65th Festival de Cannes Official Selection Lineup - Update 5

The jury of the Un Certain Regard is announced and posted here. Only 2 days for Opening Ceremony and the cinema feast will start once more, can't wait. Check facebook page for a photo that shows that today the posters are going up. Cheers!!!
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5/10
As of today we can check at the fest official site info, photos and/or videos for ALL the films in the Cannes Selection that includes all the films below; go here.
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5/4
Today organizers announced a new film in the Official Selection Special Screenings section, Le Serment de Tobrouk by Bernard-Henri Levy.

Also you will notice that as of today there are trailers for some short films competing at the Short Film and the Cinéfondation. Since last week I have been searching for trailers of all Cannes 2012 films on daily basis so every day there is at least one new trailer to watch at MOC.

After watching many trailers my first spontaneous impression is that films this year are very visual as many have breathtaking images. Let's hope that stories are as great as the outstanding visuals.
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4/30
Today organizers announced new films that will complement the Official Selection, one in the Special Screening, two in Midnight Screenings and three in Un Certain Regard. In Un Certain Regard section there are a total of 20 films. Also a new film in Cannes Classics that will be included in the specific post; this film will close the section on May 25.
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4/26
The jury of the main competition has been announced and there are many well-known people for me that surely will color the festival with their presence and hopefully will select the best of the best in the selection.
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4/19
Today at the Intercontinental – Le Grand Hotel in Paris Gilles Jacob and Thierry Frémaux announced the much awaited official selection and to my personal joy there are several extraordinary directors with their latest masterpieces. Among them have to mention Haneke’s Amour, Carlos Reygadas’ Post Tenebras Lux, Kiarostami’s Like Someone in Love, Mungiu’s Beyond the Hills, and many more.

Without further comments here is the 2012 Cannes Official Selection

Competition
Opening film: Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Anderson, USA

Amour (Love), Michael Haneke, France, Austria, and Germany
Baad el Mawkeaa (After the Battle), Yousry Nasrallah, Egypt
După dealuri (Beyond the Hills), Cristian Mungiu, Romania
Cosmopolis, David Cronenberg, France, Canada, Portugal, and Italy
다른 나라에서 Da-reun Na-ra-e-suh (In Another Country), Hong Sangsoo, South Korea
De Rouille et d’Os (Rust & Bone), Jacques Audiard, Belgium and France
돈의 맛 Do-nui Mat (The Taste of Money), Im Sang-soo, South Korea
Holy Motors, Leos Carax, France
В тумане V Tumane (In the Fog), Sergei Loznitsa, Germany, Netherlands, Belarus, Russia and Latvia
Jagten (The Hunt), Thomas Vinterberg, Denmark
Killing Them Softly, Andrew Dominik, USA
Lawless, John Hillcoat, USA
ライク・サムワン・イン・ラブ Like Someone in Love, Abbas Kiarostami, France and Japan
Mud, Jeff Nichols, USA
On The Road, Walter Salles, France, UK and USA
Paradies: Liebe (Paradise: Love), Ulrich Seidl, Germany, France and Austria
Post Tenebras Lux, Carlos Reygadas, Mexico, France, and Netherlands
Reality, Matteo Garrone, Italy and France (is this Big House?)
The Angels’ Share, Ken Loach, UK and France
The Paperboy, Lee Daniels, USA
Vous N’Avez Encore Rien Vu (You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet), Alain Resnais, France

Out of Competition
Closing film: Thérèse Desqueyroux, Claude Miller, France
Io e Te (Me and You), Bernardo Bertolucci, Italy
Madagascar 3, Europe’s Most Wanted, Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, USA
Heminway & Gellhorn, Philip Kaufman, USA

The Jury
President: Nanni Moretti, director, actor and producer, Italy
Hiam Abbass, actress, Palestine
Andrea Arnold, director and scriptwriter, UK
Emmanuelle Devos, actress, France
Diane Kruger, actress, France
Jean Paul Gaultier, designer, France
Ewan McGregor, actor, UK
Alexander Payne, director, scriptwriter and producer, USA
Raoul Peck, director scriptwriter and producer, Haiti

Un Certain Regard
Closing Ceremony: Renoir, Gilles Bourdos, France
7 Dias en la Habana, 7 directors: Benicio del Toro, Pablo Trapero, Julio Medem, Elia Suleiman, Juan Carlos Tabio,, Gaspard Noé, and Laurent Cantet, France and Spain
11・25自決の日　三島由紀夫と若者たち11•25 jiketsu no hi: Mishima Yukio to wakamono-tachi (11.25 The Day he Chose his own Fate), Kôji Wakamatsu, Japan
*Antiviral, Brandon Cronenberg, Canada and USA
A Perdre La raison (aka Aimer à perdre la raison) (Loving without Reason), Joachim Lafosse, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and Switzerland
*Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin, USA
Confession of a Child of the Century, Sylvie Verheyde, France
Después de Lucía, Michel Franco, Mexico
Djeca (Children), Aida Begić, Bosnia Herzegovina
Elefante Blanco (White Elephant), Pablo Trapero, Argentina and Spain
*Gimme the Loot, Adam Leon, USA
*La Playa, Juan Andrés Arango, Colombia
La Pirogue (The Pirogue), Moussa Touré, Senegal and France
Laurence Anyways, Xavier Dolan, Canada and France
Le Grand Soir, Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern, France
Les Chevaux de Dieu (God’s Horses), Nabil Ayouch, France, Morocco, Tunisia (?)
Miss Lovely, Ashim Ahluwalia, India
Mystery, Lou Ye, China
Student, Darezhan Omirbayev, Kazakhstan and France
Trois Monde, Catherine Corsini, France

Un Certain Regard Jury
President: Tim Roth, actor and director, UK
Leïla Bekhti, actress, France
Tonie Marshall, director and Producer, France
Luciano Monteagudo, cinema critic, Argentina
Sylvie Pras, Head of Cinemas at Centre Pompidou and Artistic Director of La Rochelle Film Festival

Special Screenings
A Música Segundo Tom Jobim, Nelson Pereira Dos Santos, Brazil
Der Müll Im Garten Eden (Polluting Paradise aka Garbage in the Garden of Eden), Fatih Akin, Germany
Journal de France, Claudine Nougaret and Raymond Depardon, France
Les Invisibles, Sébastien Lifshitz, France
Le Serment de Tobrouk (The Oath of Tobruk), Bernard-Henri Lévy, France
Mekong Hotel, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Thailand
Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir, Laurent Bouzereau, UK and Germany
The Central Park Five, Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, David McMahon, USA
*Trashed, Candida Brady, UK
*Villegas, Gonzalo Tobal, Argentina, Netherlands, and France

Midnight Screenings
愛と誠 Ai To Makoto (The Legend of Love & Sincerity), Takashi Miike, Japan
Dario Argento’s Dracula, Dario Argento, France, Spain and Italy
Maniac, Franck Khalfoun, USA and France
*The Sapphires, Wayne Blair, Australia

65th Anniversary
Une journée particulière, Gilles Jacob and Samuel Faure, France

*First Film, competes for Camera d’Or

Short Films Competition
Ce Chemin Devant Moi, Mohamed Bourokba (aka Hamé), France, 15’
Chef de Meute (Herd Leader), Chloé Robichaud, Canada, 13’
Cockaigne, Emilie Verhamme, Belgium, 13’
في المنافسة Falastein, Sandouk Al Intezar Lil Burtuqal (Waiting for P.O. Box), Bassam Chekhes, Syria, 15’
Gasp, Eicke Bettinga, Germany, 15’
Mi Santa Mirada, Alvaro Aponte-Centeno, Puerto Rico, 15’
Night Shift, Zia Mandviwalla, New Zealand, 14’
Sessiz-be Deng (Silent), L. Rezan Yeşilbaş, Turkey, 14’
The Chair, Grainger David, USA, 12’
Yardbird, Michael Spiccia, Australia, 13’

The Cinéfondation Selection
Fifteen films have been selected out of more than 1,700 submissions from 320 film schools across the globe. For the first time, a Lebanese school features in the selection, which covers fiction and animation and highlights films sharing the same film-making ambition and the expression of a very personal vision.

Abigail, Matthew James Reilly, NYU, USA, 17’
Derriere Moi Les Oliviers (Behind Me Olive Trees), Pascale Abou Jamra, ALBA, Lebanon, 20’
ДОРОГА НА Doroga na (The Road To), Taisia Igumentseva,VGIK, Russia, 32’
Head Over Heels, Timothy Reckart, NFTS, UK, 10’
Les Ravissements (The Raptures), Arthur Cahn, La Femis, France, 50’
Los Anfitriones (The Hosts), Miguel Angel Moulet, EICTV, Cuba, 16’
Matteus, Leni Huyghe, Sint-Lukas Brussels, Belgium, 18’
Pude ver un Puma (Could See a Puma), UCINE, Argentina, 17’
רסן - טריילר Resen (Dog Leash), Eti Tsicko, TAU, Israel, 26’
Riyoushi (The Barber), Shoichi Akio, Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan, 39’
Slug Invasion, Morten Helgeland, The Animation Workshop, Denmark, 6’
Tabăra Din Răzoare (The Camp in Razoare), Cristi Iftime, UNATC, Romania, 22’
Tambylles, Michal Hogenauer, FAMU, Czech Republic, 58’
Terra (Land), Piero Messina, CSC, Italy, 23’
The Ballad of Finn + Yeti, Meryl O’Connor, UCLA, USA, 18’

Short Films and Cinéfondation Jury
President: Jean Pierre Dardene, director, scriptwriter and producer, Belgium
Karim Ainouz, director and scriptwriter, Brazil
Emmanuel Carrere, writer, scriptwriter and director, France
Arsinée Khanjian, actress, Canada
Yu Lik Wai, director of photography and filmmaker, China

Well the Competition has a lot of Hollywood stars that surely will walk the red carpet plus give us full serious and not-so-serious material, just check some names: Zac Efron, John Cusac, Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, Eva Mendes, Robert Pattinson, Brad Pitt, Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain, Reese Witherspoon, Kristen Stewart, Kriisten Dunst, Bruce Willis, etc. But –thankfully- great actors will also grace the red carpet like Isabelle Huppert, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Mads Mikkelsen, Juliette Binoche, and Marion Cotillard.

To check announcement at official site go here or check the press release here.

Watch Main Selection trailers @MOC
Watch Un Certain Regard trailers @MOC
Watch Short Films trailers @MOC
Watch Cinéfondation trailers @MOC
Watch trailers and clips at Cannes Official site.

Cannes 2012 Official Selection Preview - South Korean Movies

There are two movies from South Korea and both are absolutely Must Be Seen for me for different reasons. These are my motives and reasons.

다른 나라에서 Da-reun Na-ra-e-suh (In Another Country) by Hong Sangsoo

Not really familiar with director that came to be known by me with his 2010 Un Certain Regard top award winner 하하하 HaHaHa but film stars one of my favorite actresses, Isabelle Huppert that makes me watch all her movies, a task that is quite difficult as she's a very busy actress.

What do I expect from this movie? Isabelle Huppert always does very intense characters in mostly very strange movies that travel the intensity level from light to really heavy. Of course there are some exceptions but this movie seems to be no exception and got my clue from synopsis.

A young film student and her mother run away seaside town of Mohang to escape their mounting debt. The young woman begins writing a script for a short film in order to calm her nerves:
Three women named Anne appear, and each woman consecutively visits the seaside town of Mohang. The first Anne is a successful film director. The second Anne is a married woman secretly in an affair with a Korean man. The third Anne is a divorcée whose husband left her for a Korean woman.
A young woman tends to the small hotel by the Mohang foreshore owned by her parents. A certain lifeguard can always be seen wandering up and down the beach that lies nearby. Each Anne stays at this small hotel, receives some assistance from the owner’s daughter, and ventures onto the beach where they meet the lifeguard.

With this plot summary you have to expect a complex -hopefully very intense- narrative that trailer and any of the available movie clips do not show as we know that narrative complexity is something that is not easy to show with a few scenes.



Hong Sangsoo in Cannes

His Cannes history starts in 1998 when Kangwon-do ui him (The Power of Kangwon Province) is shown at Un Certain Regard section, a section that sees him coming back with 3 more films and where in 2010 wins the top award with HaHaHa. He has competed twice for the Palme d'Or, first in 2004 with Yeojaneun namjaui miraeda (Woman is the Future of Man) then in 2005 with Geuk jang jeon (Tale of Cinema).

No doubt that acclaimed Korean cinema auteur has a significant history with Cannes, add that film is the vehicle for Huppert performance and you know that film could get honors at fest. With the eclectic jury I foresee that this film could call their attention and know that Huppert could be considered for the Best Actress award. As I refuse to learn more about this movie and have very little idea about Huppert character, consequently my first impression is that she has small opportunities to win as seems that Cotillard and Kidman characters are a lot more dramatic.

My love affair with Korean cinema is very limited as I have identified several key directors that I try to follow and watch everything from them; but discovering new ones has become a difficult task as I have had non-positive experiences with many films I have seen. Maybe is time to try again and definitively this director has to be on top of the list.

I know there are many of us that watch everything with Isabelle Huppert, so if you are one of them then this film is must be seen for you too.

Film Specs
Directed by Hong Sangsoo
Written by Hong Sangsoo
Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Junsag Yu, Yumi Jung
Language: English and Korean
Nationality: South Korea (and France: co-production with Les Films du Camélia)
Runtime: 1h 28m
Production Year: 2012
Aka: Dareun Narayeseo

End Notes
Hong Sangsoo at Cannes go here.
Movie at Cannes site go here.
Director asianwiki go here.

돈의 맛 Do-nui Mat (The Taste of Money), Im Sang-soo

Highly excited that outstanding 하녀Hanyeo (The Housemaid) has a sequel (or so it seems) as I don't mind to continue learning about Korean wealth and Chaebul/Korean conglomerates stories; but is the expectation of how story will be told what makes me feel like "dying" to watch this film. Check the synopsis.

Young-jak who is a private secretary of madam Baek, the center power of Korean conglomerate, deals with immoral private issues of her wealthy family.
He reports to madam Baek that her husband, Mr. Yoon is having an affair with a Filipino nanny, Eva. Madam Baek is now despaired, then greedily seducing Young-jak for her sexual desire.
On the other hand, he begins to feel conflicted by madam Baek’s daughter, the only family member who approaches him with the true heart.
Lost between his morality and shortcut to successful life, he has to make the biggest decision he’s ever made to choose whom he will hang on to, in order to survive in this harsh world.

I know synopsis seems like a soap opera but knowing Im Sang-soo storytelling technique used in The Housemaid I expect that while narrative still will be a melodrama, visual storytelling absolutely will transport you into the world of cinema art. Just watch trailer and look at awesome film stills.



What do I expect from film? Absolutely stunning, breathtaking images thanks to outstanding locations, set designs, excellent camera, great editing, and other tech specs that are used to impressively recreate wealth in modern times. At least that's what Im Sang-soo did in The Housemaid and was truly close to perfection. Add great actors' performances plus amazing director storytelling technique and you get everything that's in my mind.

Im Sang-soo in Cannes

Not a long history as Im Sang-soo debuted in Cannes with The Housemaid but I'm sure that film being in Cannes allowed director international awareness. I wonder if this time film will get recognition but if film is as similar to The Housemaid as I imagine then film should get recognition for its cinematography and set design; unfortunately Cannes does not give any awards in those categories. Sigh.

Film Specs
Directed by Im Sang-soo
Written by Lim Sang-soo
Starring: Yoon Yeo-Jung, Kim Kang-Woo, Kim Hyo-Jin, Baek Yeo-Jung, On Joo-Wan
Language: Korean
Nationality: South Korea
Runtime: 114 minutes
Production Year: 2012

End Notes
Im Sang-soo at Cannes go here.
Movie at Cannes site go here.
Director at asianwiki go here.
Movie site go here.

Cannes 2012 Official Selection Preview - On The Road by Walter Salles

Since I learned about this film, long before Cannes, I became apprehensive as is not easy for me to imagine a very American story in the hands of a Brazilian director that hasn't done movies in non-Portuguese language that move me. Add that project has been regarded for decades as one of the most elusive unmade movies since 1957 when Warner Brothers offered to buy the rights to Francis Ford Coppola in 1979 buying the film rights to Jack Kerouac's classic novel with the same name and you get apprehensive and nervous.

Seems that screenplay took about 4 years to complete and there was a "war" between the Salles team and the father/son Coppolas and to be honest I find quite interesting the story of how this film has been unmade for 55 years, at least more than the story I can imagine will be told from Kerouac's novel that I found to be extremely complex yet fascinating.

So my expectations are quite low in almost every sense except when it comes to the very interesting cast. Starring Sam Riley an actor that simply blew my mind in amazing Anton Corbijn's Control plus THAT actress that I follow long before she became a celebrity, Kristen Stewart, and hopes improve. Plus film has to be peppered with good performances by well-known actors like Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, Viggo Mortensen, Elizabeth Moss, Terrence Howard, and Steve Buscemi. Still, we have to see what Salles managed to do with them.

One thing I'm sure about this film, that will not have anything to do with mainstream commercial movies as everything about this film suggest arty film, including being in competition at Cannes. So, there has to be a reason why film was selected to the most famous festival and this makes me VERY curious plus gives me hope of having a good cinematic experience when finally I watch it. After all hope is the last to die.

Last have to consider that Salles seems to be specialized in "road movies" as almost all of his honored films tell this kind of stories; consequently this is his best credential to hope that On The Road -obviously a road movie- will be a great film. See following synopsis.

New York, the late 1940's. After his father's death, Sal Paradise, an aspiring 24- year old writer, meets Dean Moriarty, a 20-year old ex-jailbird with flexible morals and a devastating charm. Dean is fascinated by Sal's obsession with writing; Sal is fascinated by Dean's unfettered freedom. They spend their intense, alcohol-fueled nights dreaming of another world, forming a Friendship that will take them on the road across the USA. After a stay at Bull Lee's place in Louisiana, Sal, Dean and his beautiful young wife Marylou form a merry threesome, traveling naked and freely enjoying themselves, a suspended moment in time.

So after going from negative to positive what exactly do I expect from this movie? Great visuals from Eric Gautier that also worked with Salles in the Motorcycle Diaries and trailer plus film stills promise them; also expect -or hope- for a non-traditional narrative style (done in the editing room), hopefully interesting enough to find some similarities to the written style of the book -but I know this will be hard, still will be a great surprise. Last, good performances by actors that I know can do great character interpretations.



Salles in Cannes

With about 22 films Salles comes to Cannes relatively late, but we have to consider that most of his earlier work are documentaries or shorts; still is surprising to find that acclaimed Central Station didn't go to Cannes, but probably was because won the Golden Bear at 1998 Berlinale. His Cannes history starts in 1999 when he was a jury member for Short Films competition and came back in 2002 to again be a jury member at the main competition.

Is not until 2004 when he comes with a film, Diarios de Motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries) that was in competition and went to win the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury plus the Francois Chalais Award; comes back with a short in Paris Je T'Aime at Un Certain Regard and in 2007 with another short in Chacun son Cinema (To Each His Own Cinema) that was Out of Competition. Returns in 2008 with his acclaimed film Linha de Passe competing for the Palme d'Or.

No doubt that Salles has been around the festival circuit with great success, but his Cannes history seems too short to be significant; which means that he has only opportunities to impress and maybe, only maybe, he will impress with this movie and collect top honors. This is a film that I have to watch to give any recommendation, nevertheless is a Must Be Seen movie for me because one I actress that makes me watch everything she does.

Film Specs
Directed by Walter Salles
Written by José Rivera
Starring: Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, Viggo Mortensen, Elizabeth Moss
Language: English
Nationality: Majority French (France, UK, USA, Brazil)
Runtime: 2h 17m
Production Year:  2011
NorthAmerican Rights: AMC Networks, jointly distributed by IFC Films and Sundance Selects

End Notes
On the Road at Cannes site go here.
Salles in Cannes go here.
Good Article go here.
Mk2 go here. Check great posters.
Movie Official site here.
Unifrance go here.

Last a fascinating map that shows the traveling by the man (Kerouac), the book and the movie.



Why the long post? When I was a very young kid I "found" the beat movement and I adopted as much as I could due to younger age; stayed with me until The Beatles came to America, then EVERYTHING changed. The movie theme is very emotional for me. Sigh.

Cannes 2012 Official Selection Preview - De Rouille et d’Os (Rust & Bone) by Jacques Audiard

Very excited about this movie not only because is Jacques Audiard next film after outstanding Un Prophète (A Prophet) but also because Marion Cotillard is the main character in a woman-centered story that surely will not be easy to watch but I know is the vehicle for a superb performance by Cotillard.

In the last 18 years Audiard has made only 5 films and I have seen only one, a number that I hope to improve ASAP; so it's not easy to have clear expectations especially because four of his previous films are male-centered and this one is female-centered. Nevertheless I expect raw violence and what I call a "very French" movie with outstanding visuals, great storytelling style and superb actors' performances; but most of all, I know I have to get an intense emotional voyage that will take me and shake me up and down.

Film synopsis is distressing.

Ali suddenly finds himself in charge of Sam, his 5 years old son that he barely knows. Penniless and without friends, he leaves the north of France to seek shelter at his sister’s in Antibes. Even though she and her husband do not have much money, they make a room for them in their garage and take care of Sam. Ali finds work as a bouncer at a local nightclub. After diffusing a fight one evening, he meets Stephanie a beautiful, self-confident woman. He takes her home and leaves her his number. But she is a princess and he is a poor fellow.

Stephanie is a killer whale trainer at the local Marineland. After a terrible accident one day, Ali gets an unexpected phone call from Stephanie. When he sees her again she is crammed into a wheelchair. She has lost both her legs and her dreams. Ali will share genuine moments with her, without pity, and help her to live again

Outstanding visuals (trailer) plus the intense emotional voyage is more than suggested when Audiard and Thomas Bidegain talk about the movie, here is an excerpt.

Dès le début de notre travail d’adaptation, nous nous sommes tournés vers une forme cinématographique que faute de mieux nous appelions « expressionniste », où la force des images viendrait servir le mélodrame. Une esthétique tranchée, brutale et contrastée. Celle de la Grande Dépression, celle des films de foire, où l’extraordinaire étrangeté des propositions visuelles sublime la noirceur du réel. Celle d’un monde où « Dieu vomit les tièdes ».

There are high probabilities that my expectation will be met and even surpassed. A few film stills from the many available to show beauty and violence.




Audiard in Cannes

With only five films, this is his sixth, there is no surprise to find that his first film Regarde les hommes tomber (See How They Fall) was screened at 1994 Cannes at a parallel section; two years later in 1996 comes back with Un héros très discret (A Self-Made Hero) this time in competition for the Palme d'Or and winner of the fest Best Screenplay. Is in 2009 when he returns with outstanding Un Prophète (A Prophet) also in competition and winner of the Grand Prix.

Buzz claims that Audiard is THE frontrunner for this year top winner as he has to get the Palme that was "robbed" from him in 2009. I don't agree with the "robbed" part (Haneke won) but with his credentials and from the little I'm willing to see and read about this movie I don't doubt that this is the film to beat. Still is the jury and no one else who will decide, but from what I know from jurors I tend to think that this could be a film most will be pleased with.

Also don't doubt that Marion Cotillard has to be a strong contender for the fest Best Actress award and won't be surprised if she gets it.

I read and watched more videos than I usually do to write this, which some of you recall that I don't like to do as I love to be surprised by great films, especially by French films, so I hope that after all that I learned I can still be intensively surprised. Obviously is a Must Be Seen movie for me and one that I strongly recommend to those that enjoy French cinema, a recommendation that comes even before watching film. If you haven't seen A Prophet, I suggest you watch it ASAP as will blow your mind and body.

Film Specs
Directed by Jacques Audiard
Written by Jacques Audiard and Thomas Bidegain
Starring: Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts, Bouli Lanners, Céline Sallette
Language: French
Nationality: Majority French (France and Belgium)
Runtime: 1h 55m
Production Year: 2011

End Notes
De Rouille et d’Os at Cannes site go here. There are 4 videos that I refuse to watch, enough with trailer.
Audiard in Cannes go here.
Why Not productions go here.
Ucg distribution go here.
Unifrance go here.

Cannes 2012 Official Selection Preview - American Films

There are five (5) only USA production movies in the Palme d'Or competition and to make my life easier decide to do one post for all of them.

Opening Film: Moonrise Kingdom by Wes Anderson.

Can't deny that I have seen all Anderson movies but unfortunately his storytelling style is not one that I enjoy; from all his feature films perhaps The Royal Tenenbaums is the one that I dislike less. Can't help but share that his style is fantastic for ads and he has some really outstanding ads. I expect this film to have his peculiar filmmaking and storytelling style that showcases methodical cinematography, dry humor, flawed characters and "wandering around" narrative.

Film has some of his regular actors but this time includes Tilda Swinton that I really hope will walk the red carpet on opening night and is about the only thing that excites me from this film. Is his first time in Cannes and I believe he has to pay his dues before being honored at this fest, still juries are the ones that decide honors so anything could happen. Film already has the honor of being Cannes opening film which assures the presence well-know Hollywood actors at fest opening red carpet.

Film Specs: IMDb
End Notes: Cannes official site.
Trailer go here.



Killing Them Softly by Andrew Dominik

Know him only from his previous movie The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford a film that I did not enjoyed at all and since was being a not-positive experience I didn't finish watching, sigh. From photos, video at Cannes site and film synopsis I imagine something very similar to his previous film, but somehow this time want to be positive as film style kind of resembles Ken Loach raw realistic approach.

Film has some well-known Hollywood actors and one celebrity: Brad Pitt that surely will walk the red carpet again. Is his first time at Cannes and believe that being in competition could be the main honor this film will collect in the fest.

Film Specs: IMDb
End Notes: Cannes official site.
Clip go here.

Lawless by John Hillcoat

I'm excited with this film as from trailer looks and feels like good entertainment escape moment kind of movie plus has a very interesting cast with one actor that I'm waiting for him to stop doing teenage targeted movies and seems he finally did, Shia LaBeouf. But also acclaimed Jessica Chastain and Mia Wasikowska are here, plus Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman and Guy Pearce.

Not familiar with director as haven't seen any of his films, maybe I should check The Road to have an idea about his filmmaking style.

Is Hillcoat first time in Cannes and IF jury wishes to give any honor to an American film, this could be one of the possibilities just because visual images are kind of interesting.

Film Specs: IMDb
End Notes: Cannes official site.
Trailer go here.


Mud by Jeff Nichols

This movie could be a different kind of American film just because director previous movie is outstanding Take Shelter that not only had absolutely great visuals but story was superb, just read my review here to see what film did to me.

With this background I have high hopes for this movie where I expect the dichotomy of having a simple story told in a complex and layered way that magnificently could confuse viewers plus essential gorgeous visuals. Clips at Canes site assure me that will get the visuals and just hope story will be amazingly told.

Casting has top Hollywood actors and well-known actors like Michael Shannon who was also in Take Shelter; so we could see Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon walking the red carpet which will assure wide media coverage to a film that deserves it.

Is Jeff Nichols second time in Cannes. First time was last year when Take Shelter was screened at la Semaine de la Critique and went to win the parallel section top award plus the SACD Award. This year his film is in competition which tells me that this young of age and young at Cannes director will have a long relationship with the fest. Oh yes, I believe that from all American films this is the one that could (and should) win top honors. Obviously is a Must Be Seen movie for me.

Film Specs: Cannes official site.
End Notes: Two clips here.

The Paperboy by Lee Daniels

Acclaimed Lee Daniels got his way into the Cannes main competition after being honored all over the world for his 2009 sophomore film, Precious that is another film that I simply could not watch completely as was making me sick in so many ways that had to stop and leave.

I believe this film has to be different to his previous as not only has a star-studded cast but from images and clips looks/feels with less disturbing style. Film could be the second time Matthew McConaughey will walk the red carpet this time in the company of none other than Nicole Kidman, John Cusack and well, Zac Efron. Don't have expectations about this film but I know will watch more because the cast than because the director.

Is Daniels second time in Cannes, the first was with Precious screened at 2009 Un Certain Regard section and have to admit that this is the second American film most likely to get honors at Cannes not only because director's credentials but also because Nicole Kidman performance that has generated buzz thanks to Thierry Fremaux's comments for selecting this film, which could mean Kidman winning Best Actress.

Film Specs: IMDb.
End Notes: Cannes official site.
Clip here.

American films are not my cup of tea when I want to watch great cinema BUT fortunately I have seen many that positively surprise and impress me beyond my wildest imagination thus I'm hoping for my own selfish pleasure that one of the above films will do it again for me. I'm sure Nichols' Mud will impact me but I should be careful with my expectations and don't up them too high.

Cannes 2012 Official Selection Preview - ライク・サムワン・イン・ラブ Like Someone in Love by Abbas Kiarostami

With a unique style Kiarostami absolutely challenges viewers by playing with our expectations and provoking our imagination. His style is magnificently unpretentious poetic and with a not-always clear philosophical vision that only stimulates more the imagination. That's what I expect from Like Someone in Love, the same expectations I had for Copie Conforme (Certified Copy) that were fulfilled above my highest expectations as you can see in my review here.

If you watch gorgeous trailer here and think about the following synopsis I'm sure that your imagination will start to fly in whatever direction you feel like. But be assured that when watching film anything could be possible and most likely will not resemble what you imagined.

An old man and a young woman meet in Tokyo. She knows nothing about him, he thinks he knows her. He welcomes her into his home, she offers him her body. But the web that is woven between them in the space of twenty four hours bears no relation to the circumstances of their encounter.

I know that visuals in his films are outstanding but have to admit that Kiarostami captures me with his narrative, his stories and his storytelling technique grab me so much that visuals go to a second place which is unusual as I'm a very visual cinema lover. But I do expect great visuals from this movie and the following images plus trailer tell me that I will get them.



Kiarostami in Cannes

Kiarostami and Cannes have a long history that started in 1992 with Zendegi Edame Darad (Life, and Nothing More...) at the Un Certain Regard section, came back in 1994 with Zire Darakhtan Zeyton (Though the Olive Trees) in competition for the Palme and his story is so long that just let me share that has been in competition 4 times, this film is his fifth. He won (ex aequo with Shôhei Imamura's Unagi) the Palme d'Or in 1997 with fabulous Ta'm e Guilass (Taste of Cherry).

Can't say that have seen all his films, it's very hard to find his earlier Iranian movies, but from the ones I have seen and his history at Cannes, plus Certified Copy not winning the Palme d'Or in 2010 (but Juliette Binoche winning Best Actress) and this film looking/feeling very similar I believe that he will not get a major award. Still inside my deepest self I hope this time he gets a more than deserved recognition.

Film Specs
Directed by Abbas Kiarostami
Written by Abbas Kiarostami
Former known as: The End
Starring: Rin Takanashi, Tadashi Okuno, Ryō Kase
Nationality: Majority Japan (France, Japan)
Filming locations: Tokyo, Japan
Runtime: 109 minutes
Production year: 2011

End Notes
Movie at Cannes site go here.
Kiarostami in Cannes go here.
Mk2 go here.

Cannes 2012 Official Selection Preview - După dealuri (Beyond the Hills) by Cristian Mungiu

I fell in love with Romanian cinema thanks to Cristian Mungiu that with his truly outstanding film 4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days) gave me reason to explore the Romanian cinema new wave and I plunged so deep that even went to learn the language.

For me Mungiu's style in 4 months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is highly emotional, a film that explodes your emotions in a roller-coaster way, a very intense emotional experience while straight-forward telling a simple yet very disturbing story. That's exactly what I imagine will get from his third feature-length movie especially because is another women story inspired by true events.

With my wild imagination I'm hoping that film could have "some" lesbian interest as synopsis below plus some of the images gave me the hope; still, the lesbian interest is absolutely non-essential for me to be highly excited about this film.

Alina returns to Romania from Germany, hoping to bring Voichita - the only person in the world she loves and was loved by - back to her. But Voichita has found God - and God is the hardest lover of all to be jealous of.

I relate Mungiu's work mainly with intense emotions but Beyond the Hills stills give the impression that this time Mungiu will also deliver breathtaking visuals as the ones that follow.



In the end my expectations rotate around intense emotions with fabulous visuals in a simple story told in Mungiu's very particular style which I imagine had to evolve in his third oeuvre. Obviously this is a must be seen for me.

Cristian Mungiu in Cannes

Mungiu's relationship with Cannes starts in 2002 when his debut film Occident is screened in the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs; then five years later, in 2007, he returns with outstanding 4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days) in competition which went to win the Palme d'Or. Two years later, in 2009, Amintiri din epoca de aur (Tales from the Golden Age), a shorts collection written by Mungiu and directed by him plus other directors, is screened at Un Certain Regard section.

I don't doubt that Mungiu could get a second Palme but I'm dubious if is going to be this year. Nevertheless he has a strong relationship with the festival that has screened ALL his feature-length films plus some of his shorts and most of all already is a Cannes Palme d'Or winner, so he has to be a strong contender that could get significant recognition.

Film Specs
Directed by Cristian Mungiu
Written by Cristian Mungiu (Inspired by the non-fiction novels of Tatianei Niculescu Bran)
Starring: Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur, Valeriu Andriuţă, Dana Tapalagă
Language: Romanian
Nationality: Majority Romanian (Romania, France, Belgium)
Runtime: 2h 35m
Production year: 2011-2012
North America rights: Sundance Selects

End Notes
După dealuri at Cannes site go here. There are three clips!!!
Mungiu in Cannes go here.
Mobra films go here.
Le Pacte go here.
Why Not Productions go here.
Wild Bunch International go here.
Film New Europe go here.
Unifrance go here.