Fan Fare

The Cannes film festival lineup just announced has a familiar ring to it, with several past winners vying for that nice gold-coloured leaf grandly called the Palme d’Or in 2009. Quentin Tarantino (who won in 1994) unveils the oddly spelled “Inglourious Basterds”, his World War Two caper starring Brad Pitt. Ken Loach (2006) and Jane Campion (1993) are also in the running in the main competition lineup as is Lars von Trier (2000).

Grabbing just as much limelight on the French Riviera, though, will be Terry Gilliam and his “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”, the late Heath Ledger’s last movie with stars Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell stepping in to complete his role.

Finally hoping to break his Cannes duck will be another favourite on the palm-lined Croisette waterfront, Spain’s Pedro Almodovar who once again teams up with Penelope Cruz in “Broken Embraces”. He was favourite to take the top prize in 2006 with “Volver”, and ended up calling the billing as frontrunner a “curse”. Could it be Pedro for Palme d’Or this time?