Question: What do a Hobbit, a girl named Annie, and a TV show that no one knows anything about have in common?
Answer: They all played a part in the 2nd full day at TIFF this year.

My day started the same way everyday at TIFF starts. Snoring myself awake. That’s a talent. Believe me. After an hour of lying there, partially dreading my upcoming day, I pulled myself together and hit the road.

The first movie for me today was a documentary called Boxing Gym. It was about World War II. I’m kidding. Clearly, it was about lacrosse. Boxing Gym was directed by Frederick Wiseman and it was about Richard Lord’s boxing gym. Who is Richard Lord? He’s a trainer down in Austin, Texas who has trained numerous world champions like Jesus Chavez and “The Assassin” Anissa Zamaron. What I really liked about this was that it was different than most documentaries that I’ve seen. There was no music, no voice-over commentary, just 90 minutes of footage of the sights and sounds and conversations at the gym. The other great thing about this flick was how I bypassed the line and got into the theatre first. I went to go in the theatre and the volunteer stopped me and I just told him the ‘other girl’ told me to go right in. He let me in. Greg 1 – Volunteer 0. In all seriousness, the volunteers at the AMC were all pretty good and there didn’t seem to be a douchebag among them.

I had to take a subway to my next film and before I go any further, I need to talk about something. Plastered all over the TTC stations are posters for the new fall TV season, but the majority are of this show called Burn Notice. Now, I’m aware that there was an SNL sketch about the same thing, but seriously….what the fuck is Burn Notice? I know it’s a show, but where did it come from? Does anyone watch it? Why is it being promoted like it’s the greatest thing on TV? The lead actor looks like a tool. It must be popular. Anyway…

While waiting in line for my next film, there’s a girl standing in front of me and I deduce that she is going to see the same movie I am. I have a debate inside my head on whether I should talk to her and I can’t decide so I fire of a text to my friend Paige to ask what movie line-up etiquette is. She says I should buy her popcorn. At first reaction, that seems weird. I haven’t even said hello yet, but Paige assumed I wasn’t a full on coward and had already passed that point. Fair enough. She says I should talk to her. Pat me on the back, cause I did. Her name was Annie and she works at the court house. I said “oh you’re a judge?” and that got a laugh. Not bad, eh? We chatted a little more and it came time to go in the theatre, I passed her my card and told her to e-mail me if she wants to grab coffee and hang out in a line again. Everyone cross your fingers. By the way, Juno director Jason Reitman came out and handed out some free tickets to the movie. I did not get a free one. Bastard.

The movie I saw was the new documentary from Errol Morris called Tabloid. It was about a southern beauty pageant queen and her 168 I.Q. and the story of how she became world famous by “kidnapping” her boyfriend from the Mormons. I used quotes because he claimed it was kidnapping to avoid the anger of the Mormons while she said it was a weekend of fun, food and sex. I can’t imagine how a weekend of fun, food and sex could be bad. There’s something about an Errol Morris documentary that I love. I can’t quite explain what it is though. Got to meet him after the screening. Kind of an awkward guy, but pretty humble. I tried to spot Annie after the movie, but no dice.

I headed out down King St. and walked past the Hobbit who was on Lost. He was in a big hurry. A little further up a guy asks if I support local music. I said I did and he told me he was selling copies of his new hip-hop album. His name is Cuzn Joe and his album is called My Hobbies Make Me $$$$. I would have bought it just for that title alone. He didn’t think I was a hip-hop fan because of my Guns ‘N Roses t-shirt, but I told him I grew up on Public Enemy, Beastie Boys and Run DMC. I told him I saw A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul play a show about 15 years ago. He seemed impressed at my obvious street cred, so I bought his CD.

Finally, I had some time to kill, but I couldn’t find anything decent playing at TIFF, so I went and caught a screening of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Working in a bookstore, I hear a lot of feedback on the book. 98% of it is extremely positive. I haven’t read the book, but I really liked the movie a lot. The Girl was pretty badass and her revenge on her rapist might be the best revenge I’ve ever seen. Worth it just for that.

There’s a crossdresser making eyes at me from across the table at this internet cafe I’m on. I wish I could tell you it was a woman dressed as a man. Sadly, it is not. Moving on…

Two, three or possibly 4 movies tomorrow. Should be a good one.