Cannes 2008

[Spinal]

In competition for the Palme d'Or: (http://film.guardian.co.uk/cannes2008/story/0,,2275620,00.html)

Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Three Monkeys (Turkey-France-Italy)
Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne, Le Silence De Lorna (France-Belgium)
Arnaud Desplechin, A Christmas Story (France)
Clint Eastwood, Changeling (US)
Atom Egoyan, Adoration (Canada)
Ari Folman, Waltz With Bashir (Israel)
Philippe Garrel, La Frontiere De L'Aube (France)
Matteo Garrone, Gomorra (Italy)
Charlie Kaufman, Synecdoche, New York (US)
Eric Khoo, My Magic (Singapore)
Lucretia Martel, La Mujer Sin Cabeza (Argentina-Spain)
Brillante Mendoza, Serbis (The Philippines)
Kornel Mondruczo, Delta (Hungary-Germany)
Walter Salles, Linha De Passe (Brazil)
Paolo Sorrentino, Il Divo (Italy)
Pablo Trapero, Leonera (Argentina-South Korea)
Wim Wenders, The Palermo Shooting (Germany)
Jia Zhangke, 24 City (China)
Steven Soderbergh - Che (US-Spain-France)

[Benny Profane]

I recognize 6 of those directors. I guess I'm not much a film fan.

[Spinal]

I recognize 6 of those directors. I guess I'm not much a film fan.

I recognize 7, so I'm in about the same place you are.

[Duncan]

Excited about the Egoyan, Dardenne Bros., and Jia Zhangke films. But I only recognize 7 of those directors, so...

[Spinal]

Feature Film Jury:

Sean Penn, President

Sergio Castellitto (Italian writer/director/actor)
Natalie Portman
Alfonso Cuaron
Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Thai director)
Alexandra Maria Lara (German actress)
Rachid Bouchareb (French director)

Short Film Jury:

Hou Hsiao Hsien, President

Suzanne Bier (Danish director)
Marina Hands (French actress)
Olivier Assayas (French director)
Larry Kardish (MoMA curator for film and cinema)

Un Certain Regard:

Faith Akin (German director), President

Camera d'or:

Bruno Dumont (French director), President

[Boner M]

I recognise 12. What do I win?

Can't fucking wait for the new Dardennes. Neat how all their films have premiered at Cannes exactly every three years. Very punctual.

Also anticipating the Desplechin, Garrel, Kaufman and Egoyan offerings. Not too big on Ceylan, Jia or Soderbergh though I'll see their films if they get good reviews, and it'd be nice for Wenders to make a triumphant return to form. Salles can go away.

[Spinal]

Indy 4 and Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona are showing Out of Competition.

Boy, Woody likes Scarlett Johansson, doesn't he?

[Eleven]

Only one title mentions monkeys, so I know who Spinal's rooting for.

Of course I'd happen to recognize eleven of the directors. :rolleyes:

[Boner M]

Must admit I'm looking forward to Scarlett and Penelope getting it on in the Woodman's latest more than any actual film.

[Spinal]

I can't say that any of the competition films excite me, though that may change as I learn more about them.

[Boner M]

I can't say that any of the competition films excite me, though that may change as I learn more about them.
Jesus christ, watch a Dardenne film already.

[Spinal]

Jesus christ, watch a Dardenne film already.

I have avoided them to spite you.

[Benny Profane]

Scarlett and Penelope getting it on

Really?

[Boner M]

Really?
Yeah. And a threesome with Chigurh as well, if the rumours are anything to go by.

[Boner M]

Un Certain Regard has some more big names...

BONG Joon Ho, Leos CARAX, Michel GONDRY - TOKYO! (WTF OMG!?)
Antonio CAMPOS - AFTERSCHOOL
CHUNG Mong-Hong - TING CHE (Parking)
Thomas CLAY - SOI COWBOY
Raymond DEPARDON - LA VIE MODERNE (PROFILS PAYSANS)
Andreas DRESEN - WOLKE 9
Sergey DVORTSEVOY - TULPAN
Amat ESCALANTE - LOS BASTARDOS
Joana HADJITHOMAS, Khalil JOREIGE - JE VEUX VOIR
Bent HAMER - O' HORTEN
Annemarie JACIR - MILH HADHA AL-BAHR (Le Sel De La Mer)
KUROSAWA Kiyoshi - TOKYO SONATA
LIU Fendou - YI BAN HAISHUI, YI BAN HUOYAN
Matheus NACHTERGAELE - A FESTA DA MENINA MORTA (La Fête De La Jeune Fille Morte)
Ruben ÖSTLUND - DE OFRIVILLIGA
Kelly REICHARDT - WENDY AND LUCY
Jean-Stéphane SAUVAIRE - JOHNNY MAD DOG
Pierre SCHOELLER - VERSAILLES
James TOBACK - TYSON

[Stay Puft]

What's 24 City? What happened to the Age of Tattoo? I'm having a hard time finding solid info on Jia's upcoming projects.

[Spinal]

Un Certain Regard has some more big names...



I recognize Gondry and Kurosawa. And without checking, I think Bong is the Host guy. Who else do you consider big names?

[Watashi]

Wait, Che is finally coming out?

Hell must be freezing over.

[Qrazy]

Salles can go away.

Haha have you seen anything other than Motorcycle Diaries? I thought it was OK, got a little cloying at the end. Maybe I'll check out Central Station at some point.

[Bosco B Thug]

Un Certain Regard has some more big names...

KUROSAWA Kiyoshi - TOKYO SONATA Whoo.


Haha have you seen anything other than Motorcycle Diaries? I thought it was OK, got a little cloying at the end. Maybe I'll check out Central Station at some point. And his Dark Water remake is unforgivably bland.

[DavidSeven]

That jury is definitely less exciting than those of recent years.

[Raiders]

I recognise 12. What do I win?

Damn. I had 11.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I recognize Bent Hamer from that second group as well.

[Grouchy]

Lucretia Martel, La Mujer Sin Cabeza (Argentina-Spain)
Pablo Trapero, Leonera (Argentina-South Korea)
Wow, great representation. Always been a fan of Lucrecia Martel. Not so much Trapero, but mostly because his last movie (Nacido y Criado / Born and Raised) is a piece of shit. In any case, Martel is one of only a handful of truly valuable Argentinian directors.

I recognize 10 directors.

[ledfloyd]

Really looking forward to the new Kelly Reichardt film.

J Michael Straczynski writing a Clint Eastwood film is interesting.

[Derek]

Damn. I had 11.

Woohoo, 12! Seen a film from each of them, except for Ceylan.

[Ezee E]

Go Charlie!

[MacGuffin]

Feature Film Jury:

Natalie Portman

:|

[balmakboor]

:|

Sean Penn, President

:cry::cry:

[balmakboor]

Crispin Glover, President

:pritch:

[Winston*]

What's your deal with Natalie Portman, Clipper Ship? Like, why would you have a grudge against her of all people?

[MacGuffin]

What's your deal with Natalie Portman, Clipper Ship? Like, why would you have a grudge against her of all people?

She really overacts. She's also really, really annoying in line delivery and her voice is grating. I'll also never understand why people find her attractive, and the attention she gets as an "actress" befuddles me.

[SirNewt]

She really overacts. She's also really, really annoying in line delivery and her voice is grating. I'll also never understand why people find her attractive, and the attention she gets as an "actress" befuddles me.

Well, thanks to Wes Anderson we now have proof that she has a nice butt.

[Ezee E]

She really overacts. She's also really, really annoying in line delivery and her voice is grating. I'll also never understand why people find her attractive, and the attention she gets as an "actress" befuddles me.
This post just makes no sense at all.

[MacGuffin]

This post just makes no sense at all.

Care to explain?

[trotchky]

This post just makes no sense at all.

Makes sense to me.

[Spinal]

I understand the sequence of words, but not the relationship they have to reality.

[Watashi]

Makes sense to me.

http://matchcut.org/viewtopic.php?t=10871

[NickGlass]

I recognise 12. What do I win?

Er...11 1/2 here.


Can't fucking wait for the new Dardennes.

YES.


Also anticipating the Desplechin, Garrel, Kaufman and Egoyan offerings.

Yup, yup, yup and yup.


Salles go away

Yeah.

[MacGuffin]

http://matchcut.org/viewtopic.php?t=10871

What in the fuck (with David Lynch style emphasis) does that have to do with anything?

[Spinal]

Er...11 1/2 here.


Do you recognize one Dardenne brother but not the other?

[Winston*]

Er...11 1/2 here.


You only recognise one of the Dardenne brothers?

[Winston*]

We're kindred spirits, Spinal and I.

[Spinal]

You only recognise one of the Dardenne brothers?

Well, this is frightening.

[Boner M]

Yeah, I didn't get that linkage either Wats. Still the greatest thread ever, though.

I kinda agree with CSC on Portman's acting (though I like her in some films), but it's no suprise she's on the jury considering the names she's worked with: Wes Anderson, Wong Kar-Wai, Milos Forman, Jim Sheridan, Michael Mann, Woody Allen, Mike Nichols, Tim Burton, Anthony Minghella, Amos Gitai, Mira Nair, Luc Besson, George Lucas... pretty awesome career choices for a 27-year-old.

[Kurosawa Fan]

http://matchcut.org/viewtopic.php?t=10871

*sigh*

Good times.

[Grouchy]

She really overacts. She's also really, really annoying in line delivery and her voice is grating. I'll also never understand why people find her attractive, and the attention she gets as an "actress" befuddles me.
Truth in capsules. She's a clumsy, lame actress and almost ruins the good movies she's in. She's not attractive - she has a rat's body.

Plus, I get the feeling she's a holier-than-thou bitch, like when she rejected the lead role in Lolita and then slammed it as "a sleazy movie".

[Spinal]

Cast for Trier's next film, Antichrist may be announced at Cannes:

Link. (http://twitchfilm.net/site/view/von-triers-antichrist-confirmed-shooting-in-germany/)

[D_Davis]

I recognize everything.

[Qrazy]

I recognize everything.

I recognize everything +1.

[Boner M]

Quiet this year... should we still have updates? Brief rundown, from what I've read:

Ceylan's 3 Monkeys seems like an early contender for Palm D'or, while the new Desplechin is also faring well.

Blindness is getting meh'd across the board.

Out of competition, Vicky Cristina Barcelona has raves from Cinematical, Time (Richard Corliss) and Variety, Kung Fu Panda has also been getting universally praised... might have to add that one to my SIFF lineup.

Might do more updates... though this year's crop is far less exciting than last year's.

[Winston*]

Kung Fu Panda has also been getting universally praised...
Wha? But it looked so awful.

[Ezee E]

Quiet this year... should we still have updates? Brief rundown, from what I've read:

Ceylan's 3 Monkeys seems like an early contender for Palm D'or, while the new Desplechin is also faring well.

Blindness is getting meh'd across the board.

Out of competition, Vicky Cristina Barcelona has raves from Cinematical, Time (Richard Corliss) and Variety, Kung Fu Panda has also been getting universally praised... might have to add that one to my SIFF lineup.

Might do more updates... though this year's crop is far less exciting than last year's.
Yeah, not much except for future movies actually.

I hear Blindness has some great performances that are basically wasted on a lame story.

As for the Woody Allen movie, I read that it is great when in Spanish, particularly Cruz/Bardem (of course) but fails everywhere else.

And that Three Monkeys is so far the only worthy one in competition so far.

[Watashi]

Does critical reaction matter at all at Cannes?

I mean, these are the same dudes that gave a 10 minute standing ovation for Clerks 2.

[Derek]

Does critical reaction matter at all at Cannes?

I mean, these are the same dudes that gave a 10 minute standing ovation for Clerks 2.

I don't remember the specifics, but I can't imagine many of the worthy critics were staying up for the midnight show of that one.

[Ezee E]

Does critical reaction matter at all at Cannes?

I mean, these are the same dudes that gave a 10 minute standing ovation for Clerks 2.
Yeah. Cannes is certainly bizarre. I'm still looking forward to Blindness. However, the lack of a highly praised or booed movie makes me fairly sure that the festival hasn't had anything huge to offer yet.

[Doclop]

Wha? But it looked so awful.
I saw Kung Fu Panda in March. It actually has some extremely clever and epic action scenes. I really liked the bad guy tiger whatever. The overall story plays out exactly how you'd expect and the humor misses more than it hits, but it's definitely a film with more merit than I expected.

Anyway, I'm very excited to see Blindness and Vicky Cristina Barcelona and will absolutely make it a priority to do so.

[Pop Trash]

Quiet this year... should we still have updates? Brief rundown, from what I've read:

Ceylan's 3 Monkeys seems like an early contender for Palm D'or, while the new Desplechin is also faring well.

Blindness is getting meh'd across the board.

Out of competition, Vicky Cristina Barcelona has raves from Cinematical, Time (Richard Corliss) and Variety, Kung Fu Panda has also been getting universally praised... might have to add that one to my SIFF lineup.

Might do more updates... though this year's crop is far less exciting than last year's.

Yeah I read Blindness was "meh'd" as you put it.

Indy did pretty well from the early reviews I read. Apparently there was lots of applause and whooping before the screening started and after the movie was over it got polite applause and no boos, which is good for a big ass Hollywood movie. I'll be seeing it tomorrow hopefully.

I read one review of Vicky Christina Barcelona that called it breezy, sexy, and entertaining, so I'll probably be seeing that one.

And I can't believe Kung Fu Panda is getting praise. It looks so bad.

I've never heard of 3 Monkeys.

[Rowland]

The first review I've seen for Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Tokyo Sonata (http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/18/cannes-review-tokyo-sonata/).

EDIT: Tom Mes over at Midnight Eye has a review (http://www.midnighteye.com/reviews/tokyo-sonata.shtml) up as well.

[Boner M]

The first review I've seen for Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Tokyo Sonata (http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/18/cannes-review-tokyo-sonata/).
There's a few here (http://daily.greencine.com/archives/006028.html#more) too... Midnight Eye calls it KK's masterpiece, Variety likes it well enough. Can't wait to see it in three weeks, though I need to get around to a lot of his stuff (only seen Pulse).

[Rowland]

There's a few here (http://daily.greencine.com/archives/006028.html#more) too... Midnight Eye calls it KK's masterpiece, Variety likes it well enough. Can't wait to see it in three weeks, though I need to get around to a lot of his stuff (only seen Pulse).I'm so fucking excited. Kurosawa is my man. His cinematic technique, choice of themes, and methods of exploring said themes really speak to me. If I made a movie, I suspect it'd feel an awful lot like a KK picture.

[Boner M]

Not gonna link, since I'm sure you can all read Greencine (http://daily.greencine.com) for yourself, but it's worth pointing out that Eastwood's latest The Changeling has been raved by the few reviews I've read, while the Dardennes' Lorna's Silence alternately been commended as another strong effort by its supporters, and an awkward attempt to branch out by it's detractors. Uber-auteur James Gray's new film Two Lovers has also garnered some mixed reviews. As with Gray's We Own the Night, most recognise the film's unhipness and earnestness, and either praise or damn such aspects. I didn't have to read Glenn Kenny's blog entry to know that the US critics don't care much for it, while the French love it (as was the case with WOTN).

There's also a new Terence Davies doco playing there that's been raved, and I only just realised is also on the Sydney Film Festival bill. Kewl.

[MacGuffin]

while the Dardennes' Lorna's Silence alternately been commended as another strong effort by its supporters, and an awkward attempt to branch out by it's detractors.

I especially like this part:


Glenn Kenny finds Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne's Le Silence de Lorna "every bit as nuanced, surprising, and deeply moving" as their 2005 Palme d'Or-winning L'Enfant.

Which is to say... none of those! :lol:

[Boner M]

Which is to say... none of those! :lol:
Ooh, burn.

[Qrazy]

I find Eastwood to be a fairly consistently boring filmmaker so The Changeling will have to win every order known to man in order to get me interested.

[Boner M]

I like Eastwood. Even when he's clunky, he's always heartfelt. That counts for something.

[Ezee E]

Cannes likes an Eastwood movie? That's never happened.

[Raiders]

Cannes likes an Eastwood movie? That's never happened.

Really? The French really like him. I remember Cahiers du cinema has had a number of Eastwood films in their year-end top ten, most notably A Perfect World, Unforgiven and Bridges of Madison County, I believe.

[Qrazy]

I like Eastwood. Even when he's clunky, he's always heartfelt. That counts for something.

Ron Howard is also heartfelt.

[Boner M]

Really? The French really like him. I remember Cahiers du cinema has had a number of Eastwood films in their year-end top ten, most notably A Perfect World, Unforgiven and Bridges of Madison County, I believe.
As did Space Cowboys.

[Derek]

Really? The French really like him. I remember Cahiers du cinema has had a number of Eastwood films in their year-end top ten, most notably A Perfect World, Unforgiven and Bridges of Madison County, I believe.

I might be wrong, but I'm think this is another case of your sarcasm detector being broken. :)

[Grouchy]

Really? The French really like him. I remember Cahiers du cinema has had a number of Eastwood films in their year-end top ten, most notably A Perfect World, Unforgiven and Bridges of Madison County, I believe.
Yeah, I think that was irony up there over your head.

Eastwood knows his craft and is never boring. He does suffer from the Allen problem of sometimes making movies without what feels like a real purpose, just to keep working. Like Blood Work, for me that was the case with that one.

[Ezee E]

Really? The French really like him. I remember Cahiers du cinema has had a number of Eastwood films in their year-end top ten, most notably A Perfect World, Unforgiven and Bridges of Madison County, I believe.

muahaha. Raiders fooled by the lack of a smiley again.

Cannes adores Eastwood. They have a unique cheer for him in fact. "CLEEEEEENT"

[Pop Trash]

The French love love love Clint Eastwood. I was just going to say that they even put frickin' Space Cowboys in their top ten but that other guy beat me to it. Anyways, I like the guys films even if some of them are a bit overrated. They feel maybe a little too simple, classic, and underambitious to me, but I guess that's also why many people love them. I will say that Million Dollar Baby was on TV the other night and I got quite choked up at the end, even though I've seen it before.

[Raiders]

I might be wrong, but I'm think this is another case of your sarcasm detector being broken. :)

Not broken, I just don't really have one for the Internet. I mean, read that statement as someone who has rarely paid attention to Cannes (I generally stay distanced from festival press).

[Boner M]

Che seems to be Soderbergh's 'white elephant' film, to borrow Andrew Sarris' term. 4+ hours long, comparisons with Heaven's Gate, polarised audience. Anne Thompson of the Variety blog:


"A folly." "A mess." "Great." These words came from some of the critics coming out of Steven Soderbergh's four-hour 18 minute Spanish-language Che Wednesday night. At the end there was slight applause; no boos. My own description: noble failure.

Glenn Kenny, Jeff Wells and James Rocchi of Cinematical all love it.

[Sven]

I don't know if I can take 4+ hours of Soderbergh. Isn't there a second film, too?

[Ezee E]

I don't know if I can take 4+ hours of Soderbergh. Isn't there a second film, too?
It is two two-hour films.

[Sven]

It is two two-hour films.

Aaaaah, well that's a little better, then.

[Grouchy]

It's in Spanish, so it already looks better than I expected.

[MacGuffin]

It's in Spanish, so it already looks better than I expected.

I think I'd fucking hate it if it were in English.

[lovejuice]

a four hour picture about the most overrated homo sapiens in the history. :run:

[soitgoes...]

a four hour picture about the most overrated homo sapiens in the history. :run:
I don't know about that, but I don't look forward to the bigger wave of "Che" merchandising that'll come out with this movie. I can't for the life of me understand how/why his image is plastered on so many items. Do people not get the enormous amount of irony when sporting their $25 Che t-shirts? I can't wait for a McDonald's tie in with this movie. Imagine the possibilities!!! Biting into a Double Che-Burger.

[soitgoes...]

Anyways. I'll see the movie, if only to spend money to see a bastardized account of his life. Haha! Capitalism triumphs!! :twisted:

[Qrazy]

I don't know about that, but I don't look forward to the bigger wave of "Che" merchandising that'll come out with this movie. I can't for the life of me understand how/why his image is plastered on so many items. Do people not get the enormous amount of irony when sporting their $25 Che t-shirts? I can't wait for a McDonald's tie in with this movie. Imagine the possibilities!!! Biting into a Double Che-Burger.

I was complaining to some acquaintances about the Che product phenomena and one of them had the gall to tell me he has a Che t-shirt and wears it because of his deep respect for the guy. A flip-side version of this I imagine is the type of person who believes that in order to be a good Patriot every American needs at least ten American flags. Empty commodified gestures. Spare me.

[Qrazy]

a four hour picture about the most overrated homo sapiens in the history. :run:

I dunno, controversial figures often make for very good cinematic targets... particularly if multiple facets of their personality are well represented.

Plus at least it's better than a George Bush film... oh wait.

[Boner M]

Egoyan's new film, Adoration, has three positive reviews from the trades (Variety, Screen Daily, Hollywood Reporter). Variety called it a 'fascinating muddle', but the other two are more enthusiastic.

[Sven]

Plus at least it's better than a George Bush film... oh wait.

I am decidedly more enthused about W than Che. Chalk it up to Stone's craziness trumping Soderbergh hackitude.

[Raiders]

I am decidedly more enthused about W than Che. Chalk it up to Stone's craziness trumping Soderbergh hackitude.

I feel confident that Stone's hackitude is greater than Soderbergh's.

[Ezee E]

I'll be willing to bet money that Che is two stars better than W.

[Qrazy]

I am decidedly more enthused about W than Che. Chalk it up to Stone's craziness trumping Soderbergh hackitude.

Are you kidding me? Stone has been hacking out the hackiest hackdom for the last ten years of any hack in a hacksack. Hack.

Plus filmmakers aside...

Che > W

[eternity]

When I decide between these two (or three, depends on what you consider Che and Guerrilla to be) disasters, I'll pick the one that will be at least an interesting disaster.

[lovejuice]

Che > W

as overrated as che is, i can't disagree with truth.

[Hugh_Grant]

PALME D'Or
"The Class," directed by Laurent Cantet

SPECIAL JURY AWARDS
Catherine Deneuve and Clint Eastwood

GRAND PRIZE
"Gomorra," directed by Matteo Garrone

BEST DIRECTOR
Nuri Bilge Ceylan, for "Three Monkeys"

BEST SCREENPLAY
Jean-Pierre et Luc Dardenne, "Lorna's Silence"

BEST ACTOR
Benicio Del Toro, in "Che"

BEST ACTRESS
Sandra Corveloni, in "Linha de Passe"

CAMERA D'OR
Hunger by Steve McQueen

CAMERA D'OR SPECIAL MENTION
Everybody Dies But Me by Valeria Gaï Guermanika

BEST SHORT FILM
Megatron by Marian Crisan

SHORT FILM SPECIAL MENTION
Jerrycan by Julius Avery

[Pop Trash]

Hmm interesting. The only Laurent Canet film I've seen is Time Out which I thought was way overrated (at least by critics) I guess the American films were all not that great. I still really want to see the Charlie Kaufman flick though.

[Ezee E]

Never even heard of Lurent Cantet

[eternity]

I guess Cannes loves their films with real school kids.