It’s going to be quite the opening night for the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Lana dek Rey was reportedly going to sing, but instead there will be a tribute to “The Color Purple” for Steven Spielberg. She will be part of a big presentation with French actress Audrey Tatou, as well as a mini tribute to Steven Spielberg and the presentation of his jury including Nicole Kidman, Ang Lee, and Christoph Waltz.
At the afternoon press conference for the jury, Ang Lee– who won the Oscar in February for Best Director–said of head juror Spielberg: “I worship him. He’s my hero.” It was heartfelt. Spielberg blushed. “I worship ‘Life of Pi’,” he said. “So I worship Ang Lee.”
Nicole Kidman said she did not get any advice from hubby Keith Urban about being a judge– he’s finishing a rocky year as a jurist on “American Idol.” Kidman did say Urban would be joining her here as soon as “Idol” is over. He sorely needs a vacation, that’s for sure.
Waltz likened negotiating with the other jurors to a type of psychotherapy, and mentioned the name of Freud. Waltz, whose international career began here with “Inglourious Basterds” just three years ago, said he still can’t believe he’s a juror.
“Coming up the stairs today I forgot what I was doing here,” he laughed.
