Hype or Hit?

After all the hype, the blag and the gossip, was the 43rd London Film Festival actually any good? Well, judging by the number of egos who landed this year, occasionally unannounced (stand up please Robbie Williams and Brad Pitt), and judging by the record box-office takings, the festival organisers can bask in the warm glow of a job well-done. There were some great parties but two in particular stand out, for the simple reason that the films they promoted were strong enough to create a massive buzz of excitement. The first was Being John Malkovich, held at Denim. The gliterati stepped out in force to sample the free champagne and sushi, including Bjork, the Coppolas Sofia and Roman, Fatboy Slim and of course, director of the film and man of the moment, Spike Jonze. Let's give a big hand too for Christina Ricci, who dispensed with etiquette by abandoning the VIP area to come and hang out with us plebs - nice one Christina. John Malkovich didn