Cannes 2012: Will 'The Master,' Terrence Malick's New Film, James Gray's Latest & More Actually Premiere?

Features

by Kevin Jagernauth
February 20, 2012 12:02 PM
21 Comments

The Possibilities

Untitled Romance (dir. Terrence Malick)
Cast: Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Javier Bardem, Barry Pepper, Olga Kurylenko, Michael Sheen
The suddenly busy Terrence Malick could be making back-to-back appearances at Cannes. Last summer, Malick broke his usual wall of silence and in a letter to FIPRESCI (who had awarded him the Best Film Of 2011 award for “The Tree of Life”) revealed he was “rushing toward a mix on the picture we shot last fall in Oklahoma.” Granted, Malick takes his sweet time to complete his films, so who knows if he’ll be ready to show the movie just yet (and fans so far have had to suffice with a first look revealed a year ago). That said, the film has already presold to numerous foreign territories already (U.K., Canada and more) however, Malick has so far reportedly turned down early offers for U.S. distribution, though some footage has screened for buyers. A positive reception at Cannes could certainly raise the heat and start a battle for the movie (landing a more lucrative deal than selling it beforehand). A few reports are suggesting his documentary “Voyage Of Time” could show up, though we don’t expect to see that one for a while considering that after Cannes last year, word leaked out that he was planning on shooting even more footage for the film. Presumably he's finishing the untitled romance and in pre-production for the two movies he’ll shoot in 2012, “Lawless” and “Knight Of Cups” with the documentary still further away from completion. But then again, who knows with Terrence Malick.

"Stoker" (dir. Park Chan-wook)
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Goode, Jackie Weaver, Lucas Till, Alden Ehrenreich, Dermot Mulroney
This quasi-Hitchock thriller, marking the Hollywood debut of Park Chan-wook started lensing last fall, and could be done a lot sooner than we think. Korean media reports that the film is "likely to appear" going on to suggest that Park has already received an invtiation. And considering both "Oldboy" and "Thirst" made their way there, we believe it, but as always it will depend on how far along post-production he gets before May arrives.

“The Place Beyond The Pines” (dir. Derek Cianfrance)
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Rose Byrne, Ray Liotta, Ben Mendelsohn
Having made his Cannes debut in 2010 with “Blue Valentine” screening in the Un Certain Regard category, Derek Cianfrance’s sophomore film was warmly received, and there’s no doubt organizers want him back. This tale of vengeance across generations shot last summer and presuming that Cianfrance has it wrapped up in time, a premiere on the Croisette seems like a good bet only this time, he might graduate to the Official Competition.

“Holly Motors” (dir. Leos Carax)
Cast: Denis Lavant, Eva Mendes, Kylie Minogue
A prize winner at Cannes before, it all will come down to timing if Carax returns. Filming on the project was underway last fall, and depending on the post-production schedule, completion for May could be very tight. But if he can get it in the can, there is no doubt he would be welcomed back.

Untitled (dir. Ramin Bahrani)
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Zac Efron, Heather Graham
This rising auteur made his Cannes debut with “Chop Shop” back in 2007, but hasn’t returned since (“Goodbye Solo” premiered in Venice). However, with filming having been completed last summer, we presume that if Bahrani is keeping his trademark minamalist style, post-production likely hasn’t required a big stretch of time. And with the director working for the first time with a bonafide Hollywood cast, now could be the time he walks the red carpet again.

“Looper” (dir. Rian Johnson)
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Jeff Bridges
This highly anticipated sci-fi film is already test screening, suggesting it’s far along in the post-production phase and we half-expected “Looper” to show up in the SXSW lineup. But since the lineup for that fest is already locked down, Cannes does present a possibility. Granted, we don’t see it showing up in competition, though a Midnight Movie or out-of-competition bow isn’t out of the question.

“The We And The I” (dir. Michel Gondry)
Cast: Michael Brodie, Teresa L. Rivera, Brandon Diaz
Filming on Gondry’s upcoming film wrapped last fall and it was been in post-production since. This is another film we thought might be more attuned to SXSW, but again, organizers in Austin have already solidified their lineup. Footage has already screened in Berlin for buyers and we can only guess the movie is nearing completion (particularly as Gondry starts shooting his next film “Mood Indigo” in June). While we don’t see the film making it to the official competition lineup, its whimsical “Be Kind Rewind” inspired narrative could make it a possibility for Un Certain Regard.

“The End”/"Like Someone In Love" (dir. Abbas Kiarostami)
Cast: Ryo Kase, Rin Takanashi, Aoi Miyazaki, Tadashi Okuno
With lensing underway late last year, it’s going to be matter of finishing the movie on time. But reportedly set to be a “continuation” on “Certified Copy” (if not with the characters, then at least thematically), Cannes would welcome the helmer back. And producers MK2 are said to be eyeing a premiere on the Croisette and they will likely be pushing hard to make that happen.

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21 Comments

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Ian | February 25, 2012 12:00 PMReply

At Efm the producer revealed that lee Daniels the paperboy will have its world premiere at Cannes. Cosmopolis, on the road and moonrise kingdom have already announced French premiere dates that are the same dates as Cannes, so all 4 films are pretty much locks at this point.
deepak kumar | February 23, 2012 7:52 AMReply

i like it.
cinephile | February 22, 2012 1:17 PMReply

What about "What Maisie Knew", the modern-day-Henry-James-adaptation by "The Deep End" directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel, starring Julianne Moore, Steve Coogan and Alexander Skarsgard ? I know it's a longshot, but I read somewhere that the producer is hoping to premiere it in Cannes.
Neil | February 21, 2012 3:56 AMReply

hm...might be the first time Wong Kar-Wai gets placed to some category other than In Competition, if the film turns out to 1) actually make it in time and 2) be more commercial. Yet again, Johnnie To was allowed In Competition for "Vengeance" a few years back, and that film was pretty darn mainstream.
RNL | February 20, 2012 8:37 PMReply

"Spider" wasn't the last film Cronenberg took to Cannes. "A History of Violence" played in competition in 2005.
Kevin | February 20, 2012 9:01 PM

Right you are, thanks for the heads up.
DJAHA | February 20, 2012 7:28 PMReply

Longshot: "Life of Pi" (dir. Ang Lee)
Maggie | February 20, 2012 3:45 PMReply

What about Prometheus? Early reports suggested it might show out of competition.
Jeff | February 20, 2012 3:02 PMReply

Ozon's film wrapped in September 2011, and was likely in the can before he left for Berlin.
LOU | February 20, 2012 2:40 PMReply

Is Piper Perabo really in the untitled Terrence Malick project?
Kevin | February 20, 2012 2:41 PM

Oops. Yeah, no she's not. Not sure where my brain was on that one.
amber | February 20, 2012 2:27 PMReply

I am dying to see On the road and snow white and the huntsman I hope it would premiere in Cannes that would be cool plus I don't mind seeing more Kristen Stewart <3
Jack | February 20, 2012 2:12 PMReply

Here is a sure In Competition entry:

Carlos Reygadas' Post Tenebras Lux
hank | February 20, 2012 1:46 PMReply

It's not called "THE MASTER"
Taylor Jones | February 20, 2012 1:37 PMReply

Reygadas, Seidl, Hsiao-hsien?
Huffy | February 20, 2012 12:47 PMReply

No Lars? Kidding, kidding. Seriously though, how long until they welcome him back? I've got three years.
Lucas | February 20, 2012 12:45 PMReply

Seriously, what is going on with The Grandmasters. At least I hope it's released in '12, even if it doesn't go to Cannes
maxime | February 20, 2012 12:42 PMReply

Xavier Dolan's first picture was "J'ai tuÃ© ma mÃ¨re", not "Je tue ma mere".
maxime | February 20, 2012 12:43 PM

also, it's "Les amours imaginaires". sorry.
BACALL | February 20, 2012 12:23 PMReply

What about The Great Gatsby? Has it finished filming yet? Probably best to premiere at the NYFF but ya never know!
Kevin | February 20, 2012 12:26 PM

Not gonna happen. Was still filming last month, and the fact the Baz is turning around a movie in about a year is a miracle in and of itself.