Author: Karishma Sarkari

Scarlett Johansson made her directorial debut at the Cannes Film Festival with the drama Eleanor The Great.The feature-length project was produced together with Justin Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios but the It Ends with Us actor and director, who is in a legal battle with Blake Lively, wasn’t among the attendees.Instead, Johansson was joined by her husband, comedian Colin Jost, who looked lovingly and proudly at the actress as she addressed the audience inside Debussy Theatre on Tuesday.READ MORE: Denzel Washington skips Cannes event after paparazzi incidentScarlett Johansson has made her directorial debut at the Cannes Film Festival with the drama Eleanor The Great. (Lionel Hahn/Getty Images)The 40-year-old called it “really a dream come true” to be making her directorial debut at the famed French film festival, having spent a number of years living in Paris with her ex-husband, French journalist Romain Dauriac.”When you make a film that’s an independent film like this, no one’s doing it for the money — surprise, surprise,” Johansson said, according to Variety.”Really, everyone that came together for this film came together because they loved the story, the script so much.”It’s a film about many things: it’s about friendship, it’s about grief, it’s about forgiveness. And I think those are all themes that we can use a lot more of these days.”READ MORE: Jessica Simpson makes her first TV appearance in 15 yearsThe 40-year-old called it “really a dream come true” to be making her directorial debut at the famed French film festival (Lionel Hahn/Getty Images)Colin Jost looked on proudly as his wife gave a speech on stage to introduce the drama. (Lionel Hahn/Getty Images)When the Black Widow star got back to her seat, the celebrity couple shared a kiss.The movie stars acting legend June Squibb, 95, who was in attendance as well as Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy star Chiwetel Ejiofor and Breaking Bad’s Jessica Hecht.Johansson called Squibb “truly inspiring” in the title role of Eleanor Morgenstern.The movie tells the story of a 94-year-old retiree who, after the sudden loss of her lifelong best friend, moves from Florida to live with her daughter in New York, where she befriends a 19-year-old student.It’s been 12 years since Squibb’s last appearance at Cannes, where she was a part of Alexander Payne’s 2013 film Nebraska, a role which earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination.When the Black Widow star got back to her seat, the celebrity couple shared a kiss. (Lionel Hahn/Getty Images)Two-time Oscar-winner Adrien Brody and his partner Georgina Chapman were among those in the audience. (Lionel Hahn/Getty Images)Two-time Oscar-winner Adrien Brody and his partner, Georgina Chapman, were among those in the audience and were seen talking to Jost while Johansson spoke with movie industry execs.The movie scored a five-minute standing ovation but has had mixed reviews from critics.For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter hereScarJo, as she’s affectionately known, has been on double duty in Cannes, having premiered her new Wes Anderson film The Phoenician Scheme earlier this week.Her trip to France came just days after making Saturday Night Live (SNL) history by becoming the first woman to host the show for the seventh time.One of the skits involved teaming up with her husband, who co-hosts SNL’s Weekend Update with comedian Michael Che, to get revenge on Che for a rude joke he wrote at her expense last year.FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.

Denzel Washington has skipped the Cannes Film Festival press conference for his latest movie Highest 2 Lowest, hours after an altercation on the red carpet.The Gladiator II star appeared to have a confrontation with paparazzi on the red carpet at the premiere of the flick, a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film High and Low.Director Spike Lee, who helmed the film, appeared to address his lead actor’s no-show at the press conference on Tuesday morning (evening AEST).READ MORE: Fan stunned to find Instagram message from megastarDenzel Washington has skipped the Cannes Film Festival press conference for his latest movie Highest 2 Lowest, hours after an altercation on the red carpet. (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)”The last time I was in this room, I had to apologise for a f— up, but I won’t be apologising today for a f— up,” he told reporters at Palais des Festivals.Lee was referring to 2021, when the legendary filmmaker served as Jury president and prematurely announced the Palme d’Or winner (Titane) during the closing-night ceremony.Washington is understood to have said “stop it” to the photographer but it’s not exactly known what sparked the incident.The A-Lister is yet to speak about the altercation but appeared upbeat shortly after when he was awarded a surprise honorary Palme d’Or (Golden Palm) by Lee at the film’s premiere.”This is a total surprise for me, so I’m emotional,” Washington said.”It’s a great opportunity to collaborate with my brother once again, brother from another mother, and to be here once again in Cannes.READ MORE: The Cannes moments the world can’t stop talking aboutThe Gladiator II star appeared to have a confrontation with paparazzi on the red carpet at the premiere of the flick, a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film High and Low. (Getty)It’s understood the A-Lister said “stop it” to the photographer but it’s not exactly known what sparked the incident. (Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)”We’re a very privileged group in this room that we get to make movies and wear tuxedos and nice clothes and dress up and get paid for it as well.”We’re just blessed beyond measure. I’m blessed beyond measure. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.”The actor and director have collaborated together on five films since Mo’ Better Blues in 1990.But Lee suggested Highest 2 Lowest would be their last together.”Denzel and I didn’t know that our previous film, Inside Man, was 18 years ago,” he said.Washington is yet to speak about the incident but looked upbeat shortly after, when he was awarded a surprise honorary Palme d’Or by Lee at the film’s premiere. (Sameer Al-Doumy, Pool via AP)”We were surprised because it felt like yesterday. But we didn’t miss a step.”It’s been a blessing to have this body of work of us doing films that the people love. It’s a blessing, again. I don’t know if we’re going to do it again.”I think this is it. Five [films]. He’s [Denzel] been talking about retirement, even though he just did another deal.”Washington first spoke about retiring from the industry in an interview with Richard Wilkins, telling the Today entertainment editor he’ll step back following the release of Black Panther 3.Director Spike Lee, who helmed the film appeared to address his lead actor’s no-show at the press conference on Tuesday morning (evening AEST). (Clemens Bilan/Pool/Getty Images)He later clarified his comments while promoting Gladiator II in London.”It’s not over, let them know it’s not over, I’m not retiring tomorrow,” he told Yahoo UK.”I said I have all these films to do and then I want to get behind the camera, which is going to take a year or two, or three.”So, do the math, I think I mentioned five or six films [so] even if I did one a year – which it won’t be – but even if I did, that is six years and I’m 70 in a month, that’s 76. If I direct the movie after that, that’s two to three years, that’s 79.For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here”You don’t want Equalizer 7 at 79-80 years old, you don’t want that, I don’t want that.”Highest 2 Lowest, which won’t be released in cinemas until August, was a late inclusion in the Cannes Film Festival schedule with Washington’s presence remaining unconfirmed till late in the piece due to his commitments on Broadway.It’s not known if Washington skipped the press conference due to the paparazzi incident or if he left the country due to his work commitments.It’s understood Cannes had flipped around some of its scheduling to accommodate Washington’s speedy France trip, which came on his lone off-day while performing Othello in New York.FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.