VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 2011 - Days 9-10

The closing ceremony is coming, but still we have a couple of movies to talk about. "KILLER JOE" was presented on September 8. It is directed by William Friedkin. Emile Hirsch plays a drug dealer Chris, who hires a hint man Joe to kill his mother and to get an insurance, which will free him from debts. But he is not the only one after this money and when Chris has been tricked, bloody Joe doesn't care who is going to die - he just wants to get his payment. Matthew McConaughey, who played that crazy killer with detective skills, hasn't come to the Venice, but there were spotted William Friedkin and Emile Hirsch, who both have a great sense of humor.

"TEXAS KILLING FIELDS" was one of the last movies presented in competition at this year's festival. This story is inspired by true events. Three detectives are solving a mystery about disappeared kids. The director is Ami Canaan Mann. Starring Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain, Chloe Grace Moretz and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

Read about previous days of the 68th Venice Film Festival!

William Friedkin and Emile Hirsch Presenting "Killer Joe"



"Killer Joe" Premiere - Emile Hirsch, William Friedkin

"Killer Joe" Photocall - Emile Hirsch

"Texas Killing Fields" Press Conference



"Texas Killing Fields" Premiere - Michael Mann (producer), Ami Canaan Mann (director)

Photos - ZIMBIO

VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 2011 - Day 7

Tuesday, September 6

Another British drama was presented at the Venice Film Festival. Andrea Arnold directed a new adaptation of Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights", a classic story about the power of love and passion. Firstly it supposed to be a bigger project with Natalie Portman and Michael Fassbender, but then it became independent of the famous stars. The main parts are played by young actors James Howson and Kaya Scodelario. For James it is a debut, but Kaya is known thanks to the TV show "Skins" and a role of Peshet in "Clash of the Titans". The most important thing is it's not just regular costume drama. Critics are saying Andrea Arnold reconsidered this classic story, tried to make it not ordinary. She breaks all canons. Also it's promised to be visually stunning, because the movie was made in North Yorkshire.

The last adaptation of the novel "Wuthering Heights" was directed by Coky Giedroyc in 2009 and starred Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley.

More about VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 2011!

"Wuthering Heights" Photocall - Solomon Glave, James Howson, Andrea Arnold, Kaya Scodelario, Shannon Beer

"Wuthering Heights" Premiere - Solomon Glave, Shannon Beer, Kaya Scodelario, James Howson, Andrea Arnold

Photos - The Guardian, ZIMBIO

VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 2011 - Day 6

Monday, September 5

The main event of this day was certainly a premiere of the criminal drama by Tomas Alfredson, "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy". Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Hurt, Mark Strong and Tomas Alfredson came to the festival to support their latest movie. From the very beginning, when I discovered about it, I was sure this movie will be great. All these talented actors just couldn't make it bad. But I have no idea that critics will love it! I guess that's what people call a real success.

Release dates - September 16, 2011 (UK), November 10, 2011 (Germany), November 18, 2011 (USA), November 24, 2011 (Russia), December 15, 2011 (Ukraine).

More about VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 2011!
More about "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"! (trailers, stills, synopsis, posters, clips etc.)

Critics about "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy":
"The film is a triumph." (Daily Telegraph)
"A classy, very British affair." (Clothes on Film)
"Oldman gives a deliciously delicate, shaded performance, flitting in and out of the wings like some darting grey lizard." (Guardian)

Gary Oldman on "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"



Colin Firth on "Tinker, Sailor, Soldier, Spy"



Benedict Cumberbatch on "Tinker, Sailor, Soldier, Spy"



"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" Photocall - John Hurt, Colin Firth, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Benedict Cumberbatch, Gary Oldman, Mark Strong

"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" Premiere

Gary Oldman, Alexandra Edenborough

Colin Firth, Livia Giuggioli

Mark Strong

Tomas Alfredson

Benedict Cumberbatch

Photos - ZIMBIO

VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 2011 - Day 5

Sunday, September 4

Venice welcomed more stars, who came to present their latest movies.

My favorite actor Al Pacino along with actress Jessica Chastain were present at the photocall and press conference about "Wilde Salomè". It is the third Al Pacino's movie, which he not only starred in, but also directed. The premiere was in the evening, when Al Pacino was honored by receiving a Golden Lion award, which is the highest prize at the Venice Festival (watch video).

Michael Fassbender presented his second Venice Festival movie "Shame", which turns out to be a dramatic story about a man, who has problems with his sex life. So I'm not surprised that journalists asked him how he feels filming sex scenes. Steve McQueen, who directed this story, also came to support his movie.

And I've heard some nice words about French drama called "Poulet aux prunes" ("Chicken with Plums"), which is based on the novel by Iranian writer Marjane Satrapi. It is directed by its author and Vincent Paronnaud. Starring Mathieu Amalric, Isabella Rossellini. This movie was screened In Competition and got a long standing applause (video).

More about VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 2011!

"Wilde Salomè" Press Conference



"Wilde Salomè" premiere - Al Pacino, Lucila Sola

"Wilde Salomè" premiere - Jessica Chastain

Michael Fassbender on "Shame" and sex scenes



"Shame" photocall - Michael Fassbender

"Shame" premiere - Michael Fassbender, Abi Morgan, Steve McQueen

"Poulet aux prunes" Press Conference



"Poulet Aux Prunes" premiere - Mathieu Amalric, Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud

Photos - ZIMBIO

VENICE FILM FESTIVAL - Days 1-4 in pictures

As I promised I'm posting some pictures from the first 4 days of the 68th Venice Film Festival. All photos are in chronological order - from the opening day to September 3.

More about 1-4 days of the Venice Film festival. (information about premieres and press conferences, videos)

"Ides of March" photocall - Grant Heslov, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, George Clooney

"Ides of March" premiere - Evan Rachel Wood, Philip Seymour Hoffman, George Clooney, Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti, Grant Heslov

"W.E." premiere - James D'Arcy, Andrea Riseborough, Madonna, Abbie Cornish, Oscar Isaac, Natalie Dormer

"CARNAGE" photocall - John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz

"CARNAGE" premiere - John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz

"Mildred Pierce" photocall - Evan Rachel Wood, Kate Winslet

"Mildred Pierce" premiere - Kate Winslet, Evan Rachel Wood

"A Dangerous Method" photocall - David Cronenberg, Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Sarah Gadon, Vincent Cassel

"A Dangerous Method" premiere - Michael Fassbender, Sarah Gadon, David Cronenberg, Keira Knightley, Vincent Cassel, Viggo Mortensen

"CONTAGION" photocall - Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne, Steven Soderbergh

"CONTAGION" premiere - Laurence Fishburne, Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Steven Soderbergh

Photos - ZIMBIO

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" - Press Conference and photocall in London

Press tour of "Deathly Hallows: Part 2" was officially started yesterday, when its cast along with director and producers was answering lots of questions at the London press conference. My favorite moment is when they're talking about the things, which they'd like to keep after filming (answers were various - wands, lion hat, costumes, Pensieve, Godric Gryffindor's sword, Tom Riddle's diary etc.). Also it was very interesting to hear their favorite lines and how they feel about this epic story in general. 

Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) told us how it was kissing Dan (Harry Potter) and Rupert (Ron Weasley). Ralph Fiennes (Lord Voldemort) confessed that he isn't being recognized in the streets, because in the real life he has a nose and hair. Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore) was very surprised and honored when he's got an invitation to play in such long movie series. Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) will miss a chance to dress up again like a weirdo. Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy) was very impressed by the creators who made the little models of the set. And David Yates (director) told how supporting Jo (J.K.Rowling) was.

I really enjoyed this first press conference though I wasn't there, but thanks to The Leaky Cauldron's life coverage I read about every interesting answer. It was incredibly fun and the actors, director and producers were so friendly, relaxed and happy being there. I hope this evening's premiere will be a great event. I'll definitely write about it.

Press Conference in London - Part 1 (source - DigitalSpy)



Press Conference in London - Part 2



Press Conference in London - Part 3 (the last one)



Photocall in London (source - Zimbio) - the main cast (except Daniel Radcliffe, Helena Bonham Carter), director David Yates, producers David Barron, David Heyman