Without 'Sex and the City,' Cannes may be a flop for fashionistas

Now that the word is out that "Sex and the City: the Movie" is unlikely to make a big, splashy world premiere at Cannes, but will instead open in London -- and during Cannes opening week -- the fashion industry is cooling considerably on the international film festival scene this year.

"It's dismal," said one fashion insider. "It's really painful that the 'Sex' girls won't be on the red carpet at Cannes. Every designer was hoping to get a gown on that carpet and many actresses already had their dresses lined up, just in case."

And without "Sex" style sirens Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis, the hot red carpet placements for designer gowns and fancy jewelry are looking pretty slim.

Sure, Cate Blanchett is likely to be there for "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

But she's just had a baby. She'll no doubt wear some flattering, loose Armani. Yawn. Then there's Karen Allen. Who? I rest my case.

The only saving grace is that Angelina Jolie may show up to support "Kung Fu Panda." She's a voice in the animated Paramount film. But she's pretty far down the pregnancy road so that cancels her out as a haute couture sprite. Of course, she may not need a place to stay, if those bubbling Euro-rumors are true that she and Brad Pitt have finalized a purchase of a reeeeeally expensive castle/chateau in the south of France.

One big name -- Robert DeNiro, definitely not a fashion force -- will close the festival with his new Barry Levinson-directed "Wag the Dog-ish" inside Hollywood film, "What Just Happened?" which has already showed -- to subdued reviews -- at Sundance. And its big female star? Larchmont Village sweatpants-wearing regular Catherine Keener.

But the real question is why did "Sex" really pick stuffy old London over sexy tropical Cannes?

A WB insider who refused to go on record told me, "One word: recession," adding that movie studios were feeling the pinch of a devalued U.S. dollar and that a Cannes fete done right would be far more costly than a red carpet event in London.

It's true that whatever millions of euros a lavish premiere -- party, food, booze, flying over stars (and their hair and makeup entourages) and filmmakers, housing them on yachts, rental villas or at the Hotel du Cap -- cost last year, will be almost double that this year. That's a big bite out of a P&A budget. (And with New Line's "Golden Compass" not exactly benefiting from the studio's lavish Cannes soiree last year, it only makes sense to start fresh in a new city.)

But some fashion folks are questioning the real reason behind the "Sex" Cannes snub. Could it be that the film is simply not up to snuff and that a resounding "boo" from international critics at Cannes could kill its European box office?

Will the London press be kinder to the film simply because they'll be so flattered that their city was chosen for the world premiere over New York, where the original gosh-darn HBO series was filmed?

Time will tell.

Photos: Chris Noth and Sarah Jessica Parker pose for a Vanity Fair shoot... NEW YORK, not London!
WireImage

Comments

[Pierre]

They Did not premiere in Cannes Because The Boss Of the french Film Festival In Cannes decided To Put Blindness Instead . And Show america How Much Power He as. I Can't freaking Believe That ?!!?!
Anyway he is a selfish F*&% Cause Having Sex and the city there will have been so so so positive for the Movie industry and for the people around , It will have generate so much Money for the City .

Cannes 2008 will be a flop .
Read my lips.
Pierre

[Pierre]

They Did not premiere in Cannes Because The Boss Of the french Film Festival In Cannes decided To Put Blindness Instead . And Show america How Much Power He as. I Can't freaking Believe That ?!!?!
Anyway he is a selfish F*&% Cause Having Sex and the city there will have been so so so positive for the Movie industry and for the people around , It will have generate so much Money for the City .

Cannes 2008 will be a flop .
Read my lips.
Pierre