Angelina Jolie becomes ‘Maria’

One of the world’s biggest celebrities and a philanthropist, Angelina Jolie has spent the last several years directing films. However, this year, Jolie returned to acting in and as Maria, a film based on the life of the great opera singer, Maria Callas. At the screening, Jolie received a 7 minutes-standing ovation.

She was in tears at the response the film got, as well as the response to her performance. Most importantly, the film found a home as Netflix bought the rights to the drama. In an interview at Venice, she revealed that she spent seven months training for the role of Maria before she shot a single scene and was deeply moved by the opera singer’s story.

Critics, who were present at the screening, have been raving about Jolie’s performance. Some are even predicting that she might get a potential Oscar nomination for her performance and give Kate Winslet, another early Oscar favorite, a run for her money in her role as Lee.

Cate Blanchett and Alfonso Cuarón

Academy Award winners, actor Cate Blanchett and director Alfonso Cuarón, brought the highly anticipated limited series, Disclaimer, from Apple TV+ to the Venice Film Festival. However, critics were stunned by its haphazard plot, execution, and direction. As brilliant as Cate Blanchett is in the series, Disclaimer made it obvious that not every director can make an OTT series, even someone as accomplished as Alfonso Cuarón. If you waste an actor of Cate Blanchett’s caliber, clearly, you are doing something very wrong, and critics agree. As much as we love Alfonso’s work, he should stick to making films rather than limited series, because it can be an utter waste of time, especially for the audience who keep waiting for something to happen but it never does.

Emma Corrin x Miu Miu

No one represents Italian brand Miu Miu with as much flair as Emma Corrin. The Venice Film Festival was no different, where she wore brat green from head-to-toe for the brand’s Women’s Tales event. She has been the muse for Miu Miu for several years, and it has been a match made in (fashionable) heaven.

Nicole Kidman turns the table

Is there anything that Nicole Kidman can’t do?

The answer is obvious. No, she can do anything, and she’s done just that with an erotic thriller called Babygirl. When you think of erotic thrillers, your mind immediately goes back to the ‘90s, but the Australian-American actor and producer has brought the genre back. This is a film you have to watch to understand, but it’s not like Big Little Lies, Eyes Wide Shut, or a straightforward exploration of the MeToo movement. The question it asks is about power dynamics in a workplace.

Nicole Kidman plays a powerful CEO who has an affair with a young intern, played by Harris Dickinson. She puts everything on the line, including her marriage to her husband, essayed by Antonio Banderas. But the film poses a larger question: who is truly in the position of power? The CEO, who can fire the intern but needs a cause, or the young intern who can blackmail her and expose their sado-masochistic relationship? If he does that, he will ruin her work and home life. Who holds power over whom?

It starts as a nod to the ‘90s but gradually enters the current era, where office dynamics and positions of power can be devastating to one party or both. This isn’t just another thriller; it’s one that makes you wonder about all the progress that has happened or whether it’s simply a figment of imagination.

Note: If you like Nicole Kidman’s work, watch Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, A Family Affair, The Perfect Couple and The Hours. You might not like the plot of all these series and films, but watching Nicole Kidman bring her A-game in each role is a testament to the art of acting.

Sigourney Weaver

The iconic actor, whose work has spanned generations, was honored with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the opening ceremony of the 81st Venice International Film Festival.

Brad Pitt and George Clooney’s Wolfs didn’t impress anyone

Wolfs, a film in which real-life friends Brad Pitt and George Clooney, who are crime scene cleaners, end up accidentally working together, didn’t impress anyone. Critics found nothing redeeming about Wolfs. But all that was revealed by critics when the reviews came out.

When you’re Brad Pitt and George Clooney, the audience doesn’t diss you by walking out. The film received a courteous 4-minute standing ovation, and the actors were literally dancing before the film screened as the credits were rolling. We’re just wondering what happened to two of the most intelligent actors in the world? It’s absolutely alright that they danced, but why on earth did they decide to sign on for Wolfs, whose plot sounds similar to Mr. and Mrs. Smith in terms of accidentally and begrudgingly being asked to do the same job. But while there was more to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, this one sounds like a rehashing of past films.

Venice Film Festival, of course, cares about the collective star power of the actors, so even a bad film gets a standing ovation, and they can dance in the theater. Beyond the film, eyes were on George and Amal Clooney, as well as Brad Pitt and his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. As the four posed for pictures, it became obvious that Brad Pitt is making the relationship very public and the Clooneys are very happy as a married couple.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Winona Ryder, along with the awesome Catherine O’Hara and Jenna Ortega, was present at the Venice Film Festival to promote the sequel of Beetlejuice, aptly titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

In good spirit, Ryder’s outfit was an ode to Ortega’s look in the Netflix series, Wednesday. While I can’t say for sure whether the film is good, bad, or average, I’ll definitely watch it for its genius casting.

Jude Law still looks good

At the premiere of The Order, Jude Law turned heads by opting for a variation of the classic black suit.