TIFF Post

So, I'm totally behind on posting reviews for the film fest and I'll try and catch up the last two days soon, but for now I have to post about the most amazing film I've just seen and one which is very likely to end up my fave of the whole fest, and possibly of the year.

That film is Shortbus.

It's directed by John Cameron Mitchell, the same dude who made Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and it's the most joyful, witty and compassionate celebration of what it means to be human that I've ever seen. There is sex in it--gay and straight, handjobs and blowjobs and flat out fucking--but the sex is just one aspect of the characters' lives. What's so great about the film is how caring it is about each of the characters, even the ones who only have a scene or two. Everyone gets their own story.

And lest that all seem too damn serious, it's just flat out funny.

Plus, they used a Hidden Cameras song, and how awesome is that?

Okay, must crash now so I can get up and teach tomorrow, and then see two more films tomorrow night. At least I've got Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday off.

Toronto Film Fest 2006, Day Three

Saturday was a good day for celeb sightings. Werner Herzog, Jeremy Davies and, last but certainly not least, Christian Bale were at the screening of Herzog's Rescue Dawn. Herzog was as charismatic as ever, and Bale came off as articulate and smart and committed to doing interesting projects. And he's drop dead gorgeous in person, which doesn't hurt. Sophie Fiennes did the intro and a Q&A for her doc, and also came across as smart and articulate. And then there was Brittany Murphy, who's bubble-headed simpering on-stage nearly overwhelmed her rather good performance as a witty, sharp-tongued character in Alex Keshishian's new RomCom. (Seeing actors outside of the roles they play is always a dangerous proposition.)

( Film and psychoanalysis from Ralph Fiennes' sister, a witty, gay-tinged RomCom from the U.K. and gripping POW drama from master Werner Herzog. )

Toronto Film Fest 2006, Day Four

Best day at the fest so far. As always, Toronto audiences loved Guillermo del Toro, and he loved us right back. Don McKellar and Tracy Wright were in attendance for the screening of Monkey Warfare, and this time McKellar wasn't sitting behind me and kicking my seat, so good luck there. We also saw Shortbus, with the full cast in attendance and which I shan't rave about again except to say run, don't walk, to see it when it comes out.

I also got to meet an online pal of the Big Guy's, a retired Academy member who did the animation on a-ha's Take On Me video and, as it turns out, loves G.I. Jane and Viggo Mortensen's performance therein nearly as much as I do.

( Spanish Civil War fable and Canadian stoner comedy. )