Nicole Garcia's Mal de Pierres (From the Land of the Moon) is just awful. Like Jeff Nichols's disappointing "Loving," it did not belong in the main competition. Marion Cotillard (the star of "From the Land of the Moon") keeps making bad choices. Sad. As for "Loving," the performances from Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton are outstanding, but can't compensate for weaknesses in Jeff Nichols's script.
Tunisian-born French director Karim Dridi's "Chouf" is a formulaic crime drama about drug gangs in Marseilles. While the film contain's some watchable performances, it is so cut-and-pasted that it bores the audience. Nothing to see, or learn, here. Still, I did enjoy screening "Chouf" with Bruno Dumont sitting with his wife and son across the isle.
Dumont's Competition film MA LOUTE went over the heads of most critics here, but it contains some of the most refined comic performances I've seen in a long time. The always great Fabrice Luchini gives a beautifully nuanced performance, as doe Juliette Binoche, and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. Definitely make it a point to check out MA LOUTE if you get the chance.
Glad or lucky to have missed Spielberg's "The BFG." That style of animation is creepy. I don't care if Roald Dahl did write it, "The BFG" is the most ridicule-worthy title I've seen in a long time.
Funniest movie title seen in the Marche: "I MARRIED A DUMBASS." Juan Taratuto is the director.
Shia La Bouf still hasn't learned how to do a press conference. Funny, not funny.
Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis brought sexiness and wisdom to their press conference in Cannes. Sarandon took Woody Allen down a few pegs by pointing out the elephant in the room, namely that he molested a young girl, and that all of his films are about older men exploiting younger, if not underage (see "Manhattan") women. Yep.
Andrea Arnold's "American Honey" has anti-buzz for being a meandering mess that goes on for 162 minutes.
Cannes audiences at the Debussy auditorium for the screening of David Mackenzie's stellar neo-western "Hell or High Water" were delighted with the film, and with the presence of the director and two of the film's lead actors — Ben Foster and Chris Pine. The screening reminded me of a similar experience way back in 2003 for "American Splendor," when Harvey Pekar was in the audience. Ben Foster and Chris Pine were very gracious, giving plenty of opportunity for audience members to take there photos. Daniel Bruhl was also in the audience.
Free bulletproof coffee at the American Pavilion with free copies of Dave Asprey's book. I had a pleasant chat with Dave about how to beat my jet lag upon my return to NYC next week. "Don't eat airplane food, sleep, and wear blue-blocking glasses." Dave also said it's important to go outside and stand in the sunlight for a few minutes when you wake up the next day after flying. You hear it hear first.
