Toronto Film Festival: 'Rust And Bone' Doesn't Disappoint

By Karen McDevitt, CBS Detroit Blogger

After only the first day, the Toronto International Film Festival is in full swing. Exclusive parties (and scuttlebutt about them) abound, including one for which, apparently, even the furniture was flown in from France.

As for the films, last night's premiere of Jacques Audiard's "Rust and Bone" did not disappoint.

Well, let me rephrase that a bit. The Elgin Theatre (I was able to get a seat in the beautiful balcony!) did not disappoint, and French actress / singer Marion Cotillard's performance as a killer-whale trainer who endures a frightful accident, was outstanding. Let's just say the film itself is, perhaps, in need of a final edit.

Oh, but Ms. Cotillard! As the masses entered the theatre, she stood just inside, under the bright lights of various media and anxious paparazzi (everyone of us, that is, passing by with smart phones in-hand). Onscreen, she makes the audience believe the impossible.

Cotillard's character, Stephanie, in "Rust and Bone" differs dramatically from her Edith Piaf in "La vie en rose," her Miranda in "The Dark Knight Rises," and her Adriana in "Midnight in Paris." And this, of course, is testament to her abilities to draw us in, and to draw us in closely.

One of the features of attending premieres – be they great or not-so-great – is that the principals are in attendance. The director, stars, and producers of "Rust and Bone" appeared onstage prior to last night's premiere, charming us all, in both English and French.

I am hoping to see more filmmakers today at the premieres of Norway's "Kon-Tiki" and Japan's "The Land of Hope."

Did I mention that this is the Toronto INTERNATIONAL Film Festival?

As the Detroit Film Theatre's Curator of Film, Elliot Wilhelm, reminded a group of us Detroiters at a breakfast gathering this morning, you can see just about anything at TIFF. And, the cross-section of genres and film styles offered this year is second to none.

In fact, says Elliot, some of his best TIFF experiences over the years have resulted from NOT getting into special (and especially hyped) Press & Industry screenings. "At some point," he notes, "you stumble into a film not touted in advance, and you make a discovery . . . it turns out to be the film that makes you want to grab everyone by the lapels to say 'you must see this movie!' This was the case," he adds, "when I saw the South Korean film Oldboy. An 'accidental' discovery like this is one of the great joys of the festival experience."

Indeed. I expect to make some great film discoveries (and experience those joys) myself over the next few days. Here's to TIFF 2012, a wonderfully international flavor of films, and the amazement of the new. With or without French furniture in tow.

Karen McDevitt teaches film and new media classes for Wayne State University's Department of Communication.