Venice film fest reveals starry lineup
Darren Aronofsky’s
“The Whale,” the Marilyn Monroe drama “Blonde,” Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s “Bardo (or False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths)” and Luca Guadagnino’s “Bones and All,” with Timothee Chalamet, will all have their world premieres at the Venice International Film Festival this fall.
Festival director Alberto Barbera unveiled the starry lineup Tuesday, which includes the out-of-competition debut of Olivia Wilde’s mid-century mindbender “Don’t Worry Darling” with Harry Styles and Florence Pugh. The impressive, international slate will draw A-listers and awards hopefuls alike to the Lido for the 79th edition of the oldest film festival in the world.
Netflix will make a big splash with four major titles playing in the main competition: Andrew Dominik’s “Blonde,” starring Ana de Armas; Noah Baumbach’s “White Noise,” with Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig; Inarritu’s film; and Romain Gavras’ “Athena.”
Many films that have premiered at Venice in the last decade have gone on to win the best director Oscar, including Chloe Zhao with “Nomadland,” Guillermo del Toro with “The Shape of Water,” and Damien Chazelle with “La La Land.”
There are 23 films total playing in competition, including Aronofsky’s “The Whale,” starring Brendan Fraser as a morbidly obese man trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter, played by Sadie Sink.
Aside from “Don’t
Worry Darling,” other films debuting out of competition include Walter Hill’s “Dead For a Dollar,” with Willem Dafoe and Christoph Waltz; Bill Pohlad’s
“Dreamin’ Wild,” with Casey Affleck and Walton Goggins; Paul Schrader’s “Master Gardener,” with Joel Edgerton and Sigourney Weaver; and Ti West’s “Pearl,” with Mia Goth.
The Venice film festival runs from Aug. 31 through Sept. 10.
Farah Griffin reportedly chosen as ‘View’ co-host:
Former Trump aide
Alyssa Farah Griffin has been selected to fill “The View” co-host seat that has been open since Meghan McCain’s departure last year, Variety reported Tuesday.
Farah Griffin, 33, is said to be in final discussions to join the ABC daytime talk show’s panel for the upcoming 26th season. Farah Griffin, who served as the White House director of strategic communications during Donald Trump’s presidency, would add a conservative voice to the show’s regular lineup.
ABC hasn’t confirmed the full-time addition of Farah Griffin, who has appeared on “The View” in recent months as a guest on the Hot Topics segment.
Styles up for Mercury Prize:
Harry Styles has secured his first Mercury Prize nomination with his third solo album, competing for the British music award with acts such as singer-songwriter Sam Fender and rapper Little Simz. The former One Direction member was shortlisted Tuesday for his album “Harry’s House,” which has topped U.K. album charts for six weeks.
The 12 albums shortlisted for this year’s Mercury Prize, which recognizes the best British or Irish album of the year, include Fender’s “Seventeen Going Under” and Little Simz’s “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.”
The awards show is set for Sept. 8 in London.
July 28 birthdays: Actor Darryl Hickman is 91. Cartoonist Jim Davis is 77. Actor Linda Kelsey is 76. Actor Sally Struthers is 75. Journalist Scott Pelley is
65. Actor Lori Loughlin is
58. Trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis is 57. Actor Elizabeth Berkley is 50. Actor John David Washington is
38. Actor Dustin Milligan is 37.