After a group of women were not permitted to enter the premiere of the Oscar-nominated Carol previous year because they had flats on their feet, the annual film festival has come under fire for the outdated expectation.
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His new movie, “Café Society”, a light romance set in 1930s Hollywood, received a modest standing ovation at the Grand Theatre Lumiere Wednesday night, where Allen attended the screening with his wife, Soon-Yi, as well as Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Blake Lively and Corey Stoll, who star in the film.
“I’m a comic myself and I feel they should be free to make whatever jokes they want”.
Allen also said that he hadn’t read Ronan Farrow’s essay.
“We need these festivals to promote film makers”.
“I think any jokes about rape, homophobia or Hitler is not a joke”, the Shallows actress said.
A subtle and captivating performance from Kristen Stewart aside, Allen’s picture-a comedy set in 1930s Hollywood and NY, featuring Jesse Eisenberg slumping around in a series of ill-fitting jackets as he mimics Allen’s carriage and diction-isn’t much.
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The business of picking winners may be the Cannes Film Festival jury’s raison d’etre, but it leaves Woody Allen so cold that he has always refused to be up for a prize at the annual extravaganza. “It’s not the time, it’s not the place, it’s just not done”. Film festivals are such a handsome, respectful festivals of film and artists and to have that, it felt like it wouldn’t have happened if it was in the 1940s. Never read an interview. To me, that is the mistake of the show. “I said everything I had to say about that whole issue in The New York Times”. But when they did come up, Allen gave his now-standard reply. I said everything I have to say about it. “I get the black-tie thing but you should be able to do either version-flats or heels”. I can’t imagine Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby going out and doing that.
