Brad Pitt, 'The Tree of Life' and a few lovely ladies remind us what makes Cannes, well, Cannes

Start with Brad Pitt, add Angelina Jolie and a few other famous beauties, then spice it up with a little cinematic controversy and you have the premiere of "Tree of Life" at the Cannes Film Festival.

The premiere Monday was almost a case study in what Cannes in particular can deliver, with Pitt and partner Jolie walking dramatically toward each other to pose regally for legions of photographers before heading in to screen a film that had been hyped as brilliant but got only an OK reception -- one marked by some boos and the absence of a bow by director Terrence Malick, whom star Pitt and costar Jessica Chastain had earlier defended.

"I don't know why people who make things in our business are expected to sell them," Pitt said at a daytime news conference that was missing not only Malick but costar Sean Penn.

That'd be the same Pitt who plays a father in the film, who also told reporters he was brought up "being told things were God's way, and when things didn't work out it was called God's plan. I've got my issues with it. Don't get me started. I found it very stifling."

OK then -- back to Penn, who made it to the red carpet later, joining Pitt, Chastain and the likes of rock stars Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale and fashion plate Zoe Saldana, the "Avatar" star who's been tapped to play Lt. Uhura in an as-yet-untitled "Star Trek" film. 

Only in Hollywood, right? Except when it's happening in the south of France.

Click the pics for more photos from the 64th Cannes Film Festival, which continues through Sunday.

RELATED:

Lady Gaga performs 'Judas' live at Cannes film festival [Pictures]

Jack Black on hanging out with Angelina Jolie, killing Shirley MacLaine

Cannes 2011: How did the reaction to Terrence Malick's 'The Tree of Life' get so complicated?

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Top photo: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt hit the red carpet before the screening of "The Tree of Life" at the 64th Cannes Film Festival. Credit: Anne-Christine Poujoulat / AFP/Getty Images.

Right photo: Zoe Saldana at "The Tree of Life" premiere in Cannes. Credit: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

Angelina Jolie brings her work home to teach the kids about adoption

Angelina Jolie is back at the Cannes International Film Festival to promote "Kung Fu Panda 2" -- which means she's back in the interview hot seat.

Jolie explained her new tattoo, which had sparked pregnancy speculation, and shared how "Kung Fu Panda 2" helped teach her children about adoption.

Promoting the animated flick with old pal Jack Black, Jolie touched on the character of Po the Panda, who is adopted. Jolie screened the flick for her kids (Maddox, 9, Pax, 7, and Zahara, 6, are adopted) and wanted to make sure they were comfortable with the material on screen.

"I tired to get serious-mom in the car and said, 'Does anyone have any questions?' Jolie told Extra. "We talk very openly in our house, so 'orphanage,' 'birth parents,' are happy words in our house, and it's not a thing."

While their father Brad Pitt has yet to see "Kung Fu Panda 2," he got a tribute all his own: Jolie confirmed her latest tattoo was for her partner.

A series of tattoos on Jolie's left arm contains the latitude and longitude codes of birthplaces for all of her children, including Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne for whom she is birth mother. The addition of an eighth location caused some to wonder whether she and Pitt were adding to their brood.

"If they know that it's latitude and longitude, they would have figured out quickly that it was Brad's birthplace," she said. "It's Shawnee, Okla."

Watch the full interview above, and click the pic for more photos from the Cannes Film Festival.

RELATED:

Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt enjoy kid-free romantic getaway

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt: Christmas shopping with Zahara, Shiloh

Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt donate $2 million to African wildlife sanctuary

-- Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Lady Gaga performs 'Judas' live at Cannes film festival [Pictures]

Lady Gaga gave fans an unexpected thrill with a rehearsal performance on the palm-lined waterfront at the 64th annual Cannes International Film Festival, which opened Wednesday in France.

The "surprise" performance was actually a rehearsal for a gig on the TV show "Le Grand Journal" that happened later in the evening. Clad in a casual-for-Gaga black ensemble, below, the singer arrived with several bodyguards at the Canal+ studio on the Croisette.

 

Gaga performed her new tune "Judas" for the TV show, the Hollywood Reporter said, then joined the "Grand Journal" host onstage for a live interview.

"It was so lovely performing with the ocean," she said. "I would’ve liked to have jumped in after the performance!"

After the televised performance and still wearing one of her elaborate costumes, she talked to fans and signed autographs.

For movie coverage out of Cannes, check out 24 Frames.

RELATED:

Weird Al Yankovic's Lady Gaga parody saga: 'I Perform This Way'

Lady Gaga: 'Judas' video leaks online hours before world premiere [Video]

Lady Gaga debuts 'Edge of Glory,' partners with Zynga to bring tunes to FarmVille

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Reuters contributed to this report.

Top photo: Lady Gaga performs "Judas" in Cannes, France. Credit: Yves Herman / Reuters

Right photo: Lady Gaga visits with fans on opening day of the 64th annual Cannes International Film Festival. Credit: Yves Herman / Reuters

Left photo: Lady Gaga arrives on site at the waterfront in Cannes, France, to rehearse a performance for the TV show "Le Grand Journal." Credit: Michael Buckner / Getty Images