Red Carpet Lineup! I wonder how various countries feel about their awards being referred to as "the _____ Oscars" all the time. It's as if America's 83 year old institution is the only film institution, all others being "spinoffs" or somesuch. I know it's just shorthand but I wonder. The French César Awards for example. How do they feel? And also: why did the César's get started so much later than the Oscars, with France being the birthplace of cinema and all? They didn't start until the mid 70s by which time Oscar was already a middle aged institution.
Polanski at the Césars in 2003 with Adrien Brody | Polanski with Nathalie Baye at the Césars in 2011.
Fast forward to now. Roman Polanski, who was the toast of the show in early 2003 for The Pianist was also a darling of the night in early 2011 for The Ghost Writer, repeating the pattern we've been seeing all awards season: The Ghost Writer is awards bait everywhere but in the U.S.
The Gallic stars came out to celebrate the Césars. Here's a sampling of stars, one American who speaks perfect French, winners, and also a quick layover in Japan. after the jump.
Whenever I see Jodie Foster at an event like this with her perfect French and sharpboned beauty I always think, why doesn't she make movies in France where women over 40 can still get juicy parts? But then I remember that Jodie Foster could probably get most any part she wanted back in Hollywood too but clearly doesn't care. Ah well. Not all movie stars can be thespians to the bone marrow. Kristin Scott Thomas and Elsa Zylberstein, co-stars in I've Love You So Long. Remember Valerie LeMercier in Claire Denis's Friday Night? Her shoes seem to be fashioned from her dress? Are they attached? (She'll next be seen Stateside in the romantic comedy Monte Carlo starring Leighton Meester and Selena Gomez.) Finally the goddess herself Catherine Deneuve. You know how they call the American prize the "Oscar" even though people argue about how the name came to be? Why César? I mean, they didn't start until 1975 so why didn't they call the award "The Deneuve"
Emmanuelle Béart must have really done a number on me early on because I still think about her and I never see her in movies anymore. Any French readers know what happened to her erotic movie she made with her husband -- the one that Cannes didn't accept? Did it come out in theaters? Quentin Tarantino and Diane Kruger were still all chummy at the ceremony. He was receiving an honorary statue. Do you think she'll be in his next movie? Will he ever make one or are we due for a long lull again? Nathalie Baye. The End. Or Finis.
CESAR WINNERS
Film OF GODS AND MEN by Xavier Beauvois
First Film GAINSBOURG (VIE HEROIQUE) by Joann Sfar
Animated Film THE ILLUSIONIST by Sylvain Chomet
Foreign Film THE SOCIAL NETWORK by David Fincher
Director ROMAN POLANSKI, the Ghost Writer
Actress SARA FORESTIER, le nom des gens
Supporting Actress ANNE ALVARO, The Clink of Ice
Female Newcomer LEILA BEKHTI, tout ce qui brille
Oh man. If the Oscars had a female newcomer category we could be saved so much embarrassment at the way they neglect our best actresses for the new flavors of each year.
Actor ERIC ELMOSNINO in Gainsbourg (vie héroïque)
Supporting Actor MICHAEL LONSDALE Of Gods and Men
Male Newcomer EDGAR RAMIREZ Carlos
Original Screenplay Le Nom des Gens
Adapted Screenplay The Ghost Writer
Documentary Oceans by Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud
Short Film Logorama (this won the Oscar last year)
Costume Design La Princesse de Montpensier
Art Direction Les Aventures Extraordinaries d'Adele Blanc-sec
Editing The Ghost Writer
Cinematography Of Gods and Men
Music ALEXANDER DESPLAT, The Ghost Writer
Honorary César QUENTIN TARANTINO
Happy that Desplat won for such a great score. I suspect he repeats at the Oscars. But why couldn't they have nominated The Ghost Writer score instead? *sniffle*
P.S. Ubiquitous French hearththrob Louis Garrel was also there. [photo from Zimbio] He couldn't be bothered to brush his hair even for a black tie event. But that's kind of his thing.
He has a great cameo in Xavier Dolan's Heartbeats (just reviewed) and they'll be working together again in Dolan's third feature Laurence Anyways about a transsexual. [UPDATED: thanks to Stefano and Boyd. Garrel has dropped out of this film with Melvil Poupaud playing the would be transsexual instead. Nathalie Baye, also featured in this post, will play his mother.]