First pick

Only because I like the title - Gomorra

Cadbury Mini Eggs and Chocolate Ice Cream

I have a new favourite snack.
I digress.
So after the fat induced shame spiral I decided to try and continue my film festival journal just about 5 months after I saw my last film. I'm partially inspired by the Chcolate and Mini Eggs and the fact that I had about four cups of coffee today and I'm not really sure I can close my eyes just yet. I'm all twitchy.

According to my TIFF 2007.xls file on Saturday September 8, 2007 I waited in the rush line for Juno. It was the only movie that I didn't get that I absolutely had to see. I didn't get Lust, Caution either, but I've noticed that I only like every other Ang Lee movie I see. So I went super early to sit and read in the rush line so I could get a seat on the ledge in front of the Ryerson theatre. I lucked out and ALL the talent came early, so while all the girls were squealing over Michael Cera I was on the ball enough to notice a guy was selling a ticket.
First, I would like to say I love the volunteers. They are fantastic, they work hard, they...stand all day. But seriously it was a very disorganized start - the talent was all "hey, I haven't seen you since the plane ride or the limo or the lineup outside! Let's mill around and chat" and all the squealing girls were running up to to them and taking pictures and Ben was there with the wife and all I could think was I have another movie in this theatre at 8:45 and I have some drinking to do after that and y'all are cutting into that time. Thank you Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons for sitting the f down like the professionals you are. Bless you.
And then it started. And I loved the credits. And I loved the song over the credits. And all I remember is laughing and crying and crying and laughing and smiling with Reitman when he brought the entire cast, the music guy, the costume chick and possibly a few other random people up on stage with him during the Q and A. Even the dumb question to Michael Cera about whether he took the GO train in was funny because Jason Bateman jumped in to say "no, but his parents did" making everyone laugh and smile again.
Loved it. Everything from Su-Chin, the least threatening pro-life protester ever (seriously watch Lake of Fire kids, those people are for real) to best friend Leah who is so gorgeous I wonder if she is going to pull a Scar-jo to Ellen Page's Thora Birch and will become the next big thing being fondled by Isaac Mizrahi on the red carpet. There's no point in talking about the movie now, it's made over a hundred million dollars now you've all seen it. And if you haven't seen it go. And if you have seen it and didn't like it, congratulations you are officially dead inside and have managed to prove the non-existence of the human soul. Hope you're happy- oh wait, you can't be, can you?

So after Juno, I ran out, ran around the building, marched right back in and sat down to see Nothing is Private, directed by Alan Ball of Six Feet Under fame, and starring my festival favourites, Aaron Eckhart and Maria Bello. And it was possibly the exact opposite of Juno. It is based on Alicia Erian's novel "Towelhead" and it was dark. Real dark. And only the second in a string of movies that week that involved a lot of inappropriate sexual advances on younger women by older men. It's weird, because just an hour earlier Juno managed to make the advances of a much older gentleman on a much younger woman kind of charming. The movie was good - but it had some scenes that kept me up that night. Or they would have if I hadn't gone out, drank my face off and had to wake up for a 9:30 AM movie.

God Bless America

I ate Turducken today. I may die trying to digest but any country that can take a day that should remind people of genocide and turn it into a day about stuffing meat into meat with carbs in between is ok by me.

Not entirely dead inside?

Why do I cry like a gassy baby every time I watch Armageddon?

Don't forget the candles

You know what song they played in Becoming Part 2 after Buffy had to kill her recently not evil boyfriend? Sarah McLachlan's Full of Grace. Does everyone listen to her after a bad breakup? I preferred Ice Cream myself. Usually best enjoyed whilst consuming a tub of Mint Chocolate Chip or Vanilla Swiss Almond.

Sticky

Welcome to Hell. Also known as theatre 3 in the Scotiabank-formerly-known-as-Paramount Cinema. Yes Virginia there is a problem with the air conditioning. The problem is when you pack a bunch of sweaty film festival goers into a theatre without A/C things tend to smell, feel and taste a bit like ass.
On to the films. Both of which I watched in said ass-smelling theatre so I'm afraid my thoughts may be coloured with...well ass.
L'avocat de la terreur was just ok. The first 45 minutes or so were very interesting then the narrative sort of fell apart. Or I fell asleep. Did I mention the heat? But seriously the first bit about the Algerian independence was very well thought out and portrayed, but the end - they made Carlos the Jackal just seem like a jealous boyfriend. And the L'avocat de la terreur just seemed like a guy who likes chicks in peril - especially if said chicks have an affinity for incendiary devices and public spaces.
Joy Division was great. Sad and bittersweet with amazing music and great details like how Saville came up with the album cover for Unknown Pleasures without ever hearing the music. Fun for the whole family. If your family enjoys tales of suicidal punk singers.

And so it begins

I'm sore, my eyes hurt and I smell like sweaty fanboy. Yes, it is festival time again. Just saw my first film, Persepolis and it was great. A very sweet and at times dark story of what it is like to grow up during political upheaval. It was strange to see the similarities that they had in Iran with teenagers everywhere - sneaking out to party, getting in trouble for talking back in school. The difference was the consequences would be much more severe.
The voice actress for the young Marjane may possibly be the cutest sounding little moppet ever. I'm not usually a big fan of child actors (those Fanning girls give me the wiggins) but I love a cute sounding child. Like that little kid from Monster's Inc. So frakking cute.
I digress.
Liked the movie, I didn't cry but I did see some possibly Persian looking folk crying after the movie. I usually break down around the fifth movie, so looking forward to some waterworks later this week.

You're on notice!

Galactica better not suck this Sunday. I have concerns. They started out the season strong - maybe too strong. Starbuck was stabbing Leobens, Pegasus was blown to bits, Tigh killed his frakking wife and the guy who should be blamed for most of the carnage got to have a three-way with Tricia Helfer and Xena Warrior Princess. But lately I've had the strangest feeling after my weekly voyage with the rag tag fleet. I couldn't put my finger on it until recently, but the feeling was boredom. This show used to snap baby necks with a song in its heart. But now when I've got an angry Boomer threatening Athena over little Hera's crib, all I can do is shrug. The darkness doesn't surprise me anymore - not because I'm dead inside, but because it's just not as entertaining.

So this Sunday I pray to the gods that it doesn't suck.