Commonly thought of as an outstanding director, writer, and producer, Gus Van Sant is most notably known for his films Good Will Hunting, Milk, and Elephant. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like The Sea of Trees will be joining the canon of great Gus Van Sant films anytime soon.
Filmed in Massachusetts, The Sea of Trees is an epic drama about Arthur Brennen (Matthew McConaughey), a suicidal widower who journeys to a forest at the base of Mount Fuji and meets Takumi Nakamura, a man who is also described as “lost” (Ken Watanabe). Together, they go on both a physical and metaphysical journey and reclaim their connection to life, death, and love.
While the premise of the film seems relatable enough, a portion of the Cannes audience had a very strong, negative reaction.
“Anyone has as much right to boo as they do to ovate,” said McConaughey in response to the feedback.
Unfortuntaely for McConaughey, his response only garnered more criticism, and the Hollywood Reporter was quick to point out that the definition of “ovate” is “egg shaped.”
Van Sant also had something to say in defense of his film.
“I remember there was always a story after Elephant screened, there were fisticuffs, fighting over whether it was good or bad, actually punching. And that was at Cannes as well. Who knows, day by day, whether the screening was today or yesterday, whether it makes a difference, I’m not sure at the end of a particularly screening, I don’t know,” printed the Hollywood Reporter.
While both responses were somewhat convoluted and mildly amusing, it’s safe to say that we will all have to see the film for ourselves in order to determine whether these boos were merited or not.
Homepage Photo Credit: IMDB.
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An uptight and by-the-book cop tries to protect the outgoing widow of a drug boss as they race through Texas pursued by crooked cops and murderous gunmen.
In a stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, two rebels just might be able to restore order: Max, a man of action and of few words, and Furiosa, a woman of action who is looking to make it back to her childhood homeland.
Stars: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult (IMDB)
After a humiliating command performance at Lincoln Center, the Barden Bellas enter an international competition that no American group has ever won in order to regain their status and right to perform.
Bound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory.
Stars: George Clooney, Britt Robertson and Hugh Laurie (IMDB)
In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot makes a dangerous journey across the state in order to rescue his estranged daughter.
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Alexandra Daddario and Carla Gugino (IMDB)
Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park (1993), Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor's interest, which backfires horribly.
Stars: Chris Pratt, Judy Greer and Ty Simpkins (IMDB)
After finding himself in a new time-line, Kyle Reese teams up with John Connor's mother Sarah and an aging terminator to try and stop the one thing that the future fears, "Judgement Day".
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke and Jai Courtney (IMDB)
Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by Scarlet Overkill, a super-villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world.
Stars: Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin and Sandra Bullock (IMDB)
Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Stars: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly and Hayley Atwell (IMDB)
The story of an orphan who is spirited away to the magical Neverland. There, he finds both fun and dangers, and ultimately discovers his destiny -- to become the hero who will be forever known as Peter Pan.
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Levi Miller and Jimmy Vee (IMDB)
Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate - an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF.
Stars: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg (IMDB)
Four young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The four must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.
Stars: Miles Teller, Kate Mara and Michael B. Jordan (IMDB)
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