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Mad Max director George Miller to head Cannes film festival jury Mad Max director George Miller to head Cannes film festival jury
(7 months later)
Mad Max creator George Miller will head the jury at this year’s Cannes film festival, its organisers said on Tuesday, the first Australian to preside over the world film event.Mad Max creator George Miller will head the jury at this year’s Cannes film festival, its organisers said on Tuesday, the first Australian to preside over the world film event.
The 70-year-old director of The Witches of Eastwick, who launched the career of the Hollywood star Mel Gibson and a whole genre of outback-gothic films with the Mad Max series in 1979, reacted to the news in flamboyant fashion. “What an unmitigated delight!” he said. “Such an honour. I’ll be there with bells on!”The 70-year-old director of The Witches of Eastwick, who launched the career of the Hollywood star Mel Gibson and a whole genre of outback-gothic films with the Mad Max series in 1979, reacted to the news in flamboyant fashion. “What an unmitigated delight!” he said. “Such an honour. I’ll be there with bells on!”
Related: George Miller: 'There has been a massive talent drain in Australia'
Choosing the unapologetically populist Miller, who also wrote and directed the world’s first blockbuster about a talking pig, Babe, may ruffle the sensibilities of Cannes’ arthouse diehards. He returned to the animal kingdom with the animated 2006 hit about tap-dancing penguins, Happy Feet.Choosing the unapologetically populist Miller, who also wrote and directed the world’s first blockbuster about a talking pig, Babe, may ruffle the sensibilities of Cannes’ arthouse diehards. He returned to the animal kingdom with the animated 2006 hit about tap-dancing penguins, Happy Feet.
But the organisers were at pains to point to his credentials as a cinematic pioneer. “Throughout his career, George Miller has constantly experimented with a variety of genres, brilliantly reconciling mass audience expectations and the highest artistic standards,” they said.But the organisers were at pains to point to his credentials as a cinematic pioneer. “Throughout his career, George Miller has constantly experimented with a variety of genres, brilliantly reconciling mass audience expectations and the highest artistic standards,” they said.
Mad Max broke the mould, they argued, “an ultra-violent futuristic film that brought the action film genre a touch of class with its masterly combination of road movie, western and science fiction elements”.Mad Max broke the mould, they argued, “an ultra-violent futuristic film that brought the action film genre a touch of class with its masterly combination of road movie, western and science fiction elements”.
The fourth in the series, Mad Max: Fury Road, opened last year’s Cannes festival and is in the running for no less than 10 Oscars this month. It scooped nine prizes at last week’s Critics’ Choice awards in Los Angeles, including best director.The fourth in the series, Mad Max: Fury Road, opened last year’s Cannes festival and is in the running for no less than 10 Oscars this month. It scooped nine prizes at last week’s Critics’ Choice awards in Los Angeles, including best director.
Miller’s heart-breaking drama Lorenzo’s Oil, starring Susan Sarandon and Nick Nolte, was nominated for two Oscars in 1992. But Happy Feet won the director the best animated feature award in 2006.Miller’s heart-breaking drama Lorenzo’s Oil, starring Susan Sarandon and Nick Nolte, was nominated for two Oscars in 1992. But Happy Feet won the director the best animated feature award in 2006.
The director was one of several successful film-makers to have emerged from Australia in the 1980s, including Peter Weir (Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Truman Show), Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy) and Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games).The director was one of several successful film-makers to have emerged from Australia in the 1980s, including Peter Weir (Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Truman Show), Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy) and Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games).
The 69th Cannes festival will run from 11-22 May. Miller’s jury, who will decide who gets its top prize, the Palme d’Or, will be announced later.The 69th Cannes festival will run from 11-22 May. Miller’s jury, who will decide who gets its top prize, the Palme d’Or, will be announced later.