Toronto film fest lacking Oscar sheen

September 09, 2008 Since the Academy Awards calendar was shortened in 2003, the fall film festival has typically served to separate contenders from pretenders. In the past several years, it vaulted the Oscar hopes of "Last King of Scotland" star Forest Whitaker and best picture candidates like "Atonement" and eventual best picture winner "No Country for Old Men" while sinking the ambitions of hopefuls like "All the King's Men." Instead of giving films an awards bounce, Toronto has served mainly to boost the commercial prospects of such entertainments as "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," "Burn After Reading" and "Zack and Miri Make a Porno."

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