Last year the Toronto Film Festival got first dibs on a movie with Oscar potential about the writing of "In Cold Blood." Now "Infamous," another Oscar-caliber film about the same subject, will open the rival Venice Film Festival, which was the launch platform last year for "Brokeback Mountain" (winner of the Golden Lion), "Good Night, and Good Luck" (winner, best actor and screenplay) and "The Constant Gardener."

Competition is currently heating up between the September film festivals over upcoming Oscar hopefuls. Looks like "Babel" and "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" are heading to Canada after their recent prominence at Cannes where "Barley" bagged the Palme D'Or. Rumor has it that Toronto will stage the world premiere of the film adaptation of recent Tony Awards sweeper "The History Boys," but it's not confirmed. Last year, in addition to "Capote," Toronto premiered Oscar hopefuls "Walk the Line," "Mrs. Henderson Presents," "North Country" and "A History of Violence."

Photo: In "Infamous," Sandra Bullock and British actor Toby Jones portray the same characters that earned Oscar notice for Catherine Keener (a nomination as alleged "To Kill a Mockingbird" author Harper Lee) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (a win as You-Know-Who) at the last derby. Harper Lee is the "alleged" novelist because, of course, her trusty, ole childhood chum probably wrote "Mockingbird" for her. An obvious clue: the Pulitzer Prize winner never wrote another book and the one she gets credit for penning sparkles with Trumanesque word gems.
(Warner Independent)