Thompson on Hollywood

Cannes Watch: Penn, Binoche, Crowe, Gosling, Douglas, Watts Head for Croisette

April 15 is both U.S. tax return day and Cannes announcement day, when we finally learned most of the festival's official selection.

By Anne Thompson
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April 15, 2010 4:00 AM
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Cannes Adds Jurors Denis, Garcia Bernal, Mezzogiorno, Egoyan

The Festival de Cannes announces that filmmaker Claire Denis (White Material) will preside over the Un Certain Regard jury. I have also learned that Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal (whose new Spanish film Even the Rain is tagged for possible inclusion in the fest) and Italian actress Giovanna Mezzogiorno (Vincere) will join Tim Burton's competition jury, while Canadian writer-director Atom Egoyan (Chloe) will preside over the Cinefondation Jury. UPDATE: Cannes announced that Garcia Bernal will head the jury for the Camera d’Or, honoring the best first features.

By Anne Thompson
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April 7, 2010 1:22 AM
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Rating Likely Candidates for Cannes

Of the 40 films on indieWIRE's Cannes wish list--a clever way of reporting what might be going without knowing for sure what will be announced on April 15--I hear that Oliver Stone's Wall Street Never Sleeps and Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger are going, while Cannes negotiations for The Tree of Life are proceeding smoothly re: Brad Pitt and Sean Penn walking the red carpet and doing a press conference without the retiring director, which is a big concession for Cannes.

By Anne Thompson
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March 30, 2010 5:41 AM
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Wall Street 2, Tree of Life, Woody Allen Heading for Cannes

It's not official yet, but it looks pretty sure that Oliver Stone will finally be making his Cannes debut, with the sequel Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, starring Michael Douglas 23 years after his first turn as Gordon Gekko, and Carey Mulligan as his daughter. Shia LaBeouf and W star Josh Brolin also star. It's long overdue, if you ask me. Oliver Stone is an auteur in my book, even if the Cannes selectors hasn't deemed him one of their elite so far.

By Anne Thompson
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March 29, 2010 3:16 AM
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Woody Allen Sells Stranger to Sony Pictures Classics, Shoots Next in Paris

As expected, Sony Pictures Classics continues to release Woody Allen's Euro-financed pictures, acquiring North American rights to his latest, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, starring Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Freida Pinto and Naomi Watts. Shot last August in London, the film was financed by Spain's Mediapro, which backed Vicky Cristina Barcelona. SPC also released Allen's Whatever Works in 2009 and Sweet and Lowdown in 1999. Expect a Cannes debut followed by a fall opening stateside.

By Anne Thompson
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March 3, 2010 3:42 AM
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Top 25 Active Directors: Did EW Get it Right?

EW loves lists like this one, the top 25 active directors, designed to inspire healthy debate. Did they get it right? And what do they mean by active, exactly? "Most talented, in-demand directors behind the camera today?" They're trying to have it both ways--it's a power list measuring fame, heat, influence and at the same time, a qualitative measure of talent.

By Anne Thompson
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February 19, 2009 7:00 AM
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Oscar Watch: Hollywood Issues

Each February, as the Oscars approach, special Hollywood issues roll out, and party planning kicks into gear. (The Vanity Fair party is back after last year's Writers Strike hiatus; and Madonna and Demi Moore are throwing their Oscar party again.) And for some of us, Oscar fatigue sets in: how many more pieces can we read about these people? I did my first interviews with Danny Boyle, Mike Leigh, Darren Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke back in September.