Kelly, the man behind cult phenomenon Donnie Darko, was almost denied entrance to the festival, because government officials suspected terrorist connections. "The paranoid conspiracy freak inside me is starting to think this has something to do with the film," he said. Southland Tales stars the Rock and Sarah Michelle Gellar, is set two years in the future and deals with celebrity and terrorism, among other things. Though not reportedly booed, critical reaction is being described as "mixed." IMDB reports, "At a news conference following the screening, a reporter prefaced a question to Kelly by remarking that he had 'never seen so many walkouts' at a press screening at Cannes. The moderator of the conference, however, promptly insisted that, from where he sat, the audience appeared 'mesmerized' by the film. Kelly himself said that he realized that it would "push buttons" and that it was meant to be experienced not in the way a viewer ordinarily approaches a film but 'like a puzzle.'"
Friday, May 26, 2006
Disappointing Reactions for Coppola, Kelly Films at Cannes
Among the films competing for the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival are ones by two of N&UR's favorite directors, Sophia Coppola and Richard Kelly. Both films, however, have not exactly been met with rave reviews. Coppola's Marie-Antoinette was actually booed during a press screening. "It's better to get a reaction," Coppola says, "it's better than a mediocre response. Hopefully some people will enjoy it. I think it's not for everybody." The film stars Kirsten Dunst and Jason Scwartzman, and will hit US theaters in mid-October.
Kelly, the man behind cult phenomenon Donnie Darko, was almost denied entrance to the festival, because government officials suspected terrorist connections. "The paranoid conspiracy freak inside me is starting to think this has something to do with the film," he said. Southland Tales stars the Rock and Sarah Michelle Gellar, is set two years in the future and deals with celebrity and terrorism, among other things. Though not reportedly booed, critical reaction is being described as "mixed." IMDB reports, "At a news conference following the screening, a reporter prefaced a question to Kelly by remarking that he had 'never seen so many walkouts' at a press screening at Cannes. The moderator of the conference, however, promptly insisted that, from where he sat, the audience appeared 'mesmerized' by the film. Kelly himself said that he realized that it would "push buttons" and that it was meant to be experienced not in the way a viewer ordinarily approaches a film but 'like a puzzle.'"
Kelly, the man behind cult phenomenon Donnie Darko, was almost denied entrance to the festival, because government officials suspected terrorist connections. "The paranoid conspiracy freak inside me is starting to think this has something to do with the film," he said. Southland Tales stars the Rock and Sarah Michelle Gellar, is set two years in the future and deals with celebrity and terrorism, among other things. Though not reportedly booed, critical reaction is being described as "mixed." IMDB reports, "At a news conference following the screening, a reporter prefaced a question to Kelly by remarking that he had 'never seen so many walkouts' at a press screening at Cannes. The moderator of the conference, however, promptly insisted that, from where he sat, the audience appeared 'mesmerized' by the film. Kelly himself said that he realized that it would "push buttons" and that it was meant to be experienced not in the way a viewer ordinarily approaches a film but 'like a puzzle.'"
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2 comments:
I heard on NPR today that the booing for Coppola's film was mostly political. They interviewed Kenneth Turan, who said only a few (French) people were upset at the portrayal of Marie-Antoinette (perhaps with some humanity?) and that the film was made by an American. I'm looking forward to it. Jason Schwartzman as Louis XIV? Inspired. I still love you, Jason, in spite of Shopgirl.
Oh I think that most people don't like having to solve their films too much (ie viewing it like a puzzle). But one would think at a film festival that folks would be somewhat more adventurous. I mean it's not the Cineplex.
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