THE POPCORN REEL FROM OVER HERE:
COVERAGE OF THE 61ST CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, MAY 14 THROUGH MAY 27,
2008
Julianne Moore and Gael Garcia Bernal share a laugh
during the photocall in France for their new film "Blindness", which is directed
by Fernando Meirelles and based on the novel by Nobel Prize-winning author Jose
Saramago. The film kicked off the 61st Cannes International Film Festival,
which began yesterday on the French Riviera. (Photo: Agence France Presse)
On Day One Cannes Can, And Cannes Does
By
Omar P.L. Moore/The Popcorn Reel
May 15, 2008
Yesterday "Blindness" kicked off the 61st Cannes International Film Festival,
with the new film from Fernando Meirelles getting its world premiere on the
beautiful French Riviera. The film is about a disease known as "white
blindness" and about everyone in a society who suddenly and inexplicably goes
blind. "Blindness" has been described as a disturbing film by several
critics who are currently at the Festival. "Blindness" is based on the
novel by Novel Prize-winning author Jose Saramago from Portugal and stars
Julianne Moore (the only character in the entire film who doesn't go blind),
Mark Ruffalo, Gael Garcia Bernal, Alice Braga, Don McKellar and is narrated by
Danny Glover. Filmgoers will remember that Ms. Moore was afflicted with
agoraphobia in the unforgettable Todd Haynes film "Safe" several years ago.
"Blindness" will be released in the U.S. by Miramax Films this September. Mr. Meirelles
directed "City Of God" and the Oscar-winning film "The Constant Gardener".
"Indiana Jones" fever was in full force, amid trepidation according to published
reports, that it would be greeted rudely by the press contingent at Cannes.
The jury is still out as the film will get its world premiere at Cannes in a
matter of hours. Jack Black was in attendance for "Kung Fu Panda", which
is also showing at Cannes out of competition. And Woody Allen's film
"Vicky Christina Barcelona" which is rumored to be hot property, was also
screened out of competition, as was the new "Indiana Jones" movie. "Vicky
Christina Barcelona" was shot entirely in Spain and stars "No Country For
Old Men" Oscar-winner Javier Bardem as a
philanderer who raises the ire of his wife-artist (played by Penelope Cruz) after
she finds out that he is having affairs with a character played by Scarlett Johansson, and
with a third
woman. Patricia Clarkson also stars in Mr. Allen's film. Much is already being made of a reportedly steamy sex scene between
Miss Johansson and Miss Cruz. The Weinstein Company will release "Vicky
Christina Barcelona" in the U.S. sometime this summer or fall.
Although there are numerous films from around the world on display at Cannes
this year, the motion
pictures bringing the biggest buzz are American: Steven Soderberg's two biopics on Ernesto
"Che" Guevara featuring Benicio Del Toro as the Argentina-born leader,
and Clint Eastwood's "Changeling", a kidnapping mystery set in the U.S. in the
1920's.
Trailer: Woody Allen's "Vicky Christina Barcelona
Copyright The Popcorn Reel. PopcornReel.com.
2008. All Rights Reserved.