2011 Cannes Film Festival Offers Mainstream Appeal

By Michael Lopez

We know what you're thinking. France’s annual Cannes Film Festival is nothing but a frou frou celebration of boring "artistic" movies. And while you won't see any Fast Fives fighting for the coveted Palme d’Or, there are actually quite a bit of fist-pumping flicks that are well worth adding to your summer viewing list. This year's celebration includes such upcoming blockbusters as Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Kung Fu Panda 2!

Granted there will definitely be some slower paced dramas added into the mix as well, but even those are grabbing attention. Sleeping Beauty, for one, happens to be one of Cannes' more controversial competitors. Featuring Sucker Punch’s Emily Browning, it’s about as far removed from that classic Disney film as you can imagine. There are subplots about prostitution, drug addiction, and the Australian underworld, which have led the critics to label it the year's first "erotic fairy tale."

Jumping back to more mainstream territory, Johnny Depp's On Stranger Tides has earned a well deserved slot on the Cannes playlist. If you think this is just another summer popcorn movie, think again. Director Rob Marshall has helmed some the last decade’s most celebrated films, including Nine and Memoirs of a Geisha. His artistic touch will definitely bring some extra layers to Pirates. Plus, it's got two Academy Award-winning stars, Geoffrey Rush and Penelope Cruz!

On the animation front, Dreamworks is looking to leave a major mark on the festival. As you already know, Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek left a big impression when they arrived to promote their fall movie, Puss In Boots.

But Thursday promises even more paparazzi attention as Angelina Jolie makes her appearance to debut Kung Fu Panda 2. For the record, Cannes will actually get treated to the full "Brangelina" experience. Hubby Brad will be there too, promoting his upcoming drama, Tree of Life.

On the international front, Latin American countries like Brazil and Chile are taking their shot at the Palme d’Or as well. The Brazilian drama Hard Labor was written and directed by the creative team of Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra and is expected to have a major impact. Chile's Bonsai is a little more lighthearted. Described as a romantic dramedy, director Christian Jimenez calls it, "a homage to lies, fiction, and artifice."

Obviously with two weeks worth of films, you can expect a lot more than that. Other notable entries include Mel Gibson's The Beaver and the action-packed Drive starring Ryan Gosling. You can check out all of the entries on the Cannes website, or just wait until they hit the states within the next few months.

Are you a fan of "artistic" films? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Angelina Jolie, Antonio Banderas, Bonsai, Cannes International Film Festival, Emily Browning, geoffrrey rush, Hard Labor, Hot Stuff, Jonas Brothers, Kung Fu Panda 2, Movies & CineMás, Penelope Cruz, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Puss In Boots, rob marshall, Salma Hayek, Sleeping Beauty