Scarlett Johansson Declines Call During 'Paper Tiger' Cannes Ovation

Key Points:

• Director James Gray attempted to FaceTime Scarlett Johansson during the Cannes premiere of "Paper Tiger" to share the moment of a 7-minute standing ovation, but she was unavailable due to filming commitments.
• Co-stars Miles Teller and Adam Driver attended the premiere, supporting Gray and engaging with fans on the red carpet, bringing notable Hollywood presence to a Cannes festival otherwise lacking studio blockbusters.
• "Paper Tiger," Gray's sixth film at Cannes, is a 1986-set crime thriller about two brothers entangled with the Russian mob, marking Gray's first film since 2022's "Armageddon Time" and distributed domestically by Neon.
• Artistic director Thierry Fremaux highlighted the film's challenging production and contractual issues before its late addition to the Cannes competition lineup, praising Gray's consistent directorial voice.
• The film received mixed reviews, including from Variety's Owen Gleiberman, reflecting a varied critical reception despite the enthusiastic audience response at Cannes.