|
By Dave McCoy
MSN Movies
So, what do you do when you've had the fortune to fulfill a lifelong dream?
What do you do for a follow-up? What do you do if the opportunity presents
itself again? Do you grab it and hope it measures up to your first experience,
or do you bypass it, fearing that it will taint your past memories?
Last year, I had the opportunity to realize my lifelong dream of covering the
Cannes Film Festival. Since I began reviewing movies in 1991, I always dreamed
of coming to the French Riviera and participating in the world's greatest,
biggest and most glamorous film festival. And I had a blast. It couldn't have
been more perfect. So, when the question of whether to head back this year arose
... oh, who am I kidding? I of course jumped at it!
For starters, this year marks the festival's 60th anniversary, and though
I've only been here a few hours, the added excitement level is palpable. The
streets, cafes and bars — and especially the press line to pick up my
credentials — were overflowing with added bodies. Oh, and the prices are higher.
Shocker.
And because it's the 60th anniversary, Cannes has gone all out with a program
brimming with exceptional possibilities. Martin Scorsese is here and will teach a film
class to 2000 lucky souls at the Debussy Theatre next week. Jane Fonda is here to honor her late father. The Cinema de
la Plage -- the beach overlooking the Mediterranean where the nightly
outdoor screenings take place -- will show nothing but past Palme d'Or
winners such as "Wild at Heart," "M*A*S*H" and "All That Jazz."
And then there is the film lineup: The Coen Brothers have brought their
latest, an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's Western noir masterpiece, "No Country
for Old Men." Wong Kar-Wai kicks off the proceedings with his first
English-language film, "My Blueberry Nights," starring Norah Jones and Jude Law (more on this in a moment). David Fincher brings "Zodiac" to competition, looking for international
redemption after his film (2007's finest, in my opinion) bombed in America. Michael Moore brings controversy with "Sicko," his attack on the American health-care system. Quentin Tarantino lugs a new cut (I'm guessing 37 more
self-indulgent minutes) of "Death Proof" (his half of "Grindhouse") for competition. And Gus Van Sant, Olivier Assayas, Steven Soderbergh, Abel Ferrara, Kim Ki-Duk, Emir Kusturica and Catherine Breillat (the latter trying to bring home a French
Palme d'Or win for the first time in 20 years!) all showcase new works.
And on a selfish note, I will finally don a tuxedo and walk the famed red
carpet when I attend the worldwide premiere of "A Mighty Heart," which depicts the story of slain Wall
Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl and stars Angelina Jolie.
So, how could I say no? But my gain is also yours, because each day
I'll report back to all of you cinephiles with the latest, greatest,
poorest and (hopefully) controversial stories for the next two weeks. So, live
vicariously through me and together let's discover some great films.
What a Trip
A few tiny tales from my 15-hour journey from Seattle to Cannes yesterday:
I had a strange little encounter during my layover at Heathrow Airport in
London. I ended up at a table drinking with three other Americans (we can sense
each other, you know?) -- and the group couldn't have been funnier. To my
left was Joe Wilson. Ever heard of him? Me neither, but damn if the guy isn't an
actor with a slew of bit parts in films such as "The Wedding Crashers," "You, Me and Dupree" and the upcoming "The Wendell Baker Story." To my right, Troy, a former
professional wrestler who now serves in the American military in Germany. And
finally, across from me, Ada, perhaps the spunkiest Texas A&M grad you're
likely to meet, who was about to begin her first backpacking trip through
Europe. Gotta love international travel.
So, here's something you probably didn't know: If you're a balding yet sexy
English superstar, you don't have to go through silly little things like
customs. I found this out when Jude Law was whisked by me while I was in the customs line
in Nice. But that was his only perk: Like the rest of us exhausted travelers, he
had to wait for his bags and did so in surprising anonymity. That all changed
when we left the baggage area -- for, waiting on the other side of the doors
were 50 to 75 rabid fans and paparazzi who surrounded the tiny (aren't they
always?) actor and forced him to give them the old "Hard Day's Night"/Beatles escape into an awaiting car. How big is the Cannes
Film Festival? The insanity starts at the freakin' airport!
Crimes Against Poster Art
Before we get into the movies and events here at Cannes, I need to address
one thing. Click to the right and take a look at the worst poster
in film festival history. What the hell were they thinking? Yes, it couldn't
be more French, but even that doesn't excuse what's going on here. Where to
start? With Pedro Almodóvar, bottom right, either riding a pony
or doing some unspeakable act? With Bruce Willis, bottom left, looking a like a twee
extra from a fourth-rate ballet company (he needs to be slapped for that pose
and smug smile)? With poor, poor Jane Campion (middle row), who has been photographed so
awfully that you can hardly distinguish her from Gérard Depardieu (on her right)? Samuel L. Jackson's goofy expression? Or Souleymane Cisse, hovering over the proceeding and doing his
best Isaac Hayes/Black Moses impersonation? They should all be
ashamed of themselves, because I have to see this monstrosity
hanging everywhere for the next two weeks. Ugh.
The Omen?
Finally, because of some brutal jet lag, last night I woke up at 4 a.m. This
year, a wonderful man let me rent his personal boat, which is located in the
marina, right next to the Palais. Unable to sleep, I went outside and sat on the
bow and just took in the quiet that will surely vanish by tomorrow. As
I sat there, soaking up the calm, I heard and saw approximately 50
seagulls fly over the city, toward the Mediterranean — most likely seeking
breakfast. They were heading my way. And the first thing I thought was this: If
one of those seagulls craps on my head, perhaps it's a sign that I made the
wrong choice by coming back to Cannes. I over-reached. However, if I emerge
crap-free, I made the right choice. And, hell, either way, it'll make for a good
story.
Let's just say I don't need a washer. And yes, folks, that's how far I'm
willing to go to give you total coverage of the 2007 Cannes Film
Festival. It's my pleasure, my fortune and one hell of a dream come true ...
again.
A demain ...
Dave McCoy is lead editor for MSN Movies. He'll file daily dispatches from
Cannes through May 28.
What Cannes film excites you this year? Write us at heymsn@microsoft.com
Sound off: Comment on this story on our Cannes message
board |
Hotmail
Messenger
My MSN
MSN Directory
