Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009
Today
Hi: 66
Lo: 50
Mon
Hi: 60
Lo: 45
Tue
Hi: 56
Lo: 39
Section Sponsor
Article Tools
Print this Article
Make text larger
Related Twitter Posts


    Follow us on Twitter ...
    In Movies & TV Briefs
    "Festival in Cannes" a biting parody of Hollywood types
     
    By Bobby Tanzilo RSS Feed Twitter Feed
    Managing Editor

    E-mail author | Author bio
    More articles by Bobby Tanzilo

    Published May 25, 2002 at 5:19 a.m.
    Tags: "festival in cannes" a biting parody of hollywood types, jaglom, anouk aimee

    As a parody, Henry Jaglom's "Festival in Cannes" is a funny look at the world of two-faced Hollywood types, as personified by big-time movie producer Rick Yorkin, masterfully played by Ron Silver, who is at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival trying to get veteran French actress Millie Marquand to commit to a project.

    The problem is the film can only move forward with Marquand cast in a bit part as one of the film's stars' mother. It seems Tom Hanks will only do the film if the hottest French actress plays the female lead. And she will only commit if her heroine, Marquand, will play her mother.

    Marquand, played by -- well, veteran French actress Anouk Aimee -- is also being wooed by a famous actress, Alice Palmer (Greta Scacchi), who has written a film that she would like to make her directorial debut.

    But Palmer is being asked to compromise on many aspects of her dream by a headstrong man she meets, under duress, at a cafe. Kaz -- played by Jaglom film regular Zack Norman -- professes to be a fan and claims to be a producer that can get Palmer funding for her film. He's pushy, unseemly and Palmer's not sure about him.

    But the moral of Jaglom's film seems to be that everyone in Hollywood is being forced to make compromises and everyone is telling each other exactly what they want to hear.

    Marquand's on-again, off-again lover, film "artist" Victor Kovner (Maximilian Schell) persuades her to do the low-budget Palmer film, because she really loves the script. But after Marquand convinces Yorkin to enlist Kovner as director of the Hanks film, Kovner is caught red-handed as he tries to tell Marquand his original advice was wrong.

    Yorkin also tries his hand at influencing Palmer to delay making her film, so that it won't interfere with his and a relationship blooms. His assistant also takes up with a rising star and they appear to fall in love. But does he really love her or does he see an opportunity to hitch a ride to the big time?

    All sorts of Hollywood characters pop in and out in cameo roles as themselves: William Shattner, Jeff Goldblum, Holly Hunter, Faye Dunaway and others. But the fictional characters are never what they appear to be, leading us to wonder if Jaglom ("Venice/Venice," "Deja Vu," "Last Summer in the Hamptons") has convinced these stars to unwittingly appear in a parody of themselves.

    The problem is that we don't know if he's joking. He clearly seems to be and there are funny moments when the greed and backstabbing reaches comical heights. If you approach with a sense of humor "Festival in Cannes" is a fine way to pass 100 minutes. If you take it too seriously, I suspect you'll miss the point.

    "Festival in Cannes" opened Fri., May 24 at Landmark's Downer Theatre.


    OnMilwaukee.com Rating:


    Post a comment / write a review.

    Recent blogs/briefs by Bobby Tanzilo
    What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Blue in the Face returns to celebrate Shank birthday
    Tuesday
    In 2006, Peter Jest convinced the band to do a reunion gig at Shank Hall. Now, the band ...

    What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Classic Stones disc can still get yer ya-ya's out
    Monday
    The 40th anniversary box set of "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!: The Rolling Stones in Concert" ...

    What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Happy to be of assistance, Mitchell International
    Oct. 28, 2009
    Milwaukee County annouced today that September was the busiest month ever at Mitchell ...

    What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Rapid review: Palermo Villa
    Oct. 27, 2009
    Although it has changed a bit over the years -- especially notable was the addition of ...

    Open Table salutes Il Mito and Ristorante Bartolotta
    Oct. 26, 2009
    Tosa takes the cake. Well, at least two Italian restaurants in Wauwatosa are the only ...

    OnMilwaukee.com is part of the In Click Network. Other In Click sites include: 30RockReport.com | Behind The Scenes at OnMilwaukee.com | BetterRecipes.org | Bimmer Digest | Brain Brawn & Body | BrewCityBeats.com | Brewcitybigscreen.com | britneysnation.com | BritPop Rocks | Brooklynbanter.com | CactusLeagueReport.com | Caffeinateddigest.com | Culinary Piedmont | Cycling Chainring | Daily Lost Update | Daily Milwaukee News | Daily Spa | DannyGokeyMilwaukee.com | Dogs Blogs | EarthFueled.com | Edible Wisconsin | FanaticPhotog.com | Gadget Deals and Steals | GolfLinksWisconsin.com | H1N1 Alerts | H1N1 Blog | H1N1 Prevention | H1N1 Reporter | H1N1 Tracker | HogEnthusiast.com | Informed Runner | iPhone Daily Report | Man United Nation | Milwaukee Brewers Nation | Milwaukee Bucks Blog | Milwaukee Dad | Minnesota Wild Nation | MomMilwaukee.com | My Super Stocks | MyGayMilwaukee.com | MyHangoverHelper | News on Draught | NY Mets Nation | OnAtlantaGA.com | OnAustinTX.com | OnBaltimoreMD.com | OnBirminghamAL.com | OnBostonMass.com | OnBuffaloNY.com | OnCharlotteNC.com | OnCincinnati.com | OnClevelandOH.com | OnColumbusOH.com | OnDallas.com | OnDCmetro.com | OnDenverCO.com | OnDetroitMI.com | OnDoorCounty.org | OnFortLauderdale.com | OnGreenBay.com | OnHartford.com | OnIndianapolisIN.com | OnKansasCityMO.com | OnLakeCountry.com | OnLosAngelesCA.com | OnLouisvilleKY.com | OnMadison.com | OnMemphisTN.com | OnMiamiFLA.com | OnMilwaukee.com Cars | OnMilwaukee.com Metro Headlines | OnNashvilleTN.com | OnNewOrleansLA.com | OnNYCny.com | OnOrlandoFL.com | OnPalmSprings.com | OnPhiladelphia.com | OnPhoenixAZ.com | OnPittsburgh.com | OnPortlandOR.com | OnProvidence.com | OnRichmondVA.com | OnSacramento.com | OnSaltLakeCity.com | OnSanAntonioTX.com | OnSanDiegoCA.com | OnSanFran.com | OnSanJose.com | OnSeattleWA.com | OnSinCity.com | OnStLouis.com | OnStPetersburg.com | OnTampaBay.com | OnTucsonAZ.com | OnTwinCities.com | OnWichita.com | OnWindyCity.com | Packers Posts | Porsche 911 Fans | PriusFans.com | Roller Derby Network | SnuggieFans.com | SummerfestRocks.com | Swine Flu China | Swine Flu Reporter | The 24 Reporter | The Barack Obama Fan Club | The Brilliant Manager | The Comic Book Reporter | The In Click | The Office Fan Blog | TheHDTVReporter.com | TheNetbookBlog.com | TheNewParentBlog.com | Trueguitarheroes.com | Vintage Mets | VW Busses | WaukeshaWeekly.com | Weekly Media News | Wisconsincustomhomenews.com | WisWomen.com | Woodworker Digest