Flashback to May 2024. Cannes 2024 was just about to kick off and I posted about how Demi Moore was heading to the festival for the first time since 1997 and was expected to make a splash as both the Chopard godmother and the star of one of one of the most polarising films in competition. That was the beginning – The Substance went on to win the Cannes award for best screenplay and Demi Moore’s Oscar campaign was launched.
Cannes 2024 was more than just The Substance. The festival boasted the premieres of several films that would go onto contend at the big show, including the eventual Best Picture winner, Anora. But we are now past the halfway point of Cannes 2025 and, so far, it’s not looking like Cannes will go two for two. Sarah noted yesterday that the fashion has seemed muted, but everything seems muted. Sales are slow, and there aren’t that many titles that are getting the kind of hype that we saw last year with Anora, Emilia Pérez, The Substance, and Flow.
Which, in a way, can be good news for those who actually are standing out. Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest, starring Denzel Washington is building some solid momentum coming out of Cannes and if the box office is healthy in August when the movie opens, that will definitely confirm its place in the conversation. Scarlett Johansson’s Eleanor the Great, featuring June Squibb, has a built-in campaign narrative given that she’ll be 96 years old by the time the Oscars come around next year and some feel she was robbed of a nomination last year for her work in Thelma. With a big name like Scarjo behind her though, it might be the push that gets June into legit contender territory.
And then there’s Jennifer Lawrence. Her performance in Lynne Ramsay’s Die My Love is, so far, the most talked-about of the festival so far. The film was also acquired by Mubi, the same distributor that picked up The Substance last year and took Demi all the way to the Oscars. That film was body horror, about the violence that women inflict on their bodies while Die My Love is emotional horror, about the violence that women can experience in their minds. Both are disturbing in their own ways and center women’s desire, ambition, grief, and agency.
Also, it’s not like we aren’t already aware how the Academy feels about Jennifer Lawrence. She’s been nominated four times, won once. And it’s been a while since her last. They’re saying this is the most fearless performance of her career. So there is no doubt Mubi is coming out of Cannes with a plan in place to get Jennifer Lawrence back to the Oscars. Get ready for those kooky, sometimes obnoxious soundbites. It’s been a while – I miss them!
Also get ready for the fashion because her Cannes wardrobe was maybe the best streak we’ve seen from her in years. This would be the first major award season campaign for JLaw since Jamie Mizrahi became her stylist. Jamie, by the way, also styles reigning Oscar Best Actress Mikey Madison. In Cannes, Jamie had Jennifer in four looks that were all winners. This Dior kimono is gorgeous on her.
And there were two Diors for the red carpet – the first a pleated white dress with a fan neckline, stunning.
The second a black one shoulder situation that fell beautifully around her.
And my personal favourite – this gauzy set for the photo call, slouchy and breezy and beachy, a perfect choice for the occasion.
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