MOVIES That Time Of The Year Again: TIFF!

Here in Canada you never know what the last few weeks of summer will bring. In this past week alone has been both incredibly hot and bone chillingly cold. But no matter the weather, I know my September will kick off the same way: With frustration at the Toronto International Film Festival's inferior ticketing system.

The web site invariably crashes every year with the incredible demand of the public onsale. Last year it took me three hours to get my ticket to the gala premiere of Precious at the Roy Thomson Hall. To be honest, the frustration is starting to become part of the charm of the whole thing. Almost.

This year, after four hours of refreshing, I finally got tickets to my two desired screenings: the French film Potiche starring Catherine Deneuve, and Brighton Rock starring Helen Mirren.



I haven't been able to locate a trailer for Brighton Rock, the second film adaptation of Graham Greene's 1938 novel of the same name. (The original was released in 1947 and starred Richard Attenborough.)

More so than the actual films themselves I am looking forward to catching glimpses of Catherine Deneuve and Helen Mirren. I almost hate to admit it, but I always choose the galas I go to based on the stars who will be attending rather than the film themselves. Both of these events are the same night, meaning I am going to have to dash over to the Elgin Theatre from the Roy Thomson Hall, missing the ending of Potiche in order to catch a glimpse of Mirren. As frantic as it all sounds, this year's megawatt star power means I am guaranteed not to be disappointed.