Harrison Ford was “deeply moved and humbled” to receive an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday.
The accolade was presented to the 80-year-old American actor before the premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
His final performance as the courageous, whip-wielding archaeologist was one of the most anticipated of the festival.
Ford said his 1981 Raiders Of The Lost Ark role had shaped his life.
“They say that when you’re about to die, you see your life flash before your eyes,” a tearful Ford said after a highlight reel of his career was shown to the audience before the film began. “I just witnessed my entire existence flash before my eyes.
He then thanked his wife, Ally McBeal actress Calista Flockhart, for “supporting my passion and dreams.”
Ford starred with Mads Mikkelsen and Phoebe Waller-Bridge as his goddaughter in his fifth and last action hero film.
Directly addressing the audience, he continued, “I am grateful that you have given my life purpose and significance. So thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with Phoebe and Mads.
“I am deeply moved and humbled by this honor, but I have a film you must watch.” So allow me to move out of the way.”
According to Variety’s Zack Sharf, while the film’s protagonist received a rapturous ovation for his career achievements, the film itself received a “lukewarm” – by Cannes standards – five-minute ovation.
In 1969, during the space race, the protagonist faces the Nazis anew.
The Guardian’s Pete Bradshaw gave the “taught” film three stars, stating that it had “quite a bit of zip and fun and narrative ingenuity with all of its MacGuffin silliness that the last one [Kingdom of the Crystal Skull] didn’t.”
He praised Waller-Bridge, who was born four years after the release of the first Indiana Jones film, for her “terrific co-star turns as Indy’s roguish goddaughter Helena Shaw, who wears shorts and a shirt that makes her look like an adult, naughty Enid Blyton heroine.”
“Amazing digital notification effects provide Indy with a fantastic opening flashback to the second world war,” Bradshaw continued.
“Probably a bit cheeky to give Ford a young female co-star under this ‘goddaughter’ moniker,” he observed. But the climax was “wildly silly and entertaining.”
“Indiana Jones retains a certain old-fashioned elegance.”
Robbie Collin of The Telegraph only gave the “shabby counterfeit of priceless treasure” two stars.
The reviewer emphasized that “the shape and gleam of it may be superficially convincing for a while. But the shoddier craftsmanship becomes more glaring the longer you examine it.”
He added, “The film is loaded with mayhem but painfully lacking in spark and bravado: there is neither a shot nor a choreographic twist that makes you marvel at the mind of the filmmaker who conceived it.”
“The good news is that it’s not as bad as Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” wrote Times critic Kevin Maher in another two-star review. The unfortunate news is that things are not improving.
“Despite all this, Ford continues to exude charisma. Even when the machinery around him is on autopilot, he lends his seasoned gravitas to arguably his most important character. He and Indy inevitably deserved better.”
James Mangold (The Wolverine and Ford vs. Ferrari) directs Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Making it the first film in the franchise not to be directed by Steven Spielberg.
The director, who has also helmed Girl Interrupted and Walk the Line, stated that he aimed for the “best version” of what Spielberg had accomplished in the four previous films.
Spielberg, he told AFP, “has been my hero my entire life,” adding, “I was 17 when I saw the first Indiana Jones film.” It’s a big chair, but it was also a tremendous opportunity for me.”
He stated that the new film was “me attempting to emulate my mentor by telling a story,” adding, “Of course, it’s still me and not him.”
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter stated that the film had “the feel of something written by committee.” He stated that it “does have a sweet blast of pure nostalgia in the final scene. A welcome reappearance foreshadowed by a few visual clues in the beginning.”
However, he added, “Part of what diminishes the enjoyment of this concluding chapter is how fake so much of it appears to be.”
James Mottram of Total Film had a different opinion, stating that Indiana Jones “ends on a high note.”
“Mangold handles the action expertly, including a thrilling tuk-tuk pursuit through Tangier. However, the greatest part is that this is an Indiana Jones film with tears in its eyes. The character has aged but has not necessarily become wiser.
“Under the influence of alcohol, he is filled with remorse for abandoning his loved ones in pursuit of wealth and fame.”
Ford told the same film magazine last month that this is “the final film in the series” and “the last time I’ll play the character.”
Ford stated, “I will not be a part of it if it comes to pass.” Disney is planning a television series.
