Of the many films playing at Cannes which have gained in resonance since the coming of the pandemic, “Zero F*cks Given” from French duo Julie Lecoustre, and Emmanuel Marre does not represent the creepiest, most alarming kind of coincidence — that description would better fit “Benedetta” from Dutch master Paul Verhoeven, which features an actual plague, face coverings and quarantine measures.

Continue reading ‘Zero F*cks Given’: Adèle Exarchopoulos Tries To Conceal The Despair of Life In This Shimmering Drama [Cannes Review] at The Playlist.

After taking a year off due to COVID-19, Cannes’ Critics’ Week, the parallel side-bar part of Cannes that focuses on first and second films by emerging filmmakers, is back and has revealed its line-up. The head of the jury for the 60th edition of Semaine de la Critique, as it is known in France, will be led by Romanian auteur Cristian Mungiu, and it’s a very French-heavy line-up. There are 13 world premieres total and seven of them in competition.

Continue reading Cannes’ Critics’ Week 60th Edition Line-Up Features New Films With Adèle Exarchopoulos, Gérard Depardieu & More at The Playlist.

It’s a proper shame we’re not allowed physical contact at the moment, because Quentin Dupieux‘s “Mandibles,” among its many other silly pleasures, offers up a modified fist-bump-style handshake that could easily have swept the Venice Film Festival campus as the greeting du jour any other year. It involves both participants forming their hand into bull’s horns and then briefly interlocking their outstretched fists while saying “Toro” (because of the bull thing) preceded or followed by a description of what you’re “Toro”-ing about.

Continue reading ‘Mandibles’: Quentin Dupieux’s Giant Insect Malarkey Is Pretty Goddamn Fly [Venice Review] at The Playlist.

There are certain filmmakers that have an unmistakable style. Quentin Tarantino is a pretty obvious example. But when it comes to French cinema, it’s hard to think of a more singular filmmaker than Quentin Dupieux. His films normally take an incredibly strange premise and fill it with enough humor and heart that you can’t help but enjoy every second. And that definitely seems to be the case with his upcoming feature “Mandibles.”

READ MORE: 2020 Venice Film Festival Preview: All The Must-See Films To Watch

As seen in the new trailer for “Mandibles,” Dupieux’s film follows the story of two men that find themselves in the possession of an absolutely massive insect.

Continue reading ‘Mandibles’ Trailer: Quentin Dupieux’s Venice-Bound Comedy Follows Two Guys & One Giant Fly at The Playlist.

With her third film “Sibyl,” French director Justine Triet explores the transgression of boundaries. These barriers exist between the home and the workplace, they separate fiction and reality and regulate the flow of memories from the past to the present. This time around, Triet uses the thriller genre as a vehicle for this exploration of a woman’s experience. One of four female directors selected for the Main Competition of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Triet, unfortunately, delivers a flimsy, unremarkable story of obsession unlikely to reach much further than local cinemas.

Continue reading ‘Sibyl’: Justine Triet Explores Psychotherapy, Boundaries & Obsession [Cannes Review] at The Playlist.

The competition for this year’s Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival is off the charts. New films from filmmakers Quentin Tarantino, Terrence Malick, Pedro Almodovar, Bong Joon-ho, and Ira Sachs are all competing, among many other names. But even though she might not have the same name recognition of the other filmmakers, director Justine Triet is set to premiere her latest film, “Sibyl,” which looks to be as strong of a contender as any.

Continue reading ‘Sibyl’ Trailer: Filmmaker Justine Triet’s Cannes Drama Stars Adèle Exarchopoulos & Virginie Efira at The Playlist.

Following her breakout performance in “Blue Is The Warmest Color,” Adèle Exarchopoulos has yet to spark the same attention in subsequent roles. Nonetheless, she remains a captivating screen presence, which should at least mark “Down By Love” one to keep an eye out for.

Written and directed by Pierre Godeau, and also starring Guillaume Gallienne, Stéphanie Cléau, Sabila Moussadek, Marie Rivière, and Aliénor Poisson, the film tells the apparently true story of the relationship that unfolds between a prison director and a new detainee which, as you might guess, probably isn’t the best idea in the world.

Continue reading Adèle Exarchopoulos Falls Into A Torrid Affair In New Trailer For ‘Down By Love’ at The Playlist.

Actor Matthias Schoenaerts and director Michaël Roskam both broke out with 2011’s visceral “Bullhead,” and while the English language effort “The Drop” didn’t resonate in the same way (even with Tom Hardy and a puppy!), it hasn’t dampened their spirits to work together again. And indeed, their next collaboration is already rolling in front of cameras.

Filming is underway on “The Racer And The Jailbird,” with “Blue Is The Warmest Color” actress Adele Exarchopoulos in the co-starring role.

Continue reading Matthias Schoenaerts Reteams With Michaël Roskam For ‘The Racer And The Jailbird’ Co-Starring Adele Exarchopoulos at The Playlist.