Venice Film Festival 2011 - Interesting movies

It's left just one month till the next big film festival will begin. I was looking forward to it since Cannes Film Festival came to an end. After an official program of the upcoming festival was revealed, I've got a chance to choose which movie I would like to watch in the first place. Unfortunately, trailers of some of these movies still haven't been released and maybe my opinion will change in a month, but I doubt it.

Official program of the 68th Venice Film Festival.

"The Ides of March" by George Clooney
Yes, you understood right - George Clooney not only just starred in this movie, but also directed it. It's not the first time he's playing in being director. The previous one was movie called "Leatherheads" and only the half of the critics liked it (audience liked it even less). "The Ides of March" are about a politician and his assistant, who really helps him to become the President of the USA. Of course, George Clooney kept for himself the big part and due to trailer he looks confident playing the one who is about to be the President. I'm more interested in someone, who is portraying his successful assistant. Ryan Gosling is one of the best actors nowadays, so it's not a big surprise that this is the third movie he presents this year. His character looks more interesting and complicated, because he has to choose between loyalty and his beliefs.



"Carnage" by Roman Polanski
The story takes place in New York, where two parent couples meet for a dinner to discuss their children and an accident they've been involved in. But it's not going to be very serious drama - something comic is going to happen as well. The first couple is played by Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz. The second one is portrayed by Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly. So we shouldn't worry about the acting and directing parts. I hope this movie will surprise me in a good way.

"Wilde Salome" by Al Pacino
Oscar Wilde is becoming popular again, when Al Pacino is adapting his tragedy called "Salome". Originally it is a Biblical story about a stepdaughter of the tetrarch Herod Antipas, who wants the head of Jokanaan on a silver platter as a reward for dancing the Dance of the Seven Veils. Salome is played by Jessica Chastain, who is going to present six movies she starred in this year, and King Herod is portrayed by Al Pacino. Despite the fact that we don't know how he is going to re-interpret this story, it has to be both impressive and dramatic.

"Contagion" by Steven Soderbergh
Returning to the 'virus which will kill all humanity' theme, Steven Soderbergh presents a new drama, which is slightly different from apocalyptic movies like "Resident Evil" or "I'm a Legend". It shows more how virus spreads day by day all around the world. There is no 'Chose One' who will save the world, but there are many people (from doctors to politicians), who want to find out how to conquer this disease. But the main advantage of this movie is its cast. Matt Damon, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Laurence Fishburne and Gwyneth Paltrow are playing serious parts and they're are doing it very persuasively.



"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" by Tomas Alfredson
Incredible cast is telling us a very mysterious story about ex-spy, which again proves that you can never quit this job. Colin Firth, John Hurt, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ciaran Hinds are going to play in dangerous games to solve a mystery. Their characters should to discover what is true and what is hidden from them, meanwhile trying to find the weaknesses in their enemies.



"A Dangerous Method" by David Cronenberg
Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung are trying to manage their work and relationship while they are searching for a new method in treating a troubled patient. Starring Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Vincent Cassel and Keira Knightley, this story shows how a woman can influence men's life.