Telluride Film Festival '09

[Ezee E]

Howdy from Telluride.

Doing the staff thing again, and this year I got a huge bag of random but fun goodies. Shirts, hats, food, coasters, water bottles, toothpaste (?), and more.

Quick rundown of some things:
Tribute to Viggo Mortenson
Helen Mirren, Nic Cage, and Michael Haneke are all doing talks.

Premieres of:
The Road
Bright Star
Bad Lieutenant
The White Ribbon
A Prophet
Coco Before Chanel

Showing of:
An Education

I'm pumped! Staff screening tonight, not sure what it is yet. Back soon.

[Watashi]

That's all the showings?

[Ezee E]

That's all the showings?

Good lord no.


THE ‘SHOW’
36th Telluride Film Festival is pleased to present the following new feature films to play in the ‘SHOW’:
• A PROPHET (d. Jacques Audiard, Germany/Austria/France, 2009)
• AN EDUCATION (d. Lone Sherfig, U.K., 2009)
• BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS (d. Werner Herzog, U.S., 2009)
• BRIGHT STAR (d. Jane Campion, U.K./Australia/France, 2009)
• COCO BEFORE CHANEL (d. Anne Fontaine, France, 2009)
• FAREWELL (d. Christian Carion, France, 2009)
• FISH TANK (d. Andrea Arnold, U.K., 2009)
• GIGANTE (d. Adrián Biniez, Uruguay, 2009)
• HENRI-GEORGES CLOUZOUT’S INFERNO (d. Serge Bromberg and Ruxandra Medrea, France, 2009)
• LIFE DURING WARTIME (d. Todd Solondz, U.S., 2009)
• LONDON RIVER (d. Rachid Bouchareb, U.K./France/Algeria, 2009)
• RED RIDING – three-part series: 1974 (d. Julian Jarrold, U.K., 2009); 1980 (d. James Marsh, U.K., 2009); 1983 (d. Anand Tucker, U.K., 2009)
• ROOM AND A HALF (d. Andrey Khrzhanovsky, Russia, 2009)
• SAMSON & DELILAH (d. Warwick Thornton, Australia, 2009)
• SLEEP FURIOUSLY (d. Gideon Koppel, U.K., 2007)
• TERRA MADRE (d. Ermanno Olmi, Italy, 2009)
• THE JAZZ BARONESS (d. Hannah Rothschild, U.K. 2009)
• THE LAST STATION (d. Michael Hoffman, U.K., 2009)
• THE MISCREANTS OF TALIWOOD (d. George Gittoes, Australia/Pakistan, 2009)
• THE ROAD (d. John Hillcoat, U.S., 2009)
• THE WHITE RIBBON (d. Michael Haneke, Germany/Australia/France, 2009)
• VINCERE (d. Marco Bellocchio, Italy, 2009)
• VISION (d. Margarethe von Trotta, Germany, 2009)
• WINDOW (d. Buddhadeb Dasgupta, India, 2009)

In keeping with Festival tradition, additional “Sneak Previews� are expected to surprise attendees over the weekend. Sneaks will be announced here. Stay tuned!

MEDALLION AWARDS
The 2009 Silver Medallion awards, given to recognize an artist’s significant contribution to the world of cinema, go to:
• ANOUK AIMÉE - French film star Anouk Aimée will receive the Silver Medallion followed by an onstage interview conducted by Scott Foundas (Friday) and Davia Nelson (Saturday). The program will include a screening of Jacques Demy’s 1961 film, LOLA, starring Aimée in her iconic role as the lovelorn burlesque dancer.
• VIGGO MORTENSEN – Telluride audiences will be the first to see American actor Viggo Mortensen’s performance in John Hillcoat’s THE ROAD. The film will be preceded by the presentation of the Silver Medallion and an onstage interview with Ken Burns (Sunday) and Davia Nelson (Monday).
• MARGARETHE VON TROTTA – Historical filmmaker, actress and a key member of New German Cinema, von Trotta will be presented with the Silver Medallion by Barbara Sukowa, followed by an onstage interview conducted by Annette Insdorf (Friday) and Gary Giddens (Saturday). A screening of Von Trotta’s latest film, VISION, will follow the program.

Lobster Films’ Serge Bromberg will receive this year’s Special Medallion award, which honors a “hero� of cinema, at the program “Retour de Flamme,� Bromberg’s famed live cinema show. Bromberg’s new film, HENRI-GEORGES CLOUZOUT’S INFERNO plays in main program. Bromberg will also sign Flicker Alley DVD sets featuring works discovered and restored by Lobster Films.

GUEST DIRECTOR PROGRAMS
Guest Director Alexander Payne presents six forgotten film treasures from the past:
• EL VERDUGO (d. LuÃ*s GarcÃ*a Berlanga, Spain, 1963)
• DAISAN NO KAGEMUSHA: THE THIRD SHADOW WARRIOR (d. Inoue Umetsugu, Japan, 1963)
• LE RAGAZZE DI PIAZZA DI SPAGNA (d. Luciano Emmer, Italy 1952)
• DAY OF THE OUTLAW (d. André De Tothe, U.S., 1959)
• THE BREAKING POINT (d. Michael Curtiz, U.S., 1950)
• MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW (d. Orson Welles, U.S., 1937)

FILM REVIVALS
• LES NOUVEAUX MESSIEUR (d. Jacques Feyder, France, 1929) - With live music by Stephen Horne, performing his original score
• L’ARGENT (d. Marcel L’Herier, France, 1928) – Featuring the world premiere of a new score written and performed by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
• LOLA (d. Jacques Demy, France, 1961)
• MIRACLE OF MALACHIAS (d. Bernhard Wicki, Germany, 1961)
• TONI (d. Jean Renoir, France, 1934)


CELEBRATING MANNY FARBER
Our Celebration of Manny Farber includes a screening of one of Farber’s favorite films, TONI, followed by a panel discussion exploring Farber’s work with Greil Marcus, Jean-Pierre Gorin, Kent Jones, Robert Polito, Robert Walsh and Patricia Patterson. Following the panel, editor Robert Polito will sign copies of Farber On Film: The Complete Writings of Manny Farber.


POSTER ARTIST WILLIAM WEGMAN
Poster Artist William Wegman will present a selection of his short films followed by a conversation with art curator David Ross and the audience. Poster signing to follow. An exhibit of the posters with which Wegman experimented before selecting the final version will be on display at the Wegman Gallery, along with a series of original paintings created for Telluride and the unveiling of a second, limited edition poster. Gallery only open throughout the four-day Festival.

TALKING HEADS
Features six Conversations between Festival guests and the audience about film and culture, and three outdoor Seminars with a panel of Festival guests. These programs are free and open to the public.


ADDITIONAL FESTIVITIES
• Fellini’s Book of Dreams – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ exhibition includes reproductions of the 12-time Oscar nominee Federico Fellini’s dream-world sketches.
• Russian Master: Animation by Khrzhanovsky – A rare screening of Andrey Khrzhanovsky’s animated films. His debut feature ROOM AND A HALF plays in the main program.
• Alice Waters Book signing – Following the screening and intro of TERRA MADRE, Waters, vice president of Slow Foods International, will sign her classic Art of Simple Foods



And PLENTY more.

[Watashi]

No Antichrist though?

[Raiders]

EL VERDUGO (d. LuÃ*s GarcÃ*a Berlanga, Spain, 1963)

Always really wanted to see this. Berlanga is sadly almost entirely unavailable in the US. I know Llopin considers it a masterpiece.


DAY OF THE OUTLAW (d. André De Tothe, U.S., 1959)

'Tis a great film, though for De Toth I think None Shall Escape is even more unfortunately forgotten.


MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW (d. Orson Welles, U.S., 1937)

He did famously praise the film, but this is all Leo McCarey, not Welles.

[Ezee E]

No Antichrist though?

Apparently not, unless it's a TBA. Usually there's 4-5 surprise movies that are announced tomorrow and Saturday.

[Ezee E]

Always really wanted to see this. Berlanga is sadly almost entirely unavailable in the US. I know Llopin considers it a masterpiece.



'Tis a great film, though for De Toth I think None Shall Escape is even more unfortunately forgotten.



He did famously praise the film, but this is all Leo McCarey, not Welles.

Payne said he really challenged the Festival by making them find all these films.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Where are your thoughts on Goodbye Solo and Sugar, bitch?

[Stay Puft]

Ah, you guys got the Red Riding series. I hadn't even heard of it until the first one was uploaded on KG the other day. They sound interesting, although I've read some mixed reactions.

[Sxottlan]

Coco Before Chanel


The trailer for this nearly made me gag. I can't believe it's an actual movie.

[baby doll]

Premieres of:
Bright Star
The White Ribbon
A Prophet
Coco Before ChanelHow are we defining premiere exactly? Coco Avant Chanel opened commercially in Paris back in the spring, but that sort of thing doesn't generally count. (Lots of films open commercially in their home country before having their festival premiere.) But Bright Star, The White Ribbon, and Un prophète were all at Cannes. Sorry to get stuck on a semantic quibble like this, but that's what I do. I'm cancer, bitch!

[baby doll]

Looking at the complete line-up, apart from some of the big-hype items from Cannes (the Audiard, the Bellocchio, the Haneke--and even these likely aren't that good), I'd feel pretty confident about blowing off all the new movies and just seeing the revivals. Demy's Lola is pretty much the greatest thing ever, and I'd love to see L'Herier's L'Argent and Renoir's Toni.

[right_for_the_moment]

How are we defining premiere exactly? Coco Avant Chanel opened commercially in Paris back in the spring, but that sort of thing doesn't generally count. (Lots of films open commercially in their home country before having their festival premiere.) But Bright Star, The White Ribbon, and Un prophète were all at Cannes. Sorry to get stuck on a semantic quibble like this, but that's what I do. I'm cancer, bitch!

Just a guess, but North American premiere?

[Ezee E]

Just a guess, but North American premiere?

Correct.

K-Fan, started to watch Sugar[/b] but got tired, and I was really liking it all, so I didn't want to miss any and shut it off.

I saw [i]An Education at a staff screening last night, and thought it was okay. The movie has something going really well for it, and that's Carey Mulligan. She could potentially do for this movie what Audrey Hepburn did for Breakfast At Tiffani's. That is to say, take an otherwise okay movie, and elevate it to something people seem to really like. She is very good.

Working with my staff schedule, and what I can see, it'll be hard to actually see some of the rare movies out there. Tonight, I'll get to see The White Ribbon while working, and tomorrow morning I'll have to choose between A Prophet or Red Riding: 1974 or Gigante. If I have the endurance, I could see The Breaking Point, and at night I'll be working with chances to see Life Before Wartime and Samson & Delilah.

[Amnesiac]

I saw An Education at a staff screening last night, and thought it was okay. The movie has something going really well for it, and that's Carey Mulligan. She could potentially do for this movie what Audrey Hepburn did for Breakfast At Tiffani's. That is to say, take an otherwise okay movie, and elevate it to something people seem to really like. She is very good.

This seems to be the consensus, right down to the Hepburn comparison. I'm eager to see it.

[Ezee E]

This seems to be the consensus, right down to the Hepburn comparison. I'm eager to see it.

I should say that the rest of the cast is pretty good, Saarsgaard and Molina in particular.

[Ezee E]

Up in the Air and Paranormal Activity are the TBAs for Saturday.

Jason Reitman says that he thought Telluride was a good luck charm and asked if he could have the same exact time slots for his movie. He got them.

Paranormal Activity. Never heard of it. Cost $11k and is apparently a bunch of guys with cameras. Hmm...

The White Ribbon is a tough one to watch at 10:30. Worst problem was I was far back in the theater and sometimes couldn't read the subtitles as it was white text against white background. Beautiful compositions, restrained acting and storytelling, didn't really love it though. May need to watch again as I was getting really tired near the end.

Lots of pedophilia this year it seems. An Education has Saarsgaard dating a 17 year old. The White Ribbon has father-daughter, and Life During Wartime has it too. Weird.

Now... A Prophet.

[Ezee E]

Jacques Audiard is quickly becoming one of my favorites. A Prophet is quality, and my favorite thus far.

Got lucky to see Up In the Air as hundreds were turned down. Clooney is awesome in what is otherwise an alright movie. Definitely will not cause the stir that Juno did. Anna Kendrick is very charming, and Farmiga needs a lead role. Immediately.

Solondz' Life During Wartime is very Solondz. Omar from The Wire is Philip Seymour HOffman's character from Happiness. Ciaran Hinds is Dylan Baker. Allison Janney is the highlight of it all.

Phew... Very fun. Tomorrow, it's looking like Bad Lieutenant, Bright Star, The Last Station, and Fish Tank.

[Winston*]

Omar from The Wire is Philip Seymour HOffman's character from Happiness.
This doesn't compute.

[transmogrifier]

Allison Janney is the highlight of it all.
.

To be fair, that's more or less true of every film Janney has been in.

[Watashi]

I'm pretty sure Up in the Air is a BP contender.

Jason Reitman is annoying, but it has Clooney...

Hmm.

[Ezee E]

This doesn't compute.
Life During Wartime is a sequel to Happiness and Welcome to the Dollhouse, but with different actors portraying the roles.

[Ezee E]

I'm pretty sure Up in the Air is a BP contender.



It's a good comedy, and with it focusing hard on job losses, perhaps, but it seems like too much of a comedy.

Clooney for an Actor nomination? Probably.

Up in the Air as a Golden Globe Comedy nomination? Definitely.

J.K. Simmons and Zack Galfinakis (sp) both have good cameos as people getting fired.

[Ezee E]

Oh, slept in, so I didn't see Bad Lieutenant, and I doubt I'll get to Bright Star. Might see one of the Red Riding movies instead.

[Ezee E]

Heh, Sasha Stone at awardsdaily quoted me on how Up in the Air won't be as big as Juno, and that Clooney was perfect for this role.

It seems that people loved it, but I'm curious if these reviews are all true. One blogger e-mailed me about how he was coming up to the festival without a pass, and there's no way he got into that movie without a pass. No way at all. Yet, he has a review up. Hmm......

[Ezee E]

Met Nic Cage. Awesome guy actually, even though he butchered my last name. Then went to the Courthouse and watched his conversation with a casting director.

-He is very fond of Vampire's Kiss. He adores Lon Cheney, and that role was the closest thing he got to it.
-Thinks of Downey as a genius, and hopes to work with him.
-A dream role of his is to be Captain Nemo in a 20,000 Leagues remake, and have Sam Raimi direct.
-All the directors that he wants to work with are dead. Kubrick, Kazan, and Fellini in particular.
-Believes that you need some fear in life choices, otherwise it isn't worth going for.
-Is not ashamed of Ghost Rider or National Treasure because he enjoys making kids happy.

Fish Tank is pretty great. Andrea Arnold really is something, even though I didn't care for Red Road, her WASP short is still the best short I've ever seen.

Tomorrow looks like The Road, My Son My Son What Have Ye Done, and possibly a Red Riding movie (which is getting great reviews).

[Boner M]

Kinda kicking myself for skipping Fish Tank in Melbourne last month; my friend said it was his favorite film there. I thought Red Road showed promise, even though I liked it better when it was called The Son.

[Ezee E]

A weird thing about the festival is that four movies have all had some type of pedophilia angle to it. An Education, Life During Wartime, The White Ribbon, and Fish Tank have all had it. Ew.

[Ezee E]

If you read The Road, you've basically seen the movie in your head. There's really nothing different about it. I can't say that's good or bad.

My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done might be the most experimental movie since Inland Empire. Pretty awesome actually. It's like Lynch and Herzog had a baby.

[Ezee E]

Ramin Bahrani also had a great short before Herzog's movie that was called, Plastic Bag, which was about the life of a plastic bag narrated by Herzog.

Slightly too long, but surprisingly very good.

[Rowland]

If you read The Road, you've basically seen the movie in your head. There's really nothing different about it. I can't say that's good or bad. Hmm. How would you describe it to someone who hasn't read the novel, but has seen (and loved) Hillcoat's previous film, The Proposition?