Quentin Tarantino Accused of Favoritism as Venice Jury Head

As this year's Venice Film Festival came to a close, the controversy kicked into high gear. Quentin Tarantino, this year's jury president, was charged with favoritism as he faced the press during the close of the festival.

Two major awards this year went to two of his friends: ex-partner Sofia Coppola and friend/mentor Monte Hellman. Sometimes, it's a little awkward to have friends in high places.

Right now there are a lot of arguments going on over cigarettes and coffee. And at least one slight accusation in the papers.

"The presidency of Quentin Tarantino runs the risk of being the most obvious conflict of interest, given that 'Somewhere' and (Hellman's) 'Road to Nowhere' seemed charming and intriguing but nothing more," wrote Paolo Mereghetti, veteran film critic for Italian daily Corriere della Sera, on Sunday.

Coppola walked away with Golden Lion best picture award for her film "Somewhere." Starring Stephen Dorff, the film centers on the life of a Hollywood actor finally tiring of drinking, drugs, and sex, and looking for something more substantial from life.  The film is partly based on Sophia's experiences hotel-trotting with her famous director father Francis Ford Coppola.

Meanwhile, Hellman won a special career award.

In the face of back-scratching whispers, Tarantino addressed the integrity of the selections to reporters shortly after the awards were announced.

"I wasn't going to let anything like that affect me at all," he said. "I was just going to literally respond to the film. There was no me steering any direction."

Natalie Portman, whose turn as a disturbed dancer in "Black Swan" was widely lauded, walked away empty-handed and inquiring minds in Italy are asking whether that was fair.

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