TIFF blog: Movies, sightings and parties!

Day 4:
Zach and Miri Make a Porno
Seth Rogen (Zach) and Elizabeth Banks (Miri) star as two best friends who are financial trouble and make the decision to make their own porn to get them out of this hole. Throughout shooting, the two find themselves trying not to develop feelings for each other, but inevitably, the film seems to reinforce the popular idea that men and women can't just be friends.

Kevin Smith tries his best Judd Apatow impression with the film. Jokes are filthy as dirt, unnecessary swearing litters the dialogue, while boobs and butts are shown wherever he might be able to get away with it. At times, the dialogue does become a bit too much like Juno, where the banter just tries too hard to be witty and seems unrealistic that a foul mouthed character is spitting these words out. Smith's attempt to take shallow humor and disguise a heartwarming tale, which Apatow's films are known for, seems unable to make the full transition effectively.

Raunchy comedy enthusiasts of Smith will not be disappointed as he seems to have recovered from the last few flops. But buyer beware, although familiar Apatow cast members including Craig Robertson and Justin Long make appearances in the film, it falls short of what those appreciative of warm story lines disguised in Apatow comedies.


Valentino: The Last Emperor
Judging from the line outside the Winter Garden Theatre, fashionistas fought to get tickets for the North American premiere of Valentino: The Last Emperor the same way they may elbow their way through a sample sale. The well healed crowd was not disappointed as Valentino Garavani, his partner Giancarlo Giammetti, and director Matt Tyrnauer were present at the screening of the film.

The film chronicles the last few years of Valentino's career, just prior to his 45th anniversary as a designer, which was filled with rumors and speculation of retirement. The documentary depicts the detail that goes into the making of true fashion- haute couture, where garments are hand made from start to finish with as many as six women working on a dress at any given moment. The less than glamourous side of business also had a role, where tensions ran high between pushing forward to make the company profitable for it's owners while meeting the demands of creative freedom necessary for a designer to create. However, central to the film was Valentino and Giammetti's relationship and partners at work in life, where everything from discussing Valentino being slightly too tanned to the care of their five pugs brought focus to Valentino the person, not just Valentino the designer.

The glowing reception from the Toronto audience, which was topped off with a standing ovation that lasted the full duration of the film's credits. Valentino himself stated that the audience and atmosphere made the film more enjoyable than the other times he's seen it and also led him to announce to the crowd that the next step in his career will be costume design for operas and ballets.

Day five sightings on the next page!