The Cannes Film Festival began this week with Maïwenn’s “Jeanne du Barry,” starring Johnny Depp as Louis XV, and will conclude on May 27 with a new Pixar film, “Elemental.” In between, there will be many screenings, many awkward standing ovations, many prizes that will be handed out. This is the first year I (sort of) understand the difference between an “Official Selection” and “Un Certain Regard” and all the other Palme d’Or designations I’ll see on marketing materials for Cannes-connected films in the coming months, so I’m keeping a close eye on what’s going on. -on.
Of all the films competing this year, I’m most excited about Todd Haynes’ “May December.” Julianne Moore and Charles Melton star as a couple whose marriage is tested when an actress starring in a film about them arrives to audition for her role. Wes Anderson also has a new one, “Asteroid City,” about a stargazing convention for juniors. It features many members of the Andersonian repertoire – Jason Schwartzman, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody and others. It looks strange, like it will inspire a million TikToks.
In “Firebrand,” from Brazilian director Karim Aïnouz, Alicia Vikander plays Catherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII, played by Jude Law. Hirokazu Kore-eda, whose film “Shoplifters” won the 2018 Palme d’Or, has a new film, “Monster.” Sakura Ando of “Shoplifters” stars, and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, who died last month, scored the score.
Out of Competition, the category that tends to feature big commercial films, we have James Mangold’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” the first Indy film to be directed by someone other than Steven Spielberg. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is in it, which is a draw for me, someone who saw “Raiders of the Lost Ark” as a kid and hasn’t paid much attention to the franchise since. The trailer has me reluctantly excited.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro star in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” about the murders of members of the Osage tribe in the 1920s. I have high hopes that it will be as gripping as the David Grann book on which it is based.
Also of interest: Steve McQueen’s documentary “Occupied City”, about the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, runs over four hours. Wim Wenders has two films at the festival: “Anselm”, a 3D documentary about the artist Anselm Kiefer, and “Perfect Days”, about a Japanese toilet cleaner, who he described to Deadline as “an ode to a spirit of service and to the ‘present’: living your life in the present.” Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” is based on the Martin Amis novel about a Nazi officer who falls in love with the Auschwitz commandant’s wife. And Cate Blanchett plays a nun in “The New Boy,” by Australian filmmaker Warwick Thornton.
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WEEK IN CULTURE
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President Biden said he would allow Ukraine’s pilots to be trained on F-16 fighter jetswhich would be a major upgrade to its military.
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Both parties trying to blame the other for the debt limit crisis, but some politicians admit they would share responsibility for a default.
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American diplomats destroyed Sudanese passports for security reasons when violence broke out and trapped people in a war zone.
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As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flies around the country preparing to run for president, a non-profit group paid the bills and hid the donors.
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Jim Brown, one of football’s greatest players and a civil rights activist whose image was tarnished by allegations of abuse against women, died at 87.
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NASA awarded a $3.4 billion contract to Blue Originowned by Jeff Bezos, to make a lander for a 2029 lunar mission.
CULTURAL CALENDAR
📚 “Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World” (out now): Yes, anyone who has ever experienced the very specific stress of driving around city streets looking for a place to stop a car will find a point of connection in this book by Slate journalist Henry Grabar. But really, anyone who has a car, regardless of where that person lives, could be interested, says Times critic Jennifer Szalai, who called the book “raunchy and revealing.”
🎬 “Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed” (out now): Before Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s new album is released on June 9, it’s worth checking out this documentary, available on HBO Max, about the making of his latest album. He did it together with his wife, the musician Amanda Shires. It’s an impressive film about creating art, about marriage, about recovery, about Covid – all in less than two hours.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Strawberry Drop Biscuits
After a month-long delay due to unprecedented rainy weather, California strawberries – in all their crimson glory – are once again abundant across the United States. Which means now is the time to bake Jerrelle Guy’s strawberry shortcake. They are easy as muffins to throw together but have a crispy, crunchy exterior and are light and fluffy inside. Serve them warm from the oven, or let them cool and take them out for a snack with your afternoon tea. And when strawberry season winds down, make the recipe with other berries or diced stone fruit. You’ll want to put this simple, amazing recipe on repeat.
REAL ESTATE
Food Pilgrimage: Plan a travel to Mexico around chili.
Deep songs: We listen to them feel connected to others.
Bird-watching: Help researchers and The Times observe birds in your area.
Seasonal allergies: They can plays a role in mood disorders.
ADVICE FROM THE WIRECUTTER
Make moving less miserable
Spring is the start of peak moving season, and if you’re among those moving between now and September, you know what’s coming: The process requires careful planning, organization, time and money. Wirecutter experts compile everything you need, including the right equipment (you should use uniform boxes) and suggestions to avoid (no, wine glasses shouldn’t go in socks; yes, use shrink wrap—but strategically). Check Wirecutter’s ultimate moving guide here. — Christine Cyr Clisset
GAME OF THE WEEKEND
Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm, WNBA: This will be season of the super team. The New York Liberty have assembled a roster of all-stars, and the Aces — who won the title last year — added the standout Candace Parker to a squad that already included last season’s MVP, A’ja Wilson. “The easiest decision in my rankings was to put ace at the top,” wrote The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant in her preseason WNBA breakdown. “Anything less than the best record in the league during the regular season would be a surprise, if not a disappointment.” 3pm Eastern today on ABC.
For more
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How did the Liberty lure two former MVPs in the offseason? The Times Kurt Streeter went behind the scenes.
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After almost a year in Russian captivity, Brittney Griner is back on the track.
NOW’S TIME TO PLAY
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