Michael Shannon Boards 'Freeheld'; Adele Exarchopoulos in 'Bastille Day' ; Cate Blanchett Narrates 'Voyage of Time'

* Ellen Page's gay rights drama, Freeheld, has just added Michael Shannon to a cast that already includes Julianne Moore and Zach Galifianakis. Directed by Peter Sollett, the film tells the true story of a gay police woman diagnosed with a terminal illness who must fight to ensure her pension passes to her partner. No word on Shannon's role but the cast and subject matter alone make this project a pretty big deal.

* Blue is the Warmest Color's Adele Exarchopoulos is starting to see the results of her success. She's taken a role in Sean Penn's latest directorial effort, The Last Face, and now she's boarding action flick, Bastille Day, starring Idris Elba. Coming aboard to replace the departed Pierre Morel as director is James Watkins (The Woman in Black), which should amount to quite a change in approach. Anyway, Elba plays a washed-up CIA agent with Exarchopoulos likely as the artist accused of a terrorist attack in the Paris metro.

* Terrence Malick's forever-developing documentary, Voyage of Time, has long had Brad Pitt attached to narrate. And it made sense considering the director shot much of it while filming The Tree of Life, and is something he calls "a celebration of the earth, displaying the whole of time, from the birth of the universe to its final collapse.” After all this time the film still isn't coming out until 2016, with two versions of differing length, and now we know Cate Blanchett will be joining Pitt as narrator. She'll apparently be replacing Emma Thompson, who had been attached previously. [ScreenDaily]

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First Trailer for French Drama 'Insecure' Starring Adèle Exarchopoulos

Forget all of the controversy that followed last year's Palm d'Or winner, Blue is the Warmest Color; nothing can take away from the commanding breakthrough performance by Adèle Exarchopoulos. While the 20-year-old is poised to make her American debut in Sean Penn's The Last Face, which begins shooting this summer, she recently starred in the French drama, Insecure, and now we have the first trailer.

Directed by Marianne Tardieu, the film stars Reda Kateb (last seen being grilled by Jason Clarke in Zero Dark Thirty) as a nursing student trying to make ends meet by taking a security job. While there he faces humiliation by hostile teens and gets wrapped up in a robbery gone awry, but he also develops a relationship with a student played by Exarchopoulos.

Considering Exarchopoulos' newfound fame this will probably play well in France, but for now there are no U.S. plans. Hopefully that will change. [The Film Stage]

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Charlize Theron and Adele Exarchopoulos Join Sean Penn's 'The Last Space'

Sean Penn hasn't directed a feature film since 2007's Into the Wild, but recently he's been aiming to get back behind the camera. A couple of years ago he began developing an adaptation of another survival drama, Crazy for the Storm, with Josh Brolin eying a role. That film continues to progress, but it will take a back seat to The Last Space, which he'll shoot this summer with two big time leading ladies on board.

The Wrap reports Penn's girlfriend Charlize Theron has boarded the film, with Blue is the Warmest Color break-out Adele Exarchopoulos revealing she also has a small role. There are few details about the plot, but Exarchapoulous did say it follows " human encounters within the refugee camps in Sudan, Liberia".

Add this to what is to be a busy year for Theron. She'll be seen next in Seth MacFarlane's A Million Ways to Die in the West, and has Mad Max: Fury Road plus an adaptation of Gillian Flynn's Dark Places upcoming. Penn will star opposite Idris Elba in Pierre Morel's The Gunman.

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"For Your Consideration" Trailer for Adele Exarchopoulos of 'Blue is the Warmest Color'

While it's still pretty ridiculous that Palm d'Or winner Blue is the Warmest Color is ineligible for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars, it can certainly be nominated in other categories. And if there's one thing about it that has blown people away, besides the controversial sex scene or the heated exchanges that followed the film's victory, it's the performance by young star Adele Exarchopoulos. Certainly she caught my attention, and if there's anybody deserving of a little recognition by the Oscars, it's her.

Sundance Selects thinks so too, and have released a red band "For Your Consideration" trailer designed to earn Exarchopoulos a few votes. It's a perfect reminder not only of the enthusiastic reception the film received, but of Exarchopoulos' unforgettable performance.

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Review: 'Blue is the Warmest Color' Starring Adèle Exarchopolous and Léa Seydoux

In the days following its Cannes premiere, where it also took home the prestigious Palm d'Or, Abdellatif Kechiche's Blue is the Warmest Colorwas unjustly labeled the "3-hour lesbian sex film". It was an unfair reduction of an emotional tale of love and heartbreak, just as similar turns of phrase were used to diminish Brokeback Mountain into the "gay cowboy movie". But at the same time, Kechiche invites such simple criticisms and undermines two magnetic lead performances by being obvious and even reductive when it comes to fleshing out the details of a very complicated relationship.

Very loosely based on the French graphic novel Blue Angel, the film is mostly seen through the eyes of 15-year-old Adèle (Adèle Exarchopolous) as she's on the cusp of realizing her sexual identity. This isn't one of those movies where homosexuality is something to be contended with; actually Adele doesn't struggle with it much at all. She's a bright girl who adores books and hangs out with her friends, who speak frankly and openly about sex, like most teens tend to do. She's also quite heterosexual, at least initially, and develops a crush on a boy in her grade. After a literature class on fate, love at first sight, and fulfilling what the heart requires, Adèle catches only the slightest glimpse of the blue-haired Emma (Lea Seydoux), and with an audible gasp her life is altered forever. That guy she was with becomes a distant memory as she can't get Emma out of her mind. The film doesn't dwell too long on the usual struggles of "coming out" or the realization that one is gay. In the case of the former we don't really see it at all, while the latter is a brief obstacle at best. Other than some teasing by her friends, which is admittedly quite cruel, Adèle seems to know what her heart truly wants.

A twist of fate brings the two girls together again, and soon they are inseparable. Emma is older, more experienced and confident in a way Adèle has yet to grow into, and initially it's very clear who holds the power in this relationship. Adèle is more than just smitten, she's hopelessly in love, and the way she navigates what turns out to be a roller coaster of emotions is the film's driving force. While the two are obviously lesbians, one of the best things about the movie is that neither is defined by their sexuality. This is about one girl's cautious steps into first love, and how she deals with the joys, pains, comforts, and insecurities that come with being in an adult relationship. At the same time, Adèle is very much still a girl; let's not forget that she's only meant to be around 15 in the beginning; and it takes some time getting over the age difference. Sure, the French may be a little more lenient on these things but here it still looks a tad creepy.

And speaking of creepy, let's just go ahead and talk about what most people are really interested in anyway: the sex. Let's just say there is a very good reason the film was saddled with an NC-17 rating. There are three notable sexual encounters, and all are quite explicit and extremely graphic. That's not the issue, really, as frank portrayals of sex have their place, especially in a film that is as open and emotionally raw as this one is. The problem, besides the fact that the scenes are uncomfortably long, is that you can almost feel Kechiche's lecherous eye leering over every shot. Make no mistake; this was a movie you can tell was shot by a man.  The first time Adèle and Emma make love it should be about the experience of it, the passion of losing oneself in the moment; especially for Adèle who has been dreaming of this encounter with this particular partner. But Kechiche shoots the sex like he was stringing together porn clips, focusing on how many positions he can get these women in rather than on the emotions behind the acts. They're intense, absolutely, but passionate and revelatory they are not.

While Kekiche's script occasionally stumbles to sound natural, such as when it indulges in weak double entendres about clams (really dude?), at others it's strikingly personal and startlingly powerful. Following them over the course of years, we're given the sort of insightful, in-depth look at an evolving relationship that it's almost like you're eavesdropping. There are ups and downs, of course, as their careers, personal viewpoints, and complacency complicate matters. Yet throughout it all we see how Adèle and Emma complement one another, fulfilling that need they've both been searching for. We're thrust so deep into their lives that the things we don't see are distracting. Other than a couple of dinner scenes we don't learn much about Adèle's family. Nor do we know if she's come out to them or if they know about how close she is with Emma. It's suggested that Adèle has kept her sexuality to herself, as she does in the novel, but as more characters emerge one can't help but wonder where she stands. The film treads much of the same emotional territory as last year's terrific gay drama Keep the Lights On (review here), really digging into the desperate lengths people will go to hold on to love.

Cannes may have felt the need to give the Palm d'Or to both actresses but this is truly Exarchopolous's film. Her Adèle is such a fully-realized creation that it's impossible to tell there's any acting going on. She's practically in every scene, commanding them all with her innocence that grows naturally into maturity and self-assuredness. Seydoux sheds much of the supermodel look we're accustomed to, donning a tough exterior as Emma, whose harsh features and attitude mask her true kindness. Together the two make a combustible pair, and it's because of them that Blue is the Warmest Color is such a vivid experience despite Kekiche's missteps.

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New U.S. Trailer and Posters for Palm d'Or Winner 'Blue is the Warmest Color'

Marketing Palm d'Or winner Blue is the Warmest Color to an international audience is one thing, but trying to do the same for its domestic release is quite another. Merely checking off its festival acclaim won't do the job, and it's generally a tough sell to push a 3-hour lesbian romance with no recognizable stars and a troublesome NC-17 rating. Not an enviable task for distributor Sundance Selects, but they're smart enough to know that when Steven Spielberg talks people listen, and his extraordinary praise for the film are the centerpiece of the first U.S. trailer: "Magnificent...we were under the spell of the film and its wonderful actresses."

Starring Lea Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos with direction by Abdellatif Kechiche, the film explores the highs and lows of a romantic relationship between two women, and yes it contains some graphic sex. But as this wordless, purely emotional trailer suggests this is about a lot more than just their physical connection.

Blue is the Warmest Color opens on October 25th. Check out the trailer below, and feast on a pair of new posters, too.

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First Trailer For Palm d'Or Winner 'Blue Is The Warmest Color'

Already one of the most buzzed about and acclaimed films of the year after sharing the Cannes Palm d'Or between director Abdellatif Kechiche and stars Léa Seydoux and Adele Exarchopolous, Blue Is the Warmest Color would seem to be a shoe-in favorite for Oscar gold. But alas it's not meant to be as it will miss the release date window, meaning it can only qualify next year. While that's disappointing, and certainly lessens the Best Foreign Language, the praise being heaped on the film is extraordinary, and so is the power in the first trailer.

Set to make its North American debut in Toronto next, Blue is the Warmest Color chronicles the passionate and turbulent relationship between 15-year old Adele and the blue-haired Emma. It's a love that will change them both in profound ways, exploring the sadness, happiness, and anger that are a part of every relationship, same-sex or not. The film drew some criticism for its long, extremely graphic sex scenes but that was secondary to the rave reviews earned for its dramatic intensity and lead performances.

Blue Is the Warmest Color hits TIFF next month, then opens on October 25th.

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'Blue is the Warmest Color' takes Cannes' top prize; check out two clips now

The doors have closed on the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, and now that all is said and done, this will go down as one of the strongest years for American filmmakers and American movies.  Films like Ryan Coogler's Fruitvale Station, the Coen Brothers' Inside Llewyn Davis, Alexander Payne's Nebraska, and Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive all performed well and were greeted warmly by the picky crowd on the Croisette, but when all was said and done it was the French romance Blue is the Warmest Color that took home the festival's top prize.

Steven Spielberg and his jury have selected the French drama Blue is the Warmest Color as the Palm d'Or winner, taking the extraordinary step to grant it not only to Tunisian director Abdellatif Kechiche, but also to the two lead actresses Lea Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos. It was a historic decision for a couple of reasons, none of which have to do with the lesbian romance at the heart of the story, although the steamy sex scenes are what has garnered the most attention. The win marks the first time that a movie based on a comic book has ever taken the Palm d'Or, as it's based on Julie Maroh's graphic novel Le Bleu est Une Couleur Chaude. The unique circumstances also mean that Jane Campion, who won in 1993 for The Piano, is no longer the only female Palm d'Or winner.

Bruce Dern, who was nominated for an Oscar 35 years ago for Coming Home, took the Best Actor prize for Nebraska, while Berenice Bejo won Best Actress for Asghar Farhadi's Iranian family drama, The Past.  Below you'll find the complete list of honors from the Un Certain Regard, FIPRESCI, and Ecumenical Jury categories, followed by two clips from Blue is the Warmest Color. 

PALME D’OR:
LA VIE D’ADÈLE - CHAPITRE 1 & 2 (Blue Is The Warmest Color) by Abdellatif KECHICHE

GRAND PRIX:
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS by Ethan COEN, Joel COEN

PRIX DE LA MISE EN SCEN (BEST DIRECTOR):
Amat ESCALANTE for "HELI"

PRIX DU SCENARIO (BEST SCREENPLAY):
JIA Zhangke for "TIAN ZHU DING" ("A Touch Of Sin")

CAMERA D’OR (BEST FIRST FEATURE): 
"ILO ILO," Director: Anthony CHEN

PRIX DU JURY (JURY PRIZE):
"LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON" by KORE-EDA Hirokazu


PRIX D’INTERPRETATION FEMININE (BEST ACTRESS):
Berenice Bejo, "THE PAST"

PRIX D’INTERPRETATION MASCULINE (BEST ACTOR): Bruce Dern, "NEBRASKA"

PRIZE OF UN CERTAIN REGARD
THE MISSING PICTURE by Rithy PANH
 
JURY PRIZE - UN CERTAIN REGARD
OMAR by Hany ABU-ASSAD

DIRECTING PRIZE - UN CERTAIN REGARDAlain GUIRAUDIE for STRANGER BY THE LAKE

A CERTAIN TALENT PRIZE - UN CERTAIN REGARD
For the ensemble cast of LA JAULA DE ORO by Diego QUEMADA-DIEZ

AVENIR PRIZE - UN CERTAIN REGARD
FRUITVALE STATION by Ryan COOGLER

FIPRESCI PRIZE - COMPETITION PRIZE
Blue Is The Warmest Color (La vie d'Adèle — Chapitre 1 & 2) by Abdellatif Kechiche (France, 2013)

FIPRESCI PRIZE - UN CERTAIN REGARD PRIZE
Manuscripts Don't Burn (Dast-Neveshtehaa Nemisvosand) by Mohammad Rasoulof (Iran, 2013)

FIPRESCI PRIZE - PARALLEL SECTION
Blue Ruin by Jeremy Saulnier (USA, 2013), shown in the Directors' Fortnight.

ECUMENICAL JURY PRIZE
LE PASSÉ/The Past de Asghar Farhadi (Compétition Officielle)

ECUMENICAL JURY PRIZE - SPECIAL MENTION
SOSHITE CHICHI NI NARU (TEL PÈRE, TEL FILS)/Like Father Like Son de Hirokazu Kore-eda (Compétition officielle)
MIELE de Valeria Golino (Un Certain Regard)

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