Cannes: Sun Shines On French Riviera As World’s Most Famous Film Festival Gets Ready To Roll Out The Red Carpet
On my way in from the Nice Airport today the driver flatly predicted this would be a Cannes Film Festival without rain and that, just like today, the sun would be shining non-stop on this most famous of film festivals. The reason he said it is because for the last several years Cannes has been plaugued with rainstorms literally raining on this parade of the best in world cinema. Last year’s opening night for The Great Gatsby was a virtual flood as partygoers tried to avoid the drips in the tent Warner Bros erected and had to hightail it over deep puddles of water just to get inside. I for one hope this driver is right and the festival that started 67 years ago as a valentine to cinema, sun and glamour can retain that reputation. Time will tell on that, but what is the forecast for the movies themselves, and the market they inspire? So far there is no consensus on whether this will be a Cannes to remember or one that brings in enthusiastic buyers. But there are so many titles I want to see — spread over the various competitions associated with Cannes — that it is already becoming a Solomon’s Choice in terms of picking and choosing.
Related: Cannes: Could This Year’s Lineup Lead All The Way To Oscar?
Grace Of Monaco is opening the fest Wednesday night and it is already bathed in controversy between a version opening in France vs. one The Weinstein Company planned to open for American audiences. The version being shown on opening night is said to be somewhere in between the original darker cut of director Olivier Dahan’s and the more accessible path reportedly preferred by Harvey Weinstein. It’s still not clear what will happen to the film starting Nicole Kidman as iconic film star-turned-Princess Grace Kelly in terms of a U.S. release as Weinstein Co still has not officially announced plans. But I am told Harvey Weinstein will not be arriving in Cannes until after the official opening anyway, so any awkward moments on the red carpet look like they will be avoided. But Monaco’s Royal Family has also been very vocal about its opinions on the film (although it’s not quite clear if they have seen it) and have publicly denounced it. Nevertheless it could be an interesting start to the festival that promises a little something for everyone. It will be Kidman’s third Cannes in a row having been here for two films, The Paperboy and Hemingway & Gellhorn in 2012; as a juror last year; and now opening the fest.
Related: Hot Trailer: ‘Grace Of Monaco’