It’s that time of year again: the madness that is the fall film festival season is upon us and the first festival up to bat, as usual, is the Venice Film Festival.
The Lido, as its affectionately known, kicks off on Wednesday, August 29 and the festival is turning 75 years old. It’s an excellent milestone and many are looking back. In fact, the Hollywood Reporter just wrote a piece about the fact how “how the once-struggling event has transformed itself into an essential appointment on the awards-season calendar.”
It’s true, big time players and many Oscar Best Picture winners have debuted there including Alfonso Cuaron‘s “Gravity,” “Spotlight,” Alejandro G. Inarritu‘s “Birdman,” Damien Chazelle‘s “La La Land” and Guillermo del Toro‘s “The Shape of Water.”
This year is no different. In fact, Venice’s line-up this year, is a three-fold winner: it’s the best Venice lineup in years, arguably ever, it finally best Cannes‘ lineup this year, stealing many of the Netflix titles the French festival refused to show because of its theatrical screening rules and its basically put every film festival in 2018 to shame. Suffice to say festival director Alberto Barbera is due for a raise.
This year, the festival line-up is crazy with new films by the aforementioned Cuaron (arguably one of the most anticipated films of the entire year) and Chazelle, the Coen Brothers, Olivier Assayas, Jacques Audiard, Luca Guadagino, Yorgos Lanthimos, Mike Leigh and many more.
Interestingly enough, in what might be a bad sign or not, it’s unclear, but Venice also has a few other titles that no other festival, TIFF, Telluride, Fantastic Fest or NYFF have including S. Craig Zahler‘s latest B-movie “Dragged Across Concrete” starring Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Kent‘s latest horror movie “The Nightingale” (unless Fantastic Fest eventually announces it), Rick Alverson‘s “The Mountain” with Jeff Goldblum and Tye Sheridan, Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck‘s “Werk Ohne Autor,” David Oelhoffen‘s “Close Enemies” with Matthias Schoenaert, Julian Schnabel’s “At Eternity’s Gate” (ok, this one is admittedly playing NYFF, but that’s it) and Orson Welle‘s “The Other Side Of The Wind” (though we hear it’s playing the as-of-yet unannounced Telluride line-up).
Outside choices? outré picks? Good gets that no one else was able to secure? Hard to say, but it’s definitely another element of Venice that stands out this year on top of a terrific lineup. And for more, be sure to check out our 55-Film Fall Film Preview which tracks all the movies that are already slated for release this fall and winter (and yes, with some overlap).
“A Star Is Born”
Cast: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliot, Dave Chappelle
Synopsis: Seasoned musician Jackson Maine (Cooper) discovers- and falls in love with – struggling artist Ally (Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer – until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.
What You Need To Know: This will be Cooper’s first turn as director, taking on the fourth rendition of a story that was brought to the screen in 1937, 1954, and 1976. Scenes featuring crowds attending a music festival were actually filmed at the Coachella Festival in 2017 where Lady Gaga was the first female headliner in ten years. Gaga, who is coming into her acting career, insisted the pair sing live. From footage that was briefly seen at CinemaCon in April, audiences can expect a musical smash, highlighting Cooper’s established acting, Gaga’s belting, exuberant voice, and the pair tackling new roles as director and star of the film.
Release Date: October 5 – Erica Bahrenburg
“The Mountain”
Cast: Tye Sheridan, Jeff Goldblum, Hannah Gross, Udo Kier
Synopsis: In 1950s America, an introverted young man, following the loss of his mother, joins a renowned lobotomist as he promotes his recently debunked procedure. As their tour of asylums progresses, the young man begins to identify with the patients, among them the daughter of a charismatic leader in the burgeoning New Age movement of the West.
What You Need To Know: Jeff Goldblum never ceases to astound us with his interesting career choices over the years, and “The Mountain” is no different. This mysterious period drama takes place in the 1950’s and will undoubtedly let audiences see Goldblum in a captivating new light as he takes on the role of Dr. Wallace Fienne. His character is widely believed to be based on Dr. Walter Freeman, who spearheaded the procedure of lobotomy and administered the controversial procedure on John F. Kennedy’s sister Rosemary, who sadly suffered from mental illness. Speaking with IndieWire’s Kate Erbland in May, Goldblum said of the film’s plot, “I take this kid with me on the road in the Pacific Northwest. He’s lost his father, and I’ve lobotomized his mother, and so I take him under my wing.”
Release Date: Not Announced – Martine Olivier
“Roma”
Cast: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Marco Graf, Daniela Demesa, Enoc Leaño, Daniel Valtierr
Synopsis: A story that chronicles a year in the life of a middle-class family in Mexico City in the early 1970s.
What You Need To Know: “Roma” has been on our radar for a long time. It’s been a long-gestating passion project for director Alfonso Cuarón and film’s release has been buzzed about all year. And Cuarón has poured his heart and soul into making it by bringing the story back to his roots. The film is in his native Spanish language, takes place in his hometown of Mexico City, is based upon his own memories of growing up, and was written, directed, and shot by Cuarón. The gorgeous first trailer that premiered earlier in August reminded us what an evocative filmmaker Cuarón is and how excited we are to see “Roma.”
Release Date: TBD December – EB
“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”
Cast: Tim Blake Nelson, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson, James Franco, Zoe Kazan, Tyne Daly, Stephen Root, Tom Waits
Synopsis: An anthology western following six different storylines centering on a man named Buster Scruggs.
What You Need To Know: Once upon a time, the Coen Brothers were the latest auteur filmmakers to join Team Golden Age of TV. “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” was originally going to be a 6 part anthology series streaming on Netflix, but, surprise! It was transformed and re-edited into a 132-minute feature film and is premiering at Venice. Who would have thought? But new Coen Brothers is new Coen Brothers and you definitely won’t hear complaining here. Of course, joining the directing pair are their usual and favorite collaborators composer Carter Burwell, production designer Jess Gonchor, and costume designer Mary Zophres. Live your best life, Coen Brothers.
Release Date: November 16 – EB
“Non-Fiction”
Cast: Guillaume Canet, Juliette Binoche, Vincent Macaigne, Nora Hamzawi, Christa Théret, Pascal Greggory
Synopsis: Set in the Parisian publishing world, an editor and an author find themselves in over their heads, as they cope with a middle-age crisis, the changing industry, and their wives.
What You Need To Know: It’s pretty hard to keep up with all the changing technology in today’s world. One second we’re using dial-up and then all of a sudden we can carry around computers in our back pockets so it’s about time that we get movies tackling those often humorous situations. Enter Olivier Assayas’ latest film “Non-Fiction” starring French legend Juliette Binoche. Director/writer Assayas is promising a “full-blown comedy” exploring “how we adapt or don’t adapt to the way the world’s changing” in the Parisian publishing world. Assayas’ and Binoche’ impressive history working together and extensive careers make “Non-Fiction” a film to watch for this year.
Release: Not dated yet, but it’s been acquired by Sundance Selects – EB