're still ironing out details but you can be sure that you have a personal invitation to the Third Guide to the Ride, Flow of the Show.  Tentative plans look like we'll be moving the soiree to Thursday (the opening day if the fest).  I expect to host again at The River Club (550 Depot St. in Telluride).  Time and duration are still being ironed out.  Keep an eye on the blog for more details as we get closer to Festival time.

RANKING THE FILMS

For the second year Michael's Telluride Film Blog is putting together an array of Film Critics, blogger and Experts who have agreed to offer their ratings of the films that they see during the festival.  i'll be collating that information and passing it on to you.  

Among the fine film folk that have agreed to particiapate are :

Alex Billington/FirstShowing

Scott Feinberg/The Hollywood Reporter

Scott Foundas/Variety

Eric Kohn/IndieWire

Eugene Novikov/Film Blather

Kristopher Tapley/InContention-HitFix

Sasha Stone/Awards Daily

I have other invitations out and hopes that we'll have more players in this endeavor.

ALSO...

As I did last year, I want YOUR ratings too.  As we move through the festival in a few weeks, I'm inviting you to rank the films you see from 0 to 5 and email those ratings to me at either:

michael_speech@hotmail.com or

mpgort@gmail.com

It should be fun!

PHILOMENA TRAILER

Judi Dench and Steve Coogan star in Stephen Frears "Philomena".  dench is reportedly fantastic in this film about a woman looking for the son she surrendered fro adoption when she was young.  "Philomena" dropped a trailer yesterday.

Here it is:

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More on Tuesday...