"THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN" - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from The Odd Life of Timothy Green

After struggling to conceive, Jim and Cindy Green (Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Garner), one stormy night decide to bury a box in their Backyard containing every possible trait they'd want in a Child. With the sprinkle of a Storm and the blowing of the wind, ten-year-old Timothy (CJ Adams) surfaces in their lives suddenly, bearing many of the traits they had wished for, adopting Jim and Cindy as his Mom and Dad.

Faced with the challenge of incorporating Timothy into their lives - including explaining his sudden presence to Family and Friends - Jim and Cindy are delighted, yet painfully aware of their own insecurities as new Parents. The Boy too faces his own struggles in adapting to life in his Town as the odd one out. 

As the mysterious leaves which sprout from Timothy's legs begin to fall, he goes on to touch the hearts of those around him, learning what it means to love and be loved. Faced with the pressures and expectations of being the Son whom his Parents want him to be, we see the Couple begin to lose sight of what it means to be a Family. Will they figure it all out before Timothy decides to reveal to them his deepest Secret?

BEN AFFLECK & JENNIFER GARNER WELCOME BABY BOY

Ben Affleck at TIFF 2010

Congrats, Ben & Jen! One of Hollywood's favourite Couples have welcomed their third Child - a Son - into the World. Although a name still hasn't been announced, a Source close to Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner confirmed the news earlier to US Magazine.

It is said that the Couple took suggestions from their two Daughters Violet (six) and Seraphina (three) for names, including some real Disney-inspired winners like Donald Duck, Peter Pan, Minnie Mouse Affleck and more. Aww!

UPDATE: His name is Samuel.  Samuel Garner Affleck.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

OLIVIA WILDE AT TIFF 2011 FOR "BUTTER"

Mr. Will-W. & Olivia Wilde

Despite lots of "boos" heard over the course of the week from Fans waiting at After Parties who didn't get their moment with Olivia Wilde, I can confirm that she is in fact amazing!  The gorgeous Actress here at TIFF with Alliance Films' Butter, made my day by taking the time to greet me and chat for a bit before heading off.  She made a visit to CBC earlier today for a taping George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight and told me how much fun she had working with Co-star Jennifer Garner, "She's amazing!  I love her!", she praises.

This Comedy which I screened today, is about an orphaned Girl named Destiny (Yara Shahidi) who develops a Hobby in Butter Carving, but her biggest opponent is the controlling and influencial Laura (Garner) who is ruthless and will go to no stops to win their Town's annual Butter Carving Contest.  Wilde plays a Stripper named Brooke and delivers some of the Film's funniest moments with a fearless performance, out to get payback from Laura and her Husband Bob (Ty Burrell) with whom she has an affair.

Although the Butter Carving here really is a metaphor for meaning in life and carving out one's identity, on the surface its Story reads as a hilarious Comedy, filled with laugh out loud moments.

ARTHUR (2011) - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Arthur (2011)

What it lacks in substance, it certainly makes up for in charm. Although I'll admit I have never seen its 1982 predecessor, Jason Winer’s Arthur Remake starring quirky Brit Russell Brand, stands on its own as a modern day Fairy Tale for Big People.

Arthur (Brand) is a spoiled New York City Playboy with unlimited abundances. He has few ambitions in life other than to drink and have fun, with Nanny Hobson (Helen Mirren) acting as a Mother-like voice of reason in his life. His distant Mother Vivienne (Geraldine James) for financial reasons, wants him to wed the bossy Susan (Jennifer Garner), Daughter of Construction Tycoon Burt (Nick Nolte). Arthur of course has no affections for Susan and winds up meeting whimsical Storybook Writer Naomi (Greta Gerwig) by chance one day. Already engaged to Susan, Arthur is torn between finally having to grow-up into a Man and also choosing his Woman he will be with forever. Will he follow his heart?

The biggest problem with Arthur’s script is that presumably its most central theme is that of Love, but this however is outshined by the fact Arthur equally is a Late Bloomer’s coming-of-age Tale. Our attentions are divided between Arthur and his dilemma of having two Lovers and also his relationship with his level-headed Hobson. And because the latter relationship is punctuated by the strength of chemistry between Brand and Mirren, the actual Love Story here is insufficiently tended-to.

REVIEW: VALENTINE'S DAY

When you have a film with a star-studded cast, the results can be well, fabulous like in Love Actually or He's Just Not That Into You.  They can also be disappointing like in Garry Marshall's Valentine's Day.   Marshall despite being quiet of late, has brought us some of the greatest films of our time like Pretty Woman and Beaches.  On paper, the cast almost looks too good to be true: Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Garner, Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper, Patrick Dempsey, Eric Dane, Anne Hathaway, Topher Grace, Queen Latifah, Jessica Biel, Jamie Foxx, Shirley MacLaine, Taylor Swift, Taylor Lautner, Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates and many, many more. 

The film houses multiple story lines which run in tandem one Valentine's Day in Los Angeles.  The film's primary story line revolves around florist and all-around nice guy Reed (Ashton Kutcher), who proposes to his girlfriend Morley (Jessica Alba).  Upon announcing this news to his friends who all seem surprised that she said "yes", we get the back story that their relationship might be rockier than it seems.  Reed is best friends with school teacher Julia (Jennifer Garner) and she is involved with Harrison (Patrick Dempsey), a married doctor.  She doesn't know about his marriage though until Harrison buys flowers from Reed's shop for both his wife and mistress Julia.  Perhaps there might be an undertone of romance between Reed and Julia, an option neither has explored.

Liz (Anne Hathaway) works odd jobs including a temp job at a Public Relations agency where she reports to Paula (Queen Latifah).  Liz is dating Jason (Topher Grace), but he has no idea that she is working a side job as a sex chat line worker.  Hathaway steps outside her comfort zone, completely embarrassing herself in her scenes with awkward sex dialogue - she even does a hilariously spot-on Russian accent in one of them.  Although she is brilliant as usual, I'm sure she'll be regretting this role at some point down the line.

TIFF DAY 5 - WHIP IT AND A SINGLE MAN REVIEWS

Before I comment on anything TIFF-related, please let me state my opinion on Kanye West regarding some inappropriate comments made during Taylor Swift's MTV VMAs acceptance speech. Just click this link, as it says it all really. He's not even worthy of being Summer's Eve. He's generic Life brand!

Now that this is out of the way....

I caught Whip It earlier today. The film is directed and produced by Drew Barrymore, starring Ellen Page (Juno). I loved it and I am very certain that it will be a massive hit. The comedy features the right combination of genuinely touching moments, laughs and action to give it crossover appeal. The film centers around Bliss (Page) who is pressured by her mother Marcia Gay Harden to enter the local beauty pageant circuit. Finding little joy in this, she finds inspiration in competitive roller skating and secretly joins a team played by an all-star female cast that includes Barrymore, Kristen Wiig, Eve and Zoe Bell. It is from competitive roller skating that Bliss finds a true defining passion, but she must come to terms with having to gain her mother's acceptance in this new life choice. The story leads up to a Roller Derby championship match that pits Bliss' team against fierce opposition from a team led by Juliette Lewis. Grade: A

Screenwriter Shauna Cross attended this morning's screening and explained to the audience during the Q&A that all the actors had trained rigorously for this film and it showed! Completely and utterly amazing. A must-see. The film opens October 2, 2009.

I'll be getting some snaps of Barrymore, Lewis and Page tomorrow for you all. Can't wait.

Later in the day I was able to get in close with Jennifer Garner, Ricky Gervais, Rob Lowe and Julianne Moore. Garner was especially wonderful taking the time to sign autographs for anyone asking for one and when things got a little crazy, she showed concern for everyone's safety, assuring everyone to remain calm; she's wonderful. Her new film with Gervais and Lowe, The Invention of Lying, is getting mixed reviews at the festival. Check out that bling on Garner's hand!

Enjoy these pics I got earlier: