The American Film Institute will honor French actress Isabelle Huppert at a tribute and gala screening of her latest film Elle. The legendary French actress is in the United States promoting the film she made with Basic Instinct director Paul Verhoeven. As well as the AFI honors, Ms. Huppert will attend tributes to her legendary film career at festivals in Toronto and Telluride. Both are set to happen in early November. Never one to slow down, Ms. Huppert has another film due out in early December titled Things to Come.
Again, Ms. Huppert?
Ms. Huppert is one France’s most celebrated actress of the past generation. Though she has achieved a great amount of success in her native France, Hollywood glory has eluded the 63-year-old actress. However, this year that may change. The Los Angeles Times theorized in an article, “That may change this year. The celebrated French actress has two superb movies arriving in the coming weeks — Paul Verhoeven’s Elle (Nov. 16 in Los Angeles, via Sony Pictures Classics) and Mia Hansen-Love’s Things to Come (Dec. 2, IFC). Either role could earn her that first Oscar nomination.”
Isabelle Huppert has been nominated for a Cesar Award, France’s Oscars, more times than any other French actor. Her success or lack thereof in the states may be tied due to a dud entitled Heaven’s Gate. It was Ms. Huppert first excursion into American films. Filmed in 1980, the film was a production and financial disaster. Huppert would attempt another couple English language films and would head back to France. Though, for all the success she has had im France, none of that has translated to the odd nomination or award win.
Whether or not Ms. Huppert garners an Academy nomination, she will still be one of the most beautiful and well-loved actresses of her generation. The Village Voice notes, ” Huppert excels at creating characters who defy simple assessment, the result, perhaps, of exhibiting agile reflexes while resisting overdetermination.”
