ROB LOWE IN TORONTO FILMING BREAKAWAY

Rob Lowe at TIFF 2009 for The Invention of Lying

The question is where?  A better-as-he-ages Rob Lowe is now in Toronto - more specifically Brampton - filming another Canadian Hockey-centric film titled Breakway.  Shooting for the Rob Lieberman film began earlier this week and will continue until early November.  The film is a cross-cultural study of the pressures a young man faces from his Sikh heritage and his new life as a Canadian, which includes learning to play Hockey.  Breakaway also stars Canada's favourite Comedian Russell Peters and Camilla Belle, in addition to being produced by Bollywood star Akshay Kumar.  The radar is now officially on for Rob.  Can you hear the sirens?  weeeooooo weeeooooo

I guess like Score: A Hockey Musical, we'll be seeing this one at TIFF 2011 as Gala? 

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

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: