The fifth and likely final installment in the Indiana Jones film franchise made its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.
The leading man behind Indy since 1981’s Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Harrison Ford, was on hand to walk the red carpet and attend the screening of Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny, along with director James Mangold, and some the main cast including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Ethann Isidore and Boyd Holbrook.
Also in attendance for the much-anticipated premiere at the Palais des Festivals were varying film critics, who are now sharing the first reviews of Indy’s last adventure with Ford wearing the iconic fedora-style hat and carrying his trusty whip.
Set in 1969 amid the backdrop of the Space Race, Dr.Jones, renowned archaeologist and adventurer, finds himself uneasy over the U.S. government’s recruitment of former Nazis to help beat the Soviet Union in the competition to make it to space.
For this go-around, Indy’s goddaughter, Helena Shaw (Waller-Bridge), accompanies him on his new journey, while Jürgen Voller (Mikkelsen), a NASA member and ex-Nazi involved with the moon-landing program, wishes to make the world into a better place as he sees fit.
Reviews: Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny made its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France on Thursday, and now critics are sharing their first reviews of the fifth and likely final installment in the franchise
Ahead of the screening, a reel of Ford’s greatest hits, including Star Wars, Indiana Jones and The Fugitive, played on the screen.
Moments afterwards, the crowd gave him a standing ovation that lasted several minutes following a role call of the cast members and director in attendance.
Ford then made his way on to the stage, where he was given a surprise Palme d’Or, which is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival.
After giving thanks to the audience and his wife for supporting him so he could follow his dreams and passions, he set up the world premiere of Dial Of Destiny.
After the screening of the film, Ford would again get close to tears when he received a five-minute standing ovation, which began when the credits began to roll.
As for the critics in attendance: the reviews appear to be mixed at best, with some sharing how they thought Ford and director James Mangold delivered a proper finale for the franchise, while just as many others seemed to pan the film or describe it as safe storytelling.
Clayton Davis, a senior awards editor at Variety and host of the podcast Variety Awards Circuit, was crystal clear in giving it a thumbs up.
‘Redemption! James Mangold redeems #IndianaJones with #DialOfDestiny,’ he began in a Twitter post. ‘A farewell to one of the greatest movie characters in cinema history. Action, laughs, charm…just everything that makes him great. Thanks Harrison Ford (and Phoebe Waller Bridge) for the ride. #Cannes2023.’
Davis would followup by sharing high praise for the performance from 16-year-old French actor Ethann Isidore, who plays Teddy, Helena’s sidekick.
‘Also… Ethann Isidore is a star, and I can’t wait for this kid to win an Oscar for best supporting actor in the next 30 years. Dude is the GOAT!’
Positive review: While the reviews were mixed at best, Clayton Davis, a senior awards editor at Variety and host of the podcast Variety Awards Circuit, was crystal clear in giving it a thumbs up
Shout out: Davis would followup by sharing high praise for the performance from 16-year-old French actor Ethann Isidore, who plays Teddy, Helena’s sidekick.
Positive review: In a similar review, Kenny @Disney+ also gave it a positive review, writing, ‘Dial of Destiny was Good, fun and really a indiana Jones Movie. Fans will love it’
In a similar review, Kenny @Disney+ also gave it a positive review, writing, ‘Short time to post.’#IndianaJones: and the Dial of Destiny was Good, fun and really a indiana Jones Movie. Fans will love it. Rules are rules, I’m not allowed to post more about it. Next Premiere it is then.’
Then there were also those who were so enthusiastic about the final results of popular film franchise.
Eric Kohn, the chief film critic and a senior editor for IndieWire and the manager of the Criticwire Network, shared how he thought the film basically went through the motions.
‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF FATE has big THE FORCE AWAKENS energy in that “we promise we won’t f**k this up” fan service way that hits a lot of agreeable beats on its own terms. One big ‘nuke the fridge’ moment most people will forgive, but this is pretty safe stuff.’
Robbie Collin, the chief film critic at The Daily Telegraph since 2011, was a bit more blunt in his review, writing, ‘Oh God, sorry everyone, it’s just a bit lifeless and crap.’
Collin would add to his review in a Rotten Tomatoes editorial.
‘It ultimately feels like a counterfeit of priceless treasure: the shape and the gleam of it might be superficially convincing for a bit, but the shabbier craftsmanship gets all the more glaring the longer you look,’ he later shared.
Negative review: Then there were also those who were so enthusiastic about the final results of popular film franchise, including Eric Kohn, the chief film critic and a senior editor for IndieWire and the manager of the Criticwire Network
Negative review: Robbie Collin, the chief film critic at The Daily Telegraph since 2011, was a bit more blunt in his review, calling it ‘a bit lifeless and crap’
Mixed results: A post attributed to Variety would also describe Indiana Jones 5 as playing it safe in its storytelling
A post attributed to Variety would also describe Indiana Jones 5 as playing it safe in its storytelling.
‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Review: Harrison Ford Plays the Aging Indy in a Sequel That Serves Up Nostalgic Hokum Minus the Thrill.’
In other short reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes editorial, Stephanie Bunbury, at Deadline Hollywood Daily, wrote: ‘It’s fun; it’s wacky; it works.’
Peter Bradshaw, writer with Guardian, agreed for the most part, writing, ‘Indiana Jones still has a certain old-school class.’
Irish Times journalist Donald Clarke joined those in giving it a negative review, sharing, ‘Nobody with a brain in their heads will compare favorably to the first three films.’
Favorable: In other short reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes editorial, Stephanie Bunbury, at Deadline Hollywood Daily, wrote: ‘It’s fun; it’s wacky; it works’
Peter Bradshaw, writer with Guardian, agreed for the most part, writing, ‘Indiana Jones still has a certain old-school class’
Negative review: Irish Times journalist Donald Clarke joined those in giving it a negative review, sharing, ‘Nobody with a brain in their heads will compare favorably to the first three films’
But there were more journalists who would disagree with that harsh assessment
‘Harrison Ford is the hero of the hour. He never loses either his scowl or his doggedness. He plays even the flimsiest scenes with conviction and dry humour. His performance carries the movie,’ Geoffrey Macnab of Independent (UK) said of the film.
And Empire Magazine’s John Nugent would also agree this was a fitting farewell for Dr.Jones and his fans: ‘If you join him for the ride, it feels like a fitting goodbye to cinema’s favourite grave-robber.’
Indiana Jones And The Dial of Destiny, with a budget of $300 million, is scheduled to hit theaters across the U.S on June 30.
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