But it’s awkwardly static and there is, by its end, no wonder in the journey of Terry and his endeavors, despite the hurdles right there in the story that offer plenty of potential. It’s too bad because initially, the characters are engrossing, the setup prime and the setting authentic. However, the story is not without some hooks and there is some compulsion in seeing how point A gets to points B and C with some interest, despite a general lack of momentum. That means lots of blurry edges and deep shadows, roaming handhelds and intense lighting. We don’t get any sense of personality from Terry, Phil or Catherine, only that one is tender and in love with cinema maybe more than romance and the other wielding sex like a hammer she the pendulum between them.įranco does find some flare in the presentation, purposefully taming the whole thing to look a bit amateurish, with most of it seemingly coming from a director who knows his influences and does what he can to emulate without duplicating. None of that is probably the point though, Franco, working from a script by Josh Boone, interested in the larger blunt force trauma of love, betrayal, loss and less. It’s awash in saturated neon colors, random nudity, plenty of clips of foreign movies, and a few modest efforts in giving it a period look. Unfortunately, Phil can’t tolerate that Terry might find happiness and commits to sabotage, and over the years, the three cross paths until Terry finally gets his big break, turning a story by Catherine into a screenplay where he meets Victoria ( Juno Temple), hoping she will help him get over his past.ĭirected by James Franco, The Pretenders is an arthouse student film in about every respect, with a very small budget and a minimalist approach filmed with hazy filters and a stage play feel. Terry becomes obsessed with finding Catherine, and when they finally reconnect, convinces her to star in his short film based on his search and feelings for her, believing it an opportunity to get intimate. He also meets Phil ( Shameik Moore), an ambitious photographer with a history of sleeping around, resisting personal relationships. It’s 1979 and Terry ( Jack Kilmer) meets an enchanting young woman named Catherine ( Jane Levy) at a movie theater, but lets her go before getting her name and number. Cleopatra will release Franco's Pretenders in select US theaters + on VOD starting October 4th this fall.The Pretenders is a 2019 drama about a love triangle involving a photographer, a director and an actress. This premiered at the Torino Film Festival last year, but hasn't shown anywhere else yet. ![]() The screenplay is written by Josh Boone ( Stuck in Love, The Fault in Our Stars). Pretenders, also known as The Pretenders, is directed by American actor / filmmaker James Franco, director of many other films including Fool's Gold, Sal, Interior Leather Bar, As I Lay Dying, Bukowski, Child of God, The Sound and the Fury, In Dubious Battle, The Institute, Future World, and Zeroville previously. After years of sex, betrayal, and collateral damage, the three end up in a dangerous situation that leaves one of them fighting for his life. But they soon realize that the more time they spend with her, the more enigmatic she becomes. Both Terry and his best friend, Phil, fall under the spell of this beautiful woman. Life imitates deadly arts as a French New Wave obsessed film student, Terry, finds his muse in mysterious and beguiling actress, Catherine. ![]() Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for James Franco's Pretenders, direct from Cleopatra's YouTube: But maybe not? Don't really know what to make of this one. This seems particularly wacky and super artsy, almost like Franco is trying to mock film nerds who fall for actresses. Starring Jack Kilmer (Val Kilmer's son), Shameik Moore, and Jane Levy as the main three, with James Franco, Dennis Quaid, Brian Cox, Juno Temple, Antoni Porowski, Mustafa Shakir, Tyler Alvarez, and Reema Sampat. ![]() Pretenders is about a love triangle involving a photographer, his best friend who is a "French New Wave-obsessed" film student, and a beautiful actress who entrances both of them. And does anyone even watch them? Who knows. He's making so many films these days it's hard to keep track of them. Yet another new film directed by James Franco, in addition to Zeroville also out in the next few months. "Was their love something real? He has to find out." Cleopatra Entertainment has released the first full trailer for an indie drama titled Pretenders, also otherwise known as The Pretenders, but they're officially releasing it as just Pretenders.
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