Editor: William J. Gibson
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Made in Canada
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Toronto Film Festival
Rear View Mirror
-Tammy Sturge- September 17, 2001
To read Tammy's pre festival article on how her group picks what films to see, click here.
Sights & SmellsMost annoying moment - listening to the Japanese translator at The Waterboys manage to translate all of the director's answers into completely unintelligible English.
Second most annoying moment - listening to the Festival programmer at Baran translate English questions into less intelligible English questions for the benefit (?) of the Iranian translator.
Best line overheard in a line-up - "I learned a long time ago never to say 'nice to meet you'."
Best line from someone I knowv- "I take it your friends aren't Simpsons fans. They don't look like Simpsons fans."
Most heartstopping experience in tragic week - Seeing the New York skyline flashed over and over again in an otherwise harmless comedy, with the two World Trade Centre Towers still innocently intact.
Best fast food - anything from Green Mango and sushi in a box from Rabba.
Best shopping - combat dominatrix boots from Pegabo, leather jacket from Nine West, red pants (yowsa!) from Guess. I think therefore I shop.
Brush with greatness - Salma Hayek in jeans and a white t-shirt looking like she weighs twenty pounds and Dave Schwimmer looking like even more of a hottie in person.
Pan of the Week
Largely the quality of the films this year was excellent so there weren't a lot of bombs. I didn't walk out of a single film which I think is a first. But there was still at least one to complain of
The Fluffer - a fluffer is someone who works on porn films, "fluffing" up the male porn stars when their energy and other related parts flag. If this film had really been about this fairly unique job description, it might have been interesting. However, it derailed quickly and went onto another track - pounding out the moral of the film that the life of a porn star is likely to degenerate into drug addiction, physical abuse, hustling and being a really bad boyfriend. Duh.
My Picks
Baran - from the director of Children of Paradise and Colour of Heaven - this guy simply does not know how to make a bad film. Story of a self-centered young construction worker who gradually sacrifices everything he has to improve the miserable life of the silent title character.
Business of Strangers - two women stranded in a hotel together - one a high-flying executroid, the other a low-flying bohemian techie - playing nasty little games with each other. Look for a mean speech by Stockard Channing and a creepy little performance by oh so innocent looking Julia Stilles. Delicious.
Italian for Beginners - by one of the Dogma 95 directors (you know, natural lighting, no background music - whatever - they make great films). Interrelated stories of eight or so people who end up one by one attending a class in, you got it, Italian for Beginners. Just a really nice romantic comedy, Danish style.
And now for the very top pick
Muholland Drive - LOVED this film. David Lynch is king and someone should give him back his crown. His weird and wacky, totally unique, self is back. I spent the first two hours wondering "what's this film about?" I still don't know but I loved it anyway.
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