Where My Girls At? The Maybe Cannes Bound Edition
Thursday, March 31, 2016 at 11:30AM Here's Murtada speculating about which lovely ladies might appear at the Cannes Film Festival.
There is one thing that is certain to happen at Cannes every May. Marion Cotillard appears on the famous steps, resplendent in Dior couture, to represent a film in competition. She knocks everyone's socks off with her performance, then invariably fails to win best actress from the jury. It happened with Rust and Bone (2012), The Immigrant (2013), Two Days One Night (2014) and Macbeth (2015). Is there a Cotillard/Cannes awards curse?
This year she will have two more chances to lose, and cement the legend of the curse...
Both Xavier Dolan’s It’s Only the End of the World and Nicole Garcia’s From the Land of the Moon (pictured above), are expected at the croisette. Lea Seydoux, Vincent Cassel and Gaspard Ulliel star in the former. Louis Garrel is in the latter, which was recently bought by Sundance Selects for US release. They’ve secured a best actress Oscar nomination the last couple of years (Cotillard and Charlotte Rampling). Could they make it three? That would make Cotillard the first actress to be nominated for three non-English speaking performances. That's more likely than a best actress win at Cannes!
Kristen Stewart also has possibly two films headed to Cannes. Already confirmed to open the festival out of competition is Woody Allen’s Cafe Society. The film, set in Hollywood during the 1930s, also stars Jesse Eisenberg, Blake Lively, Steve Carell and Parker Posey. Stewart is the headliner in Olivier Assayas’ drama about the Paris fashion world, Personal Shopper. Old Hollywood, Fashion, period costumes, Cannes- Stewart might be the actressexuals dream incarnate.
After winning the Cannes red carpet last year in that canary yellow Dior, Charlize Theron might shut down those steps again this year. She’s a director of an aid agency in Africa entangled with a doctor played by Javier Bardem in Sean Penn’s The Last Face which is heavily tipped for a competition slot.
Warren Beatty’s long gestating untitled Howard Hughes picture was recently acquired for distribution by Fox. Does that mean it will premiere at Cannes? We certainly hope so, if only to see Annette Bening make her Cannes debut. She skipped the festival when The Search premiered there in 2014. Alden Ehrenreich and Lily Collins are the leads but we will only have eyes for The Bening.
Other favorites who might be headed to Cannes include veterans Isabelle Huppert (Elle), and Juliette Binoche (Slack Bay), and newcomers Ruth Negga (Loving), Elle Fanning (The Neon Demon) and 2-time Cesar winner Adele Haenel (The Unknown Girl directed by Cannes favorites Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne).
Finally, 90s pop culture nostalgia might get a moment at Cannes 2016. Two of the biggest stars of that era, Jodie Foster and Julia Roberts, will walk the same red carpet on May 12th. Foster directed and Roberts stars in Money Monster, which is confirmed to premiere out of competition, in the same week it hits theaters in the US. That might become the photo op of the festival, specially with George Clooney in the middle. It will be hard to top this moment from last year but Julia, Jodie, George we implore you to try!
Which films would you like to see make this year's festival? And who would you like to see join George Miller in the jury?
Reader Comments (15)
How likely is it for How to Talk to Girls at Parties to get a Cannes Premiere? I'm thinking they like Nicole Kidman a lot!
Apparently Personal Shopper has been confirmed to be playing in competition. Get it, Kstew! What a big festival for her!
Rizz - that movie will probably screen at the fall festivals.
Rizz & murtada -- yeah. i don't think it's finished yet. but i'm SO looking forward.
Almodóvar's Julieta is also exepected to compete.
I have a feeling that as soon as Marion has a really acclaimed English-language role she will win a second Oscar.
Peggy Sue - yes! Very excited for the Almodovar. Also for Andrea Arnold's American Honey. Alas they didn't have actresses that TFE loves so didn't fit the theme of the piece.
Steve I would prefer if all her Oscar nominations were exclusively foreign language. It would make Cotillard standout in the record books.
This could be a very good Cannes year. Some years seem stronger than others. Cafe Society opening is a good sign, as a new Woody is always something worth seeing. Same for the Dardennes - I hope La Fille inconnue plays.
As for whom I would like to see join Miller on the jury - well, me, of course! It would be a dream job. I'm currently re-reading William Goldman's Hype & Glory, his account of his time as juror at the 1988 festival: it's priceless - recommended reading to all who haven't read it.
Marion will have a banner year with these 2 plus Assasin's Creed and the Brad Pitt. With Miller heading the jury does Charlize get the prize?
Where's the Jodie / Julia photo from? Looks like the 90s....
It's totally once in a blue moon when an actress is considered overdue for a Best Actress award on Cannes. Just give her one already! and that pic above of her just sends the vibe of fabulous mob wife, which I love though.
Ha! That amazing Mara-Haynes-Blanchett pic is from a greek site owned by a famous celebrity. These are the moments that make me proud of my people :p
I so want Marion to get more Oscar nominations. More importantly, I want her to get more great roles. Not sure there are any coming out soon.
Marion has got to be the actress that's made the most of her post-Oscar career in, like, forever!
/3rtful - I would prefer that too, don't get me wrong. I just think that if it ever happens, it could probably translate into a second Oscar. It's rare that such a recent winner is already considered overdue for a second, Cate Blanchett probably being the best previous example.
If Weightless is ready, Carol Aird and Therese Belivet could meet again in the stops of the Palais.