“White Boy Rick”
Director: Yann Demange
Cast: Richie Merritt, Bel Powley, Matthew McConaughey, Bruce Dern, Piper Laurie, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Release date: Sept. 14
Lowdown: Yann Demange‘s follow up to his breakthrough film, “‘71,” tells the true story of Richard Wershe, Jr. (newcomer Richie Merritt), a Detroit street hustler who became the youngest FBI informant ever before he even turned 16. The film’s trailer seems to treat Wershe’s life in broad commercial and stylish strokes, but word is the film has much more to say about contemporary poverty and corruption than the preview is letting on. This is also McConaughey’s first live-action role after a string of four critical and box office disappointments since 2014’s “Interstellar.” Will it get his career back on track?
“The White Crow”
Director: Ralph Fiennes
Cast: Oleg Ivenko, Louis Hoffman, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Fiennes
Release date: TBD
Lowdown: Ralph Fiennes third directorial effort centers on the story of legendary ballet dancer and choreographer Rudolf Nureyev‘s defection to the west in 1961. Nureyev will also be played by Oleg Ivenko, a fairly unknown Russian dancer who has never acted on screen before. Nureyev’s defection took place in Paris and, according to history, wasn’t as cloak and dagger as you might expect. The film is based on a portion of Julie Kavanagh‘s biography “Nureyev: The Life” and was adapted by David Hare. It’s worth noting the film isn’t screening at either TIFF or NYFF as of yet.
“Fistful Of Dirt”
Director: Sebastián Silva
Cast: Currently unknown
Release date: TBD
Lowdown: Chilean, New York-based filmmaker Sebastián Silva moves at a quick clip and hasn’t really stopped since “The Maid” made a big international splash in 2009. He’s also caught the attention of adventurous Hollywood actors wanting to work with him like Michael Cera (“Crystal Fairy & The Magic Cactus”), Kristen Wiig (“Nasty Baby“) and more. His latest is “Fistful of Dirt” and it’s about…there’s absolutely no official details out there on the film yet and it seems a movie Silva shot in secret. Telluride hasn’t released them yet, so it’s even unknown who stars in it. But there’s one small mention of the film out there from back in 2009 (!). Around 2009 he told Under The Radar about the movie: “I won a big cash prize in Poland with ‘The Maid.’ The money is to make a film in Poland or related to Poland. So I want to make a film in Polish on the Baltic Sea. It’s a science fiction film. It’s called ‘Fistful of Dirt’ so far.” Has the project changed in almost 10 years? Likely, but regardless we’ll be waiting with bated breath to find out more (drop by later, Telluride will probably release info and we can update this piece).
The full Telluride Film Festival line-up is right here. Other films playing the festival include Yorgos Lanthinmos‘ “The Favourite,” “First Man,” Alfonso Cuaron‘s “Roma,” Orson Welles‘ long-awaited “The Other Side of The Wind” and many, many more. Look for full coverage of the 2018 Telluride Film Festival beginning Thursday, August 30 through Monday, September 3.
