LOVELY DAY screening at Scotiabank
Lovely Day is an energetic, perceptive and very funny new feature film by Quebec’s Philippe Falardeau, presented in French and Arabic. Actors Rose-Marie Perreault, Neil Elias, Hassan Mahbouba, Hiam Abou Chedid and Georges Khabbaz are brilliant.
It’s a fun-filled film involving different cultures and a wedding! Acting is fantastic. Rose-Marie Perreault, as always, is an amazing Quebecoise actress. LOVELY DAY is Adapted by Falardeau and Montreal writer Alain Farah, from Farah’s autobiographical novel Mille secrets mille dangers. Don’t miss this one! Excellent.
We enjoyed walking along King Street West’s cordoned to traffic for first weekend TIFF 2025.
1PM Red Carpet GODSPELL at the Royal Alexendra Theatre with Eugene Levy, musical director Paul Shaffer, Victor Garber and filmmakers (via Zoom) Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas, and Jayne Eastwood plus musical director. Happy memories of Gilda Radner RIP
GODSPELL screening opened its run at the Royal Alexendra Theatre in downtown Toronto. A simple production of a hit musical retelling of the Book of Matthew, from June 1, 1972. The cast was amazed that they were performing at the Royal Alexendra Theatre!
As for what happened next, that may be most accurately expressed by the subtitle for Nick Davis’ celebratory documentary, You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (In a Canadian Kind of Way).
And that’s no empty boast about a bunch of singing hippies. Based solely on the bright futures of so many of the talented actors who formed the cast during the 14-month run – Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas, and Jayne Eastwood plus musical director Paul Shaffer! And this is how they all got their start!
Godspell’s impact and influence cannot be overstated. The improvisational way of the musical itself helped foster a unique sensibility that comedy fans would soon recognize in Saturday Night Live, SCTV, and countless other TV shows and movies. As Davis’ film reveals, the Toronto Godspell was how these fine comedic actors got their start.
The film is a mix of engaging interviews with surviving participants and animated recreations to make up for the lack of original archival materials (no smartphones in 1972!), You Had to Be There brings lots of happy memories of this time.
It was a blur of flashbulbs and excitement as I photographed the red carpet premieres for Good Fortune and Wake Up Dead Man. The energy was electric as fans packed the barricades, hoping for a glimpse of stars like Aziz Ansari and Keanu Reeves.
Good Fortune brought a fun, upbeat vibe, with laughter and camaraderie among the cast, while Wake Up Dead Man carried a darker mystique. The cast’s striking looks fitting its noir tone. Between the shouts of photographers, the shimmer of designer gowns, and the flicker of marquee lights, it felt like classic TIFF magic—two very different films, one unforgettable night of cinematic glamour through the lens.
Wake Up Dead Man-
Good Fortune-
RENTAL FAMILY Red Carpet With Brendan Fraser and other cast members including Director HIKARI
RENTAL FAMILY screening screening at Royal Alexandra Theatre.
Oscar winner Brendan Fraser stars as an American actor in Tokyo who becomes a professional surrogate in this dramedy from director HIKARI. Oscar winner Brendan Fraser is an American actor in Tokyo. who has lived in Japan for seven years. With his acting career not taking off, everything changes when he’s recruited to play “sad American” at an actual funeral. This begins Philip’s time with a company that hires actors as surrogates to help clients overcome some of life’s biggest challenges.
The film has intriguing characters and lives across Tokyo. He becomes very attached to the little girl which causes issues for the agency. HIKARI shows the humour and cultural difference. Brilliant performances from the Japanese actors including Takehiro Hira. Visually stunning with a gentle hand, Rental Family is a beautiful film. One not to be missed. Q & A followed the film. Lovely.
We ended Saturday night in the west end for Furious as the last event before calling it a wrap as most of the cast was on site before their red carpet appearance and the hospitality at the venue for the party was superb.
BKonthescene 