Cannes 2011

[Duncan Hopper]

Rober De Niro to head the Jury at Cannes 2011

An interesting apointment. Does anyone have an idea as to what De Niro's taste in films is like?

[knives]

I bet he's a bit of a conservative on taste. Can't imagine it will be any worse than his buddy Scorsese's turn at the same appointment.

[ambrose]

I bet he's a bit of a conservative on taste. Can't imagine it will be any worse than his buddy Scorsese's turn at the same appointment.

Of course it could well be a concious attempt by the Cannes president to steer the competition back towards the centre-ground after the leftfield success of Uncle Boonmee last year?.

[Brian C]

Of course it could well be a concious attempt by the Cannes president to steer the competition back towards the centre-ground after the leftfield success of Uncle Boonmee last year?.

Except who knows? There was a lot of bitching about Tim Burton, too.

I don't think De Niro's an unusual choice at all, and I doubt anything can really be read into the selection other than "De Niro's famous and respected and agreed to do it."

[Alan Smithee]

I don't know if he's that conservative. The TriBeCa film fest lineup would make it seem that way but I thought he was really trying for something kindof out there with the good shepherd. It was ultimately exceedingly dull, but he tried to make something a little bit experimental and very very somber for a thriller.

[knives]

I guess it should be noted that he's stood on jury twice before, can't remember if he was the head those two times or what years.

[Brian C]

He was quoted as saying something to that effect in the initial reports ("twice in the 1980s"), but I can't figure out what he's talking about. According to the Wikipedia, he was never on the jury in the 1980s or since, much less president of one. He must have been misquoted or talking about something else and the writer got confused.

[tajmahal]

He was quoted as saying something to that effect in the initial reports ("twice in the 1980s"), but I can't figure out what he's talking about. According to the Wikipedia, he was never on the jury in the 1980s or since, much less president of one. He must have been misquoted or talking about something else and the writer got confused.

It was jury duty. Both trials of mob underlings accused of murder. Both found not guilty. Bobby looks after his own.

[Grand Illusion]

Has DeNiro had a programming influence on Tribeca or does he delegate that? Perhaps someone with time on their hands could learn something from his work there.

[Nothing]

So... Cannes Competition '11 predictions?

Just for fun: Ceylan, The Dardennes, Hansen-Love, Honore, Kaurismaki, Kore-eda, Lanthimos, Lou, Mendoza, Moretti, Ramsey, Satrapi, Sokurov, Sorrentino, Techine, Trier, Van Sant + at least two films that no-one was expecting.

Imho, Tree of Life will be Out of Competition at Malick's request, although I hope it ain't so.

[John Cope]

If it's ready to go, certainly the Reygadas.

Oh, and the Davies.

[Nothing]

True, if Terence is ready he may push Ramsey into UCR. They were still attaching finance to the Reygadas in Rotterdam in January so it's unlikely to be finished by May.

[ianungstad]

One title that I haven't seen speculated much is Upside Down (Juan Diego Solanas), which sounds like a pretty loopy science fiction film. I wouldn't be surprised to see it screen at Cannes (maybe out of competition?)

It's not a film that I have much interest in but supposedly Bel Ami is hoping to launch at Cannes.

[Guido]

Any word on whether Akerman's La folie Almayer is close to completion? Seems like Cannes would be a perfect fit, especially considering it sounds rather epic. Well, relatively so.

[JeanRZEJ]

Aleksei German's History of the Arkanar Massacre will be the surprise winner. I'm calling it!

[Yakushima]

JeanRZEJ, I hope you are right about German's film, it would be fantastic if it finally premiered this year (12 years in the making?). The last I heard, they were still working on the sound as recent as a month ago, and the rumored release year was 2012.

[Nothing]

German is more of a Venice alumni, no? + hard arthouse titles haven't been faring well in Cannes of late. But you never know, I guess.

[Finch]

Melancholia has already been picked up for UK distribution by Artificial Eye and is currently scheduled for a July 1 release, according to the Film Distributors Association.

[Nothing]

I just wish Lars would give up the handheld. It's the one major bar to the re-watchability of his mature output.

[rohmerin]

If the Duke of York had troubles with Speaking, now a fictional Pope needs a shrink.

Moretti's new film sounds to be in official competition

[Jeff]

The beautiful official poster this year uses an image from Jerry Schatzberg's series of Faye Dunaway shots.

[Nothing]

roll over David Lynch.

[John Cope]

Neil Young posts his advance odds. I take this more seriously than most as he is very good at gauging this sort of thing. Still, I wonder about the high placement for the Dumont--has this been getting really great advance buzz or is Bruno just due?

Out of that list though, I'm pulling for Sokurov.

[Alan Smithee]

The Dumont definitely sounds incredible. I'm more surprised by the odds he's giving the Mendoza, unless "Prey" is a radical departure. We're talking about De Niro here. The only reason Mendoza got an award last time is Huppert was the judge and she's crazy(In a good way of course). He seems to think Reygadas’ Post Tenebras Lux will be done and where's Van Sant?

[Nothing]

Dumont has a less-than-50% record of even getting into Competition and there's a strong French showing this year. The Palme d'Or seems even more unlikely with De Niro at the helm. Sokurov is more likely to be selected, but no more likely to win. Ceylan, Kore-eda, Moretti, Satrapi and Hansen-Love all seem like possible winners, but perhaps we should wait for the announcement next week before going there.

Nb. If Malick actually lets Tree of Life screen in Competition it will win, making 28-1 very tempting odds... Are these odds actually based on something, is it possible to take a flutter?