By Crispian Balmer
The 2024 Venice Film Festival is set to shine as stars return to grace the red carpet, following the disruptions caused by the 2023 actors’ strike, which kept the usual glamour away from the event. Scheduled from August 28 to September 7, this year’s festival will showcase a blend of blockbuster hits and art-house films, both in competition and out of it, generating buzz ahead of the major award seasons.
Fans can expect to see a stellar lineup, including Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Lady Gaga, Joaquin Phoenix, Angelina Jolie, Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega, Tilda Swinton, and Adrien Brody. One of the most anticipated films is "Joker: Folie à Deux," the sequel to Todd Phillips’ dark origin story of the infamous supervillain. Joaquin Phoenix will reprise his role as the troubled Arthur Fleck, with Lady Gaga joining the cast as Harley Quinn.
Director Alberto Barbera hinted at the film’s surprises, urging fans not to speculate too much. He praised Phoenix’s performance as "absolutely incredible," adding that Phillips has established himself as one of the most original directors in contemporary American cinema.
Other noteworthy films include "Maria," a biopic directed by Pablo LarraÃn featuring Jolie as opera diva Maria Callas, and Luca Guadagnino’s "Queer," where Daniel Craig stars as an expatriate infatuated with a younger man. Barbera described Craig’s performance as potentially the best of his career.
Brad Pitt and George Clooney will also present their latest film, "Wolfs," an action-comedy directed by Jon Watts, telling the story of two solitary men who join forces to cover up a crime. Additionally, the festival will feature Japanese director Takeshi Kitano’s latest work, "Broken Rage," alongside two contrasting documentaries that portray the realities of the Russian invasion of Ukraine from different perspectives.
A total of 21 films will compete in the main section, including five Italian features. One of these is "Cartas sicilianas," which chronicles the life of mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro during his years in hiding. Another, "Diva Futura," explores the rise of adult film stars in Italy during the 1980s.
Renowned Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar will debut his first English-language film, "The Room Next Door," starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, who previously chaired the Venice jury in 2022. This year’s competition jury will be headed by French actress Isabelle Huppert, joined by fellow actress Zhang Ziyi and directors such as James Gray, Agnieszka Holland, Abderrahmane Sissako, and Giuseppe Tornatore.
Also making its debut is the erotic thriller "Babygirl," directed by Halina Reijn and featuring Nicole Kidman and Antonio Banderas. Another thriller, "The Order," directed by Justin Kurzel and starring Jude Law, will also premiere at the festival.
The 81st edition of the world’s oldest film festival will kick off with a screening of Tim Burton’s "Beetlejuice," and most of the cast, including Keaton, Ryder, Ortega, and Willem Dafoe, is expected to attend the screening.
Last year, the Hollywood actors’ strike prevented many stars from attending the festival, as unions urged members not to promote their projects in an effort to pressure major studios.
For more details on the festival, check the official Venice Film Festival website.
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Source: Reuters
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