Stars Align as Cannes Kicks Off

Del Toro grabs Bests Actor for Che

(NEWSER) - Laurent Cantet's The Class walked away with Cannes' prestigious Palm D'Or today, the final day of competition, reports the Hollywood Reporter. It was the first time a French film had claimed the prize since 1987. Cannes Jury President Sean Penn followed the announcement with a list of largely sleeper candidates. Among them: More»

(NEWSER) - Michael Haneke’s The White Ribbon took the top prize at Cannes today, while Lars Von Triers’ controversial Antichrist was vindicated with a Best Actress award for Charlotte Gainsbourg, the AP reports. French film A Prophet won second place, with Fish Tank and Thirst tying for third. Christoph Waltz took Best Actor for his portrayal of a Nazi in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds. More»

(NEWSER) - Festival fave Quentin Tarantino opened his comic-fantasy take on World War II, Inglourious Basterds, at Cannes today. The film traces Jewish-American soldiers, led by Brad Pitt, as they annihilate as many Nazis in France as three grisly hours can fit. Some early sentiment:

• "It's western meets war movie, with David Bowie on the soundtrack," writes Emma Jones for the BBC, adding that she regrets only that it's too long and there isn't enough Pitt.

(NEWSER) - Cannes opened in an unusual way tonight—with the animated 3-D film Up from Pixar. It’s the first time either an animated movie or a 3-D flick got the honored spot, and Timothy M. Gray of Variety reports an “enthused” response from both audience and critics. The movie—about a cranky old guy voiced by Ed Asner who floats his house to South America—is a nice fit for this year’s toned down festival, “which despite global worries, boasted a shy aura of hope,” writes Gray. More»

Economic woes put the breaks on Croisette craziness

(NEWSER) - The Cannes Film Festival opens tomorrow with a screening of the new Pixar film Up, but this year the glitzy two-week movie fest on the French Riviera may be a low-key affair, writes the Hollywood Reporter. Yachts have gone unrented, Vanity Fair has canceled its annual party, and movie execs are anxious about the dealmaking that takes place around the festival. More»