The Hollywood Reporter’s Pamela McClintock has dug up some details on what might be in or out at Cannes in May.
Probably out:
“Steve McQueen‘s Twelve Years a Slave, starring Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt andQuvenzhane Wallis; LeeDaniels‘ ensemble White House historical drama The Butler; and Foxcatcher, Bennett Miller‘s high-profile follow-up to Moneyball.
Spike Jonze‘s Her believed to be finished; ditto for John Wells‘ August: Osage County, based on Tracy Letts‘ Pulitzer Prize-winning play and starring Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts,Ewan McGregor and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Pedro Almodovar and Woody Allen, both of whom have frequented Cannes for years, are bypassing the festival this year with their respective new films, I’m So Excited and Blue Jasmine.
Possibly in:
Steven Soderbergh‘s Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra, starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, turning up, even though it is airing on HBO. Cannes launched Soderbergh’s career when it awarded Sex, Lies and Videotape the festival’s top prize in 1989.
Another shoo-in is Iranian director Asghar Farhadi‘s French film The Past, starring Berenice Bejo.
There’s buzz that Sofia Coppola‘s The Bling Ring, starring Emma Watson, will play in some section of the festival. In 2006, Coppola’s Marie Antoinette made its notorious world premiere on the Croisette.
Among the high-profile wild cards are J.C. Chandor‘s ocean drama All is Lost, starring Robert Redford, and Alexander Payne‘s black-and-white drama Nebraska, starring Bruce Dern and Will Forte. Cannes Film Festival managing director Thierry Fremaux, who is in the final stages of deciding the lineup, is courting both films, according to insiders.
Other titles in the offing include James Gray‘s Lowlife, starring Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner; Guillaume Canet‘s Blood Ties, starring Cotillard opposite Clive Owen, Mila Kunis and Zoe Saldana; Nicolas Winding Refn‘s Only God Forgives, which reunites the director with his Drive star Ryan Gosling; and Jim Jarmusch‘s Only Lovers Left Alive, starring Cannes favorite Tilda Swinton opposite Tom Hiddleston and Mia Wasikowska. There’s also speculation that Jonathan Glazer‘s Under the Skin, starring Scarlett Johansson, could turn up.
Read the full article at the HR.
I’m still hoping for a crazy-ass wild card:
SNOWPIERCER by Bong Joon-ho
I believe his last 3 films have debuted at Cannes.
Other than the Gatsby opener and Spielberg heading the jury, they are suggesting a very light Hollywood presence at Cannes this year, which is great. For the past few years, the big guys tended to hog the spotlight. Looking forward to hearing about less commercial fare.
I would expect the serious awards seekers to launch from the likes of TIFF, anyway, not so much Cannes.
Why is the picture for this post from Inside Llewyn Davis?
uhh mentioned in the article?
I’m not getting the whole article then. I see no mention of the Coens, Davis or Oscar Isaac.
I mean, not in the AD post.
True. I’d read it before so I assumed it was part of the excerpt
Yeah, the HR article says the film “is all but assured a Competition spot”, so it will be there, likely.
All very star-heavy. The line-up will certainly feature an array of films from lesser-known directors and with lesser-known casts.
Also, Nymphomaniac won’t be at Cannes.
Still persona non grata?
Apparently they haven’t been told whether or not they’d allow him in. I’m sure they would. You know Thierry Fremaux wouldn’t have held it against him. Alas, the reason for its absence is that it won’t be finished in time. Not surprising, considering how ambitious a project Nymphomaniac is.
Brad Pitt is barely in 12 Years A Slave. The star is actually Chiwetel Ejiofor, not Brad Pitt.
Yes, this is lost on a lot of people. Chiwetel Ejiofor IS Twelve Years a Slave.
This seems like a distinction that will become annoying very quickly. ‘Star of 12 Years a Slave is white dude?’ is going to be the go-to snark reaction and likely a subject of think-pieces.
Unless Chiwetel Ejiofor is featured prominently in marketing paraphernalia like posters and such. Yeah, not happening.
The problem is that Brad pitt has about 5 minutes of screen time. (I went to a test screening in February), so he’s hardly starring in it.
If this is the case I wouldn’t lose sleep over it. Unless they overplay Brad Pitt’s role, and by they I mean the distributors. Bloggers and critics can expose their ignorance if they so choose. I’ll remain optimistic and assume once everyone is familiar with the story media won’t make that mistake. It’s early.
From the screening you saw, what’d you think of the film?