My 2008 TIFF Experience (2nd in a series)

I just returned (together with Gary) from my first screening of TIFF '08-- the charming youthful romantic comedy "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist". N&N had its world premiere at TIFF last night and this encore (in the special presentations series) unspooled before a packed house (at 9:30 AM on a Sunday morning!) at the Ryerson Auditorium.

The film is from director Peter Sollett ("Raising Victor Vargas"). It stars local GTA homeboy Michael Cera ("Juno", "Superbad") and relative newcomer Kat Dennings in the title roles. The screenplay is based on a novel set in NYC (mainly the Lower East Side). Most of the action takes place on a single Spring evening following the principal characters' graduation from high school, making inventive comic use of a piece of chewing gum as a linking thread. As its title suggests, the film boasts a very impressive (mainly indie band) music soundtrack, stressing the importance of pop music in youth-culture. The entire young supporting cast is impressive, including Rafi Gavron and Aaron Yoo as Cera's "queercore" band mates Dev and Thom, Alexis Dziena as Cera's ex Tris and (cast stand-out) Ari Graynor as Dennings' drunken friend Caroline.

Director Peter Sollett was in attendance for a post screening Q&A session, answering questions about casting, locations, the music and his "journey" from Vargas to this more mainstream commercial material.

BTW: If anyone has noticed chalked out sidewalk squares and posters around town with a white silhouette of a pet bunny with the words "Where's Fluffy?" they are promos for this movie! Where's Fluffy is the name of an alternative band playing a secret gig at a NYC location that the cast spends the movie seeking out.

I am off to see a German adventure film with (Ryan and Claire) this afternoon and a black and white documentary about Liverpool this evening (refer to my earlier post for details).

More later...