Blog From The Bench

Despite press passes falling through, a poor public box draw number and spending three hours standing in a line yesterday, things are on track for the Toronto International Film Festival this year. I and a few other DVD Verdict folk will be descending upon Toronto like suburban locusts, ready to take part in as many films as time and money will allow.

For me, the festival starts tomorrow, with an early morning showing of Takeshi Kitano’s newest film, Glory to the Filmmaker! This one was a tough choice. I eagerly lined up for his showing of Takeshis’ two years ago, expecting another masterpiece from the Japanese auteur, and instead got… well, crap. Reading the press blurb and watching the trailer for his newest film, I am eerily reminded of this previous cinematic experience.

Still, it’s a new Takeshi Kitano film. I am drawn like the moth to the flame. The fire burns, but what’s a poor moth to do?

After that, I shall try to sneak to the... ugh, the commoner theater to see Shoot ‘Em Up and rest for a few days, before the big showing of No Country For Old Men, which after seeing the red-banded trailer, I am wetting my pants in anticipation for.

No, seriously. Actual urine. As an English major with a Film Theory minor, the most cruel and exciting math equation ever conceived is as follows:

Cormack McCarthy + Coen Brothers = incontinence

See you in the lineup. Reviews forthcoming. I need new pants.