Venice Film Festival 2009

After last year's disappointing crop of new films, the Venice Film Festival is bouncing back with an extraordinary lineup for 2009, including new films by George Clooney, Werner Herzog, George Romero, Michael Moore, Giuseppe Tornatore and Oliver Stone. Over the next week, David Jenkins will be posting exclusive first-look reviews of all the biggest films.

 

The Men Who Stare at Goats
Directed by Grant Heslov
George Clooney takes the lead alongside
Ewan McGregor in this hysterical adaptation
of Jon Ronson's conspiracy-theory exposé

36 Vues du Pic Saint Loup
Directed by Jacques Rivette
New Wave survivor Rivette's new film is
a charming tribute to the artistic life, as seen
through the eyes of a group of circus folk

Capitalism: A Love Story
Directed by Michael Moore
Trusted provocateur Moore's latest film
focuses on the worldwide economic collapse
– with typically tubthumping results

My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done
Directed by Werner Herzog
Herzog's second film at this year's festival
is a stunningly impressive, twisted American
crime story produced by David Lynch

Persécution
Directed by Patrice Chéreau
A frosty and challenging tale of broken love
between Parisian thirtysomethings

White Material
Directed by Claire Denis
'35 Shots of Rum' director Denis returns with
a striking tale of French colonial activity in
Africa, starring Isabelle Huppert

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
Directed by Werner Herzog
Herzog goes mainstream with this bizarre
and unnecessary Nicolas Cage remake of
the Abel Ferrara-Harvey Keitel crime classic

The Road
Directed by John Hillcoat
Viggo Mortensen stars in this long-awaited
adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer
Prize winning post-apocalyptic masterpiece

Life During Wartime
Directed by Todd Solondz
Indie provocateur Solondz returns with a
sequel to his 1998 hit 'Happiness', with a
cast including Paul 'Pee Wee' Reubens,
Ally Sheedy and Charlotte Rampling.