THE FRONT RUNNER

[jo]

The Front Runner is NOT going to Venice!

deadline.com/2018/07/venice-film-festival-2018-lineup-full-list-1202433056/





Hollywood Reporter analyzes the lineup at Venice and their award bait potential.

www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/venice-film-festival-unveils-full-lineup-1129426


Jo

[jo]

http://instagram.com/p/BlrWe_XArBO

Hope Bron is using the term "premiere" in a generic sense because there have been much speculations by knowledgeable movie press that it will be shown first at Telluride. The exact wording of TIFF is " international premiere", not "world premiere".


Jo

[jo]

Hugh Jackman has been underrated as a dramatic actor! Yet he has given us so many faces in different films :

*Obssessed in THE PRESTIGE
*Grieving in THE FOUNTAIN
*Noble and wary in LES MISERABLES
*Vengeful in PRISONERS
*Sorrowful in AUSTRALIA (at the bar)
*Weary, resolute, and at peace in LOGAN


Which face will he wear in THE FRONT RUNNER ?

http://instagram.com/p/BlQg-7Vhs62

[jo]

http://instagram.com/p/BlqfKLGAfR5

If you are thinking of attending TIFF, per their official site --

Showtimes

Full schedule coming on August 21!

[jo]

[jo]

It looks like the movie is going to attract more tabloid journalism, as Donna Rice Hughes tries to tell her side of the story.


www.daily-journal.com/life/books/jim-riordan-partners-with-donna-rice-hughes-to-tell-her/article_38679876-8541-11e8-87c3-47cae3e4bd15.html

Arguably one of the biggest political scandals of the 1980s reportedly soon will hit the film screen, detailing the scandalous affair between Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Senator Gary Hart (D-Colo.) and then model-actress Donna Rice.

Now, Kankakee author Jim Riordan will co-author a tell-all book by Donna Rice Hughes.Riordan was contacted by Rice Hughes toward the end of May to co-write the yet-to-be-titled book recalling her side of the story — a story-turned-scandal that knocked a presidential front-runner, Hart, out of the race for the 1988 presidential election, just before the summer of 1987.

A major motion picture directed by Jason Reitman (“Up In The Air”), titled “The Front Runner” will star Hugh Jackman as Gary Hart and Sara Paxton as Donna Rice. The film is based on the 2014 book from Matt Bai, “All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid.”

The film, set to be released in November, already is gaining Oscar buzz.

[jo]

Some people are beginning to notice minute details -- and making contrasting responses

[jo]

The Front Runner is considered a must-watch film during the fall festivals! IndieWire lists the films that invite special attention --

www.indiewire.com/gallery/oscars-2019-fall-flm-festival-awards-contenders/



www.indiewire.com/gallery/oscars-2019-fall-flm-festival-awards-contenders/#!17/the-frontrunner-hugh-jackman/

[jo]

Jeff Wells of HOLLYWOOD ELSEWHERE further classifies the 34 movies into 2 categories --

Yes to Some, Unsure About Others


An Indiewire piece by Zack Sharf has listed 34 movies “you need to keep an eye on during fall film festival season,” blah blah. Hollywood Elsewhere knows, believes or strongly suspects that 18 of these are actual hotties, and that 16 are interesting possibilities that require a “wait and see” attitude for now.


Good To Go: Alfonso Cuaron‘s Roma, Damien Chazelle’s First Man, Pawel Pawlikowski‘s Cold War, Lee Chang-dong’s Burning, Paul Greengrass‘s 22 July, Bradley Cooper’s A Star Is Born, Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria, Marielle Heller’s Can You Ever Forgive Me, Nadine Labaki‘s Capernaum, Julian Schnabel‘s At Eternity’s Gate, Asghar Farhadi’s Everybody Knows (minor Farhadi but it’s still Farhadi), Yorgos Lanthimos‘ The Favourite, Jason Reitman‘s The Front Runner, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s No Known Author, David Lowery‘s The Old Man and the Gun, Orson Welles‘ The Other Side of the Wind, Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters and Jonah Hill‘s Mid90s (18).


Hedging bets, not entirely sure, hopeful but who knows?, etc: Steve McQueen’s Widows, Joel and Ethan Coen‘s The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Joel Edgerton‘s Boy Erased, Wash Westmoreland’‘s Collette, Barry Jenkins‘ If Beale Street Could Talk, Felix Van Groeningen‘s Beautiful Boy, Xavier Dolan‘s Death and Life of John F. Donovan, Denys Arcand‘s The Fall of the American Empire, George Tillman Jr.’s The Hate U Give, Mike Leigh‘s Peterloo, Jacques Audiard’s The Sisters Brothers, László Nemes’ Sunset, Brady Corbet’s Vox Lux, Yann Demange’s White Boy Rick, Paul Dano‘s Wildlife (16).


August 15, 2018 6:03 pm
by Jeffrey Wells

[jo]

http://instagram.com/p/BbHhI8ug3lZ

Can you believe it is the same man -- even if both poses bear some similarities?

http://instagram.com/p/Bmeab3ihXP_

[jo]

A co-cast member in THE FRONT RUNNER shares a health tip from Wolverine/aka Gary Hart

http://instagram.com/p/BmtCioQAdY8

[jo]

The TELLURIDE FILM FESTIVAL is quite unique -- it will announce its lineup only on the day before the Festival opens ( unlike the major festivals, with Toronto and Venice holding their film fests close to the schedule of TELLURIDE. Every film buff wants to go there no matter that it is not the most accessible site.

THE FRONT RUNNER is strongly rumored to be screened at TELLURIDE.

Here is the festival profile --

www.everfest.com/e/telluride-film-festival-telluride-co

About This Festival

Location, Location, Location


Either it’s too remote or it’s a perfect little island. Telluride Mountain Village toward summer’s end is a stunning mountain enclave that creates a cinematic crucible that may heighten your emotions at a nearly 9,000 foot elevation. The Telluride Film Festival is immersive, intimate, and inclusive in a location that’s been called the “Festival Capital of the Southwest” because of Telluride’s diverse events but primarily for the intense habitat it creates for festival-goers to connect. With mountains closely surrounding the town, you’ll feel like you’re in your own private room or womb, depending upon whether a particular film takes you back to childhood (often the case with Telluride films).

Being surrounded by the world’s most avid film buffs creates a sense of community faster than jumping into a naked hot tub in the 1970s. You’re going to make friends here because everyone has an opinion on the film they just saw and they want to share it with you. Trust us, while it does seem a little too personal for some introverts, the level of conversation you’re going to have about films, and, more importantly, life in Telluride may prove to be transformational for you.



“What was Hot?” not “Who was Hot?” at the Telluride Film Festival

The buzz out of many acclaimed film festivals is more about the red carpets, the insider’s parties, the paparazzi. Cannes, Toronto, Venice, Sundance, Berlin: these might be the 5 most influential film festivals in the world, and the annual events grease the wheels of industry that fuel Hollywood and Bollywood. But, the cinephile-friendly Telluride Film Festival feels purer, more focused on just the love of great art and the telling of story. This festival has also become more prestigious in the past few years, happening just before TIFF (Toronto) and Venice festivals, in premiering films that go on to win the Oscar less than a half-year later. The 2011-2013 Best Picture winners at the Oscars had their North American debuts at Telluride. Savvy programming is one of Telluride’s greatest strengths and it shows up in multiple ways beyond their ability to pick Oscar winners: erudite symposiums and panels, restored classics, tributes to film greats every morning, celebrated authors doing book signings, and a “Filmmakers of Tomorrow” program that features the next Steven Spielberg or George Lucas. The biggest challenge is figuring out how to fit it all in your schedule. Expect long, lovely days as you do three or four films and a panel or two.



Lots of Altitude, No Attitude

Telluride prides itself on being different than nearby Sundance. There are no audience awards and little competition so the the drama is left for what's on screen. There are no glitzy sponsor parties that are only available for the rarefied celebrities in the crowd. You’re likely to see more celebrities per capita at Telluride than any other festival, yet in this environment, they’re people just like you and me. The fact that the Telluride Film Festival starts with its annual Opening Night Feed street party and ends with a Labor Day picnic in the city park adds to the inclusive, casual nature of the whole event. And, for all these reasons, this film festival may have the most evangelic following of any film fest in the world—we’ve met folks who’ve gone to every one of the 40 annual film gatherings in Telluride. Think of this festival as almost being a college homecoming as many TFF attendees are more loyal to this festival than they are to their alma mater. Read more about why we think Telluride is the best film festival in the world.




Come with a group

All the film venues are within walking distance of each other and there’s so much diversity of choices that it makes this a perfect family reunion event or gathering of friends. You can be independent during the day watching the films that interest you and then enjoy dinner with your tribe and talk about your faves of the day.




Be flexible with your schedule

Each morning, the great Telluride Film Festival app announces a few last minute TBA’s of films that will be showing that day and, of course, these buzz-worthy new additions will screw up your Rubik’s cube of a schedule. Listen to the buzz of what’s good and go with the flow.




Be ready to stand in a queue

Even if you bought a festival pass, you have to go early to the theater to get a number that allows you in (unless you bought a Patron Pass). You’ll meet others in line and find out other films to see, you’ll chat with your friends, or—as is true of many in this sophisticated crowd—you’ll read today’s New York Times on your iPhone.

With changeable weather, bring layers and maybe a poncho
In the course of one day, you may see people with umbrellas to shield them from hail or intense sun. The weather changes quickly here and not all queue lines are under cover so plan accordingly.




Getting There

This is the place where many well-meaning Telluride travelers decide it’s just too complicated. Trust us, with a little preparation, it’s absolutely worth it. Nestled in the high country of the San Juan mountains of southwest Colorado, it is a six-hour drive from Denver. You could drive from Grand Junction or Durango, but those airport satellites are still a couple of hours away. If you’re flying in, fly from Denver to Montrose, a little over an hour from Telluride, with plentiful bus shuttles running during the festival. For those with a little more pocket change, there are charter flights into the stunning Telluride airport perched on a cliff. As for accommodations, there are four lodging partners on the film festival’s website but many people choose to rent a whole home or a room in a house through Airbnb.

[jo]

THE FRONT RUNNER will be screened at the TIFF for PRESS AND INDUSTRY on September 7,2018 at 12:00 pm

www.tiff.net/tiff/the-front-runner/

113 minutes

International Premiere

English

Showtimes
Sat, Sep 8, 2018

The selected date only has Press & Industry screenings. Please select another date for public screenings.

***********************************

Jason Reitman (Tully, Up in the Air) directs Hugh Jackman, Vera Farmiga, and J.K Simmons in this biopic about US Senator Gary Hart's 1988 presidential campaign and his scandalous affair that derailed it.

The press conference for this film will be held on September 8. Please visit the event page for the livestream link.

It might seem quaint in today's sensation- saturated news cycle, but it wasn't long ago that a politician at the zenith of his career could be felled by news of an extramarital affair. That was the fate of one-time presidential hopeful Gary Hart, the subject of Academy Award-nominated director Jason Reitman's enthralling new film. Starring Hugh Jackman and Vera Farmiga - working in perfect harmony here - The Front Runner recreates three weeks that forever changed US politics and how they're covered.

Having lost the democratic ticket to Walter Mondale in 1984, Gary Hart (Jackman) made a triumphant return to candidacy in 1987, at a moment when his party was desperate to wrestle power back from the Republicans after two terms of Reagan. Hart had everything going for him: intelligence, charisma, and experience as a lawyer, campaign manager, and senator, not to mention an ideal First Lady in wife Lee (Farmiga). But everything starts to crumble when word circulates that Hart is a womanizer - a rumour quickly followed by reports that he had an affair with Donna Rice (Sara Paxton).

Based on Matt Bai's All the Truth is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid, The Front Runner takes us into the backrooms where truths are drawn out and painful decisions are made.

Reitman, channelling Robert Altman in observational style, never loses sight of the story's moral compass. Featuring riveting performances from an ensemble that includes Oscar winner J.K. Simmons at his firecracker best and TIFF '17 Rising Star Mamoudou Athie, the film dissects a political implosion, prompting thorny questions regarding boundaries between private and public — and suggesting that the last 30 years of political scandal fever, from Clinton to Trump, has its roots here.

CAMERON BAILEY

Director
Jason Reitman
Jason Reitman was born in Montreal and raised in Los Angeles, where he studied creative writing at the University of Southern California. His films Thank You For Smoking (05), Juno (07), Up in the Air (09), Labor Day (13), and Men, Women & Children (14) screened at the Festival. The Front Runner (18) is his latest feature.

Cast + Credits

director
Jason Reitman

cast
Hugh Jackman Vera Farmiga J.K. Simmons Alfred Molina

Cinematography
Eric Steelberg

Editing
Stefan Grube

Executive Producers
Michael Beugg Matt Bai Jay Carson Jason Blumenfeld George Wolfe Steven Thibault Brenda Gilbert David Gendron Ali Jazayeri Jason Cloth Chris Conover Edward Carpezzi

Producers
Jason Reitman Helen Estabrook Aaron L. Gilbert

Production Companies
Bron Studios Right of Way

Production Designer
Steve Saklad

screenplay
Matt Bai Jay Carson Jason Reitman

sound
Chris Jenkins Jeremy Peirson Perry Robertson Scott Sanders

US Distributor
Sony Pictures Releasing

Publicist
Sony Pictures Entertainment

Canadian Distributor
Sony Pictures Releasing

Original Score
Rob Simonsen



Show Press & Industry times:

Scotiabank Theatre
Press & Industry
Press & Industry screenings are only accessible with accreditation. No advance tickets required. Please show accreditation at venue to access.
12:00am

Btw, background of Cameron Bailey --

Cameron Bailey is a Canadian film critic and festival programmer, who has been the artistic director of the Toronto International Film Festival since 2012

He was also recently designated as co-Head of TIFF>

[jo]

EDIT:

*Press and Industry screening is scheduled on September 7, 2018 (Friday), at 12:00 pm

www.tiff.net/tiff/the-front-runner/


*Press Conference is scheduled on September 8, 2018



*Regular Screening is scheduled on September 8, 2018 ( Saturday) - 1:00 pm


www.tiff.net/tiff/press-conference-the-front-runner/




Lol - Until further notice -- they have been changing dates and times; not sure if the above are really the final time and dates. Hopefully

[jo]

Meanwhile at TELLURIDE, which happens at an earlier date ( August 31 to September 3, 2018) than TIFF --

hollywood-elsewhere.com/2018/08/telluride-treadmill/#disqus_thread

Telluride Treadmill

I noted last year that for a majority of journos with tight travel schedules and a pile of deadlines, the four-day Telluride Film Festival is actually a three-day if not a two-and-a-half-day festival. Which means that out of 30 films typically scheduled, go-getters can maybe catch 14 or 15, tops. And that’s if you’re really aggressive about it. If you’re only moderately aggressive you’ll wind up seeing 10 or 12.


The fest doesn’t begin until mid-Friday afternoon (i.e., post Patron’s Brunch), which affords an opportunity to see two or three films during the remainder of that day. Three or four pics are catchable on Saturday and Sunday for a likely total of 10 or 11 by Sunday midnight, and maybe a couple more on Monday before leaving town. And you have to review everything as you go along.


On top of which Telluride often schedules the highest-interest films against each other so you’re always missing out on Peter in order to see Paul. On top of which are the dinners and parties.



I’m given to understand that the following films are locked for Telluride ’18: Alfonso Cuaron‘s Roma, Damien Chazelle‘s First Man, Mike Leigh‘s Peterloo, Orson Welles‘ The Other Side of the Wind, Yorgos Lanthimos‘ The Favourite, Olivier Assayas‘ Non-Fiction, Marielle Heller‘s Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Jason Reitman‘s The Front Runner, David Lowery‘s The Old Man and the Gun, Yann Demange‘s White Boy Rick, Karyn Kusama‘s Destroyer, Joel Edgerton‘s Boy Erased, Pawel Pawlikowski‘s Cold War and Hirokazu Kore-eda‘s Shoplifters. (14)


THE solution to Telluride gridlock: With everyone arriving on Thursday afternoon, the festival should begin on Thursday night with hottie screenings at all the venues (Chuck Jones, Werner Herzog, Palm, Galaxy, Pierre, Backlot) starting at 7 pm and then again at 9:30 or 10 pm. Hell, stage a midnight screening or two. And then more hottie screenings on Friday morning starting at 8:30 or 9 am. Those who wish to attend the Patrons picnic could squeeze it in around 11 or 11:30 am, but a full load of screenings would continue for those who’d rather catch films than eat.


By launching on Thursday night and starting screenings early on Friday morning, four or five fresh opportunities to catch the must-sees would be on every visiting critic’s plate. And for those who might prefer to take a more leisurely, old-time approach, they can still start things off with the picnic and then the first Patrons screening at the Chuck Jones at 2:30 pm, and no harm done.

Now doesn’t that make sense?


August 21, 2018
by Jeffrey Wells

There has always been an air of exclusivity about films being shown at TELLURIDE... and it seems attendees pride in calling themselves real film buffs


Hope THE FRONT RUNNER, which may be holding its WORLD PREMIERE there, is received very, very well!

[jo]

Looking at the commercial and critical appeal of movies being released for the rest of the year --

variety.com/2018/film/box-office/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-incredibles-2-box-office-1202912510/


Excerpts :

One potential area for improvement is the awards circuit. Last year’s crop of best picture Oscar nominees was the lowest-grossing batch since 2011, with films such as “The Shape of Water” and “Call Me by Your Name” evincing only limited mainstream appeal. Will such 2018 contenders as “Boy Erased,” a gay conversion drama with Lucas Hedges, and “The Front Runner,” a look at an infamous political scandal that stars Hugh Jackman as Gary Hart, prove to be more broadly appealing?

It seems that the subject of THE FRONT RUNNER will evoke the current political conversation...and may attract discussions that what happened 30 years ago could have been as current as what now occupies national attention.

Here's also hoping that audiences who hailed Hugh Jackman's dramatic appeal in LOGAN and gave spectacular attention to THE GREATEST SHOWMAN will welcome another look at Jackman's versatility.

[jo]

http://instagram.com/p/Bm19CohAIb4

[jo]

Hugh's Gary Hart looks more grim! And his eyes are Wolverine-fierce compared to the Senator from Colorado.Gary Hart is blue-eyed compared to Hugh's hazel eyes.


NYTimes re-published an article from the past ( circa 1987) on Gary Hart. Great insights on him.

www.nytimes.com/2014/09/21/magazine/gary-hart-the-elusive-front-runner.html




Jo

[jo]

They've edited the offending APPLE watch

[jo]

Can't wait for the official announcement of the lineup for this prestigious fall film festival. Watch for it on Thursday ( August 30).

[jo]

http://instagram.com/p/BZe_yMwH_sh

Looking even more grim! But it is a different kind of grim compared to Logan's weary face or Valjean's resigned face as he sings about the fate of the young rebels ( Bring Him Home) or Keller Dover's very determined and ruthless grimness!


I wonder --

Hugh seems to be portraying Senator Hart in a very serious, almost grim manner ( or is this just for the scenes when he was already being intrusively being followed by the press). Hugh is known for his charismatic personality ( even when he is at his angriest best) and from the little I have seen of Hart's photos, he seems to be also a charismatic personality. I hope the similarity in their ability to draw people's attention will work towards a realistic film portrayal by Hugh.


Jo

[jo]

The TELLURIDE FESTIVAL 2018 poster is very beautiful -- a bit pricey but very different

tffshop.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/45th-telluride-film-festival-poster-art

[jo]

[jo]

Film festivals lead the way --

variety.com/2018/film/in-contention/oscars-venice-festival-season-starts-1202918556/


Excerpts --

Just as Venice gets under way, Telluride will rev its engines in the Rocky Mountains for a four-day sprint. Programmers traditionally keep the lineup secret until the eve of the fest, but as usual, announcement language associated with films playing at other festivals suggests they’ll premiere in Telluride.

Three will come from Fox Searchlight: “The Favourite,” David Lowery’s “The Old Man & the Gun” with Robert Redford, and Marielle Heller’s Lee Israel biopic “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” with Melissa McCarthy. Other expected bows include Jason Reitman’s “The Front Runner,” with Hugh Jackman as Gary Hart during the politician’s failed 1988 presidential nomination bid; Karyn Kusama’s “Destroyer,” featuring a heavily buzzed lead performance from Nicole Kidman; and Joel Edgerton’s “Boy Erased,” also starring Kidman, with Lucas Hedges as a young man forced into gay conversion therapy. (Hedges has a big year ahead with this and two Toronto bows, Jonah Hill’s “Mid90s” and his father’s “Ben is Back,” with Julia Roberts.)

Telluride has become a crucial stop on the festival tour. The motion picture Academy throws an annual party there, and countless Oscar voters flood the event. Meanwhile, nine of the last 10 best picture winners have screened there, five of them world premieres — noteworthy for a festival that has room for roughly only 30 titles.

[jo]

No trailer yet.

Only 2 official photos.

No Jackman interviews to-date.

One or two tweets from Reitman.


But -- The Front Runner is now on the Must-See list at the Toronto International Film Festival ( TIFF)!

amotherworld.com/entertainment/tiff-2018-must-see-films/