World Premiere at Venice Film Festival
Gus Van Sant’s latest film, Dead Man’s Wire, a thriller and dark comedy, had its world premiere out of competition on Tuesday night at the Venice Film Festival. The screening culminated in a remarkable 13.5-minute standing ovation, during which the audience energetically chanted, “Gus, Gus, Gus” at the esteemed Sala Grande.
Recognition and Award
Prior to the screening, Van Sant, known for films like Good Will Hunting, Elephant, and Milk, was honored with the Campari Passion for Film Award. This accolade aims to recognize the talent, dedication, and courageous artistic vision of creators who channel their passion into compelling works.
Film Details and Synopsis
Once the lights came up, Colman Domingo, one of the film’s co-stars, celebrated Van Sant’s accomplishment by lifting the director’s hand in a victorious gesture, proclaiming, “That’s for you Gus.”
Dead Man’s Wire features a prominent cast, including Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Myha’la, Al Pacino, Cary Elwes, and Domingo. The film is inspired by true events and centers on a disgraced real estate developer who takes a mortgage banker hostage, demanding a $5 million ransom and a personal apology. The screenplay was crafted by Austin Kolodney.
Critical Reception
In his review, Deadline’s Pete Hammond noted that for Van Sant, this film marks a solid return to feature filmmaking following previous critical setbacks and a successful stint directing episodes of the acclaimed limited series, Capote Vs. The Swans. He remarked, “If it isn’t on the level of some of the great director’s top tier films… it is pretty impressive on an indie scale and low budget… This is a worthy film and is looking for distribution.”
Regarding the performances, Hammond highlighted Skarsgård’s convincing portrayal, stating, “Skarsgård delivers a completely convincing and dedicated performance.” He also praised Montgomery for his role as the victim navigating a dire situation and noted the strong performances from Pacino and Domingo, along with Myha’la, who stands out as a reporter eager for a career breakthrough.
Van Sant Discusses the Film’s Themes
During a press conference earlier in the day, Van Sant addressed questions about the feelings of powerlessness and frustration prevalent in society today, and the relevance of the film despite its historical backdrop. He remarked, “The kinds of Luigi Mangione moments in our history happened right after we started. So, like halfway through prep, we realized, ‘Oh, there’s things happening,’ and the election happened as well. ‘Things are kind of dovetailing into our own project.’”
Although the unfolding events did not alter the script or the film’s tone, he acknowledged, “We just kept going, telling our story. It probably affected us as we made it, but we didn’t change anything.”
