Monday, May 12, 2014

Field Guide to Cannes 2014: Films in Competition A-M



The 67th annual Festival de Cannes opens May 14. Here's part one of a look at the films selected for the main competition. Also included are the latest betting odds (yes there are bookies who take action on Cannes) for entertainment purposes only.



The Captive (Atom Egoyan, Canada) 


A kidnapping thriller starring Ryan Reynolds, Scott Speedman and Rosario Dawson, Egoyan previously won the Grand Prix in 1997 for The Sweet Hereafter.

Odds 35/1




Clouds of Sils Maria (Olivier Assayas, France-Switzerland-Germany)


This English-language film is all about a famous actress who withdraws to a town in Switzerland and stars Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart and Chloe Grace Moretz. Assayas has been in competition at Cannes several times but has yet to win.

Odds 16/1




Foxcatcher (Bennett Miller, U.S.)


Starring Channing Tatum, Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo, this bio-pic deals with the tragic true story of the Schultz brothers, and their deadly involvement with eccentric millionaire John duPont. From the director of Capote and Moneyball.

Odds 22/1




Goodbye to Language (Jean-Luc Godard, Switzerland)


This film marks the seventh time the 83 year-old director has been up for the Palme d'Or. Shot in 3D, Goodbye to Language is the sort of oddity that might have a special appeal to the jury.

Odds 10/1



The Homesman (Tommy Lee Jones, U.S.)


Tommy Lee Jones makes a welcome return to directing with this off beat western, concerning the transportation of a group of insane women to a hospital in Iowa. Hilary Swank, Meryl Streep and Grace Gummer are among the cast of notables.
Odds 18/1 

Jimmy’s Hall (Ken Loach, U.K.-Ireland-France)


The legendary social-realist director makes his 12th trip to Cannes with this docudrama about Irish communist leader James Grafton. The 78 year-old Loach has hinted this may be his last feature. He won the Palme d’Or in 2006 for The Wind That Shakes the Barley.

Odds 25/1



Leviathan (Andrei Zvyagintsev, Russia)


The moody Russian minimalist returns with a drama that promises elements of class struggle and sci-fi. Zvyagintsev's previous film Elena closed Un Certain Regard in 2011. Expect it to be on the short list for the Palme d'Or.

Odds 5/1


Le Meraviglie (Alice Rohrwacher, Italy-Switzerland-Germany) 


Rohrwacher is one of two female directors selected for competition this year. Le Meraviglie is a coming of age story set in the Umbrian countryside. It features a 14-year-old girl whose sheltered life is disrupted by a young German ex-con. Monica Bellucci has a supporting role.

Odds 16/1



Maps to the Stars (David Cronenberg, Canada-U.S.-France-Germany)


This satire of Hollywood lifestyles has generated lots of good buzz, and it marks the 5th time a Cronenberg film has screened in competition. Carrie Fisher, Julianne Moore and Robert Pattinson star. It's the type of story that should resonate with the judges.

Odds 11/2



Mommy (Xavier Dolan, France-Canada)


L'enfant terrible Xavier Dolan is back with the story of a single mom struggling to raise her troubled teenage son. Dolan regulars Antoine-Olivier Pilon, Anne Dorval and Suzanne Clément return for this latest outing.

Odds 35/1



Mr. Turner (Mike Leigh, U.K.)


Cannes veteran Leigh, who won the Palme d’Or for 1996’s Secrets & Lies, returns with this biopic of the 19th-century landscape painter J.M.W. Turner. Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville and Tom Wlaschiha star.
Odds 10/1

FILMS N-Z

Field Guide to Cannes 2014: Films in Competition A-M



The 67th annual Festival de Cannes opens May 14. Here's part one of a look at the films selected for the main competition. Also included are the latest betting odds (yes there are bookies who take action on Cannes) for entertainment purposes only.



The Captive (Atom Egoyan, Canada) 


A kidnapping thriller starring Ryan Reynolds, Scott Speedman and Rosario Dawson, Egoyan previously won the Grand Prix in 1997 for The Sweet Hereafter.

Odds 35/1




Clouds of Sils Maria (Olivier Assayas, France-Switzerland-Germany)


This English-language film is all about a famous actress who withdraws to a town in Switzerland and stars Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart and Chloe Grace Moretz. Assayas has been in competition at Cannes several times but has yet to win.

Odds 16/1




Foxcatcher (Bennett Miller, U.S.)


Starring Channing Tatum, Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo, this bio-pic deals with the tragic true story of the Schultz brothers, and their deadly involvement with eccentric millionaire John duPont. From the director of Capote and Moneyball.

Odds 22/1




Goodbye to Language (Jean-Luc Godard, Switzerland)


This film marks the seventh time the 83 year-old director has been up for the Palme d'Or. Shot in 3D, Goodbye to Language is the sort of oddity that might have a special appeal to the jury.

Odds 10/1



The Homesman (Tommy Lee Jones, U.S.)


Tommy Lee Jones makes a welcome return to directing with this off beat western, concerning the transportation of a group of insane women to a hospital in Iowa. Hilary Swank, Meryl Streep and Grace Gummer are among the cast of notables.
Odds 18/1 

Jimmy’s Hall (Ken Loach, U.K.-Ireland-France)


The legendary social-realist director makes his 12th trip to Cannes with this docudrama about Irish communist leader James Grafton. The 78 year-old Loach has hinted this may be his last feature. He won the Palme d’Or in 2006 for The Wind That Shakes the Barley.

Odds 25/1



Leviathan (Andrei Zvyagintsev, Russia)


The moody Russian minimalist returns with a drama that promises elements of class struggle and sci-fi. Zvyagintsev's previous film Elena closed Un Certain Regard in 2011. Expect it to be on the short list for the Palme d'Or.

Odds 5/1


Le Meraviglie (Alice Rohrwacher, Italy-Switzerland-Germany) 


Rohrwacher is one of two female directors selected for competition this year. Le Meraviglie is a coming of age story set in the Umbrian countryside. It features a 14-year-old girl whose sheltered life is disrupted by a young German ex-con. Monica Bellucci has a supporting role.

Odds 16/1



Maps to the Stars (David Cronenberg, Canada-U.S.-France-Germany)


This satire of Hollywood lifestyles has generated lots of good buzz, and it marks the 5th time a Cronenberg film has screened in competition. Carrie Fisher, Julianne Moore and Robert Pattinson star. It's the type of story that should resonate with the judges.

Odds 11/2



Mommy (Xavier Dolan, France-Canada)


L'enfant terrible Xavier Dolan is back with the story of a single mom struggling to raise her troubled teenage son. Dolan regulars Antoine-Olivier Pilon, Anne Dorval and Suzanne Clément return for this latest outing.

Odds 35/1



Mr. Turner (Mike Leigh, U.K.)


Cannes veteran Leigh, who won the Palme d’Or for 1996’s Secrets & Lies, returns with this biopic of the 19th-century landscape painter J.M.W. Turner. Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville and Tom Wlaschiha star.
Odds 10/1

FILMS N-Z

Roma (2018) ✭✭✭✭✭

Alfonso Cuarón’s directorial career has dealt with everything from updated Dickens ( Great Expectations ) to twisted coming of age ( Y Tu Ma...