First Trailer for "Macbeth": Intense, Dark and Beautiful

Justin Kurzel's "Macbeth" was a big surprise coming out of the Cannes film festival, being better than previously anticipated. Though stars Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender won acclaim for their performances as the infamous plotting couple, Kurzel's direction and the film as a whole were praised.

Ultimately, I do fear if the film gets any awards attention (it is being distributed by Weinstein after all) it'll center around Fassbender and Cotillard. But after watching the new trailer, I see what a shame that would be, because it looks gorgeously rendered. There are a number of "money shots" to pull from the short teaser, and the overall tone is incredibly morose and intense, in the best way possible. Here's to hoping the film can find some success outside of the performances come awards season.

Watch the trailer below. "Macbeth" is scheduled to be released later this fall.

Natalie Portman's Directorial Debut to Screen at 2015's Cannes Film Festival

This year's Cannes Film Festival is being headlined by some of the buzziest titles of the year. Not only will Oscar hopefuls "Carol" (Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson), "Macbeth" (Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard), but Academy Award winner Natalie Portman makes her directorial debut with the Hebrew language biopic entitled "A Tale of Love and Darkness". Portman will also star in the film, but is eligible for the festival's prestigious Camera D'Or which is given to new directors.

Cannes Jury Announces Prizes for Main Competition

Awards listed below in the order they were announced.

Sils Maria Trailer

After premiering this morning to rave reviews, the Juliette Binoche & Kristen Stewart film entitled "Clouds of Sils Maria" (directed by Olivier Assayas) has a trailer.

The film focuses on an aging actress (Binoche) who is set to star in a remake of the film that launched her career... with a slight twist. Instead of the ingénue role, she plays the role of a "has been". She is is horrified to learn that the role that made her a star, is being re-done by an up and coming actress (Moretz). Plagued by visions of her past, she sets off with her assistant (Stewart) to the Swiss town of Sils Maria.

Meet your 2014 Cannes Film Festival Jury

This year's Cannes Film Festival is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent history. After that star studded lineup, it was announced that Academy Award winner Jane Campion would serve as the jury president. Campion still remains the only female director in the history of the festival to receive the prestigious Palm d'Or.

However, today it was announced that Campion would be joined by 4 other women, including Academy Award winner Sofia Coppola,  rounding out the 9 person jury. Though it wasn't the "female dominated" jury people were expecting after the announcement that Campion would serve as its head, it's a change of pace from recent years which have been male oriented.

Below you will find a list of the complete jury, with a little background for each member.

2014 Cannes Line-up Announced; Watch Trailers

The Cannes Film Festival is (arguably) the start to Oscar season. Some will argue that it's Sundance that kicks the conversation off. However, many of the titles from Sundance do find their way to Cannes, which is recognized as the kick start for many Oscar prognosticators.

Cannes (especially in the last few years) has planted the seeds of Oscar dreams for many films. It was the first time 2011 Best Picture winner The Artist was seen, where Lead Actor Jean Dujardin won the festival's Best Actor award. That same year, Palm d'Or (the festival's Best Picture award) went to Terrence Malick's "Tree of Life" which not only nabbed a Best Picture nomination from the Academy, but 4 other nominations as well. Other films like Amour, The Piano and Pulp Fiction have found their footing at Cannes and went on to Oscar glory.

This year's lineup is one of the starriest in recent memory. Julianne Moore, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Channing Tatum, Steve Carrell, Hillary Swank, Nicole Kidman and many others all have at least one high-profile film that will be seen for the first time here

The festival takes place starting on May 14th till the 25th, which will yield to the festival's annual awards ceremony.

Below is the festival line-up. I've also put a * next to the films that many are paying close attention too. Their reception at Cannes could affect their footing in the coming Oscar race.

Grace of Monaco Gets a Real Trailer

After that first strange trailer, the shift in release date, being dropped from the Weinstein's release schedule, and being given another release date (premiering at this year's Cannes Film Festival), it seems like things are finally on track for the Grace Kelly biopic. However, I'm not sure if that's all good news for the Oscar hopeful.

To be frank, the trailer is wrought in melodrama, almost the dreadful Diana-esque level. The costumes are gorgeous, and the scenery is very pretty but there isn't much in respect to how the film will ultimately play out in terms of quality.

Kidman has been nominated for 3 Oscars (winning one for her portrayal of Virginia Wolf in The Hours), but she's hardly an Academy favorite. She's known for pushing the boundaries of her career with her eclectic choices (often Academy unfriendly), but this seems relatively uninspired, and more Oscar baity. Though, director Oliver Dehan's last biopic (La Vie En Rose) won Marion Cotillard an Oscar for her amazing portrayal of Edith Piaf.

Though maybe I'm being judgmental, I fear this will follow last year's Cannes Film Festival opener The Great Gatsby in being style over substance. Though Gatsby did just take home 2 Oscars... will this film follow in its footsteps? Will we see Kidman follow in Cotillard's footsteps? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Watch the trailer below.