“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” won the big-screen weekend, but as far as I’m concerned, the real news yesterday was the return of Dr. Horrible at the Emmys.

Sure, it was only a two-minute bit, but the marvelous chemistry between Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion is as strong as ever, and both actors have clearly refined their characters — I think I detected a little Ronald Colman spin on Fillion’s oblivious enthusiasm as the good Cap’n. And they shoot those in one take, you know. Impressive.

In other news, yes, I watched the frickin’ Emmys. But it was exactly what I needed after ten days of TIFFing. No subtitles and no subtleties, just a long line of shiny things and actors I mostly respect.

And Neil Patrick Harris, of course. Attention must be paid.

Well, that’s all she wrote for another year: TIFF wrapped up pleasantly and inoffensively yesterday afternoon with the announcement of its awards. The People’s Choice prize went to “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ By Sapphire”; the Canadian feature film prize went to Ruba Nadda’s “Cairo Time” and the Canadian first-feature prize went to “The Wild Hunt” — and hey, I’ve seen that one!

But now that it’s all over, we can get back to our real lives — spend time outside, see our families and friends, and shift back to our usual frivolous pursuits … like, oh, this week’s MSN Movies gallery, which uses Matt Damon’s unique look in “The Informant!” to goof on other classic examples of ridiculous facial hair.

Yep, that’s me: Talking to Jean-Marc Vallee about the common themes of defiance and identity in “C.R.A.Z.Y.” and “The Young Victoria” one minute, and mocking Nicolas Cage’s “Zandalee” goatee the next. Duality, c’est moi.

How busy has this year’s Toronto film festival been? Everything wraps up today, and yet I’ve still got one more interview scheduled. So while the press corps is gathered at the awards reception, I’ll be in a hotel hallway with six or seven of my fellow TIFFsters, reading the e-mailed press release and scratching my head over one thing or another.

To keep you entertained until the news breaks, here are a couple of brief pieces I’ve written up for the NOW site — a chat with Terry Gilliam, whose “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” repeats tonight, and an interview with Roberto Hernandez and Geoffrey Smith, whose excellent documentary “Presumed Guilty” enjoys its third screening at 4 pm.

Tickets should still be available for both films, if you need something to do on this fine fall afternoon …

Things are supposed to slow down as TIFF enters its final movement, but I’m still a little rushed. This morning, I’ve got to write up my interview with the directors of the excellent documentary “Presumed Guilty“, and then I’m off to another wave of sit-downs and screenings. But the end is in sight, and about bloody time.

Also, it’s Friday, so there are movies to see.

“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”: A children’s book becomes the latest 3D CGI family comedy. Andrew liked it a lot, and anything that exposes wee ones to Bill Hader and Anna Faris is fine by me.

“The Informant!“: Steven Soderbergh’s latest challenge to himself: Make a corporate comedy set in the first half of the 1990s from the perspective of its doltish, self-deluding protagonist. Matt Damon is frankly incredible in this, but he makes it look so easy that no one’s going to notice.

“Jennifer’s Body“: Diablo Cody’s script isn’t all it’s cracked up to be (and director Karyn Kusama doesn’t know how to sell its sillier aspects), but Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried have real chemistry, and the horror stuff — as photographed by the talented M. David Mullen — is fun. Lower your expectations appropriately.

“Love Happens”: In which the understanding Jennifer Aniston helps a grieving Aaron Eckhart find his smile, or something. The title alone suggests the studio just didn’t care, so why should we?

“Pour Elle”: Diane Kruger goes from “Inglourious Basterds” to regular old infamy in Fred Cavaye’s thriller, playing a woman accused of murder whose husband (Vincent Lindon) must find a way to break her out of le prison. Glenn says it works, but not as well as it could have … and it’ll be on DVD in ten days, so don’t knock yourself out rushing to the Royal.

TIFF may be winding down, but we’re nowhere near finished; today, I’ve got interviews with the likes of Marco Bellocchio, Terry Gilliam and Samantha Morton — directors all! — and several pieces that need writing. Might even squeeze a couple of movies in there, because I’m a masochist.

If you’re not totally sick of festival coverage, check out today’s NOW for my interview with Jason Reitman, director of TIFF hit “Up in the Air” and producer of this year’s Midnight Madness opener “Jennifer’s Body”, which opens tomorrow. And if you’re looking for a movie recommendation for the remaining days of the festival, we’ve got some rush-line-worthy suggestions.

Hey, it’s what we do.

I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself here, but have you ever had one of those conversations with someone where you end up re-evaluating almost everything you think you know about that person?

I had one of those yesterday, and it led me to this shocking epiphany: Nicolas Cage knows exactly what he is doing.

I’ve gotta run, but I just thought I’d put that out there. Totally crushes your mind-grapes, doesn’t it?

By now you’ve heard that Patrick Swayze has died, age 57. That seems kind of unfair. I have nothing else to say about it, really, except that I hope his passing was as easy as possible, and that the iconography of the 1980s would be very different without “Red Dawn” and “Dirty Dancing”.

In other news, this afternoon’s interviews include George A. Romero, Nicolas Cage and Werner Herzog. I will try to get them to commit to making a musical together.

I do so love my job.

TIFF may be in full swing, but in the outside world, people are still going to the movies. Actually, there’s a festival connection to this week’s box-office report; while “Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself” was clawing its way to the top spot with a $24 million gross, Perry himself was right here at the Four Seasons, participating in the press junket for the TIFF gala “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ By Sapphire” with the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige.

I was elsewhere in the building, at the “Up in the Air” round tables, so I couldn’t ask how the hell Perry wound up in the “Star Trek” movie. We still need an answer on that one.

And before you ask: No, I didn’t meet Oprah. Didn’t even see her. But the elevator did stop on her floor briefly, and when the doors opened I swear you could smell freshly baked pie and hear the sighing of cherubs.

Okay, I made up the pie thing. But you’d totally believe it, right?

To prove that we’re down with the kids and their handheld convergence devices, the NOW film team (Glenn, Susan and myself) has been instructed to tweet. So I’m tweeting.

It’s kind of inane, but I think that may be the point. You can find our tiny, pointless musings here — if you’re already on Twitter, the follow code is @nowfilm. Is that what they call it? A follow code?

Anyway, if you’re curious, try to figure out which posts are mine. The zombie one is a given, obviously. And then, when you’re ready to read something moderately more substantial, check out my latest MSN Movies gallery, which uses “Whiteout” as a springboard to look at thrillers set in remote locations. (I’m particularly proud of the “Snakes on a Plane” item.)

And now I’m off to bag more interviews, starting with Joel and Ethan Coen. Yes, really. Some days are just more awesome than others, you know?

How busy, you ask? Check out my appearance on CTV News Channel yesterday, shot between the “Defendor” interviews and the “Up in the Air” screening. That faraway look in my eyes? It’s because I couldn’t focus on anything.

But that’s because I’m working very hard to make sure good movies get seen. Here’s my interview with director Philip Hoffman, whose film “All Fall Down” premiered earlier this afternoon. There’s another show scheduled for tomorrow, so if it sounds like something you’d want to see … well, go see it! Seriously, you don’t need me to tell you this stuff.