Brad Pitt @ Cannes Film Festival 2007

wow ladies you have to read lainey\’s account.

He looks old!

Slightly OT.

This is what Johnny Depp said about having his first child.

“(She) was not only the greatest thing that’s ever happened - it’s the only thing that’s ever happened to me. I helped give our daughter life and I feel she gave me life. Suddenly, you meet your reason to live, meet the future. It was like my birth in a way. I was born that day

Some people have made comparisons betwen AJ and JD and I’m begining to see it, this sounds like what AJ said about Maddox.

Beautiful Angelina and Brad.

Had to laugh at Jess finding Brad hot too, even though he’s nearly 20 years older. I remeber when I thought 40 was old and now I’m past it and I still don’t think I’m old. Luckily, 50 is the new 30.

LOL

Thank you jared for all your hard work.

this Wednesday, Anne Curry is going to interview both Brad and Angie on Today show and Dateline. I cannot wait. Thursday Ocean’s 13 premier at Cannes. This Sunday is Shiloh’s birthday. What a week for Brad and Angie.

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Mr and Mrs Smith Says:
May 21st, 2007 at 10:25 am - flag comment

Thanks MAMS. Reading that article, you see why it’s not far fetched that AJ and MP are friends. These are two STRONG WOMEN who don’t play victims, I mean if anyone deserved to throw herself a pity party, it’s MP instead of going on all the talk shows, whining about how she was done wrong, instead of giving interviews every two months to keep the world updated on how she’s “coping”, she drew strength from the ordeal, turned this painful even into something positive. I really do admire these two women

This is from variety.
___________________________

A Mighty Heart
By JUSTIN CHANG

A Paramount Vantage release (in U.S.) and presentation of a Plan B Entertainment/Revolution Films production. Produced by Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Andrew Eaton. Co-producer, Anita Overland. Directed by Michael Winterbottom. Screenplay, John Orloff, based on the book “A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband, Danny Pearl” by Mariane Pearl.

Mariane Pearl - Angelina Jolie
Danny Pearl - Dan Futterman
Captain - Irrfan Khan
John Bussey - Denis O’Hare
Asra - Archie Panjabi
Randall Bennett - Will Patton
Steve LeVine - Gary Wilmes

The sad saga of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Danny Pearl has made it to the bigscreen with facts, figures and beating heart intact in “A Mighty Heart.” In his first studio venture, Michael Winterbottom coaxes forth a staggering wealth of detail from this terse, methodical account of Pearl’s kidnapping and murder in Pakistan, seen through the eyes of those who sought his return. Given audiences’ resistance to films dealing with 9/11 and its aftermath, soberly restrained pic reps a mighty tough sell, though Angelina Jolie’s performance as Pearl’s widow should broaden prospects for the June 22 Stateside release.

Adapting Mariane Pearl’s harrowing memoir, director Winterbottom, who previously ventured into Mideast politics with “In This World” and “The Road to Guantanamo,” proves to be just the man for the task. Though the prolific British chameleon isn’t one to make the same film twice, his gifts for docudrama storytelling –

an ability to shepherd complicated narratives, avoiding every opportunity for sensationalism in favor of a low-key mounting dread — couldn’t be better suited to the material.

Having covered the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan following the Sept. 11 attacks, the Pearls were working as journalists in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan. 23, 2002 — the day Danny (”Capote” scribe Dan Futterman), chasing a story about foiled shoe bomber Richard Reid, got into a cab and never returned. Sticking close to the very pregnant Mariane (Jolie), pic recounts the restless five-week search for the man’s whereabouts and his kidnappers’ identities, all accompanied by a hailstorm of media attention.

Screenwriter John Orloff (”Band of Brothers”) crisply diagrams the labyrinth of false leads and fruitless interrogations with various middlemen Danny may have had contact with on the night of his disappearance. Suspicion ultimately comes to rest on the elusive Omar Saeed Sheikh (Alyy Khan), a known Islamic militant with a history of kidnapping foreigners.

Like his fellow suspects, Sheikh is seen only briefly, and in the most objective possible light. Working in the brisk, discursive style of a police procedural, Winterbottom and Orloff scrupulously follow the rescue effort, step by agonizing step — ensuring that the audience is never given additional information despite its foreknowledge of the tragic outcome. Even larger political questions — the implications, say, of a scene in which a Pakistani suspect is strung up and interrogated, or the grim irony of a journalist couple facing intense media scrutiny — are subjugated to the flow of the storytelling.

Along the way, writer and helmer also manage to sketch vivid portraits of Mariane’s key supporters and allies. These include Danny’s tough-minded colleague, Asra Nomani (Archie Panjabi); a local cop (Irffhan Khan), known simply as Captain, determined not to let the case soil Pakistan’s reputation; American diplomatic security agent Randall Bennett (Will Patton), who tends to see the silver lining in all bad news; and Wall Street Journal higher-up John Bussey (Denis O’Hare), who arrives in Pakistan after news of the ordeal, a comforting but resilient figure.

But this is ultimately — and very intimately — Mariane Pearl’s story, and much of it rests on Jolie, who fits comfortably into the naturalistic mold that shapes the entire ensemble. Though Jolie sports a big belly, a high-coiffed hairstyle and a very challenging accent (raised in France, Mariane is of Afro-Cuban and Dutch descent), this isn’t the sort of commanding star turn in which the performer vanishes behind a well-known celebrity mask, but rather a subdued, carefully considered portrait of a woman caught between premature grief and persistent hope.

Jolie plays Mariane as sharp and prickly, but also highly principled and completely devoted to her husband. Wisely, Winterbottom opts to shoot her more high-pitched outbursts from a distance or in near-darkness, as if refusing to milk more histrionics than necessary.

Occasional subdued flashbacks to happier days from Mariane and Danny’s marriage, including a very brief love scene, add emotional texture even as they take something away from the film’s otherwise unsentimental approach.

Pic negotiates its way around another potential landmine — to show or not to show the widely circulated video of Pearl’s murder — re-creating a very brief, non-graphic snippet of the contentious footage and getting the facts across with the utmost restraint.

Shot on location in Pakistan, India and France, the film gains considerable authenticity and momentum from its handheld DV lensing by Winterbottom’s regular d.p., Marcel Zyskind, and Peter Christelis’ rapid editing, rarely allowing a shot to last more than a few seconds.

The Frenzy

This morning’s screening was for press only. And so the building was full of journalists, all of them congregating for a glimpse of the Brangelina phenomenon. The queue began early – there were reporters in line to get into the press room almost 3 hours ahead of time. So as the hour approached for their arrival, a frenetic energy started to build. Some of them even took out their digital cameras for personal photos which is weird considering in their profession, they see celebrities all the time. At the end of the session, half of them even crowded the dais to get autographs. Journalists seeking autographs – can you imagine!?!

But then again, these two pack a different punch. I remember at the Toronto International Film Festival, at the gala premiere of Babel, the hysteria coming from the crowd was almost dangerous. Like at any moment there was going to be surge. And at one point, when Brad was on the carpet and the fans were screaming, it did feel like the gates were going to yield resulting in pandemonium.

Today was a more controlled environment. Super tight security and it wasn’t open to the public. But even with the press corps, supposedly civilised on these occasions, there was a throbbing underneath – like peace on a precipice, with the cliff about to give away on a moment’s notice.

And there they were – in a holding room just before entering the conference, surrounded by her handlers.

I saw him first. He was taller than remembered and totally relaxed, in that easy way he holds his body, rockin’ a killer suit. Seriously, if Brad and Becks had a suit-off, I don’t know if I could pick a clear winner.

Brad looked well-rested and tanned and … hot. Even Dylan has mentioned it – macho Dylan who doesn’t make it a point of looking at a man that way has said “now that is a good looking guy.”

A couple minutes later, Angelina appeared. The first time I saw her she was laughing in his direction and immediately walked over to join him. They stood next to each other, she touched his arm in the same way I might touch my husband’s arm: familiar, affectionate, private. Two female journalists from the UK standing next to me started swooning.

So then they walked out for a brief photo opp before heading into the Q&A, Angelina before Brad. She waved, she smiled, she didn’t break stride, and she headed in in good spirits. I have to tell you, I was shocked. Because you always see her so sullen and then all of a sudden she’s all happy and cheerful and you’re not sure what to do with that, you know?

So is she skinny? Yes she is skinny. Very skinny. Especially her legs. Her legs are extremely thin. But does she ever glow. Seriously not much makeup, they were panning in tight on her during the conference, you could see every pore, and I’m telling you – she is crazy gorgessity. Didn’t like the hair but the bone structure is madness…especially those lips. And believe me, it didn’t go unnoticed. During the press conference, even when someone else was answering a question, the camera dudes wouldn’t come off of her – like they needed a nudge to remember what they were doing.

She was wearing a black skirt with a brown silk shirt – boring. And of course she had to throw in the kids thing. She and Mariane went on for a bit about Maddox and Adam, about bonding over motherhood. Eye roll. Through it all though she smiled a lot. More than you’d expect given all the photographs of her pursing her lips. Even later on when I was spying on them leaving the Palais, she was relaxed and spirited when some gushy lady came up to her and started yammering, actually gushing back a little and throwing her head back.

And then of course there’s the chemistry… details coming.

89
ilovethisfamily Says:

May 21st, 2007 at 10:48 am - flag comment
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933711.html?categoryid=31&cs=1

the reviews are coming in!

*******
And they are GOOD. Thanks for the link, keep ‘em coming.

Thanks JJ.

Oops, looks like someone posted Lainey’s article before me. Oh well, the more, the merrier. :)

Now, for those who think Angie wasn’t looking happy, read Lainey’s post (since she was there and witnessed the whole thing). :lol:

What is up with those lady glasses and the flashy ring and gold cuffs? He looks like he robbed Tom Cruise’s wardrobe from Rain Man that suit is not doing anything for him. He is starting to look like Robert Redford for sure … he could use a tweeze for that unibrow. Cool hair tho ..