By Peer Meinert Oct 16, 2006, 14:50 GMT
Rome - At Rome's first Film Festival, it's the stars with their remarks to the hordes of reporters who are eclipsing the films.
US actor Leonardo Di Caprio (R) and film director Martin Scorsese pose for photographers on the red carpet prior the screening of the film 'The Departed' at the Rome International Film Festival at Auditorium 'Parco della Musica' in Rome, Italy, on Sunday 15 October 2006. EPA/GIUSEPPE GIGLIA
'Me, a sex symbol, at 57?' asks a bemused Richard Gere, as Leonardo Di Caprio frets over environmental protection - and Monica Belluci confesses to being 'a woman you can trust.'
In contrast to the film festival in Venice, where the guests from Hollywood tend to disappear into luxury hotels, in Rome the fans are able to see the stars up close.
The Romans now know everything about Richard Gere, who got warm applause for his leading role in 'The Hoax' by Lasse Hallstrom.
Gere is staying at the posh Hotel de Russie at the Piazza del Popolo, and taking his wife and his little son Homer to Il Matriciano on the other side of the Tiber for dinner.
Di Caprio, who plays an undercover agent in Martin Scorsese's 'The Departed,' is more down-to-earth, staying at the Hilton and sticking to pizza and suppli (stuffed rice balls).
'Almost like a regular guy,' remarked one Roman newspaper - apart, that is, frome the Armani attire.
So - what about the films?
The Italians are celebrating 'their' Martin Scorsese, even if his thriller about corrupt cops has already been launched on the US market.
Jack Nicholson is stunning as a mafia boss, his trademark smile as winning as ever in a role where the audience is constantly reminded of Marlon Brando in 'The Godfather.'
The press showing of Hallstrom's 'The Hoax,' starring Richard Gere turned out to be a bit of a fiasco, held in a 150-seat theatre with about 1,000 people hoping to get in. Those disappointed included star conductor Riccardo Muti.
'The Hoax' tells the true story of an American journalist who in the 1970s wrote a fake autobiography of the eccentric and agoraphobic billionaire Howard Hughes, a recluse out of fear of bacteria.
Gere dyed his hair red and the shape of his nose was altered, looking like he had a 'nose job gone askew,' as one Roman critic remarked. Gere's charm is somewhat impaired and the picture fails to impress.
The Romans are overjoyed to host this major cultural event. There are party tents everywhere, and so far 45,000 people have bought tickets.
Behind the scenes, there is tension. If things seem to be going so well in Rome, what does this mean for Venice? Rome is a 'festival of the banks,' carped the Mayor of Venice, Massimo Cacciari, with an eye on the generous sponsors in Rome.
And someone else is sulking, insiders report. Sophia Loren failed to receive the sort of glittering invitation that befits the diva of divas.
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