Venice Film Festival

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Almodóvar Returns to Venice, Gets a 20-Minute Ovation

The Room Next Door is his English-language debut, and cinephiles love it

(Newser) - Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar returned to the Venice Film Festival with stars Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, and his latest film and English-language debut, The Room Next Door. It went over pretty well, reports the AP , receiving a standing ovation for nearly 20 minutes. "My insecurity disappeared after...

Here's How Badly Winona Wanted to Be in Beetlejuice Sequel

It was mentioned in her Stranger Things contract

(Newser) - The Venice Film Festival kicks off for the 81st time Wednesday night with the world premiere of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Tim Burton's sequel brings back several key players from his 1988 original, including Michael Keaton, Catherine O'Hara, and Winona Ryder as Lydia, a widowed mother to daughter Jenna...

Protesters Strip, Disrupt Woody Allen Premiere
Not Everyone Was Happy
at Woody Allen Premiere
the rundown

Not Everyone Was Happy at Woody Allen Premiere

Protesters scuffled with cops, slammed organizers for featuring directors accused of sexual abuse

(Newser) - There was chaos on the red carpet at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on Monday as protesters scuffled with police while shouting "Abusers!" and "No rape culture!" The Italian film festival is premiering new films by three directors accused of sexual misconduct: Woody Allen, Roman...

Chris Pine's Rep Denies Harry Styles Spit Rumor

Video from film festival caused a stir online

(Newser) - Chris Pine wants the world to know that his Don't Worry Darling co-star Harry Styles didn't spit on him at the Venice International Film Festival. Rumors of a Pine-Styles feud heated up after a video that some thought showed Styles spitting in Pine's lap at the movie'...

Jessica Chastain Has the Best Reaction to Oscar Isaac Kiss

The star of Scenes from a Marriage seemed to appreciate a Gomez-Morticia comparison

(Newser) - Hollywood stars are supposed to know how to make a fantasy seem tangible. It’s their job. So we don’t want to ruin your dreams by pointing out that Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac are happily married, and not to each other. Each has an impossibly attractive spouse of...

YouTube Sending 10 Films to Venice Film Festival

2 US films make the cut

(Newser) - The Venice Film Festival is truly coming into the 21st century: This year's festival will include screenings of 10 short films submitted by YouTube. The films were chosen as part of the site's first Your Film Festival contest, overseen by Ridley Scott, the AP reports. Finalists, which included...

Sofia Coppola Wins Big at Venice Film Fest

Her 'Somewhere' takes home Golden Lion prize

(Newser) - Sofia Coppola took home the top prize at the Venice Film Festival for Somewhere, her film starring Stephen Dorff as an actor connecting with his daughter, Elle Fanning. "This film enchanted us from its first screening,” said Quentin Tarantino, who headed the jury. “It has the artistry...

Film Fest Fans Scratch Heads Over Joaquin

Venice as confused as everyone about actor's bizarre filmed journey

(Newser) - First critics were stumped, now film festival fans are just as perplexed after seeing Joaquin Phoenix's latest movie and are still wondering: is he punking us or is he in the throes of a serious mental collapse? "There is no hoax," director Casey Affleck told reporters at the...

New Wave Filmmaker Eric Rohmer Dead at 89

Pioneering Frenchman directed 50+ films

(Newser) - Eric Rohmer, a leading light of the French New Wave and a prolific filmmaker for over 4 decades, died today in Paris. He was 89. Overshadowed early in his career by Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut, Rohmer made his mark with his "Six Moral Tales," released from...

Male Stripper Flings Self at Clooney

Venice fan: 'I think I am in love with you...Please take me'

(Newser) - In Venice for the film festival screening of his new movie, The Men Who Stare at Goats, George Clooney showed off new girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis—and fended off at least one aspiring boyfriend. The fan stripped down to his skivvies during a press conference, urging Clooney to "please take...

Clooney Unveils New Gal in Venice

Berlusconi-esque: Elisabetta Canalis is Italian TV presenter

(Newser) - George Clooney has appeared in public for the first time with galpal Elisabetta Canalis at the Venice Film Festival, E! reports. The actor and the Italian TV presenter had been covertly observed frolicking at his Lake Como villa, but the Venice outing makes it official. A costar of Canalis’ says...

Moore Rips Tinseltown Moneybags at Film Fest

'I can pay for my own movies now,' boasts filmmaker

(Newser) - Lefty gadfly Michael Moore couldn't resist deriding the same well-heeled execs who bankrolled his latest movie at the Venice Film Festival yesterday. "One of the beautiful flaws of capitalism is they will use the rope you give them to hang themselves if you can make a buck," Moore...

Rourke Shines Again at Venice Film Festival

Ex-heartthrob stars in The Wrestler , which nabs Golden Lion

(Newser) - Former Hollywood bad boy Mickey Rourke returned to the spotlight yesterday when his latest low-budget film, The Wrestler, won top honors at the Venice film festival. Critics gushed over his performance as an aging wrestler who comes to terms with his failing body and flagging friendships.

Cate Blanchett, Brad Pitt Win Top Honors in Venice

Ang Lee's sexy thriller grabs Golden Lion

(Newser) - Cate Blanchett’s performance as the young Bob Dylan in the biopic 'I’m Not There' earned her the best actress award at the Venice Film Festival last night.. Ang Lee's controversial 'Lust, Caution' took the Golden Lion for best film and Brad Pitt won best actor for the title...

Blanchett 'Astonishing' as Dylan
Blanchett 'Astonishing' as Dylan

Blanchett 'Astonishing' as Dylan

From Venice film festival, British critic lauds unconventional bio

(Newser) - I'm Not There, director Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan biopic, has gained at least one fan in the Telegraph's David Gritten. More "symbolist poem" than conventional biography, the film portrays Dylan in various guises, including an 11-year-old black actor and Cate Blanchett in the film's "tour de force."...

Iraq War Pics Win Fans at Venice Festival

De Palma's Redacted and Jones vehicle Elah generate critical buzz

(Newser) - Films about the Iraq war are hits at the Venice Film Festival, Reuters reports. One critic calls Brian De Palma's Redacted, about the rape of an Iraqi girl by US soldiers, "truly a blow to the stomach." Others tout In the Valley of Elah, starring Tommy Lee Jones...

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