Could there be a better week for Sacha Baron Cohen to release a film called “The Dictator”? A few days ago, Cohen parked a camel on the Croisette at the Cannes Festival, in what seemed like the first act of a cult of personality. Paring a touch of showmanship, a frisky film, and the spotlight of the festival, the star of “Borat” all but declared himself the worldwide ruler of ... more >
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REVIEW – “The Dictator”
"A dictator must adapt to succeed"
Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley and Anna Faris
Directed by Larry Charles
CANNES FESTIVAL (day 2) – “Rust and bone”
Finally, the nouveau Audiard is here
Judging from the line of people waiting to get into a still-closed Théâtre Lumière (seating capacity: 2,281) at 7:45 this morning the anticipation was high for Jacques Audiard’s return to the Croisette, “Rust and Bone.” It was in this same theatre that three years ago we discovered the history- and career-making “A Prophet,” one of the best films made in the last twenty years. One ... more >
CANNES FESTIVAL-Moonrise Kingdom
An underwhelming opening film
If Standard & Poor’s assessed film production values Wes Anderson would remain a AAA-rated cineaste year in and year out. The level of detail that went into every square inch of “Moonrise Kingdom,” which had its premiere here in Cannes a few hours ago, is above perfection. But “Moonrise” fails on other levels. Adult characters wretchedly watch as their kids go about resolving the ... more >
REVIEW – “The Avengers”
An Experience worth the capital letter
Robert Downey, Jr., Scarlett Johansson and Samuel Jackson
Directed by Joss Whedon
Comic book mavens rejoice, for Marvel Studios has concocted a heady and wonderful sensory brew in “The Avengers.” Weaving together the origin stories of Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, and Captain America, “The Avengers” packages a star-studded cast, one that could easily have imploded under its own weight, into a fleet-footed, yet cohesive, plotline. Nefarious forces from other worlds threaten ... more >
FILMMAKING AND REVOLUTIONS – The Yousry Nasrallah Interview
Egypt's most visible filmmaker is going for Cannes gold this time
Tahrir Square, one day during the Arab Spring. A young demonstrator falls for a camel shepherd who's under the influence of Hosni Mubarak’s militias. Two people standing on opposite side of the biggest conflict Egypt has seen in nearly half a century are brought together against all expectations. Egyptian filmmaker Yousry Nasrallah wrote and directed “After the Battle” (“Baad El ... more >
INTERVIEW-Sergei Loznitsa on presenting “In the fog” at Cannes
This is the "My Joy" director's second visit to the festival
Russian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa will be at the Cannes Festival again this year, competing for the Palme D'Or. This time he presents "In the Fog," a feature film adaptation of a novel set in the darkest recesses of World War II, when Russians accused each other of fomenting with the German enemy and men faced difficult moral choices. The memory of war is a difficult burden to bear but the need ... more >
ARAB SPRING HIGHLIGHTED AT CANNES
Two films from the aftermaths of revolutions
The revolt sweeping across the Middle East these last couple of years will figure highly at the Cannes Festival, and it’s no coincidence. “The Sermon at Tobrouk,” a documentary by French philosopher Bernard-Henri “B.H.L.” Lévy (pictured below in Libya in September 2011) shot over the final eight months which led to the downfall of Kaddafi will be shown as a special screening. Levy ... more >
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