web analytics
Saturday, March 25, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Budapest Reporter
  • industry
  • reviews
  • production
  • interviews
  • Find Your Partner
  • industry
  • reviews
  • production
  • interviews
  • Find Your Partner
No Result
View All Result
Budapest Reporter
No Result
View All Result

Cannes: Festival opener Annette divides audiences and critics

Budapest Reporter by Budapest Reporter
2021-07-09
in gossip, industry
Reading Time: 2 mins read
BpR-Annette-title-content-main

BpR-Annette-title-content-main

ADVERTISEMENT

The whole world is in Cannes-fever, which is not inexplicable. Better and better films will line up over the next ten days.

The 2021 edition of the Cannes Film Festival kicked off on Tuesday night — more than two years after the prior edition wrapped, thanks to the global pandemic — with the world premiere of “Leos Carax‘s Annette”, a wacky cinematic opera starring Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, and Simon Helberg. Amazon will release the film in the U.S. on August 6th.

Like most Cannes opening night films, this one was better received inside the Palais (with a five-minute post-credits ovation, polite by French standards) than it was by critics, who saw it under embargo beforehand.

For those who have seen and loved Carax’s previous brain-busters, such as his last film nine years ago, “Holy Motors”, we can reassure you that “Annette” is no less blown away.

It’s a two-and-a-half-hour musical starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, who, instead of dialogue, mostly communicate with each other and the audience through the ironic, unapologetically wise songs of the Sparks brothers, who make several cameos in the film.

Driver plays a stand-up comedian named Henry, torn by doubts and frustrations, and we see a long stretch of his own aggressive and self-deprecating act. The star is astonishingly big here, and his character, who takes a surprising and extreme path throughout the film, offers the opportunity to show a lot of different colors.

There’s no doubting his talent as an actor so far, but this is perhaps the most complex role he’s been given in his career so far (reminder: he sings constantly while doing it), and he manages every moment impressively. A truly great performance.

Cotillard, who plays Ann, Henry’s opera singer partner, is somewhat lost alongside Driver, her character not so well developed, and as the running time progresses she dwindles into a symbol assisting Henry’s drama.

In addition, Cotillard only gets third place, because the other real star of the film, which is very spectacular but sometimes a little flat, with unusual dance numbers, is a marionette doll, alongside Driver. She’s the title character “Annette”, the little daughter of Henry and Ann, whom Carax dares to play with a wooden puppet.

A few of the dozens of original songs in the film — which features music by Ron Mael and Russell Mael (aka the Sparks brothers) and lyrics by the Maels and Carax — are sort of catchy and could be in the conversation with the music branch, especially the Queen-like overture “So May We Start”. But unfortunately, most have repetitive lyrics and not particularly catchy melodies.

However, we are still looking forward to it as there are four Hungarian movies in the Cannes repertoire. “The Story of my wife”, “Evolution”, “Diary for my children” and a diploma film, “Fonica M 120”.

 

Source: Hollywoodreporter, FilmNewEurope

Tags: Adam DriverCannesCannes Film FestivalgossiphungaryMarion Cotillardmusical

More like this

Gaining Trust and Bridging Gaps in the Film Industry - Interview with László Hargittai
interview

Gaining Trust and Bridging Gaps in the Film Industry – Interview with László Hargittai

2023-03-08
”The world of films is one blessed by God: Filmmakers create their own special world” – 91 Years of André Libik
featured

”The world of films is one blessed by God: Filmmakers create their own special world” – 91 Years of André Libik

2023-03-05
Hadik – Upcoming Hungarian Historic Adventure Movie Will Be Based on Real Events
made in hungary

Hadik – Upcoming Hungarian Historic Adventure Movie Will Be Based on Real Events

2023-02-17
Hungary Takes the Lead in Film Production with €11 Million Virtual Studio Investment
industry

Hungary Takes the Lead in Film Production with €11 Million Virtual Studio Investment

2023-02-10
The Flower of the Apple Tree - Review
review

Finding Love Far Away From Home – The Flower of the Apple Tree Review

2023-02-08
New Season of Hungaricums Around the World Explores Life of Hungarians in the U.S.
filming

New Season of Hungaricums Around the World Explores Life of Hungarians in the U.S.

2023-01-22
Load More

Latest news

BPR Newsflash - New Projects by Gunn, Del Toro and Tarantino
featured

BPR Newsflash – New Projects by Gunn, Del Toro and Tarantino

2023-03-23
DIGIC - The Next Chapter
interview

DIGIC – The Next Chapter

2023-03-21
Hungarian Oscar Dinner to Celebrate Past and Present Accomplishments
featured

Hungarian Oscar Dinner to Celebrate Past and Present Accomplishments

2023-03-18
Medium Voltage - Shazam! Fury of the Gods Review
review

Medium Voltage – Shazam! Fury of the Gods Review

2023-03-16
Int’l Quorum of Motion Picture Producers to Meet in Budapest This Year
industry

Int’l Quorum of Motion Picture Producers to Meet in Budapest This Year

2023-03-16
Origo Studios Successfully Scales Up Post-Prod Environment
industry

Origo Studios Successfully Scales Up Post-Prod Environment

2023-03-14
ADVERTISEMENT
Budapest Reporter

© 2022 BPR Publishing

Navigate Site

  • Impressum
  • Advertisement
  • Business Directory
  • Privacy and Data Protection

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Industry
  • Review
  • Production
  • Interview
  • Gossip

© 2022 BPR Publishing