Daniela's account of seeing CM in Venice:

Venice is a special place. I know many places in the world are said to be special but with Venice that is actually true.  This made me decide to go to the Venice Film Festival especially since there were some rumors about CM opening there (though Russell wasn't supposed to be there).  I wanted to see the movie for the first time in a special place!  I stayed there four days and I intensely visited the city (that I knew already, of course).

On Sunday morning I got up early to go to the only ticket office in Venice (the other two are at the Lido).  There were few people in queue but most of them were interested in CM. A man was very disappointed as only stall seats were up for sale and he absolutely wanted some balcony seats.  The cashier explained to him that balcony seats would be on sale only the day after (the showing day), but he kept asking annoying questions about why, when, how and so on until we all got angry and someone yelled to him that he was making us miss out on all the tickets left (as the other 2 ticket offices at the Lido were selling them in the meantime, of course).  Then the man turned toward us and with a sad face told us that the tickets were all gone already!  Geez, we couldn't push him to finish his purchase!  As he looked as worried as afraid, now I wondered whether the balcony seats were for him or for someone else, his wife? his daughter?... maybe he'd get punished if he missed the right seats! LOL  

At last we all were able to buy our tickets.  I was fine with getting a 3rd row stall seat (2 women asked for the 1st row) as I didn't want to sit too close to Russell, it'd sound a bit like "stalking" to me!  :-))   Monday morning was the press conference, but since I could only watch it on the giant screens on the promenade at the Lido and then wait there till 7 pm to see the movie, I confess I missed the CM press conference to visit an 18th century palace I had never visited before; however, I was so lucky to be able to watch the press conference in the afternoon, just before the showing, when they broadcast it again (see photos). The atmosphere at the Lido was filled with enthusiasm and happiness. 

Everybody enjoys their favorite movies and actors and the warm weather was so nice that the elegant beaches still had plenty of people.

My friend Vincenzo (he's still there, watching movies all the time for 1 week, as every year) and I walked among the stands and then we relaxed on the beach for awhile, then he went to his movie and I approached the Palazzo del Cinema. In front of it, professional photographers and fans had been waiting for a long time, with chairs and stairs near to get a better view! I had my digital camera hanging around my neck and I feared they'd not allow me to bring it into the theater (as the signs say it's not allowed) but I actually had no problem and entered with it. Vincenzo had suggested to stay in the foyer to wait for Russell, though it's forbidden! I stopped just in front of the theater door where some other women were waiting. They were cinema lovers who actually visit the festival every year, and they take any chance to see stars close. Security managers kept inviting us, in vain, to enter the room, then they threatened to cover our sight with their (big) men (and they actually did so!) but we resisted without a flinch! 

First Ron Howard arrived and we could see him in front of the entrance.  Then all the security moved around and we heard Renée's arrival and then Russell's as fans screamed!! The threats to enter the room increased (they said that then we'd have to run to reach our seat and all that mess could be dangerous) but we didn't move. At the end, the CM group entered the Palazzo and walked all the way to the end of the red carpet where I  was standing. I was able to take 2 photos there: one with Russell's and Howard's profiles and then one with Renée, too. Ron Howard was always smiling, he's a sunny person and he looks so positive! Renée looks great, with her shy smile and a wonderful body! Russell was very close and he actually looked just how I thought he'd be (even taller than I thought)... So, how did he look?  The adjective "stunning" sounds good to start the explanation but I wanna keep my thoughts/memories all for myself!  Sorry!  ;-) 

Then we actually ran to our seats!  The welcome was very warm and people stood up to applaud. They were all introduced: from Howard to Goldsman and then the showing started. I slid into my seat and I entered the movie. Sala Grande is so well done that even the first rows have a wonderful sight of the entire screen, so from my 3rd row I enjoyed any shot!!  It was said that at the Venice Festival, the stars usually leave the showing to go to the party (which is a "during party", not an "after party"!) and then come back at the end; no wasted time!  After about a half an hour from the beginning, the women sitting close to me turned back and smiled.  I turned too and the balcony was empty!

Well, focus again on the movie... both the movie and the actors are great.  I don't like boxing but the ring scenes were neither too heavy nor too long and the story flows smoothly.  The scenes are all too amazing to make a top pick list!  The whole audience was so focused on the screen that no head moved... at Mae's visiting Jim before the fight with Baer,  I realized I wasn't breathing anymore.  I was so into that locker room that I had forgotten to breathe! I heard all around me sobs and people blowing their noses!!

During the last fight scene, the woman next to me turned back again and so did I; the balcony was crowded again!The applause started as soon as the lines about Braddock's life appeared on the screen, I was applauding of course but I also wanted to read those lines when the woman close to me actually walked over me and sharply said to me "let me pass!” She had to run to Russell! Geez, we're both thin and the rows are large, so she could have passed with no problem.  She treated me like I was holding her back from "her" Russell!   :-))) It was a deep applause, coming from our hearts, that quickly grew as soon as the light turned on!

We all stood up and turned to the balcony. Ron, Renée and Russell were up there and getting praises from, I think, the Festival's Director (he's the man with small glasses that you can see next to Howard in the first photos). Then a woman ran to Russell and kissed him so he joked with Danielle, kneeling in front of her to ask for forgiveness.

Ron Howard touched his heart to express his emotions, I think Russell did also, and Renée was very moved.

Such a long standing ovation with bravo screams too at Venice Festival means a lot.  The Venice Festival audience is one of the most selective and though there are always plenty of outdoor fans for any movie star, the indoor audience rewards only the real artists, such as Russell, Ron, Renée and Akiva!  A mention also for Giamatti, all the cast and the crew, they all made a gorgeous film!

Nobody wanted to leave the theater (I heard the next movie showing had a large delay: my friend, who was waiting to enter, called me to ask what had happened!  I said "Nothing! We just all went nuts for CM!"). The applause kept on until Russell and the others left.

I actually don't understand why CM met some box office problems.  Only people who have no values (and no brain! :-) could dislike it........ I'm ecstatic for having been in such an audience which was able to completely understand, admire and love immediately this movie!

At night I watched the Festival comments on TV and every (and I mean every!) movie expert said CM is a great movie.  They regretted it wasn't in competition. They praised the whole cast. 

My zoomed photos inside the theater are not very good.  Though the light was okay, the zoom made them dark. I tried to make them clearer. I hope you'll be able to enjoy them anyway. While I was waiting for the water bus to Venice, I saw the CM group leaving the theater just a few meters from me but the show was off already and it was a private moment so I didn't take any photo. It was a delightful moment as there were other people (almost all from the CM showing) around me but they all were writing messages on their cell phones or phoning or talking (I had already done all of that!), and so I was the only one to enjoy the CM group! Too fun!