Yesterday marked the first full day of the Edinburgh Film Festival, and the real business of film began with dozens of films and events on the cards.

Robin Wright Penn brought star power to Edinburgh as she premiered The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, from The Ballad of Jack and Rose director Rebecca Miller. Adapted from her own novel, the film is the tale of a devoted wife and mother who moves into a retirement community with her much-older husband and suffers from something of a nervous breakdown. Struggling to come to terms with her place in the world, she goes on a journey of self-discovery through which she strikes up a friendship with her neighbour's stoner adult son (Keanu Reeves).

Robin Wright Penn in Edinburgh.

Matthew Turner of Viewlondon writes that the film is, "a well written, wonderfully acted drama that's both a pleasurable and engaging experience." He adds, "Miller's script is laced with dark humour throughout and there are some nice offbeat moments."

Darren Amner is less enthusiastic for Eyeforfilm, nonetheless giving a three-star score. The script, he says is, "very wry, funny and emotionally charged," but that, "tonally it was a little off, when moving to a more serious place, and this made for a slightly unsatisfying viewing experience."

Check out our gallery of shots from the red carpet of The Private Lives of Pippa Lee last night. Click here.

Also on the agenda was the premiere of The Boy Called Dad, starring 14-year-old Kyle Ward as a fatherless teen who gets a girl pregnant. As he meets up with his absentee dad, and discovers he's still as unreliable as ever, he fixes to do right by his own young son, and a troubled scuffle with the mother's boyfriend results in him running away with the baby in tow.

Angus Wolfe Murray writes for Eyeforfilm that, "Rutterford's attempt at gritty realism doesn't advance beyond dialogue. There are no surprises ... and the ending has been accepted into the next edition of The History Of Failed Finales as a classic humclanger."

Check out our gallery of shots from the red carpet of A Boy Called Dad last night. Click here.

Roger Corman Retrospective by Kim Newman
Every day during the festival, Edinburgh will be showing one of B-movie legend Roger Corman's classics, leading up to a Q&A with the man himself -- hosted by our very own Kim Newman - on Wednesday 24th. In celebration, Kim will be reviewing each of the films playing as part of our coverage of the festival.

- The Pit and the Pendulum - Screening Friday 19th at 13:00, Filmhouse 1
"... from that day forth, the very thought of premature interment was enough to drive your brother into convolutions of horror!" An instant reunion of the Corman-Price-Poe-Matheson team from The House of Usher, this throws in big-eyed British 'scream queen' Barbara Steele and one of those lovers-plot-to-drive-the-husband-insane storylines. Price lords it over a Spanish castle, complete with torture dungeon, and fears he is being taken over by a sadistic ancestor who was a leading light in the Inquisition. It's all a set-up for the last reel pendulum scene, in which the razor of doom slices repeatedly across the breadth of the wide screen.

Today's Highlights
Keep an eye out for these films amongst those playing at the festival today, Friday 19th May.

- Hurt Locker -- Screening at 20:15, Cineworld
Point Break director Kathryn Bigelow casts Jeremy Rener in a war film set in post-conflict Iraq.

- Harmony and Me -- Screening at 21:00, Filmhouse 2
Super low-budget anti-romcom about a man recovering from a breakup.

- Wasted -- Screening at 21:10, Cineworld
Powerful drama about Scotland's disaffected youth.

- White Lightnin' -- Screening at 22:30, Cameo 1
Biopic of Appalachian mountain dancer Jesco White with Ed Hogg and Carrie Fisher.

Also On
Radio DJ Simon Mayo will be joined by renowned film critic Mark Kermode to record a special live version of the Simon Mayo show from the festival today. Starting at 13:00 at the Cineworld, the pair will bring their unique brand of "Wittertainment" to Edinburgh and special guests will include Jimi Mistry amongst others. Entry is free.

To book tickets for these films and events and more, click here. Join us again soon for more on these films and the Edinburgh Film Festival 2009.