Cannes Diary Finale: Jury of One (Elisa's Choices)

Elisa Giudici

With Cannes a week behind us, a look at my own personal favourites, and who would have won each prize if I were the sole juror.

Despite my overall disappointment with the 78th edition, there were strong films. Óliver Laxe's Sirât was a breathtaking piece of cinema, a true original that dared to be different. Its unpredictable narrative and masterful execution made it a highlight. Otherwise, my personal affection lies with Pillion, a film that managed to be both provocative and deeply insightful about the nature of love and vulnerability, wrapped in a rom-com-gone-rogue package...

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Robert Altman @100: "Short Cuts" The Actresses

part 2 of a piece on Short Cuts (1993) to relaunch our Robert Altman tribute. (or start with part 1 if you missed it)

Julianne Moore & Anne Archer in "Short Cuts"

by Eric Blume

Inspired by Juan Carlos’ very fun and smart examination of the actresses in Nashville, I thought it might be fun to do the same for the many actresses in Short Cuts.  Here’s a report of my favorites from least to most…with the caveat that even the “least” are beautifully played by these super talented ladies.

10 Lili Taylor as Honey Bush
Taylor has possibly the least to do of any of the actresses, but it was joyful to see her again and be reminded of that fresh, weird, thrilling energy she brought to cinema in the 1990s.  Hollywood never figured out what to do with her, even though she’s worked continuously.  Here she’s yearning and touching, and she and Robert Downey Jr (before he got so self-conscious) find a quirky comic spark...

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Cannes Diary 09: Un Certain Regard Winner "The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo"

by Elisa Giudici

The freshly crowned winner of Un Certain Regard at Cannes, is one of several films this year to allegorically reimagine the trauma of the generation lost to AIDS, Diego Céspedes' debut feature is set in 1982 Chile. Céspedes envisions a tavern frequented by trans women who challenge and seduce the rugged local miners. These miners, despite formally opposing their presence, seem unable to resist their allure. Flamingo is the drag queen mother to the film’s young protagonist, who is raised by a vibrant collective of performers and sex workers known by animalistic names like Mama Boa, Spider, and Flamingo herself, whose gaze is said to hold an almost spellbinding power. Tragically she has already been touched by "the plague," the epidemic that also ravages the miners...

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Robert Altman @ 100: "Short Cuts" The Film

a two part piece on Short Cuts (1993) to relaunch our Robert Altman tribute

by Eric Blume 

It’s a joy to rewatch Robert Altman’s 1993 masterpiece Short Cuts over thirty years later.  I hadn’t seen the film since seeing it in theaters, back in the sweet days where Fine Line Features was the “arthouse” division of New Line Features, a mini-studio from which so many fine films sprung.  

Upon revisit, it’s easy to see how this film is a perfect illustration of Lightning in a Bottle.  Among its incredible cast of actors are future Oscar winners (Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr., Tim Robbins, Julianne Moore), past and future nominees (Bruce Davison, Anne Archer, Lily Tomlin, Jennifer Jason Leigh), plus some other terrific actors who are always rapturous to watch (Fred Ward, Lili Taylor, Madeleine Stowe, Peter Gallagher, Matthew Modine).  And then pepper in Tom Waits and Huey Lewis!  The talent in this movie is off-the-charts and each actor feels individually inspired.  I’m not sure what Altman did to get them so invested in their small, individual stories but together they truly pack a wallop...

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Cannes Diary 08: Queer Cinema Highs & Lows

by Elisa Guidici

Straight couples and monogamous relationships seem to be an endangered species at this year's Cannes Film Festival, especially in the sidebar sections. We've seen a wealth of films centered on queer love stories, set in a more open and aware contemporary world. Yet, this world often still struggles with a perspective that doesn't immediately stiffen when behavior is framed as "deviant." Unfortunately, mere representation doesn't equate to consistent quality. To summarize the spectrum seen here at Cannes, let's dive into the most exciting film and the most disappointing currently tackling these themes...

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