Maïwenn’s ‘Jeanne Du Barry’ is a Beautifully Made Misfire [Cannes]

Johnny Depp was bombarded with questions at this morning’s “Jeanne de Barry” press conference. Funny thing is that he’s not featured that much in the film.

We actually thought he wouldn’t show up to the press conference. He was many minutes late, but when he did arrive so did the inquisitions. “The majority of you who have been reading for the last five or six years, with regards to me and my life — the majority of what you’ve read is fantastically, horrifically written fiction,” he said.

A notable moment came when a reporter asked him if he felt boycotted by Hollywood.

“Did I feel boycotted by Hollywood? Well, you’d have to not have a pulse to feel at that point like this was all just a weird joke,” he replied. “Of course, when you’re asked to resign from a film you’re doing because of something that’s merely a bunch of vowels and consonants floating in the air… Do I feel boycotted now? No, not at all. But I don’t feel boycotted because I don’t think about Hollywood. I don’t feel much further need for Hollywood — I don’t know about you.”

He added: “It’s a very strange, funny time when everyone would love to be themselves, but they can’t because they must fall in line with the person in front of them. If you want to follow that line, be my guest. I’ll be on the other side.”

And what about ‘Jeanne’? It’s not that great of a movie. Clearly riffing on Kubrick’s “Barry Lyndon,” but without the investment to character. If anything, this is very much the MAIWENN SHOW.

Maïwenn stars and directs this beautifully made period piece which can’t seem to fully hit take-off. It has these indelibly atmospheric moments here and there but nothing to write home about.

Depp plays Louis XV, who died in 1774 at age 64. He was King for 59 years, and had many mistresses. Jeanne (Maiwenn) was his final mistress. Depp has few lines in this comeback film. It’s more of a visual performance. Despite delivering a brief batch of spoken French, he’s quite good in this film.

It’s not that surprising that ‘Jeanne’ didn’t make it into official competition. Forget about the controversy, the film tackles its dramatics from a distance, you’re always trying to reach out to it, begging it to immerse its lovely frames into you, but it just can’t quite hit the nail on the head.

The production design is to die for. Some of the costumes are breathtaking. The photography, inspired by Kubrick’s film, is sumptuous, but the film itself has these bland moments that don’t amount to much.

‘Jeanne’ takes itself too seriously. There’s as much audacity as narcissism here. Maïwenn does give her all to the role. Her film is both a high-sounding biopic and a major ego-trip, but it’s much ado about nothing — intellectual mediocrity is what it is.