Cannes Film Festival May 19 Report: Red-(Carpet)-Hot Actresses

Why star in one Cannes Film Festival flick when you can be in two? Apparently, that's what both Natalie Portman and Jessica Lange thought this year. Portman will surely get more attention for her role in "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith," (understatement of the year). But she also stars in "Free Zone," screening today, about an American woman living in Jeruselum and her illuminating taxi ride into Jordan. Not to be upstaged, Jessica Lange makes her second appearance in a Cannes 2005 screening today with, "Don't Come Knocking." That isn't too bad for an actress who's been MIA from Cannes since the 1981 screening of, "The Postman Always Rings Twice." Also starring Sam Shepard, Tim Roth and Fairuza Balk, "Don't Come Knocking" is about a self-absorbed and washed-up former movie star, Howard Spence (Shepard), who learns he might have a love child. In his quest to find his offspring, he comes in contact with former girlfriend, Doreen (Lange).
Here is an excerpt:
DOREEN: How many years has it been, Howard?
HOWARD: What's that got to do with it?
DOREEN: Everything! It's got everything to do with it. When time goes by, people slip away from each other, if they don't have contact.
HOWARD: Yeah, but I mean, we could... We could maybe get back together again!
DOREEN: What? Are you out of your mind!
HOWARD: No, there's no reason we couldn't have some kind of a... you know...
DOREEN: What?
HOWARD: Some kind of reconciliation or something.
DOREEN: Reconciliation? Hah! Now we got lawyer talk!
HOWARD: No. I mean... we should've gotten married! We should have, don't you think?
DOREEN: Married?
HOWARD: Yeah!
Also screening today:

• KEUK JANG JEON (TALE OF CINEMA) by Sangsoo HONG (En compétition)
• SIN CITY by Robert RODRIGUEZ (En compétition)
• BEYOND THE ROCKS (1922/2005) by Sam WOOD (Cannes Classics)
• CINDY, THE DOLL IS MINE by Bertrand BONELLO (Hors compétition/Out of competition)
• C'EST PAS TOUT A FAIT LA VIE DONT J'AVAIS REVE by Michel PICCOLI (Hors compétition/Out of competition)
• TWO-LANE BLACKTOP by Monte HELLMAN (Cannes Classics)
• PEINDRE OU FAIRE L'AMOUR and Arnaud LARRIEU by Jean-Marie LARRIEU (En compétition)
• JEWBOY by Tony KRAWITZ (Un certain regard)
• SCHLÄFER (SLEEPER) by Benjamin HEISENBERG (Un certain regard)

Are you a movie maniac? Get the scoop with the Cannes Film Festival 2005 Coverage. Find out about Tommy Lee Jones' directorial debut and Cannes debut in tomorrow's report.