The 18th edition of this thriller film festival was presided by Oliver Stone, who considers the event as "the coolest festival in the world."

As is customary, two competition sections have been organized: features and Sang Neuf which presents first or second films, for a total of twelve films in competition.

The feature section opened with the screening of John Frankenheimer's Reindeer Games with Charlize Théron and Ben Affleck. Numerous guest graced the festival with their presence, including Linda Fiorentino, Bill Pullman and Christopher Walken.

The Sang Neuf section presented to festival-goers Bloody Angels that just received a prize at the Paris Film Festival. Another section on the agenda screened police movies made for television, while a retrospective section presented a mix of fiction and reality with such films as L627 by Bertrand Tavernier or Bad Lieutenant by Abel Ferrara.

New this year, a special jury composed of policemen headed by Christian Brodoni, police captain. Four action packed days making Cognac a festival delight.

Cognac 2000 : A Good Vintage

The closing Sunday night ceremony brought the final touch to a congenial edition which yielded quite a few cinematic gems and gave everyone the opportunity to meet approachable French and American actors and directors.

Though first-rate, the competition selections offered mostly American films, calling for a greater diversity that might have opened its doors to Spanish and Asian thrillers, which have been popping back vigorously in international festivals.

The official competition offered very entertaining and well-constructed movies, such as Marek Kanievska's Where the Money Is and Myles Connell's The Opportunists, which give Christopher Walken and Paul Newman similar charismatic ex-convict roles in romantic situations - the latter film boasting an hitherto unthinkable but rejoicing Christopher Walken-Cindy Lauper duo.

Yet, the most distinguishable movie of all remained Bernard Rapp's Une Affaire de Gout, a compelling foray into the hazardous relationship binding a phobic business man with his private food taster.

The "Young Blood" section which limelighted first and second features was particularly marked by Karin Julsrud's Bloody Angels (already screened at the Paris Film Festival) and John Luke Montias's sensitive portrayal of small-time drug-peddler Bobby G in Bobby G Can't Swim The jury, composed of TV journalists, chose to single out the contemporary social issue of juvenile violence adroitly raised in Ash's second feature Pups.

A special jury composed of real police investigators gave a prize to Michael Rymer's In Too Deep about a black cop infiltrating a Cincinnati drug gang and befriending its leader at the risk of his psychological balance.

The festival paid a joint homage to Brian de Palma and official jury president Oliver Stone through a special screening of Scarface (1983), scripted by Oliver Stone.

Guest star Jean Louis Trintignant, who starred in quite a few estimable thrillers amidst a long fruitful international career, was also cheerfully applauded.

FilmFestivals.com reporter
Frédéric LECONTE