“Unlawful Killing,” the film that accuses the British royals of conspiring to kill Princess Diana and her lover Dodi Fayed, screened today in Cannes. This is the film that won’t be shown in the U K. Filmmaker Keith Allen says the film is “forensic” and shows that the British and French authorities conspired to kill the couple and cover it up. But financing for the film came at least in part from Dodi Fayed’s father, Mohammed el Fayed, owner of Harrod’s. El Fayed has always accused the royals of killing his son. He gets to tell his story in Unlawful Killing. Not only that but he burns the royal crests that used to hang at Harrods in his backyard, for Allen’s cameras. The film plays a long episode of the E! True Hollywood story, with clips and interviews featuring Howard Stern, Robin Quivers and of all people the late Tony Curtis. These people don’t help, particularly with Curtis defending Dodi. The movie’s main weakness is that Dodi is presented as a saint, with no real examination of his playboy life. As for El Fayed funding the film but this not being mentioned in the film,Allen said a press conference this morning: “The Mafia funds American movies and that’s never mentioned.”
Dennis Hopper Got to See Son in His First Movie Before He Died
The legendary actor, director and artist Dennis Hopper got to see his 20 year old son, Henry, make his film debut. Henry told me last night that Dennis was able to watch a rough cut of him in Gus van Sant’s “Restless” before he died last year. Dennis could only have been proud of Henry, who really is made into a star in van Sant’s film, which premiered last night in Cannes. “Restless” is sort of like “Harold and Maude” meets “Love Story.”
For van Sant, it’s a real indie love story that will connect strongly with young people, I think. Mia Wasoskowska, of “Kids Are All Right” fame, is a knockout. Schuyler Fisk, daughter of Sissy Spacek, is terrific. But thanks to van Sant, Henry Hopper’s first film ever is a star turn. The blonde, blue eyed young man resembles closely his father Dennis and his mom, actress Katherine La Nasa, who proudly accompanied Henry to the “Restless” premiere.
So what next? Henry tells me that he’s done some art installation work on pieces curated by James Franco. Like Franco, he’s also into art and into exploring all aspects of entertainment. “It took him a month to agree to make this film,” his manager, Ilene Feldman, told me last night. “He may never do anything again, or take off like a rocket. It’s all up to him.”
“Restless” will be launched this fall from the Toronto Film Festival.
PS “Restless” is produced by Bryce Dallas Howard, following in the footsteps of her father,Ron Howard. She did a great job. More on Bryce later today….
Cannes Fri May 13th: Tilda Swinton, Vampire; DePalma Returns
The third day of Cannes is upon us, but before we set sail: Tilda Swinton, receiving rave reviews, of course, on “We Need to Talk About Kevin.” Tilda — and this is EXCLUSIVE to this column–is getting ready to make a vampire movie with the great director Jim Jarmusch. The announcement will come shortly, probably here at Cannes. And yes, Tilda herself will be putting the bite on unsuspecting strangers. Will all the vampire films and TV shows out there, you can bet that Jarmusch–whose resume includes such classics as “Broken Flowers” and “Down by Law” will have the most interesting and hip take of all. A very exciting move…
…Brian DePalma is back. Also EXCLUSIVE to this column, DePalma is on track to make an American version of a French film, “Crine d’Amour” that played at Cannes last year. DePalma’s thriller will be called “Passion.” It’s been a while since DePalma went to work. His last films were “Redacted” and “Femme Fatale.” His classics are numerous, from “Dressed to Kill” to “Body Double.” Hopefully, “Passion” will see return to his Hitchcockian best…
…”Cannes is slow,” say the cab drivers and our ever intrepid regular driver, Sebaastian. There’s worry that the crowds are not particularly thick, and that business may be off. It probably doesn’t help that the weekend schedule is lighter than usual, with all the big action starting on Monday. The Saturday night premiere of “Pirates of the Carribbean” should help, however. But at least Woody Allen’s group–Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen–have stuck around. And once Gus van Sant’s “Restless” screens some more, Mia Wasokowska and Henry Hopper are going to be very much in demand…
Cannes 2011: Tilda Swinton Rocks “Columbine”-Like Film
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!
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