(Cannes) Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro were the big stars of the sixth day of the Cannes Film Festival. Accompanied by Todd Haynes, the director of May, December, and Martin Scorsese, whose Killers of the Flower Moon received critical acclaim, the stars put on their media day with panache.
Posted at 7:00 p.m.
The Cannes Film Festival presents in its selection pure and sophisticated auteur films, which thus have a privileged platform for self-expression. However, it is enough to see the Croisette set on fire whenever major American stars appear there to realize that, despite those who would like to claim the opposite, Hollywood still holds a huge place in the collective imagination of moviegoers.
By choosing a film starring Johnny Depp for the opening (Jeanne du Barry, by Maïwenn), by programming out-of-competition productions such as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, directed by James Mangold) and With “Killers of the Flower Moon” by Martin Scorsese, the festival management measures the expected media effects, which arise from the mere presence of the superstars on the red carpet, very well.
A “dangerous” film
On Sunday, programming odds saw the May December, Todd Haynes and Killers of the Flower Moon teams submit to the constraints of the press conference. First up were Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, who headlined this May-December ‘melodramatic comedy’. While not directly inspired by any particular news story, this excellent film, which was very well received by the press, is the story of this woman (Julianne Moore) who made headlines 20 years ago for her history with a minor , who has now become her husband (Charles Melton), nevertheless recalls a real case that made tabloid headlines. Mary Kay Letourneau, a teacher, was actually convicted for having a relationship with a 12-year-old student.
PHOTO PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Charles Melton, Natalie Portman, Todd Haynes, Julianne Moore and Cory Michael Smith posed for photographers at the official screening of Todd Haynes’ film “May December”.
“The reason this film seems so dangerous is because nobody knows where the lines are,” commented Julianne Moore. An age difference is one thing, but the relationship between an adult and a minor is quite another. »
Natalie Portman, who is playing an actress to play the woman in a biographical drama inspired by the couple’s story, also commented on the “unfair” expectations that women invited to Cannes must meet. “What’s expected of women at this festival is very different from what’s expected of men,” she said. It is constant and eventually it will come when it affects behavior. This film is about achievement and the different roles we play in different environments, sometimes even towards ourselves. »
Near the Osage Nation
Three hours later, it was the turn of the Killers of the Flower Moon team and they appeared before the journalists, less than 24 hours after the official screening, to a nine-minute ovation.
PHOTO PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Martin Scorsese was still reeling from the emotion of the nine-minute standing ovation after presenting “Killers of the Flower Moon”.
“It felt like a very important moment,” said Leornado DiCaprio, especially because we were privileged to share that moment with Chief Standing Bear, the leader of the Osage Nation. We are very proud of this film. »
By asking Martin Scorsese where the core of the film’s story really lies, Leonardo DiCaprio deviated from the project of adapting David Grann’s book so that the story would focus more on the implications of the drama involving members of the Osage Nation than on the investigating FBI – Agents concentrated the murders.
PHOTO PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Leonardo Dicaprio, Lily Gladstone and Robert De Niro just before the press conference for the crew of Killers of the Flower Moon, a Martin Scorsese film.
As he escorted the stars to the press conference, Chief Standing Bear, who acted as advisor, believes Martin Scorsese is respectfully evoking the tragedy experienced by his people in the 1920s.
“Our people have suffered greatly and we are still feeling the effects today,” he said. But on behalf of the Osage Nation, I can say that Marty and his team have restored the bond of trust. We know this bond will not betray. »
“I wanted to know everything about the Osage Nation,” added Martin Scorsese. The more I learned, the more I wanted to incorporate all of these elements into the film! »
For his part, Robert De Niro recalled that his last appearance at the Cannes Film Festival was in 1976, with Matin Scorsese. This year, Taxi Driver won the Palme d’Or. In Killers of the Flower Moon, he slips into the shoes of a toxic character, an aspiring breeder involved in the mysterious disappearance of several natives. Speaking of his character, the actor thinks of a former president — and now a candidate for the Republican nomination — whose name he prefers not to mention.
“We must beware of the banality of evil. Of course we see it today. We all know who I’m going to talk about, but I won’t name his name. This man is stupid. Imagine what it would be like if he were smart! »
Keep in mind that Killers of the Flower Moon, a 3:26 fresco, hits theaters in North America on October 20th. It will then be broadcast on the Apple+ platform.