In October 2017, the big meeting of French and foreign distributors came to present their future releases was held. After a pruning of this very rich selection, here is a small summary of the big releases to come and our expectations. Focus!
Pathé Films: questionable comedies and promising dramas
As we might have expected, the giant of French cinema offered us a whole selection of films of which we could only retain the main ones. Among them, we obviously find popular comedies of all kinds, including Alad'2, Les Tuches 3 and Cinderella (released on October 18). If these are the most questionable popular comedies (both in terms of quality and intention), we can however be challenged by the dramatic comedy Le Brio which will be released on November 22. This film focusing on eloquence contests will prove to be perhaps one of the most interesting French comedies of this year.
It is especially with regard to dramas that Pathé Films has stood out, with very promising upcoming releases. We think in particular of the film Le Fidèle with Matthias Schonaoerts, In The Fade with Diane Kruger, but especially the eagerly awaited La Promesse de L'aube, inspired by the eponymous novel by Romain Gary.
Pretty Pictures: trashy comedy and biopic
The distributor Pretty Pictures presented us with two films that will each be worth a look at the end of the year! The first is a comedy that seems very trashy and in the right line of Monty Python: The Good Sisters. The second is a (double) biopic that should delight tennis fans, since it is Borg – McEnroe. This film will focus on the lives of these two legendary tennis players and their no less legendary match. A film that should make a big splash when it is released on November 8.
Epicentre Films: documentaries and genre films
Among the selection of Épicentre Films, four works particularly caught our attention. Among them, two documentaries and two of the most interesting genre films.
The two documentaries evolve in very distinct and yet equally interesting styles. The first, entitled the Assembly, focuses on the Nuit Debout movement, which has made considerable headlines with its opposition to the famous Labour Law. Many debates on democracy and on our government are therefore to be expected with this committed work. The second documentary will focus on… The cats of Istanbul. No no it's not a joke. This documentary is called Kedi – Cats and Men and is scheduled in France for December 27. This dive into the heart of Istanbul seems to exude a tenderness as we rarely see, coupled with a deliciously feline humor (as we can find on the net, but this time with a real staging and breathtaking images). Undoubtedly, the documentary to discover with family, friends or lovers without the slightest hesitation.
Regarding the films, we can mention Tueurs by François Troukens and Jean-François Hensgens. In addition to promising a dark and anxiety-provoking thriller, Killers has the distinction of having been directed by an ex-taulard. Indeed, François Troukens is notoriously known in Belgium for being a former robber and prisoner. He then retrained as a television presenter. Now he is trying his hand at cinema and the least we can say is that it seems promising and bluffing realism. The second film is no stranger to us at Justfocus, since it is The Strange Ones, presented this year at the Champs-Elysées Film Festival. An excellent genre film in line with Midnight Special, The Strange Ones won the American Jury Prize at the Paris Film Festival. An independent film to discover as soon as it is released.
Twentieth Century Fox: blockbusters, biopics and poetry
The juggernaut Twentieth Century Fox made its presence felt with the presentation of projects as ambitious as they were enticing. And since there's too much to say, let's focus on what will probably be the most important of all this selection!
Obviously, the X-Men saga is not spared, since three films are coming, namely X-Men: Dark Phoenix, The New Mutants and of course Deadpool 2. Very few images have been presented to us but the expectation is already at its height, as these projects (especially the first two) are intriguing.
Biopics are also out with Battle of the Sexes, new baby of the directors of the excellent Little Miss Sunshine. We will also find the highly anticipated Bohemian Rhapsody, biopic on Freddy Mercury who will be played by Rami Malek (Mr. Robot). Halfway between biopic and poetry, we can discover The Greatest Showman with Hugh Jackman in the role of Phineas Taylor Barnum, the inventor of show business (no less!). And in the totally poetic, the trailer of The Shape of Water was presented to us. This film by Guillermo Del Toro, awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, promises us an unforgettable adventure with dark poetry as Del Toro knows how to create.
In short! What beautiful for Twentieth Century Fox which should delight us with very different genres at the end of 2017.
Gaumont: little surprise at Showeb…
We could tell you about the many films presented at Showeb by the giant Gaumont, but instead we will tell you about only one: Santa & Cie. What for? Simply because it is the great return of the troublemaker Alain Chabat as a director. The trailer of his future film was therefore presented to us by… Alain Chabat himself!
Indeed, he arrived by surprise in the room, long hair and beard provided, thus presenting us his look of Santa Claus. Because yes, Chabat will interpret neither more nor less than Santa Claus in his next family comedy. Scheduled for December 6, the film is currently in the very relentless post-production phase according to its director. It must be said that Chabat is known to be a perfectionist in humor and in his achievements.
If Santa & Cie seems at first glance to be a French comedy all that there is most banal, there is no doubt that the director of Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra will surprise us with his humor so singular! Answer next December.
Day 2 Party: Feminism and political documentary
From a fairly extensive selection, we have selected four productions presented by Jour 2 Fête. Among them, we were intrigued by the film Beauty and the Pack, released on October 18 and based on a true story. A veritable anti-rape pamphlet and about how it is treated, this film comes out at the right time, since modern feminism is experiencing a new boom. In addition, the Weinstein case has unraveled tongues about this crime, which should allow this film to make a good place among the independent releases of 2017.
In addition to the committed films, we find three political documentaries retracing part of the career of several emblematic figures of the 2017 presidential election. Among them, we will have a documentary on Jean Lassalle, entitled (tentatively) A Shepherd at the Elysee. A documentary on Jean-Luc Mélenchon is also planned, entitled L'Insoumi and scheduled for early 2018. Finally, a documentary will retrace the career of the winner of these last presidential elections, namely Emmanuel Macron, whose title will be First Campaign.
Universal: sequels, grandiose and Daddy Cool
Universal has remained relatively discreet about its upcoming releases. However, many sequels are to be expected in the months and years to come, including Dragons 3, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again and Pacific Rim: Uprising which are on the program of big releases.
It can also be noted that Universal will distribute The Papers, the next film of the master Steven Spielberg, as well as the next film of Damian Chazelle entitled First Man (working title). Chazelle moves away from the glitter of La La Land to tell us the adventures of the first man on the Moon, always with Ryan Gosling headlining. Our mouths are already watering!
After this rather thin presentation of their line-up, we were surprised by Universal who made us discover without warning Daddy Cool, French comedy worn by Vincent Elbaz. It is therefore with a rather sparkling and rhythmic comedy (although agreed) that ended the presentation of the future of Universal.
Disney: Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars
It is obviously the Disney Mastodon that concluded the festivities, with a selection that made more than one happy!
Their presentation started strong with the viewing (twice in a row) of the latest trailer for Star Wars 8 – The Last Jedi ! It doesn't sound like much, but it was its first public broadcast on the big screen. What a pleasure to discover images of the latest Star Wars in a dark room, surrounded by fans of the saga.
The rest of the presentation was not left out, since a hilarious first extract of the Incredibles 2 was unveiled to us. Because yes, the sequel to the cult Pixar will arrive in our cinemas next summer and the expectation is already felt. Other images from Pixar were presented to us, including two excerpts from the animated film Coco, which will be released next November.
Finally, it was at the house of ideas to present us the images of his next films. Indeed, Marvel has unveiled itself in new images of Thor – Ragnarok (which we have seen since) but also of Black Panther, with unpublished extracts and very promising images.Brief! What beautiful in perspective while waiting for the reunion of superheroes in Avengers – Infinity War.
Suffice to say that with all these film presentations, there is something to make your mouth water. Let us now hope that all the films and documentaries presented live up to our expectations. Let's also hope that the films of which we have not had the images will be revealed very quickly, so that we have a glimpse of what awaits us. Business to follow…
