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This year, the Oscar has “Wings,” “The Great Ziegfeld” is back, “Birdman” is “The Artist” of the season, and the “Midnight Cowboy” of the decade.
The existentialist, hypnotic, dark comedy, masterfully directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu (“Amores Perros,” “Babel”) stands apart from his recurrent topics: violence, emptiness, immigration, human exploitation, but death. Death is obsessively present in every work done by Iñárritu.
Divided into three acts, like in a theater play, “Birdman” tells the story of a lonely falling star who, years ago, after playing an iconic superhero, made the wrong decisions in Hollywood. Now, the only way to visualize his comeback is by producing, directing, and performing his play on Broadway: “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.”
The actor’s fading fame, divorce, age, daughter’s rehab, economic situation, and the lies of other actors made him struggle for survival.
Broadway is a jungle where everyone devours each other - actors, agents, lawyers, family, the public, and critics (remember the critics).
From the beginning, his “larger-than-life” Alter Ego plays “Funny Games” with him, making him behave differently, out-of-the-ordinary, and so crazy that people in the audience laugh: “You are Birdman; you are a God.”
To have his glorious return to the stage, the starving actor Reagan Thomson, played by Michael Keaton (“Batman,” “Speechless”), must be “nice” to everyone, including himself. The situations in life will come up pretty rough on him.
“Birdman” is a pendulum that swings from long discussions to long silences— the player is always trying to find what really matters in life.
“No need for drugs when you are already emotionally high.”
Antonio Sanchez’s strident drum score is jazzy, rhythmic, and sometimes a “wild mambo.” Towards the end, the drums become dissonant and chaotic, enhancing the story to total madness with an unexpected resolution.
This movie seems to be shot in three days, but its chronicle of the shooting is much more complicated than that. It requires planning, building, lighting, choreography, and many rehearsals to obtain the perfect timing, making everything happen at the precise moment.
Directors, actors, cameramen, editors, and the sound department must hit their marks to make the story flawless. Their moves have to flow perfectly, like the choreography of “The Swan Lake.” Let’s not forget the special effects, which come out of nowhere and are unique.
Technically and symbolically, “Birdman” is structured in three parts (first rehearsal, dress rehearsal, and preview). Those parts are interconnected by the complicated long takes that follow the characters through the long hallways inside the theater and sometimes out to the streets.
Director of photography Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki (“Gravity,” “A New World,” “Tree of Life”) knows his craft and can challenge himself by using the same continuous “long takes” as the one he used inside the building of Cuarón’s “Children of Men,” only that in “Birdman” it repeats many times. The Academy Award® winner, cinematographer, is one of the best of his generation - Chivo is likely to win the Award for the second year in a row.
The shot of the interior of the Korean grocery store is magnificent. Those thousands of chili pepper-shaped lights are not only colorful or fantastic but breathtaking, in one word: marvelous!
Michael Keaton is phenomenal; his work with Iñárritu pushed the limits for the best performance in his career. Javier Bardem, working with Iñárrit,u got an Oscar nomination in 2010 for “Biutiful,” and now Keaton will most likely get an Oscar nomination for his magnificent performance in “Birdman.” He is the front-runner to win gold.
Edward Norton, always controversial, his powerful presence ignites the big screen with fire. Zach Galifianakis’ performance is the best of his career. Emma Stone is superb and represents a new generation of Hollywood’s great young actors. Everyone is just fantastic.
“Birdman,
or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” deserves multiple nominations
and awards, a simple story in a complex movie that aspires to
perfection.
LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA HAS ANNOUNCED THE 2014 AWARDS AWARDS:
The Venezia 71 Jury: Alexandre
Desplat chairman and the members: Joan Chen, Philip Gröning, Jessica
Hausner, Jhumpa Lahiri, Sandy Powell, Tim Roth, Elia
Suleiman and Carlo Verdone having viewed all 20 films in
competition decided that the winners are:
GOLDEN LION for Best Film:
EN DUVA SATT PÅ EN GREN OCH FUNDERADE PÅ TILLVARON
(A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING
ON EXISTENCE)
By Roy Andersson (Sweden, Germany,
Norway, France).
SILVER LION for Best Director:
Andrej Koncalovskij
For the film BELYE NOCHI POCHTALONA
ALEKSEYA TRYAPITSYNA
(THE POSTMAN’S WHITE NIGHTS).
GRAND JURY PRIZE:
THE LOOK OF SILENCE by Joshua Oppenheimer
(Denmark, Finland, Indonesia, Norway, United
Kingdom).
COPPA VOLPIfor Best Actor:
Adam Driver
HUNGRY HEARTS by Saverio Costanzo (Italy).
COPPA VOLPIfor Best Actress:
Alba Rohrwacher
HUNGRY HEARTS by Saverio Costanzo (Italy).
MARCELLO MASTROIANNI AWARD
Best Young Actor or Actress:
Romain Paul
in the film LE DERNIER COUP DE
MARTEAU by Alix Delaporte (France).
AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY:
Rakhshan Banietemad and Farid Mostafavi
GHESSEHA (TALES) by Rakhshan Banietemad (Iran).
Sivas, Turkey.
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE:
SIVAS by Kaan Müjdeci (Turkey, Germany)
LION OF THE FUTURE – “LUIGI DE
LAURENTIIS” VENICE AWARD FOR A DEBUT FILM
Lion of the Future – “Luigi De
Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film Jury at the 71st Venice Film Festival,
chaired by Alice Rohrwacher and comprised of Lisandro Alonso, Ron
Mann, Vivian Qu and Razvan Radulescu, has decided to award:
LION OF THE FUTURE – “LUIGI DE LAURENTIIS”
VENICE AWARD FOR A DEBUT FILM:
COURT by Chaitanya Tamhane (India)
ORIZZONTI
The prize of 100,000 USD, donated by Filmauro
diAurelio e Luigi De Laurentiis to be divided equally between director
and producer.
ORIZZONTI AWARDS
The Orizzonti Jury of the 71st Venice
Film Festival, chaired by Ann Hui and composed of Moran Atias,
Pernilla August, David Chase, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Roberto Minervini and
Alin Tasçiyan after screening the 29 films in competition has decided to
award:
ORIZZONTI AWARD FOR BEST FILM:
COURT by Chaitanya Tamhane (India).
ORIZZONTI AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR:
Naji Abu Nowar
THEEB
(Jordan, U.A.E., Qatar, United Kingdom).
SPECIAL ORIZZONTI JURY PRIZE:
BELLUSCONE. UNA STORIA SICILIANA
by Franco Maresco (Italy).
SPECIAL ORIZZONTI AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR
OR ACTRESS to:
Emir Hadžihafizbegovic
in the film TAKVA SU PRAVILA (THESE
ARE THE RULES).
by Ognjen Svilicic (Croatia, France,
Serbia, Macedonia).
ORIZZONTI AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM:
MARYAM by Sidi Saleh (Indonesia).
VENICE SHORT FILM NOMINATION FOR THE
EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS 2014 to:
PAT – LEHEM (DAILY BREAD) by Idan Hubel (Israel).
VENEZIA CLASSICI AWARDS
The Venezia Classici Jury, chaired by Giuliano
Montaldo composed of 28 students of Cinema History, chosen in
particular from the teachers of 13 Italian Dams university programmes and from
the Venice University of Ca’ Foscari, has decided to award:
VENEZIA CLASSICI AWARD FOR BEST
DOCUMENTARY ON CINEMA:
ANIMATA RESISTENZA by Francesco Montagner and Alberto Girotto (Italy).
VENEZIA CLASSICI AWARD FOR BEST
RESTORED FILM:
UNA GIORNATA PARTICOLARE by Ettore Scola (1977, Italy, Canada).
GOLDEN LION FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
2014:
Thelma Schoonmaker.
Frederick Wiseman.
JAEGER-LECOULTRE GLORY TO THE FILMMAKER
AWARD 2014: James Franco.
PERSOL TRIBUTE VISIONARY TALENT AWARD
2014: Frances McDormand.
L’ORÉAL PARIS PER IL CINEMA AWARD: Valentina Corti.
Collateral Awards of the 71st Venice Film Festival
FIPRESCI Award
Best Film of Venezia 71 to "The Look of Silence" by Joshua Oppenheimer.
Best Film of Orizzonti and International Critics’ Week to "Nicije dete" by Vuk Ršumovic.
Leoncino d'Oro Agiscuola per il Cinema to "Birdman" by Alejándro G. Iñárritu.
Cinema for UNICEF mention to "Hungry Hearts" by Saverio Costanzo.
Francesco Pasinetti Awards
Best film to "Anime nere" by Francesco Munzi.
Best actors to Elio Germano ("Il giovane favoloso" by Mario Martone) and Alba Rohrwacher ("Hungry Hearts" by Saverio Costanzo).
Special Award to Saverio Costanzo, director of "Hungry Hearts," (Venezia 71).
Special Award to Pierfrancesco Favino, actor and producer of "Senza nessuna pietà," (Orizzonti).
Special Award to "I nostri ragazzi" by Ivano De Matteo (Giornate degli autori).
Brian Award
Mita Tova – "The Farewell Party" by Tal Granit and Sharon Maymon.
Queer Lion Award
"Les Nuits d’été" by Mario Fanfani.
Arca CinemaGiovani Award
Best Film of Venezia 71 to Loin Des Hommes by David Oelhoffen.
Best Italian film to: "Belluscone. Una storia siciliana" by Franco Maresco.
CICAE - Cinema d’Arte e d’Essai Award
"Heaven Knows What" by Josh and Ben Safdie.
FEDIC Award
"Io sto con la sposa" by Antonio Augugliaro, Gabriele Del Grande, Khaled Soliman Al Nassiry.
Special Mention “Fedic – Il Giornale del Cibo” to "Italy in a day" by Gabriele Salvatores.
Fondazione Mimmo Rotella Award
Luigi Musini, for the film "Anime nere" by Francesco Munzi. Future Film Festival Digital Award
"Birdman" by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Special Mention to "Italy in a day" by Gabriele Salvatores.
P. Nazareno Taddei Award
"Birdman" by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Lanterna Magica (CGS) Award
"Le dernier coup de marteau" by Alix Delaporte. Open Award
to director Rä di Martino.
Lina Mangiacapre Award (Prize not awarded).
Mouse d'Oro Award
Mouse d'oro for the best film of Venezia 71: "The Look of Silence" by Joshua Oppenheimer.
Mouse d'argento for the best out of competition film: "Olive Kitteridge" by Lisa Cholodenko.
The Most Innovative Budget
"Italy in a Day" by Gabriele Salvatores.
Gillo Pontecorvo Award – Arcobaleno Latino
"The show mas go on" by Rä di Martino.
Interfilm Award for Promoting Interreligious Dialogue
"Loin des hommes" by David Oelhoffen.
Young Jury Members of the Vittorio Veneto Film Festival
Best film to: "99 Homes" by Ramin Bahrani.
Special Mention to the work of Fatih Akin ("The Cut").
Best actor: Elio Germano ("Il giovane favoloso" by Mario Martone).
“Civitas Vitae prossima” Award
Ivan Gergolet for "Dancing with Maria."
Green Drop Award
"Belye nochi pochtalona Alekseya Tryapitsyna/The Postman’s White Nights" by Andrej Koncalovskij.
Soundtrack Stars Award
Critic’s Choice Award to Alexandre Desplat.
Best Soundtrack Award to "Birdman" by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Schermi di Qualità Award – Carlo Mazzacurati
"Anime nere" by Francesco Munzi.
RaroVideo – International Critics’ Week Award
Nicije dete by Vuk Ršumovic.
Europa Cinemas Label Award
Best European Movie from the Giornate degli Autori – Venice Days to "I nostri ragazzi" by Ivano de Matteo.
Fedeora Awards
Giornate degli Autori – Venice Days
Best Film: "One on One" by Kim Ki-duk
Best director of a debut film to Aditya Vikram Sengupta for Asha Jaoar Majhe – Labour of Love
Settimana Internazionale della Critica – Venice International Film Critics Week
Best screenwriter: Vuk Ršumovic for his film "Nicije dete – No One’s Child."
Best film: "Ð?p cánh gi?a không trung – Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere" by Nguy?n Hoàng Ði?p
Venezia 71
Award for Best Euro-Mediterranean film: "The Look of Silence" by Joshua Oppenheimer.
Human Rights Nights Award
"Io sto con la sposa" by Antonio Augugliaro, Gabriele Del Grande, Khaled Soliman Al Nassiry
The Look of Silence by Joshua Oppenheimer.
Piccioni Award
The soundtrack of "Il giovane favoloso" by Mario Martone; music by Sascha Ring.
AssoMusica “Ho visto una Canzone” Award
The song "Just One Day," from the film Italy in a day by Gabriele Salvatores.
“Sorriso diverso Venezia 2014” Award
Io sto con la sposa by Antonio Augugliaro, Gabriele Del Grande, Khaled Soliman Al Nassiry.
