The dealmaking story of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival was succinctly summed up this way by Inferno’s Bill Johnson: “Worst weather I’ve ever seen in Cannes, no big headlines, but a solid market with nice product, but probably too much of it.

The good news is that distributors around the world opened their wallets, there are plenty of private equity and high net worth investors.”Last year’s Cannes saw domestic and foreign buyers plunking down big sums to acquire flicks based on little more than sizzle reels.

And for drama, you had Lars von Trier’s bizarre application to the Nazi party, and the wonder of Terrence Malick’s return to directing with Palme D’Or winner and eventual Best Picture Oscar nominee Tree Of Life.This year, the most widely hyped competition flick has been Lee Daniels’ The Paperboy, mostly for the graphic, depraved sexual exploits perpetrated by Nicole Kidman’s death row groupie.

Then there’s all the free-love doled out by Kristen Stewart and Garrett Hedlund in Walter Salles’ adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s On The Road.

Neither flick drew raves.

Despite a 16-minute standing ovation for Paperboy at its festival screening and enthusiasm in the market, the biggest record set at this festival was for rainfall – and contents of the pockets of those guys selling $50 umbrellas along the Croisette.Related: Cannes Conflicted Over ‘The Paperboy’ ...... See Complete Article @ Deadline Hollywood