Toronto Dispatch: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Jesus is Magic

l-r: Michelle Monaghan, Joel Silver, Val Kilmer


On Day One of the Toronto International Film Festival, Guest Blogger Taylor Barratt sees Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic, and asks his wife for a new addendum to the list of celebrities he's allowed to sleep with.

7:00pm – Just under 3 hours till my first screening, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, which will be followed by Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic under the Midnight Madness programme. So waiting for the time to pass before I should leave, I take inventory. Wallet? *check*, Keys? *check*, Tickets *check*, Camera.. woah...almost forgot. I mean.. without my camera, how will anyone believe I touched Sarah Silverman? That is, assuming she shows, which, she should... I mean, she's on "the list". I wonder if I can add her to my Friends Five list now and still get away with it? While I'm at it, maybe I can also add Juliette Binoche, Elisha Cuthbert, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Liza Min...haha – got you! That last spot is actually occupied on my real Friends Five list...Charlize Theron. That said, North Country is about sexual harassment, so it would probably be extremely tactless to bring it up after the film... or  would it? What do you think?
8:30pm - Walking towards the Ryerson Theatre, I ask my wife if I can add Sarah Silverman to my list... feeling confident she's got nothing to worry about, she agrees. After which seeing all the volunteers next to the line-ups for the first time, we know the festival has truly begun.

9:30pm - We're led into the Ryerson Theatre. My wife and I have a plan (as always): I'll take the ground floor, she takes the balcony, we'll then communicate with hand gestures as to the best spot. As we enter I notice the Ryerson feels different, and this is due to the brand new seats and flooring. I'm very stoked about this since at least half our films are in this theatre and the seats just weren’t comfortable in the past. Fortunately the evening screenings are often filled with newbies, so I was able to secure our ideal seating. I'd say where it is, but then run the risk it might not be free for us tomorrow!

10:00pm - The screening is running late. What else is new? But then the spotlight comes on and one of the program directors comes out in a great dress, fresh from the opening party and proceeds to introduce producer Joel Silver, who walks on stage, in a very vibrant violet suit. Say that 5 times fast!

Joel introduces the writer/director Shane Black, who seems genuinely excited to show his movie. Shane then introduces newcomer Michelle Monaghan, followed by Robert Downey Jr. at which time Val Kilmer also comes on stage, they trade quips, say they're going to watch it with us (and they do). The lights dim... Screening #1, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, we're
off!

11:45pm - The screening ends and I’m quite pleased. It’s a very funny film with great pacing. The film's trailer played out for me like a buddy cop film, but it really isn't. The self-consciousness is priceless, and as I believe Joel Silver said, this movie was made for a festival audience. He was right. He was also on the right track when he said Michelle Monaghan was a great discovery. Alas, no Q&A session. Time to vacate and get in line for #2.

12:00am - We're at the way end of the line, but since this screening only runs 76 minutes, suggest we just grab whatever we can wherever… as long as wherever is close to the stage. But go figure, as we get in, our seats are still empty. Perfect!



12:10am - Colin Geddes, Festival Genre God, introduces the Midnight Madness programme and then, much to everyone’s delight, Sarah Silverman. Sarah has little to say, or maybe she said a lot. I don't remember. I got confused and dumb the moment she walked out. Fortunately, we're told there'll be Q&A after the screening.

1:40am - The lights come up and my stomach is actually hurting from laughing. Yes, I have indeed heard pieces of this material before from her many Comedy Central appearances, but there was an equal amount I hadn’t heard, including all of the hilarious musical numbers. The show is brisk, with almost no dry moments save for a piece with her manager involving bottled water, I get the intent... I dunno, I guess that one would kill them in Los Angeles.

So Sarah comes out for the Q&A and the first question is asked by an overweight women who wants to know why "fat people" got away from her routine unscathed, the response being that "fat people are sensitive". Other interesting Midnight Madness-esque questions come up which I'm not even sure I could repeat here. Sarah handles them wryly but swiftly as though she's uncomfortable with questions; not the content, but perhaps the pressure to improv laugh-out loud responses. But she has the talent and doesn't really need to try too hard, and when asked if she would perform her Jewish Dance live, she quickly accepts, kicks off her shoes and proceeds to stretch like a gymnast in several positions before delivering the goods.



What a blast. What a way to open the festival. As we exit the theatre we approach Sarah, pen and camera in hand, but she does seem uncomfortable, keeping a brisk but fairly accommodating pace out of the theatre, a total contrast to Val and Robert Downey; So, I decide not to be an ass, even if she is on my Friends Five List. Damn my conscious!