George Clooney's Oscar contender seduces Telluride

There was heavy anticipation in the drizzly air over Telluride, Colo., late Saturday afternoon as hundreds lined up for the "sneak preview" of George Clooney's latest starring role in "Up in the Air" at the Chuck Jones Cinema high atop Mountain Village overlooking the picturesque town.

The packed-to-the-rafters audience filled the auditorium quickly, and from all accounts the film didn't disappoint -- certainly from our vantage point where we watched such Oscar-winning director-screenwriters as this year's guest programmer Alexander Payne ("Sideways") and cinephile Curtis Hanson ("L.A. Confidential") be among the last to find empty seats for the debut of co-writer and director Jason Reitman's smart, funny and perceptive comedy.

Reitman told the audience beforehand that he had finished the picture only two days earlier and was extremely nervous. It was also his fifth wedding anniversary and he gave much of the credit for the film to his wife. Anticipation for a major Oscar-level movie triumph was so high, almost nothing could live up to it. But this came close, preserving the Telluride Film Festival's impeccable recent record of launching award-season magnets (the most recent being last year's "Slumdog Millionaire").

Reitman had been in Telluride just two years before with the triumphant debut of his "Juno," which became notorious here for a screening at the tiny Nugget Theatre where the entire line of pass holders was turned away to accommodate sponsors and patrons, who took every seat in the house except two. The film was rapturously received that year, but Telluride honchos changed the policy to allow more evenhanded allotment of seats.

There were turn-aways Saturday, but it was relatively peaceful and reaction to the film was enthusiastic throughout, including strong laughter to many of the choice lines written by Reitman and Sheldon Turner.

Let's make it clear right now: Oscar nominations are likely assured for best picture, director, screenplay, actor for Clooney and supporting actress for either Anna Kendrick as the young know-it-all who threatens Clooney's job security or Vera Farmiga as a one-night stand who keeps on giving. Perhaps both will get nods. This is one of the smartest adult comedies in some time, and Paramount should see substantial box-office coin that will turn around the deadbeat results of recent grown-up vehicles like "State of Play" and "Duplicity."

Scheduled for a Dec. 4 wide debut, "Up in the Air" is award-season-friendly stuff. Clooney has never seemed so appealing -- or vulnerable -- on-screen, and many were noting how the role of the commitment-phobic career-oriented bachelor seems to fit him like a glove.

Reitman said in the post-screening Q&A conducted by festival co-director Gary Meyer that  he had found the source novel at West Hollywood's Book Soup six years ago and was infatuated by the story of a guy obsessed with collecting airplane miles. He took that core concept and added lots of details including the two key female characters and the theme of downsizing to create the final script. He said it was his most personal film and probably will remain so.

Whether it's luck or divine intervention, the downward spiral of the economy and constant job loss only add to the relevancy of what is often a rollicking good time at the movies. Many bloggers have already put this one at the top of their Oscar contending lists, and this world premiere "sneak preview" did nothing to dissuade most of them from changing that assessment. Based on this response, it's easily one of 2009's best pictures.

"Up in the Air," which next heads to Toronto, overshadowed other Telluride debuts Saturday, including Todd Solondz's brilliantly witty and wonderfully acted "Life During Wartime," a sequel to his "Happiness," with an all new cast including standout performances from Allison Janney, Michael Lerner, Shirley Henderson, Paul Reubens and two one-scene stealing performances from Charlotte Rampling and  Ally Sheedy, who pretty much nail their roles.

Later party time was in high gear with Sony Pictures Classics hosting its classy annual dinner at La Marmotte, where we got welcome face time with its stunning best-actress contender Carey Mulligan of "An Education" (she's happy to be working on the new Oliver Stone "Wall Street" sequel in order to avoid all the buzz). ICM topper Chris Silbermann had a fun private party at his hilltop home  and we also stumbled on to a Starz bash at Cosmopolitan, where the late-night party may still be going on.

The award season may be just in its infancy, but it's starting out on all cylinders.

-- Pete Hammond