Three and half days in and I've seen fifteen films and two tributes, one to the Cohen Brothers and the other to Robert Redford and last night I was blown away by a sneak preview of the film "12 Years A Slave" This festival is on track to be one of the most jam packed in the eight years I've been coming to this magical place.Last night I sat in the audience of a spectacle that has to be experienced - "GRAVITY". I am not a fan of 3D as the glasses kind of give me a headache but this movie blew me away. Forget the plot plausibility, forget some cliche lines and you can enjoy a new experience. I walked out of there with my legs shaking. Now that isn't the kind of film I come to Telluride to see generally but it was something I haven't witnessed yet in cinema.
Today I finally got to see a film in the landmark Sheridan Opera House theatre, first time this festival. The movie was Bethlehem a story about the Israeli/Palestinian struggle. The unique thing about this narrative gem was that there are no sides taken, it is simply an extreme story about the people involved in this struggle. Their lives, battles and struggles.
I also enjoyed the movie Nebraska by Alexander Payne. Its featured actors are Bruce Dern and Saturday Night Live's (ex) Will Forte. It's a road trip story of a separated family that works to find a way back without really knowing it. Bruce Dern was in the audience. The theatre spokesperson (every film is introduced) pointed where Bruce was in the audience, he was sitting two rows behind me, and said to stop by and say hello to him and after the show, and that is what people did - much to Mr. Dern's enjoyment. Of major film festivals, only in Telluride is there that easy unpretentious and approachable atmosphere.
There is only a day and half left, my eyes are bloodshot and my lungs have finally adjusted. I have had the great pleasure of having some great conversations with filmmakers, enthusiasts, producers, directors. I've gotten chat with Michael Moore multiple times (a really wonderful nice guy).
