Lindsay Miller
LA Editor, Entertainment
Movies

Cannes Review: James Franco Makes an Ambitious but Faltering Debut With As I Lay Dying

James Franco's As I Lay Dying earned a standing ovation following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, but while it shows promise for Franco's burgeoning directorial career, its stumbles highlight his newness to helming films.

James Franco's As I Lay Dying earned a standing ovation following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, but while it shows promise for Franco's burgeoning directorial career, its stumbles highlight his newness to helming films.

William Faulkner's classic novel As I Lay Dying is a famously dense story about the destitute Bundren clan and their calamitous journey to lay their matriarch, Addie, to rest in Jefferson, MS. The trip unleashes a dismal chain of events that leaves them all somehow changed or scarred — sometimes physically.

It seems fitting that Franco, an actor-slash-author himself, would combine his love for film and literature in his feature-length directorial debut. And he does an impressive job unraveling the complex narrative, which in the book is told by 15 different characters and jumps vaguely backward and forward in time. Sure, there's no doubt that it's ambitious for a first-time filmmaker to take on one of the most acclaimed novels in American history, but at least Franco's devotion to, and admiration of, the source material is clear. He does well capturing its Southern Gothic sensibility, shooting in the mostly drab colors of the Great Depression and drawing appropriately beaten-down performances from his actors.

For the rest of my review, just read more.

Movies

6 of the Most Buzzed-About (and Booed) Movies of the Cannes Film Festival

The Cannes Film Festival is the most prominent cinematic celebration in the world, making it a place where a film can either skyrocket to success — or crash and burn.

The Cannes Film Festival is the most prominent cinematic celebration in the world, making it a place where a film can either skyrocket to success — or crash and burn.

This year, a handful of movies came to dominate the conversation among industry insiders in the South of France. Sofia Coppola's study of youth and excess in LA, The Bling Ring, and the latest Coen brothers offering, Inside Llewyn Davis, were two of the most talked-about projects in contention at the fest, and some unexpected films also made a splash. Click through for our breakdown of the six movies that got the most lip service — both good and bad! — during our time at this year's festival!

Cannes Film Festival

Video: Ahna O'Reilly on Ex James Franco's "Kindest Gesture" and Cannes Nerves!

Ahna O'Reilly has not one, but two projects at the Cannes Film Festival this year, and we sat down with the actress to talk about this extraordinary experience, the reception to her two movies, and what it was like to work with her ex-boyfriend James Franco as a director.

Ahna O'Reilly has not one, but two projects at the Cannes Film Festival this year, and we sat down with the actress to talk about this extraordinary experience, the reception to her two movies, and what it was like to work with her ex-boyfriend James Franco as a director. First up for Ahna was Fruitvale Station, which was coming off huge Sundance success before subsequently being picked up by The Weinstein Company. Ahna spoked about reuniting with good friend Octavia Spencer for their surreal Cannes Palais moment. Ahna also revealed how much she doubted that James Franco actually wanted her to star in his adaptation of As I Lay Dying and discussed who, between the two of them, was more nervous for their big premiere. Check our chat, and keep your eye out for lots more from Ahna O'Reilly.

Inside Llewyn Davis

Justin Timberlake and Carey Mulligan Talk About the “Warm and Fuzzy” Inside Llewyn Davis

Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, Garrett Hedlund, and Oscar Isaac joined forces today at the Cannes Film Festival to promote their new Coen brothers film, Inside Llewyn Davis.

Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, Garrett Hedlund, and Oscar Isaac joined forces today at the Cannes Film Festival to promote their new Coen brothers film, Inside Llewyn Davis. The movie, which follows Oscar's character as a fictionalized, struggling folk singer in the 1960s, was one of the most anticipated of the day.

After a photocall by the beach, the cast and directors gave a press conference, where they talked about the familial bond they shared on the set and the vital role that music plays in the telling of the story. Here are some highlights:

Justin on his connection to the movie's music: "As far as singing in the movie, obviously on the surface, it’s a different style from the music I make in real life. But listen, man, I grew up in Tennessee. Home of the blues, birthplace of rock and roll. . . . My grandfather [had] an old Gibson guitar — he taught me how to fingerpick. So it felt warm and fuzzy to me to be in this movie."

Carey on singing on screen: “I’m very nervous about singing in front of people. We had a week before we started shooting where we worked — what did we do? We all met up, and T-Bone produced the music and decided . . . what everyone’s voice was going to sound like.”

Oscar on the importance of music in creating character: "For everybody, the songs were what really showed you their inner life and their taste, their point of view. I saw it almost as much as a rehearsal for the personhood as the music.”

Justin on making it as a musician: “There is sort of the Malcolm Gladwell 10,000 hours theory about how you can’t consider yourself an expert at anything until you’ve kind of had 10,000 hours at it. I agree with practice. There's many people that spend that much time and somehow never get heard. You meet so many talented people along the way who for some reason or another don’t get heard."

POPSUGAR Entertainment

Video: Angela Kinsey Gets Emotional About The Office's Final Moments

After nine seasons, The Office will say goodbye tonight Angela Kinsey, who has been with the cast since the beginning, stopped by our LA studio recently to talk about the emotional last scene the cast shot together and why she thinks Dwight and Angela belong together in the series.

After nine seasons, The Office will say goodbye tonight Angela Kinsey, who has been with the cast since the beginning, stopped by our LA studio recently to talk about the emotional last scene the cast shot together and why she thinks Dwight and Angela belong together in the series. She also gave us a hint as to which familiar faces we might see before the show comes to a close. Tune in for the final episode of The Office tonight on NBC.

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Bitsie Tulloch on Grimm's Zombie-Filled Finale and a Serious Cliffhanger

Grimm star Bitsie Tulloch stopped by our LA studios to give us some intel into the upcoming season finale of the supernatural drama.

Grimm star Bitsie Tulloch stopped by our LA studios to give us some intel into the upcoming season finale of the supernatural drama. Hint: there will be zombies! Bitsie also chatted with us about the cast's close-knit living quarters in Portland, where the show shoots, and the finale's big cliffhanger. Apparently, one of the main characters' fates will remain uncertain until the show returns for a third season. Catch Grimm tonight at 10/9 Central. On Lindsay: Club Monaco dress and Sharouk necklace.

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Hart of Dixie's Guys Share a Sneak Peek at the "Caper" Behind Tonight's Season Finale

We recently had a chance to spend a day in Bluebell, visiting the set of Hart of Dixie, as the cast shot the season finale.

We recently had a chance to spend a day in Bluebell, visiting the set of Hart of Dixie, as the cast shot the season finale. Dr. Brick Breeland himself, Tim Matheson, directed the episode. We spoke to Tim and his costars Cress Williams and Scott Porter about what fans can expect from this season's goodbye. Not only can we look forward to an appearance by the country band Gloriana, but also, they promised us an "homage to Oceans 11" in the heist-themed episode. Check out our look behind-the-scenes look, and catch Hart of Dixie's season-two finale tonight at 8/7 Central. On Lindsay: BeBe dress.

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Joey Lawrence Talks Splash's Big Finale and '90s Nostalgia

This year, Joey Lawrence tried a new role on for size as the host of ABC's newest reality series, Splash.

This year, Joey Lawrence tried a new role on for size as the host of ABC's newest reality series, Splash. Joey paid a visit to our LA studios recently to talk about the diving competition's final episode and which stars surprised him the most with their skills. We also talked about what's ahead on the upcoming season of Melissa & Joey and why the 1990s are having a resurgence. He even mentioned how he discovered that Joey Russo, his character from Blossom, had a surprising connection to Kanye West. The Splash season finale airs tonight at 8/7 Central.

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Sarah Chalke on How to Live With Your Parents and Her Scariest Moment as a Mom

Sarah Chalke made her return to TV last month in the family comedy How to Live With Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life).

Sarah Chalke made her return to TV last month in the family comedy How to Live With Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life). The actress stopped by our LA studios recently to talk about why this is the role she "relates to the most" in her career so far and why she thinks it resonates with a new generation of adults. Sarah also opened up about the personal story that inspired her recent guest appearance on Grey's Anatomy and weighed in on the potential of a Scrubs reunion. How to Live With Your Parents airs Wednesday nights on ABC. On Lindsay: BCBG blazer and Heather Gardener necklace.

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Don Cheadle Says We'll "Hopefully" See Him in the Avengers Sequel

Don Cheadle takes on a new challenge as Lt.

Don Cheadle takes on a new challenge as Lt. Col. James Rhodes in Iron Man 3, sporting a superhero suit of his own as the Iron Patriot. We caught up with the actor at a recent press day for the movie, where he talked about the "cumbersome" and "tricky" costume and hinted that his character might appear in the Avengers sequel. Lindsay's wardrobe provided by Clover Canyon.

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Sir Ben Kingsley Says Iron Man 3 Doesn't "Dumb Down" Its Take on Terrorism

Sir Ben Kingsley stars as the Mandarin, an international terrorist bent on destroying Tony Stark, in Iron Man 3.

Sir Ben Kingsley stars as the Mandarin, an international terrorist bent on destroying Tony Stark, in Iron Man 3. We sat down with the acclaimed actor in LA to ask him about the movie's handling of such a sensitive and timely topic and to learn how he made the classic comic-book character his own — while still staying true to his origins. Iron Man 3 hits theaters everywhere on May 3.

Celebrity Interviews

Olly Murs Talks Touring With One Direction and Performs His Single "Heart Skips a Beat"

Olly Murs grew up dreaming of soccer stardom, but after an injury left him unable to play, he found a new passion in singing.

Olly Murs grew up dreaming of soccer stardom, but after an injury left him unable to play, he found a new passion in singing. After a less-than-serious start belting out karaoke in local pubs, he made it to the final two on UK's The X Factor in 2010. Olly's first two CDs have already been a success in the UK, and his latest album, Right Place, Right Time is now available in the US.

We caught up with Olly in LA during his recent tour with One Direction. He chatted with us about the "cheeky" tone of his new CD, his role as de facto big brother to the One Direction boys, and why he's still on the search for the right girl. He also performed an exclusive, stripped-down version of his single, "Heart Skips a Beat."

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Guy Pearce and Rebecca Hall Reflect on Being Part of the "Enormity" of Iron Man 3

Guy Pearce and Rebecca Hall round out an all-star cast in Iron Man 3, and when we sat down with the duo at a recent press day for the movie, they told us what it was like to join one of the most popular film franchises in the world.

Guy Pearce and Rebecca Hall round out an all-star cast in Iron Man 3, and when we sat down with the duo at a recent press day for the movie, they told us what it was like to join one of the most popular film franchises in the world. Guy and Rebecca also weighed in on working with Robert Downey Jr., who Guy says is "great fun," and playing two of the movie's most morally complicated characters. Iron Man 3 hits theaters in the US on May 3. Lindsay's wardrobe provided by Clover Canyon.

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Hemlock Grove's Freya Tingley and Penelope Mitchell on Their "Intense" New Netflix Series

Netflix ventured into new territory when it debuted its first original series, House of Cards, earlier this year.

Netflix ventured into new territory when it debuted its first original series, House of Cards, earlier this year. Now, it's following up the success of that show with a wildly different offering: Hemlock Grove. The supernatural thriller combines elements of True Blood with a quirky sense of dark humor and was more widely viewed during its first weekend available than House of Cards. We recently welcomed two of its stars, Freya Tingley and Penelope Mitchell, to our LA studios to talk about working with director and executive producer Eli Roth and why fans can expect "closure" by episode 13. On Lindsay: Clover Canyon jacket.

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Jayma Mays Shares the "Beautiful Story" Behind Her Safari and Talks Glee's Finale

Glee actress Jayma Mays stopped by our LA studios recently to share a look at the work she's doing with jewelry brand Raven and Lily.

Glee actress Jayma Mays stopped by our LA studios recently to share a look at the work she's doing with jewelry brand Raven and Lily. The collection, launched by two of Jayma's good friends, employs women in poverty-stricken areas of countries like Ethiopia and India, where they design and handcraft jewelry made of old bullet casings and coins for a fair wage. Jayma is now serving as Raven and Lily's global ambassador and is planning a trip to Africa this Summer to meet some of the women whose lives have been improved by the partnership; for a closer look at the jewelry and accessories these women are crafting, check out Raven and Lily online. Jayma also filled us in on what's ahead for "Wemma" on Glee after their disastrous wedding day and what fans can expect from the upcoming season finale. On Lindsay: L.A.M.B. blazer.

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Katy Mixon on "Dearest Friend" Melissa McCarthy and Her "Wild Child" Return to Eastbound & Down

On Mike & Molly, Katy Mixon plays Victoria, a "hot mess" with a "heart of gold."

On Mike & Molly, Katy Mixon plays Victoria, a "hot mess" with a "heart of gold." We caught up with the actress at our LA studios recently to talk about working with Melissa McCarthy, whom she calls her "absolute, dearest friend," and to get a preview of the next episode of the show. We also got the scoop on Katy's role in the upcoming fourth season of Eastbound & Down. She promised we'll be seeing a different side of April this year and also shared a hilarious story about using a body double on the set. Mike & Molly airs Monday nights on CBS at 9:30/8:30 Central. On Lindsay: BeBe vest.

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Clive Standen Promises a "Roller Coaster" on Vikings and Talks Staying True to History

Clive Standen is no stranger to historical dramas, having starred in the Camelot miniseries, the BBC show Robin Hood, and now, History's Vikings.

Clive Standen is no stranger to historical dramas, having starred in the Camelot miniseries, the BBC show Robin Hood, and now, History's Vikings. The actor stopped by our LA studios recently to talk about his early start doing stuntwork as a child in his native England and the roundabout way he came to be an actor. Clive also talked to us about bringing his kids to the Ireland set of Vikings and getting into character as Rollo, who is based on a real-life historical figure. The season finale of Vikings airs this Sunday at 10/9 Central.

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Rebecca Hall Talks "First-Day-of-School Nerves" on the Iron Man 3 Set

Rebecca Hall plays scientist Dr. Maya Hansen in Iron Man 3, which means sharing the bulk of her scenes with Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Robert Downey Jr. Despite Rebecca's own impressive acting resume, she told us she was "nervous" about showing up to set for the first time when we caught up with her at the premiere of the film last night in Hollywood.

Rebecca Hall plays scientist Dr. Maya Hansen in Iron Man 3, which means sharing the bulk of her scenes with Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Robert Downey Jr. Despite Rebecca's own impressive acting resume, she told us she was "nervous" about showing up to set for the first time when we caught up with her at the premiere of the film last night in Hollywood. She also said she responded to the "strong" and "intelligent" roles written for the female characters in the movie.

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Ben Kingsley Talks Portraying the "Dark Side" of Iron Man 3

Sir Ben Kingsley is one of the most celebrated actors of our time, and in Iron Man 3, audiences will see a new side of him as terrorist villain The Mandarin.

Sir Ben Kingsley is one of the most celebrated actors of our time, and in Iron Man 3, audiences will see a new side of him as terrorist villain The Mandarin. We spoke with the actor at last night's world premiere of the film to ask him about the process of bringing the comic-book character to life and how his perceptions of Robert Downey Jr. changed once he met and worked alongside him.

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Robert Downey Jr. Says He Doesn't Want to "Wear Out His Welcome" as Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr. will be back as Tony Stark in next month's Iron Man 3, and at tonight's Hollywood premiere of the film, he hinted that he might be ready to hang up Iron Man's suit for good after this film.

Robert Downey Jr. will be back as Tony Stark in next month's Iron Man 3, and at tonight's Hollywood premiere of the film, he hinted that he might be ready to hang up Iron Man's suit for good after this film. The actor continued to play coy when we asked if he'll be back for another installment of the series — or appear in The Avengers 2 — but told us he has plans to continue working with his no. 1 collaborator: wife Susan Downey. Iron Man 3 hits theaters on May 3.