Chazelle's "First Man" Will Open Venice Another Oscar?

Pedro Armocida

Good, good, again. The director Damien Chazelle, who presented the musical La La Land two years ago at the Venice Film Festival, returns to the Lido with First Man (the first man), always in competition and always as an opening film prestigious, August 29th. Who knows that the location does not bring him luck this time too. Granted, it's hard to imagine that he could surpbad the 14 Oscar nominations for La La Land, then winning six, including the best director (he was the youngest to receive this award). But it is also true that director Damien Chazelle and actor Ryan Gosling, for First Man produced by Universal Pictures, form a new team to tell the story of NASA's exciting mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong in the years 1961 to 1969. On paper a film of more than one statuette. Written by another Oscar winner, Josh Singer (Spotlight, still presented in Venice), based on James R. Hansen's book, First Man Explores the Sacrifices and Costs for Armstrong and the United States of America. One of the most dangerous missions "It's a genuine privilege, says director Alberto Barbera, to be able to present world premiere such a personal, fascinating and original work, pleasantly surprising compared to other epic films from our time, confirming the great talent of one of the most important directors of American cinema today. "The director himself echoes this:" I am honored by the invitation of Venice and j & rsquo; Can not wait to come back. It is particularly exciting that this news is so close to the anniversary of the moon landing. "

It seems like the series of happy events that, under the direction of Alberto Barbera, has made the Film Festival the real springboard to continue some Oscar American films. Not only the excellent flair of the director but also a neat editorial policy that made the miracle in 2013 of the film Gravity by Alfonso Cuarón (10 nominations, 7 statuettes of which that of the best director), replicated almost every year: in 2015 with Birdman by Alejandro González Iñárritu (opening in Venice, 9 nominations, 4 Oscars including film and direction), in 2016 with La La Land and the year last with La forma dell 'acqua de Guillermo del Toro (in competition at Lido where he also got the Golden Lion, 13 nominations, 4 Oscars including best film and direction).