In 'Mountainhead,' Jesse Armstrong films four 'tech bros' dancing on the edge of the abyss
If the Jesse Armstrong series Succession was considered a recital by most, then his new film, Mountainhead, might be its encore. It is tonally similar to its predecessor − captivating enough to hold your attention until the end, yet light enough that you do not need it to last any longer.
The quartet tasked with carrying out Mountainhead consists of tech magnates, brought together for a weekend in a house disguised as a cabin somewhere in the mountains of Utah. The confrontation between the old forms of capitalism and the multinational corporations that have emerged from the digital revolution was one of the central motifs of Succession. This time, Armstrong chose to arrive after the battle − after the triumph of Silicon Valley's princes.
The most mediocre of the four, Hugo Van Yalk (Jason Schwartzman) − a creator of wellness apps and the only one in the group whose assets have not yet reached the billion-dollar mark (his "friends" call him Souper, a nickname referring to soup kitchens) − invites Venis (Cory Michael Smith), Randall (Steve Carell) and Jeff (Ramy Youssef) to play poker. To reach the mountaintop, the men release several metric tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere by taking private jets or a convoy of vans with tinted windows.
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In 'Mountainhead,' Jesse Armstrong films four 'tech bros' dancing on the edge of the abyss
If the Jesse Armstrong series Succession was considered a recital by most, then his new film, Mountainhead, might be its encore. It is tonally similar to its predecessor − captivating enough to hold your attention until the end, yet light enough that you do not need it to last any longer. The quartet tasked with carrying out Mountainhead consists of tech magnates, brought together for a weekend in a house disguised as a cabin somewhere in the mountains of Utah. The confrontation between the old forms of capitalism and the multinational corporations that have emerged from the digital revolution was one of the central motifs of Succession. This time, Armstrong chose to arrive after the battle − after the triumph of Silicon Valley's princes. The most mediocre of the four, Hugo Van Yalk (Jason Schwartzman) − a creator of wellness apps and the only one in the group whose assets have not yet reached the billion-dollar mark (his "friends" call him Souper, a nickname referring to soup kitchens) − invites Venis (Cory Michael Smith), Randall (Steve Carell) and Jeff (Ramy Youssef) to play poker. To reach the mountaintop, the men release several metric tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere by taking private jets or a convoy of vans with tinted windows.
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Jeremy Strong brings male power-dressing to Cannes
The 46-year-old, who is serving on the Cannes Festival jury, has showcased a range of bold sartorial choices from a baggy peach-coloured corduroy shirt on opening day to a pastel green tuxedo and bow tie. The father-of-three, Oscar-nominated for his role in Donald Trump biopic "The Apprentice", has given full expression to his love of bright monochrome outfits in a place where most men play safe in black and white. For Saturday's closing night, he appeared in a pastel blue suit, with sunglasses and a silk neck scarf as he strode down the red carpet with his fellow jury members. Fashion website WWD said the Boston-born actor had been wearing suits by Italy's Loro Piana, continuing an association that dates back to his time in "Succession" which sparked the so-called "quiet luxury" trend. Strong is one of the nine-member Cannes jury to hand out the festival's top Palme d'Or prizes on Saturday. In a press conference with his fellow judges at the start of the festival, he stuck a serious note, saying cinema had a responsibility beyond fashion statements. He said that we are living at a "time where truth is under assault, where truth is becoming increasingly in danger. "Here specifically in this temple of film, the role of film is increasingly critical, because it can combat those forces in the entropy of truth, and it can communicate truths, individual truths, human truths, societal truths, and affirm and celebrate our shared humanity," he said. Strong is known for his intense demeanour and commitment to acting, though "Succession" co-star Brian Cox once called his methods "annoying". Cannes juries can sometimes be riven with tension as they weigh up over 20 films and try to reach a consensus. French screen legend Juliette Binoche is the chairwoman this year, with Hollywood actor Halle Berry, Franco-Moroccan writer Leila Slimani, Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia and Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher making it a women-majority panel.
