Cannes Capsule Reviews II

[Yama Rahimi was our eyes, ears and now in more detail – our voice at this year’s Cannes film festival. Here are some very handy reviews in easy-to-read, insightful capsule form. Enjoy!]

MARIE ANTOINETTE was one of the most anticipated films at festival from day one. Whenever you have a hot director such Sofia Coppola whose last film was a critical and box office hit, the expectation are high which usually hurts more if the next film is disappointing because the potential for greatness is there. It comes to life few times but never goes where you want it to. It’s basically a girl wants to have fun story because she’s trapped in her circumstance but that’s enough. Maybe there’s hope for Paris Hilton to get a big screen treatment of her life.

The film is about how the 14 year-old Marie Antoinette is sent to Versailles to become eventually the queen of France. Since the film only focuses on the superficial parts and never goes deeper, we don’t care. At times you are not aware that seven years has passed. The best thing about the film is Kirsten Dunst. She’s great and believable but unfortunately the script and the directors doesn’t believe in the potential of the story. Judy Davis is utterly wasted. The rest of the cast raises some questions as well, specially the comedian actors that draw unneccessary laughs. Whatever the reasons, its never clear and maybe a sign why the project didn’t attract French actors who could have brought the needed authencity.

The film is a visually stunning eye-candy with first-rate work by the Lance Acord the lense and great costumes by award winning Milena Canonero with the fantastic real locations. The sound track works at times but distracts and takes you out at other times.

Depending on whatever mind set the audience will watch the film in will determine their expectation level for the film. Those who expect a portrait of the title will be disappointed, others who want eye candy and a piece of entertainment might like it. One thing that Sofia Coppola and Marie Antoinette might have in common is decadence. While the first spent 40 million on a film to show how the latter lived. Decadence indeed.

***

FAST FOOD NATION the latest film by the prolific director Richard Linklater should have been made 10 years ago. It would have been daring and ground breaking but after “Super Size Me” and Michael Moore films and other political films lately, it seem just fashionable. Since George Bush winning the second term, I have lost the belief that people will be able to get anything. The people who already know about the health risks and consequences of fast food industry will not get anything new here. Those who live in bliss of ignorance might not want to see the film. With good anti-campaign a la “Fahrenheit 911” the fast food industry might manage to kill this film.

The film follows an executive or high-ranking officer of Mickey’s played by Greg Kinnear to investigate foul play at a plant that make the meat patties. At the same time a group of Mexicans that includes Catalina Sandino Moreno and Wilmer Valderrama come to America for a better living and end working at the plant. What they all discover should freak hamburger lovers.

The film is well meant and earnest with all the good intentions, so you are rooting for it to succeed but given the current state of the US, it’s doubtful whether it will be welcomed. As far as filmmaking goes, it’s just your average slick Hollywood film with few punches. The acting is just “ok” all around and as I said earlier, only if it was made a decade ago, it would have been fantastic. For good or bad American was and will always remain a fast food nation.