Brie Larson is a judge at this years Cannes Film Festival, which unfortunately coincides with Johnny Depp’s “comeback” in the form of the movie Jeanne du Barry. Those two things got heavily intertwined during a press conference recently when a reporter asked the star specifically as an “advocate for Time’s Up” whether she would see the movie. She didn’t give a clear answer, but we know now that she has seen it.
For context, the Time’s Up movement is a non-profit group that raises money to help sexual assault victims, and it focuses mostly on the entertainment industry. A Variety reporter asked Larson, who was seated with other notable actors and writers, whether she was going to see the movie.
Because the film isn’t in contention for the Palme d’Or, she doesn’t have to see it as a jury member. The question felt especially pointed because of Larson’s experience filming the MCU movie Captain Marvel, which saw her have to deal with a campaign of misogynistic vitriol from the Internet.
Larson is no dummy, and she fired back with a question as to why she was specifically being asked. To her credit, she didn’t take the bait. “I’ll see it when I see it,” she said.
This brings us to a New York Times article conveniently titled “Brie Larson Did Watch ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at Cannes.” How succinct. The reporter for the Times said they “chatted with Larson’s fellow juror Paul Dano” and that the panel saw the film because “It’s opening night, it’s the respectful thing to do.”
It’s understandable why Larson didn’t really want to engage with the reporter. She knows what happens when misogynistic voices team up online. I can’t really blame her for not wanting to be a part of the conversation, even if the media wants her to.
Captain Marvel was the MCU’s first movie led by a woman, and Larson was accused of ruining the movie when it didn’t get great reviews. It obviously affected her. She was asked by a reporter how long she’d play the character, and she said “I don’t know. Does anyone want me to do it again?”
It’s not clear whether Jeanne Du Barry, a French-language period piece, will even make it stateside. It’s getting pretty middling reviews, despite a seven-minute ovation from the audience watching the film at Cannes. Depp also only appears in the film for about 15 minutes.