Telluride unveils the best film of 2007

I know that's an out-on-the-limb posting title and it may come back to bite me in the Raisinets. But I can't imagine any forthcoming movie to top Sean Penn's Into the Wild on my top-10 list at year's end.

Penn has transformed the book about Christopher McCandless' ill-fated wanderlust into a movie that honestly had me sobbing for 45 minutes after it ended; not only for the tragedy or the message(s) in McCandless' story, but Penn's perfect composition of everything as screenwriter and director. I'm too short on time now to go into detail but I can't wait for when I can.

Also saw a future best foreign language Oscar contender, a German production titled The Counterfeiters, directed by a guy named Stefan Rutzowitzky,who I spent two hours talking with over dinner Saturday night at La Marmotte. His movie has sold out three shows so far, with many others turned away. Sleeper of the festival, and one to watch out for.

Walked out of Brian DePalma's Redacted, based on an Iraq War incident involvng US troops, the rape of a young girl and the murder of her family. Didn't DePalma make this movie before? Yes: Casualties of War with Penn and Michael J. Fox ("What're we doing here, Sarge?"). Now he adds Blair Witch-style videocam conceits and an obscenely exploitive vibe that turned off much of the audience.

Saw Penn and director Werner Herzog in Elks Park in an hour-long discussion of Into the Wild and great outdoors temptations for filmmakers, moderated by former Times Xpress writer Scott Foundas. I'll pass along some of the best moments and photos later.

For now, I need to race to the Palm for a screening and then to the annual Labor Day feed for festival passholders, featuring some of the best steaks you'll ever taste. Then a couple more films, depending on how the TBA choices have been planned. We're back on the road after that and back home tomorrow night.

I don't want to leave.