Cannes Film Festival Opens In Style

In the film industry there’s the fluff of red carpet premiers, and then there’s the serious stuff like the Cannes Film Festival. Cannes is where the real artists go to be recognized among peers of genius. Yesterday (Thursday) marked the 60th birthday of the festival, which opened on the French Riviera.

Music is big in Cannes this year. One of the most talked-about films so far is “Control”, a biopic about the life and premature death of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis. Sam Riley’s performance as the tragic singer is superb, as is Samantha Morton as his wife. If ever you want a reminder of how the rock’n'roll life can turn around and devour you, this is it.

There is also a film about rockers U2 in 3D. It was filmed during a concert for a crowd of 80,000. Initial reviews sound positive, and the band is scheduled to perform outside the theater this Saturday night at midnight.

On to real movies. The new Jerry Seinfeld flick was one of the showcased films last night. And Seinfeld was present to make a big buzz. "You know, one thing I hate is any kind of movie promotion that smacks of desperation in any way," the 53-year-old comedian said before jumping from the roof of an eight-story luxury hotel -- arms and legs flailing -- attached to a cord. Oh yeah, and he was dressed in a fuzzy bumblebee suit. All this to promote “Bee Movie,” an animated movie about the life of the insects.

Norah Jones made her Cannes debut in support of her new film “My Blueberry Nights.” Jones, who plays a heartbroken lover ambitiously took on the role which forced her to cry on command and spend hours smooching co-star Jude Law. "I remember the first take we did, my voice was really high," she said, finishing her sentence with a squeak. "I was just terribly nervous, and [Director] Kar-wai came over and patted me on the back and I relaxed a little."

George Clooney and Brad Pitt represented “Oceans Thirteen”. Thirteen opens in US theaters next month, and it promises to be a good one. With Al Pacino joining the all-star cast, it can only get more sinister.

Cannes will run for the next ten days, showcasing films from Russia to Mexico, Hong Kong to Hollywood. One thing’s for sure; it will be a star-studded event with a preview of awesome new films.

Enjoy the pictures from the first two days of the 60th annual Cannes Film Festival (there's plenty more in the gallery once you get there)!