The 2008 Cannes do's: Stars! Parties! Couture! Oh, and films!

After it was reported that "Sex and the City: The Movie" would premiere in London, not at the Cannes International Film Festival, many fashion fans felt this year's fest would be a sleepy-style affair.

But as the festival draws closer, the fashion rumors are flying, with more stars -- Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sharon Stone, Mischa Barton, Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett and Madonna (!) -- set to show off designers' latest couture gowns. Click here! for photos!

The newly glammed-up Gwyneth Paltrow will attend for her film "Two Lovers." We expect some edgy couture, given her recent red carpets for "Iron Man." And Madonna's showing up at the annual star-studded AmfAR fundraiser, where she'll also perform. The night before, she'll walk the red carpet (in Givenchy or D&G?) at the screening of her documentary about AIDS orphans in Malawi, "I Am Because We Are."

Sharon Stone's coming to do her annual devious diva auction duty for AMfar. The woman is an unstoppable couture machine. Perhaps she'll don her pal Roberto Cavalli or Versace or whatever strikes her fancy. Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz will add sizzle at the premiere of the Woody Allen film, "Vicky Christina Barcelona," an erotic thriller that involves some girl-on-girl action and a hotly anticipated three-way with Javier Bardem. Or as the French would put it, a ménage a trois.

Mischa Barton will be at the fest during the first week with her film "You and I." She could do Missoni, like she did for the Costume Institute ball in New York this week. Whatever. Let's just pray she stays in her clothes, out of a bikini, off the beach  and away from prying paps. We don't need to see more of her thighs. Please.

Angelina Jolie will have two films at the fest: the animated "Kung Fu Panda," and "Changeling," directed by Clint Eastwood. If she's not busy giving birth to one (or two) babies, that is. Because birth is imminent, major couture probably will not be possible, but with Angie, you just never know! If she does come, it's likely that Brad Pitt will attend. Dude's not going to let a seven months' pregnant woman waddle the red carpet alone!

Cate Blanchett will be there for Steven Spielberg's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," and she'll probably be ready to don some serious couture (Armani, maybe) after the birth of her third child last month. This gal does not waste time. She had her hair colored a few hours before she left for the hospital to have her baby induced. I'm just saying.

And of course, there will also be the usual array of Euro-beauties and bored supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer, just dying to be shouted at by the paparazzi, because really, what else do they have to do?

As for parties and fashion events, there's a Vanity Fair party, a Sean Penn party, a Dolce & Gabbana bash, an Alberta Ferretti party (probably on her 1950s style yacht), the big AmfAR AIDS fundraiser-dinner, the Palme D'Or ceremony, a Chopard fete, studio bashes (Paramount, MGM and Universal), agency parties from CAA, Endeavor, ICM and William Morris, and scads of private VIP cast and filmmaker-only fetes going on around the port town, at the Hotel Du Cap, at the Martinez and on various high rollers' mega-yachts, like Paul Allen's the Octopus.

Whew. I'm exhausted just writing about it.

Photos: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, top. Gwyneth Paltrow, above left. WireImage

Comments

[tomk]

POOR BRAD PITT. His is the expression of a man gazing deeply into the abyss. How existential!

Psst, Brad: Just get in touch with Timothy Hutton, Jonny Lee Miller, or Billy Bob Thornton. They can tell you how to de-Angelina yourself! Although, how many is it now: two dozen children?! How will you ever get away without ruining your reputation?

[youAPPROVEDthat?]

Yes, it's such hell for Brad being with Angelina Jolie. What with the beautiful children, world reknowned reputation as a humanitarian, his newfound respect among his peers for his own philanthropy, and the love of 4, soon to be 5 children at 44...I agree, designing clothes, and jewelry with a bad TV sit-com actress who resembles Dustin Hoffman, was so much more preferable, to his current misery, lounging at billionaire Paul Allen's home while Angelina makes sweet love to him. You're so right Tomk. and soooo extremely gay. THAT, or your one of Aniston's bitter menopausal pals.

[hunh]

So let me get this straight TomK...To you - Brad becoming a father at 40, a devoted supportive partner in the beautiful hot Angelina Jolie, respect as a humanitarian an artist who is at his prime in all things equals Brad's "abyss."

But, endless patio parties with the Cox Arquettes attached to his hip, not to mention the gaggle of homely hens and hairdressers (aka lackeys) that Aniston employed who never left his home, and being segregated to the kitchen/TV section of the Golden Globes, reigning as King Arm Candy at the People's Choice Awards...was NOT the "abyss?"

I can always tell the Jen haters and Huvane employees who are up late, waiting to get digs in at Brad because he dared leave the TV sit-com hack.

[JA likes watersports]

tomk | May 12, 2008 at 06:47 PM

Jennifer Aniston, is that you?