Watcher-in-the-Dark posted this on IMDb earlier today:

Academy Awards and the Telluride Film Festival
by Clint Viebrock

There is a lot of conversation about how much effect the Telluride Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival have on the Oscar nominating procedure. I don't pretend to have inside information on this subject, but TIO had the opportunity not only to view some great films at Telluride, but to witness audience reaction in the theaters and to converse with film buffs in the lines outside. Our take on the Oscar season? For an in depth look at what TIO said right after the festival see Susan's review (excerpt posted below )from September 14.

We called out Jason Reitman's "Up in the Air", starring George Clooney, as a contender in several categories.

Lone Scherfig's beautifully realized "An Education" was also decidedly in the race, and the performance by young Carey Mulligan is worthy of consideration. Susan Viebrock said as much in her review.

Even though "The Road" (based on the Cormac McCarthy novel) is unrelentingly dark, TIO's take was unapologetically positive. The Q & A after the screening with director John Hillcoat, Viggo Mortensen, and child star, Kodi Smit-McPhee just cemented our appreciation for this film. Again, multiple Oscar nominations are possible.

Director Michael Hoffman did a wonderful job filming Jay Parini's "The Last Station" and Telluride Inside... and Out predicts actor nominations for Christopher Plummer (Leo Tolstoy) and Helen Mirren (Sophya Tolstoy) at the least.

Now we just have to wait and see...
http://www.tellurideinsid...-awards-and-the-tellurid e-film-festival.html

Excerpt from Susan's review

There's war and very little peace in "The Last Station," a film by director/writer Michael Hoffman in an another Telluride Fiilm Festival world premiere. "The Last Station" is based on a book by Jay Parini about the last days of Count Leo Tolstoy, the writer who became a fervent Christian anarchist and pacifist, turning his back on the privilege and opulence into which he was born. Christopher Plummer is Tolstoy and Helen Mirren is his wife Sofya, going at it like Kate and Petruchio, even after 48 years of marriage. James McAvoy is Tolstoy's devoted secretary Valentin Bulgakov. Paul Giamatti is a sleazoid zealot, Vladimir Chertkov, the leader of the utopian movement Tolstoy founded. The predator? Depends on whose side you are on, Sofya's or Chertkov's. With a relatively limited number of movies to choose from and now 10, not five, films with a shot at Best Picture, "The Last Station" could get the nod. For sure, Mirren, Plummer and McAvoy are contenders.
http://www.tellurideinsid...nual-telluride-film-fest ival-review.html