The Coens and Cannes.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008 | 10:00 AM

Could the Coen brothers be headed back to Cannes this year? Hot damn, do I hope so. Lou Lumenick pointed out on his New York Post blog last week that "IMDB is listing the premiere of Joel and Ethan Coen's 'Burn After Reading' as having its world premiere there on May 14." The film, a comedy starring George Clooney as a former CIA agent who writes an angry memoir after he's fired for alcoholism, also features Clooney's "Michael Clayton" co-star, Batman nipple costume-eulogizing Oscar-winner Tilda Swinton, as well as Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand.

The Hollywood Reporter noted yesterday that Focus has set a September 12 wide release date for the film, which seems like a solid one for a title that's going to bear the weight of unholy expectations. But at The Hot Blog, David Poland hauls out numbers to make the not implausible argument that this isn't a great sign, because "the reality is that September is the place where quality movies go to die."

[Photo: George Clooney and Frances McDormand in the Coens' "Burn After Reading," Focus Features, 2008]

+ Coens Doing the Cannes-Cannes Again? (NY Post)
+ Coen brothers' next film to "Burn" (Hollywood Reporter)
+ Is Focus Dumping The Next Coen Bros Movie? (The Hot Blog)