canne i get a standing ovation
clap clap clap
Like clockwork every year, The Cannes Film Festival comes around and entertainment news is flooded with standing ovations. We must ask, if a film does not receive reports of a standing ovation, did it even premiere at Cannes? What was once the signal of an out-of-this-world piece of art, is now standard fair. As long as it creates headlines, the standing ovation will likely prevail as a way to create hype about the festival and it’s films. Many of which are seeking distributors, who need that hype to validate their purchase. For what it is worth, the Director of Cannes said a few years ago, “Every screening is a celebration, and the participation of the audience makes that celebration much better. People want to participate!”
Maybe I am being sceptical, when I imagine a room of the entertainment industry’s elite in a weird game of clapping chicken, refusing to break first. I fail to buy that the length of that applause is a true reflection of the amount of celebration or participation happening in the room. All the same, Cannes will always present a slate of VERY exciting films (from the biggest and best stars and directors), which do make the rousing applause and ensuing headlines easier to stomach. It turns out they CANNE keep getting away with this. Ha.
On the list, we’ve got a new Wes Anderson, The Phoenician Scheme (2025) with his usual ensemble cast of actors. In the elite group of actors turned directors are Kristen Stewart, Scarlett Johansson and Harris Dickinson each with feature directorial debuts. Two of my adored white boys of the month, Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor are in a gay WWI film and received 9-minutes of applause - enthusiastically participated in by Mescal’s girlfriend, Gracie Abrams. O’Connor has two entries in the festival, he also stars alongside Alana Haim in a heist movie, which I will be watching at the Sydney Film Festival in just a couple of weeks. Margaret Qualley and Aubrey Plaza are in a gay small-town murder mystery film, also starring Chris Evans, and directed by Ethan Coen - in his second turn with Qualley in as many years.
There’s yet another Pedro Pascal film this year, Eddington (2025), (this man refuses to rest, I think he is releasing 20 projects this year), which is directed by master of horror Ari Aster. We’ve also got Spike Lee’s American remake (or reinterpretation, as Lee says) of the Japanese language film High and Low (1963). In the long tradition of America’s unnecessary remakes of foreign movies, I am mostly hesitant as High and Low is a truly incredible film. In the hands of Lee (however it turns it), it will be an interesting reinterpretation as he somehow takes the 60’s Japanese shoe company businessman ransom plot to the music industry of New York City. Also rappers, A$AP Rocky and Ice Spice are in it and I’m quite curious to see how this is all going to come to life.
The award for longest standing ovation for the year (at time of writing) has gone to Sentimental Value (2025), directed by Joachim Trier and starring frequent collaborator Renate Reinsve. You might recognise their work together from The Worst Person in the World (2021), which is also SWC Certified. The standing ovation came in at 19 minutes, which is also the third longest in the festival’s history behind Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) and Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) at 22 and 20 minutes respectively. I do not want to harp on on this point but can you imagine standing up and clapping for 20 minutes? I’d be crawling out of my skin. My palms are sore just thinking about it. Don’t get me started about being the star of such a film, like being sung Happy Birthday on steroids.
The film getting the most buzz and hype (in my house, where yes, I do live alone) is Die My Love (2025). Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson and LaKeith Stanfield - the plot reads “A woman living in a remote rural area is driven to the brink of insanity by marriage and motherhood.” You know what? Hell yes, actually. Finally, a casting and plot built created for me. Unfortunately, it does not yet have a release date in Australia, so please keep me in your thoughts at this difficult time.
Overcompensating (2025)
TV Series
Prime Video
If you have found yourself feeling a little too at ease recently, this show will be the perfect provision of complete cringe and second hand embarrassment. In the best, funniest and most earnest way, of course. Benito Skinner (who also stars) created the show based on his own college experience as a closeted high school athlete, navigating his identity as he enters college and adulthood. The star for me was Holmes, who plays the completely silly dorm mate, Hailee - providing pitch perfect comic relief and vulnerability. Also Charli XCX, friend of Skinner, makes a hilarious cameo as herself. From awkward hook ups, to hidden sexualities, and fake IDs - Overcompensating deals with all the ways young adults fake it to fit in. As mentioned, the results are extremely cringe at times, but that was the nature of being a teenager, and it makes for a very funny show. It was reminiscent of Sex Lives of College Girls (2021) in that way too, so if you’re also a fan this is one to check out.
ER (1994)
TV Series
Max, Binge, ABC iView
My ER journey, like many, was instigated by watching The Pitt (2025) - because both of them star Noah Wyle. If you also loved The Pitt, or are constantly looking to feel what early Grey’s Anatomy (2005) made you feel - ER could just be the answer to your prayers. Following a group of ER doctors in a Chicago general hospital, complete with all the interpersonal drama and insane medical emergencies you could want. Its filmed on a single camera, bringing you directly into the chaos. I will warn you, it is also very of-the-time, complete with outdated, pejorative medical terms and a deep fear (misunderstanding) of HIV/AIDS, which is interesting to watch - especially when compared to the very progressive recent seasons of Grey’s. It also features rising star of the time George Clooney, in his breakout role and a slate of other now-famous actors in minor roles.
Also, I have a fun story for you, did you know that the creator of ER received his M.D. from Harvard, but chose to instead become a writer. As well as ER, he also wrote the novel Jurassic Park (1990) and worked with Steven Spielberg on the film adaptation. He actually wrote the pilot of ER (based on his own experiences in medical school) back in 1974, but put it on the back burner because no one wanted to pick it up - and then after the success of the film version of Jurassic Park, was able to get ER made with Steven Spielberg’s help in 1994! I think that’s a great story.
Broker (2022)
Film
SBS On Demand
This South Korean film is about a black market business, where two men steal babies from a baby box (where parents have anonymously left their baby to be taken care of), to sell them to desperate couples unable to have their own. The two brokers become entangled with the mother of an abandoned baby, whilst being tailed by police detectives looking to shut down their operation. At its core, a found family/road trip movie, Broker is full of heart and humanity with a layer of social commentary. Every character is flawed, and caught up in morally dubious dealings, but the film looks upon them with hope and kindness. Credit goes to the performances, which bring out the complexities of being stuck in systems without appropriate support, with the appropriate levity.
Thank you for being born,
Linley x
