So, we got here okay, got our passes and set about the town. It’s heaving with people, both here for the films and celeb spotting (you can move outside some of the hotels and every keeps a look out for the official cars — supplied by Renault — that are taking the celebrities around town).
We didn’t manage to get tickets to The Da Vinci Code screenings yesterday evening (you have to login to a specific site with your badge number and reserve them for films showing in competition). There was a press screening the day before and the news in the Metro papers that are covering the fetival was that it’s not good (the critics were booing it). I overheard a conversation between some other people today and, apparently, Hanks left almost straight after the screening and there was no applause. Also mentioned were that the French are very disappointed how little of Paris features in the film (especially after all the hassle the production caused shutting down roads and re-routing traffic) and the French actors are unhappy with it too. And, to top off matters, one of the big lines that Hanks utters, which is obviously supposed to be a moving moment, was met with laughter.
We did manage to get in to see Paris, Je T’aime, a movie split into parts all around the central theme of love in Paris. It boasts actorial talent from the likes of Gurinder Chadha, Gus Van Sant, Ethan and Joel Cohen, Alfonso Cuaron, Sylvain Chomet and Wes Craven as well as acting turns from people like Natalie Portman, Emily Mortimer, Paul Putner, Steve Buscemi, Bob Hoskins, Nick Nolte, Willem Dafoe, Elijah Wood and Maggie Gylenhaul. There was a complete range to the stories, but they were generally excellent. Buscemi only had to lean into shot at the start of the Coen brother’s segment to get a laugh. Somewhere in there was a vampire love story with Elijah Wood. Gérard Depardieu takes a turn behind the camera as well as in front (albeit briefly) in his delightful segment. Overall a cracking movie full of interesting stories and characters.
Tonight we head out for Kaze no tani no Naushika by Hayao Myazaki which is showing in the Cannes Classics list (Cannes is split into various competitions and categories, some with prizes, some without). Tomorrow should be a fun day, we’ve already grabbed tickets for Fast Food Nation (directed by Richard Linklater) and hav got several other films spied out.
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