So as you know – this is one of my favourite things about being a journalist and being at the Cannes Film Festival – to watch a movie, be a little confused…and then be able to ask the people who made that movie exactly what it all meant!
And that’s what happened today, after last night’s enjoyable but a little perplexing “Inside Llewyn Davis” by Joel and Ethan Coen, the famous brothers who have made such enjoyable hits as “Fargo” and who often work with George Clooney and John Goodman.
The Coen Brothers during the filming of Inside Llewyn Davis
Goodman appears in “Inside Llewyn Davis”. In fact he appears in a part of the film that has very little to do with the rest of the film. The Coen brothers admitted today that that was just something they decided to do for fun – just insert a “road movie” in the middle of the movie they were already making.
They also addressed the scenes about the cat, and confirmed (half-jokingly!) that “yes, the film revolves around the cat!”
Most of the journalists in the conference room were quite taken with the movie, actually loved it passionately – because it doesn’t conform to any rules! And most were also taken with the Coen Brothers during the press conference. Especially one man from Germany who almost brought the conference to a standstill with his question – which was basically to ask the Coen brothers to inject some humour into Germany because, according to this man, since many Jews were exterminated during World War II, the humour has left the country…The journalist claimed that this has actually been spoken about in Germany, the need for Jewish people to bring humour back.
Most people in the conference didn’t know whether to laugh or be outraged. Fortunately the sound director of the film stepped in to thank the man for his incredibly insightful question and told him he’d like to ponder it and get back to him.
Justin Timberlake was also at the press conference. Interesting. He play his role in the film so well that it takes a while before you realise that’s Timberlake. And to meet him in real life – he’s not what you’d think. He’s a deep thinker. Incredibly knowledgeable. But of course. It makes sense. Nobody gets that successful unless they’re smart and talented.