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For those of you who weren’t watching the Genie Awards last night, you missed an essential tidbit of CanCon couple news: one of our favourite duos, Jay Baruchel and Alison Pill, are engaged. Needless to say, it’s exciting news, unless you were holding out for Baruchel to make it work with his former Popular Mechanics for Kids co-host, Elisha Cuthbert.
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Genie nominations no big surprise, with Barney’s Version and Incendies in the lead
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We’ve already watched the Golden Globes. And Oscar nominations were announced last week. But that doesn’t mean we can forget about Canada’s version of the Academy Awards (albeit with less recognizable statues), the Genies. The nominations were announced today, and this year’s Genie picks seem fairly predictable—the widely acclaimed Barney’s Version roped in eleven nominations, including best picture, direction, adapted screen play and best lead and supporting actor nods. Denis Villeneuve’s Oscar-nominated Incendies netted an even ten.
From Kingston to New York: a big month for The Trotsky
Jay Baruchel in The Trotsky
It’s been a big month for The Trotsky, the indie film written and directed by Montreal’s Jacob Tierney. The movie stars Jay Baruchel (who is also the lead in She’s Out of My League, though we prefer to remember him from those Popular Mechanics for Kids episodes with Elisha Cuthbert) and premiered at last year’s TIFF. It’s one of three Canadian films to make it to the Tribeca Film Festival this year, along with Cairo Time and the documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage. It follows a Montreal high school student who believes he is the reincarnation of Leon Trotsky and is obsessed with recreating the leader’s life, complete with exile and assassination. Typical teenage stuff, really, minus any Jonas Brothers. Coming off its massive People’s Choice win at the Kingston Canadian Film Festival (which enjoyed an increase of 20 per cent in attendance this year) last week, Tierney and co. will surely feel right at home amid the glamour of New York.
• The Trotsky wins Kingston film fest People’s Choice Award [Kingston Whig Standard]
• The Trotsky makes U.S. debut at Tribeca [CBC]
• 1997 Popular Mechanics for Kids: World Trade Center [YouTube]
Suck’s Rob Stefaniuk is off to Halifax for much-needed post-TIFF rest
We ran into Rob Stefaniuk (of TIFF vampire rock flick Suck) and his actor/singer girlfriend Barbara Mamabolo out for some dinner with friends at the Spoke Club. When we asked how their TIFF was going, Mamabolo replied, “Exhausting, in a word.” Stefaniuk nodded and we wholeheartedly agreed. We think TIFF is hard on us but it’s probably even harder on those that have to go to screenings and make nice with the press. Luckily, they’ve already sold the distribution rights to the film. Stefaniuk had just finished his last screening and is looking forward to resting. The pair are off to Halifax. The couple saw The Trotsky and Rabia, but didn’t have much time to see other movies. We know the feeling.
Dressing for TIFF: Borrowing glad rags with Emily Hampshire
Hampshire cat: The elegant and winsome Canadian actor goes shopping (sort of) (Photo by Sarah Nicole Prickett)
We hope The Trotsky turns out to be the big break for winsome Canadian actress Emily Hampshire, if only so we can tell our kids we saw her in her skivvies. It was yesterday afternoon. We met our girl-on-the-verge at the Comrags studio for a Cinderella session. She had arrived on the red-eye with places to go—interviews, swank dinners, after parties—but had nothing TIFF-worthy to dress in. Designing duo Joyce Gunhouse and Judy Cornish were happy to lend.
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Jay Baruchel: Commie hero in film, capitalist burger devourer in life
Baruchel at the opening for Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist during TIFF 2008 (Photo by Sam Javanrouh)
Should you find yourself in love with the nerd-hero Jay Baruchel, in town for The Trotsky, there are two things to know:
1. You’re not alone…for much longer. His adorkable film, about a Montreal boy who honest-to-Marx believes he’s the reincarnated Leon Trotsky, is the hypest of TIFF’s homegrown fare. Come its release, we predict tween girls from coast-to-coast will develop a new attention span for early 20th century revolutionary history.
2. You can find him at McDonald’s. “Any McDonald’s. It’s all he eats,” swears his Trotsky costar, Emily Hampshire. “He’ll probably be with his mom, too. He’s a big momma’s boy! Seriously, he’ll be at Mickey D’s with her.”
Aww. We’re lovin’ it.
Alice Cooper gives marital advice to Jessica Paré: Make sure you continue to flirt with each other
Alice Cooper and Jessice Paré: Marital tips, not makeup tips (Photos by Hunter Desportes, Magnolia Pictures)
We caught up with stunning Canadian actor Jessica Paré last night at an exclusive soirée in a Yorkville residence. At TIFF, Paré has two films: the rock ’n’ roll vampire comedy Suck, in which she plays a sexy take-no-shit bass player, and The Trotsky, in which she has a walk-on role. Suck also stars the weathered legend Iggy Pop and heavy metal icon Alice Cooper. When asked what working with Cooper was like, Paré describes him as “quiet and spiritual,” a far cry from the semi-violent, and somewhat terrifying, performer who made his mark in this town at 1969 concert by spontaneously tossing a chicken into the front row. (Cooper assumed the bird would fly; unfortunately, rabid fans tore it to shreds.)
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Oscar buzz, vodka and stalking advice doled out at the Hazelton Hotel
To be Blunt: early rumblings suggest Young Victoria could be Emily Blunt's big break (Photo by chloe004)
With two weeks left until the opening gala of the Toronto International Film Festival, reporters gathered at the Hazelton Hotel to get a rundown on the buzziest films (Precious), parties (One X One), possible Oscar contenders (Mo’Nique, the woman from Soul Plane) and TIFF-inspired cocktails (Skyy vodka for all).
CTV film critic Richard Crouse said the Oprah-backed film Precious could mean a possible Oscar nomination for Mo’Nique, while co-star Mariah Carey can finally shake off the tarnished glitter from, well, Glitter. Closing film Young Victoria also got a thumbs-up and was predicted to be Emily Blunt’s big break. But the most intriguing film tidbit (and a brilliant marketing move to boot) was that everyone who went to the pre-screening of Heath Ledger’s last film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, had to sign a waiver that forbid them from talking about it.
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