Jerry Seinfeld jumps from the roof of the Carlton Hotel and King Leonidas himself, Gerard Butler, causes a female pileup at the door of Century Beach. Yes, it has to be Cannes, writes Joyce Dundas.
The film calendar's most important event, the Festival de Cannes, celebrates its 60th anniversary this year and opened in style with a film by Cannes favourite, Wong Kar Wai, My Blueberry Nights. The film is Wong's first in the English language and stars Jude Law, Rachel Weisz and marks the acting debut of singer Norah Jones. Jones plays a waitress on a road trip across America in this wistful drama chronicling love-lorn Americans. Natalie Portman adds more interest for US audiences, but though it is beautifully shot and has Wong's characteristic lyricism, it might still disappoint his fans.
The subdued opening was upstaged completely this morning though by the DreamWorks and Paramount event to launch Bee Movie, an animated feature starring the voice of Jerry Seinfeld, who is also the creative powerhouse and screenplay writer on the movie.
In the true spirit of carnival that is Cannes, Seinfeld dressed as a large bee and buzzed down from the roof of the Carlton Hotel. Chris Rock, who voices a wise mosquito in the film, hosted the event and Seinfeld quipped: “How did this become all about Chris Rock?”, while flying high above the Croisette.
Around 30 minutes of raw and completed footage was introduced by Jeffrey Katzenberg, co-founder of Dreamworks, and the two comedian stars, both of whom were as funny and irreverent as would be expected, commenting cheekily on Eddie Murphy's comeback, Ray Liotta barely-hidden anger and Larry King's age.
Seinfeld kicked off proceedings with a customary US quip about Cannes. “How good is the coffee in this town,” he shrieked. “I mean I am awake,” he laughed with his customary New York neurosis.
He went on to explain that the film had come into being while he was having dinner with Steven Spielberg, co-founder of DreamWorks. He says that during a lull in conversation he said: “How cool would it be to make a film called B-movie about bees?” Spielberg instantly got on the phone and the project sprung to life. That was four years ago. There is now an almost completed feature due for release in the autumn and a series of behind-the-scenes vignettes, which will be shown on US channel NBC.
The film's synopsis on IMDb says: “Barry B. Benson, a bee who has just graduated from college, is disillusioned at his lone career choice: making honey. On a special trip outside the hive, Barry's life is saved by Vanessa, a florist in New York City. As their relationship blossoms, he discovers humans actually eat honey, and subsequently decides to sue.” Renee Zellweger voices Vanessa in perhaps the first ever love story between a human and a bee.
Seinfeld says he wanted to show a different side to these little hard-working creatures whose only other filmic outing had been in schlocky horror movie The Swarm, where they didn't quite come off so well.
During the Q&A afterwards Seinfeld was bombarded by bad puns on the bee theme. “Is the theme of the movie, to be or not to be?” tried one journalist, “Will there be a C and D and perhaps X movie later?” asked another, dangerous territory when in the company of such a comedic legend. “Why don't you leave the jokes to us?” he answered to huge appreciation from the rest of the audience.
At a much more low-key event on Wednesday night Gerard Butler star, of 300 and nascent Hollywood heavyweight, hosted a small dinner at the Century Beach, the Cannes incarnation of the private members Century Club in London. The handsome star, as would be expected, kept himself carefully placed behind a publicist, but on a restroom break was inundated by female fans desperate to have even 30 seconds in the ultimate Spartan's company. He politely declined all offers.
The Festival continues apace tonight with the opening film of the Quinzaine (Director's Fortnight), Control, based on the life of Ian Curtis the lead singer with cult band Joy Division. His inner demons led him to commit suicide at 23 and based on the book by his widow Deborah Curtis, Touching From a Distance. Sam Riley plays Curtis with Samantha Morton as Deborah and music video maker, Anton Corbijn, directing.
The Cannes film market is also in full swing as buyers and sellers take hold endless meetings to make sure they get the movies to the all-important audience. After all there is little point in making a movie if no-one ever gets to see it.
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