Notes From Venice: "The Ides of March"
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 6:43PM Editor's Note: Please welcome Ferdi from Italy (pictured below) who has been a Film Experience reader for many years. He's also a critic for LoudVision so please visit them if you speak Italian. We're very happy to have him sending us bite-sized notes from Venice this year for The Film Experience. - Nathaniel R.
Ferdi reporting from the opening day of the 68th Venice Film Festival.
TFE Correspondent Ferdinando Schiavone shot by Fabrizio Spinetta
The Ides Of March is exactly what we've come to expect from Clooney: a solid, classically made, political contemporary drama. It's got a subtle shakespearian twist, a sharp screenplay and a strong cast. (OK, Evan Rachel Wood is always Evans Rachel Wood but, dammit! she's always good). Ryan Gosling is undoubtedly best in show with a perfectly nuanced character arc. He sparkles most in a couple of tasty scenes with Wood. But poor Marisa Tomei is soooo underused (again!) and Clooney plays a character working up to a big speech in front of a live audience (again!). Nothing new or revolutionary here, but quite everything in the right place.
Hollywood glamour aside, it's quite a shy opening film for a festival this big. (Last year things were very different with the incendiary opener Black Swan.)
Photo via Zimbio
Everyone has been saying that The Ides of March is a good movie (perhaps because it's talking about the right things in a serious way) but where are the emotions? Press reaction at the very first screening ranged from good to tepid, but it took the arrival of the stars at the press conference (all present but for Gosling) before you could feel warmth of unconditional love. How will the public react tonight when it opens the festival?
Editor's Note: Now check out these starry photos that Ferdi sent along from his photographer Fabrizio Spinetta from tonight's big event.
George Clooney in Venice © Fabrizio Spinetta
Two more fun photos after the jump!
Tomei, Giamatti, Clooney, and Grant Henslov at the Ides of March Premiere © Fabrizio Spinetta
Ides of March cast in Venice © Fabrizio Spinetta
Reader Comments (12)
Ugh, an underused Marisa? Sigh, I was really hoping this could be another brilliant supporting turn a la Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Lord knows why directors still haven't seemed to have gotten the memo that she's awesome. Use her, mortals.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I haven't read many reactions but from the few I read, I don't really care to see it.
Not a fan of the genre and it doesn't seem to be good enough for me to overcome that.
The deflation of hype on this in 24 hours is pretty amazing. I think I read someone had it at a 6/1 chance of winning at Venice, then put it to 40/1? I may be wrong, but the excitement seems to have noticeably slumped, which is sad. I had some hopes for a great movie.
Your comments on Evan Rachel Wood and Ryan Gosling are interesting. Guy Lodge said ERW was the MVP with a truncated arc on twitter, and put Gosling at the bottom of the heap. Still interested in seeing the film, but I'll have to temper my expectations substantially, I guess.
I find it interesting that Guy Lodge was the only one who thought Gosling was the weakest link. I think I'm going to ask him why.
Well, this is no surprise. The cast was always going to hit the right notes and do well, we always knew Marisa Tomei's part was small and not significant and that Hoffman and Giamatti would do well screaming at each other. Also: George Clooney needs to begin to add layers of complexity to his 'George Clooney playing George Clooney at his Clooney-ist in every movie' shtick.
Gosling and Wood as the two standouts. And people are surprised about their chemistry. HAVE YOU SEEN BOTH? They ooze sexyness. After that 'Mildred Pierce' performance, Evan Rachel has my heart again. I lost my faith after she failed to materialize 'Thirteen' into something huge but she's winning me back.
Anyway, I still believe this movie can be a player in 3-4 categories:
Score (Desplat's default spot each year - unless... the Academy gives him the win for 'Harry Potter' - which I can't believe will happen but I would be glad to see happening)
Adapted Screenplay (even if the movie is a underachiever, I'll bet they score a nomination here)
Supporting Actor/Actress (two fields VERY open; Hoffman is always prime for a nom - heck, he even got one for doing this same thing in 'Charlie Wilson's War'; and there must be fans of 'Thirteen' in the Academy, as well as people embarrassed because they forgot Rachel Wood in 2003 and nominated Keisha Castle-Hughes)
You do kind of wonder if Clooney could play not-Clooney.
E.g., if he did an accent, would it be ridiculous because it's Clooney, or could he fade into the role? (I guess you could count "O Brother," but I also think that one kind of proves my point that it would be hard.)
I'm so excited for this movie to come out, although less so knowing that Marissa Tomei is underused. It's such a shame as she's a fantastic actress.
http://vigo-tv.com/blog/
It's shallow...but can we discuss how gorgeous that mustard color is on Marisa?
Kim -- It's Fabulous!
Under-using Marisa Tomei?
That's an Actressexual crime, if I ever heard one.
I'll fine Clooney two upcoming projects that turn out bad. PAY FOR YOUR SINS GEORGE.
//But poor Marisa Tomei is soooo underused (again!)//
I knew that from how little she appears in the trailer (blink and you miss her) but, still - f**k and double-f**k. That woman needs a new agent, perhaps? (Or is the industry never going to forgive her that Oscar?)
Don't hate on Wood...or even quasi-hate....she was 15/16 when thirteen came out....why aren't we happy that she didn't choose the money/movie star route and is going for the Tilda Swinton approach? I am interested in what will develop if she stays with acting.
Marisa Tomei...what a bitch....but she also has taken the interesting and arresting choice path!
Emma Stone...same boring cute safe movie star trajectory....yawn!