Gritty trailer and poster for Guillaume Canet's 'Blood Ties' with Clive Owen, Mila Kunis, Marion Cotillard, and Zoe Saldana

It's safe to say that Guillaume Canet's sprawling 1970s crime epic Blood Ties is on the top of many "Most Anticipated" lists for the rest of the year. The early buzz for its premiere at Cannes has been reminiscent to the build-up for last year's debut of Rust and Bone, which ended up receiving a 10-minute standing ovation by the time it was over. The reason for the excitement was obvious, with Canet teaming up with James Gray (Two Lovers) on the script, and a cast that includes Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts, Mila Kunis, Clive Owen, Zoe Saldana, James Caan, and Billy Crudup.With talent like that all-around, you'd have expected the film to be shown in competition...but you'd be wrong.

As the gritty, pulpy trailer and poster for Blood Ties arrives, so do the early reviews from its Cannes debut, and they've largely been mixed or negative, with the leading critique being that it never quite reaches the epic scope being sought.  It's a shame, because the trailer is mighty impressive, boasting what appear to be terrific performances from Owen and Crudup, who play brothers on opposing sides of the law. It's a chance to see Saldana and Kunis sink their teeth into unfamiliar roles, and Cotillard appears as powerful and engaging as ever. With a horn-filled soundtrack and retro vibe, it calls to mind Gray's earlier crime films like Little Odessa and We Own the Night.

Maybe the reviews are wrong? I'll be crushed if they're not! Blood Ties doesn't have U.S. distribution yet, but expect that to change real soon.