DVD Review: Cannes: All Access Pass

DVD Reviews

By Jeff Swindoll May 31, 2007, 15:50 GMT

Whether you say “Can” or “Khan” (que William Shatner) you’ll have to agree that the Cannes Film Festival has become a force in the movie world. Now documentarian/film critic Richard Schickel takes us behind the glitz and glamour.

What the back of the box says:
“From its simple beginnings in 1939 in a sleepy beach town in the south of France, the prestigious Cannes Film Festival has become a must-attend red carpet event of the year. Filmmaker Richard Schickel’s fascinating documentary captures the glitz and glamour of the festival’s incredible 60-year run with archival footage and unforgettable moments. Hollywood’s biggest names including Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, Sharon Stone, and Harvey Weinstein talk about the politics, madness, and thrills competing for one of the industry’s highest honors – the coveted Palm d’Or – and what it’s like to be at the most fabulous festival by the sea.”This isn’t Schickel’s first rodeo at Cannes or his first documentary so he paints a fascinating portrait of the festival from its beginnings to the current day. Some of the more interesting points include how in its early beginnings it was a more intimate affair. Once a legendary film producer (whose name I forgot as I’m typing this – mea culpa) stood up in a film and stopped the screening and asked the small audiences of acquaintances if they’d like to get dinner. They did and then returned and the film was resumed. Another interviewee recalls the film he was watching ending, the lights coming up, and turning to see one of the four people behind him that were watching the film was Pablo Picasso. Old school attendees of the festival miss this lack of intimacy in the raucous “event” that Cannes has become, but what an event it is. These days it’s about the color of your badge and if you’re not of the right color (carte blanche (white) badges can get into anything) then you might not be able to do much. Schickel interviews a host of interesting parties including directors (Monte Hellman, Steven Spielberg, Sydney Pollack, Oliver Stone, and William Friedkin to name some), actors (Nick Nolte, Samuel L. Jackson, Chloe Sevigny, Gena Rowlands, William Dafoe, and others), critics (Derek Malcolm (London Evening Standard), A. O. Scott (New York Times), etc.), and even the behind-the-scenes folks (like concierges, pianists, and hotel presidents). He talks to perhaps the most important man at the festival, projectionist Loic Ledez, and even Thierry Fremaux, artistic director of Cannes, and Gilles Jacob, president of Cannes. So it really is an all access pass since he talks to a large (too many to mention here) and diverse group of people that either run or attend the festival. It is truly a fascinating look at what has become the premiere European film festival.Cannes is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) and enhanced for widescreen televisions. Special features include the 9 minute “Carte Blanche with Richard Schickel” in which the director gives a solo interview. The 40 second “Fun in the Sun Beach Montage” is shots from the beaches filled with beautiful women – some of them topless! There’s a 3 minute “Alternate Ending,” a 3 minute extended scene of the “Ribbon Cutting at the American Pavilion,” and 11 minutes of deleted scenes. Finally there’s the 3 minute trailer for the documentary. A truly engrossing and interesting look into Cannes for those of us that have no hope of ever attending (and since I’d probably get the crappy pass I doubt that I would get to see much – well, there are those topless gals on the beach). Richard Schickel as crafted a delightful documentary that is sure to satisfy the interested film buff. Cannes: All Access Pass is now available at Amazon. As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.