It was the Tweet heard ’round the Twilight -sphere: Toronto Film Festival Artistic Director Cameron Bailey announced via Twitter that Kristen Stewart will be attending the festival with her film On The Road … which just happens to be premiering on September 6, the same night as the MTV Video Music Awards . Coincidental scheduling conflict or convenient timing for avoiding certain Breaking Dawn promotional duties with (or without) betrayed vampire BF Robert Pattinson? Interested parties: 1 addition to our #TIFF12 guest list: Kristen Stewart for ON THE ROAD— Cameron Bailey (@cameron_tiff) August 21, 2012 Neither Stewart nor Pattinson had been confirmed to attend the VMAs, though fans had still held out hope that they’d see one or both in attendance at the annual event. Both stars along with Taylor Lautner were also reportedly opting out of convention tour duties surrounding the Twilight Saga ‘s final installment. “I like pushing and watching a genuine experience on screen,” Stewart of her sexually-daring performance after the film’s Cannes debut. “The reason I wanted to do the job was to be provoked as much as possible and then to do it and take it further. We were just going forth, and as long as you’re being honest there’s nothing to be ashamed of.” [ @Cameron_tiff ]
Rare is the movie in which every cast member performs at the same level–unless maybe you’re talking about the uniformly jaw-dropping performances of everyone in “Witless Protection.” So, here at Movieline, we’d like to begin a tradition of ranking performances within movies–a sort of intramural Oscars, if you will–and asking you to weigh in with your own. We’ll introduce polling and a catchy title soon enough, but we just had to start with The Dark Knight Rises –a movie in which the performances range from sublime (Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to wince-inducing (Marion Cotillard). See how your favorite–or least favorite–character rates below, and then leave your own ranking in the comments section. 1. Tom Hardy: Yes, comic-book villains are usually way more interesting than the heroes who inevitably vanquish them, but thanks to a considerable piece of hardware strapped to his face, Hardy had a tougher acting job than the late Heath Ledger did when he played the Joker. Okay, the Vader-ish voicebox torqued up the creep factor (and made his dialogue hard to understand at times), but Hardy left his pretty-boy aura in his trailer and gave a performance—essentially using his eyes and body language—that was pure, cold malevolence. Darth gave us nightmares when we were kids, but it’s Bane who’ll wake us in a cold sweat for years to come. 2. Anne Hathaway: Hathaway’s tough, tender–and mouthy–performance as Catwoman erased once and for all the bad taste that lingered in our craw after her loopy Oscars-hosting performance. We knew she could act, but boy does she act in TDKR. And she looks totally hot in her costume, especially while draped over the Batpod. Spin her off into her own film and she’ll make us forget Halle Berry’s turn as Catwoman, too 3. Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Gordon-Levitt made the most of a one-note role. His orphan speech to Bruce Wayne could have been as gloppy as bad macaroni and cheese, but he put some sharp Gruyere into it. And we won’t spoil the picture entirely, but let’s just say the boy could carry his own superhero movie. 4. Ben Mendelsohn: Yes, Ben Mendelsohn. Although his onscreen time, as the construction magnate Daggett, is relatively brief, Mendelsohn is memorable–and, judging from the few narcissistic, weasel-thin corporate titans we’ve met in our travels–extremely realistic. We want to see more of this guy. 5. Michael Caine: We did NOT want to see Alfred cry. But since we had to see Alfred cry, we’re glad that Caine got to regulate the waterworks. 6. Christian Bale: Bale is by far the best actor to wear the bat-cowl onscreen–and we’ll always give him extra credit for his performance in “Empire of the Sun.”But he didn’t give us anything new in his third outing as the Caped Crusader. His freak-out on the set of Terminator Salvation was more revealing. 7. Morgan Freeman: Same beef. We’ve seen Freeman play this role before–and not just in the Batman franchise. 8. Gary Oldman: We’re sorry, but we couldn’t take our eyes off that damn moustache. No doubt the talented Oldman was acting his heart out, but while he was doing that, we were imagining cleaning trash-strewn Gotham City streets with his facial hair. 9. Matthew Modine: We were glad to see him playing a substantial role, and he sure does d-bag arrogance well. Maybe too well. We swear we saw him smirking to himself during a few scenes. 10. Marion Cotillard: She made us cry in La Vie en Rose. She made us snicker in TKDR. Without giving away too much, let’s just say, we hope you’re not swigging from your Hefty can full of soda when you find out her character’s true identity. The same goes for the emoting she does in her final scene, which would have been more at home in the pre-talkies part of The Artist. We doubt you agree. (Even our own Jen Yamato would put Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the top spot.) So tell us what you think.
TIFF heads Cameron Bailey and Piers Handling gave details on galas and other festival highlights taking place in Toronto this September, including its opening film. In other news from Tuesday’s round-up of briefs, Jeremy Renner and Bill Condon eye a WikiLeaks pic and Steven Spielberg set to honor Stanley Kubrick at an L.A. museum. Futuristic Action Thriller Looper to Open 2012 Toronto International Film Festival Looper is set in 2072, a mob target is sent 30 years into the past where a hired gun awaits. Rian Johnson directed the film, which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt. This is the third year the festival has not opened with a Canadian film, which was its previous policy. “Rian Johnson is a film auteur known for combining different genres to give his projects an original spin,” Piers Handling, director and CEO of TIFF commented. “We’re thrilled to have Looper open the festival.” 3 Arrested in Separate Dark Knight Rises Incidents A Maine man was arrested with weaponry after he told authorities he was on his way to shoot a former employee after watching the movie. In California, a man was arrested after witnesses said he made threats alluding to the Aurora, CO shooting when the movie didn’t start. And in Arizona, a man who appeared intoxicated was confronted at the movie causing a “mass hysteria” leading 50 people to flea the theater, A.P. reports . Jeremy Renner, Bill Condon Eye WikiLeaks Film Renner is looking to play Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder through Dreamworks. The studio is also talking to Bill Condon to direct, Deadline reports . Warner Bros. Makes Donation to Victims of Colorado Shooting The amount was not disclosed and the studio did not make an official announcement. The studio said it was working with the state’s governor’s office and would give through givingfirst.org, Deadline reports . LACMA, Steven Spielberg to Honor Stanley Kubrick and More Leonardo DiCaprio and museum trustee Eva Chow will charm the second annual Art + Film Gala, which will also honor artist Ed Ruscha, both who will have exhibitions of their work at the museum this fall, THR reports .
