Film Scouts Buzz

1998 Cannes Film Festival Buzz
Armageddon Buzz

by Richard Schwartz

CANNES - The buzz on "Armageddon" following a half-hour media preview earlier this week was not overly positive. Daily Variety reported that an unimpressed press corps (those who could make it in, at least) chuckled at unintentionally humorous dialogue, which prompted this panicky Bruce Willis reaction: "This is still an unfinished product." But if that's really the case, there's not much time to finish it - the Disney release is set for the first weekend in July...

Meanwhile, Bruce and his band, the Radiators (perhaps an evolution of his former outift, Bruno and the Heaters?) jammed at Planet Hollywood Cannes on Tuesday night... Jean-Claude Van Damme was another Planet Hollywood visitor earlier in the week...

Also making appearances this week: Sharon Stone starring in the out-of-competition "The Mighty" and hosting Thursday night's annual AmFAR benefit; Elton John, paying a visit to the AmFAR benefit; Robert Duvall, turning up for a screening of his "The Apostle;" Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General who opened the festival; B. B. King, jamming at the "Blues Brothers 2000" party; et al...

Menachem Golan and Yoram Globus, darlings of the Croisette during the '80s, returned to the festival with a brand new production and distribution company... Matt Dillon came to town to announce his directorial debut... Lotsa talk about director Mary Harron pulling out of the film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' "American Psycho," apparently unstatisfied with the casting choice of the $21-million man, Leonardo DiCaprio... "Leo," as they call him, stares out from every poster and magazine on the Croisette... Sony signed a deal with Gaumont to distribute Luc Besson's next epic, "Joan of Arc," stateside...

The marketing round-up this year: no inflatable ballons (yet) on the Med a la the giant floating Howard Stern. However, the Robert DeNiro film "Ronin" has the prime spot in front of the Carlton Hotel while billboards pushing Disney's "Armageddon" and its animated projects line the Croisette. On the Carlton roof is a "Godzilla" billboard, which, in keeping with the marketing line, declares: "He's bigger than the Carlton Hotel."

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