Ryan McNeilI don’t normally post trailers on Mondays, but the schedule this week is a little bit all over the place. Therefore this seemed like as good a time as any to get some thoughts down about this upcoming project.
During the run-up to the last round of Academy Awards, I found myself discussing director Jean-Marc Vallée with my younger brother. Considering the amount of nominations handed down to DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (including an editing nomination for Vallée himself), my brother wondered if “Canada was about to lose Vallée”? For the unfamiliar, back before Vallée directed McConaughey and Leto to award-winning performances, he helmed two of the very best Canadian film of the new century – CAFE DE FLORE and C.R.A.Z.Y. While his first leap to Hollywood with THE YOUNG VICTORIA didn’t make much noise, his work with DALLAS BUYERS CLUB has definitely scored him some attention.
One wonders now if he’ll ever come back home and make the sort of heartfelt, personal projects like CAFE DE FLORE or C.R.A.Z.Y. anytime soon. The fact that he’s following-up DALLAS BUYERS CLUB with WILD suggests not. If he doesn’t, then one can’t really blame him – after all one should be able to chase down the greatest amount of personal success possible. It’s just a little bittersweet for everybody here back home.
I’m not very familiar with Vallée’s work pre Dallas Buyers Club (which I loved), but not a particular fan of Reese Witherspoon. The trailer looks intriguing and I’d like to read the book before seeing the movie.
Well in that case, I vote you track down CAFE DE FLORE as soon as possible and consider it my midsummer gift to you!