Behold the Pfirst image from "French Exit"
Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 4:13PM by Nathaniel R
Given the disarray of the 2020 movie calendar we definitely weren't expecting Sony Pictures Classics to begin promoting French Exit today. But they posted the photo above along with this cursive promise...
๐น๐๐๐๐ธ๐ฝ ๐ธ๐๐พ๐.
๐๐๐๐พ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐.
We don't know what "soon" means anymore in the vacuum of a real movie calendar that COVID-19 hath wrought but we do need something to look forward to so we'll take it. Whatever it means. Perhaps SPC has realized that there might just be a gigantic Best Actress window for 2020 and who better to pfill it than a woman who should already have 3 Oscars and has but 0?
The film is written and directed by Azazel Jacobs, and if you haven't seen his previous film, The Lovers (2017), which starred Debra Winger and Tracy Letts you should. He's good with actors.
Also can we pause to appreciate the cat inbetween La Pfeiff and Lucas Hedges? The last time Michelle Pfeiffer had a black cat companion onscreen she delivered one of her greatest performances.
Reader Comments (27)
Sorry to say it, but she looks awful here.
Apart from the cat, this shot is making me think of Savage Grace (mother and son, the hair color, the wealth).
I'm always excited to see Michelle, but it's especially great to see her leading another (p)film. "Where Is Kyra?" wasn't that long ago, but it just came and went and she's only popped up in supporting roles after that, so it's time! "The Lovers" was a sweet movie, but this one seems more tragicomic and apparently has a level of surreality to it, so it's exciting to see Jacobs doing something a little more ambitious.
Yay. I need more Michelle in my life.
I saw the cat and wondered if Michelle Pfeiffer was playing a dual role.
Is she playing his mother or grandmother? I am curious what the story is. Lucas Hedges is also opposite Meryl Streep in "Let Them All Talk," which is another movie that no one knows much about including its release date. Good luck Michelle!
In the book it was mother/son, but who knows how much they decided to change - Hedges is odd casting for the character as described in the book, too young is just for starters.
It's really promising material, though the tone and subject matter strikes me as more of an early 00's indie. Would be happy to see that kind of literate, dialogue-driven comedy make a comeback.
Here is the synopsis: A close to penniless widow moves to Paris with her son and cat, who also happens to be her reincarnated husband. I guess Tracy Letts is "playing" the cat? Good luck.
Isn't it a black comedy? They don't like those...
Despite Close losing they were smart to withhold her movie till the 91st season. The 92nd season for Best Actress was so dire Sony Classics knows they have nothing to lose by prioritizing overdue Pfeiffer narrative this early in a barren season.
My God I want the women of Dangerous Liaisons to get their Oscars asap.
It looks like a piece of shit as half of her filmography.
Peggy Sue: They've occasionally liked dark comedies, with the right subject matter. But the "deconstructed Disney kids film" mode of dark comedy? That's absolutely this movie, but there's not really any evidence of that from the Academy.
SO EXCITED ๐
Strong Dark Shadows vibes but with regular clothes.
Happy to see Lucas Hedges in another film with an A list actress. And, as mentioned above, he's also in an upcoming film with Meryl Streep.
My fellow americans, looking at your numbers I tell you're not going to a movie theatre anytime soon.
Peace
Jacobs seems to be obsessed with 80s greatest actresses(like all of us!) first debra and now michelle! Whoโs going to be next? Kathleen turner please
I really believed that the one in the photo was Famke Janssen.
Fantastic - she looks like Isabelle Huppert ! Holding thumbs
@Natica Jackson Yes, her filmography is not great, but Meryl Streep's and many other perfect actresses are not either, so I don't care. Yes, Michelle, please, give us more bad movies, we want them!!!
Best actress with the worst movies? Discuss!
P.S. Thandie Newton, another meaty Vulture interview. Must read.
I remember when Timothee Chalamet was supposed to be the one to watch. For my money, Hedges appears to be the one making the more interesting choices. As for Pfeiffer, it's always good to see her back on screen again.
Chalamet and Hedges have both had a great run in films the past 3-4 years. I find Chalamet to be a lot more charismatic and versatile and he's the one to watch. Hedges can be very good, but rarely stands out. He won't distract from Pfeiffer.
Speaking of distracting... I'm being picky, but that photoshopped cat really distracts me in the pic.
I'm excited to see anything new with Pfeiffer. Anything with comedic overtones would be welcome this year.
Can't wait. Her performances in Where is Kyra and Mother were both Oscar-worthy, even if those films were underseen and filled with problems. Unlike other oscar-less legends who I love, Pfeiffer still brings and turns out truly great performances and is as good, and even better, than in her prime 80s/90s days. I'm excited to see what she does here.
Please let this be her Oscar... Apologies to Amy Adams in Hillbilly Elegy, but Michelleโs been due longer.
I believe Lucas Hedges is like a "lucky Buddah" for actresses
#1 Hedges as Ronan's paramore in LADY BIRD - Saoirse Ronan gets nominated for Best Actress~
#2 Hedges as the son of McDormand in 3 BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI - Frances McDormand wins the Best Actress Oscar
#3 Hedges as the son of Nicole Kidman in BOY ERASED - Kidman gets a big couple of Best Supporting Actress awards nominations and Oscar buzz that (unfortunately) didn't materialize
#4 Hedges is the rebel son of Julia Roberts in BEN IS BACK - Julia Roberts delivers what is her best performnace ever (too bad she and/or the studio didn't care for an Oscar campaign)
#5 Hedges falls in love for Taylor Russell in WAVES - Russell delivers a great breakthrough performance in a movie that didn't get the recognition it deserved
So... I'm feeling confident about Pfeiffer in FRENCH EXIT! ;)
When does this air on TV?