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Clooney is missing when opening a Venice – tension before premiere
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The film festival in Venice started with Starpower. But George Clooney, one of the top guests, remained unexpectedly away from the opening-now it is looking forward to his premiere.
The film festival in Venice started brilliantly – but a highlight of the festival failed to materialize on the first evening: George Clooney, one of the most expected stars, was surprisingly missing at the opening. The 64-year-old had already traveled with Adam Sandler and the rest of his film “Jay Kelly” in the afternoon.
Precaution to be fit for premiere
According to a report by the “Hollywood Reporter”, the Hollywood star did not feel fit, which is why he could not take all the interview appointments and made a dinner with his film team. This was a precaution so that he was fit for the press conference and premiere of his film “Jay Kelly” today.
In “Jay Kelly”, director Noah Baumbach tells of an aging actor (George Clooney), who goes on a trip to Europe with his manager (Adam Sandler). Laura Dern also plays in the Netflix film.
Stone and Lanthimos come back after Venice’s victory
The premiere of “Bugonia” is also planned – the new film by Giorgos Lanthimos, who captured Venice in 2023 with “Poor Things” and won the main prize. His new film is again occupied with Oscar winner Emma Stone. She plays a corporate boss that is kidnapped by conspiracy theorists.
The 82nd edition of the festival was opened by the new film by the director Paolo Sorentino: With “La Grazia” about a fictional Italian president, he returns to the age of old size. The meeting of two director icons was touching on the first evening.
Duke and Coppola hold hands
The Hollywood legend Francis Ford Coppola and the German director Werner Herzog came together via the red carpet to the festival palace – first arm in arm, then hand in hand. The 86 -year -old Coppola, who recently had a heart surgery, was supported by Duke’s four years younger.
Then he held the laudation on the German, which was awarded a golden lion for his life’s work. “You have to celebrate the fact that someone like him can actually exist,” said Coppola (“the godfather”, “Apocalypse Now”) on stage. He described Herzog’s films as “unique and very different – but everyone great”.
Herzog thanked the words: “Venice was always good to me.” He described Coppola as “extremely nice and generous”. “We have known each other for half a century.” When he had no money for a hotel room, he was allowed to stay at Coppola to write the script for “Fitzcarraldo”, one of his most famous films.
Sorrenino back on the big stage
Sortino’s new drama “La Grazia” then opened the competition. Sortino, also internationally, since his opulent “La Grande Bellezza”, had no longer triggered a comparable positive echo with his younger works.
That should change now: “La Grazia” is visually magnificently staged and crossed by quiet comedy. The focus is on an Italian president in the last few months of his term: a man who has to make important decisions. His thoughts keep returning to his late wife.
Alluding to Italian President Mattarella
Sortino has occupied his drama with Toni Servillo, who was already convincing in “La Grande Bellezza – the great beauty”. As head of state, he recognizable with Italy’s current President Sergio Mattarella – also a Catholic and a highly respected lawyer, who has often been accompanied by his daughter since the death of his wife. In 2022, a film scene in which the head of state in the Milan Scala Standing Ovations was actually true.
“La Grazia” competes with 20 films around the Golden Lion, which will be awarded on September 6th. The jury president is the US director Alexander Payne.
dpa
Source: Stern

I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.