Venice Film Festival and other random thoughts

Well, the Venice film festival is approaching and some potentially great films are going to be in competition. And, I won't be able to see them for like another year and a half because I am secluded in a New Brunswick city with film void. Then again, any city in NB exists within a vaccum in which no decent to good films ever appear.

Some films premiering at the festival which I can't wait to see.

Firstly, Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz which I am dying to see. It has the potential either to be an ambitious mess or one of the most interesting and intelligent science fiction films in awhile (and it's been quite awhile since we've had one of those). Positive test screenings have already created some hype for this film, so it better not disappoint. At the end of August, we will know how it fares at the festival and I will post the crowd reactions or general verdict (and I stress "general").

Secondly, David Lynch's Inland Empire. If Lynch can pull another Mulholland Drive, I will die a happy man. The film has an amazing cast including Laura Dern, Justin Theroux, and Jeremy Irons. However, rarely, has Lynch been more secretive about his films than this one. When asked what his film was about, Lynch blankly replied that it was "a mystery about a woman in trouble" which is arguably the vaguest premise description I have ever read. In contrast to other films, Lynch wrote the film as it was shot (cinematic improvisation) which could possibly result in a sloppy script, but my faith in Lynch is still high and hopefully he'll create another classic. Furthermore, this film is out of competition which is rather strange for a Lynch film, but what isn't.

Surprisingly, the festival will have a few Japanese animation films in and out of competition for the Golden Lion prize.

Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue, Millenium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers, Paranoia Agent, all of which I love, although some more than others) is premiering his newest film "Paprika" at the festival in competition. The film is vaguely categorized as a psychological thriller/horror/ Science fiction fiction. Hell, during its teaser trailer, I even saw glimpses of fantasy elements. The film is based on a Japanese science fiction novel. I can't wait to see this film.

Hayao Miyazaki's son, Goro Miyazaki, will be premiering his directorial debut Ghibli film, the Tales of the Earth Sea, a fantasy tale based on a novel by Ursula K. Le Guin. At the end of the festival, based on the film's critical reception and crowd reactions, it will be known whether Goro actually has talent or is trying to leech off his father's fame. News about a dispute with his father over the making of this film and Hayao's opposition to this project is not very reassuring, but I have yet to see a bad Ghibli film, so there is still hope. Here is the trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xuMos5bgOc&search=gedo%20senki

Even Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira, Steamboy) has a film premiering in competition entitled mushishi, but it is a live action film and not animated.

Aside from the presense of animated films in the festival, the festival also announces the return of several film veterans such as Alain Resnais (Hiroshima, Mon Amour) with his film "Private Fears in Public Places" and Brian De Palma (Scarface, The Untouchables) with "Black Dahlia". Although, to be honest, I've never been such a fan of De Palma outside The Untouchables.

Even Kenneth Branagh is premiering his new film (a musical) "The Magic Flute" which is based on Mozart's famous opera (which Bergman once directed). I have doubts as to whether he can pull it off without letting his oversized ego derail the entire film. Despite his ego, I still hold a love/hate relationship with Branagh. Love for his often good acting and sometimes competent Shakespeare adaptations, but hate for films like Frankenstein (Robert Deniro as the monster, enough said).

Hell, even more surprising is that Emilio Estevez (Yes, that Mighty Ducks guy) directed and wrote a film called "Bobby" about the assassination of Robert Kennedy. Even stranger is the casting which groups good to great actors such as Anthony Hopkins, William H. Macey, Helen Hunt, and Laurence Fishburne with Ashton Kutcher, Lindsey Lohan, and Heather Graham (WTF!!). Who knows how that will turn out? Whether the good actors win out over the bad ones to create a good film is anyone's guess.

Well, that's my Venice film festival coverage for now, but I will add more later.

On a side note, the last film I watched: Pirates of the Carribeans 2: Dead Man's Chest was not as overtly disappointing as the critics have made it out to be. Yes, Bloom is as wooden as ever and so is Keira Knightley, but to a much lesser extent. Some of the long action sequences often got tedious and the film could definitely have used some trimming in the editing department, so take note next time, Verbinski. However, Johnny Depp's performance saves and supports the film to such an extent, that I forgive its shortcomings, or more specifically, I forgot them. Bill Nighy (The Constant Gardener, Girl in the Cafe) as Davy Jones as well as Stellan Skarsgard as Bootstrap Bill also elevated the film away from the mediocrity to which Bloom and Knightley were pulling the film. Some of the action sequences although contrived and impossible were ingenious in their construction and development. In what other film will you see a three-way swordfight within a rolling waterwheel (I had to exhaust my suspension of disbelief here, but it was worth it). Suffice it to say, in the end, I did not feel as if I completely wasted my time and did get some of the summer film enjoyment which has been sorely lacking in this summer's film.

Interesting final aside, apparently, there is going to be a re-release of The Nightmare before Christmas into theatres in the fall, but only now it will be altered digitally to make it prettier. Here is a trailer to the new Digital 3-D version (I honestly don't see much difference, although there is some).
http://www.totaleclips.com/Player/Bounce.aspx?eclipid=e28315&bitrateid=253&vendorid=600