Coen Bros. Film to Open Venice Fest
AP
Posted: 2008-04-28 15:40:35
VENICE, Italy (April 28) - "Burn After Reading," a dark spy-comedy
by Oscar-winning directors Joel and Ethan Coen, will open this
year's Venice Film Festival.
The movie, which stars George Clooney, John Malkovich, Brad
Pitt, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton, will have its world
premiere Aug. 27, festival organizers announced Monday.
Ian McKellenCast In: 'The Hobbit'About the Role: The 68-year-old actor, who earned an Oscar nomination for his turn as true-hearted wizard Gandalf in the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, will reprise the part in director Guillermo del Toro's 'The Hobbit,' playing a younger version of himself who helps Bilbo Baggins (Frodo's uncle) slay a dragon.
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Mel GibsonCast In: 'Edge of Darkness'About the Role: This thriller, based on a BBC miniseries, marks Gibson's first starring turn since 2002's 'Signs.' He'll play a straitlaced cop investigating the death of his activist daughter.
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Brad PittCast In: 'Chad Schmidt'About the Role: Pitt will play the eponymous Chad Schmidt, a wannabe actor whose career is hurt by his uncanny resemblance to Brad Pitt (also played by -- you guessed it -- Brad Pitt).
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Emma WatsonCast In: 'Napoleon and Betsy'About the Role: The 'Harry Potter' star will play an impetuous young noblewoman who falls for diminuitive French dictator Napoleon whilst he's in exile on the British Isle of Helena.
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Shia LaBeoufCast In: 'New York, I Love You' & 'The Dark Fields'About the Roles: After shooting the Anthony Minghella-scripted portion of the anthology film 'New York,' "The Beef" will play a slacker dude who ingests a top-secret drug to make him smarter -- but begins to experience seriously trippy side effects -- in the psychological thriller 'Dark Fields.'
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Natalie PortmanCast In: 'Wuthering Heights'About the Role: She'll play Heathcliff's star-crossed lover Catherine Earnshaw in the latest adaptation of Emily Bronte's classic novel.
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Elizabeth BanksCast In: 'W.'About the Role: The 'Definitely, Maybe' star will play First Lady Laura Bush to Josh Brolin's George W. in Oliver Stone's (supposedly) fair biopic.
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Leonardo DiCaprioCast In: 'Shutter Island,' 'Rise of Theodore Roosevelt,' 'Low Dweller'About the Roles: He'll reteam with Martin Scorsese for the first two, playing a U.S. Marshal and a young Teddy Roosevelt, respectively. And he'll star as an ex-con in Ridley Scott's 'Dweller.'
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Ben AffleckCast In: 'State of Play'About the Role: He'll star opposite Russell Crowe in the murder mystery thriller 'Play' -- and he could also be on tap to reprise his role as CIA analyst Jack Ryan in Sam Raimi's franchise reboot.
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Adam SandlerCast In: Untitled Judd Apatow ComedyAbout the Role: Apatow is keeping a lid on the plot to his 'Knocked Up' follow-up. He and former roommate Sandler last worked together writing the script for this summer's 'You Don't Mess With the Zohan.'
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"Burn After Reading" is the story of an ousted CIA official
whose memoir falls into the hands of two gym employees.
The festival will run through Sept. 6, when the prestigious
Golden Lion will be awarded. The official lineup will be announced
in late July.
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2008-04-28 15:40:35
