Woody Allen’s 50th film, shot in Paris, in French, is now heavily rumoured to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this coming May. What a great treat!
It’s called “Coup de Chance.”
Showbiz411’s Roger Friedman kept teasing me that he had seen the film, but I didn’t expect him to write about it! No embargo, no problem. He says it’s “sensational.”
Friedman is even hinting that Allen could be a contender for next year’s Best International Feature Oscar. Let’s not jump to any conclusions just yet, there is a resounding bias, from some parts of the industry, against Allen, but I’d love to see that happen.
The 90 minute film, shot by the great Vittorio Storaro, is one of Woody’s best. I can’t say it’s a murder mystery, exactly, but it’s the story of a murder that takes place outside of Paris. Woody is 86 years old. The screenplay is as sharp as “Crimes and Misdemeanors,” which he made 34 years ago. It also has a surprise twist that no one who sees it can give away. The movie ends with a gasp.
“Coup de Chance” stars Lou de Laâge in what is being described as a breakout role for her, internationally speaking. Her husband in the film is played by four time Cesar Award nominee Melvil Poupaud. There’s also Valérie Lemercier, this past year’s Cesar Best Actress, who Friedman predicts “could get an Oscar nomination out of this, if things work out”.
I watched this film with a few people who I think were in distribution. I can tell you the air in the room was filled with suspense. I was on the edge of my seat worrying about certain characters. And yes, there is humor. If you pay attention, Woody throws in some lines that lighten up the mood.
Well, goddamit, Roger. You just made my day. He also ends up backing the rumors that I’ve heard about “Coup de Chance” going to the Cannes Film Festival. Probably an out of competition slot awaits Allen’s film, he’s always refused competition and I doubt he would just suddenly agree to it now.
Last month, Keith McNally snuck into a private screening of Allen’s 50th film and he was blown away by it.
“Coup de Chance” was also screened at the EFM market in Berlin just a month ago and one buyer emailed me, echoing McNally’s sentiments, that it was Allen’s “best film in years”.
Remember when, back in August, we learned “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth” would be playing in only around 350 U.S. theaters, "maybe fewer"? Well, it's fewer. A lot fewer.