In today's roundup, we cover the invention of the first electric vibrator, two more distribution deals, and what an actor needs most after an apocalypse.
CELEB SIGHTINGS
Above: Jonathan Pryce, Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and director Tanya Wexler all appeared at a
press conference this afternoon to promote their film
Hysteria, a romantic comedy about the invention of the first electric vibrator in the 1880s. (Photo credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images.)
"In my experience, a lot of the films that I do have to do with sexuality," Gyllenhaal said, "because I’m interested in sexuality and so is everyone else."
More star sightings within the past 24 hours, around town and on the red carpet: Katie Aselton, Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass, Lily Cole, Abby Cornish, Jessica Chastain, Anna Kendrick, Felicity Jones, Alexandra Holden, Alexis Bledel, (Sources:
The Globe and Mail,
Toronto Sun,
Toronto Star.)
MOVIES.COM COVERAGE
Regarding Midnight Madness sensation
The Raid,
Christopher Campbell concludes: "My friend said to describe the movie as: Pow! BangBangBangBang! Ratatatatatatatatat! Pow! Pow! Okay, that was stupid. Just go see the movie. It's awesome."
Mr. Campbell
also reviewed Twixt, directed by the legendary Francis Ford Coppola: "A movie that blatantly treats 3D as a silly plaything. Never mind post-production conversion atrocities, Twixt is the worst thing for the format in years."
DEALS
Americano has been acquired by the MPI Media Group. The drama stars Salma Hayek, Chiara Mastroianni, Marcello Mastroianni and Geraldine Chaplin; Mathieu Demy directed. (
indieWIRE)
Trishna, director Michael Winterbottom's new version of
Tess of the D'Urbevilles, got picked up by Sundance Selects. Frieda Pinto. (
Screen Daily)
HASHTAG HIGHLIGHTS
@DrewAtHitFix: "Highlight of tonight may have been @jamesrocchi talking cooking secrets with Bobcat Goldthwait before "Jeff, Who Lives At Home" #TIFF11."
@IndieFocus: "Despite word that Coppola's TWIXT was a mess, I found it one of the warmest, funniest, most heartfelt films of the fest. #TIFF11 #TeamTwixt."
@elamin88: "Braving the chilly weather, we are first in the rush line for #Hysteria, outside of Roy Thomson Hall. Brrr. #TIFF11."
@kayehm: "I've seen 2 happy uplifting films today.. time to bring myself back down with an Australian murder documentary #TIFF11."
BLOGS AND NEWS PIECES
"I’d say an iPod," replied actor Shawn Ashmore,
when asked what non-essential item he'd like to have in the event of an apocalypse. "I need music. I need some sort of entertainment and can’t imagine dragging a DVD player around." Ashmore stars in
The Day, a post-apocalyptic action film that premieres tonight.
Vulture asks: "What Was the Most Disturbing Movie Scene at this Year’s Toronto Film Festival?" The answer involves a fried chicken bone.