The Toronto Film Festival opened on Thursday with an outcry against the fest’s City to City program, which spotlights Tel Aviv this year. Some prominent names in the industry — including Harry Belafonte, Jane Fonda, Julie Christie and Viggo Mortensen — are protesting the inclusion in light of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. One filmmaker, John Greyson, withdrew his doc “Covered” in protest, although the group, led by writer Naomi Klein, says that their protest is not a boycott. Their letter is called “The Toronto Declaration — No Celebration of Occupation.”

I will admit he is a good actor, since watching him as Aragorn, one could be convinced he is a hero.

Meanwhile, some other celebrities have joined Jon Voight in speaking out against this anti-Israel protest.

TORONTO, Sept. 10 /CNW/ – Leading members of the film industry are speaking out against the group that opposes the Toronto International Film Festival’s spotlight on Tel Aviv. Judging films, they say, by their country of origin rather than the quality of the artistic product, is censorship. “I am against censorship in all its forms. The attempts to stop TIFF’s City to City spotlight on Tel Aviv amount to political censorship. I am against it.” David Cronenberg, Filmmaker.

“Empowered groups of people, deciding whose stories can, and cannot be told, does nothing but remind us of oppression that has no place in film-making.” Minnie Driver, Actor.

“The recent attack on Israeli films at TIFF is an attempt to politicize art. It has been demonstrated that in Israel, artists are free to create work, which often is critical of their own society. “Waltz with Bashir” was nominated for an Academy Award last year, despite its criticism of Israeli government policy. This recent attempt at political censorship smacks of anti-Semitic bigotry. Let’s keep political hatred out of the artistic community. Artists should treat each other with respect and support regardless of religion, colour, or nationality. You can have a great career and become a Hollywood legend – but there’s a spirit of humanity and caring for others – that we are honouring tonight and we thank you for coming to Toronto.” Norman Jewison, Filmaker.

“Israel is the only country in the Middle East where films are made without censorship of any sort. Films that are critical of the country, or some aspect of Israeli society, even the Israel Defense Forces, are made freely, without interference and with the State’s financial support. Witness last year’s Academy Award nominated Waltz With Bashir, which, despite its ferocious criticism of Israel, was largely funded by the Israel Film fund, a government agency. The attack on TIFF is a vile attempt by a gang of fashionable bigots to use coercive tactics to stifle voices they don’t like. These are not crusaders for justice. If they were, they would be alarmed by films from countries like Malaysia (where a woman gets lashes for wearing trousers), China and Iran where civil liberties are in short supply. But these vigilantes have no stomach for standing up to ruthless totalitarian regimes. They prefer to wage their crusade against a tried and tested target: Jews. Today, Jewish filmmakers from Tel Aviv get their turn. Their brand of political censorship is at odds with the most cherished values of Canadian society: Freedom of expression and freedom of choice. Bigotry like theirs has no place at the Toronto International Film Festival.” Robert Lantos, Filmmaker.

“Film is essentially about telling global stories – of exploring the complexities and contradictions of the human condition. Any attempt to silence that conversation – to hijack the festival for any political agenda in the end, only serves to silence artistic voices.” Ivan Reitman, Filmmaker.

“Back in the early 1970’s when I was performing at the newly founded Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto Free Theatre and Factory Lab Theatre, Toronto police had what was called a “Morality Squad” to protect the population from unseemly material. I remember an early production by playwright Hrant Alianak was seen by the squad and deemed unworthy of public performance. They threatened that if the show wasn’t closed immediately, the next night anyone onstage could be arrested and charged – and so over fifty well-known Toronto artists like Pierre Berton sat on the stage the next night and dared the police to arrest them. That night effectively ended the power of Toronto’s Morality Squad. Censorship has reared its ugly head now and again, against all kinds of art, for all kinds of reasons. The reasons invariably suit only the agenda of the one doing the censoring – as if the same specious logic couldn’t be turned on them one day.” Saul Rubinek, Actor and Director.

“The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has been hijacked by a group of so-called activists bent on furthering their agenda – to demonize Jews and to marginalize Israel, in order to bring about the destruction of the Jewish State. Clearly, they do not support a two state solution. By objecting to a “spotlight” on Tel Aviv they are saying that no place in Israel is legitimate. From their twisted perspective, everything that Israel does is – by definition – illegitimate and everything that the enemies of Israel do is – by definition – legitimate. This is anti-Semitism in its crudest form. Furthermore, they have chosen to align themselves with Gaza’s Hamas regime that stands for terrorism, fundamentalism and totalitarianism. It is a Holocaust denying organization that is against Jews, Christians, gays and women. There is no worse regime in the world and yet Naomi Klein, John Greyson and company have chosen to identify themselves with it. You can tell a person by their friends.” Simcha Jacobovici, Filmmaker.

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OOOGA BOOGA!!!

Story here.

Answer under the fold.

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Answer: Bruce Willis

[source]

Even conservative Muslim Iran, which would not usually concern itself with reporting on a Western film star, marked his death. Two pro-reform newspapers displayed the actor on front pages while Iran’s state media also reported his death.

The Etemad newspaper, published Newman’s picture, saying “Fading away the last classic star” and the Kargozaran daily said “End of the blue-eyed boy.”

I’m guessing they never saw Exodus, nor read this Time Magazine article:

The journey to this poignant, uneven movie, through a succession of worse and better ones, began in Cleveland Heights, a comfortable suburb of Cleveland, where Paul was born in 1925. He was the second son of Arthur S. Newman, a prosperous Jewish partner in a sporting-goods store, and Theresa Fetzer, a Hungarian-descended Catholic. By the time Paul and his brother Arthur, now 58, a film production manager living in Lake Arrowhead, Calif., were children, Theresa was a Christian Scientist. Paul’s exposure to that faith did not make any lasting impression (he has followed no religion as an adult, but calls himself a Jew, “because it’s more of a challenge”).

Colin Farrell is reportedly abandoning his Catholic faith to convert to Judaism for new girlfriend Emma Forrest.

The actor, 32, has been dating British novelist Forrest since June, but the romance appears to be turning serious.

The couple attended a West Hollywood party for Heeb magazine at MBar earlier this month, where Farrell was seen wearing a chain with a Star of David pendant around his neck, according to the New York Post’s Page Six.

A source adds that Forrest was seen doing “a striptease burlesque act to traditional Jewish music”.

Colin Farrell a Jew? No #@@!$!% way!

Sir Paul McCartney has insisted his first show in Israel will go ahead, despite pressure from campaigners who want him to cancel it.

The 65-year-old will perform some of his biggest Beatles and solo hits at the Tel Aviv gig later this month.

But protesters asked him to reconsider over Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and its Gaza Strip blockade.

He told newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth: “I refused. I do what I think, and I have many friends who support Israel.”

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In a statement confirming the concert on McCartney’s website last month, he said: “I’ve heard so many great things about Tel Aviv and Israel, but hearing is one thing and experiencing it for yourself is another.

“We are planning to have a great time and a great evening. We can’t wait to get out there and rock.”

Roseanne Barr continues to cry for mental help on her blog, with her recent attention venom being turned to Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

In her latest post dedicated to Palin, Barr lets it be known she would like to kill her.

palin is perfect

for the republicans’ very first ever woman candidate! She has warped ethics, little concern for her family, and likes to draw down on endangered species from a helicopter, steal publicly owned property, and say anything she is paid enough to say.

She is an insult to american women. I would like to challenge sarah palin to a gun dual (sic) in a target practice setting!! I can shoot 100 times more accurately than she can, I just know it!

Perhaps, but Palin would have a much larger target to aim at.

Update: Reader Joseph thinks Barr is challenging Palin to a competition involving paper targets (rather than each other). I am still not sure.

Update: I’ve read it a few more times, and even consulted with the missus. I may have missed the mark on this one.

Meanwhile, here’s a joke Barr deemed fit to post twice.

What’s the difference between a pit bull and the now-famous hockey mom from the RNC?

One’s a vicious, jacked-up bitch that likes to kill animals,

The other one is a dog.

Michael Jackson is reportedly dating Pamela Anderson.

Pop legend Michael, 50, has met former Baywatch star Pammy, 41, for two dates in Malibu, California, sparking rumours the pair are enjoying a budding romance.

A source told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper: “It was all arranged by their people in total secrecy, very cloak and dagger.

More like cloak and scalpel.

Baldwin, 50, says he’s “entering that Clinton phase” where young women tell him, “In spite of the fact that you don’t look like a young leading man anymore, I’d quite like to throw you down on this blanket right now.”

He’s no doubt leaving out the part about taking the blanket and trying to smother him with it.