Toronto International Film Festival

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P-G film critic Barbara Vancheri blogs from the Toronto International Film Festival, from Sept. 4-13.

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Which way to 'Juno'?

Secret Life of Bees panel By Barbara Vancheri / Sunday, Sept. 6

So far it appears that this year's "Juno" is ... still not known.

Although critics are praising some performances - Anne Hathaway's in "Rachel Getting Married," Dakota Fanning's among a wealth of strong women in "The Secret Life of Bees" (left, Fanning with Queen Latifahl; photo credit: Nathan Denette/AP/CP) Keira Knightley in "The Duchess"  - the jury is still out on which movie will inherit the crown worn last year by "Juno."

Some of the bigger films possibly bound for Oscar glory, such as "The Road," aren't here. But movies with Mickey Rourke and Jean-Claude Van Damme are, which isn't a punchline or a setup because they're among the features festivalgoers are recommending. Rourke portrays a washed-up wrestler in "The Wrestler," while Van Damme plays a variation of himself in a movie named for a variation of himself, "JCVD."

Just when you think a performer is on the mat, down for the count and never to emerge from the DVD shelves again, he gets up and starts swinging.

Today's schedule brings interviews for Spike Lee's World War II movie, "The Duchess," Bill Maher's "Religulous" and ... "Zack and Miri Make a Porno." I'll keep you posted.

 


Posted Sep 07 2008, 08:19 AM by Sharon Eberson