Let's talk Telluride Film Fest and the Oscars

27 Feb Let's talk Telluride Film Fest and the Oscars

Gary Meyer, TFF 2010

What happens in Telluride does not necessarily stay in Telluride. Buzz from the Telluride Film Festival is one great example. And buzz from the Telluride Film Festival generally winds up on the stage of Hollywood's Kodak Theatre, the scene of the biggest glam slam on the winter season in Tinseltown. We are talking, of course, about the 83rd annual Academy Awards. The golden boy. Oscar.

The moment of truth is Sunday evening, February 27.

In one incarnation or another, we have covered the Telluride Film Festival every year since 1993. In every review, we have predicted which films, which actors, etc. should take home a statue. And we've rolled sevens almost every year.

In 2009, we said "Slumdog Millionaire" would sweep the Oscars. And it did. Paste this link into your browser if you are interested in exactly what we had to say: /2008/09/telluride-film.html.

But that was then. This is now. Now we are providing you with links to two reviews. The first is my review, enhanced by an interview with a patron, Katherine Stuart, who saw 15 films to my 7 or so. In that review and interview, we predicted the big winner will be "The King's Speech," including Colin Firth, Best Actor, Geoffrey Rush, Best Supporting Actor and David Seidler for the screenplay. We said Javier Bardem would get on Oscar nod, but his film "Biutiful" was overwrought: too many subplots. Katherine hands Natalie Portman the gold for her star turn in "Black Swan." (We missed the film.)

The second review out of the Telluride Film Festival was with none other than Telluride Film Festival co-director Gary Meyer. In his interview, Meyer also gives "King's Speech" the nod, and suggests "Inside Job," a clear-eyed account of our country's financial meltdown and nominated for Documentary (Feature) could walk away a winner.

I know, I know. That's what everyone else is saying. Who are not talking "True Grit" or "The Social Network," neither of which opened in Telluride. But they did not weigh in way back on September 10, 2010, before the films' general release.

I'm just sayin….

For my review (with help from Katherine), paste /2010/09/telluride-film-festival-37-ribbons-of-dreams-realized-stunning-performances.html#more into your browser. For Gary Meyer's look back over his shoulder, the link is /2010/09/the-last-word-on-telluride-film-festival-37-maybe.html.

Telluride Inside… and Out saw all five nominations in the Oscar's very strong documentary feature category. "Restrepo" is a powerful film, which makes a strong argument for the futility of war through the eyes of soldiers in the mouth of the dragon. "Gasland" and "Wasteland" both opened at the 32nd annual Mountainfilm in Telluride. "Gasland" is a black-hat (corporate interests)/white hat (everyone else) story about the pillaging of environment and the destruction of lives for the sake of the almighty dollar. "Wasteland is the ultimate caca to chocolate story about the world-renowned artist Vik Muniz, who journeys from his Brooklyn home to his native Brazil, where he befriends and photographs an eclectic band of "catadores" or pickers of recyclable materials.  (For details and a trailer, paste /2010/05/the-moment-when-one-thing-turns-into-another-is-the-most-beautiful-moment-vik-munizmountainfilm-in-telluride-selected-directo.html into your browser.) "Exit through the Gift Shop" was a Telluride Film Festival sneak peak last March, a gift from Meyer & Co. to Festival supporters and volunteers. The film about grafitti artists is quirky and funny, but not nearly as substantive as the others in the running.

Our instincts tell us the gold goes to "Inside Job." What's more top of mind these days than the bottom line?

Locally, the Telluride Academy is holding an Academy Awards party at the historic Sheridan Opera House. The benefit features Bruce Cohen, producer of the 83rd annual glam slam, who joins local Academy guests via a live broadcast from his Producer's Table at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.

Ties between Telluride and Hollywood run deep. The Telluride Film Festival tends to pick winners way ahead of the pack. Ahead of Toronto. Ahead of New York. Ahead of Berlin. Let's just see if the directors' streak continues.

Our bet? You read it here.