THE BOYS & GIRLS ARE BACK IN TOWN

Toronto the Good is firing up one of it's best known times of the year -- that is, hosting the world of filmmakers and stars for its annual film festival. It didn't seem so long ago when this fest was called The Festival of Festivals. That title is now all but forgotten as The Toronto International Film Festival, or TIFF, is perhaps a more suited name in its descriptiveness. The Festival of Festivals could be a big party celebrating a big orgy of sexual escapades and complimenting illicit drug use. Hold on a moment... "The Festival" has been criticized for a few years now as being out of control. It really was a 'people's festival' at one time -- I remember. Now it is just one big film 'market'. (And those exorbitant ticket prices; wow!) One which is second only to Cannes, it is claimed by many. As Roger Ebert has said -- and he is a flag waver for the our lovely festival -- Cannes will always be Cannes. He means that in its historical tradition and the fact that palm trees have been spotted in the French Riviera, but for some reason not in Toronto (which is strange considering they are both on the same latitude). But a market is a market and oh boy, are there a lot of films playing in the fest this year. Too many, in fact. And perhaps "pushed through" is a better term than "playing". Let us try to impress everybody with statistics: Look at how many journalists, stars, filmmakers, reels of film, and cassettes of videotape show up. Impressive numbers... pray to us! (With Shatnerian delivery) You... little... hick... festivals... the rest of you.... ARE!!!