Cannes wraps this weekend. Only one competition film, Lynne Ramsay's You Were Never Really Here, is yet to screen before the jury makes their decisions for the history books (er, what do we say now that the history books aren't how you look up history?).
Previously: Day 1, Days 2-4, Days 5-6, and Days 7-8
Fashion: French Divas and Kidmanifestations 1, 2, and 3
So let's check in with the four latest premieres including a new erotic thriller from François Ozon, a revenge drama from Fatih Akin, and a buzzy Robert Pattinson performance...
Good Time
A heist and prison break out genre movie involving two brothers, one mentally handicapped, from the Safdie brothers (Heaven Knows What). But is it, I apologize in advance, a good time? Robert Pattinson is winning strong reviews for his deglammed performance as the brains (of sorts) of the brothers crimes. (Tangential Q: Why do pretty actors always have to look awful before winning respect?)
Palme d'Or Contender? PROBABLY NOT... but might Pattinson be in the Best Actor running?
Reviews: Slant Magazine, Thrillist, The Telegraph
Release: August 11th from A24
Blown away by Loznitsa's A Gentle Creature. A jagged, roiling prison-town nightmare; Kafka's greatest hits as sung by Tom Waits #Cannes2017
— Xan Brooks (@XanBrooks) May 24, 2017
A Gentle Creature
Ukranian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa (My Joy) has been making documentaries of late but he returns to fiction for this year's outing in this story about a woman trying to navigate the cruel Russian system and figure out why a package she mailed to her husband in prison was returned to her. If you've ever seen one of his features you know he's a potent and kind of merciless director.
Palme d'Or Contender? MAYBE BUT LEANING NO especially since they've already got one brutal Russian film in the running for the Palme (Loveless). How much severity will this jury embrace in their awards?
Reviews: Variety, The Guardian, RogerEbert.com
In the Fade - German woman goes for revenge after her family is killed in a bombing. Diane Kruger totally owns this role. The film is aces.
— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) May 26, 2017
In the Fade
Diane Kruger is winning strong reviews (the movie less so) as a woman facing off against far right extremism in the latest drama from reliably quality Turkish-German auteur Fatih Akin (Head-On, Edge of Heaven, Soul Kitchen).
Palme d'Or Contender? NO
Reviews: Hey U Guys, The Guardian, Time Out
François Ozon's L'AMANT DOUBLE is such a romp! Think Rosemary's Twin, with cats and pegging. Peak Jeremie Renier. High trash! #Cannes2017
— Caspar Salmon (@CasparSalmon) May 25, 2017
L'Amant Double
Prepare yourself François Ozon lovers. People are calling this one a "frisky" return to form. He didn't need a regular return to form post Frantz but something friskier is sure welcome given his early days as an auteur! This one is an erotic thriller about twin psychotherapists (underappreciated Jérémie Renier in a dual role) and his new client (Marianne Vacth from Ozon's Young and Beautiful).
Palme d'Or Contender? PROBABLY NOT... but if it's truly got camp "high trash" appeal, it is very easy to imagine that Pedro Almodóvar himself might love it. If so might it get some prize somewhere?
Reviews: (I'm personally not reading any of these reviews because thrillers are among the worst genres to read reviews of in terms of spoilers -- and casual skimming has already revealed the film's apparently most shocking image -- but your mileage may vary in regards to tolerance for spoilers) Variety, The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter
Which of these four are you most eager to see?