Irate Movie Critic Calls 911 on Cell Phone Users

A movie blogger irate about the use of cell phones during a Toronto International Film Festival screening called 911 to report the offense. At a midnight screening yesterday, FirstShowing.net blogger Alex Billington became increasingly annoyed by constant texting and emailing at a screening for press and film industry members. After first complaining to theater managers, Billington took the extreme step of dialing the police.

He said the emergency dispatcher laughed at his complaint—and he's taken some heat for not taking first responders' time seriously—but Billington took to Twitter to vent his anger. He claimed to be concerned that the movie, the horror film The Sacrament, was being pirated, and that "drastic measures" were called for in restoring moviegoing etiquette. "I'm just trying to fight the good fight," wrote Billington, "even if others don't agree with my methods." | Variety #end.