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David Poland

By David Poland poland@moviecitynews.com

6 Weeks To TIFF: a 20 weeks to oscar prequel (part 1 of 3)

I’ve been keeping my head in the sand. But August is here and I can feel the hot breath of Telluride & Toronto on my neck.

So before diving into a full Oscar column and 1st set of charts, a quick look at 15 titles that will be coming to TIFF without US distribution, but will be getting a LOT of attention nonetheless. About 2/3 of them arrive with a good amount of Oscar pedigree, if an American distributor is willing to take the leap. The fact that they have not already been snapped up suggests that there may not be a Best Picture candidate in the group, but you never know. And there are potential acting nominations all over these things.

Of course, the issue of quality is always floating out there. In the weeks to come, I will get a better sense of which films have been seen and passed on by which US distributors. But all it really takes to get a movie rolling forward these days is one big wave of media love.

First, the HIGH profile titles that are not likely to be on Oscar charts this year… but which will draw a lot of buzz and could find buyers. (alphabetical order)


Chicken With Plums – The next film from Persepolis co-/directors Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud. It’s another adaptation of another of Satrai’s graphic novels, though this time, it’s a stylized live-action film, starring the great Matthieu Amalric and Isabella Rossellini.


Dark Horse – After not making a movie for 5 years, Todd Solondz now is putting out his second film in 2 years. (He was already shooting this one when Life During Wartime came out.) Selma Blair is back working with Solondz and he promises an odd romance. This filmmaker has lovers and haters… and both will be anxious to check out what he’s come up with this time.


Friends With Kids – Jennifer Westfeldt is famously the writer and star of a hot indie film, Kissing Jessica Stein. She also became Jon Hamm’s significant other. She brings her years of experience, her husband, and a lot of friends to her first directorial effort. She also benefits from having The Next Kristen Wiig Film. Shot on a shoestring, Westfeldt wrapped the movie in February and has pushed to get it ready for Toronto.
(EDITED, 5:18p for marital status.)


The Oranges – Dark-tinged unsold sex comedies with celebrities are always something to fear at a film festival. Last year, it was The Joneses. This year, it’s Hugh Laurie, Leighton Meester, Alison Janney, Oliver Platt, and Catherine Keener coming to town with The Oranges. The director is a TV guy. The writers are newbies. The story? Neighbor dad gets it on with Next Door Neighbor Daughter… hilarity ensues. Smells like a phenom or phenomenally bad.


Trishna – Michael Winterbottom does a modern take on Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles, which you may remember, was the Polanski film (Tess) that launched his then-girlfriend, teenager Natassia Kinski. Gemma Arterton also got the Tess treatment in a UK mini-series. And now, Frieda Pinto, directed by the man who made 9 Songs. Men in raincoats will be lining up to check it out. Who knows whether Winterbottom will go the full Pinto, but the film will also draw a lot of attention from the romance-loving ladies of Toronto. Everyone will be hoping for a happier turn for Ms Pinto in this year’s film with her character’s first name as the title.

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8 Responses to “6 Weeks To TIFF: a 20 weeks to oscar prequel (part 1 of 3)”

  1. Peter says:

    Winterbottom take on Hardy once again. I am really looking forward to that one. Absolutely loved Jude.

  2. LexG says:

    Love Selma Blair. She definitely has a Jolie Pass in my book.

  3. Hallick says:

    Selma Blair and Asia Argento have the sexiest under-eye bags I’ll ever see. I’m not even kidding.

  4. Steven Kaye says:

    “This filmmaker has lovers and haters”

    And they’re vastly outnumbered by the utterly indifferent.

  5. Hallick says:

    “And now, Frieda Pinto, directed by the man who made 9 Songs. Men in raincoats will be lining up to check it out. Who knows whether Winterbottom will go the full Pinto, but the film will also draw a lot of attention from the romance-loving ladies of Toronto.”

    Wow…you just made the man who directed “Jude”, “The Claim” and “A Mighty Heart” sound like Russ Meyer or Tinto Brass.

  6. Nancy says:

    People, it’s HUGH LAURIE!!!!!
    What on Earth more do you want!!!!

  7. J says:

    Is ‘The Oranges’ about an affair between the Laurie and Meester characters? ‘House’ had a couple episodes that dangled her as jailbait in front of his character. She’s definitely good at making goo-goo eyes at him, at least.

  8. Not David Bordwell says:

    I am super glad I’m not the only one who finds that still of Selma Blair totally hot.

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