Telluride is another film festival that takes place soon after Venice, with equally big star names. Films from George Clooney, Jennifer Garner and countless others have opened and been reviewed at the festival - some to ecstatic critical responses.
Michael Fassbender's reteaming with his Hunger helmer, Steve McQueen has resulted in the controversial drama, Shame. Fassbender plays a sex addict in the film opposite Carey Mulligan, and The Hollywood Reporter compared him favourably to Daniel Day Lewis. While Shame might be a little too edgy for Oscar season, George Clooney starrer The Descendants, which is Alexander Payne's first film since Sideways in 2004, may just sweep the board. It is being ranked up there alongside Clooney's best work, while Payne has also been singled out for praise. The story of a single father raising his kids sounds like it has all the ingrediants that make Oscar foam at the mouth. Jennifer Garner makes her producing debut with her Michelle Bachmann-like middle American starring role in Butter, about a woman who will stop at nothing to win a butter churning contest in Iowa. The film is described as a political satire, and also stars the very funny Rob Corrdry and Modern Family's Ty Burrell.
The festival is set to run for a few more days with more high profile titles premiering.