The Cannes Film Festival is underway with many competition and non-competition films already premiered. With 21 films competing for the Palme D'Or, some films have been smash hits while others have not been received with the same amount of enthusiasm.

Winners

"Toni Erdmann" by Marien ADE is getting the best reviews of the festival and is currently the front-runner to win the Palme D'Or at the festival. Not only was the film praised for its visuals but was also praised for its comic timing. Germany has not had a film in competition since Wim Wenders premiered "Palermo Shooting" in 2008 and "Toni Erdmann" looks to surprise.

Andrea Arnold also scored great reviews out of the festival with her latest film "American Honey," which many American journalists have already praised as the front-runner to win the Palme D'Or. However, the Spanish press was not as enthusiastic for the film especially since for its two hours and 42 minute run time. Arnold is a Cannes favorite and perhaps she could end up scoring a Best Director award.

Jeff Nichols entered the festival with "Loving" and the film scored raves prompting Oscar buzz. Interestingly the movie may have scored great reviews, but it is not seen as a Palme D'Or front-runner. Nevertheless this is a movie that American audiences will be hearing about come Oscar season.

Also scoring great reviews out of the croisette was Jim Jarmusch with his latest "Paterson." It's not a surprise the auteur has put together a unique film but this one is receiving praise for its intimate tale and has put Adam Driver as the front-runner to win Best Actor at the festival.

Meanwhile Cristi Puiu scored some of the best reviews of his career with "Sieranevada." Puiu's latest thriller is yet another great installment into the Romanian New Wave movement and should easily go home with at least one prize.

Two films that received praise but not overwhelming love were Paul Verhoeven's "Elle" and "I, Daniel Blake." While both films received distribution deals, they look to be going home empty handed particularly with the lack of buzz.

Finally "Personal Shopper" may have received boos at tits premiere but this reaction only helped the film's exposure increase. Directed by Olivier Assayas and starring Kristen Stewart, this is a film that may receive mixed reviews but its divisive response will only generate more buzz.

Losers

Marion Cotillard is receiving praise for her latest film "Mal de Pierres" but the film itself by Nicole Garcia isn't being embraced. The film is receiving lukewarm reviews with most comparing it to a Nicholas Sparks book. Sundance Selects may have picked it up for distribution but it is unlikely to receive any award at the end of the festival.

Bruno Dumont's "Slack Bay" is also receiving lukewarm reviews with no buzz while Alan Guiraudie's "Staying Vertical" isn't getting the same enthusiastic response as his last film "Stranger by the Lake."

Finally Pedro Almdovar's "Julieta" continues to get a mixed response as some call it the best Almodovar film in years while others say the movie is the worst of his recent work. Sony Pictures Classics has U.S rights and is planning an awards release. It will be interesting to see what the response will look like in North American territory.

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