2024-08-28 15:21:40
10.30 pm – Perfect start with “Beetlejuice”
It really sounds like one recipe for disaster: bringing the forgotten ghost three-quarters to life, with the same actor in the title role played then, 36 years ago. That is eternal even for the undead.
But the director Tim Burton (“Sleepy Hollow”, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, “Alice in Wonderland”) is an original genius for a reason, and therefore does not let anyone say anything. There is no other way to explain all the madness called “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” with which the 81st Venice Film Festival officially opened.
A great cast – with Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, who reprises her old role of a slightly neurotic ghost seer, Jenna Ortega, who also played “Thursday” from the successful Netflix series, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux and Monica Belluci – obviously. Passion walks through the craziest dream logic, as if three young people came up with the story while smoking a bong early in the morning.
Beetlejuice also has a crush on Winona and is looking for ways out of limbo to be with her. Unfortunately, another love intervenes, played by a free monster who no longer needs Frankenstein: he ignores the parts of his body, which Beetlejuice hacked to pieces, that were still alive at that time, during the plague Italy. A good gag of Monica Belluci is said as this hidden creature. It has stood out for a few things so far. Ugly behavior is not necessarily one of them.
Also make appearances: false murderers, marriage thugs, all kinds of nameless corpses that fish are still killing, with axes in front of them or spears sticking out of their necks, and sandworms parodic on Saturn’s moon recreating “Dune”. There are films that cannot be summed up precisely because they are not better than the sum of their parts; The sum of the parts is sensational.
Where are the studio bosses who, as we all know, never let anything out of Hollywood that wasn’t the best cash cow? Where is the benevolent algorithmic government that knows nothing about art, only money?
Here the clothes are suddenly made by hand, all the scenes are in place and it appears hand-made and rich in details, as if Wes Anderson has made a new movie of “Gremlins”. Respect for the eighties does not fall into pure nostalgia. The humor is always contemporary. In addition, the dialogues are friendly and hostile that you will have to take off your hat if you still know where your head is (or maybe you still have one).
Every second thunders: “Let’s really pour our hearts out to each other!” suggests Beetlejuice has an odd job as a couple’s therapist – and lets his belly bubble on the carpet. “Spill the guts” – in English the expression is aimed at the guts. That would be a task for German reconstruction. But it doesn’t matter if a few gags are lost; they applaud every second.
Venice is off to a perfect start: good mood, good weather.
3:30 pm – Brangelina, George Clooney and gay Daniel Craig
The Venice program is interesting this year, after the drought of the writers and actors strike in Hollywood. George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga have announced their participation. Angelina Jolie came to present her interpretation of Maria Callas, the diva who died at only 53 years old, who was very loved but with a broken private life. It may be that it will be the role of Jolie’s life, her freedom and her return. It is said that all our battalions are busy taking care of appearances so that you don’t run into your husband Brad Pitt.
He would also like to show himself in the company of his old friend George Clooney, who just feels like he defeated Joe Biden with his own hands. In “Wolfs” the two make aggressive corrections, ie professionals who cut other people’s slices.
Other treats to look forward to: Daniel Craig storms through Mexico City as gay writer William S. Burroughs. “Call Me By Your Name” director Luca Guadagnino is fulfilling a long-time dream with the film adaptation of his personal novel “Queer”. Venice festival director Alberto Barbera hailed Craig’s performance as a career highlight.
Two Germans, Tim Fehlbaum and Andres Veiel, put their finger on the wounds of history: the Munich attack in 1972 and the person and work of Leni Riefenstahl. He delighted the cinema with Quentin Tarantino with his pictures, but he was a Nazi sympathizer. This contradiction is what the colleague at the gate meant this morning when he talked about dialectics.
By the way, I just saw “Beetlejuice”. Unfortunately, I can’t reveal anything until the first performance this evening.
10:05 am – Wandering through the Lido labyrinth
No need to emphasize how easy it is to get lost in the narrow streets of Venice. But perhaps it is worth mentioning that without an experienced cicerone you are at a loss on the Lido. It may be dead straight, with three colors parallel to the outside, but the festival forms its own labyrinth. Last year I let them in on the secrets by our long-time film critic Hanns-Georg Rodek – now retired. So everything goes fast: speed from the airport to the water taxi, avoid the left side because otherwise the spray will make you wet. After driving for a good hour, past the glass factory of Murano, a quick visit to the local bike rental company in order to have the greatest possible range in the shortest time. Then through the police barriers that surround the festival palace in the shadow of the traditional Alfa Romeos 159s. When you hear the magic word “validation” they wave you through laziness. This is not meant to be disrespectful; at half past ten it was already over 30 degrees.
Down in the casino palace, the queue is still managed, but the many counters, sorted by press or company and then by the first letter of the last name, are prepared for hordes. Tens of thousands are said to have signed up. Where are they all? The beautiful lady who faced me was also amazing. Her face, open in surprise, contrasted beautifully with her dress, which was perfectly cut. Harmonious contrasts – another Italian specialty.
If you ask yourself, “Where did the man leave his luggage?” It hasn’t been checked anywhere yet!”, then I signaled with the bike bell. The nice people from “Lido on the Bike”, who write all the reservations by hand and, if necessary, dig them out from the depths of the register, are a kind of unofficial conference service for early arrivals.
Now the coffee!
5:00 am – We fly to Venice!
Is there a more surprising sight than the film critics just before sunrise? When a shimmer of anticipation reddens the sky and the air run of adventure? You have to say clearly: Yes, there is. Even the Ryanair planes, lined up well on the asphalt of the Berlin airport, have a higher aura than the plainly dressed figures that are easy to distinguish from the regular travelers in the queue at the entrance. gate: even at five in the morning, when normal people are sleepy Breathing into their coffee cups, they chat frenetically about Leni Riefenstahl’s advantages and disadvantages (“You have to look at this dialectically!”).
I am living incognito for now, but there is no denying that: we are on our way to Venice together, where in the evening The oldest film festival in the world
More details when the time comes. Now the machine starts, and a few hours later the projectors flash or silently throw digital images on the screen. The opening of the film will be repeated given from the pastalthough a harmless one: Michael Keaton as the poltergeist Beetlejuice in Tim Burton’s late sequel to the eighties spectacle. Is it a good idea to bring the undead out of retirement? Just read along with the ongoing report from Venice, up to date with events.
It will be a sight in front and behind the scenes, because this is the only way to get the restless energy of the festival. With “Beetlejuice,” for example, things become more complicated. Pressure checking begins two hours after landing. Therefore, it should be expected that tens of journalists will fight for a place on the water taxi. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Jan Küveler is a leading journalist and writes about film, literature and theatre. He is currently reporting from the Venice Film Festival day and night. You can find your things Here.
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