The Lighter Side of the Fest

TIFF [2001]

In the time following the terrorist attacks and the official start of North American autumn, the dour celebrity telethon has been aired, David Letterman has resumed his Top Ten List, and Osama Bin Laden "Flash" animations are sprouting up over the Internet. I've placed flowers outside the U.S. Consulate on University Avenue and have been sparring endlessly with too many misinformed countrymen who feel that the people of U.S. somehow "brought" this heinous assault upon themselves. Does that grant me license to attempt some levity, to tell of those festival moments before the attacks that weren't so funereal?

Prior to Day Six, there was definitely some fun to be found amidst the academic film chat:

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Filmgoer Janice Flisfeder got mouth-to-mouth resuscitation -- and some free chewing tobacco -- from Matthew McConaughey (in full Tom Cruise mode) after she fainted at the premiere of his ensemble drama "Thirteen Conversations About One Thing".

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"Life As A House" costar and Toronto native Hayden Christensen enjoyed one of the few quiet affairs he will likely experience before his world changes with the May 2002 release of "Star Wars® Episode Two: Attack Of The Clones". "I relish riding the bus because that's something I feel like maybe I won't be able to do when Star Wars® comes out", said the future teenage Anakin. " It's like winning an award before any of my films have come out."

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When asked if there were any "areas of showbiz" he'd still like to explore, "Novocaine" star and comedian/hyphenate Steve Martin quipped: "Uma Thurman".

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Rex Reed was forced to return to the back of the extremely long lineup for "From Hell", his situation not helped by his top-of-his-lungs badgering of the obviously fed-up unpaid, overworked volunteer (I had to put this one in, as I've never forgiven Reed for his intolerant diss of "Blue Velvet").

[Final Thoughts ]

- Robert L

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Features:September 11th The Festival Reacts The Lighter Side of TIFF 2001 Final Thoughts The Award Winners "Amélie..." Wallpaper