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Cannes Film Festival 2012: A star is born

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CANNES, France -- “Last week, they called me to star in ‘Rambo 34,’ ” said actor Matthias Schoenaerts with an admirably straight face. “I told them I wouldn’t do it unless I could get ‘35’ and ‘36’ as well.”

The 34-year-old Belgian was speaking Thursday at the packed Cannes Film Festival press conference for “Rust & Bone,” the new movie by French director Jacques Audiard (“A Prophet”). ‘Rust’ features performances so strong by both Schoenaerts and costar Marion Cotillard -- and the actor’s command of English is so good-- that the question of him joining her as a European star of Hollywood films is clearly only a matter of time.

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‘Rust & Bone’ is an edgy, fearlessly emotional romance between a physically damaged trainer of killer whales (Cotillard) and a violent, emotionally stunted security guard (Schoenaerts). ‘Rust & Bone’ will be released in the United States by Sony Pictures Classics, which also distributed ‘A Prophet.’

Schoenaerts appeared in last year’s Belgian film ‘Bullhead,’ which was a nominee for the best foreign-language Oscar. The actor made a huge impression in the movie, though it was little-seen in the United States.

Schoenaerts said he had been nervous about appearing with his Oscar-winning costar.

“I was intimidated,” he said. “I thought ‘I’m never going to manage, I’m going to be useless, helpless.’ ”

As it turned out, he didn’t have to worry a bit.

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-– Kenneth Turan

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