I never proclaim a film festival edition to be great until the films actually screen. Common sense, right? Sadly, many love to proclaim a film fest to be having a “great year” or “terrible year” just by the lineup announcements. That’s not how it works. Lots of movies disappoint, even from great auteurs. However, Cannes 2019 looks great on-paper and any complaints of a lack of American movies should quickly be dissipated with today’s addition of Robert Eggers’ “The Lighthouse” as part of the Director’s Fortnight lineup, also known a the Quinzaines des Realisateurs.
I already listed the likes of Tarantino (cross your fingers), Malick, Eggers, Jarmusch, Sachs, Almodovar, Dardenne, and Joon-ho in the title, but let me add Dolan, Bonello, Desplechin, Dumont, Herzog, Ferrera and, not to mention, Dexter Fletcher’s Elton John biopic “Rocketman.” And those are just a few of the many familiar names that will be gracing the Croisette this year.. So, give me a break, Cannes is very much alive with relevance and about to embark on a stacked edition next month.