Casey Affleck: “I’ve Seen Blonde And It’s Incredible” — Venice

When it comes to biopics, they don’t get much more intensely intimate than Andrew Dominik‘s “Blonde.” And the film’s world premiere at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month confirmed that Ana de Armas expertly channels Marilyn Monroe in her performance. In fact, de Armas got so close to Monroe during the film’s production the actress attempted to contact the deceased starlet, in a way.

If anything, since its inception, cinema has been an art of apparitions. There’s a ghostly quality to the medium, no pun intended.

Blonde” debuted to a massive 14-minute long standing ovation during its world premiere at the 2022 Venice Film Festival. Ana de Armas, who plays Marilyn Monroe, was in tears at the screening, her face glowing as tears streamed down. Before the film’s world premiere Brad Pitt, who is among the film’s producers, de Armas, director Andrew Dominik, Adrien Brody and Julianne Nicholson created commotion on the red carpet, largely for Pitt who worked the crowds wearing a black Covid mask when he came into close contact with fans to sign autographs and do selfies. Pitt made a surprise appearance in Venice since he was not present at the film’s press conference earlier in the day. Dede Gardner, who is also among “Blonde” producers, was also on hand.

If anything, since its inception, cinema has been an art of apparitions. There’s a ghostly quality to the medium, no pun intended.

No film at the Venice Film Festival not called “Don’t Worry Darling” has attracted such morbid fascination as Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn Monroe not-a-biopic, “Blonde.” Turns out that “morbid” qualifier is soft, to say the least: to call “Blonde” relentless would be about as immense an understatement as one can conjure of a movie that subjects its lead, Ana de Armas’ fictionalized Monroe, to two hours and forty-seven minutes of unending sexual torture, leering voyeurism, and devastating dehumanization.  READ MORE: Venice Film Festival Preview: 16 Must-See Films To Watch Much has already been made about the X-ratedness of it all, but god, this is — by design — soul-sapping stuff, leaving you bloodied and brutalized.

Ellie Goulding showed off her incredible figure at the amfAR Gala at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on Wednesday. The singer, 35, was joined by Jodie Turner-Smith who wows in a bold skirt that she teamed with a corset top at the charity event that benefits AIDS research. Ellie's wet-look metallic gown clung perfectly to her gym-honed physique as she flashed a glimpse of her lithe legs through a daring thigh-high split.

. And given that De Armas portrays the in the film, it was only fitting that she choose a glamorous outfit for her first stop on the press tour. Arriving on one of those signature wooden speedboats, the actor wore a blue shorts suit by Louis Vuitton, complete with golden nautical buttons, and black strappy Gianvito Rossi heels.

Zooey Deschanel and Casey Affleck are stepping out to support their new movie.

Stalwart indie filmmaker Bill Pohlad today premeres in Venice Dreamin’ Wild. His directing follow up to the critically acclaimed Brian Wilson film Love & Mercy also follows a music story, though one far less familiar. Casey Affleck, Noah Jupe, Zooey Deschanel, Walton Goggins and Beau Bridges star. When Donnie Emerson (played by Affleck and Jupe) was a teenager growing up on his father’s farm in Fruitland, Washington (population 791) he spent his days writing music and dreaming of becoming a music star. And everyone in the family became invested in that dream, including his brother Joe (Goggins) who became his drummer, and especially his father, Don Sr (Bridges). He mortgaged his farm to build a $100,000 recording studio, and more to help Donnie make and release his first record. It went nowhere and the bulk of the farm had to be sold when the loan came due. But 30 years later, the overlooked album was rediscovered by the music scene. Suddenly Donnie, who continued to struggle and write and play his music, had gotten a taste of his childhood dreams. But it comes with the guilt of failure that haunted him for years, and involves having to play the songs that meant something as a teen, but not as a 50 year old man who has evolved as a musician. And it is all true.

Caylee Cowan waves at the cameras after arriving at the airport with Casey Affleck in Venice, Italy on Tuesday (September 6).

Bardo” be Alejandro González Iñárritu’s third best director Oscar in a row following “Birdman” and “The Revenant” wins? It’s a question many were asking heading into the Venice Film Festival, where the Netflix-backed “Bardo” world premiered in competition. The three-hour-long drama, which wrapped at 12:15 a.m. Venice time, earned a standing ovation of just over four minutes at the Sala Grande. A number of audience members began leaving before the movie ended given the late hour, but the vast majority stayed to applaud the helmer.Iñárritu was visibly moved by the reception to his film, certainly one of his most personal efforts to date, and had tears in his eyes as he embraced his cast and producers.

This year’s Venice Film Festival has several highly anticipated films in competition for the Golden Lion. But the festival’s most anticipated movie may arguably be Andrew Dominik’s “Blonde.” Based on Joyce Carol Oates’s 2000 novel of the same name, “Blonde” may be the biopic to end all biopics.

Pat Saperstein Deputy EditorIt’s fall film festival season and there’s a whole new crop of literary-minded films coming to screens through the rest of the year. Since the films that premiere at festivals like Telluride, Venice, Toronto and New York are the ones that fill awards  nominations lists a few months later, the festivals provide an early peek at the movies that will be front and center at the Oscars, film critics awards and all the other end-of-year kudosfests.But there’s a way to get to know many of these works even before they premiere at festivals and come to streaming or movie screens: get familiar with the books they’re based on.

Angelina Jolie is very reserved when it comes to details about her personal life, she gave fans a rare glimpse into an aspect of her home that she truly treasures.MORE: Angelina Jolie steps out for special night with rarely-seen daughter VivienneThe star doesn't often share insights of either her family life or peeks into her home, so fans were quick to express gratitude for her candid post.Angelina took to Instagram to share with fans a very special photo she has framed in her residence that she holds near her heart, honoring one of her favorite artists.WATCH: Angelina and Brad Pitt's daughter Shiloh shows off impressive movesMORE: Top 8 celebrity back to school photos 2022: Angelina Jolie, Gabrielle Union & moreThe post captures a photo of a polaroid portrait of the Maleficent lead posing alongside popular contemporary artist Ai Weiwei, who is a beloved fixture in the art community.The photo, which was taken in Italy, sees the actress donning her signature oversized black sunglasses, smiling as she poses next to the Chinese documentarian.She shared the photo alongside a heartfelt tribute to Ai, writing in her caption: "I have this up in my home.

Casey Affleck is a busy guy — that’s why you didn’t see him at his big brother Ben Affleck‘s wedding, OK?!