Flashing Lights - Cannes Unveils 2008 Lineup!
The "prestigious" Cannes Film Festival unveiled its lineup of films both in and out of competition for the 2008 festival taking place in its usual luxurious French Riviera location next month! I put the word "prestigious" in quotation marks because l'm starting to question the true relevance and value of the 69 year old film festival! It's very much an elitist affair, and I think it's always been that way, but it's starting to wear its elitism like a badge of honor, which is a turnoff. It negates its legitimacy and global acceptance as THE preeminent film festival in the world. Just like new technology companies are changing how we think of and use technology, challenging the reach of the stalwarts (for example, Google VS Microsoft), I feel like America, and even the world, need upstart festivals to replace the dinosaurs of the industry, in which the quality of the work is the only thing that matters, and who you are or who you know mean absolutely nothing!
Of course, no surprise, there aren't any films from Africa. Apparently Sembene's death meant the end of African cinema as well - at least, according to the good people at Cannes.
However, it is what it is, and regardles of what I say, filmmakers and the media will ensure that it remains the top festival in the world... at least for now!
Of note for those of us in the USA, Clint Eastwood's next film, The Changeling (starring Angelina Jolie) will make its debut. Notable screenwriter Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut, Synecdoche, New York, also is scheduled. Steven Soderbergh's highly anticipated Che Guevara bio-pic starring Benicio Del Toro will screen as well. And Woody Allen strikes again with a film that supposedly has a lesbian storyline, titled Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Woody Allen and lesbian themes just don't seem like a fit to me. And David Lynch's daughter, Jennifer, makes her Cannes debut with a thriller called Surveillance. Let's hope there's actually a coherent, plausible story, unlike her father's last film, Inland Empire... talk about a cure for insomnia! Lastly, Steven Spielberg's next (and hopefully, final) installment of the Indiana Jones series, Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, will premiere.
You can see the complete list HERE, including the selected panel of judges.
Of course, no surprise, there aren't any films from Africa. Apparently Sembene's death meant the end of African cinema as well - at least, according to the good people at Cannes.
However, it is what it is, and regardles of what I say, filmmakers and the media will ensure that it remains the top festival in the world... at least for now!
Of note for those of us in the USA, Clint Eastwood's next film, The Changeling (starring Angelina Jolie) will make its debut. Notable screenwriter Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut, Synecdoche, New York, also is scheduled. Steven Soderbergh's highly anticipated Che Guevara bio-pic starring Benicio Del Toro will screen as well. And Woody Allen strikes again with a film that supposedly has a lesbian storyline, titled Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Woody Allen and lesbian themes just don't seem like a fit to me. And David Lynch's daughter, Jennifer, makes her Cannes debut with a thriller called Surveillance. Let's hope there's actually a coherent, plausible story, unlike her father's last film, Inland Empire... talk about a cure for insomnia! Lastly, Steven Spielberg's next (and hopefully, final) installment of the Indiana Jones series, Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, will premiere.
You can see the complete list HERE, including the selected panel of judges.
I haven't much tuned into film festivals, including Cannes. I don't know what the hell is going on.
Signed,
Dummy
Hey Dummy :o)
Speaking of upstart film festivals, what are you waiting for...?
@ Wendy - As long as you agree to fund it...
@ TAO: LOL! Yeah, OK. We can have its HQ in that Fort Greene brownstone that I'm going to buy and that you're going to live in when I'm not stateside.
:P
Would that I could, Tambini, would that I could...