Joel Edgerton in the frame for his first Oscar nomination as new civil rights film Loving gets rave reviews at Cannes

By Nic White For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 07:45 EST, 25 May 2016 | Updated: 08:51 EST, 25 May 2016

After receiving a standing ovation at its Cannes premiere, Joel Edgerton’s civil rights film Loving is getting serious Oscar buzz.

The film doesn’t hit cinemas until November but the critics who attended the festival screening are almost unanimous in their praise and have been bowled over by Edgerton’s acting.

The Australian star plays lead character Richard Loving sentenced to prison in Virginia in 1958 for entering into an interracial marriage with partner Mildred, played by Ruth Negga.

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Stellar performance: Critics who attended the festival screening are almost unanimous in their praise and have been bowled over by Joel Edgerton’s acting

Stellar performance: Critics who attended the festival screening are almost unanimous in their praise and have been bowled over by Joel Edgerton’s acting

Highly praised: The Australian plays lead character Richard Loving sentenced to prison in Virginia in 1958 for entering into an interracial marriage with partner Mildred, played by Ruth Negga

Highly praised: The Australian plays lead character Richard Loving sentenced to prison in Virginia in 1958 for entering into an interracial marriage with partner Mildred, played by Ruth Negga

Variety reports: 'Though it will inevitably factor heavily in year-end Oscar conversations, Nichols’ film is seemingly less interested in its own glory than in representing what’s right.

'And though it features two of the best American performances of the past several years, from Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga (neither of whom are American, hailing from Australia and Ethiopia, respectively), its emotional impact derives precisely from how understated they are.' 

Other movie critics also heaped praise on the film with Vanity Fair penning: 'Edgerton is one of the more dynamic movie actors of his generation.'  

Cannes: Director Jeff Nichols poses with actress Ruth and Joel  at the annual 69th Film Festival this month

Cannes: Director Jeff Nichols poses with actress Ruth and Joel  at the annual 69th Film Festival this month

The civil rights drama comes not long after Joel's success with Midnight Special – with both movies directed by Jeff Nichols.

Joel made headlines earlier this week when he compared the old American state laws against mixed-race marriages featured in Loving to the continued block of gay marriage in Australia.

‘One of the things that struck me while working on this film is what happens between two individuals is nobody else's business,’ he said after Monday’s screening.

‘There was a definite resonance with my own country, particularly with the rights of gay marriage and the latency of under-the surface racism, which is something I think we really need to talk about.’  

Promotional trail: The director and actors attend the Loving premiere at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes

Promotional trail: The director and actors attend the Loving premiere at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes

 

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