Our Amanda Gilmore has arrived in Cannes to deliver us some coverage of the Festival, its stars and most buzzy films! The Festival is on now through May 27, 2023. Today, she attended the Press Conference for this year’s Jury, featuring some very accomplished names in the industry including Paul Dano, Brie Larson, Ruben Östlund and Julia Ducornau.
Some quotes from today, starting with Paul Dano.
Dano: “I’m so excited to be here and be surrounded by these people”. “I’ve been going every year since I was a teenager to the Cannes Festivalto see what films I wanted to seek-out, especially foreign filmmakers.”.
He also comments on the current Writers’ Strike taking place in Hollywood and both him and his wife Zoe Kazan working hard to create awareness for the cause.
Dano: “My wife is currently on the picket line with our (child) and when I get home I will join her on the picket line.”.
Julia Ducournau, Palme d’Or-winning Director of acclaimed Titane also is a jury member and comments about the Festival.
Ducournau: “I was extremely happy they let me do this”. “I don’t want to know anything about the films before I see them. You come here for open-mindedness.”.
She comments on handing on the torch and what the impact of winning a Palme d’Or can have on one’s career.
Ducournau: “Giving the Palme d’Or to someone can really change their life. It’s the Holy Grail!”.
Ruben Östlund, Director of Oscar-nominated Triangle of Sadness, speaks about being Jury President.
Östlund: “You try to crate a certain atmosphere”. “People shouldn’t be scared to say what they want.
We don’t have to be smart, we just have to have the first instinct and speak what we think.”.
He is asked what he thinks of this year’s in-competition films:
Östlund: “We’re going to keep our mouths completely shut this year.”.
Academy Award-winning Actress Brie Larson comments on her approach to work and having expectations going into see a film.
Larson: “I take the same level and care in everything. It doesn’t matter the budget, a film is a film”. “I love going into films without knowing anything”.
Remember to bookmark this link and check daily for updates, reviews and sightings from this year’s Festival!
Some sights from Cannes from Amanda:
(Photo credit: Amanda Gilmore)
By Nicholas Porteous
A group of vapid rich people and Social Media influencers go on an ill-fated cruise. This is Ruben Östlund‘s second Palme d’Or winner in a row, and all the things that make his work captivating are on full display: dynamic and inventive blocking, an absolutely lavish production, laugh-out-loud moments of excess, and an ensemble of grounded yet deliciously absurd performances across the board.
Unfortunately, his limitations as a Writer are also particularly sharp here. The dominant themes of rich and poor, skilled and inept, culture assigning value to those least deserving, and absolute power corrupting you know what… they’re all rather tired, which would be easier to swallow if the Movie wasn’t an hour longer than it should be.
Structurally, there are a number of odd choices–our presumably lead characters are introduced and fleshed out for the First Act, then basically forgotten for the pivotal middle section. Arguably, the most interesting character of the Film is kept out of the narrative until near the end, and while I understand Östlund might be making a statement by hiding them, it comes at the expense of what could have been a far richer story of personal transformation. He has a habit of leaving the most potentially interesting moments of character development off-camera.
While there is a lot to be enjoyed here–and I would still consider Triangle worthy of your attention–be aware that this lengthy journey out to sea is a shallow one.
TRIANGLE OF SADNESS screens as follows at TIFF ’22:
Tues, Sep 13 IN-PERSON Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre 9:30pm
Wed, Sep 14 IN-PERSON Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre 5:30pm
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