Roman Polanski's latest film entitled Based on a True Story is presented out of competition in this 70th Cannes Film Festival. It reunites Eva Green and Emmanuelle Seigner in a story adapted from a novel of the same name. As for Lynne Ramsay, she is selected in competition for You were never really here, a strong story around the kidnapping of a child with Joachin Phoenix as the protagonist.
Based on a true story by Roman Polanski:
The adaptation of the eponymous novel by Delphine De Vigan by Olivier Assayas and Roman Polanski tells the story of a writer who goes through a period of doubt and loneliness. In the midst of a crisis of confidence, she meets Elle, an attractive and convincing woman. When she thinks that she is the only person who can understand her, she allows herself to be invaded by this increasingly disturbing intrusive friend.
It is immediately understandable that Roman Polanski thought of Eva Green to interpret such a character. Her inexorable charm convinced him with her role in Sin City: I Killed for Her. He didn't see anyone else, and neither did we. As if the character of Elle, in the version of the book, had been created for the one who embodied the woman who broke the heart of 007 in Casino Royale. The story and its evolution are staged in the most traditional Polanski style, close to that of The Ghost Writer for which he had won the César for best director
What we criticize the film is a lack of surprise in its unfolding with the famous Elle, shown from the beginning as a supposed ghost and of which we never know if it is real or not. This particularity very easy to see from the beginning is undoubtedly a wish of the director. A last part a little long and dusty is also enough to tarnish this last work of the great Roman Polanski, despite a manufacture made for this kind of thriller. And in this genre, the old Franco-Polish knows perfectly. It will probably be said that he wanted to take pleasure in filming a story about loneliness, in the company of his not always convincing wife and the most attractive of femme fatales.
You were never really here by Lynne Ramsay:
The daughter of a senator is kidnapped. Joe, a traumatized former FBI agent is hired to find her.Faced with a powerful organization, he is dragged into a cycle of vengeful violence.
Another UFO of cinema in competition than this film by Lynne Ramsay. At the beginning, she focuses on the character of Joe played by Joaquin Phoenix. A man with violent methods with a "Dexter" side for whom doing good is still possible. We see him taking care of his very elderly mother in some sequences full of funny nods to Psycho. Although this beginning is quite long, the film really starts when Joe recovers the girl. The sequel shows an excess of violence without displaying it. Lynne Ramsay's ideas to stage these killings never shock and are great. These massacres are always suggested, always off-screen or out of sequence. Joe's tortuous rise to a child traffic is chilling. A strong subject, lived through an actor deeply touching and full of realism. With thunderous applause at the end of the film, Lynne Ramsay had tears in her eyes. An emotion undoubtedly felt by the most sensitive who will not deny that we come out very touched of this film.
You were never really here trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8FZxCZcxPM
