I'm so glad that TIFF is finally over! It's not that I didn't enjoy myself but I'm so exhausted from trying to do too much (work, volunteer, see movies, socialize, visit with my family).

Here's my Celebrity Encounters/Sightings at TIFF:

- Roger Ebert (as noted on Sept 9/05)

- Jamie Babbit (the director of But I'm a Cheerleader, one of my favourite movies) and her adorable baby. Oh yeah, I also saw her movie The Quiet which was pretty good (although I'm not into watching the theme of incest/sexual abuse). During the Q&A, Jamie Babbit said that her next film will be about radical feminists!!! I can't wait.

- Gabriel Byrne, who was so nice that I gave him my copy of the TIFF movie listings.

- Matthew Modine, who was also nice (I didn't know who he was till later).

- Kevin Bacon walked by me - do you think I can now include myself in "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon"?

- Colin Firth!! Yes I was a few feet away from Darcy! Just for the record my friend and I were not one of the women yelling "I love you Colin."

- Michael Stipe was just a few feet away from me but I couldn't think of anything to say to him. I just kept wishing that one of my friends (who's a huge REM and Michael Stipe fan) was there with me.

- Andy Stochansky (who used to tour with Ani diFranco) chatted with me and a co-volunteer, and gave us each a promo album. He's super sweet!

- Spike Lee!! I didn't get to talk to him but it was just cool to actually see him!

- Justin Timerlake and his security guards. I got to see one of the security guards secure the washroom for Timberlake. Fortunately there appeared to be no unfortunate washroom incidents!

- LL Cool J - he really does look cool.

- I got to sit in at a press conference for Annette Benning's film Mrs. Harris, and she really impressed me by how articulate and professional she is.

- I also spoke with a couple of nice directors were all excited about their films being in the festival: David Uloth and Dionysus Zorvos.

I also saw these celebrities at the Gala screenings: Orlando Bloom (who I now just refer to as Orlando), Kirsten Dunst, Cameron Crowe, Susan Sarandon, Reese Witherspoon, Joaquin Phoenix, Madonna, and Guy Ritchie.

I'm completely exhausted from working, volunteering at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) and trying to actually see some movies.

So far my highlight of TIFF has been James Mangold's Walk the Line, the film about Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. Joaquin Phoenix is excellent as Johnny Cash: he not only embodies the role, he also does all his own singing (which adds to his excellent performance). Reese Witherspoon also does her own singing, as well as giving an Oscar worthy performance (Phoenix also deserves an Oscar).

What makes Walk the Line more than just a biopic of another musician who started off poor, became famous for an innovative sound and struggled with drug addiction is that the film is a love story. However this isn't cutsie romantic comedy love story material, this is a painful, intense and hard love story that's captivating to watch.

As my friend observed, you also leave Walk the Line really impressed by June Carter Cash's strength. I'm now inspired to read autobiographies about both of them ... and watch the movie again when it's out in wide release!

I also saw the Guy Ritchie film Revolver which was interesting and certainly kept me engaged. I'd describe it as an Art Cinema action movie. I must admit that my favourite part of the movie is Andre 3000's fabulously suave style.

I tried to see Brokeback Mountain, the new Ang Lee movie, but couldn't get in. The same for These Girls which had David Boreanaz in it. Fortunately, it's normally fun to wait in the rush lines as there's normally interesting people to talk to.

I'm still hoping to see a couple of more films at the festival. It's a difficult time for me because the new tv season has starting during TIFF. I'm all torn between two of my biggest loves: tv and movies. As a result I'm already putting my PVR to good use!

While watching Elizabethtown this evening, I kept being reminded of that Buffy quote. Fortunately, I wasn't thinking of it because the movie failed spectacularly, rather Elizabethtown starts with Drew (Orlando Bloom) contemplating the extent of his failure at his job. As the movie progresses we discover that Drew's failure to design the perfect shoe (he lost his company $972 million - "rounded up that's one billion dollars") is really a symptom of his failure to connect to other people and enjoy life.

Near the beginning of the movie when Drew is looking at his dead father in a coffin, he's arrested by the expression on his father's face. After much reflection he determines that the expression is one of whimsy. Basically that describes the film - it's a whimsical journey through death, life, love, loss, relationships, and learning how to embrace it all. Unfortunately this means that if you're going to the movie to enjoy how pretty Orlando Bloom is (and he's very pretty in this movie), you might have this reaction: "That was the most boring 2 hours ever! Sure Orlando was pretty but I didn't understand some of the stuff they were talking about." That's almost a direct quote I overhead from a girl leaving the theatre. I was a little shocked because the conversations don't get all theoretical and complex - perhaps she had trouble following because she was distracted by Orlando's cuteness.

There's some great stuff in Elizabethtown:

- It's very funny, even though - of maybe because - it's dealing with death and failure.
- Susan Sarandon is fabulous as Hollie (Drew's mother). The highlight of her performance is the stand up comedy routine Hollie does that's so funny I actually felt like I was there (I also rarely like stand up comedy so she really wowed me). Sarandon is also impressively good at physical humour.
- Alec Baldwin is excellent in his cameo as Phil, Drew's boss who likes everything in twos (I enjoyed the randomness of that info). He delivers one of the film's funniest lines when he laments that he'll have to cut the environmental watchdog division of his shoe company (!) because of the one billion dollars Drew lost the company: "We could have saved the planet." What makes it funny is Baldwin's delivery which falls perfectly between earnest and manipulatively smarmy.
- Judy Greer (Kitty on Arrested Development) shines as Drew's sister.
- I enjoyed that Kirsten Dunst's character is very quirky and definitely an individual. Sometimes I felt that Dunst played her a little too cute though.
- There's this awesome - kind of random, but in a good way - video starring this guy Rusty who uses the promise of blowing up a house to get kids to behave. We even get to see the house blow up. Awesome dude!
- The entire memorial sequence is hysterically funny, especially the part with the band and the bird (once you see it you'll know what I mean).

As much as I enjoyed the whimsical nature of the film, it felt like it wandered a little too much off course sometimes. What makes the movie work is that there's emotional issues at the core. Overall a very enjoyable movie and exactly what I was in the mood for - uplifting with some moments of thoughtfulness included - I'd give it a B+ or an A-.

The message of Elizabethtown is the same as the tagline for Chuck and Cindy's wedding (an amusing aspect of the film) which is "Lovin' Life" in all it's variables.

Things I need to remember from my first volunteer shift at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)

1. As cute as I look in my boots with heels, they should NOT be worn when volunteering as it leads to sore feet and a cranky cordelianne. Although it's advisable to look good because you never know who you'll meet (maybe a woman with a sexy voice who takes note of your name), but I'm going to have to work it in comfortable sneakers for my theatre shifts.

2. I don't want a job as a publicist in case I become self-involved, self-important and someone who takes over an entire area. I know that sounds bitter, but I'm not - I actually had a positive interaction with the publicist who inspired this observation - I just wasn't impressed by her attitude and demeanor.

3. Most people are very nice and agreeable (which balances pushy publicists), and if you ask them to do something nicely, they'll do it. Also, I'd heard some less than positive stories about Roger Ebert so was pleasantly surprised by his niceness. He actually said to me and a couple of other volunteers that we deserved a "standing ovation."

4. The first three-quarters of Breakfast on Pluto is very good. I wanted to stay and watch the end but was thwarted by the previously mentioned sore feet, the end of my shift and errands I need to do before I go to work.

Breakfast on Pluto is a Neil Jordan film that tells the story of Kitten (played by the excellent Cillian Murphy) as she/he (Kitten is transgendered) grows up in Ireland and later moves to London. It has some fun and funny parts, as well as serious moments. I wasn't the only one who enjoyed the movie, the audience was really liking it as well and laughing in all the right parts (that makes me very happy). Also, I don't think that anyone walked out (people frequently won't stay for an entire movie at TIFF if they're not loving the movie because if they leave they can watch another movie).

Now I just need to see the last quarter of the movie!!

I'm still all excited about finally having a computer and internet at home that I stayed up late last night surfing the net. I'm loving that I can be relaxing in my comfy chair while I write in my livejournal.

Fortunately the novelty of my computer hasn't taken away from my television watching.

Entourage

The last 2 episodes of Entourage totally rocked and continually reminded me how much I love that show. The stakes were high (the future of Eric and Vince's friendship being the core issue) and it was an excellent roller coaster ride to the conclusion. I'm now sad that I'll have to wait till next year to see the boys again. The good news is that HBO also loves the boys of Entourage and has renewed it and requested more episodes!

I love that their friendship is the most important thing to the guys - it's what makes it more than just an insider Hollywood indulgent show with materialistic guys who try to score with girls. Entourage is actually a compelling portrayal of the complexities of friendship. So by having the business relationship between Eric and Vince test their friendship was an excellent way of examining how to maintain one's relationships as they evolve.

Jeremy Piven continues to kick ass as Ari. He's done an excellent job at making an unlikeable character likeable so that when he was fired I was really upset for him. I love that Lloyd is now driving him around in that tacky car (Ari's line about the car being from 2 Fast 2 Furious is very funny). I'm also pleased that Vince is remaining loyal to Ari.

The Amazing Race

I've now watched the very exciting conclusion to the Amazing Race 4 when Chip and Reichen win. Even though I knew that they'd win, I was still totally on the edge of my seat. I love that they spoke about their relationship, it's so nice to see a positive representation of gay guys and couples on television.

I saw a part of the 1st episode of the Amazing Race ever and was surprised by how amateurish the contestants and the show seemed - everything's much more polished now.

Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)

It's almost here (Thursday September 8 - Saturday September 17). I've done my volunteer training, picked up my t-shirt, canceled the shift that I accidentally signed up that conflicted with my work schedule and already have 3 pinks (ie. vouchers that can be traded for free movie tickets to the festival). I now need to figure out what movies I want to see as well as remembering to go to my volunteer shifts and my work!!!