Oscar Trophy-Worthy Cannes Film Festival Entries Are...

'Killers of the Flower Moon', 'Monster' Injuries
'May December', 'Asteroid...' Also in Focus

The Cannes International Film Festival was born in 1946, right after the end of World War II. Its background included a backlash against the fascist government's film selections at the Venice International Film Festival. With support from the United States and the United Kingdom, it prominently adopted the slogan "Pursuit of pure artistry, not politics." The artistic meaning of the term pure art can never be truly pure. The same goes for the phrase "exclusion of politics." The Nouvelle Vague, which explosively developed in the late 1950s amid political and economic changes, also sought to break away from the exaggerated and formulaic styles of the past 20 years, but it could not completely ignore mainstream public tastes.

This inevitable trend has accelerated over the past few years. Cannes is no longer just an art theater. It expands its scope by screening more mainstream films. Conversely, the American Academy has recently embraced art films more actively. After 'Marty' in 1955, it awarded the Palme d'Or winner at Cannes (Parasite) the Best Picture award 64 years later. In the past five years, seven films screened at Cannes have been nominated for Best Picture. These include 'BlacKkKlansman,' 'Parasite,' 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' 'Drive My Car,' 'Elvis,' 'Top Gun: Maverick,' and 'Triangle of Sadness.' Directors Bong Joon-ho, Quentin Tarantino, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, and Ruben ?stlund have also been nominated for Best Director. Which films will walk the line and gain global attention this year? Let's take a look at the contenders.

▲ Killers of the Flower Moon

Set in the 1920s, when the American system began to take shape. Wealthy Native Americans in the South Central region, where oil was gushing and per capita income was the highest in the world, are murdered over several years. The investigation stalls. Twenty-four deaths remain unsolved. Neither the police, prosecutors, judges, nor influential politicians can be trusted. Tom White, a special agent of the nascent FBI, is dispatched to the city of strange deaths to restore justice.

Based on investigative journalist David Grann's 'Flower Moon.' It reads the essence of America in the space-time where the old order and the modern world clashed most fiercely. Director Martin Scorsese thrillingly unfolds the formation process of the nationwide investigative system represented by the FBI. He depicts a variety of characters, including ascetic Texas Rangers, corrupt private detectives, and terrifying gangs, revealing the violence against Native Americans in a raw and meticulous manner.

The universally resonant theme is reflected through the faces of actors who have held Oscar trophies: Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Brendan Fraser. Many Native Americans also appear, enhancing authenticity. It is reported that more than $200 million (2.657 trillion won) was invested in production. The running time is a whopping 3 hours and 26 minutes. However, Paramount and Apple TV+ are confident about its box office success.

Flower Moon is a poetic capture of a tragic era. The Osage tribe called May, when tall plants creep over small flowers, stealing light and water, the "Flower Killing Moon." In this film, it symbolically represents the ironic situation where light and shadow, brightness and darkness intersect. The New York Times praised it as "shocking and sometimes painfully sad. A true crime mystery that even contains bone-chilling horror elements."

▲ Asteroid City

A new work by director Wes Anderson, known for his unique aesthetic. The title 'Asteroid City' is the name of a fictional desert town where a meteorite fell. An annual 'Asteroid Day' festival is held to commemorate the meteorite fall. The film depicts what happens when visitors such as students and parents attending the festival become trapped due to the appearance of UFOs and aliens. Unpredictable situations are unfolded through drama, comedy, and romance.

Before production, it attracted great attention with its star-studded cast. It includes American national actor Tom Hanks, Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Jeffrey Wright, Bryan Cranston, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, Willem Dafoe, and many other renowned actors. Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, and Adrien Brody, who have long collaborated with Anderson, also joined. Cinematography was handled by Robert Yeoman, who was nominated for an Oscar for 'The Grand Budapest Hotel.'

The trailer mainly features visitors unexpectedly trapped, eyewitness accounts of celebrities, and suspicions of alien invasion. The most noteworthy aspect is the art direction, which gives a glimpse of the atmosphere. Production designer Adam Stockhausen dressed the compact desert landscape in beige tones to create a retro 1950s vibe. Combined with Anderson's signature symmetry, stylish fashion, and fonts, it is expected to deliver another aesthetic experience.

▲ May December

A new work by director Todd Haynes, who directed 'I'm Not There,' 'Carol,' and 'Velvet Underground.' The film depicts events that occur as actress Elizabeth observes the life of Gracie in Georgia to study her role. Gracie is the protagonist whose marriage to Joe, 23 years her junior, made headlines in tabloids 20 years ago.

Natalie Portman, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2011 for 'Black Swan,' plays Elizabeth, and Julianne Moore, who won the same award in 2015 for 'Still Alice,' plays Gracie. Joe is portrayed by Charles Melton, a model and actor born to a Korean mother and an American father. Critic Kyle Buchanan mentioned all three actors as Oscar acting award contenders. Critic Richard Lawson compared Melton to Austin Butler in 'Elvis,' saying he "stands out especially."

▲ John of Interest

A story about a Nazi officer who builds a happy family in a house and garden beyond the fence of Auschwitz concentration camp. Based on the novel of the same name by British author Martin Amis, who passed away on the 20th. It handles serious and heavy themes with sophistication and wit. Director Jonathan Glazer took the helm for the first time in 10 years since 'Under the Skin.' Praised by critics for exploring the depth and contradictions of humanity through realistic contrasts. The film was also highly rated for its technical completeness, including voyeuristic cinematography and intricate sound design.

Director Glazer emphasized the need to be wary of fascism, which joyfully enjoys the fruits of violence. "We tend to distance ourselves from characters in films, thinking we don't act like them," he said, "but in reality, no one can be sure." Critic Nicholas Bell also said, "A film close to a clinical study to understand the ultimate decline of civilization," adding, "Only by accurately facing the abyss can we prevent recurrence through vaccination."

▲ Monster

The comeback work of director Hirokazu Kore-eda, who won the Palme d'Or in 2018 with 'Shoplifters.' After working overseas on films like 'Fabienne's Truth' and 'Broker,' he returned to his home country and teamed up with Yuji Sakamoto. Sakamoto is a writer who wrote scripts for dramas such as 'Mother,' 'The Best Divorce,' and 'Love That Makes You Cry,' as well as the film 'Crying Out Love in the Center of the World.' The film unfolds the secret world behind boys' fights from the perspectives of the protagonists, as well as mothers and teachers. It stars Sakura Ando, Eita Nagayama, Soya Kurokawa, Mitsuki Takahara, and Shido Nakamura. The music was composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto, who passed away last March.

Critic Ruben Baron praised it, saying, "Emotionally painful but shows how important a complete perspective is." Critic Richard Lawson also highly praised it, saying, "It elegantly and carefully raises hidden pain and insightfully presents how oppression affects the lives of those around."