I never proclaim a film festival edition to be great until the films actually screen. Common sense, right? Sadly, many love to proclaim a film fest to be having a “great year” or “terrible year” just by the lineup announcements. That’s not how it works. Lots of movies disappoint, even from great auteurs. However, Cannes 2019 looks great on-paper and any complaints of a lack of American movies should quickly be dissipated with today’s addition of Robert Eggers’ “The Lighthouse” as part of the Director’s Fortnight lineup, also known a the Quinzaines des Realisateurs.
I already listed the likes of Tarantino (cross your fingers), Malick, Eggers, Jarmusch, Sachs, Almodovar, Dardenne, and Joon-ho in the title, but let me add Dolan, Bonello, Desplechin, Dumont, Herzog, Ferrera and, not to mention, Dexter Fletcher’s Elton John biopic “Rocketman.” And those are just a few of the many familiar names that will be gracing the Croisette this year.. So, give me a break, Cannes is very much alive with relevance and about to embark on a stacked edition next month.
The man doesn't stop. James Gunn has confirmed he's already hard at work writing his next film, even as ‘Man of Tomorrow’ makes its way toward theaters next summer.