2009 Reading Lessons

Last year I started to go through some of the common terms that you may see on the TIFF site in the summaries for the films as a way to help others learn from my past mistakes. I know one of the festivals former talented trained corporate communicators, an entertaining young man who in addition to his Masters in English took additional courses in learning how to use his words to seduce on behalf of The Man. This guy has the making of an old-tymey raconteur, and as such I know better than most that you can’t go by the summary no matter how good they make it sound. A great summary for a less than awesome film brings to mind the beautiful menu at the restaurant that gave me campylobacter jejuni. Once you’ve been fooled you have to just sit there and take it.

Today’s reading lesson:

Coming-of-age – These movies can go either way. You really need to look at the other details in the summary to find out if this is just another self-indulgent tale composed by someone trying to work out their adolescent issues with their parents/ex-lust object/high school bully/confused sexuality or is this something that is going to speak to you on a deeper level because the acting, story telling and set pieces come together to to transcend the genre. I know that if my cynical self were to read ‘the coming-of-age story of a young boy in a mining town who just wants to dance’ I would probably have some serious doubts, and end up missing out on Billy Elliot. For these films I can only suggest that you look at the other attributes to help make the decision. If I were to see that the coming-of-age story hailed from somewhere outside of the continental United States and was selected by Jane Schoettle then I would highlight that baby in the drop off selection book faster than you could say Persepolis.

Sold Out Package

Double date Gala package sold out.

Da Kink

Growing up before Google I would eventually get the question “why is your hair so…” This moment would be a milestone with any new friend, it meant they were comfortable enough with me to ask a question that would make me really uncomfortable. I heard about Good Hair when it was opening and Sundance and I’m really happy to have a chance to see it here.

When I was heading off to university I decided to cut my hair off. I was panicking at the thought of  leaving for school and being four hours away from the first, last and only hairdresser to ever apply relaxer to my head. I was not in the frame of mind to form another codependent relationship with someone that I paid to hurt me – with the results always being not quite good enough. My hair wasn’t good…but I learned to love the shape of my head after the clippers finished the trip around my ears.

Sweet Circular Chakram

A sexploitation homage from Rick Jacobson, who worked on Baywatch AND Xena. My cups runneth over. Thank you Midnight Madness, and thank you Colin for making it possible to see movies like these in a packed theatre with other serious film buffs. Bitch Slap is one of those movies I would have picked just based on the title and the program, but when you throw in Zoe Bell as the action director and my only regret is that I can’t see it in the Uptown at Midnight as the festival gods intended.

Best Served Awesome

Johnnie To is in the Special presentations program this year with Vengeance.

Don’t Stand So Close To Me

Sometimes people get too close in lineups. Backpacks are a good choice for a festival bag as they give you that extra bit of personal space. http://bit.ly/2PMmGW

My Precious

So here’s the thing about galas – they can be a great introduction to the festival. The adrenaline rush of the cameras flashing and the celebrities and the excitement of seeing the film one week or two before the general public.

However, there are hundreds of movies to pick from every year, and many do not get a wide release after the festival – if they get a release at all. If you are just starting out by all means, try to see a gala so you get the star exposure and the start to understand the magnitude of the lineup situation. But if your primary objective is to see movies that you might not get a chance to see in a packed house with a crowd that is totally enthusiastic about being there, shows up on time, turns their cell phones off and are all there to see the movie and not the people IN the movie you may want to skip most of the films in the gala presentation program. Some of the gala films were announced today, and while there are always a few interesting international or ‘arty’ options in the gala program, there are also many films that will be in wide release very soon after the festival. In these tough economic times I would find it hard to pay over $40 to see a movie in the less-than-comfy Roy Thompson Hall  when I could wait a week and drop a ten spot to see it at the AMC.  I do enjoy seeing mainstream movies alongside the more obscure options every year – sometimes you need to see a light comedy after a documentary about genocide, if only so you don’t cry yourself to sleep – or drink too much on the patio at the Drake. You should think before you make your choices if you are seeing the movie because you want to see the talent more than the film you need to just buy a ticket to another film – and leave that time slot open to line up before the movie with your camera and take a picture. Things happen every year that could cause the celebrities to miss the screening, and you will just be disappointed if that is your only reason to see the movie.

I had a point when I started this post…but I had a bit of wine.

Oh, yeah – the title. So Precious was announced as an official selection and part of the gala program. If you seriously think that a movie that Oprah has talked about will be hard to find outside of the festival you need to think again. If you think the Oprah Effect won’t make you end up watching this movie if you are already under her thrall, then think again. I paid to see Beloved in the theatre AFTER I read the book and knew that it would be one long emotional donkey punch because of Oprah. So the point is you need to want to see the movie whether it’s a gala or not so you won’t feel bitter about the ticket price if the talent doesn’t show up.

See the press release for more info on the latest galas announced. http://tiff.net/press?newsId=627

And while you are trying to decide about what to drop the ducats on, that Ricky Gervais movie will probably be pretty easy to find after the festival too.

Student Cards

Student cards starting to sell out. Currently Friday September 11, Saturday September 12 and Sunday September 13 student cards are sold out.

Musical Lineup

Working on a new playlist for the pod-device for the pickup line. This list is just the beginning, suggestions are welcome, and if this year is anything like years past I need another 30 songs to actually keep me entertained for the duration.

Can you feel it – The Jacksons. Yes I had to, mostly because this song rocks and also because anything Jackson is so (wait for it) the new black right now.

Through the fire - Chaka Khan – pickup day is often unusually hot and sunny and I’ve forgotten to bring a hat the last three years.

Candyman – Cornershop – so NOT packing almonds and raisins this year. I’m all about the jellybeans baby.

Believe – Q-Tip (feat D’Angelo) – I will end up with second choices so good I will forget that I didn’t get my first choices.

As – George Michael (feat Mary J. Blige) – The only thing better than George and Mary covering Stevie is…

Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing – Stevie Wonder – Stevie singing a song that is telling me not to worry about the lineup or my box or anything really.

These 3 Sins – Gomez – specifically lust, ambition and greed. If I only had to pick three for the festival, these would make the short list.

Black Star – Thieves in the night – the words in this song remind me of a good Tarantino conversation.

Get By – Talib Kweli (feat Jay Z, Kanye West,Mos Def and Busta Rymes) – begins with ‘Good Morning Vietnam!!!’

Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby – Dinah Washington on Verve Remixed – starts out with like a minute of instrumental cowbell. There’s always room for cowbell.

Lust for life – Iggy Pop – Choose imagining young Ewan in the best execution of skinny jeans on a dude in the opening sequence of Trainspotting.

And when you finally, FINALLY get to pick up your tickets end it like every season of the O.C.

Hallelujah – OC (original Cohen)

Naked Cirque

Trying to decide if I should research strip clubs close to festival theatres for the site.