DREW BARRYMORE AND JUSTIN LONG CHAT ON SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF BLACK BOOK MAGAZINE

"I was, thank you for asking. As far as I understand, it was removed from the film for the same reason they censored that infamous South Park episode earlier this year: apparently my penis bears too striking a resemblance to the Prophet Muhammad. Anwar al-Awlaki just called for the execution of anyone who would defame or desecrate the image of Prophet Muhammad. I can come up with a different answer if you think he’s going to be reading this, though I don’t mean it to be insulting. Quite the opposite—I think my penis is fairly handsome!". - Justin Long

Drew Barrymore chats with boyfriend/co-star Justin Long in the September issue of Black Book Magazine about filming their new movie Going the Distance together.  In the above quote, Long jokes with Barrymore about a frontal nude scene cut from the movie. The article by Nick Haramis features photos of the couple taken from each other's Cell Phones.  How cute. 

Read the article in full here.  And although I didn't love the movie which  is out next week, you can read my review of it here.

(Photo credit: Justin Long/Black Book Magazine)

GOING THE DISTANCE REVIEW

Going the Distance travels to a territory not often visited in Romantic Comedies: Long Distance Love in this age of Text Messaging and Webcams. Erin (Drew Barrymore) is an aspiring Journalist temporarily in New York City, where she meets an A&R Representative Garrett (Justin Long) on an off-chance at a Bar one night.

Garrett is just coming out of a relationship and soon before he knows it, he's falling for Erin as the sparks fly between them right away. There's only one catch though - Erin must head off to San Francisco for school shortly after completing her Internship. The two decide to try out a Long Distance Relationship regardless off the odds being stacked against them, and the story touches upon the realities and pitfalls of lovers being apart from one another, even with todays' Technologies.

Despite their off-screen romance, Long and Barrymore seem to lack that spark for much of the movie,  in order to have us root for them. Part way through the film, we begin to wonder why they even bother fighting for their relationship without a solid enough foundation. And although I do love Barrymore, she was miscast here, struggling to be convincingly evoke that level of vulnerability required of Erin.  Instead, she comes off perhaps too self-assured for a girl who really spends most of the film not knowing what she really wants in life - career or relationship?

TIFF DAY 6

No reviews to report today as the selections didn't tickle my palette. Fear not though as there were lots of stars to see still!

I must say that Nicolas Cage is amazing. Although I'm not a huge fan of his work he took a good 10 minutes of his time signing autographs and posing for photos with everyone who asked nicely. He is at the festival promoting director Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans. The same applies to Colin Farrell who is here to promote director Neil Jordan's (End of the Affair) Ondine - I even got a photo with his handsome self too! Robin Wright Penn, fresh off a divorce from Sean Penn was amazing also and happily posed for a photo for me. Wright Penn is here with Keanu Reeves promoting The Private Lives of Pippa Lee which is garnering some rave reviews at TIFF. I will be seeing that on Thursday.

A big thumbs down goes to Canada's very own Ellen Page. She ignored all fans today completely, although rumour is that she's not feeling well. Trust me, if George Clooney can do a round of autographs with a cast on his hand, then Page has no excuse! Things got extremely chaotic outside the Press Conference for Drew Barrymore's film Whip It and despite my being right in front of her literally, I couldn't manage to get many decent shots with all the crowding around me. She was nice enough to scribble her autograph on my copy of He's Just Not That Into You which she produced. She then proceeded to take my dried up Sharpie and did a round of signatures, eliciting a bunch of "boos" from those hoping to get autographs for resale. I want my marker back, Drew!

I had much better luck with handsome fashion icon Tom Ford today and got to chat with him quickly. He graciously signed what he called his favourite ad for me. Colin Firth as usual, was extremely amazing happily posing with many female fans. Firth just won a Best Lead Actor award at the prestigious Venice Film Festival for his performance in Dorian Gray.

For now, you can feast on these:

I received an insider's tip on the whereabouts of U2 later this evening and was able to snap these shots of The Edge and Bono leaving Masonic Temple (MTV Headquarters). This was a special guest appearance on Elvis Costello's Spectacle show. I must say, Bono is much more handsome in person than on television. And yes, I was one of the lucky few who scored Bono's autograph! Yes.

Check back tomorrow for some photos of Natalie Portman and Michael Cera.

xW