Just after midnight at the internet cafe and ‘Take it on the Run’ by REO Speedwagon is on the radio. I love this station that the scruffy asian dude that works here has it on.

There’s a group of 5 friends across from me and one of them tripped on the stairs and ate shit really hard. The sound of the thump was enormous and his buddies lost their minds. I could barely keep quiet myself. When they finally stopped laughing the guy that fell says…”I’m drunk.” Good times.

I had three movies today and I would say that today would be the most ‘commercial’ of my days here. First one up is Renny Harlin’s new film Cleaner starring Samuel L. Jackson. Sammy Jackson plays a retired cop who now has a job as a crime scene cleaner. When someone dies in your home, once the body has been removed….everything that’s left is your problem. So…he cleans up. He gets a call and a work order to go to a house to clean up a crime scene. He gets there, goes in, cleans up and leaves. The next day he realizes that he still has the key and goes back to return it. When he rings the bell and talks to the woman at the house he quickly realizes that she has know idea what he’s talking about. Who’s blood was it and who called him to the house? I thought it was an excellent premise and this movie was pretty good. I didn’t have high expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised. Sam Jackson was good as was the always reliable Ed Harris. My first thriller of the Fest and it was a success.

Next up was a comedy that I was looking forward to called Run Fatboy Run. This starred Simon Pegg of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz fame. It was directed by the worst “Friend”; David Schwimmer. Apparently, he’s not that much of a fucking friend as he failed to show up for the screening. This was about a guy (Pegg) who leaves his pregnant wife at the alter and decides 5 years later that she really is the true love of his life. Unfortunately, she’s now dating a successful lawyer and she seems a little out of reach. Her new beau is training for a marathon and Pegg decides that he’s going to run as well. You see, he thinks that if he can prove to her that he has what it takes to see something through to the end that she will want him back. The film did have some laughs, but overall I was disappointed. It was very run of the mill and completely predictable. I guess you shouldn’t expect too much from Ross Geller, but what can you do? There was a horrifying scene involving a fist sized blister on his foot. I won’t tell you what happens, but I’ll give you the scene punchline: “That’s the second most revolting liquid I’ve ever had on my face.” Lovely.

Before the previous film started, as I waited in line I overheard a conversation that ticked me off. There was a woman that was going off on how Sean Penn was an asshole. First of all…I think everyone already knew that, but the kicker was that she was pissed off that he gave her shit when she asked for his autograph while he was eating his lunch. You know what, lady? Fuck off. Leave the guy alone while he’s eating a private meal with his friends and/or family. You got what you deserved, you assclown.

The last film of the evening was the highly anticipated I’m Not There. This was a film about depictions on the life and times of Bob Dylan, where six characters embody the different aspects of his life and work. Six characters of different age, race and gender. Six characters and six different actors. Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Brit Ben Winshaw, African-American teen Marcus Carl Franklin and most surprising of all, Elizabeth star Cate Blanchett. I’d like to tell you whether I liked this movie or not, but at the moment I’m not even sure. The best part of the movie was Cate Blanchett. She really nailed the embodiment of Bob Dylan. She even had the mannerisms down and it was her scenes and stories that I enjoyed the most. I didn’t even understand what was going on in the Richard Gere scenes. His parts seemed to be set in the Old West. There was a giraffe and the whole town celebrated Halloween all the time. The police thought he was Billy the Kid. It was a little messed up. If you’re a fan of Dylan’s music and you are aware of his life and history I really think you will love this film. My favourite moment occurred during the Cate Blanchett part. It was a scene at a party where Dylan meets Rolling Stones member Brian Jones and she refers to his group and ‘that groovy cover band’. I was the only one that laughed at that. I will need some more time to fully decide whether I liked this movie.

Three more films tomorrow including the stoner comedy Smiley Face starring the very hot Anna Faris.

Greg’s 2007 Toronto Film Fest Report: Day 4
Greg’s 2007 Toronto Film Fest Report: Day 3
Greg’s 2007 Toronto Film Fest Report: Day 2
Greg’s 2007 Toronto Film Fest Report: Day 1

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