Well Cannes watching geeks here is the 1st to end all 1st, our colorful venue hopping Amphibian from Down-Under, a viewer-reviewer of nearly 50 films in the 11 days of Cannes has sent AICN WORLD HEADQUARTERS his covetted FROGGY AWARDS list, and yes Father Geek has checked and double checked, this is the one true, totally correct list of the FROGGYS. So it is with great pride that I unveil the AICN exclusive; THE CANNES FROGGY AWARDS FOR 2000...
It's the final day of the Cannes Film Festival and although it's still a couple of hours away before the jury announces the prizewinners, I thought that I would put together a scorecard of my own.
Needless to say, I didn't see all the films in competition, and a lot of the films in the market have already been shown at other Festivals (mostly Sundance) but anyway, here, then, is the list of the first annual CANNES GOLDEN FROGGY AWARDS
SLIPPERY TURD FROGGIES... A toss up between WHAT'S COOKING?, MAYBE BABY, DUETS, Denys Arcrand's god-awful STARDOM, Griffin Dunne's FAMOUS, HAPPY ACCIDENTS and THE LUZHIN DEFENSE. In my view these are films to avoid like the black plague.
PLASTIC DISPOSABLE FROGGIES Films that had some diverting pleasures but hardly worth full price & parking on a Saturday night THE KING IS ALIVE, BREAD AND TULIPS, BLACKBOARDS, VATEL, SAINT CYR, LES DESTINEES SENTIMENTALES, FAST FOOD FAST WOMEN, MALLBOY
BRONZE FROGGIES... Films that I really enjoyed, and would recommend with some mild reservations were REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, THE HOUSE OF MIRTH, THE GOLDEN BOWL, A LA VERTICALE DE LETE (from the director of CYCLO - does anyone use colour as well as this guy? Great visuals but a sort of inconsequential story), GOHATTO, just for Takeshi Kitano, FAITHLESS , THE YARDS (which is really well acted but a little too "Godfather" for its own good. And will someone purleease give Charlize Theron a decent part? I suspect there's actually a good actress inside just waiting to break out from all these tedious girlfriend roles).
SILVER FROGGIES for films that I thought were fantastic and would consider essential viewing go to (in no particular order)
-David Mamet's STATE AND MAIN
-Patrice Leconte's THE WIDOW OF SAINT PIERRE
-The Coen's O BROTHER, WHERE ARE THOU?
-YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
-Wong Kar Wai's IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
-THINGS YOU CAN TELL JUST BY LOOKING AT HER. Yes, Calista Flockhart can act. And so can Cameron Diaz. More drama please, Cameron.
-Von Trier's DANCER IN THE DARK. I hope that Bjork gets recognition for her amazing effort in this misunderstood film. The American critics seem to have taken to it with a hatchet but the Euro crowd was enthralled, as I was.
Those highly sought after, runner up sparkling GRAND PRIX FROGGIES go to:
NURSE BETTY - a riot. A great mix of black comedy, pathos and escapism. Hopefully Renee Zellwegger will begin to get some respect after this one is released. I also crack up whenever I think of Greg Kinnear's superb work as a self-absorbed soap star. Morgan Freeman & Chris Rock make a great team too.
DANCER is a little British film that could quite easily end up as the next FULL MONTY. A simple story of a young kid in a crumbling Thatchered mining town (aren't they all?) who finds joy through ballet (to the horror of his strait-laced Dad) it's got a lovely performance from Julie Walters as his dance teacher and an absolutely jaw dropping, breakout lead in the young kid, Jamie somebody. Haley Joel better look out. DANCER is a feel-good film without any saccharine. Definite sleeper potential. I wanted to run out of the screening and rent some old Gene Kelly films. Loved it.
SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE. Geez this is a funky little film. When I heard Harry describe a trailer that sells it as a comedy I nearly died. Whilst the film has a lot of humour it's a goddamn creepy piece of work. I pray that the media and Lion's Gate don't treat this movie as a small oddity, because it should be a major Oscar contender for Willem Dafoe and the cinematographer. Can't wait to see this one again.
Before we get to the final, ultimate Golden Palm Froggy the other awards are:
BEST ACTOR - A four way tie between Charles Berling in the otherwise ordinary LES DESTINEES..., Morgan Freeman in NURSE BETTY, the kid from DANCER, and Willem Dafoe in SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE.
BEST ACTRESS - A three way tie between Gillian Anderson in THE HOUSE OF MIRTH, Laura Linney in YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, Bjork in DANCER IN THE DARK, and the woman from Liv Ullman's FAITHLESS
BEST DIRECTOR: the incomparable Ang Lee, which happens to bring me to...
(drumroll please ) the GRAND GOLDEN PALM FROGGY which goes to the utterly brilliant CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. It was (stupidly) screened out of competition but the only condition of entry in the Froggies is that it was viewed by moi. I've drooled enough about this film already, but I thought that I would let those who posted comments to my review in Talkback know that my enthusiasm has not waned an iota since I saw it three days ago. For those of you who felt it was a studio plant, I will be taking a great deal of enjoyment when the film begins to screen more widely and others post their reviews to AICN. Vengeance will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine. One final word on the film is that I think that so far the action sequences may have been overhyped at the expense of the haunting love story and performances which really are the film's heart. This is NOT just an action film; the romance and plot will make it a film that women are going to dig just as much as the guys. If Columbia don't treat this film as a major pedigree release outside of Asia I am going to start an internet-led boycott. Perhaps the release that Dreamworks gave AMERICAN BEAUTY would be a good model. Toronto film fest... narrow release end of September, gain mega screen averages..... wider release at Xmas..... then cash in on end of year awards and then (boom) Oscar time. That's just my opinion but DON'T FUCK IT UP PEOPLE!!!
Oh well, that's about it from me. 11 days, 49 films viewed, countless pan au chocolates, not enough roughage, square(er) eyes and a very sore butt later, it's time for this weary amphibian to ribbett off.
Til next time...
FROGGY
