The Film: Probably the most eagerly hyped film at this year's festival, and one of the supposed frontrunners for the Palme d'Or, Cosmopolis marks David Cronenberg's return to the arena of the bizarre. Adapted from the novel by American author Don DeLillo, the film will follow Robert Pattinson's young billionaire on a journey into darkness as he discovers his fortune has evaporated, and decides to cut loose from conventional society. Paul Giamatti, Juliette Binoche, Samantha Morton and Jay Baruchel round out a pleasingly offbeat cast.
Why We're Excited: After a couple of enjoyable but conventional films in the form of A History Of Violence and Eastern Promises, we're looking forward to seeing Cronenberg return to the outer-limits of big screen storytelling.Cosmopolis represents the director's first self-penned script since 1999'seXistenZ, and from the looks of the clips and trailers we've seen so far, it promises to be deliciously weird. It also stands to catapult Pattinson out of the clutches of the soul-sapping Twilight series into a role more deserving of his talents. Put simply, we can't wait.
SourceThe Film: The last time Walter Salles took a stab at a road movie, we were treated to the thouroughly entertaining Che Guevara biopic, The Motorcycle Diaries. Salles will be hoping to repeat the trick with his adaptation of Jack Kerouac's famous novel, the story of a would-be writer (a substitute for Kerouac himself) who joins the devil-may-care Dean Moriarty on a voyage of discovery across mid-20th century America. Sam Riley stars as wide-eyed protagonist Sal Paradise, with Garrett Hedlund landing what should be a peach of a role as Moriarty.
Why We're Excited: It's about time somebody took a stab at filming Kerouac's well-loved novel, and Salles is an exciting choice to bring it to life. While the counter-culture themes might not be so resonant today as when the book was first published, the cinematic narrative should still make for a cracking spectacle. Throw in an extremely talented supporting cast including the likes of Kristen Stewart, Viggo Mortensen, Steve Buscemi, Amy Adams and Kirsten Dunst, and you've got one of the most eagerly awaited films among this year's selection.
Robert Pattinson, 26, stars as a Wall Street banker in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis, shot primarily in the back of his character’s giant white limousine — where Pattinson’s banker has a tryst with 48-year-old French actress Juliette Binoche. Pattinson then does Efron one better.
“There’s a scene where I’m seducing (another woman) naked, while having a prostate exam in the back of a limousine. People don’t really see that very often in movies,” Pattinson says with a laugh. ”You do what you can to surprise people.”
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The red carpet lineup also will feature Twilight’s golden couple, Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. This time they are going head-to-head, with Stewart starring in the competition film On the Road.
“I’m already making excuses,” Pattinson jokes about their friendly festival competition.But for these two weeks, it’s not all about winning the contest, but enjoying the glitz in the South of France.“There is really something glamorous about Cannes,” Pattinson says.”It’s the bow ties and the way the festival holds onto the glamour. People really make an effort.”
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1. "Cosmopolis" - dir. David Cronenberg - France/Germany/Canada
Synopsis:Based on the novel by American author Don DeLillo, this centers on Eric Packer (Robert Pattinson), a young multi-billionaire making an epic, ultimately doomed limo ride across New York City.
What You Need to Know:At the outset, "Cosmopolis" seems to fall in line with the mannered, critic-friendly films of the recent Cronenberg era. It is, after all, an adaptation of a critically revered and best-selling novel and stars hunky heartthrob-of-the-moment Robert Pattinson. But having seen those first few trailers, the movie seems more atypical and dangerous (a good thing, since "A Dangerous Method" felt far too safe for a filmmaker known for exploding heads and genital mutilation), and certainly a return to a more recognizable kind of picture for the director with a number of Cronenberg's favorite thematic tics look to be explored, including man's relationship with modern technology, the messiness of murder, and sexual obsession. The big question is whether "Twilight" star Pattinson can pull off that lead role. His starring efforts outside the vampire franchise, like "Water For Elephants" and "Bel Ami," have mostly been met by shrugs, but we're impressed with what we've seen of him here, and if he ever wins over his doubters, it'll be on this one. He's got a strong supporting cast behind him which'll help, with Juliette Binoche, Paul Giamatti, Samantha Morton, Jay Baruchel, Sarah Gadon and Mathieu Amalric along for the ride.
10. “On The Road” - dir. Walter Salles - U.S/France/Brazil
Synopsis:Long-time-coming adaptation of Jack Kerouac's famous Beat Generation novel. Drifter poets Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty travel across the country in search of themselves, colliding with a rigid and impermeable society along the way.
What You Need To Know:Over thirty years in the making, director Francis Ford Coppola has been trying to get this picture made since the mid 1970s. Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles signed on to make the picture in 2005, with Coppola exec producing, but none of it became a reality until early 2010 when casting and financing finally coalesced. Starring Garrett Hedlund and Sam Riley as the two leads and Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams, Steve Buscemi, Terrence Howard and more in support, it's certainly got a mean cast (even if the two leads are relatively unproven quantities), and Salles, as the man behind "The Motorcycle Diaries," seems to be as strong a fit for the material as you could hope for. But will one of the great unfilmable novels give in to the attempt, or will it serve as nothing more than a good stab at a tricky piece? Fingers crossed, it'll be the former.
| Kristen Stewart The Twilight Saga. Enough said. But, on top of the actress’ leading role in the mega hit vampire flicks (Part One of the final installment Breaking Dawn will hit theaters this November), Stewart recently nabbed the title part in Universal’s Snow White and the Huntsman. She’ll also be seen opposite Garrett Hedlund and Sam Riley as Marylou later this year in the screen adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. |
Synopsis: A veterinary student abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a traveling circus as their vet.
Why You Should See It: Based on the best-selling novel, this film boosts an impressive cast including Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz. The trailer looks stunning, and with Waltz in the intriguing role of August Rosenbluth, it’s hopeful that the story will be equally pleasing. – Kristen C.
Synopsis: Greek warrior Theseus battles against imprisoned titans.Why You Should See It: Tarsem has the eye and style of a God. The Cell and The Fall were like 2 hours of going down the chocolate river in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory with being bombarded by uncanny imagery. And with The Fall, Tarsem showed he can make something a little more coherent and emotionally compelling than his initial debut film. Hopefully, he continues that rise with this sword and sandals epic. – Jack G
Synopsis: A young man sets out to travel the roads and railways of America.Why You Should See It: Here’s hoping Walter Salles’ next is more ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ than ‘Dark Water,’ the how-did-this-finally-get-made adaptation of the Jack Kerouac road novel. With Francis Ford Coppola producing and a young, talented cast (Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst) leading the way, this could make Beat-wannabes dreams come true. – Jordan R.
