Cannes 2019: Amenabar's Latest Gaining Steam, THR predictions and Netflix Question Still Looms

THR mentions most of the usual suspects, that I’ve already spoken about, as potential Cannes contenders for the upcoming edition.

An interesting title that keeps coming up these last few days is “As Long as the War Lasts” from Spanish director Alejandro Amenabar, the buzz seems to be very good for this film, an appearance at Cannes now seems to be a very high possibility.

They mention Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s “Memoria” but I was told that is not happening, the film will still be in production for the better part of the Spring and Summer. Roy Andersson’s “About Endlessness” will not appear until Venice, ditto Bertrand Bonello’s “Zombi Child.”

As for Netflix, does Cannes want to go a year again where top-notch Netflix titles cannot appear due to French streaming laws> This year they could bring The Safdies’ “Uncut Gems,” Steven Soderbergh’s “The Laundromat” and, of course, Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman.” Give it up already. Make a deal. This is a ridiculous affair which is making both parties part of the losing side.

Here is the list that I posted last month which I consider to be the most up-to-date version of possible Cannes 2019 movies:

Competition | Cannes 2019

A particular quote in the THR write-up rather irked me:

“Venice has managed to outshine Cannes the past three years — 2018's Lido lineup included Oscar winners The Favourite, Roma, First Man and A Star Is Born.”

I wrote this reply to its writer:

Oh, for fooks sake. THR being suckered into thinking Venice outshone Cannes. What a joke. It's an American way of thinking because the rest of the world doesn't believe that. Cannes had BlackKklansman, Shoplifters, Burning. Cold War, Capernaum, Happy as Lazzaro, Dogman, Ash is Purest White, The Image Book, The Wild Pear Tree, The House That Jack Built, Climax, Birds of Passage etc.

You want the best of cinema? Go to Cannes. You want Oscar-bait fare? Go to Venice, hell, you could probably do better just going to Telluride or Venice instead.

Talking about Cannes, I have just been confirmed to cover it again this year by the festival’s press department. World of Reel will be there for the 72nd edition which will run from the 14th to the 25th of May.

Ron Howard’s ‘Alone at Dawn’ Starring Adam Driver and Anne Hathaway Sets Christmas 2027 Release

This is the adaptation of the nonfiction book by Dan Schilling and Lori Longfritz. It wrapped production in February and has been in post-production ever since. The film test-screened a few months ago.

Werner Herzog's ‘Grizzly Man' Joins the Criterion Collection — Plus ‘The English Patient,’ ‘Nashville' and ‘Shop Around the Corner’

Criterion's December lineup has some great additions to the library, but the title that jumped out at me is Werner Herzog's "Grizzly Man," which officially joins the Collection on December 8.

Robert De Niro to Play Tommy Lasorda in Reid Carolin's ‘Tommy & Me'

De Niro is in talks to play legendary Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda in “Tommy & Me,” a sports drama Reid Carolin will direct for Skydance Sports.

Quentin Tarantino to Publish ‘The Adventures of Cliff Booth' Novel, Out December 8

The book is titled "The Adventures of Cliff Booth," which, if you've been following along, was the original title of Fincher's film before it was renamed "The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth."

Zack Snyder Says the ‘Last Photograph' Negative Reviews Were “100%” About Him and Not the Movie

Zack Snyder woke up in Toronto the morning after his premiere and did the one thing no filmmaker should ever do the morning after: he opened X.

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

Joaquin Phoenix Reuniting with Mike Mills for Next Film, Shooting in January 2027

Phoenix is set to reunite with Mills on this next film, which is being distributed by A24 and starts shooting January 2027. This will be Phoenix’s first film since “Eddington.”

Paul Thomas Anderson Has Already Chosen His Next Film, Jonny Greenwood Says

“Paul is getting close to pressing the button on the next film, I believe, and I’m already trying to learn a new instrument that would be central to it,” Greenwood tells Screen Daily.

Ridley Scott Says “I Didn’t Say That” After Calling ‘The Dog Stars’ His Best Movie Since ‘The Martian’

In June 2026, Scott told The Buyer that “The Dog Stars” is “probably the best movie I’ve done since The Martian.” He’s now denying he ever said that.

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

Trending

Critics Polls