Skripper Time

TIFF#4: Up in the Air - George Clooney saves the day

Hallelujah.  I've ended TIFF with the movie that I've been waiting for.  'Up in the Air' is the latest movie from Jason Reitman, and it has the same quirkiness, humour and depth of his previous festival films "Juno" and "Thank You For Smoking".  I've decided that I am a Reitman fan for life - and I'm even more so a fan because the Reitman family are generous supporters of TIFF.

This film is the one, and this is the only one, that I would recommend heading to the theatre to see.  Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga and Jason Bateman all give strong performances, but it is George, handsome, crinkly-eyed smile, salt and pepper sweetness George that carries the film.  The film follows the life and times of Ryan Bingham (Clooney), a corporate downsizer who spends over 320 days a year on the road.  Clooney is bang-on in the role.

Here's the thing about George Clooney.  He's worked hard to become the movie star (and he is a MOVIE star) that he is today. Toiling in "Facts of Life" and other small bit parts until he became DOUG ROSS (sigh) and then stayed true to E.R. until he had done his time.  He's so undeniably handsome that I almost don't want to like him because it's just too easy. 

But then there he is, with his fantastic head of hair, his head tilt and slight shoulder shrug and his slightly crooked grin and all of a sudden I'm punching my cousin in the arm at TIFF in the middle of 'Up in the Air' saying "OMIGOD I LOVE HIM".  George is an excellent example of a man who is getting better with age.

And he's great in 'Up in the Air'.  He's really good.  Lots of emotion in those dark brown eyes, some great one-liners and multiple outfits (turns out I like George in a suit, jeans and a v-neck as well as casual wear - but I digress).

So - get out and see the film.  Support Jason Reitman, because he's Canadian and he's really talented.  Enjoy George because he's delicious and delightful. 

And - for a great recap of some other TIFF flicks, visit my friend (and fellow TIFF goer) Heather's blog.

TIFF #3: Youth in Revolt - Michael Cera

Full set of photos on Facebook.

Oh Michael Cera, I love you.  Your puppy dog eyes, your ability to convey awkwardness, hope and insecurity all at the same time.  I love how for every premiere I've seen you at (the tally is 3 premieres in 3 years) you wear basically the same outfit, and each one could have been bought at the Gap. I don't even mind that, not unlike my best friend Keri Russell, you tend to play the same role in every movie (and I suspect you might be playing yourself). I would like you to be my little brother so that we could hang out and trade kicks under that Thanksgiving dinner table.

So - the movie.  Youth in Revolt, is a film adaption film adaptation of C.D. Payne's novel of the same name.  Directed by Miguel Artega, it stars (first and foremost) my little brother, as well as Justin Long, Jean Smart, Fred Willard, Steve Buscemi and newcomer Portia Doubleday.   The movie follows my TIFF theme this year:  quirky, awkward teen, accompanied by outlandish, caricatures of parents and the pursuit of love (sound familiar?). 

And, following Ed Norton's lead in Leaves of Grass, Cera plays slightly geeky, trying a little too hard to be nerdy cool Nick and his alter ego, chainsmoking, badass, slightly sexually deviant Francois.  It's a treat to see Cera step a little outside his normal typecast role - and in the Q&A afterwards, he admitted that it was fun to finally play the bad guy.

Fred Willard turns in another memorable character performance (god that man is funny) and both Doubleday and Cera carry the movie well.  There were several laugh out loud moments and several classic moments.  The general consensus was 7.5 out of 10.  Full set of photos on Facebook.

I'm still waiting for my great TIFF film - up next and last movie on the list:  Up in the Air.  Fingers crossed.

TIFF#2: Leaves of Grass - Edward Norton, Keri Russell

Movie #2.  Leaves of Grass, directed by Tim Nelson Blake.

Typical TIFF crush of people on the red carpet - throngs of women flinging themselves against barricades in hopes of Edward Norton crossing over to press his flesh to theirs. Screaming, hysterical women - so fascinating.  He delivered - in a stylish beige suit and well coiffed hair.  And then there was delightful, delicate Keri Russell, complete in her Felicity glory, constantly brushing her hair away from her eyes because her carefree, 'i just threw this hair into an elastic' hairstyle wouldn't stay put. Keri, can we be best friends?  I really feel that we should be.  Rhea Perlman walked the red carpet with her daughter Lucy DeVito, who had a small but memorable role in the film.

The movie?  Well the jury is out.  Half our group loved it, and half gave it a 6/10.  Edward Norton showed how good of an actor he really is by playing twins:  one a marijuana-dealing redneck who lives for his hydroponic masterpiece, and his identical twin brother, a well-renowned philosophy professor.  Some classic moments between the brothers.  Susan Sarandon played their mother, and seemed to dial it in a bit - I wonder if a lot of her performance was left on the cutting room floor.

And Keri Russell - I love you, I really do.  But you have to stop playing the same role over and over again.   Maybe I've missed a large part of her oeuvre, but if she doesn't exit the role of Felicity shortly, I fear that I may have to intervene.

The story itself held promise, but by the last third of the movie, I found myself checking my watch and wondering when it would end.  It was quirky, but seemed to reach a little beyond what I would consider manageable and into the absurd.  Again, I call it a rental.  Our group has a wager going on whether it will do well in mass distribution - let's just say I don't think it's a sure thing.

Full photo set on Facebook.

TIFF#1: Drew Barrymore and "Whip It"

Ok - so it was a busy weekend.  I drove up to Collingwood, did a duathlon, baked and iced a multitude of cupcakes and sugar cookies, hosted a baby shower and then fell asleep on the couch Sunday afternoon from mild exhaustion.  But nothing...NOTHING...is a good enough excuse for forgetting my memory card for my camera for my first TIFF film.  This is not how the Skripperazzi works - and I will forever be ashamed.  Rookie mistake!  Luckily my iPhone and Heather's camera (decent photos to follow) subbed in.  Full photo set on Facebook.

Once I recovered from my incredible daftness, I got on with documenting my first TIFF film, "Whip It", Drew Barrymore's directorial debut.  Heather, Sarah, Nat and I waiting patiently in line (got some decent photos of a slightly disheveled, but very accommodating Viggo Mortensen exiting the theatre) and as the line moved into the theatre, Heather and I entrusted Sarah and Nat with seat selection (oh - the pressure!) and we became part of the swarm on the red carpet.

The crush around Drew and Ellen Page was enormous - and all we could manage to get were side shots of Drew's ear, or Ellen's shoulder.  In desperation, I noticed a guy standing on a chair watching the mayhem on the other side of the barricade (I think he was part of one of the film crews) so I tapped him on the arm and asked him if he could try to take some photos with Heather's camera.  Maybe I should have asked Heather before handing over her camera to a total stranger - but really, there is no time for niceties in in the world of the Skripperazzi.  

He took it with a little hesitation, then ramped up and made us proud.  Moved the chair around, asked people to get out of the way, and would turn to us in delight every few minutes and say "This is kind of fun!".  I almost proposed on the spot.  Great shots - thanks dude.

Red carpet shots in hand, we went inside where everyone was buzzing with excitement.  Turns out that Drew brought the whole cast and more.  Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Andrew Wilson, Kristen Wiig, Eve, Juliette Lewis... the list goes on.  Plus Michael Cera and Justin Long (they ARE dating - Justin and Drew, not Justin and Michael) were both in attendance.  Drew got up on stage, in an amazing dress that was a combo of lemon yellow chiffon and black spiderweb lace, and effusively introduced the entire cast one by one.  You get the feeling from Drew Barrymore that she walks around the world with imaginary flower petals falling around her in a slightly hippy, i-love-the-world kind of way.  But it's a believable energy, and actually quite adorable. 

  Marcia Gay Harden looked amazing - Juliette Lewis looked slightly crazy, but fashionable in a way that I will never understand.  And sweet little Ellen Page, in her little black dress and high, high heels, tottered her way across the stage uncertainly to give Drew a big hug.  Perhaps you should stick with the flats, Ellen.

So, the movie.  Well - I'm going to give it a 6.5.  Cute story, decent acting, but really it felt like it tried a little hard.  It's about roller derby, building self-confidence and embracing the unknown.  Ever since Juno, there seems to have been a slew of movies that build on the same formula (mild teenage angst, rebellion against slightly quirky parents, awkward romance...) but none of them have captured the joy and energy and delight that Juno delivered.  I will say there is a really creative and lovely scene in a swimming pool that I thought was well done.  Don't rush out to see the film, but if you're stuck on a Friday with nothing to do - a good bowl of popcorn and 'Whip It' will do just fine.