Festival de Cannes 2012 - Winners

I was watching the closing ceremony live here. Gorgeous Bérénice Bejo is the host of this evening!

Palme d'Or

"Amour" by Michael Haneke

Grand Prix

"Reality" by Matteo Garrone

Prix de la mise en scène

Carlos Reygadas for "Post Tenebras Lux"

Prix du scénario

"După dealuri" ("Beyond The Hills") by Cristian Mungiu

Jury Prize

"The Angels' Share" by Ken Loach

Prix d'interprétation féminine

Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur for "După dealuri" ("Beyond The Hills")

Prix d'interprétation masculine

Mads Mikkelsen for "The Hunt"

Festival de Cannes 2012 - Part 3

This post is dedicated to the interesting films, which were premiered at the few last days of the 65th Cannes Film Festival.

Read about Days 1-7 of Festival de Cannes 2012!

Director Lee Daniels, who is famous thanks to his "Precious", gathered a nice crew to create "The Paperboy", which was presented on 24th May. Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, John Cusack came to support it, telling how unusual, daring, nasty etc. etc. this film is. Efron wears only his underpants almost the whole film, Kidman was ready to experiment, Cusack plays a disgusting character. Critics say that the main heroine is incredible there. So don't be tricked by the innocent description of this film.



We know that Michael Haneke's "Amour" was the film that forced people to tear a little (and a lot), but British dark comedy "Sightseers" became the one that made them laugh. It's not the first film directed by Ben Wheatley, but the few previous ones didn't made him famous. Now he along with Edgar Wright tells a story about a couple, which takes around the world trip. However some events turn this adventure into a remarkable one. The main parts are played by the screenwriters, Alice Lowe and Steve Oram.

While her mother presents her freakish debut work, Kristen Stewart along with a great team, which includes Kirsten Dunst, Viggo Mortensen, Sam Riley and director Walter Salles came to Cannes with an adventurous film, "On the Road". This story is dedicated to the Beat Generation, so at least its soundtrack has to be good.

Criminal drama "Mud" by Jeff Nichols has already been named 'the biggest surprise' and 'one of the best In Competition'. It is named after the main character, but its title also describes what he has to overpass on his way to freedom and the girl he loves. This drama is about two teenagers, who are helping a fugitive. It sounds a bit creepy, but it seems like Matthew McConaughey was the right choice for this part. And Reese Witherspoon is also in there, probably she is that girl.



Also "Cosmopolis" was shown In Competition. It is second year in a row, when David Cronenberg presents his new work at the Cannes Film Festival. As we know Cronenberg, his films have to be a bit crazy. Robert Pattinson played the main part. He decisively, like his long-term co-star Stewart, needs to shake off his gloving character, and this film might help him. All his billionaire Eric Packer wants is to get a new haircut, but there are some serious traffic problems on the way, because the President came to the city. So he is stuck in his limo, where he meets different people.



And there is sad news about one of the actors, who is rumoured to be a serious candidate for best actor prize this year. Aniello Arena,  who played the main character in Matteo Garrone's "Reality", is sentenced to spend the rest of his life in a Tuscan jail for murder.

I'm going to watch the closing ceremony live now, and I definitely post the winners list in real-time streaming.

Festival de Cannes 2012 - Part 2

I continue following the most interesting premieres and other events of this year's Cannes Film Festival. This post will tell you what happened on 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th days in a beautiful French city, where the weather played some evil tricks, causing downpours and even roof collapses.

Read about Days 1, 2, 3 of the 65th Cannes Film Festival!

One of the surprises of those days was a film about a section of the Los Angeles County Jail reserved for homosexuals, AIDS patients and transsexuals. This drama is called "K-11", and is directed by Jules Mann-Stewart, Kristen Stewart's mother. It sounds like a hard story, which definitely shouldn't be mistaken with a 1990s comedy "K-911", starring James Belushi.

Brad Pitt arrived to present his latest thriller "Killing Them Softly". I was hoping to see him and Angelina Jolie on the red carpet, but it wasn't meant to be. He was there along director Andrew Dominik, who has almost the same hairstyle and beard as Pitt, and it makes them look like brothers. By the way, this film has been already named "this year's Drive", which makes me even more excited to see it!

Another film I'm anxious to see is "Lawless". It was presented by the whole crew, including Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf and Jason Clarke, who play three brothers with a dangerous bootlegging business. They say Hardy was in a great mood, joking and telling about funny behind-the-scenes moments. Director John Hillcoat told the journalists that this films was inspired partly by Sergio Leone's westerns.



23-years-old director Xavier Dolan traditionally presented his third film at the Cannes Film Festival. His "Laurence Anyways" is 3-hours long love story between a man and a woman, which becomes even more complicated after the first one decides to change his sex. His previous works, "J'ai tué ma mère" and "Les amours imaginaires", were highly appreciated at this Festival. This time there was a standing ovation for 5 minutes after its premiere.



Michael Haneke has already got 7 prizes from Cannes, ans his new drama "Amour" may bring him another one. It turns out to be very touching, many journalists were in tears after they watched it. This film is about love of two old people. The wife is dying and husband tries to comfort her, while their daughter insists to put her mother into the nursing home. It has to be also heartbreaking, so all critics loved it so far!



There will be another post about a few last days of the 65th Cannes Film Festival, and a few entries while I will watch the closing ceremony!

"A THERAPY" (2012) - Short film

A new short film by Roman Polanski was presented at the 65th Cannes Film Festival today. "A Therapy" is just 3 minutes long, its plot is simple, but intriguing and hilarious. It is produced by Prada, so it kinda looks like an ad.

Helena Bonham Carter plays a very rich, by miserable woman, who visits a therapist to have someone to talk to. Ben Kingsley is that psychiatrist, but he doesn't really care about his gorgeous patient. This character has something else on his mind... Watch this video to discover what it is.

Festival de Cannes 2012 - Part 1

The previous year I wrote about every day of the Cannes Film Festival, telling you what interesting press conferences, photocalls, premieres, awkward and great moments took place. This year I have no time to process such amount of information, so there will be just a few entries dedicated to the events, which are happening in Cannes right now. This entry is about those first three days of this international film event, which have already passed.

The Presidents of three Juries (In Competition, Un Certain Regard, Cinéfoundation and short films) are Nanni Moretti, Tim Roth and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, so they and their mates are watching all films very attentively, trying not to miss the really good ones to praise them fairly.

"Moonrise Kingdom" was the opening film this time, and unexpectedly for me, almost all critics loved it! Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton along with Wes Anderson came to support their new adventurous comedy about some weird adults, who try to find two twelve-year-old runaways in love.

Of course, such huge festival couldn't be missed by one of the most eccentric actors nowadays. Sacha Baron Cohen arrived with his female bodyguards to present his new dark comedy "The Dictator", directed by Larry Charles. The promo campaign of this film is incredibly intrusive, you must remember how he has spilled ashes over Ryan Seacrest on the Academy Awards red carpet, so I'm very glad that it is finally over, because "The Dictator" is already out in cinemas.



Among other films, which were presented out of competition, are two DreamWorks' animations "Rise of the Guardians" and "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted". Isla Fisher jokes that the first one is like "The Animated Avengers", because it's a story about a team of the mythical fairy-tale characters, who have to save the world. Probably, it is more like "The Avengers for little kids". And the third film of the famous franchise is rumoured to be the last one, but who knows, if it will earn enough money.

French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, who won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009, returns with his new shocking drama called "De rouille et d'os" ("Rust and Bone"). The critics like it so far. Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts, who played the main parts, also came to support their film. It is about two people in love, but one of them is unemployed and the other is a killer whale trainer, who has lost both her legs. There must be passion, hate, blind love and many tragic circumstances.

Also "Reality" by Matteo Garrone was shown in Competition, a story about one happy family man, whose life changes rapidly after he has this obsessive idea to become a reality star and to prove everyone that he is very special.




Michel Gondry's "The We and the I" was the first film presented in Directors' Fortnight selection. 35 kinds are traveling in a bus during the different centuries, so none of them is going to be the same after this adventure. It was followed by Pablo Larrain's historical drama "No", starring Gael García Bernal. He portrays a PR manager, who has to persuade people to begin a revolt against Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.

One of the biggest announcements so far was that Jackie Chan is done being an action film star. He is one of my all time favourite actors, and now "Chinese Zodiac" is going to be his last film as a leading hero. Though I understand how tired he can be after decades of being hurt while filming, but Jackie Chan did incredible things on the set, which no other actor can do. Now he wants to be a dramatic actor, which is also very good, because he has a real talent and no matter which film genre he chooses, he will succeeded.

So this is all for now, I'll write another post about Festival de Cannes 2012 in a few days, covering the most interesting films and moments.

Top-5 films of Cannes Film Festival 2012

The line-up for the 65th annual Cannes Film Festival was announced a few weeks ago, but I hadn't much time to check it and pick just 5 films, which I'd definitely like to watch, until now.

The whole list you can read here.

"Moonrise Kingdom" by Wes Anderson

"I will meet you in the meadow."

It is the opening film of the festival, and if you remember the one, which started it the previous year, Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris", you know it has to be something special. The cast is very strong, it includes Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton. "Moonrise Kingdom" set in the 1960s and tells a love story of two young people, who decide to run away. So their parents with help of a local sheriff start searching for them. Its trailer is surreal and weird, that is why I like it.

"Lawless" by John Hillcoat

"I'm the one who's going to make your life real difficult from now on if you don't toe the line country boy."

A gangster drama, based on a true story. Aren't you already interested in it? Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy and Jason Clarke play three brothers, who are running a very risky business, bootlegging. But new political era makes it even harder and definitely more dangerous. Also there are Gary Oldman, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska and Guy Pearce, who won't let this film to be boring. The trailer atmosphere is very tense, especially I like the music, which gives me goose bumps. And don't confuse it with Terrence Malick's "Lawless" with Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara and Christian Bale, which will be out in 2013.

"Hemingway and Gellhorn" by Philip Kaufman

"Someone has to go, someone has to write about this."

If you are a bit familiar with Ernest Hemingway's works and life, you know that it could be a great biopic. Martha Gellhorn was his wife and a talented journalist, who became famous thanks to her war reports. The main parts are played by Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman, who look very persuasive in the only trailer, which was released so far. War, passion, love, talent - this film must be very impressive.

"The Paperboy" by Lee Daniels

Another film with Nicole Kidman. But this time she is playing a seductive woman, due to the first stills. Zac Efron and Matthew McConaughey are portraying the brothers; the younger of them helps the elder and his companion to discover who murdered the local sheriff a few years ago. While the brothers have other problems to manage, the third one fabricates some evidence to write the story without them. And now the justice must triumph or the wrong man will be executed.

Trailer isn't available yet.

"Killing Them Softly" by Andrew Dominik

Brad Pitt portrays Jackie Cogan, an enforcer, who has to investigate the heist of a poker game with the high stakes. This film is based on a novel by George V. Higgins, and is directed by a man, whose favourite and very successful film genre is crime. We'll see if this story could be this year's "Drive".

Trailer isn't available yet.

Pictures - COLLIDER, IMPAwards, Vicious!

Cannes Film Festival 2012 - Anniversary poster with Marilyn Monroe

The official website presented the anniversary poster for the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival. You've seen young Faye Dunaway on the previous one, and this year pays a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. The photographer of this picture was Otto L. Bettmann.

Classy and beautiful, I like that they did it black-and-white again.

The Festival will take place on 16-27 May.

Check out my entries about the 64th CANNES FILM FESTIVAL.

"Drive" (2011) - Red Band Trailer

This story is about a stunt performer, played by Ryan Gosling, who sometimes works as getaway driver. Director Nicolas Winding Refn said about his movie: "Being realistic is OK, but it's not necessarily very interesting. We weren't aiming to make a documentary. But we wanted to strike a balance so that the film wouldn't become over-stylised." For him it wasn't usual to make movies at Hollywood, so he told how it feels to make movie there: "It was extraordinary, I was in this house with a swimming pool and an orange grove, it was mythical for me to be in that place. And the incredible thing was that everybody was helping me, while I had all these negative preconceptions. The producers were always there for me. I was able to make the movie I wanted to make." Other characters in "Drive" are portrayed by actors Carey Mulligan, Bruce Cranston, Christina Hendricks and Ron Perlman. Finally, I want to add that some critics are impressed by their performances and really enjoyed the movie and Nicolas Winding Refn got Prix de la mise en scène (Best Director Award) at the 64th Cannes Film Festival because of this movie.

Clip

Report from Cannes Film Festival (with pictures)

64th Cannes Film Festival - The End (all winners)

Red Band Trailer

"We Need to Talk About Kevin" (2011) - Trailers

"We Need to Talk About Kevin" was presented this year at the Cannes Film Festival and was In Competition. Directed by Lynne Ramsay this movies tell us a story about how the upbringing influences a child's life and what can cause. When Kevin, two days before his sixteenth birthday, goes on a horrific rampage, his mother Eva grapples with her own feelings of grief and responsibility. She confronts the ultimate taboo – did she ever love her son? And how much of what Kevin did was her fault? (Official BBCfilms page) The main parts are played by Tilda Swinton (Eva), John C. Reilly (Franklin) and Ezra Miller (Kevin).

The Guardian review (click to read).

"Надо поговорить о Кевине" был представлен в этом году на Каннском кинофестивале и принимал участие в борьбе за награду. Режиссер Линн Рэмси рассказывает нам историю о том, как воспитание влияет на судьбу ребенка и к каким последствиям может привести. Когда Кевин за несколько дней до своего 16-летия совершает ужасный непоправимый поступок и его мать Ева пытается справиться с чувствами скорби и ответственности. Любила ли она когда-то своего сына? И насколько виновна она в том, что совершил Кевин? Главные роли исполнили Тильда Суинтон (Ева), Джон Си Райли (Франклин) и Эзра Миллер (Кевин).

Release dates - September 28, 2011 (France), October 21, 2011 (UK)

Trailer #1



Trailer #2

Top-5 movies of the week - 25.05 - 01.06

After the Cannes Film Festival is over, I have more time for writing about other movies and events. I'm returning to my recently started topic. One of the hottest releases of this spring is already in our cinemas and this movie has big chances to get a great box office, but also there is a couple of movies, which can be interesting for you.

1. "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides"
Of course, this movie is the most expected of spring season. I'm a fan of the trilogy, but since the cast has changed, I didn't think that the 4th movie can be as interesting and impressive as first ones. Still there are Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush, who saved this movie. I didn't watch it in 3D, but it is made visually very good, with nice views, special effects and costumes. The one thing, which I really dislike in it, is the love story between priest and mermaid. Actors Sam Claflin and Astrid Bergés-Frisbey are beautiful, but not so talented. They are a horrible replacement of Orlando Bloom and Keira Nightly.

Trailer - http://elenastr.blogspot.com/2011/01/pirates-of-caribbean-on-stranger-tides_30.html

2. "The Tree of Life"
The Palme d'Or winner Terrence Malick releases his new movie world wide. I'll watch it just on June 9 and can't wait for it. I'm interested in, because I love when Brad plays not "macho man" characters, but a real man, a father. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his hard adult years as he tries to settle a complicated relationship with his father. Sean creates very depressed person Jack, who finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith.

Trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXRYA1dxP_0

3. "Kung Fu Panda 2" 
Family comedy about a panda, who becomes a hero, was successful, so it's not a surprise that creators made a sequel. Now the main character must save kung fu. He with his four friends starts a journey, which will be full of dangerous and funny moments. I've seen video about how it was made, that's why I can tell you - everybody, especially actors, did a great job creating such a nice animation movie. I'm sure they will be proud to show it to their kids.

Trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1ftH73f3xg

4. "Priest"
The latest movie about vampires with Paul Bettany tells us a story about how legendary priest fights the evil and tries to safe his niece. It is made in not so good 3D, but it is worth watching because of atmosphere, leading actor, music by composer Christopher Young and this beastly vampires. 

Trailer -  http://elenastr.blogspot.com/2011/04/priest-2011-trailer.html

5. "Bridesmaids"
I was choosing between this melodrama and the 2nd "Hangover", so I prefer this movie. It has a crazy cast. Every woman is different from others, but they can get wild together and have an unforgettable trip. And as one critic from 'New Yorker' said: "The movie is uneven and lurching, but it provides many laughs."

Trailer -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrRd2QSsGc4

I wish you to have a great week!

64th Cannes Film Festival - The End

64^th Cannes Film Festival is officially over and every star returns directing and starring in movies. All awards were given and the city lights wouldn't shine so brightly as in the last 12 days. I'm very glad of the jury's choice. It was very unusual that a director didn’t show up to present his movie, but Terrence Malick hasn't arrived either at the end and his Palme d'Or for his "Tree of Life" was excepted by producers William Pohlad and Dede Gardner. French director and actress Maïwenn got the Prix du Jury for "Polisse". She was incredibly emotional, for a moment I thought she would faint. Also I’m very happy for Kirsten Dunst (she couldn't believe here luck after Lars von Trier’s joke) and Jean Dujardin (he played a leading role in the new silent black-and-white movie). Prix de la mise en scène went to Nicolas Winding Refn for his “Drive” and it was a very nice moment, when he thanked to Ryan Gosling. So closing ceremony ended without any surprises, everyone was happy and satisfied. I hope the next year’s Festival would be also funny, eventful, a bit shocking and memorable, because the 64^th Festival was.

Searching for interesting videos from Cannes I've found this live performance of Jamie Cullen at the opening ceremony. He sang "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra and "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys. But my favorite moment is when Melanie Laurent dances with Uma Thurman.



And I want to share with you some of the most interesting photos from the latest Cannes photocall after the closing ceremony.

Palme d'Or - Terrence Malick ("The Tree of Life"), but the award was excepted by producers William Pohlad and Dede Gardner  

Ryan Gosling congratulates and kisses Nicolas Winding Refn, who got Prix de la mise en scène  

The end of the Ceremony - Winners and the Jury

The Jury member - beautiful and talented Uma Thurman

Prix d'interprétation féminine - Kirsten Dunst ("Melancholia")

Kirsten Dunst ( Prix d'interprétation féminine ), Robert De Niro (President of the Jury) and Jean Dujardin ( Prix d'interprétation masculine )

Prix du Jury - Maïwenn ("Polisse")

Grand Prix - Dardenne brothers ("The Kid with a Bike"/"Le Gamin au vélo") and Nuri Bilge Ceylan ("Once Upon a Time in Anatolia" / "Bir Zamanlar Anadolu'da")
 

Everything good has come to an end.


Pictures - ZIMBIO

Festival de Cannes 2011 - Winners

List of the Winners of the 64th Cannes Film Festival 

Palme d'Or - Terrence Malick ("The Tree of Life"), but the award was excepted producers William Pohlad and Dede Gardner

 

 Grand Prix - Dardenne brothers ("The Kid with a Bike"/"Le Gamin au vélo") and Nuri Bilge Ceylan ("Once Upon a Time in Anatolia" / "Bir Zamanlar Anadolu'da")

Prix du Jury - Maïwenn ("Polisse")

  

 Prix de la mise en scène - Nicolas Winding Refn ("Drive")

Actor Ryan Gosling ("Drive")

Prix d'interprétation féminine - Kirsten Dunst ("Melancholia")

Prix d'interprétation masculine - Jean Dujardin ("The Artist")

 

So the Festival is coming to an end. All prizes are given to those people, who really earned it. And I'm very exited to watch all 'In Competitions' movies.

  

Festival de Cannes 2011 - Day 12 - Closing Ceremony

Now I'm watching the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival. Here is the link - http://www.udirect.tv/streaming-canalplus-live.php (it's on French, but it's still simple to understand who is getting an award.)

The host Melanie Laurent and the Director of the Jury Robert De Niro (he dot a long standing applauses)

 

Robert De Niro

Beautiful Uma Thurman

 The Jury

Festival de Cannes 2011 - Day 11

The Festival is going to an end with the last movie 'In Competition', which is the latest work of Radu Mihaileanu. "The Source" (original title "La Source Des Femmes") is a story of a little village somewhere in North Africa, where women always fetch the water. They are bored of this work, so they're making a sex strike to force men to provide the water into the village. The director with actors gave a press conference and told that his movie is a reflection of the revolutions in the Arab world: "These revolutions represent a huge step forward. We wrote the film with the same sort of intentions, and we bet on the chance that women would be the ones to bring change, not simply throughout the world but especially in the Muslim world." Also he added that the village in his movie is not less important than its characters: "The main character in the film is the village. It was amazing, with ochre colours, that earth… it needed just a little bit of colour. We made the decision to borrow from the culture of all the Arab countries without betraying the unity of the Arab-Berber Moroccan whole. We used blues, yellows, oranges. The light was kind to all of the colours, the ochre, the walls, and skin tones as well." As for the photocall, the actresses looked very cheerful, so I hope they portrayed their characters with such passion.

A movie, which is chosen to close the Festival, is "The Beloved" (original title "Les Bien-Aimés") by French screenwriter and director Christophe Honoré. He presented his movie along with actors Catherine Deneuve, Chiara Mastroianni, Louis Garrel, Paul Schneider, Christophe Honore, Laudivine Sagnier, Rasha Bukvic and the composer Alex Beaupain. This musical shows two love stories, which are survived by a mother and her daughter and takes place in the 1960s and 1990s, happening in Prague, Paris and London. The director told the journalists about how he understands the filmmaking: "I've never been of the view that the role of cinema is to film everyday life, but I do try to make films that are true to life." Catherine Deneuve said about working with Christophe Honoré: "I’ve always liked Christophe’s way of portraying female characters and love affairs. When I heard about the project, I was immediately interested. During filming, Christophe was very attentive, friendly and open." The screening of the movie will be tomorrow, May 22, but some critics, who just saw it, think it is very boring, except the decor.

The last movie presented 'Un Certain Regard' is "Elena" by Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev, whose movie was once nominated for a Palme d'Or. This year he came to tell a dramatic story about complicated relationships between parents and sons. Can it be interesting? I think definitely yes - this movie just got SPECIAL JURY PRIZE.

And tomorrow we will discover who earned the other awards. There are rumors that "Drive" by Nicholas Winding Refn has good chances to win.

"The Sourse" photocall - Radu Mihaileanu, Leila Bekhti, Hafsia Herzi, Hiam Abbas, Sabrina Ouazani, Biyouna

"The Beloved" photocall - Catherine Deneuve, Chiara Mastroianni, Louis Garrel, Paul Schneider, Christophe Honore, Laudivine Sagnier, Rasha Bukvic, Alex Beaupain

 "Elena" photocall - Andrei Zviaquintsev,  Elena Lyadova, Nadezhda Markina

 More photos from sunny Cannes - http://www.panarmenian.net/photo/ , http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/