I’m not sure what I was really expecting from Lady Gaga for the big Venice Film Festival premiere of Joker: Folie a Deux. I guess I was expecting her to bring a cartoonish energy, to make it all about “Harley Quinn” and retro ‘70s maybe? But Gaga has come into this rollout feeling somewhat subdued. As subdued as she can be in a giant Philip Treacy headpiece/mask. Her gown was Dior… business on top and a decidedly weird goth party at the bottom. Like… did anyone call this? Did anyone think Gaga would roll into Venice with bleached eyebrows, black Dior and a pile of Wellbutrin?

Gaga also made her red-carpet debut with her fiance, Michael Polansky. They’ve been together for about four years and they usually keep everything really private. Did you know that he’s rich? Estimated net worth, by some accounts, of over half a billion. He gave her an enormous diamond engagement ring, which she’s been wearing to all of the events in Venice. He seems fine with letting her have the spotlight, but she also seems to be trying to be more mindful and demure around him.

As for Joaquin Phoenix, I just realized that Rooney Mara did not join him in Venice. At some point, probably in early or mid-summer, she gave birth to their second child. We don’t have any information on any of that, I’m just making assumptions based on the size of her bump back in April. My guess is that Rooney simply didn’t want to travel so soon, and she especially didn’t want to travel with a 4-year-old and a newborn. Joaquin walked the carpet with his sister Rain. Is there a vibe with Joaquin about Rooney’s absence? I don’t know. We haven’t heard anything about them in months, but that’s par for the course. There’s still an open question of exactly why Joaquin pulled out of that Todd Haynes film so suddenly. IDK. Update: Rooney is there in Venice, she just didn’t go to this premiere. My bad.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.