McConaughey Movie Filmed in Worcester Gets Booed At Cannes

Monday, May 18, 2015

Briauna Skye McKizzie, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Unfortuntaely for McConaughey, his response only garnered more criticism. Photo Credit: IMDB (Image Cropped)

Gus Van Sant’s new film, The Sea of Trees, experienced a brutal reception this year at the Cannes Festival, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Commonly thought of as an outstanding director, writer, and producer, Gus Van Sant is most notably known for his films Good Will Hunting, Milk, and Elephant. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like The Sea of Trees will be joining the canon of great Gus Van Sant films anytime soon.

Filmed in Massachusetts, The Sea of Trees is an epic drama about Arthur Brennen (Matthew McConaughey), a suicidal widower who journeys to a forest at the base of Mount Fuji and meets Takumi Nakamura, a man who is also described as “lost” (Ken Watanabe). Together, they go on both a physical and metaphysical journey and reclaim their connection to life, death, and love.

While the premise of the film seems relatable enough, a portion of the Cannes audience had a very strong, negative reaction.

“Anyone has as much right to boo as they do to ovate,” said McConaughey in response to the feedback.

Unfortuntaely for McConaughey, his response only garnered more criticism, and the Hollywood Reporter was quick to point out that the definition of “ovate” is “egg shaped.”

Van Sant also had something to say in defense of his film.

“I remember there was always a story after Elephant screened, there were fisticuffs, fighting over whether it was good or bad, actually punching. And that was at Cannes as well. Who knows, day by day, whether the screening was today or yesterday, whether it makes a difference, I’m not sure at the end of a particularly screening, I don’t know,” printed the Hollywood Reporter.

While both responses were somewhat convoluted and mildly amusing, it’s safe to say that we will all have to see the film for ourselves in order to determine whether these boos were merited or not.

Homepage Photo Credit: IMDB.