The 2024 Venice International Film Festival Standing-O-Meter

As a seasoned movie connoisseur with decades of cinematic experiences under my belt, I must say that this year’s Venice Film Festival has been nothing short of captivating. The standing ovations after each film premiere are not just a mere formality, but rather a testament to the power of storytelling and the emotional connection we as an audience share with the artists.

It’s time for another round of film festivals both locally and internationally. The Venice International Film Festival kicked off last week, followed closely by Telluride in Colorado. In a few days, TIFF will join the fray as well. However, our focus today is on the response to these premieres – the standing ovations that greet films at international film festivals. People are applauding, and journalists are recording these instances of applause. Similar to last year’s Cannes, we’re gathering all the reports about standing ovations and condensing them into a single, easy-to-use list. Unless specified otherwise, the timing for each film’s standing ovation is an average of measurements from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline (known for being generous with their seconds counting).

It’s clear that these standing ovations hold significant value. If we can quantify art objectively and there’s consensus on it, then movies that receive the most applause are generally considered the best. This initial approval often translates into success during award seasons and at the box office. For instance, consider “Horizon: an American Saga“, which reportedly received a 11-minute standing ovation, but didn’t fare well financially afterwards? Perhaps this is a peculiar list that might only be useful for highly specialized movie trivia. Nevertheless, here are the films of Venice, arranged from the shortest to longest post-screening ovation.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: a spooky 3.8 minutes

Tim Burton’s comeback to Winter River, CT didn’t compete at Venice, but it certainly set the festival off with flair. However, the reception for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was met with the briefest round of applause, raising questions about its commercial appeal at the Lido.

Wolfs: Brad Pitt and George Clooney danced through a 4.8-minute applause break

At the Venice debut of “Wolves”, Pitt and Clooney seemed to enjoy each other’s company, as reported by Variety. During a lengthy standing ovation that lasted approximately four minutes, they even swayed to Sade’s music in their seats. Additionally, according to Variety, the start time for “Wolves” was delayed by 30 minutes, which may have been why the applause for the previous film, O, was abruptly halted. Looks like we need to keep those chairs spinning!

Babygirl: 6.8 minutes of O

As a film enthusiast, just like the wolves that leave their pack after a hunt, the thunderous applause at the screening of “Babygirl” came to a halt when the star, Nicole Kidman, and director, Halina Reijn, were whisked away from the venue. However, the jubilation for Harris Dickerson didn’t cease; it carried on deep into the night, with whispers of a private celebration in his honor echoing throughout the city.

Baby Invasion: a provocative 8.5 minutes

Up until now, we’ve merely discovered that “Variety” has documented a standing ovation for “Baby Invasion.” Could this be due to the film being too provocative, making a shorter runtime more fitting? Possibly, little one, or perhaps not. Instead, as “Variety” puts it, “the crowd appeared to relish every moment of it.”

The Order: a thrilling 7.9 minutes

In “The Order,” Jude Law portrays an FBI agent who secretly joins a hate group called The Order, modeled after a true event that culminated in a confrontation. The leader of this group, Bob Matthews, played by Nicholas Hoult, is killed in the storyline. Critics and viewers alike have praised the movie, with its duration being approximately 7 to 9 minutes long, depending on which review source you consult.

Maria: Bravas for 8.7 minutes

Alison Willmore from Vulture felt Angelina Jolie’s acting was not very dramatic, but it seemed the audience at Venice disagreed, showering her with nearly 9 minutes of applause. Afterward, she boarded a plane for Telluride. The timing of the Venice film festival was carefully planned to ensure that exes Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt would be on opposite hemispheres on the same day.

I’m Still Here: Obrigado for the 10.3-minute ovation

We merely possess one account of the standing ovation for the movie “I’m Still Here” – it was recorded by Deadline. They noted that the applause lasted for about 10 minutes and 20 seconds, in recognition of Walter Salles’ political drama.

The Brutalist: Adrien Brody soaked up 12.7 minutes of applause

So far, Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist” has garnered an impressive response from the audience. The film, spanning over three hours and covering a period of 33 years, has received clapping that lasted between 12 to 13 minutes. Notably, it includes a 15-minute intermission. Interestingly, the applause duration was almost as long as the intermission itself, which speaks volumes about Corbet’s exceptional work.

2024-09-02 03:54