CANNES, France - The 74th Cannes Festival opened with a very unusual film on Tuesday, one that is slated to compete for the Palme D’Or, the top prize which this year will be given out by a jury headed by Spike Lee: “Annette,” by one Alex Christophe Dupont, otherwise known as Leos Carax (full disclosure: I haven’t read any of the press material for the film, on purpose, I wanted to soak up in the ... more >
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CANNES FESTIVAL: “Annette,” rhapsodic rock opera meets children’s tale, was a welcome distraction in this new darkened covid world—I’m all over it
Film is shown in competition
MOVIE REVIEW: “Star Wars : Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker”
"We've passed on all we know. A thousand generations live in you now. But this is your fight" (Luke Skywalker)
Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Adam Driver
Directed by J.J. Abrams
The circle is now complete. Forty-two years after George Lucas forever changed Hollywood (and the lives of moviegoers around the world!) with the original “Star Wars,” director J.J. Abrams brings it all home with “Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.” I was there opening weekend in 1977. When the music blared and the opening crawl began to roll, I knew I was in for something amazing. ... more >
Former Senate staffer Daniel J. Jones, at the center for “The Report,” tells us about the torture report the CIA didn’t want you to see (INTERVIEW)
"I [...] get emotional about it because it just is so upsetting that we tortured people"
Adam Driver and Annette Bening
Directed by Scott Z. Burns
Daniel J. Jones worked tirelessly in a nondescript Washington, D.C., room for the better part of a decade, trying to connect the dots between the CIA’s detention and torture of terrorist suspects at black sites and the Bush White House. The Senate staffer, whose work was passionately backed by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), not only had to contend with members of the Senate who would rather ... more >
CANNES FESTIVAL, Spike Lee rolls triumphantly back into town with highly-pleasurable “BlacKKKlansman”
From the competition program
Adam Driver, Topher Grace and Laura Harrier
Directed by Spike Lee
The Cannes Festival gives so much room to new filmmakers that it leaves one in want of excellence, movies by the top echelon guys, the masters, the dream team. 2018 is a good year in this regard, with two master filmmakers, Lars Von Trier and Spike Lee, coming to present films. Last year, there was only one member from that club, Michael Haneke who presented “Happy End.” 2018 marks a comeback, for ... more >
CANNES FESTIVAL DAYS 4 AND 5, “American honey,” “Mal de Pierres” and “Paterson”
Three films from DAY 4 and 5
CANNES, France - “American Honey,” which I consider to be the best film out of this still-young Cannes Festival, played here last night. The Andrea Arnold-directed road movie stars newcomer Sasha Lane and Shia Labeouf and Riley Keough (Elvis’s granddaughter) and follows a crew of twentysomethings from all over the country (from Texas to Nebraska) who circle the mid-west selling magazine ... more >