CANNES Part 2: the Movies

CANNES as usual left me with a must-see movies list. However, generally it's quite long, and is likely to get even longer - about many films shown at the fest there is very little information yet. So I give you the five Cannes films I want to see ASAP!

THE ARTIST

Without a doubt, a top number on the list. It's set in the 1920s, it's shot as a silent film, and, on top of everything else, it stars one of the biggest French screen charmers ever - Jean Dujardine, who, by the way, got BEST ACTOR for this performance! Since I'm in love with the 1920s as the fashion and lifestyle era, am a lover of silent movies and a fan of Dujardine - "The Artist" seems like a movie made especially for me. And it also has John Goodman in it - a treat!

MELANCHOLIA

In general I pretty much watch all of Lars Von Trier's films, because he's like no one else, a master-provocateur, and, considering that I often avoid the really dramatic, tragic films, it makes him something of an exception. However there are also extra reasons to see Melancholia. First is Lars Von Trier's ban from Cannes that somehow instantly made the movie 10 times more interesting - after all it's talking about its "risky" aesthetic is what got him into trouble. Second reason is that it's about a planet rushing towards the Earth threatening to put the end to its existence - sounds alluring. Third reason is Kirsten Dunst's BEST ACTRESS award. It's not the end of the list, but you get the picture.

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

I'm a big fan of Woody Allen, and even though not all his films are very good, especially lately, since he's been totally repeating himself, but lots of critics did praise "Midnight in Paris" which fills me with excitement! It also has a great cast and apparently includes some time travel. In short I would love to see Woody make "passionate love" to Paris as it was described by some reviewers.

SLEEPING BEAUTY

One word: mysterious. That's the one thing I understand about this film so far. Also, Emily Browning is doing a lot of scenes here in her underwear ... and probably nude too. Judging but what's revealed in the trailer she's being hired by some pretentious lady at a mansion as something of a call girl, or maybe prostitute - only it's much more fancy, exquisite and complex than that. Let's see...

TREE OF LIFE

First off, it did win the Palme D'Ore and I usually watch the top winners. Secondly it has Sean Penn playing the son of Brad Pitt - it's one of those seriously weird things that you just have to see to believe. Overall, based on some reviews I've read, Terrence Malick's "Tree of Life" is mostly a meditation on, well, life, its origins (they say there are even dinosaurs in there!), fathers and sons etc. with breathtaking visuals and not much of a plot.