Forrest grump
On the home stretch of the Edinburgh International Film Festival and by Spielberg if my feet aren’t killing me. You expect to do some walking at these gigs, but Edinburgh involves a Forrest Gump-like trek between the main venues and the press centre. While the Cameo and Filmhouse are a couple of streets away from each other, Cineworld at Fountain Park is a 15 minute hike down the road. Try doing that half hour round trip three times a day with a ten ton laptop on your back. I have now asked the press office for a sedan chair with four willing helpers to transport me in the style to which I’m unaccustomed. Someone will get back to me, apparently.


It’s been a weird old week so far. Moving the festival to June was supposed to bring in more crowds. Until precise ticket sale figures are released we won’t know if that has happened. The place is quiet though, too quiet. While it makes a pleasant change from August, when the thirty-three ring circus of the main festival and Fringe make the capital a madhouse, there’s a noticeable lack of buzz. Or maybe I’ve been sitting by the side of the road weeping over my weeping blisters when all the thrilling stuff has been happening.


The festival opened with a whimper with the gorgeous but slightly disappointing Edge of Love, but there have been some finds since, The Wackness, The Visitor and Man on Wire being favourites so far. All three go on general release during the coming months.


Tomorrow is the big event - the press show for Pixar’s Wall. E. The public screening is on Saturday, and should bring in the kind of crowd that will help justify the move from August. As for my feet, they might just have recovered in time for next year’s bash.


Coming soon
Next week: Grown up story, grown up ideas in New York-set immigration drama .
July 11: Make a return visit to Billy Wilder’s classic The Apartment.
July 18: Eddie Murphy plays a man possessed by aliens in the comedy Meet Dave.
July 25: Merchant Ivory tries to make hearts flutter in the period romance Before the Rains.
August 1: A tale of human daring and ingenuity in the documentary Man on Wire.


Pick of the week
Wanted - McAvoy, Jolie, and a whole lot of SFX.