Tilda Swinton is such a fascinating on screen presence that “We Need to Talk About Kevin” is a mesmerizing jolt of weirdness. Lynne Ramsay’s Cannes feature is all about Kevin, the bad seed child of Tilda and John C. Reilly. Ezra Miller is Kevin as a teen, although the child who plays Kevin for half the film is disturbing enough to warrant note. The idea is that Reilly is the clueless father. Swinton is tortured by this child. She has him evaluated but he’s fine, doctors say. Unfortunately lots of foreshadowing indicates that Kevin commits violent, horrific crimes as a teen. Why? Who knows, including Kevin? He’s just sick. Ramsay has made an interesting film but has trouble with tone. Is this horror, camp or reality? If it’s the latter, the recent “Beautiful Boy” is more to the point. But as suspended menace, “Kevin” is uncomfortably unforgettable.
Cannes 2011 Opening Night: Robert DeNiro, Woody Allen Get NY Tribute
It was a New York opening night for the 2011 Festival de Cannes. Robert DeNiro spoke a little halting French and was honored as head of the jury during a long but glamorous celebration at the Palais des Festivals. Fellow New Yorker Woody Allen got huge ovations at the beginning and end of the premiere of his “Midnight in Paris.”
Star Owen Wilson sat through the screening–he told me it was the first time he’d sat through one of his premieres in 11 years. He was so overwhelmed by the praise he kept getting all night–especially at the swanky opening night dinner–thaty he was reeling. And Owen Wilson is never at a shortage of words!
Meantime, it such a New York night that star musician Jamie Cullum was enlisted at the last minute–three days ago–to put together a live jazz performance medley of “New York New York” and “Empire State of Mind.” It was so good that the opening ceremony host Melanie Laurent got juror Uma Thurman to dance on stage with her, and the whole audience –including wheelchair bound director Bernardo Bertolucci and move star Faye Dunaway–clapped along.
Meantime, Woody Allen looked dazed and jet lagged. He only arrived in Cannes on Wednesday morning–because he and wife Soon Yi didn’t want to take their kids of out of school for more than three days. PS Believe it or not, Woody and Soon Yi have now logged 19 years together.
Best dressed of the night: Woody’s leading lady, Rachel McAdams; Salma Hayek in Gucci; Uma, styled by Anna Bingemann (aka Mrs. Griffin Dunne), and the amazing Grace Hightower, aka Mrs. DeNiro. Jude Law and Adrien Brody looked good, too.
Exclusive: “Gotti” Movie Will Get “Bugsy” Treatment from Levinson, Toback
I don’t which actors have signed contracts for the “Gotti” movie you’ve heard so much about. But there’s a new sheriff in town–a new director actually. Oscar winner Barry Levinson — “Rain Man,” “Diner,” “Tin Men,” “Wag the Dog”–is in, and he’s about to do a severe overhaul to make “Gotti” an epic hit. John Travolta remains, and Levinson is bringing in Al Pacino as John Gotti Sr.’s mentor. But a new screenplay is going to be written by Levinson’s “Bugsy” collaborator James Toback.
“Gotti” is about to make a sharp turn and become more like the highly praised and much awarded “Bugsy.” Good idea.
So far no character has been sketched or discussed for Lindsay Lohan. I’d also wager that Kelly Preston–Mrs. Travolta–won’t remain. The whole look and feel of “Gotti” has just been notched up from potential shlock to major motion picture. Levinson is a class act. I’m told producer Mark Fiore knows this, and will let Levinson make something important here. Levinson is telling friends that the “Mafia is coming to an end. John Gotti Jr. did his time and now he wants out. This may be the last Mafia movie of all time.”
Levinson arrives in Cannes tonight for meetings on the movie. Meantime, I am told that the movie his son, Sam, showed at Sundance–“Another Happy Day”–produced by and starring Ellen Barkin, has a distributor that will be announced shortly. In any case, now “Gotti” is a big deal.
Mariah Carey Babies: Victims of Tabloid Scam
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon‘s new twins were almost victims of a tabloid scam last night. It’s a wild story exclusive to this column.
On Tuesday evening a woman from the Department of Child Protective Services showed up at the hospital while Carey was breastfeeding babies Monroe and Roc. The twins are just finishing up their stay in the NICU. Carey has stayed with them in the hospital following her C section and a minor infection.
The civil servant told Cannon she was following up a claim of neglect, of all things. The specifics: Carey was accused of drinking and taking pain meds while breastfeeding!
Of course the real story was that a nurse on the floor had suggested Carey drink half a Guinness Stout in order to hasten production of breast milk. Mariah did just that and it worked. But someone in the unit sold her out, so to speak, hoping the social worker could get a picture of the babies for the tabs. Luckily no pictures were allowed.
Carey and Cannon, horrified, explained the situation. “Taxpayer money was wasted, too, because this was labeled an emergency. It was ridiculous.” Meanwhile, mom and kids, healthy and wiser now, head home shortly.
Mariah Carey Babies: Victims of Tabloid Scam
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon’s new twins were almost victims of a tabloid scam last night. It’s a wild story exclusive to this column. On Tuesday evening a woman from the Department of Child Protective Services showed up at the hospital while Carey was breastfeeding babies Monroe and Roc. The twins are just finishing up their stay in the NICU. Carey has stayed with them in the hospital following her C section and a minor infection. The civil servant told Cannon she was following up a claim of neglect, of all things. The specifics: Carey was accused of drinking and taking pain meds while breastfeeding! Of course the real story was that a nurse on the floor had suggested Carey drink half a Guinness Stout in order to hasten production of breast milk. Mariah did just that and it worked. But someone in the unit sold her out, so to speak, hoping the social worker could get a picture of the babies for the tabs. Luckily no pictures were allowed. Carey and Cannon, horrified, explained the situation. “Taxpayer money was wasted, too, because this was labeled an emergency. It was ridiculous.” Meanwhile, mom and kids, healthy and wiser now, head home shortly.
Woody Allen Cannes Opener: Love Letter to Paris, Return to Form
Woody Allen has scored big time this morning with “Midnight in Paris.” His new film is clever, beautiful, and profound. It’s a simple idea, too: the struggle to deal with the present while romanticizing the past. The film is cast perfectly as Owen Wilson plays the yearning screenwriter who — while visiting Paris with his horrible fiancee and her parents –does a little time traveling to the 1920s. There he meets Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein and a wildly amusing cast of real life characters. Marion Cotillard is luminous as Wilson’s fantasy lover. A lovely, splendid film with great cameos from Adrien Brody, Kathy Bates, and yes, Carla Bruni. Michael Sheen and Rachel McAdams are fun as Allen stock characters transposed into this situation. Owen Wilson is genial, amusing and most sympathetic ever. More to come.
Cannes 2011 Weds May 11: Lady Gaga, Mamo NYC, Sarah Jessica Parker
It’s Wednesday morning, the 2011 Festival de Cannes is upon us. The big rumor today: Lady Gaga, as I noted on Twitter last night, is coming down here today for an outdoor show. C’est vrai? Seems so. Tonight’s festivities will also include the big opening night with a presentation of the jury–Robert DeNiro, Jude Law, Uma Thurman and of course Woody Allen and his cast from “Midnight in Paris.” Cannes is already overstuffed with stars and it hasn’t even begun.
Now we’re told Sarah Jessica Parker is coming on Friday to help Harvey Weinstein launch her September film, “I Don’t Know How She Does It.” Dreamworks Animation is happily promoting “Puss N Boots” with a big floating ad in the water facing the Carlton Hotel. Atop the hotel, the gem of the Croisette, are already huge ads for forthcoming movies including “Super 8.” Every0ne is talking about Terrence Malick, of course, and his film “Tree of Life.” Is it a masterpiece or a disaster? We won’t know until Monday. We pray for the former. Will Malick even be here or participate in his press conference? Again, prayers!
Meanwhile EXCLUSIVE news: the very famous Michelangelo Italian restaurant from Antibes is opening a branch in New York this fall. It will be called Mamo Michelangelo for its owner. A space is being created in the Meatpacking District near Pastis. Mamo’s son, Michael, will be the manager. Why is this a big deal? The food is amazing, the recipes will travel beautifully, and the stars will come. Three nights ago, Karl Lagerfeld took over Michelangelo for a huge gala. This week, everyone from Jolie, Pitt, Depp and Harvey will stop in. An American branch? Sacre bleu!
Always click on www.parade.com for Showbiz411.com updates and exclusives.
“Terminator” Terminates Marriage: Arnold and Maria Split
Kind of a shock this morning, but maybe not: Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger are kaput after 25 years. Their announcement comes as Arnold moves back into the movie business and out of the governator’s office. This odd coupling always was the subject of gossip and speculation, especially several years ago when reports started to come out about Arnold’s roving eye. There were reported accusations of groping, etc. by different women. Shriver always looked the other way. But this separation may not necessarily be about that. Their life was much different as Governor and First Lady of California than as Maria and a movie star. It may be that Shriver, at 55, has no desire to revisit that scene again. Schwarzenegger clearly does, as he’s ramped up CAA to get him into movies pronto. Does he have a career left? Time and the kinds of movies he chooses will tell. For Shriver, though, this must be tough. Of all the Kennedy marriages, her parents’ was the longest and happiest. No worries: Maria will be a hot commodity on the singles market.
Charlie Sheen Releases a Single Tomorrow, Won’t Go Away
Charlie Sheen–jeez, that tour ended a week ago. And yet, he will not go away. With CBS about to announce a fall season without him, Sheen must do something. So tomorrow he’s releasing a single, yes, a recorded piece of music, called, natch, “Winning.” His pals Rob Patterson, late of Korn, and Snoop Dogg, are the authors and performers. It’s unclear what Sheen does on the track, maybe play some bad guitar or, oy, sing. Anyway, they say some proceeds will go to victims of the Alabama tornadoes–this is Sheen’s new obsession. What will he do about flood victims in Memphis? Anyway, the single will be released by Rob Christie, whose Robo Records is small yet feisty. Christie has a long association with EMI/Capitol so you never know. “Winning” might turn into a novelty hit.
Janet Jackson and Joe Jackson: Will They Meet in Cannes?
We’re about to see how much of a foundation exists in the Jackson Family Foundation. I told you earlier today that Joseph Jackson, the estranged father of the Jackson family, is coming to Cannes next week. He’s planning a ticketed VIP party to raise money–ostensibly for himself. He’s also going to announce projects that won’t ever be discussed again. Jackson’s dates for Cannes are May 15, 16, 17. At the same time, and he may not know this, Janet Jackson is coming to Cannes. She’s performing at AmFAR’s “Cinema Against AIDS” on May 20th at the Hotel du Cap. May 16th also happens to be Janet’s birthday. Will father and daughter, who generally don’t speak, wind up in a reunion in the South of France? It’s unlikely. And it does make us wonder: did Joe Jackson set this appearance up just to dog Janet, who’s trying to do something that’s actually charitable and worthwhile? That’s not exactly a birthday present anyone would want.