TIFF: Matt Damon Brings The Funny To “The Informant!” Press Conference
Written by Paige Muller on September 19, 2009
Tofu: bland and boring. but with the chameleon-like ability to take on the qualities of its surroundings and completely blend in.
That pretty much sums up my initial opinion of Matt Damon.
I was at Starbucks in Yorkville (primo celeb stalking grounds in downtown Toronto during the film fest) and spotted him getting a vente something or other with his wife and no one recognized him! The paps outside were a clue that he wasn’t just your average Joe but still, I overheard someone comment that they really liked him in “Trainspotting.” Uh, not even close lady. The lack of an accent should have been a tip off, don’t ‘cha think?
IMHO, Damon was over-rated in “Good Will Hunting,” perfectly adequate in the Bourne franchise and pleasant in the Ocean’s flicks but didn’t really stand out from the more compelling personalities of George Clooney (everything at TIFF seems to lead back to Clooney!) and Brad Pitt.
Based on the trailer for the trailer and early buzz, ponying up $10 for tickets to see “The Informant!” wouldn’t be a G.I. Joe-sized waste of two hours, but I wasn’t exactly gaga at the idea of spending 20-minutes parked on an uncomfortable folding chair listening to the usual “it was such an honor to work with (insert name here)” hot air at the afternoon press conference.
Still, what the hell. It’s not as if opportunities like this come up every day in my regular hum drum life.
First, some background: Directed by Steven Soderbergh, “The Informant!” is an unlikely comedy (if the oddly punctuated title didn’t give it away, a gander at Damon’s porno ’stache and bad wig should have) telling the somewhat fictionalized, but essentially true, story of Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon), a company man who works for an outfit that turns corn dextrose into money (to use his boss’s formulation). It’s set in Decatur, Ill., circa a frumpy-looking version of 1992, an era when the security of company men was beginning to dissolve like so many corn starch-based biodegradable garbage bags.
A member of the media asked Damon if his internal monologue resembles Whitacre’s; throughout the film, the protagonist’s internal monologue interrupts at random times and with sometimes seemingly random content.
[Like this: How many people are here because they really give a crap about this movie or are they just claiming seats for the Clooney press conference right after? Dude, Soderburgh looks like he'd rather be giving blood than chatting up this movie. Que paso, Mr. Cranky Pants?]
Damon responded by having screenwriter Scott Burns talk while the actor talked over him.
[Oh no, with all the laughing I can’t hear what either one of them is saying and there’s no way my tape recorder’s picking it up either. It’s probably funny, too. Matt Damon is funny.]
The dutiful question about Oscar hopes came up, and Soderbergh deflected it, as if prepared, by responding, “I want the film to make money. I have principles.”
Damon chimes in with, “I added up all the things that seem to win awards — weight gain, bad wigs, period piece — so that’s why we did it,” which gets a hearty round of laughter.
Again with the funny! Is this breaking news or did I just not get the memo that Damon is quite the quipster?
[And to think the Oscar question was one of the most thoughtful and pertinent ones. I mean, how many reporters asked how Damon gained and then took off the extra weight for the role? Four? Why do people always ask that question, anyway? The answer’s always the same: “I ate a lot to gain weight, I exercised to take it off.” What other answer do they want?]
More chuckles when Damon says that his daughter thought his added girth made him “squishy” and his wife liked that “there was more of him to love.” Awwww!
Ok, so my initial opinion of Damon was pretty meh, but that’s it. I like him now.
I still stand by my assessment of “Good Will Hunting” though.
[Total aside: am I the only one who hears the song "Informer" running through their head whenever they see or hear the movie title? Anyone, anyone? Buller?]
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Filed Under: Entertainment, ParcLIVE!
Tags: 2009 TIFF, celebrity, Entertainment, hollywood, matt damon, Movies, steven soderbergh, The Informant, TIFF, toronto international film festival
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