Thursday Movie Picks: Cannes Favorites

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I consider the Cannes film festival somewhat of a frenemy. Many times I've been tricked into watching a film because of a reaction it got at Cannes, and only half the time do I love them. Cannes introduced me to one of my least favorite filmmakers, Lars Von Trier when I watched a film solely because people lost their shit over it at Cannes. But this week, Wanderer wants us to talk about Cannes favorites. So don't worry, no AntiChrist or Melancholia rants from me. 

 1) The Piano

 This Palme d’Or winner is a beautiful film. It features one of my favorite piano pieces - The Heart Asks Pleasure First, and of course some wonderful performances. 

 2) Drive

 Drive was so good and so well liked at Cannes that it almost made me blindly accept anything Nicholas Winding Refn made. Coming back down to Earth after seeing Only God Forgives was tough. 

 3) Raw

 This made my Top 10 list last year. This French cannibal feature doesn't sound like it would be a huge hit for the Cannes crowd, but it was. 

Comments

  1. joel65913May 10, 2018 at 7:28 AM

    The music was beautiful and the performances good but I couldn't get into The Piano. I didn't hate it but felt nothing when it was over and wouldn't watch again.

    I did however really enjoy Drive. Great look, terrific performances. I haven't watched it since that first time but I wouldn't be adverse.

    Raw just doesn't look or sound like my thing. Oh and I share your aversion to Von Trier. I've tried with a couple of his films and hate, hated them.

    I'm pretty much indifferent to the Cannes brouhaha. I'll glance at articles and take note of what wins the Palme d'Or but it doesn't automatically make me want to see it. I did enjoy these three that won acclaim there though.

    Union Pacific (1939)-As the Union Pacific Railroad stretches westward across the wilderness toward California corrupt banker Asa Barrows (Henry Kolker) hopes to profit from obstructing it. Troubleshooter Jeff Butler (Joel McCrea) has his hands full fighting Barrows' agent, gambler Sid Campeau (Brian Donlevy) and his partner Dick Allen (Robert Preston) who was Jeff's war buddy and rival suitor for engineer's daughter Molly Monahan (Barbara Stanwyck). Rivalries escalate until a fateful showdown set piece. Big rollicking Cecil B. DeMille directed adventure was the winner of the first Palme D’Or.

    Rome Open City (1945)-In Nazi occupied Rome regulations have been somewhat relaxed so the inhabitants can move freely during daylight but danger still lurks everywhere as food is rationed, curfews enforced and resistance fighters rigorously hunted. This focuses on the search for one freedom fighter and the people working to help him. Directed by Roberto Rossellini with a fierce lead performance from Anna Magnani this was the leader in the birth of the neo-realism movement. It won the Grand Prize of the Cannes Film Festival in 1946.

    Cranes Are Flying (1957)-In Moscow as the winds of World War II approach young lovers Veronika (Tatyana Samoylova) and Boris (Aleksey Batalov) watch the cranes fly overhead and promise to rendezvous before Boris leaves to fight. Boris misses the meeting and is off to the front lines, while Veronika waits patiently, sending letters faithfully. After her house is bombed, Veronika moves in with Boris' family and seeming safety. But Boris’s cousin Mark has darker intentions and as the war rages sorrow spreads in all directions. Winner of the 1958 Cannes Grand Prize.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 10, 2018 at 8:42 AM

      I haven't heard of any of your picks. I didn't research Cannes winners that far back when I probably should've.

      And yes Von Trier's movies....yeesh.

      Delete
  2. DanielMay 10, 2018 at 8:24 AM

    LOVE Drive. I saw that at the local theater when I lived in CT and there was NO ONE ELSE in the theater. It was AMAZING.

    I've heard so many good things about Raw. Need to see it.

    I can understand why you wouldn't like Antichrist or Melancholia lol. I LOVED the latter though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 10, 2018 at 8:41 AM

      I watched Melancholia on demand as it was one of those where the theatrical releases came on right away, I actually fast forward through the opening montage. I could not take it. lol

      Delete
  3. BirgitMay 10, 2018 at 10:34 AM

    Ready?.....We match!! I love The Piano and found it an absorbing film and very sensual except for the finger thing..ouch! I have not seen Drive yet but I might one day and the zombie one..meh:) I have to look up Von Trier

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 10, 2018 at 2:28 PM

      I love that we have a match!

      Von Trier is the worst. omg.

      Delete
  4. UnknownMay 10, 2018 at 12:51 PM

    Still have to see The Piano, but I love your other two picks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 10, 2018 at 2:27 PM

      The Piano is so good! You definitely need to give that a watch. :)

      Delete
  5. thevoid99May 10, 2018 at 3:20 PM

    Three amazing picks as these are three films that I love as it's one of the reasons why I do these marathons about Cannes. They show so many different kind of films that you never know what will come out and what gem you'll find.

    ReplyDelete
  6. s.May 11, 2018 at 11:09 AM

    oh God why did you remind people OGF exists :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 12, 2018 at 7:57 AM

      If I remember it, everyone else has to as well. lol

      Delete
  7. KatyMay 11, 2018 at 6:31 PM

    Nice picks! Drive is my favorite, of course. Only God Forgives just makes me so sad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 12, 2018 at 7:57 AM

      I'm not sure there has ever been a film with such an amazing trailer that failed so hard.

      Delete
  8. AnonymousMay 12, 2018 at 1:13 AM

    Cannes screens a lot of movies and so do you!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sonia CercaMay 13, 2018 at 2:43 PM

    I loved Drive!

    ReplyDelete
  10. TheNaija - Nigeria NewsPaperMay 14, 2018 at 7:42 PM

    Haven't heard of your picks

    ReplyDelete
  11. WandererMay 17, 2018 at 12:41 PM

    Have not seen The Piano in a long time but remember it looked great and I love Drive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 17, 2018 at 1:02 PM

      The Piano is wonderful, you should check it out!

      Delete
  12. WikiDecember 9, 2019 at 6:28 PM

    The Piano is the best among them.

    ReplyDelete

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