Barely Cooler : Toronto

Yes, the only rivalling international film festival in North America is in Toronto. Seattle has the largest American international film fest, but in terms of glam and prestige, Toronto will have us beat for at least a few more years. (but they didn't get Star Trek! Canuck B*tches!) Toronto does get good stars. If Brad Pitt is there... is it good? Maybe, but Pedro Almodovar is there for sure showing his newest film Volver. All of New York celebrated the new release film by having a week long Viva Pedro filmogrophy gala. I'm pretty desperate to see Volver this fall. Penelope Cruz is going old school and finally getting real again with Pedro. Early critics indicate this is her best performance ever, and its in Spanish. I think being back in Spain made her cleavage more incredible.

Luckily, the film fest is not caught in only drama. Documentary Comedy ensues as our good friend Borat has a latenight viewing of his new film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. The premier had Sasha Boren Cohen in full Borat regalia, with an ox-cart drawn by women. He greeted all viewers to his improv characters charms and letting everybody know they should "make sexy time." Unfortunately, the projector broke on the first viewing. Michael Moore (former projectionist) was in audience and could not fix the projector. Instead they gave sloppy Q&A session and showed the film the next day.

And out of eff'in nowhere the master of Young Guns Emilio Estevez shows his face in the theatres premiering his film Bobby. This movie seems really really dubious. Its supposed to be about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy and the events around that tragedy. As King of B Actors for past years, he brings in other marginally popular and some good actors to fill for his cast. Frodo is there, Lindsay Lohan, Laurence Fishburne, and Ashton Kutcher? I wonder if this is more farce than documentary fiction. I really think he's genius. I mean, combining past pop stars and current pop stars to feature the life of a political pop star? It makes beautiful cinema happen. Wise move Estevez.

The current superstar Director of Hong Kong Johnnie To is dropping movies like bombs. He gets triple threat respect from Toronto as they give a Special Showing for his newest film Exile. Mainly about hitmen trying to get away from crime taking place in Macau which was handed over in 1999 back to China. Also, both Election and Election 2 are getting screen time as well. One thing I love about Hong Kong is that they shell out movies every 3-6 months, often times with the same actors or directors. Its a reason they have so much crap film, but you get a couple of these awesome guys like To and its on. Now I just have to wait a couple weeks until this bootlegs into Chinatown.