Days after naming Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” as the festival’s curtain-raiser, the Venice Film Festival’s have picked another not-entirely-expected title to close the fest on September 11: Julie Taymor’s long-delayed Shakespeare adaptation, “The Tempest.”
The decision to bookend proceedings with highly anticipated U.S. productions suggests the Venice brass are aiming for higher star wattage on the Lido than at last year’s low-key edition, which opened with Giuseppe Tornatore’s misfire “Baaria” and closed with the little-seen Chinese portmanteau pic “Chengdu, I Love You.” More strategically, this choice of closer seems calculated to compel journalists to stay for the full duration of the fest — something of a challenge when Toronto begins but a few days earlier.
I admit I hadn’t counted on seeing Taymor’s film, which stars Helen Mirren as a gender-switched Prospero in the director’s typically loose interpretation of the Shakespeare standard, in the fall festival pack — though distributor Disney (picking up where Miramax left off) had already confirmed a December release date.
If I’m a little wary of the film, it’s only because of Taymor’s own wildly spotty record; she also has the memory of Peter Greenaway’s own avant-garde “Tempest” adaptation, “Prospero’s Books,” to contend with, or at least to out-weird. (Coincidentally enough, Greenaway’s film also bowed at Venice.)
It’s worth noting that no Taymor film has yet come up empty-handed on Oscar nomination morning (she’s never struck out with the costumers, for starters, and Sandy Powell, no less, is on board for this one), so however the Venice premiere goes, we’ll likely be talking about the film in some capacity through the season. And “The Last Station” proved that all Helen Mirren has to do these days to generate awards buzz is get tangled in a curtain — and not particularly well, at that. (Venice, incidentally, is where her long and inexorable march to the Oscar podium for “The Queen” began in 2006.)
But hey, if the film really goes well, we could be talking a SAG nomination for Russell Brand. Exciting times.
Press release from the official festival website:
Julie Taymor’s adaptation of the mystical Shakespeare play brings together a stellar cast including Helen Mirren, Russell Brand, Alfred Molina, Djimon Hounsou, David Strathairn, Chris Cooper, Alan Cumming, Ben Whishaw, Reeve Carney and Felicity Jones.
American Director Julie Taymor’s The Tempest has been chosen as the closing night film (Out of Competition) for the 67th Venice International Film Festival. The world premiere screening of The Tempest arrives on the cusp of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s spectacular fantasy. Through Taymor’s trademark visual flair and creative direction, the film presents even the most devoted Shakespeare fans an opportunity to experience one of the Bard’s most beloved works in a unique and exhilarating new production.
In Taymor’s The Tempest, the director brings an original dynamic to the story by changing the gender of the sorcerer Prospero into the sorceress – Prospera – portrayed by Oscar winner Helen Mirren. Prospera’s journey spirals through vengeance to forgiveness as she reigns over a magical island, cares for her young daughter, Miranda, and unleashes her powers against shipwrecked enemies in this exciting, masterly mix of romance, treachery and the supernatural.
The screenplay for The Tempest was written by Julie Taymor with original music by Oscar-winning composer, and Taymor’s long-time collaborator, Elliot Goldenthal. Costumes were designed by three-time Oscar winner Sandy Powell. The film was edited by Oscar winner Françoise Bonnot.
The world premiere screening of The Tempest will be presented in the Sala Grande (Palazzo del Cinema) on Saturday, September 11, following the awards ceremony. The 67th Venice International Film Festival will be held September 1 through 11, 2010, directed by Marco Mueller and organized by La Biennale di Venezia, chaired by Paolo Baratta.
Distributed by Touchstone Pictures and produced by Julie Taymor, Lynn Hendee, Robert Chartoff, Jason K. Lau and Julia Taylor-Stanley, the film is set for a U.S. release in December 2010. Icon Entertainment International (IEI) is handling sales for international territories.
[Photo: Ace Showbiz]
Comments
9 responses to “Taymor’s ‘Tempest’ to bookend Venice fest”
I saw an early cut of this film, it’s um…interesting. Think a not pulled-off well Labrynth and you’ll understand what I mean.
Count me excited for this. I adore Taymor’s work, particularly the whacked-out “Titus”.
Her best by far. I’m hoping a return to the Bard will reap similar rewards.
I’m glad I’m not alone in thinking that Mirren’s nomination last past year was completely nonsensical.
Anything with Ben Whishaw in it is worth seeing.
Really? I loved Mirren in “The Last Station” and thought she was easily better than at least two of the other nominees.
Yeah, I was completely fine with Helen Mirren’s nomination for The Last Station. I thought she gave a great performance (one that I enjoyed a hell of a lot better than Sandra Bullock’s and Gabourey Sidibe’s for that matter).
To each his own. I thought Mirren was handily the worst of the nominees — not helped by her agonising vehicle.
I’ve seen some footage from the finished version and it is GORGEOUS. I would say that this film could clean up on the below-the-line nominations.
But, Taymor is a very love-it-or-hate-it kind of director, so who knows what will happen?