Are vampires the hot thing right now, or what? “Thirst” is another vampire movie, and it’s already a box office hit in Korea and winner of the Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival.
It stars Song Kang-ho as Sang-hyun, a priest who volunteers for a secret vaccine project aimed at eradicating a deadly virus. But when things go horribly wrong, a blood transfusion is needed to save him, and the blood turns out to be infected. Sang-hyun is now a vampire.
Not only does he have to struggle with his newfound “thirst” for blood, but another hunger comes …read more

I imagine I’ll be seeing some of the Cannes films at the Traverse City Film Festival in August. Until then, I’m reveling in hearing about the films and people involved in Cannes’ 12-day run, which ended tonight. 
“The White Ribbon” scored the coveted Palme d’Or, the festival’s top honor.  Jury president Isabelle Huppert presented Michael Haneke with the prize at the closing-night ceremony held in the Palais des Festivals.
It’s the first time a jury president has presented the award since Clint Eastwood gave the award to Quentin Tarantino for "Pulp Fiction."
Grabbing the Grand Prix award was Jacques Audiard’s …read more

Does Angelina Jolie know how to make an entrance or what? Check out the up-to-here slit in that dress! She and Brad Pitt attended the red carpet premiere of "Inglourious Basterds" at Cannes on May 20, 2009.
Director Quentin Tarantino’s take on World War II stars Brad Pitt as a U.S. army lieutenant leading a group of soldiers operating behind Nazi lines. The movie arrives in theaters August 21, 2009. Check out the trailer here.
More after the jump…

Every time I see Penelope Cruz, she just gets more and more beautiful. And her dress in the photo is stunning.
It’s a pic of her, along with Pedro Almodovar and Blanco Portillo, at the premiere of their film “Broken Embraces” at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.
The story follows a man who loses both his sight and lover in a car accident. It hits U.S. theaters in limited release on Nov. 20, 2009.
Image: INF

I just posted some breaking "Breaking Dawn" news from Rob Pattinson, stopping over in Cannes on his way to Italy to finish filming "New Moon." 
For your viewing pleasure, here’s another picture of the star whose vampire alter-ego Edward Cullen, drives girls wild.
 Image: INF

Robert Pattinson stopped by Cannes and revealed some big news for “Twilight” fans. “Breaking Dawn,” the fourth movie in the vampire series based on the Stephenie Meyer books, is in a go mode!
There’s been some speculation as to whether it would be made. “New Moon,” the second movie, and “Eclipse,” the third movie, are already in progress. Pattinson was heading to Italy to shoot the final four days on “New Moon,” and he’ll return to Vancouver in October to finish up “Eclipse.”
He told The Hollywood Reporter that he’s on board for “Breaking Dawn,” but didn’t know when production would …read more

The Cannes Film Festival – a.k.a. Festival de Cannes – is in full swing right now, from May 13 – 24, 2009. I’ve chosen a few images from the festival, including lovely Abbie Cornish, right, attending the "Bright Star" screening.
The main news to come out of the festival is that while there are many top-tier projects available to U.S. distributors, no one is buying. A sign of the bleak economy? Whatever the reason, it looks like some very big movies may be left without a U.S. distributor, which could mean smaller distributors will swoop in and pick them …read more

There’s a story on The Hollywood Reporter’s Risky Biz Blog, asking whether we need Joaquin Phoenix to rise again. It got me thinking about what the film industry would be missing if he never acted again. In my view, a lot.
As you probably know by now, Phoenix has been having a bit of a meltdown in the public eye. He showed up on David Letterman doing his best Unibomber impression, after deciding to switch from acting to rapping. Yes, he decided to be a rapper. How respectable.
But I dunno. Maybe he’s just feeling his oats. Maybe it’s all part …read more

For a while there, it looked like Steven Soderbergh’s “Che” would be picked up by Magnolia. Now IFC Films has swept in and acquired the rights to the pic.
Basically, the movie will be released in two two-hour parts, so the big question for the distributor is whether to release the films together or separately.
More after the jump…

Hey, I couldn’t resist on the title. When you’ve got good material…
Here’s the deal: Brad Pitt has joined the cast of Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Bastards, about a group of Jewish American soldiers who take vengeance on Nazis in German-occupied France.
Pitt will play Lt. Aldo Raine, the head of the Jewish resistance. Simon Pegg is in negotiations to play a British lieutenant, and David Krumholtz will play a member of Pitt’s team. 
Nastassja Kinski is meeting with Tarantino for the part of a German actress. She really hasn’t been visible in the film biz for the past few years, …read more