Best & Worst of Cannes: From the Palme d'Or to the Palme D'oh!

From Brangelina and Sean Penn to banished director Lars von Trier, our final verdict on all the fashion, films and flameouts

By Jefferson Reid May 22, 2011 10:12 PMTags
Lars Von Trier, Mel Gibson, Sean Penn, Angelina Jolie, Brad PittJean Baptiste Lacroix/FilmMagic, Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images, PacificCoastNews.com, ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images

Cannes is two weeks of amazing fashions, A-list stars, colorful flameouts and, oh yeah, films. With the festival now a wrap in the South of France, it's time look back on the best and worst of the fest.

As expected, the Brad Pitt and Sean Penn starring Tree of Life, directed by Terrence Malick, won the festival's big award, the Palme D'or. But Cannes is about way more than just the official winners list (though of course we've got that below, natch). So get ready for all the scandalous moments, sparkliest gowns and surprising star turns on the jump.

And...Action!

Worst Standup Comedian, Lars von Trier: The oft-controversial director's Hitler material killed…his chances of getting any good press at the fest. His jokes about Nazis while promoting his film Melancholia made his stars squirm, enraged Jewish rights groups and got him banned from the festival. Plus he received an unwanted viral endorsement from Der Fuhrer. We're giving him the Palm D'oh!

Best Actress, Kirsten Dunst, She not only won the festival's actual Best Actress award (see below) for her role in Lars von Trier's Melancholia, she showed incredible range and dexterity while trying to stay poised as the director's "I'm a Nazi" train went off the rails during that ill-fated press conference.

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Worst Topless Sun Bather, Mel Gibson: Literally letting it all hang out, the actor somehow forgot about the existence of paparazzi when he ducked the press conference for The Beaver and decided to do some tanning on his hotel balcony. GTL...not!

Best A-List Tag Team, Brangelina: Brad Pitt's mega buzz-film, The Tree of Life, may have gotten a mixed reception, but he and Angelina Jolie caused a stir wherever they went, amping up the A-list energy, fashion excitement and generally causing Panda-monium. What's not to love?

Worst Seat in Cannes, Michelle Rodriguez: OK, we kid. Because we love. The ex-Lost badass didn't look half bad while showing off her backside in a revealing swimsuit.

Best Unexpectedly Perfect Timing, Sean Penn's This Must Be the Place Press Conference: Following hot on the heels of von Trier's banishment from Cannes, Penn's crazy-haired rock star Nazi hunter movie became the momentary feel-good hit of the festival.

Best Bar in Cannes, Bar Refaeli: If looking good is the best revenge (and we think it is), Bar Refaeli is a big winner over her ex, Leo DiCaprio. Even if Leo was also making the scene, yacht-style with Blake Lively, Bar was not only red-carpet ready like this and this and this, she was also twit-pic bikini ready. Which makes her the best, bar none.

That is, of course, unless you want to count the actual prizes awarded by the Cannes jury led by Robert DeNiro (along with Uma Thurman, Jude Law and others). Without further adieu, here they are:

Complete List of 2011 Cannes Festival Winners:

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

Best Director: Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive

Best Screenplay: Joseph Cedar, Hearat Shulayim

Best First Feature: Las Acacias, by Pablo Gorgelli

Special Jury Prize: Polisse, by Maiwenn

Best Actress: Kirsten Dunst, Melancholia

Best Actor: Jean Dujarin, The Artist

Palme d'Or (Short Film): Cross Country, by Marina Viroda