From the streets of Southie

You can believe the hype about "What Doesn't Kill You," Brian Goodman's grim but hopeful movie about growing up on the mean streets of South Boston. Well-received at the Toronto International Film Festival, the pic packs a wallop. So says Mark Ruffalo, who plays Goodman in the film. "I'd rate this up there with any of the movies I've been part of," says the actor, whose credits include "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and Martin Scorsese's latest, "Ashecliffe." The film, shot in Southie a year ago, screens tonight at Brandeis, and Ruffalo and Goodman will be there to talk about it. (The movie also stars Ethan Hawke, Amanda Peet, and Donnie Wahlberg.) Ruffalo hadn't spent much time in Massachusetts, but found himself charmed by South Boston. He says "What Doesn't Kill You" derives much of its emotional power from the people and the place. "There's an autodidactic love of ideas and language there," he said. "It's tough and blue-collar, but the people have a real intelligence." Goodman, a recovering alcoholic who spent time locked up at the former Walpole State Prison, told us he has modest goals for his directorial debut. "This isn't a gangster movie. It's about a time in my life when I wanted to stop grinding it out on the street," he said. "Hopefully, at the end of the film, two people in the theater will look at each other and say, 'That's a good story.' "

British actor Robert Pattinson still can't believe his fairly anonymous life is over. OK, maybe in LA he has to huddle in the house, subsisting on his frozen favorites, Hot Pockets. But the star of the upcoming movie "Twilight" can still go home, right? "I still think I can go back to London," mused the 22-year-old, who plays vampire hottie Edward Cullen in the film, which opens Friday. "If it's the same there, I'll be worried." He's referring to the masses of crying fans he met in Philly Thursday and the San Francisco fan event that was canceled Monday after thousands of girls stampeded. Pattinson, in town yesterday before a meet-and-greet at Square One Mall in Saugus, said when girls tell him they love him, "I ask everyone why. And they can't answer," he said. For now, he's just trying to enjoy the ride. "As long as I don't say anything and break their fantasy," he cracked.

Designer Issey Miyake is expected at a fashion show hosted by the nonprofit Project East tonight at Harvard. The charity show and auction also features the work of Jen Kao, Manish Arora, Lu Kun, and many others, with proceeds funding arts education for inner-city kids at Boston's Artists for Humanity.

Hampton Beach deserves a love letter, does it not? But producer Mark Constance says locals might not recognize the spot chosen for the backdrop of "Killing Dinner," a short he just finished shooting with co-producer Tracey Becker and writer/director Mitch Ganem. "I like to make films that look like postcards," said Constance, a Granite State native and assistant director for "Charlie's Angels" and "Fever Pitch." "At the Hampton Beach State Park . . . there's sea grass, dunes, and hills. It's beautiful." The plot, however, is more gritty. Constance describes it as a black comedy about a trio of ex-assassins involved in a love triangle, in the spirit of Quentin Tarantino and David Mamet. Stars include Brett Cullen, of "Lost," and local actors Neil McGarry of "Brotherhood" and Molly Schreiber, who worked on "Edge of Darkness." He hopes to have it finished by December, and ready to send to film festivals. Next up: fellow New Hampshirite Ganem, Becker, and Constance hope to collaborate on the long-planned "Losing Jerry," a buddy film about three Grateful Dead fans.

Bruins players and management shared a toast to the 2009 season with some of their favorite fans at Nebo Thursday following the team's win against the Montreal Canadiens. The bash, hosted by restaurant owners Christine and Carla Pallotta, drew Blake Wheeler, Mark Stuart, and Milan Lucic.

Los Angeles is a far cry from Framingham, says Nancy Travis, who lived not far from the Mass. Pike as a teenager. And the difference is most distinct during the holidays. "Forget about snow on Christmas," the actress told us the other day, "we just hope it's overcast." While shooting tonight's holiday-themed episodes of her TBS comedy, "The Bill Engvall Show," Travis said it was actually sweltering. Some might lose the will to celebrate the holidays in shorts and flip-flops, but not Travis. "Nah," she said. "I grew up with Christmas."

Seriously Bent, Suffolk University's student comedy troupe, will compete (for the second year running) against three other regional teams at the national College Improv Tournament in Chicago today. The 10 students, all from New England, won the honor last month at the East Coast regionals, where they beat out Emerson, Northeastern, and other college teams with a funny, improvised rap about God.

Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.