Coens' Burn After Reading to open Venice (2008)
Story by Jack Foley
OSCAR winning writer-directors the Coen brothers will open the 2008 Venice Film Festival with their new film, Burn After Reading.
The film, which reunites George Clooney with his Ocean’s 11 co-star Brad Pitt, follows the fortunes of a CIA official whose memoirs fall into the hands of two gym employees.
It marks the Coens’ first film since the Oscar-winning success of No Country For Old Men and co-stars another Oscar winner, Tilda Swinton, as well as Frances McDormand and John Malkovich.
The complete line-up for this year’s Venice film festival will be announced in July, but the first-night film (on August 27) already demonstrates the quality that has become synonymous with the Italian event.
Both Pitt and Clooney are no strangers to Venice, having regularly appeared at red carpet events. Last year, Clooney was in attendance to promote Michael Clayton, while Pitt scooped the prestigious best actor prize for his role in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
Burn Afer Reading marks the keenly anticipated reunion of Clooney with the Coens following their previous efforts O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Intolerable Cruelty.
Asked recently why they liked working with the actor so much, the brothers joked with IndieLondon: “George Clooney is special because he’s always ready to play an idiot!”
Although qualified that by adding: “It’s funny, on the last day of shooting on the movie we just did, Ethan said: “That’s a wrap!” And George said: “OK, I’ve played my last idiot!” So I guess he won’t be working with us again.”
Burn After Reading is scheduled for release in the UK and the US in September.
The 65th Venice Film Festival, meanwhile, will be held from August 27 to September 6, 2008.