Bits from Venice

Pixar took home a Lifetime Achievement award in Venice and it could go to a more deserving studio. “We really set out to deeply entertain an audience, not just children but adults as well,” Lasseter was quoted as saying.

Over at the Grey Lady, some reviews of recent films shown at Venice were posted — about Todd Solondz’s Life During War Time (which I CANNOT wait to see), Roderick Morris writes:

This is a serious film about guilt and forgiveness, about pedophilia and how the paranoia it inspires has come to poison normal human relations and innocent displays of affection — but it is told in Mr. Solondz’s often very funny, deadpan, surreal manner.

And props for Viggo in The Road:

This is a menacing, bleak, suspenseful drama shot with an almost monochrome, austere beauty, with impressive performances from both Mr. Mortensen and Smit-McPhee, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Ms. Theron. She is still a poignant presence in the unfolding journey, appearing in flashback sequences.