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The Golden Lion for Best Film went to Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere, the follow-up to her 2006 film Marie Antoinette. The film returns to the travelling/hotel vibe of her 2003 cult-hit Lost in Translation. Somewhere follows Stephen Dorff’s dissolute Hollywood star, whose vapid life of excess takes a turn for the better when his young daughter (rising actress Elle Fanning) comes for a visit, giving them a chance to develop their relationship as father and daughter.
The winner was announced after a reportedly unanimous decision by the judges. Outside of the panel, however, the film has received decidedly average reviews. This feeling was obviously not shared by head judge Tarantino, Coppola’s former boyfriend.
If the trailer is any indication, the film will feature an amazing indie soundtrack (best use of The Strokes ever?):
Missing out on any big prizes this year was Darren Aronofsky’s latest thriller, Black Swan, which focuses on the relationship between two rival New York ballet dancers (Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis). The film has received universal critical praise, but the fact that Aronofsky won the Golden Lion back in 2008 for his last film The Wrestler may have contributed to him losing out on the big ones this year. However, the film still managed to win the Marcello Mastroianni award for Best Young Actress thanks to the talents of Mila Kunis, who plays impressive new dancer Lily, rival to veteran Nina (Portman).
Screened out of competition this year were a few big upcoming releases. These included Ben Affleck’s cops and robbers thriller The Town starring Affleck and the annoyingly attractive Jon Hamm (that’s Don Draper from Mad Men to most of you), and Casey Affleck’s documentary I’m Still Here, which follows Joaquin Phoenix’s retirement from acting and apparent existential crisis.
If you want my advice, see as many of these great upcoming releases on the big screen as you can! Or if you're a bit lazy/strapped for cash, catch up at the inevitable YSC screenings in the coming academic year.
Somewhere is released in the UK on 4 March 2011.
Black Swan is released in the UK on 11 February 2011.
The Town is released in the UK on 24 September 2010.
I'm Still Here is released in the UK on 17 September 2010.
The full list of main competition winners are as follows:
Golden Lion for Best Film: Somewhere by Sofia Coppola (USA)
Silver Lion for Best Director: Álex de la Iglesia for Balada Triste De Trompeta (Spain, France)
Special Jury Prize: Essential Killing by Jerzy Skolimowski (Poland, Norway, Hungary, Ireland)
Coppa Volpi for Best Actor: Vincent Gallo in Essential Killing by Jerzy Skolimowski (Poland, Norway, Hungary, Ireland)
Coppa Volpi for Best Actress: Ariane Labed in Attenberg by Athina Rachel Tsangari (Greece)
Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress: Mila Kunis in Black Swan by Darren Aronofsky (USA)
Osella for Best Cinematography: Mikail Krichman for Silent Souls (Ovsyanki) by Aleksei Fedorchenko (Russia)
Osella for Best Screenplay: Álex de la Iglesia for Balada Triste De Trompeta by Álex de la Iglesia (Spain, France)
Special Lion for an Overall Work: Monte Hellman
Can't wait for some of these films!
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