The 2025 Cannes Film Festival has crossed the halfway mark, with the debut film Leave One Day by newcomer French director Amelie Bonnin, kicking off the festivities.
This edition features an exciting array of premieres from Hollywood, including Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme with stars Benicio del Toro and Michael Cera, Richard Linklater’s tribute to Breathless titled Nouvelle Vague shot in Paris, and Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier, alongside films like Alpha by Julia Ducournau, a previous Palme d’Or recipient for Titane.
The festival also showcases new projects from renowned directors such as Ari Aster’s much-discussed A24 horror film Eddington, Iranian director Jafar Panahi’s In Simple Accident, and Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind. Meanwhile, Scarlett Johansson debuts as a director in the Un Certain Regard section with her film Eleanor the Great.
RELATED: Understanding Cannes’ Applause: Timing the Claps, Record-Holders, and the Love-Hate Relationship with the Tradition
Cannes regulars such as Kirill Serebrennikov, Raoul Peck, and Sebastian Lelio are set to premiere their latest works in the Cannes Premiere section.
Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage from Deadline throughout the festival, which takes place along the French Riviera until May 24. Keep checking back for updates and reviews by clicking on the film titles.
Alpha
Section: Competition
Director-screenwriter: Julia Ducournau
Cast: Tahar Rahim, Golshifteh Farahani, Mélissa Boros, Emma Mackey, Finnegan Oldfield, Louai El Amrousy
Deadline’s insight: Julia Ducournau once again confronts the human physique with its desires, scars, and frailties in Alpha. Although less intense than her Palme d’Or-winning Titane, it remains a polarizing piece likely to split viewers into those enamored by its audacity and those repelled by its boldness.
Bono: Stories of Surrender
Section: Special Screenings
Director: Andrew Dominik
Cast: Bono
Deadline’s insight: Bono reinterprets U2’s iconic tracks with a somber, introspective tone in this documentary, captivating audiences with his narrative prowess and musical reinterpretations. His storytelling echoes the distinctive literary heritage of Ireland, enchanting with both prose and performance.
The Chronology of Water
Section: Un Certain Regard
Director: Kristen Stewart
Cast: Imogen Poots, Thora Birch, Michael Epp, Earl Cave, Jim Belushi
Deadline’s insight: Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut skillfully blends raw emotion with intricate storytelling, resembling a precarious tower of Jenga. Despite its technical prowess, the film maintains a certain coolness, distancing the audience from the intensely personal narrative of Lidia Yuknavitch.
Dangerous Animals
Section: Directors’ Fortnight
Director: Sean Byrne
Cast: Jai Courtney, Hassie Harrison, Josh Heuston, Rob Carlton, Ella Newton, Liam Greinke
Deadline’s insight: Sean Byrne’s thriller combines elements of shark danger and serial killer menace in an unexpected mix for Cannes. Jai Courtney shines in a prominent role against the stunning backdrop of the Great Barrier Reef, where the film’s characters face deadly threats.
Die My Love
Section: Competition
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, LaKeith Stanfield, Sissy Spacek, Nick Nolte
Deadline’s insight: Jennifer Lawrence delivers a potentially career-best performance in Lynne Ramsay’s latest project, which might secure her another Oscar nod. This film not only showcases Ramsay’s directorial evolution but also highlights Lawrence’s profound acting skills.
Dossier 137
Section: Competition
Director: Dominik Moll
Cast: Léa Drucker, Jonathan Turnbull, Sandra Colombo, Come Peronnet, Solàn Machado-Graner, Valentin Campagne
Deadline’s insight: Léa Drucker energizes this meticulously crafted police procedural with her dynamic performance, embodying a film with serious intent and a sober narrative.
Eagles of the Republic
Section: Competition
Director: Tarik Saleh
Cast: Fares Fares, Lyna Khoudri, Zineb, Amr Waked, Cherien Dabis, Ahmed Kairy
Deadline’s insight: Tarik Saleh’s third installment in his Cairo trilogy mixes political intrigue with humor, building up to a powerful climax. This film, drawing from rich, real-life material, may be the strongest of the series.
Eddington
Section: Competition
Director: Ari Aster
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Deirdre O’Connell, Emma Stone, Micheal Ward, Pedro Pascal, Cameron Mann, Matt Gomez Hidaka, Luke Grimes, Amèlie Hoeferle, Clifton Collins Jr., William Belleau, Austin Butler, Landall Goolsby
Deadline’s insight: Ari Aster’s film, styled as a neo-noir western, cleverly incorporates dark, satirical political humor. Despite a somewhat disjointed narrative, Eddington ambitiously tackles the pandemic’s societal impacts with a bold cinematic approach.
Highest 2 Lowest
Section: Competition
Director: Spike Lee
Cast: Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, IIfenesh Hadera, Aubrey Joseph, A$AP Rocky, Dean Winters, La Chanze, John Douglas Thompson, Isis “Ice Spice” Gaston, Michael Potts, Rick Fox, Elijah Wright
Deadline’s insight: Spike Lee returns to his New York roots with a film that resonates with his best work. Focusing on the music industry, the film features Denzel Washington in a standout performance as a man entangled in a moral dilemma.
Leave One Day
Section: Out of Competition (Opening-night film)
Director: Amélie Bonnin
Cast: Juliette Armanet, Bastien Bouillon, Dominique Blanc, François Rollin
Deadline’s insight: Amélie Bonnin’s Leave One Day charms as an opener, despite its conventional approach. The film radiates warmth and optimism, capturing the essence of moving forward through time with a heartfelt narrative.
Left-Handed Girl
Section: Critics’ Week
Director: Shih-Ching Tsou
Cast: Janel Tsai, Shih-Yuan Ma, Nina Ye, Brando Huang
Deadline’s insight: Shih-Ching Tsou, in collaboration with Sean Baker, explores the lives of three generations of women striving for success in Taipei. The film’s depth is anchored by strong performances that effectively convey the family’s hidden dynamics.
The Little Sister
Section: Competition
Director: Hafsia Herzi
Cast: Nadia Melliti, Park Ji-min, Amina Ben Mohamed, Rita Benmannana, Melissa Guers
Deadline’s insight: Hafsia Herzi’s film may divide opinions with its laid-back style, but it seduces those who sync with its rhythm, largely due to Nadia Melliti’s compelling performance as Fatima. This film highlights the urgent need for fresh talents like Melliti in cinema.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Section: Out of Competition
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Cast: Tom Cruise, Esai Morales, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Angela Bassett
Deadline’s insight: The Final Reckoning impresses with unprecedented action sequences and clever nods to the franchise’s history, making it a standalone spectacle that also rewards long-time fans with its intricately woven callbacks.
My Father’s Shadow
Section: Un Certain Regard
Director: Akinola Davies Jr.
Cast: Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Godwin Egbo, Chibuike Marvellous Egbo
Deadline’s insight: My Father’s Shadow marks a significant milestone as the first Nigerian film at Cannes, delivering a poignant and heartfelt story. The young leads deliver captivating performances that are sure to tug at the heartstrings of audiences.
My Mom Jayne
Section: Cannes Classics
Director: Mariska Hargitay
With: Mariska Hargitay, Zoltan Hargitay, Mickey Hargitay Jr., Jayne Marie Mansfield, Nelson Sardelli, Rusty Strait
Deadline’s insight: Mariska Hargitay’s deeply personal documentary explores her late mother Jayne Mansfield’s life through a poignant and emotional lens. This film offers a captivating look at the life of the iconic actress, blending personal memories with cinematic exploration.
Nouvelle Vague
Section: Competition
Director: Richard Linklater
Cast: Guillaume Marbeck, Zoey Deutch, Aubry Dullin, Adrien Rouyard, Antoine Besson, Jodie Ruth Forest, Bruno Dreyfurst, Benjamin Clery, Matthieu Penchinat
Deadline’s insight: Richard Linklater’s tribute to Breathless by Jean-Luc Godard is an enchanting cinematic homage that captures the essence of the French New Wave. Whether you are familiar with the original or not, this film resonates with anyone who cherishes the art of filmmaking and the visionaries behind it.
Orwell: 2 + 2 = 5
Section: Cannes Premieres
Director: Raoul Peck
Deadline’s insight: Raoul Peck’s documentary is a compelling and necessary reflection on contemporary societal issues, drawing stark comparisons between Orwell’s dystopian vision and modern political landscapes. This film is a timely meditation on the pervasive influence of authoritarianism in today’s world.
The Phoenician Scheme
Section: Competition
Director: Wes Anderson
Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Richard Ayoade, Willem Dafoe, F. Murray Abraham
Deadline’s insight: Wes Anderson’s characteristic style shines in The Phoenician Scheme, where Benicio Del Toro excels, masterfully navigating the quirky, rhythmic dialogue of Anderson’s world. This film, while distinctively stylized, offers a whimsical reflection on contemporary realities.
Pillion
Section: Un Certain Regard
Director: Harry Lighton
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Harry Melling
Deadline’s insight: Set against the backdrop of a modern BDSM scene, Pillion explores the tumultuous relationship between a biker and his reserved partner. The film delves into themes of sacrifice and love, portraying the complexities of intimacy with sensitivity and depth.
The Plague
Section: Un Certain Regard
Director: Charlie Polinger
Cast: Everett Blonck, Kenny Rasmussen, Kayo Martin, Joel Edgerton, Lucas Adler, Caden Burris, Elliott Heffernan, Nicolas Rasovan, Lennox Espy, Kolton Lee
Deadline’s insight: Set in a water polo camp, The Plague teeters on the edge of horror, exploring themes of bullying and alienation with a psychological depth that transcends typical genre expectations. This film maintains its credibility through a smart and restrained approach to its disturbing subject matter.
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