Reverse Angle:
Todd Haynes plans Velvet Underground film.
The Velvet touch
In what seems like a fortunate matchup of director and material, upcoming Mill Valley Film Festival honoree Todd Haynes (“Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story,” “Carol”) has announced his intent to direct a Velvet Underground documentary.
Haynes told Variety at the Locarno Film Festival of the project, which promises to include footage of experimental films Andy Warhol made during his association with the group that launched the career of Lou Reed and John Cale. It would be Haynes’ first documentary.
The Underground was a seminal New York art-rock act whose well-known songs include “Sweet Jane,” “White Light/White Heat” and “Rock and Roll,” among others. Their debut album, “Velvet Underground and Nico,” contains such classics as “I’m Waiting for the Man” and “Femme Fatale,” but is perhaps best known for its Warhol jacket cover: a yellow banana against a white background. The album sold around 30,000 copies on release, but as Brian Eno said in a 1982 Musician magazine interview, “I think everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band!” A mint, stereo first pressing can be had on eBay for $3,600.
Given Haynes’ previous musical projects, including the glam rock movie “Velvet Goldmine” and the grittier “I’m Not There” (in which several actors interpreted facets of Bob Dylan), he seems an ideal choice.
Haynes’ next narrative film, “Wonderstruck,” reunites him with Julianne Moore (“Safe”). It’s due in theaters Oct. 20, but receives its California premiere at Mill Valley on Oct. 13. . That night, Haynes will be present for an onstage conversation and to receive the MVFF Award to recognize his directorial career. The festival opens Oct. 5.
Trivia question
Who was Oscar-nominated for playing a character based on the mid-1960s Bob Dylan in “I’m Not There”?
Oscar-hopeful Bros.?
Things are looking up for Warner Bros. Despite an uninspiring first five months of 2017 marked by bombs (“CHiPs,” “Unforgettable,” “The House”) and really big bombs (“King Arthur: Legend of the Sword”), the studio has buttressed mid-line successes (“Everything, Everything,” “Going in Style”) with some major hits (“Kong: Skull Island”) and now, Oscar contenders.
Reports have the studio intending to push mega-grosser “Wonder Woman” for big prizes. That may be overreach: “The Dark Knight” couldn’t get into that circle. However, it’s a very well-liked film and could be nominated in several categories.
Based on its reviews and box office, “Dunkirk” is looking like a serious contender, especially for best picture and director. Believe it or not, Christopher Nolan has never been nominated.
“The Lego Batman Movie,” another big hit, holds a 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences may atone for overlooking its predecessor, “The Lego Movie,” in the animated category.
And now Clint Eastwood has come out of nowhere and is nearly finished with his latest, “The 15:17 to Paris.” Eastwood is notoriously quick in production and post, so there’s little doubt this terrorist drama based on the real-life attempted train attack in August 2015 (thwarted by three men from the Sacramento area) could make the 2017 release schedule.
Other promising titles are in the pipeline: “Blade Runner 2049,” directed by Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival,” “Sicario”), and “The Disaster Artist,” James Franco’s take on the making of “The Room,” Tommy Wiseau’s film shot in San Francisco that some have called the worst movie ever made.
If you hadn’t heard
Daniel Craig will be back as James Bond for the series’ 25th installment. He confirmed it in mid-August on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” also saying he was definitely not coming back for Bond 26. We’ll see.
Trivia answer
Cate Blanchett.