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Was Berlusconi in 3D? ;) But seriously, are there any Cannes festival films being shown in 3D this year? I'm guessing Iron Sky will be 2D -- really looking forward to that.

Meh, no sympathy for the devil.

Devil being defined as someone who gets paid to watch films and then tell us what he thought.

I have never walked into the wrong film before, but I remember an old couple walking into a showing of Phone Booth, about five mins into the move. They must have watched 45 mins of it (at least) and then started asking questions if this was the right film (I was sat right behind them) and walked out clearly confused.
They didn't come back but nothing wrong with the film mind, really enjoyed it, but it still amazes me to this day it took them that long to realise they were watching the wrong film lol.

So? How was the Berlusconi documentary?
Tell me, tell me!!!

The original Housemaid is a pretty interesting film, very explicit for the time and place it was made. It is indeed an erotic thriller, but tonally plays like a very melodramatic dark comedy and the events grow more and more fantastic as it progresses. It's very surprising to hear that it has been remade, that came out of nowhere!

Was Russell Crowe's Robin Hood at least better than Kevin Costner's?

By getting "your favourite seat" doc, did you mean an isle seat, no "trapped" seating I hope!

I wonder what Wall Street 2 will be like... I haven't got a good feeling about it somehow...


Olly

I would think that Russell Crowe's performance as Robin Hood would be better than Costner’s portrayal for two reasons. One, the accent isn't truly American, the whole Aussie fiasco, you can't really complain 'cause it is quite close to Brit anyhow but the actors, like Russell, sound like they cover it up well. Two, Russell Crowe is a little rougher and not as wet and weak as Costner had been in Prince of (Persia) Thieves.

But Cannes sounds fun, just walk into a random movie and then into another. I wouldn't go into Cannes with a plan to see this or that, I would just go, wander about and see what Cannes brings me.

Glad to see you haven't dressed/shaved for the part.

Why not auction the 'camp' Cannes bag for charity, 'cos it's obviously too small to keep your gloves in!

Pace yourself Doc, it looks like being a long week, for all of us.

I did not notice ‘Benjamin Sniddlegrass and the Cauldron of Penguins’ listed on the brochure in your floppy ;) hands.

Perhaps its been entered into the ‘Un Certain Regard’ or 'Hors compétition' (non 3D) category?

Keep up the great work; looking forward to Drs M and K edited vod-cast version on Wittertainment.

M
Denver, Colorado

Glad to see you survived Day 1, really looking forward to your thoughts on Wall Street 2. Met with Josh Brolin early in the year and he kind of sold me on the film, but IDK, I'm waiting for the Good Dr.'s approval.

On a side note Mark, what is up with the camera work on your Uncut videos? Come on now you're a movie critic! Get a tripod!

Much love from NYC!

RomanM

Glad you're blogging the festival, Mark. No one better.

Do you mind me asking whereabouts your favourite seat would be?
I only ask because I have one of my own and would like to hear about others'.

Talking of Robin Hood; the flak Crowe has picked up over Mark Lawson's interview seems a tad unfair to me. There are things you'd say as part of an review but not as part of an interview. The comment about Russell's 'Irish' accent came across as a thinly veiled attempt to get a headline baiting comeback from an actor who is already well known for these types of responses. A cheap shot at best from a presenter who should really have known better.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the film. Anything with Mark Strong in it is always worth a punt.

a '102 year old' director? is that fact?
let's hope sidney lumet carries on for, at least, another 17 years.
in my opinion, he's a director who deserves far more credit than he's given, sorry to deviate from the topic but he has a body of work to rival any director i can think of.
whilst i'm in the middle of a rant, does anyone else think that 'network' is robert duvall's greatest performance?

I loved Robin Hood.
why are you so obsessed by accents? who cares?

Despite the protestations of anti-cruelty campaigners at the end of the seven days Mark and the rest of the critics will be rounded up and their livers will be turned into a delicious pâté highly prized by the wealthy denizens of the French Riviera.

I echo 'Echobase' What was the Berlusconi doc like? All this build about trying to see it and then no comment! Cannes is obviously a bit of an unpredictable ride, you clearly cannot make any plans...you never know where you're going to end up.
Hoping you will get to see Alejandro González Iñárritu's Biutiful and Doug Limon's Fair Game (love Swingers) and give us a heads up.
Try and enjoy yourself!

I suspect Dr K was only sat in front of that yacht because it was registered in Georgetown, home of a William Friedkin movie that shall remain nameless. :)

Regarding Robin Hood,

Russell Crowe is perfectly fine as Robin, the problem I had with the movie was this:

Ridley Scott is becoming George Lucas in the sense that he's an unchallenged director who points the camera at what he likes, instead of at what he needs.

The final battle had a couple of laugh out loud moments (in my opinion) and was unnecessary if he wanted to tell the story of the little man against the oppression of the establishment. This was a bit like Braveheart shooting a couple of arrows against the French.

Just my opinion.

@ NeoCroMagnon:

Haven't seen Robin Hood so can't comment, but don't put Ridley Scott on the same page as George Lucas. I agree, Ridley's made mistakes and sometimes he is ill-disciplined, but he at least a visual artist as opposed to a pathetic hack-cum-accountant. He may shoot what he likes but at least when he does that he's doing it because he loves film and wants to immortalise an image even if the image turns out to be 'irrelevant'. Lucas knows nothing about the beauty of film - never has done, never will.

@KubrickandScott

You are right, Lucas really is on a different level, and Scott at least has Alien and Bladerunner to prove his worth. I like the original Star Wars films by the way, but time is teaching is that Lucas had very little to do with their success.

Still, watch Robin Hood.... a classic it's not I'm afraid.

And I think the last battle will make you chuckle :) it has a few moments that really don't work.

So what happened at the end? He jumped of the balcony?

Ridley Scott I think peaked with Alien and Blade Runner. He's made some good movies since then and some dull ones, but has never quite hit that level again.

Saw Robin Hood myself last night. For all this talk about Russell Crowe's accent, why hasn't anybody brought up Oscar Isaac's "I declare him and OUTLAW!" performance as Prince John? The theater was in giggles every time he was on screen. His acting would be right at home in a local grade school pageant.

To non-local ears Crowe's accent does indeed sound more Irish than anything else but it probably would have been fine if he hadn't sleepwalked through the entire picture. He looked bored. I was bored. This movie was boring.

It's not as bad as a George Lucas movie, but that's like coming home and finding your wife and children have been kidnapped, your stuff stolen and your dog dead, then feeling relieved because they didn't burn the house down.