'Blue is the Warmest Colour' wins Palme D'Or – Cannes 2013 Recap

 

The Steven Spielberg led jury at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival selected Abdellatif Kechiche’s “Blue is the Warmest Colour” for the Palme D’Or Sunday, the festival’s top prize.

The Palme D’Or was awarded to not only the Tunisian director but also actresses Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux, an unprecedented move for the festival, as the festival has a rule that the Palme D’Or winner cannot also have a winning actor or actress. This enabled the jury to recognize the performers as equal authors in the work.

The film upset other favorites including Ashgar Farhadi’s “The Past,” which won the Best Actress award for “The Artist’s” Berenice Bejo, Alexander Payne’s road-trip comedy “Nebraska,” which won the Best Actor award for Bruce Dern, Kore-Eda Hirokazu’s “Like Father, Like Son,” which won the Jury Prize, and the Coen Brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis,” which won the runner up Grand Prix prize.

Although Cannes is often criticized for featuring too many films from “auteurs” and only a few rare chances for discovery, a fact likely pointed out in James Toback’s Cannes centered documentary “Seduced and Abandoned,” this year was touted as important thanks to the stature of its jury, the quality of the films and the legacy of the filmmakers.

Whereas 2012’s Palme D’Or winner “Amour” may have been seen as a fluke for picking up as many Oscar nominations as it did, a seal of approval from this jury could very likely spell Oscar gold down the line.

Here’s a round-up of just some of the more notable titles coming out of this year’s festival.

Blue is the Warmest Color – Dir. Abdellatif Kechiche – Winner Palme D’Or

The winner of the Palme D’Or comes from Director Abdellatif Kechiche, who received some critical attention for his 2007 film “The Secret of the Grain.” Coverage of the film has quickly gone from being a modest drama to being a stark, sexual portrayal of an underage lesbian, portrayed strikingly by Adele Exarchopoulos.

Inside Llewyn Davis – Dir. Joel and Ethan Coen – Winner Grand Prix

“Inside Llewyn Davis” currently sits with a perfect 100 on Metacritic, and Oscar Isaac was perceived to be a shoe-in for the Best Actor prize after this film absolutely wowed audiences at Cannes. Although a much more modest film in scope and style, the folk music in it has inevitably drawn comparisons to “O Brother, Where Art Thou.”

The Past – Dir. Asghar Farhadi – Winner Best Actress Berenice Bejo

Exploring the nuances of divorce yet again after breaking ground in “A Separation,” Asghar Farhadi this time looks to an Iranian man and his French wife (Berenice Bejo) as they start other relationships and tear the family apart. Indiewire claimed that this film “confirms his mastery of human behavior.”

Nebraska – Dir. Alexander Payne – Winner Best Actor Bruce Dern

Alexander Payne’s black and white road-trip movie about family sounds grim on paper, but as is true of all his films, is a wry comedy in spirit. Some have called it one of Payne’s lighter, more insignificant works while others liken it to his masterpiece “Sideways.”

Only God Forgives – Dir. Nicolas Winding Refn

Although hotly anticipated, many critics are now revoking their praise of “Drive” after Nicolas Winding Refn’s emptily violent follow-up “Only God Forgives.” The film was met with boos at its Cannes screening, despite being wonderfully stylized and featuring a scene chewing performance by Kirstin Scott Thomas.

Behind the Candelabra – Dir. Steven Soderbergh

Premiering tonight on HBO, “Behind the Candelabra” won much praise for Michael Douglas’s portrayal of Liberace. It was thought that he, along with Matt Damon, could take the acting prize for their showy work in Steven Soderbergh’s second film this year.

The Immigrant – Dir. James Gray

Marion Cotillard is on Oscar watch again for her performance as a Polish immigrant in 1920s Manhattan. James Gray’s film also stars longtime collaborator Joaquin Phoenix as a man who forces Cotillard into prostitution and indentured servitude.

The Bling Ring – Dir. Sofia Coppola

Originally high on my list of most anticipated films of the year, reviews of “The Bling Ring” have ranged from shallow, worthless and trashy to scathing, evocative and hilarious. Getting more press than even Emma Watson was the breakout performance by Israel Broussard, who is the sole male cohort in Watson’s posse.

As I Lay Dying – Dir. James Franco

James Franco continues to crank out projects left and right, and his adaptation of William Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying” has polarized many due to Franco’s own performance and because Franco shot much of the film, believe it or not, in split screen.

All Is Lost – Dir. J.C. Shandor

Robert Redford gives a minimalist performance as an old sailor lost at sea and battling shipwreck, one that suggests a powerful return to form for the legendary actor and director. The second feature by “Margin Call” director J.C. Chandor, “All is Lost” has received mixed reviews from those calling it anywhere from quietly moving to unnecessary.

The Congress – Dir. Ari Folman

The follow-up to “Waltz with Bashir,” “The Congress” is an animated fantasy sci-fi that stars Robin Wright in a dual role, harshly challenging notions of the Hollywood studio system in the process.

Other notable titles:

Only Lovers Left Alive – Dir. Jim Jarmusch

Like Father, Like Son – Dir. Kore-Eda Hirokazu – Winner Jury Prize

Heli – Dir. Arnat Escalante – Winner Best Director

The Great Beauty – Dir. Paolo Sorrentino

A Touch of Sin – Zhangke Jia – Winner Best Screenplay

Fruitvale Station – Dir. Ryan Coogler – Winner Avenir Prize

The Missing Picture – Dir. Rithy Panh – Winner Un Certain Regard

Ilo Ilo – Dir. Anthony Chen – Winner Best First Feature

Jimmy P. – Dir. Arnaud Desplechin

Venus in Fur – Dir. Roman Polanski

Young & Beautiful – Dir. Francois Ozon

Seduced and Abandoned – Dir. James Toback