by Nathaniel R
First Man star Ryan Gosling and living legend Vanessa Redgrave were the toasts of Venice at the opening of the 75th annual Venice Film Festival...
Venice always hands out two Golden Lions for lifetime achievement and this year the honorees are Vanessa Redgrave for acting and David Cronenberg for directing. Vanessa Redgrave received her Golden Lion at an opening night invite-only event. So she's been making the press rounds today. (You may have already seen her quote about why she turned down Damehood years ago at home in England.) Redgrave's official statement when she first heard the news about her Golden Lion:
I am astonished and especially delighted to hear that I will be awarded by the Venice Film Festival for a life’s work in film. Last summer I was filming in Venice in The Aspern Papers. Many many years ago I filmed La vacanza in the marshes of the Veneto. My character spoke every word in the Venetian dialect. I bet I am the only non-Italian actress to act an entire role in Venetian dialect! Thank you a million times, dear Festival!.
The opening night film was Damien Chazelle's First Man, an account of Neil Armstrong's journey to become the first man who walked on the moon. The film stars Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy as the Armstrongs but the ensemble is full of talented 'name' male character actors including but not limited to: Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, Lukas Haas, Shea Wigham and Jason Clarke. From most reports response was very enthusiastic. (I'm seeing the film in 9 days. Can't wait.)
Jason Clarke, Olivia Hamilton, Damien Chazelle, Ryan Gosling, and Claire Foy at the premiere.
But I always caution people to take any news of a film written by people who are able to claim "FIRST!" (at any festival!) with a grain or block of salt. Early reactions may hold up and they may not. That's even 1000 % more true when it comes to standing ovations which are fairly common at major premieres and yet the media duly reports on each of them as if they mean that a film is an instant beloved classic. You may recall that last year Downsizing opened to blissed out raves at Venice but the raves didn't translate out of Venice when it received much harsher responses elsewhere and was stiffed come Oscar time. The only thing that ever matters these days is consensus and that generally takes a week or three past the initial world premiere to firm up. Sometimes even months if there's a huge space between the premiere and the next showing (as with Sundance titles each year). Nevertheless here are a few early responses to the film:
The Hollywood Reporter and Variety both love it. The Wrap and IndieWire are positive but a bit muted. Time loves Gosling, the rest not so much.
And a few shorter reactions via Twitter:
First Man - An exceptionally beautiful, intimate look at how the determination and courage of men once took us farther than we have ever been before. In a word: breathtaking. Chazelle continues to astound.
— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) August 29, 2018
Those unfashionably human-centred studio movies for grownups that we keep calling for? FIRST MAN reports for duty. Canny blend of dizzy-making astro-spectacle and humble domestic drama, with Gosling deftly playing against his own charisma.
— Guy Lodge (@GuyLodge) August 29, 2018
First Man is soooooooooo boring. #soporific #venezia75 should of had more Claire Foy
— Kaleem Aftab (@aftabamon) August 29, 2018
First Man is Ron Howard’s The Right Stuff
— Adam Woodward (@AWLies) August 29, 2018
FIRST MAN is nothing short of extraordinary. Builds on Chazelle’s flair for determined, goal-driven heroes, but conjures up a refreshingly more fragile one in a terrific Gosling. My review from #Venezia75 for @TheFilmStage https://t.co/Fqwd1RoU6h
— Leonardo Goi (@LeonardoGoi) August 29, 2018
In other Venice news, Guillermo del Toro urged gender parity in the industry at the opening press conference. Venice only has one female-helmed film in competition.