Cannes Report

  • The Jury Played by Its Own Rules

    Last night in Cannes, as the crowds drained away, a few stragglers pondered the frontrunners at Sunday’s upcoming Palme d’Or ceremony.   Many suggested two top contenders, Michael Haneke’s "The White Ribbon" (at left) and Jacques Audiard’s "A Prophet" (below), as the ones with the greatest chances of taking home the top prize. Then, sometime […]

    By

    Eric Kohn

  • A Unique Bunch Walk Away with Un Certain Regard

    Ahead of Sunday evening’s announcement of the festival’s Palme d’Or winner, Cannes anointed its champions of the Un Certain Regard sidebar. The winners are a refreshingly unique bunch that ought to benefit from the added attention.   Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos’s "Dogtooth" took home the top honor, and I can attest to its merits. This […]

    By

    Eric Kohn

  • ‘Coco and Igor’ Sounds and Looks Good, but …

    The closing night selection of the festival, "Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky," a tale of romance between historic figures, succeeded in the environment of its premiere simply because it was soothing on the eyes.   After 12 days of intense viewing sessions, the opportunity to gaze at something beautiful for two hours seemed like a […]

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    Eric Kohn

  • ‘Dogtooth’ Drama Takes Cannes Prize for ‘Un Certain Regard’

    Ahead of Sunday evening’s announcement of the festival’s Palme d’Or winner, Cannes anointed its champions of the Un Certain Regard sidebar.   The winners are a refreshingly unique bunch that ought to benefit from the added attention. Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos’s "Dogtooth" took home the top honor, and I can attest to its merits.   […]

    By

    Erick Kohn

  • Eli Roth Returns to Cannes as … an Actor?!

      Eli Roth sat on the balcony of the Carlton Hotel on the Croisette, while the waves of the French Riviera took on a magical glow in the sunlight behind him. He reveled in the glamorous backdrop.   "I’ve been to Cannes on the outside and the epicenter," he said. "Eight years ago, it was exciting just to sneak […]

    By

    Eric Kohn

  • ‘Enter the Void’: Intense Even For Stars; Sony Buys ‘Prophet’

    Updated Friday:   Sony Pictures Classics bought the U.S. distribution rights to "A Prophet," probably the most popular film at the festival this year, and a front-runner for the Golden Palm.   The film is a two-and-half-hour crime thriller set in Corsica by French director Jacques Audiard. The film presents a challenge for American audiences, as […]

    By

    Eric Kohn

  • Lights at the End of the Cannes Tunnel

    "I’m sort of done with watching movies," one journalist was overheard commenting, while in line for a screening on Thursday afternoon.   And so the late festival drag set in — fatigue from lengthy days in dark rooms and harsh sunlight generally starts to wear down Cannes attendees after a while, especially once the finish […]

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    Eric Kohn

  • Gilliam’s Emotional ‘Parnassus’ Ride After Heath Ledger’s Death

    The directorial career of Terry Gilliam provides a fascinating case study in independent artistry.   Since the ’80s, Gilliam has gone through innumerable clashes with production companies and various other parties to get his vision on the big screen. This has resulted in alternately strong creative achievements ("Brazil") and unfortunate misfires ("The Brothers Grimm"). In […]

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    Eric Kohn

  • Who’s the Goriest Filmmaker at the Fest?

    With Nazi scalpings, genital mutilation and violent rape scenes appearing in various places throughout Cannes’ Official Competition, this year’s selection undoubtedly contains the most explicit content in recent memory. But while Lars Von Trier’s "Antichrist" — recently picked up for U.S. distribution by IFC Films — may offer the most infamously extreme image of the […]

    By

    Eric Kohn

  • A New Global Cinema

    The content of Martin Scorsese’s press conference at Cannes on Friday may have been overpowered by the man himself, but that doesn’t diminish the significance of his announcement.   The legendary director’s World Cinema Foundation, which is screening four films from its library in the Cannes Classics series, recently formed a partnership with the online […]

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    Eric Kohn

  • A Nutty Nightmare From Lars von Trier

    Five days into the festival, it would appear the nuttiest entry has arrived. I doubt anyone can top the sheer madness and graphic absurdity of Lars Von Trier’s "Antichrist." At first, it’s an elegant grief drama. Then it transforms into "The Shining" meets "Evil Dead" with green politics, torture porn and a fair amount of […]

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    Eric Kohn

  • ‘Taking Woodstock’ and Cannes Hits Its Stride

    An early festival favorite strikes a chord with audiences of all shapes and sizes. The same day, a major competition title gets almost universally booed by an audience several hundred strong. By nightfall, stars gather on the beach to the tune of ’60s counterculture, many wearing flowers in their hair.   Now this is the […]

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    Eric Kohn

  • A Subversive ‘Twilight’

    t’s only the second day of Cannes, and the program already has its subversive claws out. Being a center of global filmic expression, Cannes often contains movies with explicit and controversial subject matter. So far this year, two features match that expectation. "Spring Fever," a romantic drama from daring Chinese filmmaker Lou Ye, focuses on […]

    By

    Eric Kohn

  • The Coppola Logic Wins Again

    According to Francis Ford Coppola, the whispers of behind-the-scenes drama were premature. A few weeks ago, reports circulated about the "Godfather" director’s decision to refuse an invitation to screen his latest low-budget feature, a family drama called "Tetro," at the festival in a non-competition slot. Instead, it wound up as the opening night entry of the […]

    By

    Eric Kohn