17 h. ago From ‘Hamnet’ to ‘Wicked’: The movies defining the Oscars race so far

So many movies have debuted over the past three weeks. So. So. So. Many. Movies. Back-to-back film festivals in Venice, Telluride, Colorado, and Toronto are where studios bring their biggest, most prestigious fall titles for splashy world premieres amid a gathering of international press. It can feel a little like being in an antigravity chamber […]

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41 h. ago Dwayne Johnson set aside self doubt for The Smashing Machine

After bulking up to portray legendary MMA fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, Dwayne Johnson is slimming down to play a man who befriends a chicken in his next movie. Following his latest film’s buzzworthy premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Johnson, who has been earning raves as the lead in the upcoming sports […]

Politics

7 d. ago Venice Film Festival announces awards winners, including Benny Safdie for ’Smashing Machine’

VENICE, Italy (AP) — The 82nd Venice Film Festival is coming to a close with an awards ceremony Saturday that has repeatedly turned to the war in Gaza. The prizes include nods for acting, directing and best picture, called the Golden Lion. The Alexander Payne-led jury named Chinese actor Xin Zhilei best actress for leading […]

Culture

1 week ago Kathryn Bigelow unveils nuclear thriller ‘A House of Dynamite’ at Venice Film Festival

VENICE, Italy — Kathryn Bigelow was interested in the U.S. nuclear stockpile: Who was guarding it? What would happen if a missile strike was imminent? And who would be making the decisions about what to do? Her new film “A House of Dynamite” takes audiences into those guarded rooms as U.S. government officials and military […]

Culture

1 week ago Venice heralds Hitchcock heroine Novak with lifetime achievement award

Venice (AFP) — The Venice Film Festival celebrated Hollywood actress Kim Novak on Monday, bestowing a lifetime achievement award to the reluctant star and platinum blonde heroine of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo”, now 92. Novak received a standing ovation and extended applause when handed her Golden Lion award from Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, ahead of […]

Other

2 w. ago Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ premieres at Venice with Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi

VENICE, Italy — Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi arrived at the Venice Film Festival Saturday for the world premiere of Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” the kickoff to what’s expected to be the film’s major awards season push. The audience gave it a 13-minute standing ovation, one of the most enthusastic of the 82nd edition of […]

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2 w. ago Julia Roberts debuts at the Venice Film Festival with the #MeToo

VENICE, Italy (AP) — Julia Roberts is making her Venice Film Festival debut with the psychosexual drama “After the Hunt,” which premieres Friday evening. The film is set in the world of higher education and stars Roberts as a beloved professor whose mentee, played by “The Bear’s” Ayo Edebiri, accuses her friend and colleague (Andrew […]

Culture

2 w. ago Venice Film Festival kicks off with Paolo Sorrentino’s ‘La Grazia’ and questions about Gaza

VENICE, Italy (AP) — The Venice Film Festival is kicking off with the world premiere of Paolo Sorrentino’s “La Grazia” on Wednesday. The 82nd edition of the glamourous international film festival is playing host to many Hollywood stars, including George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Dwayne Johnson, and famed auteurs, from Guillermo del Toro to Kathryn […]

Culture