Daily Scoop (Week 2 | Friday)


The Appetizer: 

That One Guy Who Thought We Had The Answers

"Why does the black person die first in the horror film?" Asked an Egyptian filmmaker after we'd been talking about the lack of diversity on HBO, which is actually a British company. I definitely agreed with him, but couldn't give him any answers. I blamed it on the Writers, Casting Directors, and maybe even the Directors of the film. 

The Main Course: 

A Grad and A Crook

Film 1: Graduation. A young lady, who has who entire future ahead of her, is attacked and must deal with the aftermath of the attack as she prepares for college. The movie was very slow, and offered no real purpose. The dad in the film centered more on the father of the victim than the girl who was attacked. It was an okay film, but this was the second film that I actually walked out of during the festival.

Film 2: The Handmaiden. This has to be one of my favorite films of the festival. The Korean - Japanese film follows a professional swindler, as she goes undercover as a handmaiden in order to obtain the riches of a wealthy woman. I would describe this film as an intricate, but also twisted Cinderella-like story. It's a real, rags to riches story! It's hard to express how beautiful this story is without exposing specific points in the story or plot. Just know this: I would absolutely re-watch this film.


Dessert: 

The Things I Hear Across The Pond

Today was quite an eye opener as Jessica and I found out how deep the stereotypes about the south and America run. I happened to run into the bubbly Egyptian filmmaker that I'd met earlier in the day. He was very talkative and wanted to discuss topics such as diversity and the various styles and tools filmmakers use in various parts of the world. The best advice that he gave us (not a direct quote): If you want to work in film, you should watch at least 1 movie a day. Same goes for television. I loved how insightful he was!

As the train was boarding, we met another guy, and I don't think either of us were prepared for the conversation that we were about to have with this guy. According to him, a former PR Executive turned French army guy (the army enlistment is due to a bet he made with his friends?) that we met on the train: 

1) There's this idea abroad that there are no black people in Georgia.

2) If you live in Georgia you must own a gun.

3) If you live in Texas you must be driving a big truck...although after visiting Texas he found that he loves the people and everyone does not drive a big truck. 

4) The people in LA are ver stuck-up; feminism is a big thing out there.

5) Boston and New York are cold and no match for the British trench coat thingy that he wears.

He was an interesting guy and he did make a normally quiet ride a little better. We got off the train and we're a bit chatty (or maybe it was just me). Because of our chatter, we met 2 more girls who were American. One was from Georgia/Seattle and the other was from California. We talked for a bit and then we're approached by a random guy. Turns out he was asking if we wanted to buy drugs. Who knew? Our new American friend, who had been living in France for 6yrs did. We went our separate ways for a bit and met back up later that night.

Turns out I found a new plug. One of the girls actually has been living in the area, and so she knew where to go. First she took us to a nice sit down bar that was lively. We got to know her and her friend a little more. Next, we headed to a club. From the outside, thr club looked like a  quiet restaurant. A random guy started dancing with fire (literally) as we patiently waited to get in. Once inside the club, there was a pay window (similar to the window that adorns most skating rinks in America). Entry was 15 Euro! That was a bit much. Most of us didn't have it so we started to head out. Luckily, the bouncer gave us the okay, and we got in for FREE!! It was a fun night! We danced on a table, that the club so graciously placed and bolted down for patrons. There was smoke, buff guys dancing with fire,  lots of lights, and lots of bass. There was a also an interesting man that had his own section on stage. His only job was to dance. Haha. The DJ was also very legit and his mixing skills were flawless! He played mostly EDM and American music. My favorite mix was definitely Classic Man. The French party late! It was about 2:30AM when we left and they were still going strong. Who knows what time the club actually shut down. I was completely done when the DJ started playing 679 by Fetty Wap and Up Down by T-Pain! Everyone literally knew ALL of the words to both songs. LOL

Creative Control: A Hard Pill to Swallow




Creative Control is a hi-tech science fiction film that follows David (Benjamin Dickinson), an advertising executive who is involved in a power struggle within his company and his personal life. The black and white film artistically showcases a painful struggle with not only David, but also the supporting characters, as themes of depression and dissatisfaction takes hold of them and tests the boundaries of their friendships, romantic relationships and career goals.

The movie is altered by its futuristic New York setting. The virtual reality glasses that David receives begins to enhance his life, and eventually serves as the driving force for the film. After David is assigned the task of developing an advertising plan for the glasses he becomes too invested and begins to experiment with the new technology.

David uses his obsession with Sophie (Alexia Rasmussen), his best friends’ girlfriend, to push the limits of the new technology that he is given. With the Agumenta Glasses, he alleviates his personal needs by creating a digital avatar of Sophie. This becomes problematic, as he uses this model to avoid his real life problems with his girlfriend Juliette (Nora Zehetner). The closer he grows to Sophie, the more realistic his virtual model becomes.

The virtual byproduct of David and Juliette's failed relationship, begins to negatively impact David. His problems also push him towards experimenting with drugs and alcohol, which plays out artistically on screen as well. As David’s character feels and goes through changes, so does the audience. For example, the pills that he takes throughout the film are highlighted in cutaway sequences to emphasize the importance of the drugs in his life. The forceful trumpets and horns blare loudly in scenes, as David experiences emotional highs and lows as well. David’s flat character is intuitive, but negatively progresses as he is blinded throughout the film. It’s upsetting to see that instead of evolving, he devolves into a selfish and carless figure.  

Juliette’s character exists to counterbalance David's anxious character. She is shaped out to be a delicate figure. Her delicate nature is highlighted the most during scenes where she is teaching her yoga class or when she is serving as a yoga model. She is one of the more reasonable characters in the film but she is however, easily influenced and often ignored. Her dependency is one of her weaker characteristics, and her need to be loved serves as one of her downfalls in the film. Her meek representation in the film is eventually replaced by an evolved character who is willing to work on her relationship. She goes through one of the more dramatic changes, but her character matures the most.

In addition to the futuristic topics covered in the film, there is a focus on designing the future. The film's design is very sleek and light is often emphasized. The focus on light is surprisingly ironic because of the dark topics that are covered throughout the film. The black and white contrast throughout the movie plays along with the themes of depression and dissatisfaction. The dark undertones in the film’s design, in addition to the references to drugs and alcohol, effects each character but it impacts David the most, and his reality becomes our reality.

The movie itself uses very distinctive artistic techniques to draw viewers in. The film used classical and jazz tracks to capture every moment from the intense moments, to the calming ones. The film's artistic expression is showcased with creative cutaways, intense close-ups, and harsh lighting. The film must rely on rich visuals to express the story because of the creative decision to remove the color. Color is added at one point in the film to showcase a turning point in David's life.

The story is weirdly arranged, and doesn’t allow an adequate amount of time for the audience to get aquatinted with the supporting characters. Action ensues quickly, and we’re often left wondering why David is reacting to various situations erratically. His failed relationship leading to him having an affair with a crafted avatar seems a little too extreme and unrealistic as well. While Creative Control is questionable at times, it does hit the mark in some cases. The film successfully offers criticisms to our current obsession with advanced technologies, such as virtual reality and smartphones. Creative Control may be a hard pill to swallow at first due to its touchy topics and unrealistic sequences, but viewers will grow to appreciate its blatant warnings about the dangers of human dependency on technology.


 Creative Control (2015)
Director: Benjamin Dickinson
Writer: Micah Bloomberg, Benjamin Dickinson
Starring: Benjamin Dickinson, Nora Zehetner, Dan Gill
Run time: 1 hour 37 minutes

Daily Scoop (Week 2 | Thursday)

The Appetizer: 


That One Person Who Just Wanted To Watch The Film

"Shhhhhh..." said someone loudly as a select few people in the audience continuously clapped for each production company that popped up on the screen. There were about 5 and after being in a room full of people who do nothing but clap (for production companies and the directors before they've even seen the movie!) for a week,  I would have shushed too! Haha


The Main Course: 


Two Couples, Different Problems

Film 1: Loving. In the racially segregated south, a couples battles to stay together. The film is based on the popular Loving Supreme Court case. I really enjoyed that the film gently told the couples story. There are many historical film's that are harsh and raw, because that's what the people in that time endured, but this was one that didn't need to express the injustice in that way. It's an enlightening tale and an overall great watch.

Film 2: Prericles the Black. A gangster flick wrapped in a semi love story. It was a great watch and had a well developed plot. It was a little predictable at times, but our hero was well developed and his performance made the film.


Dessert: 

Sing it for the Boys... Sing it for the Girls!!

Today consisted of course of watching and also falling asleep in films. Nothing too interesting happened during the day and I spent a bit of time hanging out at the AMPAV. There a met a British filmmaker who gave use the Europe inside scoop. I I knew he was cool immediately after he shared half of his 2 Euro Twix (yes 2 Euro!) with me and other members of the Georgia crew.

Later that night I signed up for the highly anticipated Karaoke Night in the AMPAV. I watched as people completely destroyed the mic (in a good and bad way!) My favorite performances were definitely Anaconda and the improvised Stitches. It was a pretty great night. I ended up not being able to perform because Taylor Swift was not included in the jank Karaoke app that they were using, so unfortunately I was skipped without being informed. Overall it was fine. Hope and I did impromptu Karaoke on the street and in the cab ride back. Our Karaoke featured a little High School Musical, LMFAO, and Tao Cruz. Loved it!

Daily Scoop (Week 2 | Wednesday)


The Appetizer: 

That One Wise Quote About Trusting Your Heart

"A young man may trust his ears but a wise man trusts his heart,"a quote from the life altering movie, Late Shift. As I sat in the theater I marveled how the audience could shape the adventure that the main character participated in.


The Main Course: 

A Girl & A Boy... scared, trapped, and in love

Film 1: The Unknown Girl. After finding out that a young girl is killed outside of her practice, a doctor searched for the truth. I was excited to see this movie unfold. Going into the film I was expecting over the top thriller about a bold doctor who wasn't afraid to take risk. As the film unfolded I quickly realized that this was not going to be a thriller at all, but instead a lackluster drama. I was extremely displeased by how the plot was executed and the lack of action made things worse. I was in a constant sleep cycle of waking up and then quickly falling back to sleep throughout the film. This was most defiantly due to the fact that I'd caught a 6:41 train for an 8:30 showing of this movie. That definitely was not worth it.

 Film 2: The Exil. This was yet another disappointment. A group of us had tried to get in to see this film earlier in the week and was denied. After that I was sure that this would be a great film. I was sadly mistaken. The film was structured like a documentary, told from the perspective of someone who had been exiled. It was very boring and I most defiantly continued my nap in this film.

 Film 3: Late Shift. By 3:30 I'd seen two bad films and I desperately needed some sort of cushion. This movie was just what I needed. The movie followed a university student on a not-so-typical journey during his nigh shift. The film was a choose-your-own adventure film and the audience held all of the power. Throughout the film, the audience was given the opportunity to decide how the main character responded to every choice he was presented with. Using a special app and their cell phones, the audience pressed each option, and the answer that was chosen the most was reflected in the film. The film was very intriguing and offered a great alternative to traditional film viewing.

 Film 4: Two Lovers and a Bear. The title is something special, but that isn't the reason why I decided to go watch it. The intriguing Tatiana Maslany stars in the film, about a couple who decides to travel across Alaska in order to escape both of their pasts. The film engulfs the audience, and I often found myself routing for the couple when they were up, and praying that they survived during their lows. I really appreciated the film's plot, but the ending still doesn't quite sit right with me. 

Dessert: 

Going With The Flow

I've decided that planning my day out is not the best thing to do. Instead I just go with the flow. This morning due to the impeding strikes currently happening on the trains in France, I had to wake up at 6:15 AM in order to catch a 6:41AM train for a 8:30AM movie. The train window was closed when I reached the station and so, I was yet again crossing my fingers that I wouldn't get caught without my updated train ticket. Thankfully I haven't been caught yet, but living life on the edge is scary-- well not really on the edge. haha. The day was filled with yet another crop of movies, both bad and good. I also met yet another lovely human being coming from London. She'd been offered the opportunity to come to Cannes through her company, which researched different sectors in the film industry. I'd also met a woman who'd been offered the opportunity to come to Cannes because of her short film. She'd revealed to us while waiting on The Unknown Girl, that she'd worked in reality tv for a while and now she was breaking into scripted content, specifically film. Trying goat cheese for the first time and hanging out with Emily was pretty awesome too! Meeting this bubbly actor from LA--who made sure to let us know that he acted with Nicholas Cage-- was probably one of the funniest moments of the day too. 

The Unknown Girl (Mini Review)




The Unknown Girl (La fille inconnue) follows Jenny, a doctor who decides to investigate the death of a young girl. After finding out that the girl is killed outside of her practice, she assumes responsibility and becomes slightly obsessed with discovering who the girl is and how she died.

The film misses the mark, as the doctor acts out of character in order to accomplish her goals. Her guilt drives her actions throughout the film, which leads to the film remaining flat. There is little to no action, and the thrill is somehow left out of the mix.


While the film is flat and uneventful, Jenny’s character becomes a bit more developed. Jenny eventually realizes that her actions as a young doctor at the beginning of the film are selfish and unnecessary. I believe that her mission to discover the truth was her way of making up for this behavior. Overall, the movie is not worth the time commitment and the story is pointlessly drawn out. I would not recommend seeing the film.

The Unknown Girl
Directors: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Writers: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Starring: Adèle Haenel, Jérémie Renier, Olivier Gourmet
Run Time: 113 minutes

Daily Scoop (Week 2 | Tuesday)


The Appetizer: 

That One Time Someone Really Wanted To Know

"Where are the celebrities,"asked an anxious fan. She was genuinely puzzled when she couldn't find any celebrities. It was definitely a little to early to be searching for the celebrities, but someone from our group calmly explained where to go to find the celebrities. Hopefully she found who she was looking for. 

The Main Course: 

Women In The Army...

Film 1: The Stopover. The only film that I managed to see today was this one. The movie centered around women who'd finished their service with the army. In the movie the crew stopped on an island before continuing home. On the island members struggled with PTSD in various ways. Sexism was also highlighted as the women where often treated differently. The movie was somewhat interesting. 

Dessert: 

The Lazy Day

Today was definitely was a lazy day. I went to sleep pretty late the night before and decided not to set an alarm. I ended up waking up at 1:30PM in the afternoon. I got ready and headed straight for a meeting that our professors had set up for us. The meeting featured three of the leading ladies from Refinery29's newest video sector. They covered topics ranging from women in film to important issues facing women in various industries. I loved hearing their perspectives, and what initiatives they were taking in order to change the current state of the industry. After that I went to a film, and then hung out at the AMPAV for a bit. I ultimately decided to head back to the residence a bit early, due to my current state. Watching films all day, staying up all night, and waking up early in the morning had began to negatively affect me. 

Daily Scoop (Week 2 | Monday)



The Appetizer: 

That One Comment That Made Me LOL


"I almost sat in your lap... your wife would have killed me," said a women who nearly fell into a man's lap trying to get to her seat in a theater. I wanted to laugh, but it would've have been even more awkward. 

The Main Course: 

For The Love of Dance, Money, & Honey


Film 1: The Dancer. The story follows the rise of a dancer in France. I love movies that center on characters that must go through some kind of dramatic life journey in order to eventually see their worth. It didn't hurt that this movie was very artistic and bold either. Loved it!

 Film 2: From the Land of the Moon. This movie was mind boggling. A woman's family believes that she is crazy. The choice to send her away comes soon after she is married off to a man that she doesn't love. I felt myself feeling sorry for her throughout the film. We eventually find out through a series of events that her family may have been right. After dozing of for a bit and waking back up, I really came to appreciate this movie. 

Film 3: American Honey. I FINALLY GOT TO SEE AMERICAN HONEY!!! This was the movie that I was most excited for because: 1) It featured SHIA!! 2) It was made by a British female director. It is also her American debut! 3) Most of the cast are not actors at all, and they still did an amazing job! This movie by far has to be my favorite movie that I've seen at the festival. The movie is a whooping 2 hours and 47 minutes! Before going into this movie, I knew about the time commitment. As I watched the film, I never once was concerned about how long I'd be watching the film. There was always something going on, and I found myself not wanting the story to end. Star, Jake and the eclectic crew of magazine salesmen won my heart. 

Film 4: Hell or High Water. A standard hollywood western, centered on two brothers who go on a robbing spree, in an attempt to keep their family farm alive. It was a pretty good movie, of course I dosed off a bit, but I stayed awake for most of the film. That means it was a pretty solid flick!


Dessert: 

What To Do? What To Watch?


The festival is winding down and we have officially hit the midpoint mark. I think I've seen around around 15 films at this point, maybe more. I don't even watch that many films in a month when I'm back home. I find now that I'm burnt out and I spend most of my time sitting and relaxing at the AMPAV. I think I sat at the Pav for at least 3 hours today. Most of that time was also spent working on my American Honey review. Check it out here.

 The highlight of my day came later on. I decided to go see a film that I barely knew anything about. After sitting down and waiting patiently for Hell or High Water to began, I was pleasantly surprised. The director and cast casually walked on stage. They talked about how excited they were to be finally revealing the film, and then proceeded to walk to their seats. I'm proud to say that I was sitting in the same row as the two leading actors, Chris Pine and Ben Foster. As I watched the film, I often glanced over to Chris Pine, and he was definitely proud to be in this film. He smiled for 99.9% of the time while the film was showing. 

 When the film was over we waited out front for the actors to walk out. I got close enough to be moved back by Chris Pine's body guard, but also capture a video of him strutting out of the theatre. My hand was swatted away by one of Ben Foster's team members, as I reached out to touch his shoulder. As Beth freaked out about being in his prescience, I handed her one of my begging signs and a sharpie. She managed to get his attention by saying, "Excuse me Mr. Foster", despite, the previous warnings from his team member. He signed the paper, and agreed to take a picture with Patrick, Beth, and I. He also laughed at Patrick's dad joke. haha. It was a pretty great night! The Chris Pine videos below should keep you satisfied until I post Tuesday's post! (ignore any weird screaming noises. haha!)

     







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