So this is what happens when you put a bunch of rich assholes on a big yacht! Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund is one of my favorite filmmakers these days – he’s a genius when it comes to satire and mocking the most absurd parts of society. He makes films that say what you shouldn’t say, that directly call out the bullshit, and then fling that bullshit around right back into everyone’s face. Östlund already won the Palme d’Or in Cannes a few years ago with his comedy The Square, and already earned acclaim and tons of awards for Force Majuere from 2014. He’s pretty much free to do whatever he wants now and his… ...Read full story
Cannes 2022: Lola Quivoron’s ‘Rodeo’ is an Impressive Feature Debut
Every year there are a handful of top notch films that premiere at major film festivals that are so impressive it’s hard to believe they’re the first feature film made by the filmmakers behind them. Earlier this year it was Fresh slicing it up at Sundance, directed by Mimi Cave; and last year it was The Lost Daughter, directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal (she even won the DGA Award for Best First … ...Read full story
Cannes 2022: Exploring ‘The Eight Mountains’ with Luca Marinelli
“It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” –Sir Edmund Hillary. Mountains are mystical, magical, and extraordinary. Some people are born in the mountains, and they never leave, unable to step away from them. Some people are born in the mountains, and leave to find their place elsewhere, yet always longing to return. Those who are drawn to their… ...Read full story
Cannes 2022 Opens with a Tribute to the Teamwork of Filmmaking
It’s time again. The 2022 Cannes Film Festival begins this week, and I’m back in the South of France for my 12th time covering this festival. I always love being back, and even with updates and frustrations, there is nowhere else I’d rather be right now. Choosing an Opening Night film for any festival is always a daunting task. This year the Cannes opener is the French zombie comedy called Final Cut (or Coupez! in French), which just so happens to be a French remake of the beloved Japanese indie classic One Cut of the Dead… ...Read full story