I didn’t see everything at this year’s festival, but I saw almost all of the Italian films and some from other countries; in all, I watched 15 in 9 days, certainly no record since many journalists did nothing but rush from film to film every day of the festival. I did other things at Venice, like drink a lot of wine, take lovely runs through the city every day, and eat food so good that it’s going to make me a little too critical of restaurants here in Ohio for a good long time.
My assessment: Venezia 70 was well attended and the Italian movies were adored by audiences, even the ones that I wasn’t so crazy about. All 8 Italian films that I saw received enthusiastic and loving applause, standing ovations, and calls of Bravo! Brava! and Bravi! to the directors and actors.
Not so for at all of the non-Italian films that I saw. Night Moves got a silent reaction, not many boos but weak hand clapping and the sound of theater doors opening, while Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning, and director Kelly Reichardt stared nervously from their seats.
Jonathan Glazer’s Under The Skin did even worse; Scarlett Johansson’s plunging neckline didn’t spare the premier from booing. I was shocked, to be honest, because the film is not boo-worthy.
Read my review of Under The Skin
Gia Coppola and James Franco enjoyed a very favorable reaction for their teenage angst movie, Palo Alto, but what else would you expect? The Coppolas asses never go unkissed at Venice, and Italians just love James Franco. He seems like a nice enough guy so good for him.
And though Kill Your Darlings was great, director John Krokidas might have gotten a little extra credit for having cast Harry Potter, rather, Daniel Radcliffe, in the role of Alan Ginsberg.
Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki enjoyed a full house and warm applause for his The Wind Rises, and everybody was loving William Friedkin’s The Sorcerer when he accepted his lifetime achievement award.
But the Italians got the bulk of the love, with movies like Sacro GRA, which won the Golden Lion, Piccola Patria, and La Prima Neve getting crowd reactions that would have pleased Academy Award winners.
I Love Italian Everything 