Chris here. Slightly lost in all of the Cannes hullabaloo is John Cameron Mitchell's directorial return to the cinema with How to Talk to Girls at Parties (though not completely lost considering its part of Nicole Kidman's Cannes foursome). Granted, other than some tantalizing set photos ages ago, we haven't heard much on what to expect from this Neil Gaiman adaptation. But now non-festival goers have their first look at what Mitchell and co. has in store for us with three tiny teasers. They may be brief, but ooh boy are they wild:
JCM is playing with aspect ratio, I see. But shoved in that square frame is a whole lot of life and wit. Elle Fanning doesn't get her due credit for most of her best qualities, and her sharp sense of humor is one of them. Maybe that will change with Parties with all its satire. Also: adorable Tony winner Alex Sharp making his film debut!
"What's punk?" How many gasps are they trying to get us to have in twenty seconds? Firstly, there's a bonkers Kidman releasing her minions (*cough* us). Then, the graphic novel split frames that feel all the more fresh in this tight frame. And of course it reminds us that this is Mitchell's return to punk - and perhaps even scrappier than his debut Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I already want this film to do more punk to me.
And don't forget the science fiction aspect! We may have here not only John Cameron Mitchell's most wild film yet but his most visually imaginative as well. At very least, he's serving us something strange and energetic from all sides. It makes you wonder even more why the film will be presented in Cannes' midnight selection rather than in competition, certainly promising a visionary work from one of our most uncategorizable filmmakers. We'll find out stateside sometime this fall.
What is your first impression of How to Talk to Girls at Parties?