Now that the Indy premiere is over, things in Cannes just aren't the same...a certain buzz has left the Festival, but hopefully this can be turned around with the remaining films.
    P.S. It's still raining almost every day here...

    Reports have surfaced that Joaquin Phoenix missed the opening of his film Two Lovers due to a nasty stomach flu. The actor is a consistent part of James Gray's three Palm-nominated films, and Phoenix always makes it to the premieres - his absence surprised many this Monday, but apparently he was physically unable to get on the flight. Hopefully he feels betters soon to enjoy the praise his performance in the film is receiving.

    Earlier this week, Clint Eastwood changed the name of his in-competition film, Changeling to The Exchange. I tend to like that better, as it's easier to say. I kept hearing mispronunciations of the first title, making me think of "chain link fence," and it was distracting. It's reported that Eastwood enjoyed the French translation (L'exchange) so much that he officially changed the title the day before it premiered in the Palais.
    Raining and cold, everyone anxiously awaited Eastwood and Angelina Jolie's arrival and the verdict from the critics: is this a film (finally) worthy of the Palm?
    Rounding out the pre-cast celebrities at the red carpet was an array of various personalities including Nick Nolte, Sharon Stone, Tim Robbins and Dita Von Teese. A documentary about Nolte and his life (Nick Nolte: No Exit) is premiering here Thursday evening to a small crowd.

   
    As the rain slacked a little bit (but the umbrellas annoyingly stayed up), Angelina Jolie and Clint Eastwood made their way up the carpet with Brad Pitt following behind. Last year, each of the Brangelina duo had a film and a chance to take a backseat to the other, but this year, Pitt has been willingly taking the background spot to his starring lady. Of course, a background spot for Brad Pitt is nearly impossible and the screaming crowd of girls continued to yell his name until he obliged and waved to the onlookers....creating shrilled hysteria.



    The critics are giving mostly positive reviews of the Eastwood-Jolie flick, though they're concerned with it's succinct place in the Palm category and it's hard-to-market storyline. Jolie plays Christine Collins, a woman working hard in the 1920s to support her one and only won, Walter. After being called into work one Saturday, Christine leaves Walter at their house, asking a neighbor to check in, but he disappears. The nine-year-old is part of a police investigation for five months, until a call comes in telling Christine her son has been found by the Los Angeles police department. Upon arrival, Christine knows this boy is not her son, however, the LAPD does not want to admit mistake and forces her to reconsider, eventually leading to a malicious battle between the corrupt police force and a desperate mother. Jolie is fantastic here, and I'm making an early prediction for her to win Best Actress here in Cannes. Eastwood spins the film just right and moves the audience while also never putting them to sleep. My favorite competition film by far.

 

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