DAY TWO OF TIFF

Welcome my Cine buddies to Day 2 of TIFF. Today, I managed to assay 3 films and they were in the words of the great LARRY DAVID: pretty, pretty, pretty, good.

First on the agenda was a film I was hotly anticipating: JOHN CURRAN'S STONE, starring ROBERT DE NIRO and EDWARD NORTON. I love both actors and of course they were great together in THE SCORE, in which they co-starred with the late, great MARLON BRANDO.

O.K., so here's the premise: DE NIRO, is NORTON'S parole officer, he has come up for review, for his release, after a stint in prison. It is up to BOBBY (we're very close), to decide if NORTON gets his freedom. To sweeten the deal, NORTON throws in his sexpot wife, played by the alluring MILLA JOVOVICH. DE NIRO, is quite sexually-repressed and while at first he rejects JOVOVICH'S advances, soon push comes to shove (sorry,) and they get it on.

Well, I have to say that the pairing of these 2 actors does not yield the spark it should. The film is torn between being a standard action-thriller and an art house pic. The acting is uniformly-fine across the board - and that has to include the great FRANCES CONROY as DE NIRO'S wife. NORTON has another wacky voice that he pulls out of his repertoire and this time he sports corn-rows on his head. The script is unfortunately a little muddled and the message gets lost somewhere on the way to the screen.

There is some gorgeous photography, courtesy of the gifted D.O.P., MARYSE ALBERTI and some potent religious imagery, but on the whole it's a little heavy-handed and confused.

Film #2, was chosen by my buddy and I have to say it was a real unexpected delight.

The film is called NEDS (which stands for NON-EDUCATED DELINQUENTS,) and I have to say that it was a real surprise, in the best sense of the word.

The film was written and directed by PETER MULLAN, and he is definitely a talented bloke. MULLAN is known for his appearances in DANNY BOYLE'S SHALLOW GRAVE and TRAINSPOTTING, as well as KEN LOACH'S RIFF RAFF (which featured actors with such thick English accents, that it was dubbed!)

This film which is MULLAN'S third, is dubbed as well - although it just translates verbatim, without translating the vernacular phrases (interesting) - is an autobiographical look at his youth and what impact bullies have on a family and society. The film runs the gamut from funny, scary, violent to the surreal.

The reason the film is so memorable, is the bravura performance of CONOR MCCARRON, who goes through an unbelievable display of emotions. it is a complex role, sensitively handled and the film is just a gem that you must watch for if it gets a commercial release or probably on DVD.

Now, on to our third film which was an out and out delight.

It is MICHAEL WINTERBOTTOM'S THE TRIP, starring STEVE COOGAN and ROB BRYDON, who worked before with WINTERBOTTOM on one of my personal favourites, TRISTAM SHANDY: A COCK AND BULL STORY.

The story is simplicity enough: it is Messrs. COOGAN and BRYDON travelling through North London and eating and riffing and doing impressions (you judge who does the better MICHAEL CAINE - my vote goes to COOGAN,) and generally making me laugh my ass off.

COOGAN, seems to be the more melancholy sort, who is definitely not always on. BRYDON, on the other hand is a good-humoured bon vivant, who will do an impression (AL PACINO, DUSTIN HOFFMAN, SEAN CONNERY,) at the drop of a hat.

After the movie, BRYDON couldn't have been more gracious to my wife and I and seemed to be genuinely touched by my favourable comments on the film and he posed for a photo, with me and the missus. COOGAN, was affable, if less effusive and he too posed for a shot.

This was a great day folks and since they say good things come in threes - its on to Day 3.

Until tomorrow, TRIPLE F'S ( Fellow Film Followers,)

T.T.F.N.