Cannes we do it?

I am a special type of film journalist. I am a teenager, I go to school, and I post infrequently. And since I am all 3 of these traits, it comes as no surprise that I am not going to the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. I am basing my thoughts and soon-to-be festival award predictions on what I read. Here's some thoughts on the films that anticipate, based on my skimmings:

THE CONGRESS
A satire on the ideas of fame and aging, but has an odd directorial style. Odd in the respect of being equally unclear and fascinating. From what I've heard, the film is gorgeous and Robin Wright is great at playing a variation of herself.

THE BLING RING
A fancy film, one about a candy-colored craze tiptoeing into houses every night. Again, another divisive film due to directorial style. Some say it is a reflection of today's society, some call it like a music video. Opener of the Un Certain Regard, and praise upon this is most definitely uncertain.

THE PAST (LE PASSE) 
Definitely one of the best films of the festival so far. Universally praised, many declaring Farhadi as a master of human drama. Looks great, can't wait.

The Place Beyond the Pines... Best Picture Winner?

No, do not take my word for this... but if this happens, you heard it from me first.

So, I thought about this awhile back. The main reason Silence of the Lambs won Best Picture (despite its February release date,) was home media and dead controversy. Sure, in February people called it "gross", "misogynistic", and "stupid", but by the next year (when it was nominated,) people viewed it at home as an "intense, unpredictable thriller with top-notch performances."

So controversy tends to bite many films in the butt, especially the ones late out of the gate (er hem Zero Dark Thirty er hem). When Argo won a couple of months back, the film had almost celebrated a week on Blu-ray, easily accessible to anyone at home. It's been awhile since a BP winner was on video before it won, so could this year be the year?

Inherent Vice casting news!

This film won't drop until 2014, but I'd be lying if I said I was not pumped already. Because I am.

The lead role is potheard P.I. Doc Sportello, who will be played by Joaquin Phoenix. We all remember what happened last time Phoenix worked with PT Anderson...

Next up, Owen Wilson has been announced for another lead role. Undetermined at this time, but I expect great things from Wilson (a good actor who has been biting the bad for the past few years now, Midnight in Paris being an exception)

Benicio Del Toro is speculated to be Doc's lawyer in a supporting role.

However the cast turns out, the film is bound for greatness. The cast is fine and profitable as is right now, and it is also getting big budget funding from Warner Bros.

CAN'T WAIT!

August: Osage County trailer and poster!

Gravity trailer!

Out of this world!

Blue Velvet.

Classic song redone for a classic film. An oldie but goodie.

Trailer for Lee Daniel's Butler.

I don't know what to expect. I won't be surprised if its tearjerking like no other, but also won't be surprised if this is more sentimental and sappy than a coin mint and a pine tree. I guarantee a SAG nomination.

Inside Llewyn Davis trailer!

Basically the same as the first trailer. Still looks exhilirating.

 Here is a poster.

Captain Phillips trailer!

Trailer for Paul Greengrass' Captain Phillips. In the style of  the masterful United 93, I'm game.

Masterpieces Classics: North by Northwest (1959)

Q: What's green, white, and bursting with style?

A: The title sequence to North by Northwest!

Right from the title sequence, Alfred Hitchcock tells the audience an open secret: This will be fun. The titles depict a patterned building and flying text with names of all the important players in the film. This is self-awareness to the greatest extent, with Bernard Herrman's booming score, one can only imagine the frenzy and fun, despite the picture's plot not even beginning.

So when the plot does begin, we feel within the first 10 minutes that this isn't Vertigo Hitchcock, but this is instead 39 Steps Hitchcock. We see Roger O. Thornhill, an anti-Don Draper, a Manhattan Ad-man with so much on his plate that a day off would do wonders. Ironically, he gets his free time when he is kidnapped rather smoothly from a dinner meeting by men of Phillip Vandamm (James Mason, in a sinister role), a Communist spy in the USA. Let me remind you that this is still within the film's first 10 minutes.