Ten years ago, The Criterion Collection dropped a dual-format edition of Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights. Included amongst its special features is behind-the-scenes footage of Chaplin forcing his co-star, Virginia Cherrill — a socialite the filmmaker spotted at a boxing match — to act out the scene of her blind flower …
Read More »Woody Allen Given Standing Ovation by the Media in Venice
As Woody Allen took the press conference stage for his recent film Coup de Chance, the disgraced filmmaker was given a lengthy standing ovation by the (largely European) media assembled in the room — arguably the most rapturous reception any filmmaker received. It was difficult to watch. During the press …
Read More »David Fincher on Why 'The Killer' Assassin Shoots People to The Smiths
“I don’t really think of the movie as an assassin movie, said David Fincher. “I think of it more as a revenge movie.” The acclaimed director behind Se7en and Zodiac was discussing his new film The Killer, which is making its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Michael Fassbender stars …
Read More »Harmony Korine, in a Demon Mask, Defends AI in Venice
“Everyone is kind of based in this film,” offered Harmony Korine. “They’re all just… based.” The form-shattering filmmaker and visual artist behind works like Kids and Spring Breakers is at the Venice Film Festival — where his directorial debut Gummo premiered back in 1997 — to unveil Aggro Dr1ft, his …
Read More »Bradley Cooper's 'Maestro' Is a Beautiful Tribute to Leonard Bernstein
Much ink has been spilled — or rather, tweets fired off — over Bradley Cooper’s prosthetic nose in his Leonard Bernstein biopic. Because Cooper is not a Jew himself, dissenters opined, accentuating his schnoz was an act of crude caricature. Of ethnic derision. The word “Jewface” trended online for an …
Read More »Wes Anderson Speaks Out Against Roald Dahl Book Censorship in Venice
Nobody — outside of maybe Henry Selick — can adapt a Roald Dahl story quite like Wes Anderson, whose 2009 stop-motion animated Fantastic Mr. Fox remains a high watermark. Well, the Texas auteur is back at this year’s Venice Film Festival with another take on Dahl, this time taking on …
Read More »'Poor Things' Director Talks Emma Stone's Weird, Wild Sex Scenes
The most talked-about film thus far at the 2023 Venice Film Festival is Poor Things, the third collaboration between director Yorgos Lanthimos and star Emma Stone (The Favourite). A magical mélange of sci-fi, Gothic fiction, Lovecraftian horror, and Frankenstein tale, it follows Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman with child …
Read More »Adam Driver Calls Out Netflix and Amazon, Stands With Strikers in Venice
Adam Driver may be at the Venice Film Festival promoting his new film Ferrari, but he wants the striking SAG-AFTRA actors on the picket lines to know that he “stands in solidarity” with them. To be clear: Driver is not breaking any strike rules by appearing in Venice and doing …
Read More »A Rare, Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Taliban — and Their U.S. Weapons
A Taliban air force commander walks into a big, empty gym with his men and hops onto a treadmill. He burns a few calories, cracks a couple of muted jokes, and steps off before lifting a couple of dumbbells. “This was fun,” he says without affect, and moves on to …
Read More »'Ferrari' Boasts an Oscar-Worthy Penélope Cruz and Some Very Sexy Cars
There is an unstoppable force at the center of Michael Mann’s Ferrari. It is fast, fierce, and wildly unpredictable. One moment it has you in the throes of ecstasy; the next, fearing for your life. And when you see it coming around the bend, it’s curtains. Don’t even bother putting …
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