This article originally appeared in
October 23, 2007
Star wattage waning at Rome fest

By ERIC J. LYMAN

ROME -- Last-minute cancellations left the European premiere of Sidney
Lumet's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" minus most of its star power
Monday, even as the festival geared up for the arrival of Robert Redford and
Tom Cruise.

The festival had previously announced the participation of Lumet but on
Monday said he would be unable to attend because of illness. None of the
film's stars -- Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke and Marisa Tomei --
made the trip, leaving producer Brian Linse to represent the film alone.

There has been a smattering of other no-shows over the festival's first days:
Art house star Daniel Auteuil left the job of promoting "Le Deuxieme Souffle"
(The Second Wind) to Monica Bellucci on the festival's opening night, and
Meryl Streep stayed home, leaving Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon
to walk down the red carpet ahead of the Sunday premiere of "Rendition."

But there have been plenty of big names over the festival's first four days --
Sophia Loren, Francis Ford Coppola and Cate Blanchett attracted plenty of
attention -- and the festival's star power should return to its normal wattage
Tuesday, with the arrival of Redford and Cruise for the highly anticipated
world premiere of "Lions for Lambs."

The Redford-helmed film, which features Cruise as a power-hungry senator,
will be the most visible feature Tuesday, though it was already creating a
buzz Monday before the limited press screening that took place late in the
evening.

Although both big-name stars are expected to stroll down the red carpet
before Tuesday's official world premiere, they won't be around for long. The
local press has reported that the stop in Rome will last only 30 hours, part of
Cruise's first promotional tour since his exit from Paramount this year.

Also on tap for Tuesday are the premiere of competition title "Barcelona, un
mapa" (Barcelona, a Map) from Ventura Pons, and a midnight screening of
Dario Argento's horror flick "La Terza Madre" (The Third Mother) -- the final
installment in his "Three Mothers" trilogy -- for which the festival will switch
out the red carpet for a black one.
(c) 2007 The Hollywood Reporter
All rights reserved.
Volume 77; Number 9
Volume 77; Number 9
October 28, 2007
RomaCinemaFest ends
strong; Popular 'Juno' wins
Best Film

October 27, 2007
'Juno' takes home top prize
at RomaCinemaFest

'Canvas,' 'Pride' earn Rome
fest's Alice nods

October 26, 2007
Top prize still up for grabs at
Rome fest

October 25, 2007
'Haifa' earns New Cinema's
Italian nod

October 24, 2007
'Lambs' stars in like lions at
Rome fest

FilmItalia, UniFrance team
for young talent

October 23, 2007
Veneto buyer buzz builds on
Biz Street

Star wattage waning at
Rome fest

October 22, 2007
Coppola lights up Rome fest

October 20, 2007
Depardieu imposter fools
hotel staff in Rome

'Elizabeth,' Loren big draws
at Rome festival

'Elijah' first production at
new I am Third

October 19, 2007
RomaCinemaFest gets
Second Wind

Fellini script 'Viaggio' on
new voyage

October 18, 2007
Rome Fest dressed up in
second outing

Rome Fest dressed up in
second outing

October 12, 2007
RomaCinemaFest sets
sophomore bar higher

Fest success good news for
the last paparazzo

Film spotlight: "Youth
Without Youth"

Italy offers versatile
location, strong incentives

'Business Street' initiative a
high-end venue

RomaCinemaFest owes debt
to Auditorium

September 28, 2007
Rome Fest's love affair with
Hollywood continues