"Clouds of Sils Maria," the latest film from French filmmaker Olivier Assayas, is one of the most meta, layered films on this year's festival circuit. Not only is the story about a revival of a play within a movie, but the casting itself plays a big part in how we perceive the characters.
Assayas's film, which screened as part of the New York Film Festival this month, follows Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche), a famous French actress whose big break was playing the young lead role in a play 20 years prior. Now she has the opportunity to star in the revival of the play, only this time as an older woman opposite the character for which she became known. As Maria runs lines with her personal assistant, Valentine (Kristen Stewart), their relationship begins to mirror and complicate that of the women in the play.
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The fictional play, which Assayas described during a press conference as a "condensed, brutalized version" of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's "The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant," follows a fatal attraction between an older woman and her manipulative young assistant. As the film progresses, the lines blur between Maria's relationship to the play 20 years ago and the dynamics between Maria and Valentine, Maria and Jo-Ann Ellis (Chloe Grace Moretz), the actress playing the younger role, and Maria and her past self.
The plot deepens as Assayas' story becomes dense with thick layers of intertwining relationships. The actresses who star in the film are equally important to its concept. On one level, Binoche's relationship to her character is very connected to her own relationship to Assayas, as she starred in 1985's "Rendez-vous," a film that he co-wrote and which launched her into the spotlight.
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Kristen Stewart, though, embodies the fascinating real-life connections. Multiple instances in the film wink at the actress' celebrity status and some prior scandals. In one scene, Valentine asks Maria whether the actress had a romantic affair with the play's director when she was younger. "You wouldn't understand," Maria says to Valentine. But the audience might: Stewart had a highly-publicized affair with filmmaker Rupert Sanders while the director was still married. Valentine also helps Maria evade the paparazzi multiple times, which her character angrily calls "cockroaches." The irony is hilarious and makes Stewart's great performance even more enjoyable to watch.
"I had to reign in the glee on my face. I had to make sure my cheeks weren’t turning red and I wasn’t in hysterical laughter when I said some of the lines that I said in the movie," Stewart said during a press conference on Wednesday. There are other moments in the film where Moretz's Jo-Ann, who is constantly in the tabloids for DUIs and affairs, is a clear commentary on celebrity culture and the media. "I think that my position -- just the life that I’m living and my experience -- sort of gave [the film] this irony," Stewart said with a laugh. "[It] just made it a bit more relevant and interesting."
Stewart was originally cast in the role of Jo-Ann, which may have made for some all too obvious allusions. But Assayas revealed that he initially pictured Stewart in the role of Valentine, and ultimately gave her the part once they met. Unlike many films, "Clouds of Sils Maria" is a work of art that begs audiences to be aware of its internal references to Hollywood and celebrity culture. "It’s a movie where you ultimately never forget that you’re watching those actresses," Assayas said. "It's part of what the film’s about."
"Clouds of Sils Maria" opens in March 2015.
"The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby" (Sept. 12)
Why We're Excited: After making the festival rounds in 2013, Ned Benson's heartbreaking drama about a fraying couple (Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy) at the end of its rope makes its theatrical debut, albeit into one condensed film. The "Him" and "Her" versions of "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby," which expand on the story being told here, arrive in limited release in October.
"Skeleton Twins" (Sept. 12)
Why We're Excited: A hit at this year's Sundance Film Festival, "The Skeleton Twins" is a drama starring Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader that features the pair lip-syncing to Starship's "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now."
"The Drop" (Sept. 12)
Why We're Excited: Beyond this being James Gandolfini's last film, Tom Hardy plays with a dog.
"The Maze Runner" (Sept. 19)
Why We're Excited: Because if there's one thing we need more of in theaters it's teen dystopia? (The novel is pretty popular too.)
"A Walk Among The Tombstones" (Sept. 19)
Why We're Excited: Liam Neeson made another movie.
"This Is Where I Leave You" (Sept. 19)
Why We're Excited: The cast includes Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Connie Britton, Kathryn Hahn and Rose Byrne, aka this movie is our favorite dinner party.
"The Equalizer" (Sept. 26)
Why We're Excited: The last time Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua made a movie together, it was "Training Day," and Washington won an Oscar. Sony is bringing "The Equalizer" to the Toronto International Film Festival, so maybe the studio thinks lightning can strike twice.
"The Boxtrolls" (Sept. 26)
Why We're Excited: The last film from animation company Laika was "ParaNorman," and it was a delight.
"Gone Girl" (Oct. 3)
Why We're Excited: Beyond being David Fincher's new film, "Gone Girl" might provide Ben Affleck, playing accused wife killer Nick Dunne, with the role of his entire life.
"Men, Women & Children" (Oct. 3)
Why We're Excited: One year after stumbling with "Labor Day," Jason Reitman returns with a sprawling ensemble drama about families, infidelity and the Internet. Here's the cast: Jennifer Garner, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ansel Elgort, Kaitlyn Dever from "Short Term 12," Judy Greer, Dean Norris, Emma Thompson and, in a rare dramatic role, Adam Sandler.
"Kill The Messenger" (Oct. 10)
Why We're Excited: Fun fact that a lot of people probably don't remember: Jeremy Renner has two Oscar nominations in the last five years. He's made some junk since breaking out with "The Hurt Locker" and "The Town," but "Kill the Messenger" looks like it could be a return to form.
"The Judge" (Oct. 10)
Why We're Excited: "The Judge" will include at least one scene where Robert Duvall and Robert Downey Jr., playing an estranged father and son, go at each other. The movie world will be better for its existence.
"Alexander" (Oct. 10)
Why We're Excited: Because a movie version of "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" sounds cute before putting Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner in the mix.
"Whiplash" (Oct. 10)
Why We're Excited: Another Sundance Film Festival hit, "Whiplash" has been described as "Full Metal Jacket" in the jazz world, with J.K. Simmons in the R. Lee Ermey part. An Oscar nomination for one of Hollywood's best character actors would be nice.
"Fury" (Oct. 17)
Why We're Excited: According to Michael Cieply's New York Times preview piece on "Fury," the World War II drama is violent. So, that's something. There's also this: Shia LaBeouf co-stars and apparently pulled his own tooth out as part of his preparation for the role.
"Listen Up Philip" (Oct. 17)
Why We're Excited: This caustic comedy, which Tribeca Film will release after picking it up following the Sundance Film Festival, stars Jason Schwartzman and Elisabeth Moss aka two of our favorite actors.
"Birdman (Or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance)" (Oct. 17)
Why We're Excited: Michael Keaton deserves the comeback.
"Laggies" (Oct. 24)
Why We're Excited: Originally set to star Anne Hathaway, "Laggies" instead features Keira Knightley as a woman trying to start her life over. That role worked for Knightley in "Begin Again," which was not without its charms, so maybe it'll be a success here too. Lynn Shelton ("Your Sister's Sister") directs.
"St. Vincent" (Oct. 24)
Why We're Excited: Bill Murray plays a misanthrope in a movie not directed by Wes Anderson.
"Nightcrawler" (Oct. 31)
Why We're Excited: The trailer makes "Nightcrawler" look like the spawn of "Drive," "Bringing Out the Dead" and "Zodiac." In Gyllenhaal we trust.
"Big Hero 6" (Nov. 7)
Why We're Excited: The robot looks cute.
"The Theory of Everything" (Nov. 7)
Why We're Excited: The trailer is incredible and Eddie Redmayne deserves a big, meaty lead role like Stephen Hawking. Bonus excitement: Will the movie detail how Hawking left his wife (played here by Felicity Jones) in 1990 and married his nurse? If not, will that nugget be used during an awards-season smear campaign by another studio?
"Interstellar" (Nov. 7)
Why We're Excited: Really?
"Rosewater" (Nov. 7)
Why We're Excited: Jon Stewart directed this movie.
"Foxcatcher" (Nov. 14)
Why We're Excited: Bennett Miller's first two movies, "Capote" and "Moneyball," were nominated for Best Picture and scored Best Actor nominations for Philip Seymour Hoffman (who won) and Brad Pitt (who did not). Miller, Steve Carell and Channing Tatum should make sure their tuxedos are pressed for awards season.
"Dumb and Dumber To" (Nov. 14)
Why We're Excited: Maybe it'll be funny?
"The Imitation Game" (Nov. 21)
Why We're Excited: Benedict Cumberbatch.
"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1" (Nov. 21)
Why We're Excited: Because "Mockingjay" is actually a pretty lousy book, and there's a good chance Francis Lawrence and screenwriters Danny Strong and Peter Craig will improve on it by a lot.
"Horrible Bosses 2" (Nov. 26)
Why We're Excited: Hey, "Horrible Bosses" was really funny.
"Wild" (Dec. 5)
Why We're Excited: As 2014 shapes up to be the Year of Reese Witherspoon, "Wild" stands as her best chance at Oscar glory. We'd be plenty pleased to hear Witherspoon give an acceptance speech for Best Actress at the Academy Awards next year, especially if she includes a couple of dance moves.
"Exodus: Gods and Kings" (Dec. 12)
Why We're Excited: The forthcoming debate this movie will start about how Hollywood white-washes so much history will, we hope, create a change of the status quo.
"Inherent Vice" (Dec. 12)
Why We're Excited: Paul Thomas Anderson adapted Thomas Pynchon's novel about a stoned private eye and cast Joaquin Phoenix, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Jena Malone, Maya Rudolph and Jillian Bell. We are very excited.
"Annie" (Dec. 19)
Why We're Excited: "Annie" looks like pure camp.
"The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" (Dec. 17)
Why We're Excited: This is the last "Hobbit" movie.
"Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" (Dec. 19)
Why We're Excited: The third "Night at the Museum" movie provides us with a chance to see Robin Williams on screen, one of the final four times this will happen.
Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab join forces to recap the draft in the best way they know how: letter grades! Fitz and Frank discuss all 32 teams division by division as they give a snapshot of how fans should be feeling heading into the 2024 season. The duo have key debates on the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and more.
Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. said quarterback Kirk Cousins called him after he was picked No. 8 overall in one of the 2024 NFL Draft's more puzzling selections.
