Cannes Ketchup – Days 6-7: A24 Nabs Club Kid, while South Korean Horror Wows Midnight Screening
Check back daily for ongoing updates as we break down the biggest news, acquisitions, early reactions, and other notable events at the 79th Cannes Film Festival.
Rotten Tomatoes is in the South of France to give a daily breakdown of the biggest news, acquisitions, early reactions, and other happenings of the 79th Cannes Film Festival. Check back here for ongoing updates, including the premieres of James Gray’s Paper Tiger, Ira Sachs’ The Man I Love, and Yeon Sang-ho’s The Colony.
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Monday, May 18th: Monday finally gave us some news as Jordan Firstman became the first splashy acquisition of the festival, as Club Kid was picked up by A24 in a rumored $15-18 million deal. A tweet from Indiewire’s Senior Film Critic David Ehrlich sums up why it was such a competitive market for the tearjerking dramedy and why the indie streamer A24 is likely the perfect place for its distribution.
The other highlight of Monday was the thunderous reception for Fjord, particularly stars Sebatian Stan and Renate Reinsve. The film centers on the deeply devout Gheorghiu family after they move to a remote village. When the school staff discovers bruises on the body of one of the children, the community wonders if their traditions around education could be the cause. Skillfully executed by director Cristian Mungiu, the film was praised by Raphael Abraham of the Financial Times, who wrote that the Romanian filmmaker “invites us to look past the pretty surroundings to see the ugly xenophobia and intolerant liberalism that can blight secular society. First, he nudges us, then he prods us in a film that leads us a little too much by the nose.”
Sunday, May 17th: Saw the premiere of Na Hong-jin’s Hope, which created a nice one-two punch with the fellow South Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho’s Colony, which wowed in a Midnight screening late Saturday night. In fact, jury president Park Chan-wook stayed up well past 1am for the projection to begin and sat, as we all did, with bated breath through the tense action film about a zombie invasion in a multi-floor office building. Dark, dangerous, and surprisingly hilarious, the film inspired Mariona Borrull of Fotograma to write, “Yeon Sang-ho’s film is seasoned with layers upon layers of references to other zombie franchises, familiar images reimagined like a pop hit.” Backing up Colony’s positive reception, Hope is currently at 85% on the Tomatometer, with many praising the film’s electric cinematography and arresting pace, particularly in its first hour. Tara Brady of the Irish Times wrote, “Hong Kyung-pyo’s fast-paced cinematography and the film’s tactile practical effects give the carnage weight, so long as the monster remains an unseen presence, known only by ruined buildings, hurtling humans and extravagant gore.”
But it wouldn’t be Cannes with a bit of drama, and that came courtesy of James Gray’s Paper Tiger. Everyone, including star Adam Driver, assumed that at least one press conference question would be related to Lena Dunham’s recent memoir revelations about Driver’s violent outbursts on the set of Girls. Driver, who clearly prepped for the moment, deftly deflected the question about it in a very classy way that should hopefully put the conversation to bed for the rest of the awards season:
Saturday, May 16th: After John Travolta wowed the Croisette on Friday with his new beret, Cannes had the opportunity to wow the first-time director right back when he was awarded an Honorary Palme d’Or ahead of the premiere of Propeller One-Way Night Coach. The long-gestating passion project, which stars his daughter Ella Bleu Travolta, received lukewarm reviews from critics, with Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian calling it “a sweet, odd diversion — more eccentric, maybe, than Travolta intended.”
Saturday also saw the premiere of Javier Bardem’s latest film The Beloved, which centers on a troubled director trying to repair his relationship with his estranged daughter. In what many have dubbed the Spanish Sentimental Value, The Beloved is currently at 83% on the Tomatometer. Critics again noted that Bardem remains one of the most consistent and electrifying actors, with Philip De Semlyen of Time Out writing that it “is a fabulous film about filmmaking and an astute and hard-hitting one about family dynamics. It’s also a great argument that the two should be kept apart at all times.”
The biggest title of the day with the loudest reception was for James Gray’s Paper Tiger. Starring Adam Driver, Miles Teller, and Scarlett Johansson, the film returned Gray to his crime movie roots, and festival goers were delighted. Currently at 83% on the Tomatometer, the film inspired Hannah Strong of Little White Lies to write: “Paper Tiger might be a jaunt through familiar territory for Gray, but it’s never less compelling for it, a clear-eyed requiem for a sort of humanity that feels like it’s slipping through our fingers with each passing year.” Johansson skipped the gala premiere, but that in no way dampened the festive mood of the event, which saw the likes of everyone from Julianne Moore and Cate Blanchett to Guy Fieri… for some reason. Here’s hoping Johansson can be around for the end-of-year awards, as many noted that both she and Driver have decent shots at nominations come Oscar time.
Friday, May 15th:
Friday was capped by a pair of highly anticipated premieres and one very talked-about beret. The most talked-about screening was for Gentle Monster by Marie Kreutzer, which chronicles a young mother’s struggle with what to do when her husband is accused of a heinous crime. It earned a somewhat mixed reaction and currently sits at 67% on the Tomatometer, but all reviews universally praise its star, Lea Seydoux. Nadia Dalimonte of Next Best Picture wrote that her “gut-wrenching performance at the center of Gentle Monster, along with a sensitive approach to horrifying subject matter, makes it a tough watch yet equally compelling.”
The other noteworthy premiere was Jordan Firstman’s Club Kid, which chronicles a 30-something man’s attempt at adulting when his wild night with a woman he barely remembers results in a very cute but damaged young man being flung onto his doorstep. Starring Firstman, Cara Delevingne, and Diego Calva, the film has become the festival’s first big premiere acquisition title, with nearly every marquee studio vying for the chance to release it. Critics were not shy with their praises, as the film currently boasts a perfect 100% on the Tomatometer and is considered the frontrunner to win the Un Certain Regard section of the competition. Rory O’Connor for The Film Stage wrote, “This is a movie that promises and delivers scenes of copious drug taking and gross-out comedy, but its third-act emotional payoff is as earned and devastating as the best of them.”
Despite such effusive praise, the shine on Club Kid paled in comparison to the praise of — or puzzlement over — John Travolta’s beret, which he wore on the red carpet on Friday, the day before the premiere of his passion project, Propeller One-Way Night Coach. I mean, take a look at the material; it’s not surprising that it got folks talking.
Thursday, May 14: The festival welcomed back Iranian film director and former Palme d’Or winner Asghar Farhadi; however, his first French-language film was not the return to form many were expecting. Starring Vincent Cassel and Isabelle Huppert, Parallel Tales centers on a reclusive author and the captivating yet dark young man who comes to live with her. Zachary Lee for The Wrap wrote, “Despite being impressively acted and thematically compelling, it avoids a wholehearted recommendation due to uneven repetition of sequences and ideas, making it feel more lugubrious than cohesive.” However, the film did provide some iconic red-carpet moments with Huppert, Cassel, and Catherine Deneuve.
Perhaps the biggest noise of the day came from the insane lines trying to catch Jane Schoenbrun’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma for its second screening, with hundreds queuing up, hoping to get in despite not having a ticket. Films like Nagi Notes, A Woman’s Life, and Diego Luna’s Ashes all premiered to warm receptions, but none could touch the viral fever around Schoenbrun’s Un Certain Regard frontrunner, which is currently at 100% on the Tomatometer. Overall, festival-goers have remarked that the English-language features have fared much better than the international fare to this point. But it is still early in the festival with many left to be screened, including James Gray’s Paper Tiger and Paweł Pawlikowski’s post-WWII drama Fatherland.
Wednesday, May 13: The Cannes Festivals keep rolling on, and the film with the most buzz by far was Jane Schoenbrun’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, starring Hannah Eienbinder and Gillian Anderson. Debuting at 100% on the Tomatometer, the film earned raves from critics, with Variety’s Jessica Kiang calling Schoenbrun’s “delirious third film their most accomplished, most persuasive, and most playful movie yet.”
And despite the lack of blockbusters, the Croisette was not bereft of star power as the was bookened by an emotional moment courtesy of The Fast and the Furious and Vin Diesel. Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the film, the group of Michelle Rodriguez, Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, and producer Neil Moritz, along with Paul Walker’s daughter Meadow, held a preliminary photo call, with Diesel hamming it up to perfection for the assembled press.
The day ended with a star-studded film presentation and an emotional speech by Diesel about the late cast member Paul Walker. Emotionally and jubilantly, he declared, “Fast Family Forever,” and dedicated the night to Walker after a hug with his daughter, Meadow.
Tuesday, May 12: The 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival kicked off yesterday, and it was a star-studded celebrity affair. As usual, there was the opening ceremony, which honored all the films set to screen at the festival over the next two weeks and commemorated some incredible moments in cinema. Elijah Wood was on hand, for example, to honor Peter Jackson, who is this year’s Honorary Palme d’Or recipient for his incredible cinematic career, including his work on all the J.R.R. Tolkien adaptations. Other Festival honorees include Claire Denis and Guillermo del Toro, who also returned to the festival to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his seminal Academy Award-winning film Pan’s Labyrinth. Prior to the opening night ceremony, the opening press conference kicked off with tons of fanfare but did not spark the same controversy as the Berlinale Film Festival’s opening presser earlier this year.
Earlier this year, the Berlin Film Festival was beleaguered by pointed questions about political neutrality when jury president Wim Wenders and a few jury members seemed to distance art from the current political climate, with Wenders saying, “We have to stay out of politics.” Park Chan-wook, director of Oldboy and last year’s incredible film No Other Choice, firmly set himself against such sentiment, stating, “Art and politics are not concepts that are in conflict with each other.” His sentiment was echoed by his fellow jurors, actress Demi Moore and longtime Ken Loach screenwriter Paul Laverty.
In addition to Moore and Laverty, this year’s jury also features Stellan Skarsgård, Ruth Negga, who first came to Cannes in 2016 for Jeff Nichols’ Academy Award-nominated Loving, and Hamnet director Chloé Zhao. Skarsgård joked that his inclusion on the festival jury was somewhat overdue, replying “Finally” when asked for his reaction to the invite. Demi Moore added that although her first time at the Cannes Film Festival was as a plus-one, the joy of cinema she felt when she brought The Substance here two years ago really inspired her to return and be immersed in the moment again. Jury President Park Chan-wook has created some of the most seminal masterpieces of the past 30 years, so we are anxious to see what his jury members will think of this year’s selection.
The highlight of the day was likely Guillermo del Toro’s presentation of the newly restored 20th anniversary edition of Pan’s Labyrinth, which received a 22-minute standing ovation. Tomorrow looks to be an even more raucous day as I Saw the TV Glow filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun comes to Cannes with her highly anticipated follow-up feature, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, which stars Gillian Anderson and Hannah Einbinder. Cannes will also welcome the OG The Fast and the Furious cast for their commemorative 25th-anniversary screening, with Michelle Rodriguez, Vin Diesel, and Jordana Brewster returning, along with Paul Walker’s daughter, Meadow.
Thumbnail image by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
