Cannes Diary: "Bird" from Andrea Arnold, "Oh Canada" from Paul Schrader, and more...

by Elisa Giudici

BIRD

A couple of renowned names in competition have presented less-than-perfect movies, while newcomers have showcased some convincing entries today at Cannes Film Festival.

BIRD by Andrea Arnold
Since Fish Tank, I've never quite rekindled my enthusiasm for Andrea Arnold's films. However, Bird came very close. Some may argue that it feels more like a feature-length attempt to mimic Arnold's style than an actual Arnold film, but I personally found it compelling...

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Almost There: Barry Keoghan in "Saltburn" & Andrew Scott in "All of Us Strangers"

by Cláudio Alves

Earlier this week, the Almost There series returned with a look at Penélope Cruz's failed bid for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Now, it's time to move on to Lead Actor, where the season's most prominent contender without a nomination was Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon. But since you're probably tired of reading my defense of Scorsese's latest, I decided to focus on two others instead. The first victim is Barry Keoghan in Saltburn, for which he was nominated at the Golden Globes, BAFTAS, and Critics Choice Awards. Our second sacrifice is Andrew Scott, whose campaign for All of Us Strangers was full of passion but few actual plaudits. There were nominations at the Globes, Spirit and British Independent Film Awards, little else...

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Review: "Saltburn" is an Epic Party

By Christopher James

How does one follow up a first feature after it breaks out and earns an Oscar? 

After her vivid breakthrough Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell smartly refuses to play it safe. At first glance, the tale of class warfare and homoeroticism feels familiar. But her singular eye adds an indelible slant to the material, which feels like a spiritual sister to The Talented Mr. Ripley. Like that film, Saltburn expertly dramatizes the intoxication of lust and the limits we all blow past while under its influence. Fennell’s live-wire pacing is perfectly complemented by the committed cast, particularly Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi and Rosamund Pike...

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Best Lead Actor - First Round Predictions

by Nathaniel R

Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) and Colman Domingo (Rustin) are both working the classic 'biopic' angle

As with the first round of Best Supporting Actor predictions, we're opting to pretend that the strike will be resolved in time for most of the movies that are scheduled for awards season to continue with their current plans. We use the word "pretend" because it feels increasingly likely that this awards season will be an unprecented combo of fewer than usual releases and zero celebrity campaigning. We hope the studio powers-that-be will wake from their incessant greed and learn to share the wealth with the people without whom they can't make money (actors/writers) but we're not going to hold out breath lest we asphyxiate.

On to Best Actor. This category is often heavy on biographical 'great men' roles and there's little reason to expect this year will be any different. Cillian Murphy, Colman Domingo, Bradley Cooper, Joaquin Phoenix, and Adam Driver will all potentially benefit from that tried and true awards-appeal genre...

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What's next for the recently Oscar-nominated: Pt 3 - Actors

by Nathaniel R

Austin Butler and co-stars in "Masters of the Air"

With the 95th Academy Awards wrapped, it's time to look to the future. We already talked about the next projects for this past season's hot directors and actresses. Now let's look at the leading and supporting men. What's next for them? 

AUSTIN BUTLER
Like most modern stars, Butler is juggling both TV and movies now. He's already shot the World War II miniseries Masters of the Air (fellow Oscar nominee Barry Keoghan is also in it). The big movie news...

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