Big Noise at Cannes

Cannes has its first true critical darling in Michael Hazanavicius' nearly silent film "The Artist."  Reviews are borderline ecstatic coming from France this morning.  Critics are falling all over the themselves to endorse the black and white film as a potential front runner for the Palme D'Or and for Oscar consideration later this year.  "The Artist" is yet another film under The Weinstein Company banner. 

Which raises the question..."Why haven't you mentioned it as a Telluride film possibility earlier, Michael?"
Good question.  Answer:  "The Artist" was a late ( and I mean really late addition) to the competition slate at Cannes.  It was originally scheduled as a part of the "out of competition" offerings of the Cannes' program, but festival managing director Thierry Frémaux added it to the competition category on May 4, just one week prior to the opening of the festival.  So, I just wasn't convinced that it would be a player and that perhaps that Fremaux was merely filling out the competition schedule.  Looks like I was wrong. 

All that being said, it would appear that "The Artist" is now a real contender for inclusion in Telluride's program for 2011.  If Harvey Weinstein wants to push it as a foreign film contender (and most pundits this morning are saying just that) then Telluride would be an excellent part of that strategy.  Additionally, if the critics are to be believed, you have to think that Luddy, Meyer, Huntsinger and crew would want it for the TFF #38 program. 

So put "The Artist" on the Telluride watch list.  It's IMDB page link is here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1655442/

You can read Dave Karger's story about its Cannes reception at EW.com here:
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/05/15/cannes-film-festival-harvey-weinstein-artist-silent-movie-oscars/

Also from Cannes...fairly good reaction to the Dardenne Brothers "The Kid with a Bike."  Good enough so that it will also continue on your list of Telluride possibles.

You can check the critical scoreboard through early this morning at this link to Ioncinema (which doesn't yet include a score for "The Artist.")...http://networkedblogs.com/hSHDc

You will see their that, up to now, the best response has been for "We Have to Talk About Kevin."  With Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris' and The Dardenne's "The Kid with a Bike" close behind.  You'll also notice that no film has yet cleared a collective 3 of 4 stars.  "The Artist" may be the first.