We then went to La Marmotte for dinner - a former icehouse converted to restaurant. It was f a b u l o u s - try the fresh baked salmon or the New York strip - simple and tasty. We had heard that George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Alexander Payne and others were here for their films - and that's one thing that is different about Telluride, because hearing that kind of thing is like wow, that's nice, be great to have a chat with them and I'm looking forward to seeing their films and that's about it, for most folks. It is, as I've said, exciting but low key.
The passes we get allow us to go to a very special brunch up on high ridge with spectacular 360 degree views of the San Juan Mountains The brunch is at a private residence, complete with a small stream and pond that also sports a variety of trout. The food is delicious and everyone (maybe 100-200 folks) mingle around, talk about past festivals and their previous favorite films. The hit of this brunch were the sweet corn pancakes served with a nice dollop of chipotle butter, spicy pancakes - yum. Oh yeah that and the fact that George Clooney and Glenn Close (among others) were in attendance. There is that chance to mingle with directors, actors, producers in a venue unlike any other.Well this was no different. Nine AM you hop the bus from Sheridian Opera House and high tail it up the mountain. It is truly a treat. We are also able to go to the Patron Screening which is an early screening of a selected film, usually one of the "bigger" films of the Festival, but not always.
Films we saw on Friday:
Descendants - directed by Alexander Payne, with George Clooney, Shailene Woodley.
I loved this film. It was shot in Hawaii and it was great to see these islands in an every day sort of way, not from a visitors/vacation perspective but from the perspective of people that live and work there. This film centers around the family of Matt King (Clooney) an heir to some of the last remaining pristine land on Kauai and his plan to sell the property which is suddenly interrupted by a boating accident that has left his wife in critical condition. As he begins to deal with this, and have to suddenly take the reigns in raising his two young, and rebelling daughters, he begins to discover that his relationships aren't what they seem.
The cast was terrific - Clooney was funny, compelling and authentic - with a very understated touch. Newcomer, Shailene Woodley, also provided a very strong performance as Matt King's troubled yet supportive daughter. This was a laugh out loud film that also had its fair share of tearful moments. I highly recommend it as I would any Alexander Payne film - really top notch.
Living in the Material World - directed by Martin Scorsese, produced by Olivia Harrison.
As George Harrisson's widow, Oliva Harrison, put it - in 1995 the Beatles anthology was released, and when it was released George said "I want to do my own Anthology" and that is what "Living in the Material World" is - an inside, within the bubble view of George Harrison's life, pre-Beatle, Beatle and post Beatle. I found this 3+ hour film riveting, it brings you right smack into the George's world and life and much of what is tribal knowledge in the Beatle world is covered, but even more eye opening was George's life post Beatle.
One of my favorite quotes of the film came when George finally decided to write his first song with the Beatles and he simply says "Well if Paul and John can do it, it can't be that hard". There is footage, interviews, photos that I have never seen before and also elements that I had forgotten about, George's film work (Time Bandits, Life of Brian) and his relationship with Monty Python, British race car phenom, Jackie Stewart, his close ties with Eric Clapton and the savage attack on he and his wife Olivia in their home.
The interviews with Paul and Ringo were moving, especially those with Ringo. The final words that they exchange as George was lying in his hospital had me in tears.
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