Cannes Film Festival...Brad Pitt film wins Palme D'Or! Kirsten Dunst Best Actress!

 


 




In spite of the fact filmgoers booed the latest Brad Pitt flick ("The Tree of Life") at at screening at the Cannes Film Festival last week - the prestigious Festival honored the period drama - with the coveted Palm D'Or.

Although Mr. Pitt attended the exotic seaside celebration in Southern France, the elusive star was not in attendance when the heady news was announced Sunday afternoon.

The forty-something heartthrob jetted over off to Hollywood over the weekend to attend Angelina Jolie's Kung Fu Panda 2 premiere.

"Tree of Life" was directed by Terrence Malick - and also stars another Hollywood heavyweight - Sean Penn.

Kirsten Durst was a big winner, too, when she was named Best Actress.

Robert De Niro headed up the Cannes Film Festival selection jury this year, which also included two other high-profile stars - Uma Thurman and Jude Law - on the celebrated panel.

The Festival was not without controversy this year.

Director Lars von Trier was barred from Cannes Film Festival events on the heels of uttering of Nazi and Hitler comments which didn't sit well with guests of the annual event.

At another press conference for a documentary on the BP Oil crisis, Peter Fonda fessed up to media hounds present, that he fired off an e-mail to President Barack Obama this past week, in which he labelled the President a "fu**ing traitor".

WINNER"S LIST
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2011

Palme d’Or

“The Tree of Life”
 by Terrence Malick

Grand Prix
 Tie
“The Kid with a Bike” by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
“Once Upon a Time in Anatolia” by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Prix de la Mise en Scene
Best Director
Nicolas Winding Refn for “Drive”

Prix du Scenario
Best Screenplay
Joseph Cedar for “Hearat Shulayim”

Camera d’Or
Best First Feature
“Las Acacias” by Pablo Gorgelli

Prix du Jury
 Jury Prize
“Polisse” by Maiwenn

Prix d’interpretation feminine
Best Actress
Kirsten Dunst for “Melancholia”

Prix d’interpretation masculine
Best Actor
Jean Dujarin
“The Artist”

Palme d’Or
Short film
“Cross Country”
Directed by Marina Viroda

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Bernardo Bertolucci...receives honorary Palme d'or @ Cannes Film Festival!

 



Officials at the Cannes Film Festival have just announced that respected Italian film director - Bernardo Bertolucci - will be presented with an Honorary Palme d'or at the opening ceremonies on May 11th on the picturesque French Riviera in the south of France.

A handful of notable directors have received the coveted award in the past - Woody Allen (2002) and Clint Eastwood (2009) - for example.

The President of the prestigious Festival - Gilles Jacob - will head up the much-ballyhooed celebrations on behalf of the discerning Board of Directors.

The filmmaker has distinguished himself as a great auteur with a remarkable body of work - that includes masterpieces such as the Conformist (1970), the Last Tango in Paris (1978) and The Last Emperor (1982).

Bertolucci has been lauded over the course of his enviable film career - not only for his particular focus on political and social issues - but, also - for his unrelenting bold-faced efforts to elevate the realm of celluloid - and its artistry - to the heights of profound thought-provoking imagery and unique poetic lyricism.

"The quality of his work which appears today in all its uniqueness, and the extent of this work we perceive every day more vividly, the strength of his commitment to cinema, and the ties that bind him to Cannes, make Bernaldo Bertollucci the first legitimate recipient." Jacob was quick to gush to the media at a press conference.

The Honorary Palme d'or will be presented on May 11th, at the "Opening Night" of the 64th edition of the Festival.

Robert De Niro, who chaired the Jury, is expected to be present for the auspicious occasion.

The Palme d’Or is usually awarded to one of the filmmakers in competition.

But, the honorary Palme d’Or has also been bestowed upon important filmmakers, when their work has been deemed "authoritative”  - and the director - has failed to wrangle the prize during the fierce annual competition.

Bertolucci was born in the Italian city of Parma.

The visionary director was the elder son of Ninetta (a teacher) and Attilio Bertolucci (who was a poet, a reputed art historian, anthologist and film critic).

Bertolucci's childhood influences appeared to spell his fate from the get-go!

He began writing at the age of fifteen, and early on, won several prestigious literary prizes including the Premio Viareggio for his first book.

Bertolucci's films tend to put a searing spotlight on themes related to sex, politics and cinephilia.

I recall attending the premiere of the "Last Tango in Paris" in Vancouver (Canada) and being thoroughly shocked by the subject matter.

The voyeuristic flick approached the issue of sexuality in an extremely carnal and disturbing way.

Too erotic (perverted?) for mainstream North American audiences?

Needles to say, there was quite an uproar when the controversial feature was first released in Canada, and outraged filmgoers have never looked at butter the same way ever since!

"The Conformist" dealt with fascist Italy and was seen as both artistic and intellectual in nature.

"The Dreamers" (released a scant few years ago) was one Bertolucci favorite of mine that underscored to me the auteur was still capable of seducing an audience with themes that resonated with truth and conviction while ruffling their sensibilities to the core.

The tony Cannes Film festival  - which usually features a must-see roster of leading-edge films - is attended by noteworthy film critics from around the globe - and likewise - attracts a jet set elite in the realm of film who are drawn to the exotic fest like moth to flame each year

See 'ya there!

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Directing smooth as Butter!

Robert De Niro...Cannes Film Festival names actor President of Jury panel!

Robert De Niro is brimming with a grin from ear-to-ear for good reason!

Organizers for the tony 64th Annual "Cannes Film Festival" - which launches in May on the exotic French Riviera - have invited the respected thespian to head up the Jury Panel for a third time.

De Niro - starring in the comedy - "The Little Flockers" (currently in wide release around the country) last took on the coveted duties twice in the heady 80's.

Film buffs may recall that De Niro's break-out thriller - Taxi Driver - won the Palme d'or in 1976.

Break a leg, Bobby!

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