Collider is back at the Cannes Film Festival to discover the crème de la crème of international cinema, debate with other critics about the various films, interview stars and see new ones on the rise, complain about the long lines, party (a bit), and walk (a lot) down the Croisette to watch the massive billboards and video installations of upcoming blockbusters.
So slather on some sunscreen and let’s take a walk.
Bong Joon Ho’sOkjaandNoah Baumbach’sThe Meyerowitz Stories, the two Netflix productions in competition, which caused much controversy among French distributors after the selection was announced, are prominently featured. Considering the quality of the series produced by Netflix, they are two of the most anticipated films this year.
Further down is Hungarian directorKornél Mundruczó’sJupiter Moon, hanging right next to a Renault ad. Does that mean the French automobile company will provide the vehicles for outer space road trips?
On the rotating kiosk, we see festival opener, the off-competition festival openerIsmael’s GhostsbyArnaud Desplechinand the in-competitionL’Amant DoublebyFrancois Ozon.
“Careful who you trust”, announces the South Korean out-of-competition flickThe Merciless, directed byByun Sung-hyun, while next to it a cute bear looks caught-in-the-act guilty as he is told “You are what you eat” on the poster forAnimal Crackers, the animated feature voiced byEmily Blunt,John Krasinski,Danny DeVito,Ian McKellenandSylvester Stallone. Perhaps he had one cracker too many?
Paul Verhoeven’s upcoming French-language filmBlessed Virgin, starring Belgian actressVirginie Efira(an A-list star in France), overlooks a typically Riviera building, and then we see red. Slated for a 2018 release, the animated flickRed Shoes and the Seven Dwarfsmay appeal to shoeholics and is voiced byChloe Grace Moretz.
On the way to the Carlton,Ryan Reynoldsis carryingSamuel L. Jacksonin the poster forThe Hitman’s Bodyguard, while next to it real-life couple star as a fake-like couple inspired by another real-life couple on the poster forLoving Pablo, Hating Pablo.Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queenis announced for 2018 and he sees red.
The Carlton Hotel is the amusement park of movie billboards and video installations. On either side of the palatial hotel,Transformers 348(I have seriously lost count) stand guard as billboards and large screens running the lengthy trailers.
Speaking of lengthy, this summer’sCars 3trailer is over 5 minutes long and introduces two new characters, the ominous Jackson Storm (voiced byArmie Hammer) and race technician Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonso). Wlll she get Lightning McQueen’s (Owen Wilson) motors revving again?
And these cars will not be crushed by the replica of the Orient Express. Announced for November, the remake ofMurder on the Orient Express, its directorKenneth Branagh,Penelope Cruz,Willem Dafoe,Judi Dench,Johnny Depp,Josh Gad,Leslie Odom, Jr.,Michelle PfeifferandDaisy Ridley.
Lying on the edge of the Carlton’s roof is a superhero on a break.Spider-Man: Homecominghas some time to rest before its June release.
