Festival de Cannes is more than film premieres, celebrities, and beautiful gowns. Many of the films at the festival will be popping up in cinemas during the next twelve months. Eclectic has put together a list of our most anticipated films at Cannes 2013 from both the Competition and Un Certain Regard. This year's jury is headed by Steven Spielberg, jurors include Nicole Kidman, Lynne Ramsay (who directed our 2011's Cannes fav We Need To Talk About Kevin), French actor Daniel Auteuil, Ang Lee, and Christoph Waltz among others. One film that isn't on our list is Lars Von Trier's Nymphomaniac, it didn't make the festival selection("Nazi" gaffe 2011 maybe). Other critics' lists include James Franco directing and starring in As I Lay Dying, Marion Cotillard in The Immigrant and Alexander Payne's Nebraska, but we narrowed it down to just ten..... Read more
rent: antiviral by brandon cronenberg
Caleb Landry Jones in Antiviral by Brandon Cronenberg
Antiviral is a clinical, cold, beauty of a film that passed through Cannes and Toronto Film Festival last year, but not through all theatres. Now that it is available on Netflix, I am hoping that some people will discover Brandon Cronenberg's film debut as the topics and dialogue have resurfaced my observations from recent years. David Cronenberg's directing career has changed since 1999's eXistenZ, but his son Brandon is following in his early body horror footsteps. Read more
film review: the place beyond the pines by derek cianfrance
'The Place Beyond the Pines' is director Derek Cianfrance's latest offering, after his acclaimed yet dysfunctional, 'Blue Valentine'. Teaming up with Ryan Gosling once again, he takes us on an ambitious journey through the intermingled lives of a handful of characters... all in the backdrop of Schenectady, New York. Though slightly draggy at times, this is ultimately an epic narrative-driven story laced with stark imagery and Cianfrance does what he sets out to do, create a film with strong characters that demand your undivided attention. Read more
film review: spring breakers by harmony korine
Spring Breakers; Photos from Annapurna Pictures
Spring Breakers take us on a sex and drug-fueled trip where K-Fed and a trio of Britneys go Bonnie and Clyde set against a dreamlike aesthetic made up of pinks and neons. Director Harmony Korine has made his Generation Y opus, and his most suspenseful film to date. Read more
trailer: joss whedon’s much ado about nothing
In the Spirit of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet, veteran cult director Joss Whedon presents to us a modern day retelling of the romantic/hilarious Shakespearean tale, Much Ado About Nothing. Although made on a much smaller scale, the black-and-white independant film brings together the play's original lines, wit and a handful of actors that Whedon-verse fans are sure to be familiar with.
The stars of the film are none other than star-crossed lovers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker as Benedick and Beatrice. They're joined by Firefly alumnis Sean Maher and Captain Tightpants himself, Nathan Fillion, Reed Diamond and Fran Kranz from Dollhouse and Clark Gregg from Whedon's latest box-office blockbuster, The Avengers. I can hear the hoards of fans squealing in the distance. The entire film took Whedon 12 days to shoot and will finally be released this June, a date which fans have obviously been biting their nails over since his first teaser image was released in 2011. I can only hope that it reaches France screens that early. Let us know what you think about the trailer!
film review: stoker by park chan-wook
Photos from Fox Searchlight Pictures
After Old Boy’s cult success, Park Chan-wook’s English language debut may be a little far-fetched but it doesn’t disappoint. Read more
reflecting on michael haneke’s amour
Hollywood based correspondent Camille, reviews and reflects on Best Foreign Language 2013 Oscar winning film Amour
Amour drives home the reality of what “And til death do us part” really means. Many of us were not around when actor Jean Louis Tringtinant played the young single dad in the blockbuster film of 1967, “A Man and a Woman.” This simple title really evoked the primal, timeless romance of mature adults falling in love, even in that dizzying spell of the “Summer of Love.” Now we see him show the same pathos in the final years of an enduring relationship. Read more
red carpet trends: the 85th academy awards 2013
Another glamorous night in Hollywood as award season comes to an end with last night's 85th Annual Academy Awards 2013. On the red carpet we saw stars in a wave of reds and blues, as well as powder rose and a dash of glittering metallics and embellishments being the popular choice for this year's Oscars. Everyone played it pretty safe this year, and there was an unfortunate lack of daring choices like what we've seen in the past (where's that leg of yours, Angelina?).
behind the scenes: james franco ‘the beautiful odyssey’
7 For All Mankind is cult denim, so teaming up with James Franco who has a cult following, makes a perfect eclectic pair, especially as fashion film is on the rise. 7 For All Mankind is based in sunny California and James Franco is the ultimate Californian (tied with Rick Owens), you can feel his Californian mood in his collection of short stories Palo Alto. Read more
discovering “sugarman” sixto rodriguez
Folk Singer Sixto Rodriguez; Photo from Sony Pictures Classic
If you haven't heard of folk musician Sixto Rodriguez, it isn't surprising. Until the 2012 documentary Searching for Sugar Man won the Special Jury Prize for best international documentary at the Sundance Film Festival, a BAFTA last night, and a nomination for Best Documentary at the 2013 Academy Awards, he was relatively unknown outside of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa where he has been a household name since the 70's. The documentary explores his cult status abroad that was unknown to him for many years. Read more
