Jury defends award to Moore

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 5/24/04 | ROGER EBERT

[Valin]

CANNES, France -- The jury of the 57th Cannes Film Festival insisted Sunday that it awarded its top honor to Michael Moore's anti-Bush documentary not because of its politics, but because of its quality as a film.

"We were dealing with reels of film, not politics," said jury president Quentin Tarantino. "We all agreed that 'Fahrenheit 9/11' was the best film."

Tarantino and his eight fellow jurors were breaking with 56 years of festival tradition by explaining and defending their selections at a press conference the day after the awards were named. This was not the jury's idea but the festival's, Tarantino said, after Toronto critic Bruce Kirkland observed that past juries had operated with the secrecy of a Masonic lodge.

Some critics of the Palme d'Or for Moore interpreted it as a slap by the French against President Bush and his invasion of Iraq, but in fact the jury had four American members and only one French member; the other jurors were from Finland, Hong Kong, Belgium and the U.K.

"I knew this political crap would be brought up," said the outspoken Tarantino. "I think judging a film by its politics is a bad thing. If this movie was saying everything I wanted it to say, but not saying it with the best filmmaking, I would have opposed it."

The film, which received the longest standing ovation in Cannes history, charges that Bush has bungled the war on terrorism and sent U.S. troops to Iraq under false pretenses. One of its most talked-about scenes claims Bush remained in a Florida classroom, reading a book to children, for seven minutes after learning of the attack on the World Trade Center, until aides finally had to ask him to leave.

When an Italian journalist complained that the film had "only one point of view," juror Tilda Swinton, an actress from Scotland, replied "We've heard what Bush has to say. We live with it. It's not a fair fight. This film helps to redress the balance." And juror Edwidge Danticat, a Haitian-born American novelist, said, "Moore starts by saying this is his view of the world. He gives voice to people who are voiceless."

Every one of the jurors said they supported the award. American director Jerry Schatzberg said, "Before I got here, I was thinking, I hope the other jurors are not going to be sympathetic just because of the film's distribution problems. Quentin told us on Day One to keep politics out of it and just judge the films."

The movie generated controversy after Disney president Michael Eisner ordered his Miramax subsidiary, which produced it, not to distribute it in America. Miramax head Harvey Weinstein says the film has distribution in every other country in the world. Ironically, Eisner's decision may help the movie; the Palme d'Or has raised Weinstein's asking price for U.S. rights.

Tarantino's famous temper was revealed at one point in the press conference when a journalist questioned the "cinematic qualities" of "Fahrenheit 9/11."

"You're talking about pretty pictures," Tarantino said. "This film is made of images. When a U.S. soldier is shown with an [Iraqi] captive whose head is in a hood, that is not a pretty picture, but it is a powerful image." When the journalist tried to argue, Tarantino said the discussion was over and took off his earphones so he could not hear the translation.

The jury did not reveal individual votes but hinted at some differences. Its jury prize for the Thai film "Sud Pralad," which sharply divided Cannes audiences, also split the jury, "but some of us were moved by that film to a staggering degree," Tarantino said, and so dissenters on the jury respected their passion.

He defended the Grand Prize (second place), which went to the violent Korean revenge thriller "Old Boy." "The most exciting films in the world are coming out of Japan and Korea right now," he said. "It took 10 years for the genre pictures of Hong Kong to be recognized; it's great that a film like this can play in Cannes." Fellow juror Tsui Hark, whose own Hong Kong genre pictures, like "Chinese Ghost Story," took years to win recognition, kept a poker face.

The press conference was the closing act of what many of us thought was a return to form for the festival. Its new director, Thierry Fremaux, cast his net wide by including two animated films and two documentaries in the competition.

And he closed the fest on a traditional note with the new MGM musical "De-Lovely," based on the life of Cole Porter. As thousands of guests, from "Star Wars" creator George Lucas to Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen, partied on a jetty out beyond the Palais, there was a concert of Porter's songs by such as Natalie Cole, Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, Robbie Williams, Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd. Backed by a full pop orchestra, they were shown on a vast video screen flanked by high-powered speakers, so that everyone on the beachfront, the Boulevard Croisette and all of the oceanfront hotels could see and hear the performances (whether they wanted to or not).

I don't suppose Cannes has ever been away, but it's certainly back.

[Valin]

Some critics of the Palme d'Or for Moore interpreted it as a slap by the French against President Bush and his invasion of Iraq, but in fact the jury had four American members and only one French member; the other jurors were from Finland, Hong Kong, Belgium and the U.K.

4 American leftists, 1 French leftist, and leftists from Finland, Hong Kong, Belgium and the U.K. Why what could be fairer?

As an aside I notice that there are no jurors from the third world. What's with that? Could it be racism?

[King Prout]

Ohhh, Quentin, why did you have to go and make me lose any and all respect for you as a human being?

[Red Badger]

There were "no politics" involved in this award.
There were "no WMDs" in IRAQ.
There was "no al-Queda" connection.
.... right........

[Alouette]

I'm not the brightest crayon in the box
Everyone says I'm dumber than a bag of rocks
I barely even know how to put on my own pants
But I'm a genius in France (yeah), genius in France, genius in France

Hoom chaka laka
Hoom chaka laka
Hoom chaka

I may not be the sharpest hunk of cheese
I got a negative number on my SATs
I'm not good looking and I don't know how to dance
But nevertheless and in spite of the evidence I am still widely considered to be
A genius in France, a genius in France, a genius in France

People say I'm a geek, a moronic little freak
An annoying pipsqueak with an unfortunate physique
If I was any dumber, they'd have to water me twice a week

But when the Mademoiselles see me, they all swoon and shriek
They dig my mystique, they say I'm c'est magnifique
When I'm in Par-ee, I'm the chic-est of the chic

They love my body odor and my bad toupee
They love my stripey shirt and my stupid beret
And when I'm sipping on a Perrier
In some cafe town in St. Tropez

It's hard to keep the fans at bay
They say, "Sign my poodle, s'il vous plait"
"Sign my poodle, s'il vous plait"

Hemenene humenene
himenene homenene
Poodle... poodle...

Folks in my hometown think I'm a fool
Got too much chlorine in my gene pool

A few peas short of a casserole
A few buttons missing on my remote control
A few fries short of a happy meal
I couldn't pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel

Instructions on the heel
Instructions on the heel

But when I'm in Provence, I get free croissants
Yeah, I'm the guy every French lady wants
And if you ask 'em why, you're bound to get this response
(He's a genius in France! Genius in France!)

That's right
(He's a genius in France, genius in France)
You know it
(He's a genius in France, genius in France, genius in France)

I'm not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree
But the folks in France, they don't seem to agree
They say, "Bonjour, Monsieur would you take ze picture with me?"

I say, "Oui, oui"
That's right, I say, "Oui, oui"
"Oui, oui"
He says, "Oui, oui"

I'm dumber than a box of hair
But those Frenchies don't seem to care
Don't know why, mon frere
But they love me there

I'm a genius in France
Yeah, I'm a genius in France

Gonna make a big splash when I show up in Cannes
Gonna make those Frenchies scream
"You ze man! You ze man! You ze man!"

Like a fine Renoir (waa), I've got that je me c'est quoi (quoi!)
Like a fine Renoir (ooh la la), I've got that je me c'est ...
Quoi quoi quoi quoi quoi, oo-we-oo
Quoi quoi quoi quoi quoi, oo-we-oo

Bow diddy bow di bow di bow bow diddy
Bow diddy bow di bow di bow bow diddy
Bow

[snort]

[Hazzardgate]

Interesting that Weinstein's favor boy Tarantino was the head of the jury that gave the prize to Moore the Hutt.

I guess QT owed Weinstein for allowing his precious KILL BILL to released in two parts...

[Red Badger]

RE: your tagline

Shouldn't that be ABYSMAL Gulf?

[TigersEye]

So what was it, Quent? The cinematography? The soundtrack?

Bite me, Quentin. You're leftist scum and there's no way to hide it anymore.

[Blue Highway]

There were "no politics" involved in this award. There were "no WMDs" in IRAQ. There was "no al-Queda" connection. .... right........

No... left.

[Mister Baredog]

"I knew this political crap would be brought up," said the outspoken Tarantino. "I think judging a film by its politics is a bad thing. If this movie was saying everything I wanted it to say, but not saying it with the best filmmaking, I would have opposed it."

This from the maker of Kill Bill pts 1 and 2.

Hollywood loves Moore but shows disdain for Mel Gibson, go figure. I guess we've been over rating this bunch for a long time. Looks like another Oscar for Moore. Maybe they can get him in on a Nobel Prize too, after all Jimmy Carter got one for hating Bush.

[Delphinium]

Nothing these America haters do surprises me.

Just makes me sick.

[CaptainK]

When an Italian journalist complained that the film had "only one point of view," juror Tilda Swinton, an actress from Scotland, replied "We've heard what Bush has to say. We live with it. It's not a fair fight. This film helps to redress the balance." And juror Edwidge Danticat, a Haitian-born American novelist, said, "Moore starts by saying this is his view of the world. He gives voice to people who are voiceless."

Well that's a relief. They picked the film for its merits and not for its political content. Why would they lie?

[sergeantdave]

The Cannes jury has hoisted a billboard that states: "We suck! We lie! We don't care that we're dolts. Long live Che!"

[tallhappy]

Tarantino is a judge at Cannes?

What a joke this is. The state of film is at an all time low.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

The only people that care about Cannes are the elite left, that is why the media is shoving it down our throats. I mean really how many films that they rave about are actually good? Moulin Rouge? Need I say more?

[AmishDude]

It's too bad Joseph Goebbels was unable to accept his lifetime achievement award.

[pogo101]

The movie generated controversy after Disney president Michael Eisner ordered his Miramax subsidiary, which produced it, not to distribute it in America

This is a lie, inserted right into a "straight news" story. Eisner told Weinf*** and Moore in 2003, over a year ago, that Disney would not allow its or Miramax's label to distribute the film.

[AmishDude]

That song is fast becoming a classic.

[KarlInOhio]

but because of its quality as a film.

It really is high quality film - Kodak's top of the line. Too bad Moore had to mess it up by running it through a camera.

[McGavin999]

I guess art is whatever they say it is, but IMHO they have hurt themselves once again.

Hollywood is a festering pustule on the backside of America and someday it's going to have to be lanced.

[longtermmemmory]

and the Nobel committe did not award their prize to Jimmy "the gloyhound" Carter because of politics.

It is absurdly OBVIOUS this was to bash bush. This is also an effort to secure distribution oversease if not in the USA. If this film is not distributed will it hurt moore in the pocket?