The 2019 Toronto International Film Festival begins tomorrow, but the impact of last weekend’s Telluride Film Festival is still being felt for those playing the awards season game. As noted numerous times over the years, there are many more voting Academy members that attend Telluride than Venice, Toronto or NYFF and it’s one of the few festivals in the world where someone screening their own movie can see other films (emphasis on more than one) while they are in town. This year Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Emma Stone, Damien Chazelle, Melissa McCarthy and regulars such as Laura Dern were spotted at one screening after another. Keeping that in mind, here are some quick takeaways on what worked and what didn’t in the Colorado Mountains this Labor Day weekend.
“Roma” makes it mark
Alfonso Cuarón already earned raves from Venice, but there were some questions how his Spanish-language epic would play with Academy members and on this side of the Atlantic. Needless to say, for those that saw it “Roma” was probably the hit of the festival. Now, Netflix is gunning for not only the Foreign Language Film Oscar, but a Best Picture (maybe), Best Director (likely) and Best Actress (Yalitza Aparicio, possible), among a number of below the line categories. The streaming service has got something on their hands for sure.
Nicole Kidman is the Queen of Telluride
Not only was Kidman the best thing about “Boy Erased,” but she was incredible in “Destroyer.” The Oscar winner may find herself with both Supporting Actress and Lead Actress nominations. She’d be the first actor to do that since Cate Blanchett in 2008.
“Cold War” gets overshadowed
For a festival that’s as competitive with people’s time as Telluride it pays to have talent on hand. An actor or director appearing at one Q&A or event can convince the right festival goers to attend and spread the good word. Without breakout star Joanna Kulig or director Paweł Pawlikowski in attendance “Cold War” got a bit lost. It’s still playing TIFF and NYFF, but did key Academy members miss out one one of the best movies playing the fest? Color us concerned.
Hugh Jackman keeps “The Front Runner” in discussion
Sometimes there are movies that play a festival and it’s clear no matter what their reception they’ll find a better reception back in LA. That seems on target for a political drama that just announced it’s opening on Election Day, Nov. 2. Gary Hart‘s political downfall is something most Academy members over 50 remember and how it was part of today’s political discourse should resonate with them. It also features a great performance by Hugh Jackman and is an absolute contender for a SAG ensemble nomination.
“The Favourite” wins Academy members support
I’m not saying Yorgis Lanthimos latest creation was the, um, favorite movie of an Academy board member in Telluride, but I’m not not saying it either. Searchlight’s most pressing issue is actually sorting out the Best Actress and Supporting Actress categories which still isn’t clear after screening the picture. That being said, Olivia Colman might be the odds on, um, favorite (this is going to be a thing all season isn’t it?) to win Best Supporting Actress if that’s what she campaigns for.
“First Man” wows
Damien Chazelle’s latest follows Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) through his years at NASA up to and including his historic walk on the surface of the moon. It’s often a stunning technical achievement and features a superb performance by Claire Foy as Armstrong’s then-wife, Janet. It was also a tearjerker for many (especially if you have kids, a trend I think this Telluride). The Oct. 12 release should be a hit for Universal and, at this point, is a surefire Best Picture nominee.
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” is the festival narrative surprise
The trailer for Marielle Heller‘s sophomore effort isn’t bad, but it doesn’t necessarily capture the tone of Lee Israel‘s story. Heller has fashioned a funny and emotional picture that has you unexpectedly rooting for a heroine who really isn’t one. And then there is star Melissa McCarthy who is so good she’s now part of a growing number of Best Actress contenders battling over just five slots (imagine if they allowed the categories to expand to seven). Is “Can You” a Best Picture player? Unclear, but if more and more other contenders fall by the wayside it absolutely has a shot.
“Boy Erased” gets tears
This pundit has major problems with Joel Edgerton’s latest (and I wasn’t the only one), but no one can deny many were moved by the film adaptation of Garrad Conley‘s memoir. At the moment, the film’s major contender is the aforementioned Kidman and Lucas Hedges has a shot depending on how the Best Actor field plays out. Focus’ Best Picture play at the moment is “BlacKkKlansman” (and it better get in), but they clearly and smartly won’t give up on “Erased” anytime soon.
“Free Solo,” “Watergate” and “The Biggest Little Farm” are the doc winners
Every few Telluride’s there is a documentary or two that has everyone buzzing. This year there were three. The first was Charles Ferguson’s “Watergate: Or, How We Learned to Stop an Out-of-Control President.” The four-hour chronicling of Richard Nixon’s downfall will hit theaters in NY and LA in October for an Oscar qualifying run and then air on HISTORY on Nov. 2. “Free Solo” follows Alex Honnold as he climbed Yosemite’s 3,000ft high El Capitan Wall, deemed “the greatest feat in rock climbing history.” Honnold was on hand and was one of the hits of the festival charming audiences in one Q&A after another. NatGeo will release it in theaters this fall. Lastly, John Chester’s “The Biggest Little Farm” was so under the radar it doesn’t even have an IMDB page. The self-made doc chronicles how Chester and his wife spent eight years bringing a dilapidated farm outside LA to life. Out of all three docs it was the one that surprised audiences the most (and it’s also playing at TIFF).