Cannes on the panda express with Black-and-white costumed friends
By Pete Hammond
The 61st edition of the Cannes Film Festival got under way Wednesday with 40 pandas and comic star Jack Black parading across the pier of Cannes’ iconic Carlton Hotel in front of the world’s entertainment press.
This festival of all film festivals used to be known for similar pier stunts with barely dressed starlets clamoring for attention by threatening to take it all off. Since “Shrek” made its way here a few years ago. studio honcho Jeffrey Katzenberg and the Dreamworks publicity team have turned it into an annual giant photo opp paradise for costumed characters pushing animated summer flicks such as “Kung Fu Panda,” which will have its official World Premiere (out of competition) Thursday night (15) with the film’s other voice stars joining Black on the famous red-carpeted steps of the Palais including Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman and Lucy Liu.
The ironic thing is this oh so French appearance is meant mostly for American eyes as none of these stars will be heard in the multitude of international versions of the film when it is released worldwide throughout the summer.
The Festival officially opened Wednesday night with a gala premiere of a new Focus/ Miramax film, “Blindness,” a gritty , intense drama directed by “City of God’s” Fernando Mereilles and starring Julianne Moore, Gael Garcia Bernal and Danny Glover. It was followed by a sit down dinner and a big, crowded late night party on the Carlton Pier where the only celebrities in sight were those who appeared in the film, but even with low star wattage and early mixed critical response it still got Cannes ‘08 off and running with the promise of huge things to come.
In fact, many more stars are expected on the Croisette before the festival ends including, of course, Harrison Ford , Shia LeBeouf, Steven Spielberg , George Lucas and gang for the most talked about event of Cannes ’08, the world premiere launch of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” on Sunday May 18.
The film will be screened (almost) simultaneously for press in the U.S. the same day so word on the summer’s most anticipated sequel will get out fast. Some Internet leaks are causing a little nervousness but judging from buzz on the streets this is the hottest ticket Cannes has had in years.
