An AI Biopic? No, Thank You!

by Cláudio Alves

Warner has released a proof of concept image showing what the animation will look like.

With the SAG strike over and a new three-year contract in sight for actors, it felt like we could all breathe a sigh of relief over the current Hollywood AI takeover. Not forever, but a temporary reprieve nevertheless. Well, guess what? There's no rest for the cinephile, for a new nightmare is upon us. The Warner Music Group has partnered with the Edith Piaf estate to create an AI-based biopic, running for 90 minutes and mixing archival future with animation. Over it all, a feat of technological necromancy will have the legendary French singer narrate her own story or the corporate-approved facsimile of it.

The execs behind the travesty speak of authenticity, but I only see mercenary intent. It's anti-art, sickening in the worst way…

Click to read more ...

TIFF '23: Kate Winslet elevates "Lee"

by Matt St Clair

Kate Winslet as "Lee"

After winning an Emmy for Mare of Easttown, I wondered how Kate Winslet would follow up her career-best work on the acclaimed HBO miniseries. Her latest starring vehicle, Lee, looked like a worthy follow-up project on paper. Winslet collaborates with cinematographer-turned-director Ellen Kuras, who lensed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which featured Winslet’s other greatest performance. Sadly, only Winslet’s performance lives up to the promise of the reunion...

Click to read more ...

Cannes Gowns, Round 6: Alicia, Marion, Isabelle, and Tilda

Previous Cannes 2022 Fashion Polls: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 

Alicia Vikander arrived at Cannes to promote her new series Irma Vep (finally ending the drought of her once ubiquitous husband Michael Fassbender in the public eye - he wore a simple tux), Marion Cotillard was on hand for the premiere of her new film Brothers and Sisters (which was poorly reviewed, alas) and daringly wore what looked like shorts to her premiere. Isabelle Huppert was in town for that buzzy donkey flick EO (review) and though she wore a simple black gown for the premiere she then showed up in this eye catching sure-to-be-divisive full body look thereafter. Fashion icon Tilda Swinton never leaves Cannes after only one lewk so she was out again after her 3000 Years premiere wearing a much different more adrogynous look.

online polls

Cannes Diary #4: Narcissism at its finest and worst

by Elisa Giudici

Today is the day in which we explore collateral selections, not that willingly. As mentioned in Cannes Diary #1, this year the Festival organization changed the ticketing system. This ended the long lines (a win) but the downside is that the more hyped movies are harder to get into. Nevertheless, I'm happy to report my experimentation went very well! Truth be told, the Un Certain Regard section can be barely considered a “collateral” section, since it famously offers high-quality selections from soon-to-be major auteurs. The major letdown of the day, was ironically, the only title from the Main Competition I was able to get a ticket to on day four...

Click to read more ...

Cannes at Home: Day 3 – Innocence Lost

by Cláudio Alves

New films by James Gray and Jerzy Skolimowski have hit the Croisette, leading to many a Belfast mention and plenty of donkey talk. Armageddon Time, a memoirist exercise that purports to evoke Gray's childhood, has been met with mixed reactions, including here at The Film Experience. However, the consensus leans towards warmth, and, as a longtime James Gray devotee, I couldn't be more excited. After all, nearly every film the man directed faced some negative critiques, yet I love most of them regardless. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about Jerzy Skolimowski. His filmography has been a dependable source of disappointments. By reading some reviews (including Elisa's), his new project, EO, sounds like the cynical bastard child of War Horse and Au Hasard Balthasar. That being said, I doubt the Bressonian comparison will do EO any favors.

For Cannes at Home, today's topics are the film that should have won James Gray the Palme d'Or and Jerzy Skolimowski's Deep End…

Click to read more ...