29 Weeks To Oscar: The Oscar Season Starts... Or Does It?

Venice and Telluride are off to rip-roaring starts.

Well...

Here are the films that survived the weekend, between the two festivals. Not frontrunners. Not a one of them. But well-liked and in the game... in order...

1. King Richard
2. The Power of the Dog (both festivals)
3. Belfast
4. Spencer (both festivals)
5. Dune
6. Cyrano

Half of these might get a real theatrical-first release.

The French Dispatch is sneaking in Telluride, but it's a ringer, given Wes Anderson's history, so count that likely nominee. The Card Counter also turned up as a TBA... but it seems to be an actor-only proposition, (opening this month) based on reactions.

The list of the dead... which doesn't mean they are hated or even disliked, but failed to get the kind of reaction that could propel these titles into the season with bravado enough to get to the Best Picture nomination finish line (in alphabetical order).

C'mon, C'mon, The Duke, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, The Hand of God, The Last Duel, Last Night in Soho…