Cannes 2010 Diary – Day 9
FAIR GAME
Expectations were relatively high for Doug Limon’s CIA/Iraq/WMD thriller, our first film of the day. Naomi Watts playing outed CIA operative and White House smear victim Valerie Plame, and her outspoken former ambassador husband Joe Wilson, was played by Sean Penn. Limon’s focus was on a couple caught in a power struggle that could ultimately destroy their marriage and how, through this adversity and after a little wobble (cue knowing Cameo by Sam Shepherd to help get things back on track), they come together to fight the injustices of the lying, scheming Bush administration and yada yada yada. Very ‘by the numbers’ thriller in the end. Typically formulaic, no surprises, Sean Penn being so very Sean Penn. It’s bound to do well at the box office, just not sure what it’s doing in competition in Cannes?
ROUTE IRISH
“Boring, so boring, oh my goodness” was one reaction to the latest Ken Loach offering. The first film of the festival which had me glancing down the aisle, contemplating an early exit. In fairness, the film did get a fairly good reception but Ken Loach’s drama about security contractors working in Iraq just didn’t engage with me. The film centres around Fergus, a former soldier who can’t accept the ‘wrong place, wrong time’ death of his childhood friend Frankie while working for said contractors, and sets out to uncover the truth. The film establishes pretty quickly that something is rotten in this private military security firm. We never really meet this Frankie (other than a brief flashback) so our emotional engagement hinges on Fergus’ over-the-top performance and routing for him was the problem, I just didn’t really care about him enough. A comical bit of water-boarding (which actually raised a laugh in the Lumière), didn’t help either. Very disappointing.
REBECCA H. (RETURN TO THE DOGS)
Dir. Lodge Kerrigan
Lodge Kerrigan (CLEAN, SHAVEN, CLARE DOLAN, KEANE) offers another highly distinctive dark drama. A film about filmmaking and the nature of identity, REBECCA H is powerful and atmospheric with none of the self-indulgence that can often afflict such self referential work.
Top 5
1. Two Gates Of Sleep
2. Another Year
3. Of Gods and Men
4. Poetry
5. Rebecca H (Return To The Dogs)
Notes From A First-Timer (part 2)
4 films today! Had a moment during the third (Ken Loach’s ROUTE IRISH) where I allowed myself to drift off. It was either that or leave but I’d dropped my phone so was stuck. Sorry Ken.
My last red carpet event of the festival was tonight for FAIR GAME. It was OK – Sean Penn spends a lot of time banging on but it’s easy to watch and well made although Iraq war dramas are fast becoming a bit tired for me…
We had tickets for the after party at a stunning beach front bar (I was beginning to worry that my first Cannes would be party-less). There were small bottles of Moet with little funnel shaped tops being handed out (perfect for gulping), tables of food and lots of very beautiful people.
We sat next to the water looking back at Le Croisette eating our incredible food with regular top-ups of champagne after walking down the red carpet behind Gerard Depardieu.
How the hell did I get here?!
Went for a stroll in Cannes and took a few pictures on the way…
