10 Oscar hopefuls at fall festivals

Venice, Telluride and Toronto premieres may help clarify the race for best picture.

- GLENN WHIPP

"JAY KELLY” stars Adam Sandler, left, and George Clooney as a manager and a famous actor, respectively.

We're fast approaching Labor Day weekend and we have one movie slotted in as a best picture Oscar nominee.

That leaves nine spots and whole lot of sharp elbows as we begin the fall film festival circuit this week in Venice and Telluride.

In case you were wondering-but I think you already know - the movie already assured a best picture nomination is Ryan Coogler's exuberant horror hit, "Sinners," a film as entertaining and provocative as anything I've seen in a theater in the last couple of years.

It was my favorite summer movie, even if it did come out in April. Watching it in Imax 70mm felt like an event, the kind of blockbuster movie-going experience I'll remember years from now.

The Venice Film Festival started Wednesday. On Thursday, I'll be flying to Telluride. The 50th Toronto International Film Festival begins the following week. Dozens of movies will be premiering at these festivals. Standing ovations will be meticulously - and ridiculously - timed. And when the smoke clears, we'll have the makings of a slate of contenders that we'll be covering and debating for the next six months.

"THE LOST BUS" stars America Ferrera and Matthew McConaughey.

Here are some of the world premieres at each festival that I'll be watching most closely, movies that could be made or broken - by the next time you hear from me.

VENICE

Haute couture. Water taxis. Endless Aperol spritzes.