Our Panel Predicts Palme d’Or Win for Kechiche’s Blue is the Warmest Colour

We had an server hiccup exactly at the wrong time here in Cannes, but it’s worth saying that (check out our fancy graph below) out of 15 critics who supplied us with their predictions, almost half are crowned Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie D’Adele) as 2013’s Palme D’Or winner. The unanimous, universal love for the Abdellatif Kechiche’s 3-hour opus about immersing one’s self into adulthood/womanhood was a stand-out favorite in our jury, 10 of our 15 critics would award it with their own personal Palme-love (see grid below for “red-valentine colored” palmes). Amour won big last year, and thematically “love” should triumph over violence once again. The jury vote pretty much proved this.

Legend: Gold – Palme. Silver – Grand Prix. Bronze – Jury Prize. Red – Personal Palme

After the jump, our Nicholas Bell gave us the lowdown on prizes in the other categories.

Best Director: Traditionally, it seems, the award for Director and/or Screenplay seem to be awarded to films that received notably mixed responses, such as last year’s winner, Carlos Reygadas for Post Tenebras Lux. This year, we could be surprised by someone like Amat Escalante taking the prize for Heli (notably, an acolyte of Reygadas) or Jia Zhangke’s A Touch of Sin. Even more likely would be something like Alex van Warmerdam, which may also be a strong contender for screenplay. Depending on what wins the Palme, other likelihoods could be Farhadi, Kore-eda, or even Polanski, Ozon, or Jarmusch (all longer shots). Soderbergh, since it’s his last feature, may take it, though we’re thinking the jury may have chosen a different award for the film.

Best Screenplay: Again, something that received warm and often divisive criticism may take home this prize, but we’re thinking Borgman, Alexander Payne for Nebraska, or maybe something really surprising like Desplechin for Jimmy P. (though, to be honest, that would be a travesty).

Best Actor: There weren’t a whole lot of standout male performers in the main competition selections this year. Others that may have been anticipated with great interest were not enthralling (Benecio Del Toro, for instance). Strong contenders may be Toni Servillo for The Great Beauty, Oscar Isaac for Inside Llewyn Davis, Joaquin Phoenix for The Immigrant, and even Bruce Dern or Will Forte for Nebraska. However, no matter which way you look at it, lording over them all is a career best performance from Michael Douglas, and considering it’s Soderbergh’s last film, this may be a perfect way to honor it.

Best Actress: There were far more interesting selections as far as roles for females go. There’s Marine Vacth from Ozon’s Young and Beautiful and Emmanuelle Seigner in Venus In Furs, each giving notable performances in very well made films. More probably may be a double award (such as was given last year to the two leads from Beyond the Hills) for Kechiche’s Blue Is the Warmest Colour to Lea Seydoux and Adele Exarchopoulous —but since we’re hoping this wins the Palme, we could see Marion Cotillard awarded Best Actress for The Immigrant or we can see her French countrywomen Bérénice Bejo when for The Past.