(Mari)Lola, are you going to clone him?;-) Yum. Wouldn't the world be a better place if everyone could have her own Colin clone, or would the magic disappear? Will go and think about the philosophical and social consequences of such an event while watching Darcy smoulder in P&P. ;-)

(Moon) Not a word on LA or any of actors besides Colin. I believe they mentioned LA in a previous press release, though nothing about the actors as I recall.

(Mari) GWAPE screens on Sunday, September 7, 9:30 PM. As Lola noted, same day as Love Actually, which is down for 6:45 PM--and presumably not at the same theater. Lola, are you going to clone him?;-) Why is this considered a problem? He'll only have to come in for 1-2 days; they'll do press during the day, and he'll be around for the intros at the screening(s). Seems like perfect scheduling from his vantagepoint. (Moon) Not a word on LA This press release was solely about Gala Presentations. LA's "Special Presentation" was already announced via another press release days ago. BTW, I prefer correspondence via email than using this or any board here for personal messages.

For the seventh consecutive year, European Film Promotion will present panels devoted to its cause. The European Directors Panel, entitled Cinema in the �New� Europe: Does European Filmmaking Have a Renewed Creative Edge and Sense of Purpose?, will feature panelists France�s Solveig Anspach, whose Iceland/France/Belgium coproduction Stormy Weather screens in Contemporary World Cinema, Spain�s Cesc Gay, whose In The City makes it world premiere, Austria�s Ruth Mader, whose Struggle also features in CWC, along with Girl With The Pearl Earring director Webber. Simon Field, co-director of the Rotterdam International Film Festival will moderate the panel.

So just when I thought London was the better strategic location (really the ultimate strategic location), I would be better off right now back in Toronto. DAMN!

Thank you, Karen, Aishling, and Mari for FF news and the article. Oh to be in Toronto. Going for one viewing will positively break the bank for multiple viewings of GWAPE and LA in Nov/Dec. However a possible CF in the flesh sighting is tempting, v. tempting. (Emma)So just when I thought London was the better strategic location I bet it will be for the premieres;-) You will be three for three, I just know it.

There is something comforting about his attendance being confirmed! http://www.canada.com/ottawa/news/story.asp?id=F771FEBC-B724-4649-8CE0-38BD954C3E60

The Toronto Star also confirmed this morning that he will be here in Toronto. Can't quite believe it - both films and the man! Now I've got to find a way to get those tickets. You're right, Karen - trying to get tickets to any of the films is brutal. They reported on the news that the line ups were very long yesterday as the film schedule was released. Thanks for the VISA tip, Karen!

" Other galas include the world premieres of Peter Webber's Girl With a Pearl Earring (starring Colin Firth), " I, for one, am glad these premieres are taking place away from England... *We* don't do so well over there. Let the critics on this side of the pond get the first crack. Wonder if GWAPE's premiere will cancel any LA or NY events.

Thank you all for the articles and lessons in New math, LOL!

(Evelyn) I, for one, am glad these premieres are taking place away from England... Let the critics on this side of the pond get the first crack. They are premieres only in a technical sense. You will not see a big red carpet-y, glitzy thing at all. Most critics will hold their reviews until the films open in their respective markets. The trades' reviews may be published during/after the fest. Wonder if GWAPE's premiere will cancel any LA or NY events. No. (Maria) There is something comforting about his attendance being confirmed! (Myou) The Toronto Star also confirmed this morning that he will be here in Toronto. Ladies, they are not confirming; they are reprinting the TIFF press release. That is the source doc for these reports.

(Karen)The trades' reviews may be published during/after the fest. That's still a 'vahst' improvement over The Guardian.

Courtesy of Jennie (A Big Thank You), an article in the The Big Issue (28th July-3rd August 2003) by Melissa Thompson, who cut and pasted everything from existing articles. ;-D The accompanying pic is a headshot we've seen before too. THE BIG NAME Colin Firth The ghost of Mr Darcy will never die. The moment in Pride and Prejudice when he emerges fully clothed from a pond has haunted Colin Firth ever since, producing more wet T shirt jibes than a Miss World contest. As an actor who just wants to be taken seriously, it must be hard to be constantly reminded of a scene that equates to less than one per cent of your acting career. Still, it helped get him act as another desirable Darcy in 2001's successful film adaptation of Bridge Jones's Diary, so he's probably over it enough to sleep at night. At 14, Firth realised that his academic ability would not lead to a fruitful career (a realisation compounded by a three percent mark in a chemistry test--two marks were for spelling his name right) so he swapped school for drama school as soon as he could. His final year portrayal of Hamlet cemented his rite of passage to the West End, where he made his 1983 stage debut in Another Country as Tommy Judd, a role he reprised alongside Rupert Everett in the 1984 film. Surprisingly, considering the roles he gets, Firth wasn't born into the English aristocratic elite. But his teacher parents' travels to Africa and the USA gave Firth a taste of life far from his Hampshire birthplace. He has described his mother and father as "flamboyant" but with a "classically English reserve"--a little hint perhaps of the influences that have formed his somewhat elusive personality. The 42 year old has graced our screens in over 30 films (including Shakespeare in Love, The Importance of Being Earnest and The English Patient), made numerous TV and theatre appearances, done the odd radio play and acted as ambassador for Oxfam's fair trade campaign. Although Firth has yet to play the role he desires most--the 'village pervert'--he has been a first world war survivor (A Month in the Country), a Falklands hero (Tumbledown) and lost two on-screen wives to the Fiennes brothers, Ralph and Joseph. He has also led last year's campaign, staged by 19 British arts figures, to save the job of the Italian culture representative in the UK, who believed he was to be sacked for being openly gay. Firth has played down hopes of becoming the next James Bond when he heard Russell Crowe fancied it too, fearing the rugged Antipodean would win the ladies hearts over him. However, if the legions of 'Afirthionado's (even his fans make themselves sound like luvvies) don't reassure him, beating off competition from Crowe to win Hello Magazine's Most Attractive Star of 2002 surely must. Firth's next on-screen venture is as Henry Dashwood in What a Girl Wants. An English lord is reunited with the American daughter he never knew existed and attempts to forge a relationship without her illegitimacy ruining his election campaign. The film is sure to stereotype stuffy British high society in comparison to our 'carefree' cross Atlantic neighbours and Colin Firth dons his suit once more to play the quintessential aristocratic Brit. No change there then.

Film Review � September 2003 Alan Jones Firth returns to his roots Bridget Jones star is looking for chills Colin Firth has been wandering around London looking dazed, confused and dishevelled. The reason? The Bridget Jones� Diary star has gone back to his roots, before playing Darcy in Pride and Prejudice turned him into a global sex symbol and recast his screen persona as a romantic lead. The forthright Firth plays the psychologically distraught Ben in Marc (My Little Eye) Evans� horror thriller Trauma, the first in a series from Little Bird�s �Ministry of Fear� genre label. Ben awakens from a coma to discover his wife has been killed in a car accident and, after being haunted by ghostly visions, loses his tenuous grip on reality to enter a vortex of hallucinatory confusion. Can his enigmatic neighbour (American Beauty�s Mena Suvari) help separate fact from fiction in his tortured mind? Firth revealed, �Trauma may seem a departure from what I�m now known for but I was appearing in quirky features like Tumbledown about the horrors of war, and Apartment Zero about the human psyche�s dark side way before I took on Darcy. Ben is the sort of role that was my territory in the early days. Marc and I worked together on the (1994) Ruth Rendell TV movie Master of the Moor and I thought he was brilliant. So I wanted to join him again but our numerous attempts never quite panned out. Then Trauma came out of leftfield and intrigued me enough to sign on to what was clearly going to be an interesting journey. My main motivation for doing anything these days is to work with people I hav always wanted to collaborate with and this seemed the perfect opportunity for us. It�s a hard film to discuss because not only is the entire film told from a subjective point of view, meaning I�m in every scene except for the final shock revelation, we must also strike a balance between being overly obtuse and cryptic to being boringly prosaic and explanatory. We don�t want to frustrate the audience by being too baffling about what�s really going on but we still have to retain the necessary air of mystery. Marc is not shy of the generic aspects of Trauma and his main inspirations come from Krzysztof Kieslowski�s The Colours: Red, White and Blue, Nic Roeg�s Don�t Look Now and Roman Polanski�s Repulsion and The Tenant. That gives you a rough idea of the twisted psychological zone we�re in. Trauma�s horror is organic and even scarier than usual because it�s based around the door to the subconscious mind that should be shut but has suddenly become slightly ajar with terrifying ramifications.� Firth will be back on screen soon in Peter Webber�s Girl with a Pearl Earring as 17th Century Dutch painter Vermeer in the suspenseful story behind one of the master�s greatest and most enigmatic portraits. As Trauma wrapped, he was readying himself for the Bridget Jones� Diary sequel, The Edge of Reason. �Yes, I�m in the sequel and I don�t mind at all because the original was an enjoyable experience. It was a blessed relief to be in Trauma because it couldn�t be further away from that type of romantic comedy. I don�t want to stay out of that popular genre forever, but it�s gratifying to know some people realise my range is still broad. Ben wasn�t familiar to any character I�ve done before. People won�t be expecting this grief stricken strange person from me and that�s why I simply had to do it. Trauma will be released early next year.

Thanks for typing that up, Aishling. Great information!! the entire film told from a subjective point of view, meaning I�m in every scene Thumbs way up!! It was a blessed relief to be in Trauma because it couldn�t be further away from that type of romantic comedy. I don�t want to stay out of that popular genre forever, but it�s gratifying to know some people realise my range is still broad. Ben wasn�t familiar to any character I�ve done before. People won�t be expecting this grief stricken strange person from me and that�s why I simply had to do it. Hallelujah and amen. I've put up the article, with the only image they've released thus far (courtesy of Jennie), from the magazine here: http://www.firth.com/articles/03_filmreview_sept.html

Thank you, Aishling! his main inspirations come from Krzysztof Kieslowski�s The Colours: Red, White and Blue, Nic Roeg�s Don�t Look Now and Roman Polanski�s Repulsion and The Tenant. These are some of my all time favourite films. These are big shoes to fit, we shall see. (Karen), This press release was solely about Gala Presentations. LA's "Special Presentation" was already announced via another press release days ago. True, but no one from LA besides Colin seems to going to Toronto. That I find strange.

Thanks for the film review article Aishling and Karen. I love the triple image photo attached to it. Am v. gratified by his comments.

(CF) but it�s gratifying to know some people realise my range is still broad. *We* did, even if some people may not have. People won�t be expecting this grief stricken strange person from me and that�s why I simply had to do it. Not only do we expect it, we demanded it (and lit candles). ;-)

I dropped hints last night...okay, not hints exactly...the DH told me to 'go, go, go!' to TIFF if I wanted to...and I would, if I knew I could get tickets (the elusive, sought after tickets!!). The hubby has turned into Mr. Bennet, "I shall have no peace at Portland if Tress does not go to Toronto. Let her go then...and she is luckily too poor to be an object of prey to any body." ....and his main inspirations come from Krzysztof Kieslowski�s The Colours: Red, White and Blue Ohhh....love those films...but the proper order is Blue, White, Red! ...meaning I�m in every scene except for the final shock revelation Every scene?? YESSSSSSSSS!!! Like the last bit too...leads me to speculate all manner of things. Cannot wait to see this movie. Thank you Aishling and Jennie!

the entire film told from a subjective point of view, meaning I�m in every scene (...) I don�t want to stay out of that popular genre forever, but it�s gratifying to know some people realise my range is still broad Thanks for the articles ladies. Good things to look forward to.

"My main motivation for doing anything these days is to work with people I have always wanted to collaborate with ..." Psst....ditch MB. Pretty heavy inspiration for Trauma. V. impressive. You're a doll, Aishling.You too, Jenn. *kiss* *kiss*

Thanks for the great articles Aishling and Jennie. This is such good news. Great press for both GWAPE and Trauma. Really can't wait to see them now especially with him in every scene but one in Trauma. Am looking forward to a marvellous performance. Can't help thinking of his brilliant performance in Apartment Zero. I consider it one of his best. Brilliant. ... As Trauma wrapped, he was readying himself for the Bridget Jones' Diary sequel, The Edge of Reason. "Yes, I'm in the sequel and I don't mind at all because the original was an enjoyable experience... There it is girls finally, or so I hope we can believe, confirmation from him. What a great day this is!!!!!

Dave Poland at MCN lists the Toronto line-up in his order of preference. Both of Colin's films are already sure of American Distribution. "Love Actually" is 2nd and "GWAPE" is 9th (before Veronica Guerin) http://www.moviecitynews.com/festivals/toronto_2003/030820_preview_list.html

(Tress) I dropped hints last night...okay, not hints exactly...the DH told me to 'go, go, go!' to TIFF if I wanted to...and I would, if I knew I could get tickets (the elusive, sought after tickets!!). The hubby has turned into Mr. Bennet, "I shall have no peace at Portland if Tress does not go to Toronto. Let her go then...and she is luckily too poor to be an object of prey to any body." I'll go if you go. ;-)

(Dorine) I'll go if you go. ;-) Yea..but, but...but...tickets Louisa (BTW just noticed that the schedules are up...may be slow, didn't see these yesterday)! And do we know if they have potted palms at the Visa Screening Room (LA) and/or Roy Thomson Hall (GWAPE)? I tried to find map to see potential 'dash' from theater to theater...And who will mix our drinks?! I'll carry umbrella (cuz if I don't it will rain and if I do..it won't). But wait....do we even need tickets? You are queen of the crash...hmmmmm..... ;-D

LOL, Tress! I'll carry umbrella (cuz if I don't it will rain and if I do..it won't). Bring it....it never fails to rain when I'm at a premiere-type event. ;-) But wait....do we even need tickets? You are queen of the crash...hmmmmm..... ;-D Hmmmm, sometimes I don't have to go so far as to crash. I've been quite lucky with people with extra tix at events, too. Lucked out in June in Vegas for sold-out Celine Dion show. Saw man trying to get rid of 2 tix 20 mins before the show and strangely no one in the standby line would take them. Go figure. And at one of the first Lilith Fair concerts July 4th weekend 1997 in Washington State (Gorge Ampitheater). Was camping at Mt. Ranier, drove 3 hours to get to theater - no ticket....sat near the gate with a cardboard sign saying "Need one ticket". A girl sold me one....at face value, no less. Excellent show. Made the worst sunburn I'd ever had (hiking up the mtn in the snow with no sunscreen) a bit more bearable (and I've had bad ones being kinda fair skinned). And who will mix our drinks?! Champagne and Chardonnay, baby! No mixing. ;-) No need to bounce between venues. I'd only have one target.

(Tress)And who will mix our drinks?! Champagne and Chardonnay, baby! No mixing. ;-) (Dorine)No need to bounce between venues. I'd only have one target. Oh I'm so jealous! Only 5 hours away and I must be out of town.:-(

Here are the box office stats for WAGW in the UK last weekend: Fell from 6th to 11th place Grossed $172,955 (-51%) On 248 screens (loss of only 2) Per screen average $697 (-50%) Cumulative gross $983,503 for 2 weeks

It�s a hard film to discuss because not only is the entire film told from a subjective point of view, meaning I�m in every scene except for the final shock revelation Oh v.v. promising, indeed. Does anyone have info on this being released in the US? I simply had to do it. Makes last year's birthday celebration so very worthwhile;-) Thanks so much Aishling, Karen, and Jennie. Dorine and Tress...you go girls!!! I need to save my nerves for NY sightings. Toronto FF is out of the question for me;-( (Prior school commitments)Blast! (Dorine)Hmmmm, sometimes I don't have to go so far as to crash. Yeah, but it's more fun that way. You know like Monday, May 13, 2002;-)

(WAGW stats)"Per screen average $697 (-50%)" Not even his friends and relatives went to see it. Disgusting. I wish they would just take it off.

They will. :-(

(Evelyn) Not even his friends and relatives went to see it. LOL, don't you mean only his friends and relatives went to see it ;-)

No.

(Evelyn) No. Straight and to the point. I like that :-)

(Film Review) meaning I�m in every scene Already, this meets my criteria for a good Colin movie.;-) except for the final shock revelation, Uh oh, I hope we're not entering "Bobby Ewing in the shower it was all a dream" territory here.;-) Many thanks, Aishling and Jennie, for the new articles and pics!:-) BTW, GWAPE will be in competition at the San Sebastian (Spain) Film Festival later in September. And according to the NY Post, Huge will *not* be in Toronto for Love Actually, which means someone else may actually get a word in edgewise.;-)

(Mari) Uh oh, I hope we're not entering "Bobby Ewing in the shower it was all a dream" territory here.;-) My thoughts ran more in the "Jacob's Ladder" direction...don't know how many people saw that one, but it was pretty grim. Can't wait to see though...I'm really looking forward to it...ants, tarantulas and all!!

(Mari) Uh oh, I hope we're not entering "Bobby Ewing in the shower it was all a dream" territory here.;-) (Tress) My thoughts ran more in the "Jacob's Ladder" direction... LOL Mari. I was thinking "Sixth Sense". (Tress) I'm really looking forward to it...ants, tarantulas and all!! Ditto.

(Sonia)LOL Mari. I was thinking "Sixth Sense". I'm hoping for a "Sixth Sense" type of film...big bucks...;-)

Not sure why that happened, but let's try again:

It might go away, plus there's a second one:

Third billing actually!:-)

I got my ticket for GWAPE at the Toronto festival this morning. Is anybody else from this group going?

I got my tickets as well, Vera. It was a shame that they weren't selling the LA tickets, though - not until the 3rd.

Great! So glad to hear that you will cover it for us, ladies! Remember, ask questions and take plenty of pictures, and take detail notes of course! :-D

Vera, I'm so pleased you've managed to get a ticket. Well done!! -And I hope anyone else who's planning to go is successful too. I'm sure he's attending the FF for GWAPE rather than LA. And he's certain to attend both the US and UK Premieres too. I think this is a film he'll happily promote. (I'm still lighting candles for Parkinson).

Guard it with your life, Vera. If I knew where you lived , I'd bust in and steal it;-)

Good for you, girls (and us, I hope)! (Janet)And he's certain to attend both the US and UK Premieres too. I think this is a film he'll happily promote Oh I hope you are right. I'll light candles for both this and Parkinson ;-)

Great news, Vera and Myou. Good luck!!! Thanks, Mari and Karen for the LA poster. From Entertainment Weekly Fall Movie Preview: (not online, yet, so I'll just type the interesting bits.) (LA of course got it's own page...no mention of Colin in the article except in the cast/credits box. Huge quote from Huge) ...The ensemble structure meant no actor had to work more than 10 days-a big selling point for stay-at-home mom Thompson. (ed note...and YKW, as well) ...Grant meanwhile, agreed to play Britain's prime minister-but only after he forced Curtis to give the PM a bit more tooth. "I saw this ideal, wonderful, compassionate, lovable character, and I explained to Richard that I thought at this point in my career, that train had sailed really", says Grant (ed note. Huh?)Curtis says the resulting push and pull made for a nicely layered head of state. "It was a very good balance, him always trying to make sure he behaved like a man who'd won an election would behave, and me trying to push him back into being more of a kttten." Then on GWAPE...for December LA got it's own page for November films, while GWAPE was listed in a column in the "Also in December" page. GWAPE. Director Peter Webber's feature-film debut-culled from the Tracy Chevalier best selling novel-tells the tale behind the Vermeer painting, with Colin Firth as the 17th century Dutch artist and Scarlett Johansson as his maid and muse. (Dec.12) (no picture accompanied the article.)

The pic is on page 104 ;-D

Obviously not the right end of the table... Thanks for typing that up, Linda.

(Karen)The pic is on page 104 ;-D LOL, guess you know by now I only have eyes for ODB.

Lucky you, Vera and Myou, I'm already looking forward to your detailed reports.

I got my ticket for GWAPE at the Toronto festival this morning. Vera and Myou you lucky, lucky girls. Can't wait for your reports. Enjoy yourselves and just know in my heart you will get to see him. Have fun. Thanks Mari and Karen for the LA poster. Not surprising this one is getting all the press. They've put alot of money into it, in cast alone. Want to make sure they get it all back. ;-)Would love to see him here for premiere but only if Mark's made an honest woman out of Bridget by then. LOL. Get going Mark!!

Evidently the gala is sponsored by Premiere Magazine, which may account for all the advance publicity! This is the description of GWAPE that appears in the TIFF flyer. Every frame of Peter Webber's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" is a triumph of composition and light inspired by Dutch master Johannes Vermeer's work. Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson play the painter and his sixteen-year-old maidservant: when the artist asks the young Griet to pose for one of his paintings, it arouses the jealousy and ire of his family. Full of soft, delicate light, this intimate drama of creation and desire glows with Johansson's subtle, mesmerizing performance and Firth's beautiful restraint.

(flyer)Full of soft, delicate light, this intimate drama of creation and desire glows with Johansson's subtle, mesmerizing performance and Firth's beautiful restraint. Oh - it's sounds just better and better. Thank you Mari and Karen for the LA posters and informations :-)

(Karen) Evidently the gala is sponsored by Premiere Magazine,.. Grrreat. Means the next issue will have lots of pics. They always create a large spread for their galas. Big coup for WB and ODB. The film must have good advance buzz. Premiere wouldn't be backing a dog.

(flyer)Full of soft, delicate light, this intimate drama of creation and desire glows with Johansson's subtle, mesmerizing performance and Firth's beautiful restraint. Colin does restraint very well. I'd say he's turned it into an art form. Getting nominated for restraint? How does that sound? ;-) Every frame of Peter Webber's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" is a triumph of composition and light That picture above at the dinner table seems overlite to me.

Thanks for the Premiere info, Karen. I can't wait for this one. (Moon)Getting nominated for restraint? How does that sound? ;-) Excellent, because he wont' be nominated for repressed;-)

the san sebastian FFest has a high def & bistre rendition of the first picture of gwape karen posted a long time ago (nicknamed the 'sideways look' ?), but the trimming is different (a wider view) : the original is rather big (20X40cm), a 150 ko, available @ sanse film festival site old stuff i know, but i am sure some of you need a new desktop pic, hmm?

Thanks, Sophie. I really like the posters for the Official Section (though not exactly sure why beyond it being B/W) and especially the one for the Thematic Retrospective - Amongst Friends and Neighbours....it will go well with the new color I paint in my new foyer. :-) I'd *love* to have that GWAPE pic above as a poster, too, in addition to, or instead of the official one we have so far.

Thanks, Soph, for posting the film fest info and links. I have that pic in really hi res (1.1KB) ;-D

Thank you Sophie for the ff news and link to the picture in hi res. Wow, it almost took up the whole space on my monitor. I don't know if I could deal with this as wallpaper. I'd spend entire days in visual intoxification;-)

Thanks to everyone for the info re the FFs. And thanks also to Sophie. That pic makes a wonderful desktop!

Thanks Sophie! I won't get any work done (now that this is my new desktop), but I appreciate the find! So lovely....matter of fact, think I'll go now and look at it again!!! ;-) Thank you....

From this month's INStyle magazine (p.340 if you're playing at home): Interview with Scarlett Johansson... my favorite co-star--"Colin Firth. He's sensitive and adorable, and an incredible actor. It was just a total pleasure to work with him."

Attention US contigent, just spoted HS commercial during ending of NBC's Access Hollywood. Was surfing channels and there he was, ODB! Sorry, was too stunned to pay attention to release date. Must go back to surfing.

I've been seeing the HS commercials all day. Opening Sept,5

Sonia and Lucie, on what networks have you seen the commercials? Wonder if it's nationwide--you two don't live in the same area, do you? Anyway, you can knock me over with a feather.;-) Interview with Scarlett Johansson... my favorite co-star--"Colin Firth. Thanks, Amy. I don't think I've ever heard anything but raves about Colin from his co-stars; looks like another one is smitten.;-) BTW, Scarlett is getting great reviews for Lost In Translation, the film she did with Bill Murray for Sofia Coppola. Might help further increase media interest in GWAPE.

(Mari) on what networks have you seen the commercials? NBC Florida, so far... (Lucie) Opening Sept,5 Thank you Ma'am. And to everyone else for news and photos.

Opening September 5th? Oh, no...I'm leaving for a cruise the following morning...flying to Fort Lauderdale the evening of the 5th right after work. Don't return until the following Saturday. Given the reviews...it'll already be gone from the theaters by then! And I did want to see for myself how bad it really was. No, Kathy, tell the truth...I wanted the eye candy!

(Kathy) flying to Fort Lauderdale the evening of the 5th right after work. Sounds like the perfect day to play hooky but you didn't hear from me for I would never condone such a thing ;-)

*falling off chair*

(Mari) you two don't live in the same area, do you? Same state. That "Florida release" seems like it might actually be happening. So bizarre. BTW, nothing at the Disney/Buena Vista site for the Sept 5th openings.

I haven't been "home" in a long time. Time for a visit, perhaps? ;-) Think I'd rather save the $ and travel time for a movie I like and/or really want to see.

(Karen), Same state. That "Florida release" seems like it might actually be happening. So bizarre. That's why they wouldn't give me the poster! I kept telling you they had a release date here. The range is broad. ;-) Will have to go with Lora. How did this happen in FL?

They figure you guys have a deep-seeded need to see leaves changing colors? ;-D

Glad it looks as though you will finally get to see HS and make up your own minds about it! I read somewhere(sorry, can't remember where) that it is being released on VHS in the UK in December.(I imagine if this is accurate, it will also be available on DVD, for those of you with multi-region players).

Now here's a thought. (Sorry for the double posting,BTW) If he's going to be in Toronto on September 7, would he also attend the premiere(supposing there is one) of HS?

HS in FL? I'll go to see it on the big screen and to enjoy the turbo air conditioning... Love Actually is a romantic maze By Richard Simpson, Evening Standard 26 August 2003 A maze of love matches make up a movie that is set to be this year's smash hit. But the plot of romantic comedy Love Actually is not going to be the easiest to follow. Hugh Grant leads a cast that also includes Martine McCutcheon, Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth and Keira Knightley. And what a tangled web they weave - not surprising, when the film comes from the same team that produced Notting Hill, Bridget Jones's Diary and Four Weddings And A Funeral. Love Actually is a romantic maze Grant plays a young, single prime minister. His love interest comes in the somewhat unlikely form of his tea lady, played by former EastEnders and My Fair Lady star McCutcheon (love match one). The prime minister has a sister, Karen - played by Emma Thompson - and she is married to Alan Rickman's character Harry to provide love match two. Harry is relentlessly pursued by an office temptress played by German beauty Heike Makatsch, which makes love match three. Firth plays a writer jilted by his love who moves to the south of France to start anew, only to land in the arms of his Portuguese housekeeper, played by Lucia Moniz (love match four). Liam Neeson's love - not the romantic variety this time - is for his stepson, played by rising star Thomas Sangster, who in real life is Hugh Grant's cousin. Confused? We're only halfway there. In the film, even young Sangster has a crush on the prettiest girl in the school. Neeson, by the way, also has a crush on Claudia Schiffer. One love match - or mismatch in this case - involves Keira Knightley's character Juliet, who marries Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Their wedding proves that the power of love can be as wild as a tornado. If Love Actually - directed by Richard Curtis and out in November - sounds like Notting Hill, Four Weddings, Sliding Doors and Bridget Jones all rolled into one, that's because it probably will be. But, if a formula works, why not stick with it?

(Moon)How did this happen in FL? Maybe Mark Herman's parents are retired there.;-) I wonder if they'll ask the audience to fill out feedback forms . . . Studio Flunky: Sorry, ma'am, but you were supposed to only check one answer. Yes or No. You either liked it or you didn't. I'm afraid I'll have to discard your ballot. Audience Member: But what if I liked some parts and not others? This ballot is confusing! It discriminates against the undecided! You know, my son is a big shot lawyer in Boca . . . SF: Er . . . why don't you just tell me what you thought of the movie and I'll write it down? AM: That's better. See? Was that so hard? Ok, so Colin Firth is very good looking, but honestly, a good meal would kill him. Heather Graham . . . her, I could do without. Always shaking her boobies around. What must her parents think? I tell you, she breaks her mother's heart. Now, Minnie had the right idea. Make him sh*t or get off the pot. But it was too little, too late. That's the trouble with these girls today, they give it away and then the man doesn't want to buy the cow. And another thing . . . Studio Flunky's Boss: How's it going? SF: Not good. We'll have to toss some ballots and re-count the others. STB: But then the wrong movie will win . . . AM: . . . and that Mary Steenburgen! What's with that voice? I lived in New York for 43 years before my Irv retired and nobody talks like that. Nobody. And could Colin's character get a real job, fergodsake? I mean, who's going to buy those little drawings? You can't support a family on that . . . ;-)

ROTFLOL! Better you than me reading those comments. ;-D

LOL! Is this a FL only showing? Maybe Colin will stop in Miami on his way to Toronto. ;-) SF: Not good. We'll have to toss some ballots and re-count the others. STB: But then the wrong movie will win . . . SF: There's a woman who wants to know how soon she can have the poster?

Got me wondering if people are mistaking the HS commercial with an expanded version of the Best Western one? ;-D

ROTF, Mari. (Moon)How did this happen in FL? They had to release it somewhere to be eligible for the GG or Oscars;-)

(Karen), Got me wondering if people are mistaking the HS commercial with an expanded version of the Best Western one? ;-D LOL! Heehaw! ;-)

Thanks for the HS info...I think. I can't believe it. (Janet)If he's going to be in Toronto on September 7, would he also attend the premiere(supposing there is one) of HS? Something tells me, not;-( Mari, LOL.

Mari, v.v.f. indeed, LOL! Just got this in the mail: Schedules for GWAPE and LA at TFF: http://www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/2003/filmsandprogrammes/searchforafilm.asp

New LA trailer picked up by another list. More shots of Colin. (Anything to do with that Hola? ;-)) I found the medium resolution with Quicktime to be clearer than the Windows Media medium res on my system. I find *this* trailer funnier and much more interesting than the last one. Makes me more interested in it now. Not that I wasn't before, just jazzed about other things more. Thought HG's little dance was cute. And Colin just looks to-die-for in the shot of the back of him in that thick sweater and shirttail sticking out (while he's watching her undress at the edge of the water).

Love, love, love... Love, love, love.... *humming away* From KathyC, the good trailers are up (Quicktime and Windows Media in two speeds each): http://www.uip.co.uk/films/love_actually/index.html Enjoy, you saucy minxes. ;-D

Ooops, don't know what happened to the link. Oh wait, yes I do. Oh dopey me. *sheepish grin* http://www.uip.co.uk/films/love_actually/index.html

The TIFF listings for both GWAPE and LA show two screenings each. Granted the other is not a gala or special presentation and YKW wouldn't necessarily be there, but it's always a possibility. Good summaries of the movies here, plus it's nice that Colin's pic is on each: http://www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/2003/filmsandprogrammes/description.asp?pageID=film&id=271 http://www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/2003/filmsandprogrammes/description.asp?pageID=film&id=124

Gaaah, the second screening of each film is at the same time, noon the next day.

Love Bill Nighy's line about sleeping with Britney Spears and she's rubbish. He may definitely steal this movie.

Thank you, thank you Karen and Dorine for the trailer and the links! I can't wait to home to the trailer again and again and..... It's too damn light in my office!

(Me)can't wait to home to the trailer again and again and..... It's too damn light in my office! Ha! It turned me into a blithering idiot! I can't wait to *get* home to *watch* the trailer..... The glare on this screen is tough today. (Karen)Love Bill Nighy's line about sleeping with Britney Spears and she's rubbish. He may definitely steal this movie. I LOL'd at that one too! She is rubbish, imo. Was too stupid at Sundance this year.

Obrigado Dorine and Karen! I can't listen to it here but the quality is so much better and I agree Dorine this version sems more interesting! He is looking as beautiful as ever! Back to watching it Buster Keaton style...

Thank you ladies! Funny how both films are screening at 12 noon on 9/8.

I'll chime in; Love love love ... love love love, this was all I needed today, thank you very much, ladies ;-) Lots of lovely shots of ODB. He actually keeps getting better and better looking IMHO :-)

Thanks for the trailer info. Huge gets all the best lines, but that's to be expected. I do like it, but one thing strikes me as very implausible in Colin's part: no one today would risk losing "half the book" by typing it on a manual typewriter instead of a laptop computer. They've thrown in this completely contrived scenario just to give the maid a reason to take her clothes off and jump into the water. I'm sure many people involved have viewed this film already, and I'm surprised this type of boneheaded thing remains in it.