La Presse at the 76th Cannes Film Festival | Retirement time for good old Indy

(Cannes) The day after a premiere that moved him a lot, Harrison Ford confirmed that he was definitely hanging on to the hat and the whip of a character he has played five times in 40 years. This departure comes just when the Indiana Jones way seems to be running out of steam.

“It seems that when you are about to die, you see your life pass before you. There, I just saw mine on the big screen! “, said, very moved, Harrison Ford after an overview of his glorious career was shown Thursday to spectators during the official screening ofIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny). When he appeared on Friday with the other members of the team for the game of the press conference, the actor seemed to be still a little shocked by the Palme d’or d’honneur surprise that the management of the Festival had attributed to him the day before. And especially the ovation that the public had reserved for him.

“What I felt is indescribable, I couldn’t even tell you,” he commented. The warmth of the place, the sense of community and the welcome I received was unimaginable. And it feels good. »

The weight of life

Now octogenarian, Harrison Ford has confirmed that as far as he is concerned, the Indiana Jones adventure, which began in 1981 under the aegis of Steven Spielberg with Raiders of the Lost Ark (The Raiders of the Lost Ark), did indeed end with this fifth cinematographic part, directed 42 years later by James Mangold.

“Isn’t it obvious? he joked, sweeping his hand over her figure. I need to sit down and rest a bit. I liked the idea of ​​a fifth film because I wanted to see the weight of life on the character. I wanted him to reinvent himself and this time to be in a relationship with a woman with whom he is not flirting. »

For his part, James Mangold, who took over from Steven Spielberg, director of the previous four episodes, said he was well aware of the high expectations that a new episode of such a popular feature film series can raise.

“Making movies already comes with a lot of responsibility, but when you agree to direct a film like this, you know that the expectations are increased tenfold because the character is so dear to people’s hearts. You are naturally aware of being part of a great franchise, but in the end, you just have to make the film. »

lack of magic

What James Mangold says is correct. And his production is very competent. However, it turns out that, despite the combination of ingredients that made the success of the Indiana Jones brand, the magic does not really work this time.

Much has been made of the digital rejuvenation that Harrison Ford undergoes in the first 20 minutes or so of the film and it is true that the effect – which also benefits Mads Mikkelsen – is particularly well done. The story begins in 1944 in Nazi Germany and then continues 25 years later in America, the Middle East, Greece and Italy. The famous archaeologist is then called upon to resume service with his goddaughter (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), daughter of a researcher who has devoted her life to the study of the famous Archimedes dial. It is a missing relic whose pieces, once put together, would have the power to cross the ages and rewrite history.

There’s a lot of action, sure. Crazy races galore too. And Mads Mikkelsen as a Nazi. But beyond the elements contained in the script, which fit perfectly into the mandate of the franchise, a feeling of repetition quickly emerges. The dialogues – often slapped – are also not up to the tongue-in-cheek replies delivered like so many winks in the previous parts.

That said, Harrison Ford impresses and holds form well. During the press conference held on Friday, the actor was left speechless for a few seconds when a journalist told him that seeing the scene where Indiana Jones, now older, shows himself bare-chested, she always found him “very hot “.

“Listen, I have been blessed with this body. But thanks for noticing! »

Harrison Ford also expressed satisfaction with the digital rejuvenation technique.

“It’s not like Photoshop,” he explained. I really look like I looked 35 years ago. That said, this technology could only be a gimmick if it wasn’t backed up by history. I think it was used intelligently and I’m very happy with the result. »

Does this mean that this technology could possibly be borrowed in future parts, even in the absence of the actor? On this, producer Kathleen Kennedy was very clear: “No. »

In North America, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) hits theaters on June 30.