Checking In On The Buzz Out Of Telluride And Venice
It’s fall film festival time! Yes, the next few days will see a deluge of raves and pans hit for many of the 2019 Oscar hopefuls. For the past 48 hours or so, the Venice Film Festival has been putting forth a few Academy Award contenders like Ad Astra and especially Marriage Story. Yesterday, the Telluride Film Festival got underway with titles like Ford v Ferrari, Judy, Uncut Gems, and Waves. Today, Joker screened at Venice, while Telluride got The Two Popes. Suffice to say, it’s a busy time. Here, we’ll try and share some of the reactions to a number of titles, giving you sense of what’s going on at the fests.
*Be sure to check back as this post is updated throughout the day with further reactions*
Below is a look at some of what is getting the most buzz at Telluride and Venice…
First up, some of the raves for Marriage Story, which played both festivals:
"#MarriageStory is the Noah Baumbach movie we’ve been waiting for. It’s better than good; it’s more than just accomplished… This, at long last, is Baumbach’s breakthrough into the dramatic stratosphere" https://t.co/uqCeUmbDoF pic.twitter.com/9KhxSFanQo
— Variety (@Variety) August 29, 2019
Baumbach!! Baumbach!! Baumbach!! Baumbach!!!!!!!!!! There are two amazing scenes in Marriage Story that I wanted to give an instant standing ovation to. God WHAT A FILM. What a film.
— Alex Billington @ Venice (@firstshowing) August 29, 2019
World premiere at Venice: MARRIAGE STORY is a knockout. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson marvelous in Noah Baumbach’s fully felt chronicle of a long-distance breakup and the child in the middle. Plus Driver performs a tip-top rendition of Sondheim’s “Being Alive.” #Venezia76
— Michael Phillips (@phillipstribune) August 29, 2019
I’m biased but MARRIAGE STORY is Noah Baumbach’s best film. Full stop. Deeply human story, rich and refined visual language, perfect performances across the board — I keep swooning. I’ve spent quite some time with the film already and I look forward to going back again and again.
— Kris Tapley (@kristapley) August 29, 2019
From Venice: When movie-star faces show suffering, it can hit hard. Why Johansson & Driver are so terrific in MARRIAGE STORY: https://t.co/At0dQoUs5C
— Stephanie Zacharek (@szacharek) August 30, 2019
Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver's emotional new film #MarriageStory debuted at the #VeniceFilmFestival. Read the review: https://t.co/D0juhHFyJ4
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 30, 2019
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Next, we have some of the takes on Ad Astra:
Brad Pitt toplines director James Gray's first foray into science fiction, #AdAstra. Read the review: https://t.co/FXz26srEMN
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 29, 2019
AD ASTRA is incredible.
my #Venezia76 review: https://t.co/4nsABAbzVi pic.twitter.com/EP7G8lX6gg
— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) August 29, 2019
Well worth the wait. Ad Astra is glorious. An awe-inspiring, magnificent journey through space. As a big time space geek, it ticks every last box. Sensational.
— Alex Billington @ Venice (@firstshowing) August 29, 2019
From Venice: As some of you know, I'm a total James Gray nut. It took a while, but AD ASTRA finally got me. https://t.co/uwsuZwKKzm
— Stephanie Zacharek (@szacharek) August 30, 2019
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Ford v Ferrari is another one to have been recently revealed, with Telluride audiences chiming in last night:
Telluride: Fest opener FORD V. FERRARI is a long, intense, well-acted thriller. Bale, to me, is the standout, but Damon is also great, as always. Good cinematography/score, too. Not sure it’s in the Academy’s lane — more on that in a bit — but I’d imagine it will make money.
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) August 30, 2019
FORD V FERRARI is pure excellence. Classic, robust filmmaking. Emotional in hard-earned ways. I’ll watch it over and over again forever. It’s @mang0ld’s finest hour and a hell of a way to start Telluride this year.
— Kris Tapley (@kristapley) August 30, 2019
Exhilarating in construction. Suspenseful in execution. Captivating in its performances. 'Ford v Ferrari' is impeccable & commanding. Crowdpleasing and structurally sound. Bale, Damon, Letts, & the entire cast are dynamite. Big contender for SAG Ensemble. #TellurideFilmFesitival pic.twitter.com/1kzwQCvFdd
— Clayton Davis (@AwardsCircuit) August 30, 2019
Christian Bale emulates his Oscar winning role as Dicky from "The Fighter." Lead role. Definitely a contender for nom. Damon brings it home in the end but struggles early. Noah Jupe is surprisingly great. Letts is a force, demanding attention #fordvferrari #TellurideFilmFestival pic.twitter.com/rRc869oALn
— Clayton Davis (@AwardsCircuit) August 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/MarkLikesMovies/status/1167574972128096256
saw and loved Ford v Ferrari, a story I already knew well that still felt gripping and tense. visceral, poignant, beautiful to look at. Christian Bale's performance is (unsurprisingly) exceptional. I don't think I've ever seen racing look – or sound – so good in a movie before.
— priscilla page (@BBW_BFF) August 31, 2019
FORD v FERRARI is every bit as thrilling and suspenseful as you’d expect. Great performances all around too but Christian Bale wins this race. #fordvferrari #TellurideFilmFestival
— Erik Anderson @ Telluride Film Festival (@awards_watch) August 30, 2019
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Could Judy be a player for Renee Zelwegger? Telluride seems to think so:
Renee Zellweger digs and digs deep with her interpretation of an icon. Her performance in 'Judy' is so profound, with every acting job taken in her career, leading to this moment in history. A true revelation of the cinematic senses. In awe. #TellurideFilmFestival #JudyTheFilm pic.twitter.com/z6Z8WHBeO5
— Clayton Davis (@AwardsCircuit) August 31, 2019
Telluride: I’ve gotta tell you, I don’t think Renee Zellweger could have possibly been better as Judy Garland than she is in JUDY. Career-best work! The movie is fine, but, like MY WEEK WITH MARILYN and FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL, the performance is the reason to show up!
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) August 31, 2019
#ReneeZellweger IS Judy Garland. And the audience was in tears at the end of the movie. What Hollywood did to Judy, it’s believable but unbelievable. #judythefilm
— Marc Malkin (@marcmalkin) August 31, 2019
Renée Zellweger gives a jaw-dropping portrayal in a sometimes choppy, sometimes brilliant film. Her volcanic, tour-de-force performance is one for the ages, and is absolutely worthy of a second Oscar. #judymovies #tff46 #TellurideFilmFestival #ReneeZellweger #judygarland
— Mark Johnson 🎬 (@MarkLikesMovies) August 31, 2019
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Uncut Gems bowed at Telluride, hoping to launch Adam Sandler into the thick of the Oscar race:
UNCUT GEMS is a total blast, wild and visionary but grounded in an Adam Sandler performance that feels like a culmination of all of them: https://t.co/yyibgTRd9i #Telluride
— erickohn (@erickohn) August 31, 2019
https://twitter.com/YrOnlyHope/status/1167691890143178754
UNCUT GEMS is gonna strongly divide people, just like the Safdies’ last film, GOOD TIME. I was entertained. Think TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE meets A SERIOUS MAN… with Adam Sandler as the poor schmuck at the center of it all!
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) August 31, 2019
Got to see UNCUT GEMS a couple weeks ago on the condition that I not say anything until the Telluride premiere. It’s as good as you’ve heard. I expect there will be a backlash/pushback to the festival raves and then a backlash to the backlash, etc. It’s that kind of movie. 1/x
— MZS (@mattzollerseitz) August 31, 2019
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Looking for a surprise during the fall festival season? Waves could be it:
Telluride Film Review: ‘Waves’ https://t.co/9z18XJB5gz
— Variety (@Variety) August 31, 2019
WAVES: One of the most meaningful movies I’ve seen in years. Too special for a stupid tweet.
— Sean Fennessey (@SeanFennessey) August 31, 2019
WAVES is an absolute knockout from Trey Edward Shults who has ascended to a whole new level as a filmmaker & storyteller. Powerhouse performances from the entire cast. One of the greatest explorations of humanity & toxic masculinity’s impact on broken homes & lives I’ve ever seen
— Matt Neglia @Telluride (@NextBestPicture) August 31, 2019
'Waves': film review | Telluride 2019 https://t.co/OaM7NONYST pic.twitter.com/YbhJuggFRM
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 31, 2019
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Telluride just unveiled the first responses to The Two Popes:
Best script of the year from Anthony McCarten. Best performance of the year from Jonathan Pryce. Very well could be my favorite film of the year. 'The Two Popes' is astonishing and a masterclass of acting and filmmaking. #TellurideFilmFestival #Oscars pic.twitter.com/sxDWkIdTOd
— Clayton Davis (@AwardsCircuit) August 31, 2019
Two Popes is really a masterwork. Pryce is sensational. Hopkins is excellent. But the writing and directing are the heroes here.
— David Poland (@DavidPoland) August 31, 2019
THE TWO POPES is surprisingly funnier than you would think with two dynamic, enjoyable and yes, maybe even holy performances from two legendary actors: Jonathan Pryce & Anthony Hopkins. They discuss forgiveness, reform, eat pizza & dance tango. Bless them! #Telluride #FilmTwitter
— Matt Neglia @Telluride (@NextBestPicture) August 31, 2019
https://twitter.com/MarkLikesMovies/status/1167910733851451395
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Finally, Venice premiered Joker, Academy Award contender or pretender? See below:
Joaquin Phoenix is astonishing in 'Joker,' and the movie is a hypnotically perverse, ghoulishly gripping knockout. My review from Venice: https://t.co/0xCVGmcSmk
— Owen Gleiberman (@OwenGleiberman) August 31, 2019
There will be before Joker. And there will be after Joker. I don't know if the world is ready for this movie. Or maybe it is? It is GNARLY. It is crazy. It is audacious. It doesn't hold back. Wow. I can't believe it exists. But it does. And it's coming.
— Alex Billington @ Venice (@firstshowing) August 31, 2019
JOKER is a bold, bodacious love letter to Scorsese's #TheKingOfComedy, told through the lens of DC's most iconic villain. Dark, disturbing, brutal & sad, it's about an abused man who doesn't start living until he's dead inside. Joaquin Phoenix is so damn good#JokerMovie pic.twitter.com/WCk1Ya4FFG
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) August 31, 2019
I now understand why @wbpictures decided to play the #JokerMovie in Venice and #TIFF. 'Joker' is a great movie. It just so happens to be a comic book movie. #JoaquinPhoenix will absolutely get nominated for an Oscar and the film has a real chance at end of the year awards. pic.twitter.com/0KGyvWZrfi
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) August 31, 2019
"This is Phoenix's film, and he inhabits it with an insanity by turns pitiful and fearsome in an out-there performance that's no laughing matter." Read the review of #Joker: https://t.co/o4KiFgmH8n
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 31, 2019
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It looks like Telluride and Venice are offering up a ton of interesting titles. More movies will be screening over the next few days, so just keep that in mind. This is only the start of the buzz. Sit tight for plenty more to come…
Stay tuned to see how all of these films do throughout the season!
