Cannes 2023: Jeanne du Barry | Festivals & Awards


The movie stars and was directed by Maïwenn, a Cannes favorite who goes only by her first name. Maïwenn won the jury prize for “Polisse” in 2011, returned to competition with “My King” in 2015, and had a ceremonial official selection, “DNA,” announced for the 2020 festival after that edition had been canceled. “Jeanne du Barry” retells the oft-told story of the title character, Louis XV’s favorite mistress, who had the impudence to thumb her nose at the formalities of Versailles but also managed to usher in some vaguely forward-looking reforms, at least in this film’s telling. When the French Revolution came around, she lost her head to the guillotine. But that detail is only relayed in passing at the end, because Louis was dead by then, and the heart of the movie is the relationship between them.

It is not, for the most part, a beating heart. The most newsworthy aspect of “Jeanne du Barry” is that it contains Johnny Depp’s first new major role since his defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard. But as Louis XV, he barely makes an impression. He is largely relegated to looking sad at having to live like royalty. Occasionally, he lets slip a glimmer of wry amusement, as when the carefree Jeanne tells him that he looks just like the six-franc coin he’s minted on. It’s almost a relief when the king develops smallpox, because at least it gives some expression to Depp’s face. As movies about the demises of French monarchs go, you are far better off with Albert Serra’s The Death of Louis XIV” from 2016.

But for much of the setup, Depp isn’t even onscreen. “Jeanne du Barry” is Maïwenn’s showcase for herself, and she has simply miscalculated her ability to be engaging in this role. Described in this version as the illegitimate daughter of a monk and a cook, Jeanne has, as she explains at one point, been forced to choose between a life like her mother’s or a life of harlotry. “I prefer harlotry,” she says, in a line that may or may not fall short of period verisimilitude. After being expelled from a convent—she reads too much—Jeanne makes a name for herself as a courtesan before meeting and smiling widely at Louis, who summons her for a regal tumble that she declines to dress fancily for.

You can view the original article HERE.

Chaz Ebert Says ILLUMINATE Film Festival Will Help Light The Way | Chaz’s Journal
Chaz Ebert Says ILLUMINATE Film Festival Will Help Light The Way | Chaz’s Journal
‘Magic Farm’ Trailer Has Chloë Sevigny Making a Documentary in the Wrong Town
‘Magic Farm’ Trailer Has Chloë Sevigny Making a Documentary in the Wrong Town
Francis Ford Coppola’s 2024 Box Office Bomb Is Already Getting Remade, But in an Unexpected Way
Francis Ford Coppola’s 2024 Box Office Bomb Is Already Getting Remade, But in an Unexpected Way
Prime’s Magnetic “Étoile” Is Guaranteed To Be Your Spring TV Obsession | TV/Streaming
Prime’s Magnetic “Étoile” Is Guaranteed To Be Your Spring TV Obsession | TV/Streaming
EFF YOU! I’m Living My Dream!
EFF YOU! I’m Living My Dream!
No Preview
Geri Halliwell-Horner on the chances of new Spice Girls music as she hits out at Madonna’s “relevance”
Who is taking part in Celebrity Traitors?
Who is taking part in Celebrity Traitors?
‘Ghost Of Yōtei’ is coming to the PlayStation 5 this October
‘Ghost Of Yōtei’ is coming to the PlayStation 5 this October
A Wishlist for Serenity’s Next Chapter
A Wishlist for Serenity’s Next Chapter
Netflix Action Thriller ‘Bullet Train Explosion’ Finds Quick Success on Streaming
Netflix Action Thriller ‘Bullet Train Explosion’ Finds Quick Success on Streaming
‘The Accountant 2’ Can Be a Box Office Hit by Avoiding One Mistake
‘The Accountant 2’ Can Be a Box Office Hit by Avoiding One Mistake
Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 19 Recap: Name Image Likeness
Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 19 Recap: Name Image Likeness
5 Reasons Sports Betting Is the Ultimate Game-Day Companion
5 Reasons Sports Betting Is the Ultimate Game-Day Companion
Butler exits Game 2 loss to Rockets with pelvis injury
Butler exits Game 2 loss to Rockets with pelvis injury
Bears great Steve McMichael dies at 67 after battle with ALS
Bears great Steve McMichael dies at 67 after battle with ALS
AI Boyfriend & AI Girlfriend NSFW Chat Passion
AI Boyfriend & AI Girlfriend NSFW Chat Passion
Half Billion Dollar Media Empire Exposed As Government Puppet
Half Billion Dollar Media Empire Exposed As Government Puppet
Weezer Bassist’s Wife Seen With Gun on Police Body Cam Before She’s Shot
Weezer Bassist’s Wife Seen With Gun on Police Body Cam Before She’s Shot
ESPN Drops NFL Draft Details And People Have Thoughts
ESPN Drops NFL Draft Details And People Have Thoughts
Justin Baldoni’s Attorney Rips Publicist Stephanie Jones, Her Lawyers Clap Back
Justin Baldoni’s Attorney Rips Publicist Stephanie Jones, Her Lawyers Clap Back
Carolina Herrera’s NYFW Break, David Beckham’s Boss Collab!
Carolina Herrera’s NYFW Break, David Beckham’s Boss Collab!
Parachute Cloud Cotton Robe Review: Why It’s My Cozy Go-To
Parachute Cloud Cotton Robe Review: Why It’s My Cozy Go-To
Lisa Sun: The Confidence Catalyst Redefining Fashion and Empowerment
Lisa Sun: The Confidence Catalyst Redefining Fashion and Empowerment
Linda Evangelista’s Powerful Beauty, Tina Knowles’ New Book, & More!
Linda Evangelista’s Powerful Beauty, Tina Knowles’ New Book, & More!