What Do We Do About Jaden Smith?

As someone who thought Jaden Smith (Will Smith's son) was quite good in The Pursuit of Happyness, I genuinely don't know what to say about his subsequent performances. Watching After Earth was particularly discouraging in this regard. The kid once held such promise, but now? I'm not so sure. I wrestle with this over at Deadspin.

'The Kings of Summer' Review

At this year's Sundance, I didn't get a chance to see Toy's House, but I heard pretty positive things about it. Now renamed The Kings of Summer, the indie teen comedy opens today in limited release. It's pretty forgettable, despite its general warmth and some nice comic moments. I reviewed the film for IFC Fix.

Stephen Malkmus - "Church on White"

Stephen Malkmus turned 47 yesterday. In his honor, here's one of my favorite Malkmus tracks, which you may have missed if you stopped paying attention after Pavement split up.

Cannes 2013: 'Venus in Fur' Review

My final Cannes review for this year is Venus in Fur, the latest from Roman Polanski. Maybe it's as deep as a thimble, but I really didn't care: This adaptation of the David Ives play is such sexy, kinky fun. My review is at Paste.

Cannes 2013: 'Tore Tanzt' Review

Inspired by real events, Tore Tanzt (Nothing Bad Can Happen) is one dark drama. It's about a young born-again Christian taken in by a seemingly friendly family that turns out to be incredibly sadistic. Why does the young man put up with it? That's the central question in Tore Tanzt. I reviewed the film for Paste.

Cannes 2013: 'Only Lovers Left Alive' Review

Though it was announced long after the rest of the Competition slate -- and screened late in the festival -- Only Lovers Left Alive is a fun little treat. Jim Jarmusch does his usual deadpan thing, but there's also a noticeable melancholy to this vampire tale that's quite welcome. My review is up at Paste.

Cannes 2013: 'Grigris' Review

Grigris didn't generate much buzz out of Cannes, despite being one of the films in Competition. It's a low-key drama that quietly morphs into a low-key thriller. And its lead, Souleymane Démé, is pretty durn great. My review is up at Paste.

Cannes 2013: 'Max Rose' Review

And now, I'd like to present the Worst Movie I Saw at Cannes. That would be Max Rose, the debacle starring Jerry Lewis that will make you wish he'd stay retired. The legend deserves better. My review is up at Paste.

'After Earth' Review

After quite liking All Is Lost at Cannes, sitting through After Earth was even more difficult. Here we have another story about a battle against nature, but unlike the Robert Redford movie, this sci-fi flick is just very, very mediocre. It's got ideas and aspirations, but what does it matter when they're executed so shoddily? My review is up at Screen International.

Cannes 2013: The Wrap-Up and the Rankings

The 2013 edition of the Cannes Film Festival has come to an end. I saw a lot of movies and wrote about every single one of them. It was a whirlwind experience, one I'm still coming down from. At any rate, here's a quick one-stop-shopping guide for all my Cannes coverage.

First off, I produced an almost-daily diary from the festival for Backstage. Here are those entries...

Part 1: The Calm Before the Storm
Part 2: The Unlikely Connection Between The Great Gatsby and Heli
Part 3: The Congress and the Future of Acting
Part 4: Avoiding the Raindrops (or, Why I Never Whine at a Festival) 
Part 5: The Race for the Palme d'Or
Part 6: Early in the Morning
Part 7: Robert Redford's Comeback
Part 8: Jerry Lewis' Very Bad Day
Part 9: A Deserving Winner

And now, a ranking of what I saw at the festival. A few of these were seen before Cannes at Sundance or elsewhere. Links lead to individual reviews....

32. Max Rose
31. A Castle in Italy
30. The Great Gatsby
29. Taipei Factory
28. Shield of Straw
27. The Congress
26. The Bling Ring
25. Bends
24. The Immigrant
23. Heli
22. Jimmy P. (Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian)
21. Grigris
20. Magic Magic
19. We Are What We Are
18. Young & Beautiful 
17. Only God Forgives
16. Bombay Talkies
15. Tore Tanzt
14. Only Lovers Left Alive
13. Behind the Candelabra
12. Sarah Prefers to Run
11. Ilo Ilo
10. Nebraska
9. Ain't Them Bodies Saints
8. A Touch of Sin
7. Venus in Fur
6. Like Father, Like Son
5. All Is Lost
4. The Past
3. Bastards
2. Inside Llewyn Davis
1. Blue Is the Warmest Color

As you can see, I'm pretty much in agreement with the Competition jury about what the strongest films were. As for the reason why I included that photo of jury member Nicole Kidman and jury president Steven Spielberg, well, it makes me chuckle every time I look at it. The man seems genuinely confused (or is it irritated?) by her very presence.  

Cannes 2013: 'The Immigrant' Review

Two Lovers, director James Gray's previous film, was my favorite of 2009. So, yes, I was quite excited to see his new offering, The Immigrant, which once again stars Joaquin Phoenix. Now that I've seen it, I wish I loved it more. My review is up at Paste.

Cannes 2013: 'Blue Is the Warmest Color' Review

If I was on the Cannes jury, Blue is the Warmest Color (La Vie D’Adèle Chapitres 1 et 2) would get my vote for the Palme d'Or. An astounding three-hour romantic drama -- yes, about a lesbian couple that sometimes engage in explicit sex scenes -- this is one of the truest, saddest movies about love I've seen in a long time. It made me think of Annie Hall for reasons I don't want to express until after you see this movie, which I hope you get to do. Sundance Selects has picked it up for the U.S. -- may they not trim a second from it. My review is up at Paste.

Cannes Diary, Part 8: Jerry Lewis' Bad Day

You perhaps have heard about the press conference that Jerry Lewis gave at Cannes on Thursday? The business about female comedians not being funny? That was just the beginning of his ignominious day: Folks, I sat through Max Rose, his first starring vehicle in almost 20 years. Sad sad sad. I write about both events in my latest Backstage diary entry.

Cannes 2013: 'Nebraska' Review

Alexander Payne continues to do his thing in Nebraska, and by his "thing," I'm referring to his ability to make sad little comedies about everyday folks. I confess that I'm starting to catch on to his emotional tricks, but he still utilizes them well enough that I don't mind too badly. My Nebraska review is up at Paste.

Bob Dylan - "Not Dark Yet"

Happy birthday, sir.

Cannes 2013: 'Only God Forgives' Review

Boos rained down as the credits rolled for Only God Forgives. Me, I liked the movie. Didn't love it, but liked it. Or maybe I just appreciated what director Nicolas Winding Refn was going for. I make the case for the film, somewhat, over at Paste.

Cannes Diary, Part 7: Robert Redford, Comeback Kid

I've already told you how much I like All Is Lost. But for my latest Cannes diary entry for Backstage, I discuss his possible Oscar odds. Yes, it's not too early to start thinking about those bloody things again. Here's my post.

Cannes 2013: 'Behind the Candelabra' Review

Behind the Candelabra will be playing on HBO soon, but at Cannes it's screening as part of the Official Competition. Twenty-four years ago, Steven Soderbergh won the Palme d'Or for his first film, Sex, Lies & Videotape. I don't think he'll repeat that feat with what he says is his final film. The movie's not bad at all -- it's just not up to that level. My review is up at Paste.

Cannes 2013: 'Bastards' Review

One of the most divisive films at this year's Cannes is Bastards, the latest from director Claire Denis. Well, put me firmly in the "pro" category: I loved its snarling darkness. I sing the film's praises over at Paste.

Cannes 2013: 'Sarah Prefers to Run' Review

I have a father who's been a passionate runner for more than 30 years. I could never catch the fever, but it's deeply, deeply engrained in his life. I can't think of a movie in some time that so captured that mentality as Sarah Prefers to Run, a strong film here at Cannes from a first-time feature Canadian filmmaker, Chloé Robichaud. My review is up at Paste.