Red Carpet Razzle-Dazzle or Razzmatazz? Venice Film Festival's Style Fails!
VENICE FILM FESTIVAL: WHO MADE THE CUT AND WHO CRASHED THE PARTY?
The Venice Film Festival has long been a hotbed of glamour and drama, where A-listers gather to strut their stuff on the red carpet and promote their latest projects. This year's edition was no exception, with some stars shining brightly while others... well, let's just say they didn't quite hit the mark.
Among the latter group was Shailene Woodley, who turned up to the premiere of George Clooney's new film Jay Kelly in a silky black minidress that looked like it belonged on a night out at the club rather than on the red carpet. The 33-year-old American actress, who is not even featured in the movie (but was there to support her close friend George), seemed more concerned with showing off her legs than making a statement with her outfit.
Adding to the overall "I'm trying too hard" vibe was Woodley's pair of open-toed black high heels, which made her already-tall frame seem even taller. Her hair, styled in a half-up-do, was blown out to perfection, but couldn't quite salvage the look. And as for accessories? A statement silver, green, and black necklace and diamond earrings that seemed to be shouting "look at me!" from across the room.
Meanwhile, Laura Dern's bold choice of attire did little to impress either. The quirky green dress with a black barbed wire-esque overlay looked like something out of a bad 90s fashion magazine, and we're pretty sure it wasn't meant to be ironic.
But Dern wasn't alone in her sartorial misstep. Naomi Watts, looking stunning as always in a beautiful nude mesh gown adorned with elegant floral detailing, was almost upstaged by an awkwardly-shaped black bow that seemed to be fighting for attention on the front of the dress. The 56-year-old British actress's plunging sweetheart neckline and sequinned floral embellishments were all perfectly lovely, but that bow? Not so much.
And then there was the romance of the red carpet. Naomi Watts and her husband Billy Crudup (who stars as Timothy in Jay Kelly) couldn't keep their hands off each other as they posed for photos on the red carpet. The couple, who began dating in 2017 after meeting on the set of Netflix series Gypsy, looked like they were still in love after all these years.
Billy, dashing as always in a cream tuxedo paired with a crisp white shirt and matching tailored trousers, finished off his look with black patent leather brogues. Naomi, meanwhile, shone in her stunning mesh gown, which was perfectly complemented by diamond drop earrings and soft waves in her blonde locks.
But let's get back to the fashion disaster that was this year's Venice Film Festival. Emily Mortimer's white lace midi dress teamed with eye-catching heels didn't exactly scream "red carpet chic", while Alba Rohrwacher's royal blue satin gown looked like it belonged on a children's birthday party tablecloth. And then there was Alicia Silverstone, who wore a white frock with long sleeves and a high neckline that made her look more like a 1950s housewife than a Hollywood star.
And what about the movie itself? Jay Kelly, which hits theaters on November 14, sees George Clooney playing the title role of a Hollywood movie star who always plays himself. The trailer promises plenty of laughs and self-aware humor as George's character embarks on a trip to an Italian film festival in his honor, only to be confronted by the harsh realities of showbusiness.
As for the plot? Well, let's just say it's all about "confronting choices" and leaving behind legacies. Sound like your typical Hollywood movie, doesn't it?
Jay Kelly: The Movie
Starring an all-star cast including George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Emily Mortimer, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, and Greta Gerwig, Jay Kelly promises to be a wild ride full of laughs, tears, and plenty of self-aware humor. But will it be enough to save the movie from its somewhat predictable plot? Only time (and box office receipts) will tell.
As for the fashion disaster that was this year's Venice Film Festival? Well, let's just say there's always next year...
