Cannes 2025: Ducournau returns and Spike Lee plays Out of Competition

by Cláudio Alves

HIGHEST 2 LOWEST will bring Denzel Washington to Cannes for the first time since 1993.

Thierry Frémaux and company have announced the 78th Cannes Film Festival lineup, with many familiar faces returning to the Main Competition. Former Palme d'Or victors Julia Ducournau and the Dardenne brothers are back in the race, while Golden Bear champion Carla Simón will present her first feature since Alcarràs took Berlin by storm. Speaking of the German fest, Richard Linklater just directed Andrew Scott to an award there and will now bow his Nouvelle Vague at the Croisette. Juliette Binoche will preside over the jury to decide these filmmakers' fates, but we're still awaiting updates regarding the other jurors.

Our own Elisa Giudici will be on the ground covering the fest for The Film Experience as she's been doing for the past few years. I'll try to offer another edition of Cannes at Home for those battling cinephile FOMO. In any case, here's the full Main Competition slate Elisa will be considering in a month's time…

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"Captain America: Brave New World" Or, When Will Marvel Turn Things Around?

by Nathaniel R

Benjamin Franklin famously quipped "in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." We might add "...and new installments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe" to that shortlist. Especially since Captain America Brave New World arrives for digital rental/purchase on tax day itself, Tuesday April 15th next week. Unfortunately the new film is taxing and not to die for. On Valentine's Weekend when the film opened, I was in Pittsburgh (long story). I never regret seeing movies but I most definitely regretted splurging for an uber to get to a suburban multiplex because it happened to be opening weekend. For this, really? What was the rush? 

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Drag Race RuCap: "How's Your Headliner?"

No, your eyes don't deceive you. It seems the Love-Toot feud is over. Everybody say love!

NICK TAYLOR: Mama. This was ass. It’s not just that my beloved girl went home right before the finale when she definitely won the lip sync, though that would be enough to sour the episode even if it’d been better. But the sheer number of moving parts to this maxi challenge that aren’t adequately showcased and the bizarre judging make the episode’s criteria hard to evaluate and the queen’s talents minimally showcased. I have no quibbles with the episode’s winner or the final four we’ve arrived at, yet I’m surprised how much this elimination stunted my invested in seeing who crosses the finish line. I’d argue there’s a clear top 2 of our finishing quartet, yet, for the life of me, I can’t tell who’s facing off against Onya for the crown. Am I getting ahead of myself? Almost certainly, but god, I have such sour grapes about the whole thing. Are you in better spirits than I am, hun?

CLÁUDIO ALVES: Glad to know I’m not alone in my grumpiness this week. While I agree that the right girl won and loved the runway lewks across the board, almost everything else about the episode fell short…

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Who deserves Emmy nominations from White Lotus (S3)?

by Nathaniel R

The third season of White Lotus is currently all the rage online as everyone sounds off on the finale. Before I share a few thoughts on the third season (after the jump) let's talk Emmy possibilities. The first season competed as a Limited Series at the Emmys and scored 8 acting nods (two wins) and the second season upped the ante for 9 acting nods (one win). This is way too many acting nominations for ANY series no matter how well acted, but that's how the Emmys roll with their current rules that preference highly-watched shows. So who do you think is most deserving of an Emmy nod this season. Choose your top 7 here and let's see how it plays out.

online polls

The photo up top is how I'd rank worthiness for nominations - but don't let me influence you. I've included the other dozen, also in preference order, just for kicks after the jump...

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Streaming Recommendation: "Lost Boys & Fairies"

by Nathaniel R

Fra Fee (Hawkeye, Prime Target) and Sion Daniel Young (Slow Horses, The Left Behind) are would-be parents in LOST BOYS & FAIRIES

Herewith a very modern problem. You see something interesting on a streaming channel and you subscribe without hesitation. You know you have too many subscriptions already. Before you know it you are paying hundreds of dollars for 10 services + add-ons. As much as I wish I had more self-control in this arena, I know I am not alone. Sometimes, though, the bleeding wallet is worth it. After subscribing to BritBox on Amazon Prime solely to watch "Lost Boys & Fairies", I do not regret it one iota. I will not even regret it a year from now when I realize I haven't watched anything else and am still paying for this one watch every single month.

In other words, I am here to emphatically recommend Daf James' BAFTA nominated miniseries Lost Boys and Fairies.  It's an often surprising, emotionally dense, occassionally tuneful, and funny tearjerker...

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