Cate Blanchett in McQueen at the Cannes Closing Ceremony: awful or amazing?

71st annual Cannes Film Festival - 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote' - Photocall

I do feel bad for everyone trying to promote their work at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Not only was this year’s Cannes notably dull and quiet (partly in the wake of Harvey Weinstein’s disgrace), but it also fell at the same time as the lead-up to the royal wedding, and then the Cannes Closing Ceremony happened on the same day as the wedding. It was rough. It didn’t help matters that… after all the talk of Weinstein and female empowerment, the Cannes jury passed out all the major awards to dudes. Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters won the Palme d’Or and Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman won the Grand Prix award (and I do legitimately want to see Spike’s movie). The Best Director prize went to Pawel Pawlikowski, and the Un Certain Regard prizes all went to men too – you can read more about the closing ceremony and the prizes here. Asia Argento was there, and she made a speech about how Harvey Weinstein raped her at Cannes when she was 21.

Meanwhile, here are some photos from the Closing Ceremony. Cate Blanchett wore a custom Alexander McQueen gown. You guys… I actually LOATHE this. I hate everything about it, from whatever is happening with that boob detail, to the buttons on the “tuxedo coat” to the too-stiff back bow. This is awful. Even her hair sucks!!

71st annual Cannes Film Festival - Closing Ceremony

71st annual Cannes Film Festival - 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote' - Photocall

Kristen Stewart in Chanel and Léa Seydoux in Louis Vuitton. I have to give it to Kristen for honoring her Chanel contract non-stop throughout Cannes, and it feels like Lagerfeld gave her access to all kind of archives. So with that kind of access, why choose this boring-ass dress in a shade of nothingness beige? Lea’s LV is okay, but I wish the front slit wasn’t so high.

71st annual Cannes Film Festival - Closing Ceremony

71st annual Cannes Film Festival - Closing Ceremony

Ava DuVernay in a custom Stella McCartney. This is the Stella I know and love to hate. This is a mess. Beautiful color though.

71st annual Cannes Film Festival - Closing Ceremony

Olga Kurylenko in Dior. This could have been really striking, but the skirt should have been longer – they should have done those “fabric folds” (or whatever) into a ballgown.

71st annual Cannes Film Festival - 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote' - Photocall

Laura Harrier in Louis Vuitton. It’s a somewhat cute cocktail dress, which would have been better for one of the Cannes parties rather than the Closing Ceremony. It looks very Kardashian-Jenner, right? I could see this on Kendall.

71st annual Cannes Film Festival - 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote' - Photocall

Bonus Spike Lee! Cannes loves Spike.

71st annual Cannes Film Festival - Spike Lee wins the Grand Prix for 'BlacKkKlansman' at the Palme d'Or Award

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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27 Responses to “Cate Blanchett in McQueen at the Cannes Closing Ceremony: awful or amazing?”

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  1. Lucy2 says:

    I don’t care for any of these, but I almost like the Stella… What is happening?!? I usually hate her stuff.

  2. Naomi says:

    You thought the front was bad and then you are exposed to the horror of the back!

    I know that for all the glitz and the glam, Cannes is we’re a lot of business is done in terms selling movies to studios and financiers but how relevant is it now with more and more film festivals in the calendar?

    • Slowsnow says:

      Cannes is the most glamorous and revered “alternative” (as in non-mainstream) festival out there and I don’t think it is about to loose its place.
      It was obviously going to be a bit glib this year because France is not like America or the UK and women are not close to being recognised as a voice just yet.
      However, it is true that experimental cinema or “cinema d’auteur” is in crisis because of the metoo movement and a turn in film narratives and styles. But that is a good thing. The myth of the male, usually white, genius in cinema should have died a long time ago.

    • Llamas in pajamas says:

      Oh. My. God. That bow is horrible. Kate is a person, not a giant box of chocolates. I’m offended on her behalf.

  3. Alix says:

    Cate: awful in the front, amazing in the back.

  4. Mia4s says:

    Wow! It’s the ugly fashion round up!

    I agree Laura Harrier’s dress is decent but completely wrong for the ceremony. The rest are just terrible across the board.

  5. Taxi says:

    Cait’s dress is absurd. Olga is beautiful, as is her dress. Length looks fine.

  6. Rescue Cat says:

    According to Metacritic this year’s films rated better than last year’s. But it’s interesting that all the major awards went to guys given the diversity of the judging panel.

  7. Skippy says:

    I didn’t mind the dress Cate had on. I have seen worse. I saw lots of her other Cannes outfits and they were better. She is so amazing anyway.

  8. Eileen says:

    Dracula called he wants his wardrobe back

  9. Elisa says:

    Olga Kurylenko for the win.
    I loved all of Kristen Cannes looks so far but this is underwhelming. Her make-up and hair is on point, though.
    Cate Blanchett looks like the devil’s personal assistant.

    • elle says:

      re: Cate Blanchett looks like the devil’s personal assistant.

      Hilarious!! I almost swallowed my tongue.

  10. Aiobhan Targaryen says:

    I actually like Ava’s dress a lot. She dresses conservatively but likes prints and color. This fits her style very well.

    I usually like McQueen but this is a no from me.

    Lea’s is the best of the bunch.

    I am so happy for Spike and Blackkklansman. The reviews overall seem good.

    I just realized that he has now worked with father and son with Denzel in Malcolm X and now John David Washington, Denzel’s son, in Blackkklansman.

  11. Mariposa says:

    I actually laughed out loud when I got to that photo of that bow! Who makes a dress which is like a demented French soldier’s uniform on one side and a Christmas bow on the other?!

  12. Jussie says:

    I kind of love Cate’s outfit. It’s ridiculous, but Cannes fashion should be ridiculous.

    Everyone else is just so dull in comparison. Their dresses would be fine at any old premiere. Cannes gives you an excuse to be extra. Anyone who doesn’t embrace that opportunity bores me.

  13. Tig says:

    Yeesh- this line up reeks “let’s wrap this up and go home”. Cate is in the South of France in May- why wear an outfit that looks like the lining of Dracula’s coffin? Do like the color of the Stella dress tho.

  14. Tw says:

    Kristen Stewart looks like she hasn’t slept on 5 years.

    • Pandy says:

      Was coming on to say the say thing. Girl needs a healthier lifestyle from the looks of her. Fugly dress too. Lea’s slit could be shorter but otherwise loved her dress. Cate’s is a hot mess ha ha ha ha. LOVE the leather dress – very cute.

  15. Va Va Kaboom says:

    Cate’s look is very Victor/Victoria.

  16. Smee says:

    Cate Blanchett’s dress is an abomination.

  17. EMau says:

    everything she wears is terrible. She has terrible taste in clothing.

  18. KBB says:

    Good God that is hideous. I don’t think I’ve ever said that about Cate in anything. It is so ugly and she did not pull it off. She had some great looks during Cannes, but this was the absolute worst, maybe all time for her.

    ETA: It’s a dress? I thought it was a pantsuit with a train. Dress is worse somehow. Just terrible, I’m going to x out of this and never look again lol