Venice Sees Star Surge: Lady Gaga, Brad Pitt, George Clooney

Stars from Angelina Jolie to George Clooney will gather this week at the Venice Film Festival, bringing a high dose of Hollywood pizzazz back to the watery city’s sandy Lido.

With 21 films vying for the top Golden Lion prize, the 81st edition of the prestigious festival kicks off Wednesday. Lady Gaga, Daniel Craig, and Brad Pitt are expected to walk the red carpet during the 10-day affair.

The dazzle is welcome after Hollywood strikes last year kept most studio films and their A-lister stars away from the world’s longest-running festival, known as “La Mostra”.

In the spotlight, but out of competition, is “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the long-anticipated sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 cult classic that opens the festival Wednesday. Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, and Winona Ryder are reprising their original roles.

High-profile contenders in the main competition include Todd Phillips’ “Joker: Folie à Deux,” the sequel to the US director’s 2019 Venice-winning film. This sees Joaquin Phoenix paired with Lady Gaga. Also competing is “Queer” from Italy’s Luca Guadagnino, starring Daniel Craig and based on the William Burroughs novel set in 1940s Mexico City.

Angelina Jolie headlines “Maria,” a Maria Callas biopic from Chile’s Pablo Larraín, who returns to Venice following his Diana drama “Spencer” in 2021. Nicole Kidman and Antonio Banderas star in “Babygirl,” an erotic thriller from Dutch director Halina Reijn.

To keep the drama on the screen and avoid it behind the scenes, “Maria” will premiere on the festival’s first full day, Thursday. “Wolfs,” starring Jolie’s ex, Brad Pitt, will screen out of competition on Sunday.

Joining Pitt in the Apple TV+ film from “Spider-Man” director Jon Watts is Clooney. The actors play rival professional fixers in the action comedy.

The main competition also includes the first full-length film in English for Venice regular, Spain’s Pedro Almodóvar. “The Room Next Door” features Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore. “The Order” from Australian director Justin Kurzel sees Jude Law playing an FBI agent investigating a terror ring in the Pacific Northwest.

Wednesday’s opening night will also feature the introduction of the international jury, led by its president, French actress Isabelle Huppert. An honorary Golden Lion for lifetime achievement will be awarded to “Alien” star, US actress Sigourney Weaver.

Also having its out-of-competition debut is the second chapter of Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga.” The first part of the actor-director’s Western epic premiered at Cannes in May.

Running until September 7, the international festival has increasingly become known for showcasing films that go on to Oscar glory for its directors and cast members. Former Golden Lion winners include “Poor Things,” “Nomadland,” and “Joker.”

Unlike the rival Cannes Film Festival, Venice accepts films produced by streaming services in competition, especially Netflix. The platform has found great success launching titles like “Maestro” and “Roma” at the Italian festival.

Besides “Wolfs,” Apple TV+ also produced “Disclaimer,” a thriller series starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, and Sacha Baron Cohen, which is also having its premiere in Venice.

Source: AFP