Gosling's Lost River falls flat at Cannes

One of the most highly-anticipated films of the film festival is Ryan Gosling's directorial debut, Lost River. With screenings at 14h, 22h, and press screenings in between, the film gained hype before and on the day of it's premiere. The crowd outside the 22h screening was a large percentage 20-somethings and younger, fans of Gosling's previous works and of the actor himself. 

Gosling said a few short words on stage next to the stars of the film, including Christina Hendrix and Matt Smith. 

The film ran 106 minutes for a packed house, but afterwards, reviews were mixed at best. Moviegoers leaving the theater shared an overwhelming sentiment of pretentiousness and lack of authenticity. Many proclaimed that the film was trying too hard to be artistic, losing any real sense of plot or cohesiveness. The film had many underdeveloped storylines and whitewashed characters, however it was inarguably visually stunning. 

Critics shared a disdain for the film as well- The Guardian claimed it was "often ridiculous and fatuous but often ingenious." The Telegraph has equally critical words, calling it "mouth-dryingly lousy". While the movie did not go without fans, who praised it for it's uniqueness, it is unclear whether the film will reach US theaters, but if it does, it will more likely than not be because of Gosling's name.