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tiff 2012

The cast of the film "Spring Breakers", (from L to R) Ashley Benson, Vanessa Hudgens, James Franco, Selena Gomez and Rachel Korine pose at a news conference during the 37th Toronto International Film Festival September 7, 2012.Reuters

Harmony Korine gets the questions he deserves. That was the takeaway from today's press conference for Spring Breakers, the Girls-Gone-Wilder flick starring James Franco with four growing-up teen stars, including Selena Gomez.

With publications from Art Fag City to the Toronto Sun in attendance, the q's were by turns as high-minded and as idiotic as the Gummo director's controversial work. Sometimes they were both: One reporter asked whether the pink balaclavas worn by the movie's bad-girl quartet were an homage to Pussy Riot. "Well, uh, we shot this movie a while ago, before I'd ever heard of them," Korine attempted, "so, it's just... an awesome coincidence."

When I asked if he'd studied any bad-girl movies, like the cheerleader heist flick Sugar & Spice, or perhaps Jawbreaker, Korine said he doesn't watch other films while he's making his own. Instead he listens to music, particularly Memphis rap. We might know which Memphis rappers, had the insufferable James Franco not interrupted Korine's answer.

Later, when an alt weekly reporter who hates us all asked Franco if he's a "hip-hop head," the Hollywood polymath threatened to start a rap career. Hey, I just thought of a great documentary title: Rapocalypse Now.

But the hardest (and dumbest) question was for the four female leads, who were asked how they wanted women to "feel" after the film. After some deliberation, Vanessa Hudgens delivered the presser's best line: "Whether it's robbing someone or starting your own business, I just want women to feel empowered."

Class is dismissed, ladies.

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