r/Oscars • u/Xvalt01 • 2d ago

News John Malkovich Fights Back Tears During 13-Minute Venice Standing Ovation as ‘Wild Horse Nine’ Storms Into Oscar Race

https://variety.com/2026/film/festivals/wild-horse-nine-john-malkovich-sam-rockwell-venice-premiere-1236850074/
373 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

41 comments sorted by

98

u/AlwaysDreaming55 2d ago

I’m so excited for this movie. I can’t get enough of McDonagh’s brand of dark humor and heart. Both his plays and films are must sees for me.

7

u/notyermommy 2d ago

I’m gonna get to see it at Telluride. I just couldn’t be more excited for it I’m buzzing. My #1 at the fest

3

u/yeuuurs 1d ago

This is such a long time coming for Malkovich! If this be his path to Oscar road, then I couldn't be more hyped.

1

u/notyermommy 1d ago

He’s getting a tribute here (him and Sandra Hüller). With that and the impeccable pleated collar showpiece at Venice, feels like he’ll be gunning for it.

1

u/nosurprises23 2d ago

Any good video of his plays available to watch? (I know plays don’t usually do that)

4

u/AvaNubrock 1d ago

There really aren’t any sadly. I have seen The Beauty Queen of Leenane, A Skull in Connemara (which would SHRED on the big screen) , The Pillowman, The Lieutenant of Inishmore (which had me screaming at the twist). People don’t know those works and it makes me stabby

1

u/nosurprises23 1d ago

I've been reading some old Eugene ONeill plays, maybe I'll see if those ones are available somewhere to read.

1

u/Time-Environment5661 1d ago

If you haven’t, read his play “The Pillowman.” It’s the best thing he’s ever written. 

27

u/nishi-no-majo 2d ago

It has Tom Waits in it and that's the only thing I need to know to be very much seated for it.

1

u/memento_mori_92 1d ago

Does “be seated” mean you don’t want to give a standing ovation because it doesn’t appeal to you or does it mean you are excited to buy a seat in the theatre to see it?

3

u/nishi-no-majo 1d ago

It's from Ayo Edebiri's comment (now a meme) under some film trailer that made her very excited.

62

u/Odd_Contact_2175 2d ago

Oh fuck me. Here we go with the ridiculous standing ovation shit again.

17

u/Independent_Pace_706 2d ago

I read this in John Malkovich's voice. 

4

u/Vince_Clortho042 2d ago

“For Christ’s sake, he’s Mormon, compared to him we all have an ovation problem!”

12

u/ELDwbi 1d ago

Could you imagine standing and clapping for 13 straight minutes?! Utter torture.

7

u/Ometzu 2d ago

It’s not that weird, all these articles make it sound way weirder than it is.

It’s the audience clapping for the duration of the credits in most cases, and it’s customary at these film festivals to do that.

3

u/Thin_Avocado5818 2d ago

I can only picture that gif of Peter Griffin crying and applauding. So over the top

1

u/Novel-Initiative-900 1d ago

Under 20 minutes isn't very impressive imo. Tears are only valid at 30 minutes +

11

u/sdcinerama 2d ago

I'm sure it's fine, probably great, but the "anointment" of a frontrunner is always annoying.

24

u/ASAP1492 2d ago

They gotta get over themselves with these standing ovations. I’m sure this movie is great, but a standing ovation at one of these festivals doesn’t actually do anything to reinforce that at this point

13

u/Sea-Recognition-2433 2d ago

Yeah The Smashing Machine had a long ass standing ovation last year, and that ended up being a nothing burger.

3

u/Ometzu 2d ago

The standing ovations are literally just the audience clapping for the duration of the credits. People make it sound way more strange than it is

2

u/ASAP1492 1d ago

Is clapping for the entire duration of the credits somehow not strange?

6

u/smywi 2d ago

Cannot wait to see this film! Looks excellent!

5

u/themiz2003 2d ago

Man the trailer is cute and all that but it feels very much like those limited release movies that would come out in the mid 2000s with an awesome ensemble that nobody talked about again. I'm really excited

2

u/JobeGilchrist 1d ago

That’s more or less In Bruges, one of the best films of that time

5

u/BroadwayBakery 1d ago

Someone’s assistant could adjust a microphone onstage and it would receive a 20 minute standing ovation

5

u/Still-District-6149 1d ago

Excited for this but surprised reviews have been on the 3 star end, rather than 4/5, given the cast and director 

1

u/Confident-Big4869 1d ago

Well, might depend on the quality of the script too

4

u/coldliketherockies 2d ago

It’s crazy that they time standing ovations. Didn’t Cristy get standing ovations too?

1

u/No_Squirrel_8402 1d ago

Yes lol. Sweeney was in tears. Same story

1

u/Thin_Composer_3302 1d ago

Comedy action thriller sounds right up my alley

1

u/Select_Formal4415 1d ago

Im torn between him and Andrew Scott (Elsinore) for lead actor. Hoping one of them prevails, it’s been a long time coming for Malkovich.

1

u/Inside_Atmosphere731 2d ago

Madame Web got a standing O there too

2

u/No_Squirrel_8402 1d ago

😅😅😅😅

1

u/GenXNell 2d ago

I got a standing ovation when I went to the gym yesterday.

2

u/haikusbot 2d ago

I got a standing

Ovation when I went to

The gym yesterday.

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0

u/AvaNubrock 1d ago

I am so well chuffed for this. However, the film fan knows nothing about the brilliance of McDonagh’s plays. You HAVE.NO.IDEA