Maïwenn’s new film, which will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, is the best chance to bring back to the big screen after the disputes with ex-wife Amber Heard. Here because.
Jeanne du Barry is the new project directed, co-written and performed by MaiwennFrench actress and filmmaker who has already demonstrated her talent with Polisse And Mon roi – My king. The film, which among other things will be presented at the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, at the opening of the film event or on 16 May 2023, tells the story of the illegitimate daughter of the same name of a seamstress (embodied by Maïwenn herself) who, in 1700, he made a real social climb arriving directly from King Louis XV. The sovereign, who has the face of Johnny Depp, falls madly in love with her, then taking her to Versailles, where her arrival, of course, scandalizes the whole Parisian court. How long Jeanne du Barry actually risks attracting media attention more for the presence of Depp himself than for the possible quality of the work itself, considering the personal and professional collapse of the actor in recent years, it is appropriate to analyze why this feature film can represent his rebirth at Cinema.
A not too famous project
Let’s start by saying that Jeanne du Barry it’s a project that doesn’t fly too high: of course, it will be presented at Cannes, but in any case it’s not a high-end film created with the ambition of approaching the general public, but it seems to belong to that line of niche films from deep authorial vein. It is no coincidence, in fact, that we are faced with a not very well known true story of one outsidersa figure of great depth and ingenuity who, however, by its very nature, cannot be the protagonist of a feature film mainstream. In all of this, Johnny Depp has managed to carve out a decent space for himself, relying on a production (in this case Why Not Productions) that believed in him despite the recent legal dispute with Heard and the rumors that were circulating between the Studios. And a similar work, not ambitious but since concept interestingly, it’s the perfect window for a “forgotten” actor to re-emerge from the shadows, on his toes.
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A new climb
If you think about it, considering what happened to Johnny Depp, it seems like starting over. A star almost totally deprived of his notoriety, without the deep and secure connections that he had developed in recent years (Disney And Warner Bros. in particular) who is forced to start from scratch to climb the coveted celebrity. But to get to majors (and therefore regain confidence) it almost seems that the artist has to go through a transition period, a sort of initiation test in which he must once again demonstrate his talent. Jeanne du Barry is an ideal starting point for his new ascent to the stars because it is not primarily a question of a demented or poor title, but of a feature film that is already promising in itself which has chosen to exploit Depp’s experience as an added value, among the other taking a risk. A profound interchange from which both the production and the actor can certainly benefit, but from which the only certain winner seems to be the actor because he can only gain from it.
Redemption in Cannes
The Cannes Film Festival it has always been one of the great film events of the year, a leading showcase that gives visibility to the films presented and which, at the same time, represents an authoritative stage from which to make one’s voice ring out. In an already particularly sparkling 2023 edition, between the screening of the last chapter of the saga of Indiana Jonesthe new film by Martin Scorsese Killers of the Flower Moon, the necessary space has also been found for Jeanne du Barry. The mere presence of the film to a kermesse so much important already automatically shifts attention back to Johnny Depp, but that’s not all. Precisely because Cannes, as we anticipated earlier, is a place of aggregation and communication, the American celebrity will have the opportunity to confront not only his colleagues, with productions, directors and creatives, but will have all the audience available to address journalists, critics and tell his new story and will certainly have to dose his words very well.
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A suitable role
Examining the multifaceted and very rich Johnny Depp’s career, although some detractors maintain the uniformity of some of his roles (with an undoubted preference for eccentric and out of line characters), the artist has always shown a very flexible talent, able to adapt to many different situations . This new character, a French sovereign who ruled between lights and shadows, surrounded by lovers, wives and illegitimate children, seems to fit perfectly with the American interpreter’s artistic curriculum. A complex part, stratified and rich in nuances, an actor’s challenge that is by no means simple, but which is yet another demonstration of a careful choice of casting because it was relied on a crystalline genius and on an actor who, having reached this point, he just wants to reclaim that job that has consecrated him among the greatest in Hollywood. In his delicate professional situation, Depp knows very well that he can’t really go wrong with this role, but he is aware, at the same time, that a triumph for him could be high-sounding.
Still on the rear
Finally, there is another small detail that should not be underestimated in our analysis. Because if we look closely at the role assigned to Johnny Depp, we realize that, although it is certainly important within Jeanne du Barry, we are still talking about a secondary role compared to the protagonist embodied by Maïwenn. In fact, it is not a film that traces the entire life of King Louis XV, but which is instead dedicated to Marie-Jeanne Bécu, Countess du Barry. This really says a lot because while Depp has more leeway not actually being the central actor of the story, he also gives his stage space to an artist who, despite being known, is not as famous as him. Furthermore, after all that has happened in court, this artistic handover, in which there is an actress pulling the strings, while he is only in the background, metaphorically seems a fitting image of the post-trial, with Johnny yes winner of the legal battle, but still not completely because he was sentenced to 2 million dollars in compensation for the allegations of one of his former lawyers against Amber Heard.