VENICE FILMFEST:PRIZES and PRICES
By Uli Schmetzer
VENICE, September 4, 2008 -- The Golden Lion, Venice’s equivalent to the Oscar, was won by the American film “The Wrestler,” a soap opera that made it clear to anyone still with doubts that money talks louder then art.
The jury headed by German film-maker Wim Wenders hoisted ‘The Wrestler’ above a plethora of candidates most of them far more acceptable then this obvious box office attraction with its naïve plot and its Rambo style hero.
By Uli Schmetzer
VENICE, September 4, 2008 -- The Golden Lion, Venice’s equivalent to the Oscar, was won by the American film “The Wrestler,” a soap opera that made it clear to anyone still with doubts that money talks louder then art.
The jury headed by German film-maker Wim Wenders hoisted ‘The Wrestler’ above a plethora of candidates most of them far more acceptable then this obvious box office attraction with its naïve plot and its Rambo style hero.
VENICE FILMFEST:PRIZES and PRICES
By Uli Schmetzer
http://www.uli-schmetzer.com/
VENICE, September 4, 2008 -- The Golden Lion, Venice’s equivalent to the Oscar, was won by the American film “The Wrestler,” a soap opera that made it clear to anyone still with doubts that money talks louder then art.
The jury headed by German film-maker Wim Wenders hoisted ‘The Wrestler’ above a plethora of candidates most of them far more acceptable then this obvious box office attraction with its naïve plot and its Rambo style hero.
The saga of champion pro-wrestler Randy ‘the Ram’ Robinson is played by a crag-faced Mickey Rourke whose fine performance is the only highlight. Naturally the blood flows freely, with the help of hidden razor blades. Fraternal opponents, all loving each other behind the scene, ‘fix’ their moves in the dressing room before they pretend to pommel each other in the ring and imbibe and inject large amounts of steroids.
Directed by Darren Aronofsky the film is a sugar-coated tabloid story about an old pro unable to give up his trade and his fans who have become ‘my only family.’ Aronofsky even throws in a stripper as the sweetheart. In the way the film ends we can be assured to see in the near future its sequel ‘The Wrestler II” when The Ram appears for one more blockbuster bout against his old foe the “Ayatollah’ while his loyal fans yell: “USA.. USA…USA…USA….”
Could all this be a prelude to the imminent war against Iran?
The film’s choice for the award was an anti-climax to a successful festival that focused on films made with thought and passion not with both eyes on the box office. But the award will also silence the perennial complaint American movies never win in Venice.Read....
http://www.uli-schmetzer.com/
By Uli Schmetzer
http://www.uli-schmetzer.com/ VENICE, September 4, 2008 -- The Golden Lion, Venice’s equivalent to the Oscar, was won by the American film “The Wrestler,” a soap opera that made it clear to anyone still with doubts that money talks louder then art.
The jury headed by German film-maker Wim Wenders hoisted ‘The Wrestler’ above a plethora of candidates most of them far more acceptable then this obvious box office attraction with its naïve plot and its Rambo style hero.
The saga of champion pro-wrestler Randy ‘the Ram’ Robinson is played by a crag-faced Mickey Rourke whose fine performance is the only highlight. Naturally the blood flows freely, with the help of hidden razor blades. Fraternal opponents, all loving each other behind the scene, ‘fix’ their moves in the dressing room before they pretend to pommel each other in the ring and imbibe and inject large amounts of steroids.
Directed by Darren Aronofsky the film is a sugar-coated tabloid story about an old pro unable to give up his trade and his fans who have become ‘my only family.’ Aronofsky even throws in a stripper as the sweetheart. In the way the film ends we can be assured to see in the near future its sequel ‘The Wrestler II” when The Ram appears for one more blockbuster bout against his old foe the “Ayatollah’ while his loyal fans yell: “USA.. USA…USA…USA….”
Could all this be a prelude to the imminent war against Iran?
The film’s choice for the award was an anti-climax to a successful festival that focused on films made with thought and passion not with both eyes on the box office. But the award will also silence the perennial complaint American movies never win in Venice.Read....
http://www.uli-schmetzer.com/