Cannes rolled out the red carpet on Wednesday for Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, who launched the 2004 film festival with a tale of child abuse by the Catholic Church. Critics raved about La Mala Educacion (Bad Education) and it was the first time a Spanish film had ever opened the world's most famous film festival.
"My film may not be in competition here but opening the Cannes Film Festival is a prize in itself," Almodovar said.
The audience, usually treated to a frothy comedy or rollicking adventure on Cannes' opening night, were this time served up a cast of paedophile priests and drug-raddled transvestites.
Brad the dad
Movie star Brad Pitt has confirmed that he and his wife Jennifer Aniston are trying for a baby, saying, "We've been in rehearsals long enough."
Aniston has already hinted that she is ready to have a baby, quashing recent rumours that her four-year marriage to Pitt was on the rocks.
Pitt, 40, fuelled those claims last week when he said: "I'm not sure that it really is in our nature to be with something for the rest of our lives."
But speaking on CNN, he said he was ready to father Friends star Aniston's child. "I think it's time. We have been in rehearsals long enough."
Beyonce's label
Pop diva Beyonce Knowles and her mum, Tina, have announced the creation of a new Beyonce fashion label. "My mother and I share a love of fashion and style, and with this brand we're going to be able to share our vision of what is truly beautiful," the bootylicious star said.
Animated rapper
Andre 3000, one-half of the chart-topping hip-hop group OutKast, is developing a cartoon series for the Cartoon Network that will draw on his previous experience as an illustrator, says The Hollywood Reporter. The project is expected to be inspired by the rapper's life or possibly his alter ego, Johnny Vulture, the guitar-playing wildman seen in OutKast's video for the Grammy-winning hit single Hey Ya!
Andre 3000 is also enjoying a blossoming film career with a role in the Get Shorty sequel, Be Cool. He is slated to star in a Jimi Hendrix biopic.
Oasis' Beatles link
British rock band Oasis are enlisting Zak Starkey, son of former Beatle Ringo Starr, to play drums.
Band member Noel Gallagher said on BBC radio yesterday that Starkey had been working with Oasis in the studio and would join them on tour and play in front of 150,000 people at the Glastonbury Festival next month.
- AGENCIES
<i>Showbiz:</i> Almodovar leads Cannes
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