Venice Film Festival: 'Frankenstein,' 'Smashing Machine' among lineup
July 22 (UPI) -- The 82nd annual Venice International Film Festival announced its 2025 lineup Tuesday.
The roster of films is a pool of both splashy titles with major names attached, to smaller flicks hoping to make more than a ripple as they take the fest plunge.
Set to run from Aug. 27 through Sept. 6, some of the festival's more anticipated movies include Bugonia, a sci-fi dark comedy directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring frequent collaborator Emma Stone, and The Smashing Machine, director Benny Safdie's tale about two-time UFC heavyweight champion Mark Kerr, portrayed by Dwayne Johnson.
Also screening In Competition is Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro's adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic gothic novel. Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth star in the film, which will be released on Netflix.
Two other original offerings from Netflix were also selected: Kathryn Bigelow's A House of Dynamite, with Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee, Gabriel Basso and Jared Harris on deck, and Noah Baumbach's Jay Kelly, starring George Clooney.
Fellow streamer Mubi's movies are also likely to grab some eyes, as its La Grazia, from Paolo Sorrentino, will open the festival. Father Mother Sister Brother, directed by Jim Jarmusch and starring Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Adam Driver and Charlotte Rampling, will also screen.
Out of Competition titles include Luca Guadagnino's After the Hunt, starring Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield and Ayo Edebiri, and Julian Schnabel's In the Hand of Dante, featuring Martin Scorsese, Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot and Gerard Butler.
Gus Van Sant's Dead Man's Wire, starring a powerful trio of Bill Skarsgård, Colman Domingo and Al Pacino, was also selected, along with Marc by Sofia, Sofia Coppola's documentary about fashion designer Marc Jacobs, and the Werner Herzog documentary Ghost Elephants.
As for indie entries, Mona Fastvold's The Testament of Ann Lee, starring Amanda Seyfried, is another piece that has some buzz.
Dwayne Johnson turns 52: a look back
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson poses with his wax image, which was unveiled for the media on April 10, 2002, at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New York City. Earlier that year, the wrestler made his acting debut in "The Scorpion King." Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
22 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Collin Morikawa Talks Authenticity, Finding the Flow and 'Happy Gilmore 2'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. When you think of golf, it's easy to imagine a stuffy sport complete with collared shirts and all sorts of etiquette. At the Masters, for example, the spectators aren't fans; they're patrons, and they cannot run or use cellphones. Happy Gilmore, a 1996 Adam Sandler movie about a hockey player turned golfer, shattered those norms. Rather than polite applause and hushed tones, we saw long drives, loud celebrations and a famous brawl with Bob Barker. It's a piece of pop culture that launched a thousand metaphorical ships. Who among us hasn't tried Gilmore's running drive at least once? And, nearly 30 years later, Sandler is back on the course with the likes of Travis Kelce, Bad Bunny and plenty of pro golfers along for the ride. One of those is Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner (the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship), who not only appears in the film but an accompanying U.S. Bank commercial. Collin Morikawa of the United States plays an approach shot on the first hole during day one of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 17, 2025, in Portrush, Northern Ireland. Collin Morikawa of the United States plays an approach shot on the first hole during day one of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 17, 2025, in Portrush, Northern someone who has spent countless hours on the links, the franchise held a certain allure for Morikawa. "If you're a professional golfer and you don't remember every part of Happy Gilmore, I think something's wrong," he told Newsweek. "It's truly an iconic movie. It's something that, even when we're goofing around, you're able to pull out quotes. You're able to pull out scenes from the movie that we're able to incorporate just in our fun time, just when we're screwing around. It's absolutely been a part of my life, and what a special moment to be in Happy Gilmore 2." That resonance with the golf community also helped logistically—"It's fun when you have the team behind the golfer also rooting for you," producer and Happy Madison Productions co-founder Jack Giarraputo told Newsweek—but what about the personal side of things? Morikawa, for example, is fiercely competitive. When you fuse that with golf's more conservative nature, cracking jokes and riding a club like a bull (a signature Gilmore celebration) don't always seem natural. What do golf, Netflix and U.S. Bank have in common? Happy Gilmore 2! Premiering on Netflix July 25. #happygilmore2 — U.S. Bank (@usbank) July 16, 2025 But, at the same time, pro golfers are human beings, too. And when you get a good group together without the pressures of your day job, that's can certainly get the ball rolling. "It came into a time for us that we were able to be a little more free," Morikawa added. "It wasn't in the middle of our season; it was kind of where a lot of us felt a little more relaxed. We were able to come out here, hang out with these guys, have a lot of fun, have some drinks maybe. And just enjoy life. I think that's part of it. We stress ourselves out so much about what we're trying to do professionally that when we're able to kind of step outside our comfort zone, and then be in something so special like this, we've made memories and friends for life." But, at the same time, there are some parallels to golf. Morikawa was able to get into the right mental space and move forward from there. "I think it's finding the right zone," he said. "I think so much of my life is very structured in a way. That's just who I am. But all these guys are so good at what they do because when they're in this zone, what they are so passionate about, everything's just free flowing. Whether it's comedy or whether it's golf, you're able to kind of bridge that gap." If you believe those around him, Morikawa was able to bridge that gap without an issue. "The good thing about a sports guy like Collin [is that] he's an entertainer really, but in a different realm" Frank Coraci, director of the "Happy As Usual" campaign and some of Sandler's previous films, like The Waterboy and The Wedding Singer, told Newsweek. "Sports guys tend to be a little bit stiffer some of the time; not all of them, but a lot of them. He showed up, he had already been on the set of Happy Gilmore, so he kind of got how it worked, he watched how the rhythm of comedy works. So, I think I got lucky to get him when he was already understanding how it worked. But I was pleasantly surprised at how funny and how relaxed he after take, we kept trying different things and he just blew me away." "Collin was in, and I consider him the ringleader for, one of the craziest scenes in Happy Gilmore 2," Giarraputo added. From left: Pro golfer Collin Morikawa, Michael Lacorazza (U.S. Bank CMO), Jack Giarraputo (producer, Happy Gilmore 2) and Frank Coraci (director) at New Jersey's Montclair Golf Club on July 22, 2025. From left: Pro golfer Collin Morikawa, Michael Lacorazza (U.S. Bank CMO), Jack Giarraputo (producer, Happy Gilmore 2) and Frank Coraci (director) at New Jersey's Montclair Golf Club on July 22, 2025. Courtesy of U.S. Bank And while getting involved in outlandish antics may not be standard golfer behavior—that's the entire conceit that underpins Happy Gilmore—Morikawa was able to find his sweet spot and simply be in the moment. Whether you're talking about sports, comedy or life, that's where the best results often lie. "When you try and compartmentalize too much, that's when you seem a little too structured, and you don't get the true, authentic side of yourself," Morikawa said. "You want to be able to be with these guys. I think being in the film, being in Happy Gilmore 2, you kind of see it as not authentic. So, you have to just truly go into these scenarios where maybe you're not comfortable and just because you're not comfortable doesn't mean you can't be yourself. You have to go into it and say, 'This is something new, but let's enjoy it. Be present, make a memory out of it,' and I've made a lot of memories from this."
Tom's Guide
24 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
7 top new movies and shows to stream this weekend on Netflix, Hulu and more (July 25-27)
The last weekend of July has arrived, and with the heat cranking up, the smart move seems to be staying in with the new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services. This week offers a little bit of everything. "Happy Gilmore 2" tees up a sequel nearly three decades in the making, while "Materialists" puts a fresh take on the rom-com scene. On the TV front, "South Park" returns with its usual sharp satire, and "The Sandman" closes out its haunting, high-stakes story. Here are our top picks for new TV shows to watch this weekend. Happy Gilmore is back, and not much has changed — he's still yelling at golf balls and swinging like he's trying to kill someone. Nearly 30 years after the original, Adam Sandler returns to tee off, this time to help pay for his daughter's ballet school. Julie Bowen, Ben Stiller and Christopher McDonald are back, too, and Bad Bunny and Travis Kelce somehow ended up in the mix. Plot details are thin, but based on the trailer, we're in for a mix of rage and ridiculousness. Streaming now on Netflix Celine Song trades the bittersweet ache of her Oscar-nominated feature debut 'Past Lives' for a fresh, sly twist on a romantic comedy. Dakota Johnson stars as a high-end matchmaker in New York who gets tangled up in her own romantic conundrum — caught between her broke actor ex (Chris Evans) and a too-good-to-be-true millionaire (Pedro Pascal). Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. 'Materialists' asks the age-old question: love or money? In modern dating, you can't have it all and something's gotta give. Streaming now with purchase on Amazon or Apple This sweeping limited series traces the remarkable journey of a boy who refuses to let the world write his story for him. Born into bondage on a Barbados sugar plantation, young Wash (played by Eddie Karanja and later Ernest Kingsley Jr.) finds an unlikely ally in a quirky inventor (Tom Ellis) who helps him escape. What follows is a far-reaching adventure, complete with flying machines, bounty hunters and Arctic expeditions. Through it all, Wash learns some painful truths about freedom. Adapted from Esi Edugyan's celebrated novel, the series is anchored by Sterling K. Brown as both narrator and protector. All 8 episodes streaming now on Hulu Dream (Tom Sturridge) has broken the ultimate taboo for the Endless — he took the life of his own son. Now, in volume 2, the consequences come crashing down. The Kindly Ones are on the hunt, the Dreaming is falling apart and Morpheus must face the heavy price of compassion. These final five episodes push the saga to its edge, with Dream confronting gods, monsters and the weight of centuries-old pride. Even Destiny (Adrian Lester) can't guarantee escape. And as the story winds down, next week's bonus episode featuring Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) offers a final, heartbreaking touch. All 5 episodes streaming now on Netflix Grab a cocktail to toast one last trip to "Acapulco." In its final season, the bilingual comedy jumps between present-day Máximo (Eugenio Derbez) trying to bring Las Colinas back to life, and 1986, where young Máximo (Enrique Arrizon) is pulling every trick in the book to reclaim the hotel's top spot in Acapulco. This is a paradise filled with neon, nostalgia and bittersweet decisions. Máximo will have his hands full in both timelines. Episodes 1-2 streaming now on Apple TV Plus A lot of uncertainty surrounded 'South Park" season 27. Just hours after Paramount announced a $1.5 billion, 50-episode deal with creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the season premiered amid ongoing tensions between the creators and their corporate parent. Despite behind-the-scenes drama — including Paramount's controversial dealings with the Trump administration and the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show — the series stays as sharp, irreverent, and unapologetic as ever. Episode 1 streaming now on Paramount Plus Imagine if Indiana Jones and Zoolander had an absurdly hilarious animated lovechild — that's Rip Digman. Andy Samberg's down-on-his-luck archaeologist is back for more wild adventures, drug-fueled globe-trotting and ridiculous ancient artifact escapades. Mitra Jouhari, Tim Robinson, Melissa Fumero, and the usual gang return, alongside a jaw-dropping lineup of guest stars like Mark Hamill, Kate Winslet and Jeffrey Wright. Episode 1 streaming on demand via Sling or Fubo)
UPI
25 minutes ago
- UPI
No Season 5 for Alan Tudyk's 'Resident Alien'
Alan Tudyk's "Resident Alien" is ending with its fourth season on Syfy/USA Network. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo July 25 (UPI) -- Alan Tudyk's sci-fi comedy, Resident Alien, has been canceled by Syfy/USA Network after four seasons. The sad news was reported by Deadline, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter late Thursday. The Aug. 8 Season 4 finale of the comic-book adaptation will now serve as the series finale. "I knew going into it that this was likely going to be our final season," creator and show-runner Chris Sheridan told "Creatively, that was exciting because I knew we could spend the time wrapping up some storylines and driving toward an ending. I'm so proud of how good Season 4 is and especially proud that we were able to finish as strongly as we did, with a finale that is probably my favorite episode of the series." The show co-stars Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund, Levi Fiehler, Elizabeth Bowen and Meredith Garretson.
