Melodrama is ripe in the new international trailer for "The Immigrant," a Palme d'Or contender at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The story of Ewa (Marion Cotillard), a Polish woman thrust into prostitution upon her arrival in America in 1921, "The Immigrant" received mostly commendable reviews upon its premiere. Directed by festival favorite James Gray ("Little Odessa," "We Own the Night"), the movie also stars Joaquin Phoenix as Bruno, the charmer who lures Ewa into prostitution, and Jeremy Renner as Bruno's cousin, who happens to be a magician with a thing for Ewa and a desire to help her escape the nightmare she's in. The trailer smacks of period-piece trappings, melded together by a score that sounds most attuned for a 16th-century British monarchy drama.
Combined, could this be an Oscar 2014 contender? Or just a piece of A-list shmaltz? Cotillard did memorize 20 pages of Polish dialogue for the role, which could put her in the good graces of Oscar voters who've already proven their liking toward her.
"The Immigrant" opens in Belgium and France on Nov. 27 -- hint the French subtitles -- but will receive a North American release next year via The Weinstein Company.
