Telluride 2013 - Day Two

Guest post from Michael Patterson, at the Telluride Film Festival:

This is the eighth SHOW I’ve attended and I’ve had some wondrous experiences but Friday might take the cake.

I began the day with the tribute to Robert Redford which was wonderful.  An hour or so of clips which reminded me of so much great work that Redford has done and also made me want to re-watch some of my personal favorites: “All the President’s Men”, “A River Runs Through It” which he narrated and directed, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”…many others.  The clip reel was followed by an entertaining Q&A led by John Horn of the Los Angeles Times.

Following the tribute, I caught Penn and Teller’s documentary “Tim’s Vermeer”.  The film focuses on Texas inventor Tim Jenison and his search for a way to replicate the complex painting style of Johannes Vermeer.  Sounds pretty dull, but nope.  In fact, it’s the second most enthusiastic reception for a film I’ve seen this weekend.  Penn Jillette produced; Teller directed a film that ends up with an audience rooting for Tim to be successful.  The emotion was no doubt heightened by the presence of Mr. Jenison in the theater.

Then I caught J.C. Chador’s sophomore effort, the highly anticipated “All is Lost” starring Redford.  Redford plays “Our Man” a nameless guy who is sailing solo in the Indian Ocean.  Things go awry and quickly spiral out of control.  Soon “Our Man” is in desperate straits and all alone.  The man vs. the elements story is tight.  I wrote via Twitter “'All is Lost' is simple, spare, beautifully shot and Redford acts his ass off”.   It really may be the legend’s finest film performance…and with almost no dialogue.

I ended the day with sneak preview showing of Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave”.  McQueen as well as stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o and star/producer Brad Pitt were in attendance.  The film is incredible.  Following the film there came a standing ovation for the director and cast as they took the stage for a brief Q&A.  Reactions from across the board Friday night were effusive in praise for McQueen, the cast, John Ridley’s screenplay.  I tweeted “The Oscar race might be over.  Ejiofor, Fassbender and Nyong’o shine.  McQueen is genius.”

Other comments: Jeff Wells/Hollywood Elsewhere called it “Masterful, tender and eloquent”.  Eric Kohn/IndieWire called it “maybe the best movie about slavery ever”.  Alex Billington/FirstShowing said, “A profound cinematic achievement on every level”.  Greg Ellwood/HitFix said, “Powerful…a stunning turn by Chiwetel Ejiofor”.

There are a number of mentions of probable Oscar nominations.  You have to think McQueen, Ridley, Ejiofor, Fassbender, Nyong’o and, of course Best Picture.  Also score, costumes seem likely to me at least.

My final analysis of “12 Years a Slave”…transcendent film making that seems to me to be in a class with “Schindler’s List”.

Day Three will include the Coen Brothers tribute and Ralph Fiennes “The Invisible Woman” and more.

More from Telluride tomorrow....

Michael Patterson has been writing about the Telluride Film Festival for 5 years.  He still hasn’t run out of words.