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Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere Wins the Golden Lion
And the history of other American films to win the prestigious award
Sofia Coppola (Photo: thecelebritycafe.com)
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On Saturday, Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere, scheduled to be released on December 22 in the U.S., took home the Venice International Film’s Festival biggest award, the Golden Lion. She became the first American-born woman to win the award. Below is a history of other Golden Lion-winning American films:
1980: Gloria (tied with Atlantic City)
Director: John Cassavetes
Plot: Gangster’s girlfriend goes on the run with a boy who’s being hunted by the mob.
Oscars: One nomination (Gena Rowlands, Best Actress), zero wins
FYI: John Adames, who plays the young boy, was nominated for a Razzie and tied with Laurence Olivier (The Jazz Singer).
1990: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead
Director: Tom Stoppard
Plot: Two minor characters from Hamlet, played by Gary Oldman and Tim Roth, ponder their existence while on the way to Elsinore Castle.
Oscars: None
FYI: Stoppard would win an Academy Award in 1997 for his Shakespeare in Love script.
1993: Short Cuts (tied with Three Colours: Blue)
Director: Robert Altman, the greatest American-in-a-good-way director of all-time
Plot: Nine different Raymond Carver-inspired plots with over 20 characters, including Tom Waits and Lily Tomlin
Oscars: One nomination (Altman, Best Director), no wins
FYI: Film is mentioned in Knocked Up.
2001: Monsoon Wedding
Director: Mira Nair
Plot: The chaos and complications of an arranged marriage in New Delhi
Oscars: None
FYI: A Broadway musical based on the film is planned for a 2011 release.
2005: Brokeback Mountain
Director: Ang Lee
Plot: Complicated relationship between a ranch hand (Heath Ledger) and cowboy (Jake Gyllenhaal). Sad things happen.
Oscars: Eight nominations, three wins (Best Director, Best Original Score and Best Adapted Screenplay)
FYI: Randy Quaid’s last good film.
2007: Lust, Caution
Director: Ang Lee
Plot: Set in World War II-era Shanghai, a young actress gets caught up in a assassination plot.
Oscars: None
FYI: Lee is the first repeat winner since André Cayatte (1950′s Justice is Done, 1960′s The Crossing of the Rhine).
2008: The Wrestler
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Plot: Mickey Rourke’s Randy “The Ram” Robinson continues to wrestle, even though he’s past his prime and in failing health.
Oscars: Two nominations, zero wins
FYI: Aronofsky was born in Brooklyn and now lives in SoHo with wife, Rachel Weisz
2010: Somewhere
Director: Sofia Coppola
Plot: A Hollywood star lives the bad-boy lifestyle until he receives a visit from his 11-year-old daughter.
Oscar: Only time will tell.
FYI: Coppola once dated Quentin Tarantino, who was the president of the 2010 Venice awards.