Venice 2008 - Review
The competition film, “The Wrestler,” which stars Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood, packed three Venice screenings Friday and prompted speculation among festival participants that Mickey Rourke could be a candidate for Venice’s best actor prize, which will be announced with the other major awards Saturday.
Mickey Rourke has given what critics are calling the performance of his life in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler” in which he plays a lonely, washed out wrestler whose story poignantly mirrors the Hollywood outsider’s own troubled past.
“Wrestler,” which centers on an aging former professional wrestler, is the fest’s final premiere at the Sala Grande.
Rourke, who received a rare standing ovation at a press conference, is generating early Oscar chatter. He told in an interview that “The Wrestler” was “the best … movie I’ve ever made.”
The film, the last of 21 movies in the main competition to premiere, is a contender both for the top actor award and the coveted Golden Lion for best picture, critics say. The festival wraps Saturday with its prize ceremony.
Anne Hathaway also impressed in her unusually dark role in “Rachel Getting Married,” Jonathan Demme’s touching wedding drama that has been lauded in Venice.
A third late entry, Thursday’s premiere, “The Hurt Locker” by U.S. director Kathryn Bigelow, leads an informal poll of Italian critics who were impressed by its portrayal of the perils faced by a bomb disposal unit in Iraq led by a reckless sergeant.
“Passengers” - Trailer, Poster, Synopsis and Photo Gallery
Take a look at the first trailer and poster for the upcoming Rodrigo Garcia directed thriller “Passengers” starring Anne Hathaway, Patrick Wilson, David Morse, Andre Braugher, Clea DuVall and Dianne Wiest.
After a plane crash, a young therapist, Claire (Anne Hathaway), is assigned by her mentor (Andre Braugher) to counsel the flight’s five survivors. When they share their recollections of the incident - which some say include an explosion that the airline claims never happened - Claire is intrigued by Eric (Patrick Wilson), the most secretive of the passengers. Just as Claire’s professional relationship with Eric - despite her better judgment - blossoms into a romance, the survivors begin to disappear mysteriously, one by one. Claire suspects that Eric may hold all the answers and becomes determined to uncover the truth, no matter the consequences.
Check out the “Passengers” Photo Gallery
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“Passengers” Photo Gallery
Passengers | Anne Hathaway and Patrick Wilson
New photos from the upcoming Rodrigo Garcia directed thriller “Passengers” starring Anne Hathaway (Get Smart) and Patrick Wilson (Watchmen), has been released.
After a plane crash, a young therapist, Claire (Anne Hathaway), is assigned by her mentor (Andre Braugher) to counsel the flight’s five survivors. When they share their recollections of the incident - which some say include an explosion that the airline claims never happened - Claire is intrigued by Eric (Patrick Wilson), the most secretive of the passengers. Just as Claire’s professional relationship with Eric - despite her better judgment - blossoms into a romance, the survivors begin to disappear mysteriously, one by one. Claire suspects that Eric may hold all the answers and becomes determined to uncover the truth, no matter the consequences. Read the rest of this entry
Upcoming Thriller ‘Passengers’
After a plane crash, a young therapist, Claire (Anne Hathaway), is assigned by her mentor (Andre Braugher) to counsel the flight’s five survivors. When they share their recollections of the incident – which some say include an explosion that the airline claims never happened, Claire is intrigued by Eric (Patrick Wilson), the most secretive of the passengers.
Just as Claire’s professional relationship with Eric, despite her better judgment, blossoms into a romance, the survivors begin to disappear mysteriously, one by one. Claire suspects that Eric may hold all the answers and becomes determined to uncover the truth, no matter the consequences.
Directed by: Rodrigo Garcia
Written by: Ronnie Christensen
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Patrick Wilson, David Morse, Andre Braugher
Release Date: September 5, 2008
