Well, Terrence Malick won at Cannes. But there were so many headlines after the Palme d’Or was announced on Sunday that “Brad Pitt’s film The Tree of Life wins the Palme d’Or” you’d think it was actually his vision. Money? Maybe. He has a producer credit on the film. Still, they were treated like the King & Queen of Cannes – click here for a refresher – so I suppose, given who they are, the power of their brand, that that’s hardly surprising.
I sat next to a journalist from Kuwait at the press screening for Tree of Life. As soon as the lights came up he turned to me and said, “That’s the Palme d’Or”. I didn’t disagree. It’s a really great film. I really enjoyed it. I do wonder though how they’ll find an audience for it. Tree is a metaphysical movie experience. It’s not, like, um, Glee. Malick’s movies never are very accessible. And there’s very, very little dialogue. So I’m curious to see how they’ll market it, who they’ll market it too.
Sarah noted earlier that despite the fact that Tree has a more Euro flavour, so to speak, than a North American one, she still thinks it’ll factor come awards season. Well, it seems as though the Brange campaign for it is starting already. Slowly, but it’s there. Pitt’s performance is indeed nomination worthy, widely critically acclaimed, lauded as the best performance of his career. I think so too. I forgot he was Brad Pitt. And, as already mentioned, he does so much with SO little dialogue – it’s all in the body, the expressions, the small nuances, a jutting of the lip, the way he works his hands - very, very impressive. Brad’s a powerful, powerful player in Hollywood now. It’s going to happen one way or another, if not for Tree of Life, then definitely for something else.
While The Tree of Life was being celebrated on Sunday in Cannes at the Palais, Brange was in LA selling something else. Kung Fu Panda 2. I’ve already told you how I feel about Brad’s hair right now – love it – but even I can’t get behind his clothes on this occasion. Like, wear jeans if you want to be casual, right? Also, I’m not sure the Jolie knows how to work that one bony leg in a slit. Looks awkward to me. I do however love the photo of her being introduced to Seth Rogen and Danny McBride. Cracks me up. I wonder what those two were thinking.
And of course, the children. They were there. At least 4 of them were. Angelina took hold of numbers 1 and 4, Brad had 2 and 3. These photos are from after the screening. No carpet walks for the kids yet. You think the Pitt kids will be like the Smith kids? Willow, Jaden, all of them on a press line all together? I actually don’t know my own answer to this. Please you tell me.
Photos from Wenn.com and Famepictures.com and MARK RALSTON/David Livingston/Kevin Winter/Gettyimages.com