Venice - The Winners Are In

With Toronto in full swing and Venice handing out awards, the Award Season is officially on. Here's a look at the winners, with a surprising nod to Ang Lee.

The Venezia 64 Jury at the 64th Venice Film Festival, chaired by Zhang Yimou and comprised of Catherine Breillat, Jane Campion, Emanuele Crialese, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Ferzan Ozpetek and Paul Verhoeven, having viewed all twenty-three films in competition, has decided as follows:



GOLDEN LION for Best Film:

SE, JIE (LUST, CAUTION) by Ang LEE (USA/China/China, Taiwan)



SILVER LION for Best Director to:

Brian DE PALMA for the film: REDACTED (USA)



SPECIAL JURY PRIZE to (ex aequo):

LA GRAINE ET LE MULET by Abdellatif KECHICHE (France)

I’M NOT THERE by Todd HAYNES (USA)



COPPA VOLPI

for Best Actor:

Brad PITT in the film THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES

BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD by Andrew DOMINIK (USA)



COPPA VOLPI

for Best Actress:

Cate BLANCHETT in the film: I’M NOT THERE by Todd HAYNES (USA)

And the Winner is.....

Isn't it a little early to be declaring winners in the Oscar Race?

The answer, if you don't already know, is "yes, it is too early", but that doesn't stop websites from posting such nonsense. Everyone's favorite site, Chud.com posted this little kernel of wisdom after viewing the trailer for THERE WILL BE BLOOD.

"And the Oscar race is over again, only now There Will Be Blood is the prohibitive favorite. If I were Focus Features, I'd bump Atonement to '08, 'cuz they just got rat-fucked; even the mighty perspicacity of Variety's Derek Elley won't be enough to derail Anderson's Sherman-esque March to the Kodak. Charlie Wilson's War, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, No Country for Old Men... they shall be set ablaze by the brilliance of There Will Be Blood." - Jeremy Thompson CHUD.COM

So basically, they're picking the best picture winner.

In September.

Based on a trailer.

Genius. For those who want real genius, take a look at the trailer.