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Headline, TIFF 2006
Toronto Film Festival Highlights
Sunday September 17th 2006Some highlights _ and lowlights _ of the Toronto International Film Festival:
Biggest movie buzz: "Away from Her," Sarah Polley’s full-feature directorial debut; "Babel," starring Brad Pitt; Emilio Estevez’s sentimental "Bobby;" the "Borat" movie from Sacha Baron Cohen; the raunchy sex romp "Shortbus;" "Shut Up and Sing," about the fallout from the Dixie Chicks’ criticism of George W. Bush; the kitschy zombie movie "FIDO;" and "Volver," the latest from Pedro Almodovar, were among the films that generated the most buzz at the festival.
Weirdest movie star moment _ When Sean Penn lit up a cigarette at a news conference about his new film, "All The King’s Men," no one seemed to have the guts to tell the surly star to butt out in what is now a rabidly tobacco-free town. Sharon Stone’s uninformed opining about the Montreal shooting rampage _ and how the gunman had obviously not experienced enough love in his life _ puzzled and bewildered. Liam Neeson sucking on a a toothpick and wearing shades throughout another news conference was equally odd.
Most surprising nice guy _ A tie between Aussies Heath Ledger, known to be prickly but who showed a sweet and gracious side during an interview, and Russell Crowe, who was funny and warm at a festival news conference to promote "A Good Year."
Most surprising nice girl _ Jennifer Lopez made a point of making eye contact with as many journalists as she could during the news conference for her new film, "El Cantante," smiling warmly at each one. And she was good-natured when a TV reporter asked her, in a cringe-worthy moment, if she could have her clothing hand-me-downs.
Most surprising performance _ Will Ferrell, who shines in the uncharacteristically serious role of a straitlaced tax agent in "Stranger Than Fiction." Demi Moore is surprisingly strong as an alcoholic lounge singer in "Bobby." Same goes for Marc Anthony, JLo’s husband, in "El Cantante."
Most subdued celeb _ "Breaking and Entering" star Juliette Binoche, who, when asked about her experience at the festival, dourly said she spent most of it locked in hotel rooms doing press interviews.
Funniest movie star moment _ Brad Pitt goofing around for the cameras at the "Babel" news conference.
Hottest stars _ Brad Pitt, Jude Law and Joshua Jackson smouldered. Penelope Cruz was breathtaking, Lopez was even prettier in person with her new 1940s screen siren look, and Sook-Yin Lee was gorgeous both onscreen and off. Catherine O’Hara was lovely, and un-Botoxed, in person, sporting a figure younger women would envy.
Most shocking onscreen moment _ The self-fellation scene in "Shortbus;" O’Hara’s film-stealing moment in "For Your Consideration" when her apparently Botoxed character hit the late-night talk-show circuit; the naked wrestling match between Borat and his producer in the "Borat" movie; many of the scenes in the often-wrenching "Babel."
Memorable movie lines _ "The Internets _ is that the one with the e-mail?" from a vapid publicist in "For Your Consideration." Just about every line of dialogue in "Borat."
Biggest media annoyance _ Longtime film festival moderator Henri Behar’s often long-winded and uninteresting questions to the stars didn’t just vex the journalists, they also annoyed some of the actors, most notably Crowe, who told him to "get on with it."
Headline, TIFF 2006
Toronto Film Festival Highlights
Sunday September 17th 2006Some highlights _ and lowlights _ of the Toronto International Film Festival:
Biggest movie buzz: "Away from Her," Sarah Polley’s full-feature directorial debut; "Babel," starring Brad Pitt; Emilio Estevez’s sentimental "Bobby;" the "Borat" movie from Sacha Baron Cohen; the raunchy sex romp "Shortbus;" "Shut Up and Sing," about the fallout from the Dixie Chicks’ criticism of George W. Bush; the kitschy zombie movie "FIDO;" and "Volver," the latest from Pedro Almodovar, were among the films that generated the most buzz at the festival.
Weirdest movie star moment _ When Sean Penn lit up a cigarette at a news conference about his new film, "All The King’s Men," no one seemed to have the guts to tell the surly star to butt out in what is now a rabidly tobacco-free town. Sharon Stone’s uninformed opining about the Montreal shooting rampage _ and how the gunman had obviously not experienced enough love in his life _ puzzled and bewildered. Liam Neeson sucking on a a toothpick and wearing shades throughout another news conference was equally odd.
Most surprising nice guy _ A tie between Aussies Heath Ledger, known to be prickly but who showed a sweet and gracious side during an interview, and Russell Crowe, who was funny and warm at a festival news conference to promote "A Good Year."
Most surprising nice girl _ Jennifer Lopez made a point of making eye contact with as many journalists as she could during the news conference for her new film, "El Cantante," smiling warmly at each one. And she was good-natured when a TV reporter asked her, in a cringe-worthy moment, if she could have her clothing hand-me-downs.
Most surprising performance _ Will Ferrell, who shines in the uncharacteristically serious role of a straitlaced tax agent in "Stranger Than Fiction." Demi Moore is surprisingly strong as an alcoholic lounge singer in "Bobby." Same goes for Marc Anthony, JLo’s husband, in "El Cantante."
Most subdued celeb _ "Breaking and Entering" star Juliette Binoche, who, when asked about her experience at the festival, dourly said she spent most of it locked in hotel rooms doing press interviews.
Funniest movie star moment _ Brad Pitt goofing around for the cameras at the "Babel" news conference.
Hottest stars _ Brad Pitt, Jude Law and Joshua Jackson smouldered. Penelope Cruz was breathtaking, Lopez was even prettier in person with her new 1940s screen siren look, and Sook-Yin Lee was gorgeous both onscreen and off. Catherine O’Hara was lovely, and un-Botoxed, in person, sporting a figure younger women would envy.
Most shocking onscreen moment _ The self-fellation scene in "Shortbus;" O’Hara’s film-stealing moment in "For Your Consideration" when her apparently Botoxed character hit the late-night talk-show circuit; the naked wrestling match between Borat and his producer in the "Borat" movie; many of the scenes in the often-wrenching "Babel."
Memorable movie lines _ "The Internets _ is that the one with the e-mail?" from a vapid publicist in "For Your Consideration." Just about every line of dialogue in "Borat."
Biggest media annoyance _ Longtime film festival moderator Henri Behar’s often long-winded and uninteresting questions to the stars didn’t just vex the journalists, they also annoyed some of the actors, most notably Crowe, who told him to "get on with it."
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Headline, TIFF 2006
Toronto Film Festival Highlights
Sunday September 17th 2006Some highlights _ and lowlights _ of the Toronto International Film Festival:
Biggest movie buzz: "Away from Her," Sarah Polley’s full-feature directorial debut; "Babel," starring Brad Pitt; Emilio Estevez’s sentimental "Bobby;" the "Borat" movie from Sacha Baron Cohen; the raunchy sex romp "Shortbus;" "Shut Up and Sing," about the fallout from the Dixie Chicks’ criticism of George W. Bush; the kitschy zombie movie "FIDO;" and "Volver," the latest from Pedro Almodovar, were among the films that generated the most buzz at the festival.
Weirdest movie star moment _ When Sean Penn lit up a cigarette at a news conference about his new film, "All The King’s Men," no one seemed to have the guts to tell the surly star to butt out in what is now a rabidly tobacco-free town. Sharon Stone’s uninformed opining about the Montreal shooting rampage _ and how the gunman had obviously not experienced enough love in his life _ puzzled and bewildered. Liam Neeson sucking on a a toothpick and wearing shades throughout another news conference was equally odd.
Most surprising nice guy _ A tie between Aussies Heath Ledger, known to be prickly but who showed a sweet and gracious side during an interview, and Russell Crowe, who was funny and warm at a festival news conference to promote "A Good Year."
Most surprising nice girl _ Jennifer Lopez made a point of making eye contact with as many journalists as she could during the news conference for her new film, "El Cantante," smiling warmly at each one. And she was good-natured when a TV reporter asked her, in a cringe-worthy moment, if she could have her clothing hand-me-downs.
Most surprising performance _ Will Ferrell, who shines in the uncharacteristically serious role of a straitlaced tax agent in "Stranger Than Fiction." Demi Moore is surprisingly strong as an alcoholic lounge singer in "Bobby." Same goes for Marc Anthony, JLo’s husband, in "El Cantante."
Most subdued celeb _ "Breaking and Entering" star Juliette Binoche, who, when asked about her experience at the festival, dourly said she spent most of it locked in hotel rooms doing press interviews.
Funniest movie star moment _ Brad Pitt goofing around for the cameras at the "Babel" news conference.
Hottest stars _ Brad Pitt, Jude Law and Joshua Jackson smouldered. Penelope Cruz was breathtaking, Lopez was even prettier in person with her new 1940s screen siren look, and Sook-Yin Lee was gorgeous both onscreen and off. Catherine O’Hara was lovely, and un-Botoxed, in person, sporting a figure younger women would envy.
Most shocking onscreen moment _ The self-fellation scene in "Shortbus;" O’Hara’s film-stealing moment in "For Your Consideration" when her apparently Botoxed character hit the late-night talk-show circuit; the naked wrestling match between Borat and his producer in the "Borat" movie; many of the scenes in the often-wrenching "Babel."
Memorable movie lines _ "The Internets _ is that the one with the e-mail?" from a vapid publicist in "For Your Consideration." Just about every line of dialogue in "Borat."
Biggest media annoyance _ Longtime film festival moderator Henri Behar’s often long-winded and uninteresting questions to the stars didn’t just vex the journalists, they also annoyed some of the actors, most notably Crowe, who told him to "get on with it."
Leave a Reply
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