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Telluride Film Festival Titles Include Frank Marshall’s Bee Gees Doc Plus Awards to Anthony Hopkins, Kate Winslet, Chloé Zhao

Roger Friedman
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Telluride Film Festival Titles Include Frank Marshall’s Bee Gees Doc Plus Awards to Anthony Hopkins, Kate Winslet, Chloé Zhao

The Telluride Film Festival has released a terrific list even if they’re not actually having the festival. I’m really looking forward to Frank Marshall’s Bee Gees doc. What follows each title are ways to see the films.

THE SHOW

AFTER LOVE (dir. Aleem Khan, UK, 89 min)

ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY (dir. Liz Garbus, Lisa Cortés, USA, 102 min)

How to watch: In select theaters Sept. 9, available to stream on Amazon Prime Video Sept. 18

THE ALPINIST (dir. Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen, USA, 92 min)

How to watch: Follow @redbulldocs for screening updates

AMMONITE (dir. Francis Lee, UK, 117 min)

How to watch: Toronto International Film Festival (Sept. 10-19)

ANDREY TARKOVSKY. A CINEMA PRAYER (dir. Andrey A. Tarkovsky, Italy-Russian Federation-Sweden, 97 min)

APPLES (dir. Christos Nikou, Greece-Poland-Slovenia, 90 min)

How to watch: Venice Film Festival (Sept. 2-12)

THE AUTOMAT (dir. Lisa Hurwitz, USA, 79 min)

How to watch: follow at Facebook.com/THEAUTOMATthemovie for screening updates

THE BEE GEES: HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART (dir. Frank Marshall, USA, 111 min)

CHARLATAN (dir. Agnieszka Holland, Czech Republic-Ireland-Poland-Slovakia, 118 min)

How to watch: screening at the now in-progress Transilvania International Film Festival

CONCRETE COWBOY (dir. Ricky Staub, USA, 111 min)

How to watch: Toronto International Film Festival (Sept. 10-19)

DEAR MR. BRODY (dir. Keith Maitland, USA, 97 min)

THE DUKE (dir. Roger Michell, UK, 96 min)

How to watch: Venice Film Festival (Sept. 2-12), theatrical release Spring 2021

THE FATHER (dir. Florian Zeller, UK-France, 97 min)

How to watch: Toronto International Film Festival (Sept. 10-19)

FIREBALL: VISITORS FROM DARKER WORLDS (dir. Werner Herzog, Clive Oppenheimer, UK-USA, 97 min)

How to watch: Toronto International Film Festival (Sept. 10-19), Stream on Apple+ (date TBD)

IBRAHIM (dir. Samir Guesmi, France, 84 min)

How to watch: French release Dec. 9

MAINSTREAM (dir. Gia Coppola, USA, 94 min)

How to watch: Venice Film Festival (Sept. 2-12)

MANDIBULES (dir. Quentin Dupieux, France, 77 min)

How to watch: Venice Film Festival (Sept. 2-12), French release Dec. 2

MLK/FBI (dir. Sam Pollard, USA, 104 min)

How to watch: Toronto International Film Festival (Sept. 10-19)

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOY IN THE WORLD (dir. Kristina Lindström, Kristian Petri, Sweden, 93 min)

NEVER GONNA SNOW AGAIN (dir. Małgorzata Szumowska, co-dir. Michał Englert, Poland-Germany, 113 min)

How to watch: Venice Film Festival (Sept. 2-12)

NOMADLAND (dir. Chloé Zhao, USA, 108 min)

How to watch: Venice Film Festival (Sept. 2-12), Toronto International Film Festival (Sept. 10-19), Telluride From Los Angeles Drive-In Screening (Sept. 11), New York Film Festival (Sept. 25-Oct. 11), theatrical release Fall 2020

NOTTURNO (dir. Gianfranco Rosi, Italy-France-Germany, 100 min)

How to watch: Venice Film Festival (Sept. 2-12), Toronto International Film Festival (Sept. 10-19)

PRAY AWAY (dir. Kristine Stolakis, USA, 101 min)

THERE IS NO EVIL (dir. Mohammad Rasoulof, Germany-Iran, 152 min)

How to watch: theatrical and virtual release at www.KinoMarquee.com by end of 2020

TO THE MOON (dir. Tadhg O’Sullivan, Ireland, 76 min)

How to watch: Venice Days Film Festival (Sept. 2-12)

TORN (dir. Max Lowe, USA, 92 min)

THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS (dir. Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw, Italy-USA-Greece, 84 min)

TRUMAN & TENNESSEE: AN INTIMATE CONVERSATION (dir. Lisa Immordino Vreeland, USA, 86 min)

THE WAY I SEE IT (dir. Dawn Porter, USA, 100 min)

“Despite everything, 2020 has turned out to be another incredibly strong year for film,” said Huntsinger. “We were able to consider everything we’d hoped to. We love this program and the way it reflects this fascinating moment in domestic and international cinema, as well as life.”

SILVER MEDALLION AWARDS

The honorees chosen for the 2020 Silver Medallion Awards, which recognize artists’ significant contributions to the world of cinema, are Academy Award-winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins (THE FATHER), Academy Award-winning actress Kate Winslet (AMMONITE), and critically acclaimed director, screenwriter and producer Chloé Zhao(NOMADLAND).

Telluride Film Festival’s shorts program includes a long shorts program; Student Prints, curated by Academy Award nominated writer, director, producer Gregory Nava; Calling Cards; and Great Expectations, both curated by Academy Award-winning writer, director, producer Barry Jenkins.

LONG SHORTS

THE LETTER ROOM (dir. Elvira Lind, USA, 32 min)

How to watch: coming soon to topic.com

LINDA AND THE MOCKINGBIRDS (dir. James Keach, USA, 40 min)

How to watch: visit https://www.lindaandthemockingbirds.com for film updates

PAWS IN PRISON (dir. Bill Guttentag, USA, 31 min)

THE TOXIC PIGS OF FUKUSHIMA (dir. Otto Bell, Japan-USA, 35 min)

How to watch: Rhode Island International Film Festival (Aug. 4-9), Docs Without Borders Film Festival

WHEN WE WERE BULLIES (dir. Jay Rosenblatt, USA, 36 min)

How to watch: visit https://www.jayrosenblattfilms.com for film updates

STUDENT PRINTS

BORDER (dir. Shu Zhu, Ino Yang Popper, AFI, USA, 4 min)

How to watch: stream at https://www.inoyangpopper.com/work/border

FOREVER (dir. Mitch McGlocklin, USC, USA, 7 min)

How to watch: visit www.mitch.cool for film updates

METAMORPHOSIS (dir. Xi Wang, USC, USA, 4 min)

How to watch: visit https://www.jakexwang.com/metamorphosis for film updates

PEEPS (dir. Sophie Somerville, Victorian College of the Arts, Australia, 17 min)

How to watch: screen at sophiesomerville.com/peeps

SILENTO (dir. Esteban García Vernaza, Columbia University, Colombia, 11 min)

How to watch: will screen online at the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival (Aug. 27-Sept. 6)

SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN (dir. Fany de la Chica, Columbia University, Spain, 13 min)

How to watch: screen at https://vimeo.com/302953733/271561fba8

UNDER THE HEAVENS (SEIVA BRUTA) (dir. Gustavo Milan, NYU, Brazil, 17 min)

How to watch: Rhode Island International Film Festival (Aug. 4-9), RIIFF virtual screening at http://www.film-festival.org (Aug. 4-16), screen at www.nanuchafilms.com

VIKTOR ON THE MOON (dir. Christian Arhoff, National Film School of Denmark, Denmark, 28 min)

“The Student Prints program is always exciting and surprising, discovering the fresh new voices in cinema today,” said Academy Award-nominated writer, director, producer Gregory Nava. “This year’s program features diverse filmmakers from around the globe. From the heartbreaking story of a Venezuelan refugee, to a surreal trip by Australian schoolgirls at a shopping mall, to the harrowing story of two young indigenous sisters escaping violence in Colombia, to a delightful comedy of a chubby, shy, nerd seeking some kind of human connection in modern-day Denmark, these films are dramatic, humorous, poignant and moving, showing that the future of cinema is in good hands.”

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

DA YIE (dir. Anthony Nti, Belgium-Ghana, 20 min)

How to watch: Brussels Short Film Festival (Sept. 2-12), Off-Courts Trouville (Sept. 4-12), DC Shorts Film Festival (Sept. 10-23), Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (Sept. 16-27), screen online https://vimeo.com/ondemand/dayieshortfilm

GRAMERCY (dir. Jamil McGinnis, Pat Heywood, USA, 23 min)

How to watch: will screen online at the Locarno Film Festival (Aug. 9-15)

UNFORGIVABLE (dir. Marlén Viñayo, El Salvador, 36 min)

How to watch: DMZ Docs (Sept. 17-24)

CALLING CARDS

BENJAMIN, BENNY, BEN (dir. Paul Shkordoff, Canada, 7 min)

BITTU (dir. Karishma Dev Dube, India-USA, 17 min)

How to watch: Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (Sept. 16-27), visit https://www.facebook.com/bittushortfilm/ for film updates

COMMUNITY GARDENS (dir. Vytautas Katkus, Lithuania, 15 min)

How to watch: La Guarimba Film Festival (Aug. 7-12), Minikino Film Week (Sept. 4-12), visit https://www.lightsonfilm.com/communitygardens.html for film updates

DAVID (dir. Zachary Woods, USA, 11 min)

I, JULIA (dir. Arvin Kananian, Sweden, 14 min)

LEAVE OF ABSENCE (dir. Anton Sazonov, Russian Federation, 12 min)

How to watch: visit antonsazonov.com for film updates

THE LOST ASTRONAUT (dir. Ben Proudfoot, USA, 13 min)

How to watch: screen at https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000006865864/almost-famous-the-lost-astronaut.html

“Despite the fog of madness that’s pervaded the lives of everyone inhabiting this spinning rock we call home, this year’s Filmmakers of Tomorrow program is proof positive that both life and The Show will indeed go on,” said Academy Award-winning writer, director, producer Barry Jenkins. “Spanning numerous continents and forms and stylings, the group of shorts submitted to this year’s festival was just as fine as ever and, to my delight, incredibly representative of the madness swirling in this most radical of times. As we move forward from the ashes of upheaval with a renewed focus on the shared experiences that unite us, this fantastic group of shorts illustrates that the ‘empathy machine of cinema’ is alive and well.”

Song of the Summer: Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar,” Released in December 2019, Finally Hits Number 1 on iTunes

Roger Friedman
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Song of the Summer: Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar,” Released in December 2019, Finally Hits Number 1 on iTunes

Congrats to Harry Styles! He’s got the official song of the summer. “Watermelon Sugar.”

Percolating for months, “Watermelon Sugar” has finally hit number 1 on iTunes. The single was released December 13, 2019 after debuting on his “Fine Line” album. The album is number 14 after spending a few weeks in the top 5 this summer.

“Sugar” is the second hit on the album after “Adore You,” which has hung in there even though it didn’t get to the top.

This is when you crown the Song of the Summer. It’s been there for months, it’s finally cresting, it’s everywhere, and people are saying, “You know, I like that song. Pass the iced tea.” Or margarita.

Harry wrote the song with Mitch Rowland, Tyler Johnson, and Thomas Tull. They took their inspiration from Richard Brautigan’s post-apocalyptic novel, “In Watermelon Sugar.” These guys have really studied 1969 closely.

So how did this happen? I mean, besides the hard work of the Sony-Columbia radio people who stuck with the idea of making Harry a superstar? Was it just the association of summer, watermelon, and so on? Maybe.

But also, “Watermelon Sugar” is a throw back to 1969 pure pop, like the Archies’ “Sugar Sugar.” It’s short and concise and ever so catchy.

And get this: the video has 75 million plays on YouTube.


 

 

Happy Birthday Tony Bennett, 94 Years Young Today: Thank You for Flying Us to the Moon

Roger Friedman
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Happy Birthday Tony Bennett, 94 Years Young Today: Thank You for Flying Us to the Moon

Can it really be four years since Tony Bennett’s 90th birthday dinner at the Rainbow Room? No one who was there has gotten over it!

Today we wish Tony a happy 94th! You can see from his Twitter feed he’s been painting and cooking, and enjoying his quarantine. You know that if things were normal, Tony would be on the road this week, singing his heart out.

I’m looking forward to next year at Radio City, where Mr. Bennett will undoubtedly knock us over for his 95th turn around the planet.

One of my fond memories of Tony and his wife Susan was from a post Emmy Awards party — he’d just won some Emmys, of course — at Disney Hall in Los Angeles. There was a big buffet, and lots of tables. But there were Tony and Susan, eating off paper plates sitting on a visitor’s bench, while thousands of regular people had been catered to. No preening or fawning for Tony Bennett. When I asked if they needed help, Tony just waved at me. “We’re good!”

One of the great things about the last three decades is the rediscovery and revival of Tony’s career. I guess it’s true that nice guys finish last. And we never want him to finish. He survived the Beatles, and 70s rock and disco, rap, punk, New Wave, modern technology. He embraced new artists like Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga with fervor.

And still there’s nothing like just listening to Tony’s buttery rich voice on its own, no duets, just him, flying us to the moon.

Happy Birthday, Tony! And thanks for all the gifts you’ve given us!

 

 

“Cocoon” Director Ron Howard Remembers Actor Wilford Brimley: “He asked me to throw out the script & let him improvise”

Roger Friedman
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“Cocoon” Director Ron Howard Remembers Actor Wilford Brimley: “He asked me to throw out the script & let him improvise”

Ron Howard’s 1985 film “Cocoon” is among his best and the very best of all films of the 20th century.

>When star Wilford Brimley died yesterday at age 85, Howard chimed in on Twitter with a reminiscence:

“RIP #WilfordBrimley We didn’t always see eye 2 eye but I owe this Cocoon scene to Wilford  while fishing w/the boy. I agreed & shot a few 3-camera set-ups & he was brilliant & honest youtu.be/7YBDiWnX5ig via

Howard, who gets along with everyone, that news was a bit of  a surprise. A Twitter responded and asked what exactly he meant. Howard replied:
“Wilford said the script was good but the scene could be better. He was right. He was a very inventive and thoughtful actor. His influence on the movie was wonderful”

Here’s the famous scene again. It made Brimley’s career:

 

James Corden Is NOT Taking Over Ellen DeGeneres’s Show, He’s Locked in to CBS For Two More Years

Roger Friedman
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James Corden Is NOT Taking Over Ellen DeGeneres’s Show, He’s Locked in to CBS For Two More Years

Everyone, please, calm down.

James Corden is not jumping from the CBS “Late Late Show” to take over Ellen DeGeneres’s spot on afternoon TV.

This was a beautifully trumped up story in a UK tabloid without a shred of fact or evidence. Nevertheless, it was repeated everywhere today by people too lazy to even think about how such a crazy thing would work.

Corden, first of all, is contracted to CBS for “The Late Late Show” for two more years. Solid years. Through August 2022. He can’t walk out of it just because of a gossip item.

Telepictures, Ellen’s producer and employer, can’t just will Corden to their payroll. And if Ellen’s show ends now or at the end of this season, they can’t wait to see who’s available. They have to start developing a replacement show now.

More importantly, Corden is locked into CBS with his producer, Ben Winston, and his Fulwell 73 Production company.  This year, Winston takes over producing the Grammy Awards for CBS. Corden has hosted in the past and may again. Corden is also tied to the Tony Awards through CBS, which he often hosts. CBS isn’t letting him leave so easily, and there’s no indication that he wants to exit anyway.

And then there’s the question of why– aside from more money–would Corden want to have a syndicated talk show instead of the “Late Late Show.” He’s a Tony winner himself. A few years ago he beat the formidable Philip Seymour Hoffman (in “Death of a Salesman”) for Best Actor in a Play, for hilarious turn in “One Man, Two Guvnors.”

Before the offer from CBS, there was talk of him starring on Broadway in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” He’s also had a movie career, starring in “Into the Woods” and — less favorably — “Cats.” Corden will be doing more film and Broadway in years to come.

And my guess is Ellen is staying for at least one more season. She’s going to make big mea culpa, change producers, and pull it together. She’s not going to throw out 17 seasons without a proper send off year and a big finale I’ll bet Brad Garrett and Lea Thompson are her first guests in September.

Wilford Brimley, Character Actor Who Conyeyed Old School Warmth, Star of “Cocoon,” Dies At Age 85

Roger Friedman
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Wilford Brimley, Character Actor Who Conyeyed Old School Warmth, Star of “Cocoon,” Dies At Age 85

When Ron Howard’s great movie, “Cocoon” was a massive hit in 1985, Wilford Brimley seemed like he was 85 years old. He was just 50, but the gang he was with– including Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Don Ameche– they were all at least 20 years his senior then. But Brimley was such a breakout star in “Cocoon”– after almost 20 years of lowkey terrific performances in good movies and bad TV shows–that everyone thought of him as a grandpa. And he made it work like crazy.

Wilford Brimley, RIP, age 85. He died today in Utah after an illness. Condolences to his family.

Brimley’s mid life rise to stardom is ironic because “Cocoon” about not ignoring older people. And after that, he would not be ignored. After “Cocoon,” it seemed like he was everywhere— TV, movies, commercials, you name it. But he was always a welcome presence.

If “The Ellen Show” Is Over, What About “Ellen’s Game of Games,” All the Merch, the Brand, Telepictures?

Roger Friedman
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If “The Ellen Show” Is Over, What About “Ellen’s Game of Games,” All the Merch, the Brand, Telepictures?

I’m getting calls all day and night about Ellen DeGeneres. Either she wants off her 17 year old talk show now, or Warner Media, which owns Telepictures, wants her out, or there’s some combination of those stories.

But what about the rest of Ellen’s empire? And what about Telepictures?

First, Ellen: Telepictures produces her “Game of Games” shows for NBC. It’s a big hit, terrific ratings. But the same producers now accused of all sorts of malfeasance also produce that show. They’ve only done 38 episodes over three years, but NBC uses it as a loss leader.

If DeGeneres and Telepictures are coming to a split, it may well include this show as well. Realistically, they can’t make that show with people they’ve just fired from the main show. Maybe NBC can save it and hire a new host. They’ve already got Jane Lynch doing the “Hollywood Game Night.” Isn’t this where they call Tiffany Haddish?

If “Ellen” goes, so goes her website and all the merchandise. The party would really be over. The site is hosted on Telepictures’ site as “Ellen Tube.” But if the Tube is corked, DeGeneres will have to call Jay Leno to find out how to completely reinvent her business.  And it’s a big business that’s been going on for 17 years.

Telepictures: they are a tried and true producer of reality and talk shows. They have TMZ, The People’s Court, Judge Mathis. The Real, and Extra. If Ellen is over, they have no talk show for the first time in eons. Their last really big talk hit was Rosie O’Donnell’s original show, which ended in 2002, the year before “Ellen” started.

Before that they’d had many non starters, shows than ran one season in syndication. Queen Latifah, Bonnie Hunt, Sharon Osbourne, Caroline Rhea all made a fun for it and failed with Telepictures. Remember Maureen O’Boyle? Telepictures also had a major issue with Jenny Jones, whose show was the subject of a famous lawsuit after a gay man revealed a crush on a co-worker, then that guy went home and killed the guest. “The Jenny Jones Show” never got over the scandal.

New talk shows and hosts are very difficult to develop into hits. This year was a rarity with Kelly Clarkson and Tamron Hall breaking out big time. But there are plenty of dead bodies that preceded them. Drew Barrymore is coming. But if you think Ellen is difficult to work with, just hold on. Even if her bff producing partner Nancy Juvonen has her on a short leash, Barrymore’s launch will be a revolving door. She is not easy, despite her cream puff persona. And the EP already assigned to her has presided over many failed shows already. So we’ll walk a thin line on that one.

 

 

Watch Ellen DeGeneres’s Beginning of the End When Dakota Johnson Destroyed Her On Air Last November

Roger Friedman
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Watch Ellen DeGeneres’s Beginning of the End When Dakota Johnson Destroyed Her On Air Last November

The beginning of the end for Ellen DeGeneres came last November. The executioner was Dakota Johnson. She said Ellen had been invited to her birthday and didn’t come. She said to Ellen, live on the air, “I didn’t think you even liked me” and expressed surprised Ellen would even want to be invited.

Ellen looked startled and combative. When she questioned Dakota’s statements, Johnson insisted he had been invited. “Ask anybody,” Dakota says, gesturing to a staff that Ellen either doesn’t know or doesn’t listen to.

Extraordinary. Go, Dakota!

A Delighted Looking Adele is Basically Unrecognizable in New Photo Showing Off New Head While Celebrating Beyonce Video

Roger Friedman
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A Delighted Looking Adele is Basically Unrecognizable in New Photo Showing Off New Head While Celebrating Beyonce Video

Um, this is Adele. She posted it to her Instagram account. She’s celebrating a new Beyonce video by dressing up in a similar outfit to the dancers.

Only, it appears that Adele has a whole new head. She looks nothing like herself, but she is smiling so she’s happy with whatever she’s done.

I’m so confused. The ballsy tell-it-like-it-is singer seemed so confident in her own skin. But evidently not. She wanted a change, a complete makeover.

Meantime, she hasn’t released a new record in four and a half years.

Sean Penn, Almost 60, Marries Vincent D’Onofrio’s 28 Year Old Daughter, His Kids Are 29 and 27 So She Fits Right In

Roger Friedman
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0
Sean Penn, Almost 60, Marries Vincent D’Onofrio’s 28 Year Old Daughter, His Kids Are 29 and 27 So She Fits Right In

Congrats to Sean Penn. He’s taken his third wife. The 59 year old Oscar winner has married Leila D’Onofrio, the 28 year old daughter of actor Vincent D’Onofrio. I will not make a joke about “Criminal Intent.” Or “Law and Order.”

Penn has two children. Daughter Dylan is 29. Son Hopper will be 27 next week. So Leila will have a lot in common with them. That’s important because as Sean turns 60 on August 17th, I know from personal experience that naps are needed and so refreshing. The three young people can entertain each other.

In Hollywood, this sort of thing is the norm. Dennis Quaid just married a young woman– his third or fourth wife– who is about the same age as his son, Jack. I saw Dennis and his then fiancee backstage in 2019 at Willie Nelson tribute and he didn’t look so great. Having a young woman around can be a help and hindrance. At 66, Quaid is 39 years older than his wife, whose name doesn’t matter.

Sean has done incredible philanthropic things, especially with Haiti. He’s also got a long line of memorable acting credits including “Mystic River,” for which he won that Oscar.

How does D’Onofrio feel? He just turned 61 in June. Will he call Sean ‘dad’? How does Madonna feel? Sean’s first wife is 61 herself, almost 62. But her boyfriends are selected from foundling hospitals. So she will send Champagne.

PS Sean’s marriage was not announced in the New York Times, but by Hollywood seer Irena Medavoy, the great wife of beloved producer Mike Medavoy. She refers to Penn as “being like a son” to Medavoy, which is pretty nice. So there’s that.

 

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