As the Cannes Film Festival enters its third day on Friday on the French Riviera, some films are being praised, others dissed — while others are eagerly awaited over the next week, mostly because of their stars.
Here are trailers for some of the most talked-about English-language films unreeling on the Côte d’Azur , which may or may not turn out to be any good:
‘The Captive’
Ryan Reynolds (who badly needs a comeback) and Rosario Dawson star in this abduction thriller from Canada’s Atom Egoyan, which was just picked up for US distribution. Early reviews are even worse than for Nicole Kidman’s festival opener, “Grace of Monaco.’’
Variety terms it “ludicrous’’ and Britain’s The Guardian asks: “Has a grown-up person written this script? It is embarrassingly unconvincing.’’
‘Mr. Turner’
Cannes’ best reviews went to Mike Leigh’s biopic, which stars character actor Timothy Spall as eccentric British painter J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851). Sony Pictures Classics will distribute in the US later this year.
‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’
Showing out of competition on Friday in Cannes ahead of its US opening on June 13, this animated sequel is “braver than ‘Brave,’ more fun than ‘Frozen’ and more emotionally satisfying than so many of its live-action counterparts,’’ claims Variety’s reviewer.
‘Maps to the Stars’
David Cronenberg (“A History of Violence’’) depicts a dysfunctional Hollywood family in this much-anticipated drama with Julianne Moore, John Cusack, Robert Pattinson and Carrie Fisher. Has a US distributor but no release date at this point.
‘The Rover’
Robert Pattinson — who has never been much of a draw outside the “Twilight” films — is also featured in this post-apocalyptic drama set in Australia with Guy Pearce, which premieres in Cannes ahead of its June 20 opening in the US. Not yet screened.
‘Clouds of Sils Maria’
Pattinson’s erstwhile co-star and gal pal Kristen Stewart (who is only a bit more popular outside “Twilight” than RPatz) is also in Cannes with this English-language show-biz story from French director Oliver Assayas.
She reportedly has a nude scene, which is not included in this brief clip of her with Juliette Binoche as a famous actress. Not yet screened.
‘Foxcatcher’
Perhaps the single most anticipated English-language film, this fact-based drama is about wrestling brothers (Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo) whose involvement with an eccentric millionaire (Steve Carell) leads to murder.
Postponed from the last Oscar season, it’s currently set to hit US theaters on Nov. 14. Not yet screened.
‘The Homesman’
Tommy Lee Jones directed this off-beat Western about a claim jumper escorting insane women, which is seeking US distribution. There’s much curiosity, considering that it co-stars fellow Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Hilary Swank. Not yet screened.
‘Jimmy’s Hall’
Reportedly the final feature from legendary British director Ken Loach, this is a fact-based story about a man who returns to his native Ireland in 1932 after a decade in New York and comes into conflict with the authorities over his social hall.
US rights are up for grabs. Not yet screened.
‘Lost Horizon’
Frank Capra’s classic starring Ronald Colman as a diplomat taken to a utopian retreat in Tibet will be presented in a new digital restoration as part of the Cannes Classics series.
This is the original French trailer.