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 we're Off.....

The race for the Award Season is off with the first real contender beginning to peer out from behind the curtains.

The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford has been screened at The Venice Film Festival, and already the film is becoming the subject of differing opinions. Variety has declared it's genius, Hollywood Reporter has panned it, and David Poland of Movie City News has used the word 'loathed.'

I've been told by a number of sources that Pitt's push for an Oscar will be "Epic".

here's a round up for those interested.

Variety Review
Hollywood Reporter

Dave Poland

More reviews to follow soon.....