Everything About Johnny Depp at Cannes Was an Embarrassing Disaster
CANNES, France—There was really only one person anyone could talk about on the first day of the Cannes Film Festival. Sure, there were titters about snagging tickets for the new Martin Scorsese movie or getting in to see Indiana Jones, but mostly the name on everyone's lips was Johnny Depp.
The festival had programmed Jeanne du Barry, featuring Depp's return to the screen following his defamation trial with Amber Heard, as its opening night film. Would Depp show up? (Yes.) Would fans? (They did.) Would controversy? (Yes.)
Even beyond the obvious, Jeanne du Barry—directed by, starring, and co-written by French actress Maïwenn—comes laden with baggage.