When you think of glamorous movie premieres, you generally think of flashbulbs and giant lights ostentatiously heralding to the universe at large that something really cool is happening here, but The Tree of Life screened bright and early at 8:30 am. That doesn't mean there was any shortage of glamour, however, as International Movie Stars and Professional Good Looking Couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie strutted down the red carpet together. Pitt's costars Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain were also on hand, though Terrence Malick was notably absent, on account of shyness. Festival President Giles Jacob made an appearance, as did Rob Lowe, Rupert Murdoch, and jury member Jude Law.
Discussion about the film set expectations ridiculously high, with ecstatic fest-goers already talking about Oscar inevitability and redefinitions of cinema itself, prior to having seen the movie itself. The massive Lumiere Theatre was completely packed by 8:30, but when the credits rolled some 138 minutes later, the audience was divided. Some booed, while others applauded in response. Many reviews have been positive, but plenty of complaints have emerged that the film is digressive, which makes me wonder if these folks have ever seen a Terrence Malick film before.
Cannes reactions are notoriously hyperbolic and often not in keeping with the eventual critical and wide audience response, but the polarized Cannes crowd actually increases my interest in the film, and will temper the hopes of those waiting for a transcendence of the entire medium.
In other news, Summit Entertainment made a big acquisition today, purchasing the US rights to Snitch, starring Dwayne Johnson. No, the film will not involve that winged golden ball that ends quidditch games. It is instead based on a true story, which was previously the subject of a Frontline documentary.
Johnson will play a suburban father whose son is sentenced to ten years in prison as a result of mandatory minimum drug laws. In order to reduce the teenager's sentence, his dad goes undercover, infiltrating a a drug ring in an attempt to build a case against the big boss. Ric Roman Waugh is directing from a screenplay by Justin Haythe, who is currently at work on Gore Verbinski's Lone Ranger.
Finally, the Weinstein Company continues its acquisition spree, as it is finalizing a deal for the US rights to The Wettest Country in the World, one of the most sought after properties this year. Directed by John Hillcoat, the film is attractive for its subject matter (Southern Prohibition-Era bootleggers) and its cast (Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Mia Wasikowska, and Gary Oldman).
Stay tuned for tomorrow's update on the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival. The Gulf oil spill documentary The Big Spill is set to premiere, and it is expected to be quite incendiary. We shall see.
