TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

TIFF opened on Thursday. After Venice and Telluride there may not be many more Oscar potentials to come out of Toronto. We are already starting to get an idea of what the Best Picture nominees might be. More on that tomorrow, but TIFF opened for the first time with a documentary. FROM THE SKY DOWN a documentary about the ups and downs of the band U2. Most of the big movies were already screened at earlier festivals. One that hasn't is MONEYBALL which had some Oscar buzz earlier in the year. So far the reviews have been mixed and with all of the better reviewed movies coming out of Venice and Telluride, MONEYBALL may be out of the game.

J.EDGAR PREMIERE

There were some concerns that Clint Eastwood was not show J. EDGAR at  Venice, Telluride, Toronto or New York film festival. It has now been announced that it will premiere at the American Film Institute Film Festival November 3rd. It opens nationwide November 11th. This late premiere does not lessen its chances of being an Oscar contender. Last year THE FIGHTER premiered at AFI and that semmed to work out for them.

VENICE AND TELLURIDE

Telluride Film Festival

Venice Film Festival

We learned a lot more about possible Oscar contenders last week during 2 big film festivals.  Here are some of the big movies and how they were reviewed:

THE IDES OF MARCH-Premiered in Venice last week with great reviews. The story revolves around a fictional candidate running for President. George Clooney directs and stars in the movie. There are plenty of great reviews to go around in the acting department. Ryan Gosling, Evan Rachel Wood and Philip Seymour Hoffman are well on their way to getting nominations. IDES OF MARCH will get a Best Picture nomination.

THE DESCENDANTS- More George Clooney as a guy trying to reconnect with his daughters after they lose their mother in a boating accident. Reviews have been mostly positive and a good bet that Clooney will get a Best Actor nomination. Can he get Best Director for IDES OF MARCH and Best Actor for THE DESCENDANTS?

SHAME-Michael Fassbender play a sex addict who has to come to terms with his addiction. Directed by Steve MCQueen the movie itself had mixed reviews, but everyone loved Fassbenders performance.

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY-Stars Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and Tom Hardy. Based on a book by the same name. The story surrounds espionage during the Cold War. Oldman appears to be the big takeaway and have the best chances at a nomination.

A DANGEROUS METHOD-Another movie with Michael Fassbender. Also stars Keira Knightley and takes place when psychoanalysis first came to the forefront. Has had mostly good reviews, but may not be able to maintain an Oscar run.

ALBERT NOBBS-Glenn Close plays a woman in 19th century Ireland where women were not encouraged to be independent. Close dresses as man so she can work as a butler in a fancy hotel. The reviews for the movie itself were not great, but Close is pretty much a sure bet for a Best Actress nomination.

What movie are you most looking forward to seeing this Fall?

IT'S OFFICIAL

Eddie Murphy and Producer Brett Ratner

Eddie Murphy will be hosting this years Academy Awards. Brett Ratner the Producer of this year's Oscars pushed hard for Murphy.  They both just wrapped up working on a film together and clearly Ratner is a huge fan of Eddie Murphy. It will also be great promotion for their movie. Hosting is really a job for a comedian rather than actors as we found out the hard way last year. Although Murphy has not been on a live stage in awhile, I am cautiously optimistic.

NOTES FROM VENICE

The Venice Film Festival opened Wednesday. Last year Sofia Coppola's SOMEWHERE was the winner. We never heard from it again.  It does give critics the first look at many of the contenders. Here are few notes so far:

*IDES OF MARCH kicked it off with great reviews. Pushing it further into a Best Picture nomination.

* Madonna's W.E. received pretty bad reviews. Her directing was described as sloppy and not a great story. We will have to see where is goes from here.

*A DANGEROUS METHOD was screened last night to great reviews. Especially the performance of Keira Knightley.

*CARNAGE got mixed reviews, but mostly positive for the acting.