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Toronto International Film Festival 2011

2011-09-25T20:11:00.004-04:00

Don't have the time or space to review all the films I saw at TIFF, but here are some of the better ones. Overall, I would say that there weren't as many standout films for me as in some other years, but the festival is always enjoyable for the ambiance and the audiences.

Shame
Steve McQueen's unflinching drama examines the life of an outwardly successful man in New York City with a sex addiction. Brandon (Michael Fassbender) leads a seemingly normal (albeit lonely) life while hiding his sexual compulsions which include porn, prostitutes, anonymous hookups and excessive masturbation (in the men's room at work, for example). His descent is accelerated as his needy sister (Carey Mulligan) crashes at his sterile apartment and later, an attempt at a normal relationship with a co-worker fails (in his mind, anyway). Brave performances by Fassbender and Mulligan. A hard look at a type of addiction we don't see often portrayed in film.

Pina (documentary)
A visual feast, Pina captures stunning excerpts from some of choreographer Pina Bausch's original works--both in the theatre and in and around the German town that was home to her company, the Tanztheater Wuppertal. Featuring dancers of varying ages, who offer brief reflections on Bausch (who died prior to the filming and is seen only briefly), this dance (which I knew very little of going into the film) is like a whole new way of communication. A powerful and evocative soundtrack also adds to artistry of the film, a tribute to a unique artistic genius.

PINA - Dance, dance, otherwise we are lost - International Trailer from neueroadmovies on Vimeo.

Take This Waltz
In Sarah Polley's Take This Waltz, Michelle Williams plays a writer struggling with a seven year itch. OK, she's actually married five years to Seth Rogan, a cookbook author, and their relationship is amiable but lacking spark. Then along comes Daniel (Luke Kirby) with whom she shares mutual chemistry and attraction. Will she give in to desire or not? Film is also interesting for the matter-of-fact full-frontal female nude scene in the showers at the YMCA. Michelle Williams, Sarah Silverman and assorted middle aged ladies are shown completely naked for an extended scene.

Hysteria
A fun romantic comedy set in Victorian England and dealing with the invention of the vibrator. Hugh Dancy plays a modern-thinking doctor who finds himself fingering women to orgasm while working in the offices of a doctor (Jonathan Pryce) treating women for "hysteria" (what was then a catch-all phrase for assorted female maladies). The doctor's daughter is the emancipated Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a social worker who believes in women's equality. Orgasmic equality is achieved when Dancy and his wealthy friend (played with hilarious dry wit by Rupert Everet) invent the vibrator and thus free women of the need of a man. Light, but fun, with some modern day parallels. Should be a hit with women (and anyone who loves them).

Friends With Kids
Jason (Adam Scott) and Julie (Jennifer Westfeldt, who also directed the film) are bffs. After their friends start having kids they decide to have their own, share parentage, and continue dating other people. Of course, trouble ensues as they struggle to separate their feelings for each other--are they friends or lovers? I really liked the relationship between the two--very much like a straight Will & Grace.

Jesus Christ Superstar (Stratford Festival, 2011)

2011-09-25T20:01:00.003-04:00

Saw Stratford's much-lauded production of Jesus Christ Superstar and, while I can't give it an unqualified rave, I would say that it's a strong and satisfying production of the '70's rock musical, the score of which I love.

Paul Nolan's Jesus was well sung (loved his Gethsemane and his high-pitched rock wail), but he wasn't a very charismatic Jesus--someone who could lead and inspire a band of followers, much less a 'nation.' I wish Josh Young unleashed his voice more: rather than a conflicted Judas, he was a controlled Judas, moping around the perifery. He hit all the notes (and has an appealing voice and pretty face), but lacked edge. Likewise, Chilina Kennedy's Mary Magdalene was capably sung, but lacked yearning. Her pretty, doe-eyed expression made her seem more a fan girl than a devoted disciple.

The standout for me was Bruce Dow's Herod. He has only one scene, one song, but what he does with it. Both menacing and camp, he is funny and scary in his singing and acting. His Herod is a bully who enjoys mocking others. Meanwhile, his fey posse of sychophants prance around the stage beneath a Vegas-sized illuminated "H". Wonderfully over the top.

The industrial-looking set (with a catwalk running around 3 sides) reminded me a bit of Next to Normal, and I yearned for Kevin Adams-style lighting (the actual lighting was otherwise fine). The production works well when it's over the top (the Herod number or the title song, where Jesus is raised on a platform in front of a large illuminated cross) or anachronistic (the contemporary style choreography in the Simon Zealotes number was amusing) and I wouldn't mind seeing them do more of that in the transfer. It's a rock musical, and it does well with a lot of flash and jazz.

Josh Young (Judas) performs the title song, Jesus Christ Superstar:

Bruce Dow's delightfully decadent Herod:

On hiatus

2010-03-14T17:59:00.002-04:00

I've wanted to update this blog for some time, but I clearly haven't. As such, I've decided to put the blog on hiatus. If you want to continue following me you can do so at: http://twitter.com/canmark. At some later date I will start blogging again.

Academy Awards

2010-02-02T19:03:00.004-05:00

The Academy Award nominations were announced today. I think they were mostly fair. I would have liked to have seen Sharlto Copley (District 9) and Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man) get best actor nominations, but whatever. I was happy that District 9 made the best picture cut (too bad Star Trek didn`t make it). Of the 10 best picture nominees I've seen six. The ones I haven't seen are: The Hurt Locker, Inglorious Basterds, The Blind Side, Up.

In the meantime, here are my Top Films of 2009:

Precious, Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
Up in the Air
The Way We Get By (documentary)
Prom Night in Mississippi (documentary)
Star Trek
Avatar
District 9
Eyes Wide Open
The Top Twins: Untouchable Girls (documentary)
Defamation (documentary)

Honourable mention: Google Baby (documentary), An Education, A Serious Man, City of Life and Death (Nanjing! Nanjing!)

Worst movie: Bruno

Air New Zealand's cougars

2010-01-30T18:47:00.003-05:00

Goodness, haven't blogged in yonks. Have lots to catch up on, but in the meantime here's the funny Air New Zealand Cougar ad. Yes, ladies, you know who you are. And you wear that label proudly. Go out there and snag some young men--and some great deals from Air New Zealand.

And let's not forget their Nothing to Hide campaign, with staff naked but for body pain. Here's the 'behind' the scenes video:

Roy Halladay

2009-11-21T19:55:00.002-05:00

Reports are saying that Roy Halladay will not re-sign with the Blue Jays after his contract expires at the end of the 2010 season.

To paraphrase Hall and Oates:

He's gone
Oh I, oh I'd
Better learn how to face it
He's gone
Oh I, oh I'd
Pay the devil to replace him
He's gone
What went wrong?

Prom Night in Mississippi

2009-11-15T16:39:00.002-05:00

Prom Night in Mississippi was one of my favorite films from the 2009 Hot Docs film festival, and I was thrilled to see it released theatrically in Toronto this weekend. I had tweeted about the film, posted about it on various Internet message boards, and also wanted plunk down my $10 at the theatre to further support the film. A fortuitous surprise was the that director and producer of the film, Paul Saltzman and Patricia Aquino, were available for a Q&A after the screening. They were in Toronto (along with actor Morgan Freeman) to promote the film.

I think I've blogged about it before, but I think the story the film tells is an important one. And it's one that's very fairly and touchingly told. For many years, the high school prom in Charleston, Mississippi had been segregated. There was the Black prom and the White prom despite the fact that the school was fully integrated (70% Black students, 30% white students).

Actor Morgan Freeman, who had lived in the town as a child, offered to pay for the prom if it would be integrated. We come to hear from the students themselves about their own feelings towards each other, and the attitudes that they were brought up with.

The Hot Docs audience loved the film, and the people in the small screening I attended also enjoyed it immensely. It's an important film for young people to see and the filmmakers are working to get the movie out to high schools and colleges. Where it has been shown, it has been wildly successful.

I'm blogging about this movie again because I really hope people will see this movie. It's heart-warming. The ingenuousness of the students is touching. And what they're doing--breaking a vicious cycle, a sad history of racism--is very powerful. So go see this movie--don't make me tell you again!

Carrie Fisher

2009-11-07T19:08:00.003-05:00

Carrie Fisher is doing a one-woman show on Broadway called Wishful Drinking. It's about her life (daughter of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, with a backstage pass to the Hollywood Life, who had battles with mental illness and addiction, and who played the iconic Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies) and is supposed to be a hoot.

I was just watching an interview with her on Broadwayworld.com and I liked this line she had while explaining how, back in the day, she was milling about in the bowels of Studio 54 with the likes of Halston, Liza, Truman Capote and Steve Rubell in the secret area for celebrity drug use. She says she was "A fly on a very ornate wall."

Here's more from Carrie Fisher (when she was doing this show in California):

Lone Scherfig

2009-11-07T18:34:00.004-05:00

I've loved the work of Danish director Lone Scherfig since seeing Italian for Beginners several years ago. Since then I've gone to see her subsequent films when they played at the TIFF and she's always been there to introduce her films and do a Q&A. Italian for Beginners was a wonderful ensemble romantic comedy, set in Denmark, with a motley mix of characters who come together romantically at the end.

Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself, despite it's title, is a very pleasant film, set in Scotland, again about romantic yearning and a man who tries to kill himself and (comically) fails. Trailer.

Just Like Home was the next Scherfig film I saw. It's about the quirky inhabitants of a small Danish town. Some of the actors from Italian for Beginners appear in this cute film.

In her most recent film An Education she has harnessed her full talents in a film that will finally earn her recognition as a top-flight director. Based on Lynn Barber's autobiographical book, An Education is about Jenny, a very smart young woman who is swept off her feet by a suave older man (Peter Sarsgaard) who introduces her to a life of sophistication that she yearns to escape to. She foolishly abandons her previous plans of applying to Oxford and a life of rigorous (and dull) study with uncertain outcomes. Jazz clubs, fancy restaurants and trips to Paris seem so much more exciting to a young woman in 1960's England. But her education comes when she discovers that such a life has its price, esp. when it's built on a fraud. A wonderfully put together film, with terrific performances by the cast (led by the radiant and effervescent Carey Mulligan as Jenny), lovely period design and score (I have the soundtrack CD and am enjoying it much). The film has seen very positive reviews, and one anticipates a smattering of nominations come award season.

I'm quite happy that Lone Scherfig will finally get the recognition she deserves. Here's a video interview with her where she talks about directing An Education.

A Serious Man

2009-10-24T11:22:00.002-04:00

A Serious Man is about Larry Gopnik, a genial man living in 1960's suburban Minnesota. Despite his well intentions and good nature, everything in his life seems to be going wrong. Larry's wife announces that she wants a divorce; she has taken up with a family friend. His children are indifferent to him and his feckless brother (and his cyst) has moved in. Larry is up for tenure at the college where he teaches physics, but the committee is receiving disturbing letters questioning his ethics and a failing student bribes him for a passing grade, then threatens to sue him for not accepting the bribe. He seeks answers to all the troubles in his life from a series of rabbis, who offer no help at all. Larry begins to have increasingly bizarre dreams (where he's either having sex with his comely female neighbor or being shot by his redneck male neighbor) as his life begins to spiral out of control.

Michael Stuhlbarg is amazing as Larry. "Likeable loser" isn't the right term for Larry, as, despite his constant petty and funny misfortunes, he's not a loser. Stuhlbarg plays him as a good, earnest, decent man. And you can't help but feel for this guy. He's faithful, loyal, honest, decent and really tries to be the best husband, father, neighbor, teacher, despite the lack of reciprocation from others. Absurd and yet rational, A Serious Man is a film I've come to like more after I've seen it than when I was actually watching it. I don't entirely understand it, but it's making me think a whole lot. (8/10)

Interested parties should read Jim Emerson's excellent analysis of the film, A Serious Man: Kafka in Minneapolis.

2009 TIFF Awards

2009-10-18T19:11:00.003-04:00

TIFF has long since ended, but I’ve only now just finished posting short reviews of the films I saw. Because I only see a small number of the 300+ films shown at the festival I've not usually created my own list of award winners. However, I thought I would do so this year. So, based on the limited sample of films I saw (27), here are my award winners:

Film – Up in the Air (directed by Jason Reitman; starring George Clooney)

Director – TIE - Lee Daniels (Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire); Jason Reitman (Up in the Air)

Actress – Du-na Bae (Air Doll); special mention: Gabourey Sidibe (Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire), Carey Mulligan (An Education), Penelope Cruz (Broken Embraces)

Actor – Colin Firth (A Single Man) special mention: George Clooney (Up in the Air), Zohar Shtrauss (Eyes Wide Open)

Supporting Actor - Hideo Nakaizumi (City of Life and Death) special mention: Alfred Molina (An Education)

Supporting Actress – Mo'Nique (Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire) special mention: Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air)

Screenplay – Up in the Air (Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner)

Cinematography – Yu Cao (City of Life and Death) special mention: Broken Embraces (Rodrigo Prieto), Micmacs à tire-larigot (Tetsuo Nagata)

Art Direction/Production Design – A Single Man (Ian Phillips, art direction; Dan Bishop, production design)

Costumes – A Single Man (Arianne Phillips w/Tom Ford)

Score – Broken Embraces (Alberto Iglesias)

Documentary – The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls

Copyright Criminals

2009-10-17T18:23:00.003-04:00

Copyright Criminals is a documentary that examines the practice of music sampling, a relatively recent practice (starting in the 1980's, perhaps?) in music that is now commonplace--particularly in hip hop and rap. Through interviews with musical artists, DJs, producers and industry people, we learn that sampling started by people just mixing different sounds to create a new sound. Eventually, the original artists, producers and record companies started saying, "Hey, you're stealing my music." Lawsuits were launched, and new practices had to be put into place whereby artists must now negotiate rights (ie. $$) in order to use sampled beats, sounds or snatches of music in their own composition. A very interesting film that was screened free at Yonge-Dundas Square on the closing night of the Toronto International Film Festival. (Interesting, too, that the movie was shown for free at an outdoor venue and was followed by an audio/visual mashup created by Eclectic Method, whose performance demonstrates sampling of audio and video as well as anything.) I believe Copyright Criminals will be shown on PBS in early 2010.

Good Hair

2009-10-17T18:04:00.004-04:00

Good Hair is good fun. Chris Rock takes a comic (and sometimes serious) look at the lengths African-American women will go to for their hair. From chemical relaxers (that can burn through a pop can in a few hours) to expensive extensions and weaves ($1000+) made from Indian hair, we learn that while African-Americans make up 12% of the population, they represent 80% of the multi-billion dollar hair care market. Rock takes us to the Bronner Brothers hair show in Atlanta, the biggest exhibition of hair care products for the African-American market. Part of the event is the Hair Battle Royale, a hair stylist competition that includes music, dance and a whole lotta diva attitude (a hoot!). While the film raises many issues (Why do black women feel the need to change their natural hair texture to something resembling European or Asian hair? Despite the chemical burning of relaxers, why are parents having their young children's hair straightened? And does this affect their perception of beauty and self worth? And how can average working women afford weaves that cost upwards of $1000?), it does so in a light-hearted way and is totally fun.
(7/10)

London River

2009-10-04T18:24:00.003-04:00

We have seen many films the deal, directly or indirectly, with the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But now we’re starting to see films that address the 2005 terrorist attacks in London, including Jean Charles and London River, both of which I saw at this year’s TIFF. With fragile emotion, Brenda Blethyn plays a white, British Christian woman from the Isle of Guernsey, who travels to London to find her daughter who has gone missing. With a majestic dignity, Sotigui Kouyaté plays a black, Muslim African man from France who likewise seeks out his missing son. Ultimately, they discover their adult children had been living together and their disappearance is directly related to the attacks on the London public transit system. Director Rachid Bouchareb moves the film at a measured pace, studying the two distinctly different characters and bringing them together gradually. As with Jean Charles, this film does not look at the causes of the attacks at all—only the unforeseen, and tragic consequences. (7/10)

Same Same But Different

2009-10-04T11:09:00.002-04:00

As in The Reader, David Cross plays an earnest young man who falls in love with an unlikely woman in unusual circumstances. Here he is Ben, a German man on a post-college/pre-work holiday in Cambodia. He falls in love with Sreykeo, a girl he meets in a bar. They have a brief romance. After returning to Germany he learns that she is HIV positive. Rather than forgetting about her he returns to Cambodia seeking the best medication available. He returns again to work, and continues to giver her and her family money. Despites some bumps in the road, ultimately the two remain together (if it weren’t a true story I wouldn't have entirely believed it; I’m still not sure what the two saw in each other). Some kicking music in the soundtrack and visually pleasant. Official website. (7/10)

Cooking with Stella

2009-10-04T11:02:00.002-04:00

As an actress, I just love Seema Biswas. Wonderful in Deepa Mehta's drama Water, solid in Richie Mehta's Amal, and so funny in Dilip Mehta's Cooking with Stella. This woman can do no wrong in my book. Stella is the cook at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi who, despite her constant imprecations to Mother Mary, pilfers goods from the diplomats she serves. Her new charges are include a househusband (Don McKellar) who is also a chef. While he asks to learn Indian cooking from her, she continues her crafty ways, even enlisting the help of a new servant. The friendship between "master and servant" should have evoked a positive change—-at least one would think so in a film that's a comedy—-but didn’t really in this film. And thus while it's a pleasant and fun film, beautifully shot, the final outcome didn't satisfy as a good Indian meal should. (6.5/10)

Air Doll

2009-10-04T10:54:00.002-04:00

I loved the measured pace and contemplation of Hirokazu Kore-eda's Afterlife, a meditation on life by looking at what happens to people after death. Air Doll has an equally intriguing premise: an air doll (primarily used as a sexual outlet for lonely men) comes to life. Played with wide-eyed wonder by Du-na Bae, for air doll Nozomi the world is a wonder. Initially she mimics people she sees, then gets a job at a video store where a young man recognizes her strangeness, but does not react to it. He answers her questions and teaches her a bit about life. Other people in the neighbourhood come into play fleetingly, but ultimately the film didn't really go to a lot of places, do a lot of things. Kore-eda reveals strange beauty in simple things, but in the end I was questioning exactly what all this was about. The film is a poem: beautiful, but perplexing. (6.5/10)

The Waiting City

2009-10-04T10:43:00.003-04:00

In The Waiting City, an Australian couple, Fiona (Radha Mitchell) and Ben (Joe Edgerton), go to Delhi to pick up an Indian child they have adopted, but due to complications they are forced to wait a number of weeks. She is a work-obsessed lawyer and he is a laid back musician and they begin to be at odds with each other. Nicely filmed, showing off the rich colour and exoticism of India, the film is itself a waiting game. While they wait, we wait. Wait for something to happen. That would be my main issue with the film: Fiona and Ben's on again-off again bickering while they wait for the child, without turning us into something new. Like a number of the other films I've seen at TIFF this year, I'm left asking, what was the journey we were taken on in this movie and what did we get out of it, what did we learn? Although I liked these characters and the situation was interesting, I wasn't fully satisfied. The journey seemed short and the learnings not all that much. (6.5/10)

J’ai tué ma mere

2009-10-04T10:36:00.002-04:00

A precocious debut, 20 year old Xavier Dolan is writer, director, executive producer and star of J’ai tué ma mere. Hubert is a high school student whose constant bickering with his mother hides his love for her. Like most family fights, they escalate alarmingly to "I hate you!" but end with everyone eating dinner together. Hubert prefers the easy acceptance that his boyfriend Antonin's mother gives the two. He has not told his mother of the relationship which causes an added tension. At her wits end, the mother (and semi-absent father) agree to send Hubert to boarding school for his own good. But even here it's his love/hate for his mother (and his overall immaturity) that causes Huber his most angst. A solid debut effort for Dolan, I did find the film to become a bit too one-track, and would have liked it to turn in a new direction or offer some kind of resolution. But maybe Dolan is showing us that this is what family love is like: there's no end to your resentment, just as there's no end to your love. (7/10)

Micmacs à tire-larigot

2009-10-04T10:31:00.003-04:00

With his characteristic (and brilliant) visual style, Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie), introduces us to Bazil, a man with a bullet in his brain. Doctors cannot operate for fear it would leave him a vegetable, yet leaving it in leaves him vulnerable to death at any minute. He seeks revenge, aided by a group of quirky misfits, on the leaders of two weapons manufacturers—the one who produced the bullet in his head and the one whose land mine killed his father. The film is a caper of the elaborate scheme of the group to set up the rival arms manufacturers. While the TIFF audience seemed to enjoy the film a lot (and it was second runner-up in the People's Choice Award voting), I couldn’t really get behind Bazil as I could with, say, Jeunet's Amelie (a number of actors from Amelie appear in Micmacs), and the whole caper just seemed so destined to work out, one could never feel suspense or risk to the life of the protagonists. Looked good, but didn't involve me as a viewer. Side note: during the Q&A Jeunet said that he was supposed to direct a movie version of Life of Pi, but that production is now off. Although I was not crazy about this film, I would certainly go see something else by him. His style is just marvelous. (6.5/10)

The Damned United

2009-09-28T21:13:00.003-04:00

The Damned United looks at the rise of English football (soccer) manager Brian Clough (Michael Sheen) in the early '70's to the position of manager of Leeds United, at that time to top team. Driven by his enmity for Leeds manager Don Revvie, and aided by his assistant Peter Taylor, Clough builds up a second division team, Derby, to a rival for Leeds. But like some Shakespearian character, pride gets the better of him. So sure he is of himself, he threatens resignation of himself and Taylor, only to have it accepted. Jobless, Taylor is thrilled to be offered work at a third division team, but Clough leaves his friend for the chance to manage Leeds United when Revvie is given the chance to manage the English national team. Under Clough's tenure, Leeds has its worst start in 20 years and he is fired after only 44 days. An interesting story, but somehow much of the drama has been taken out of the film making it a bit movie-of-the-week-ish. OK for British soccer fans, but others might find it lacking. UK website. (6.5/10)

The Bubble

2009-09-28T20:50:00.002-04:00

So ideally suited to this year's spotlight on Tel Aviv (protesters* be damned), Eytan Fox's The Bubble first screened at TIFF in 2006. It concerns 3 roommates living in ‘the bubble’ of Tel Aviv, where Middle East unrest is sublimated and liberal values and open sexuality thrive. The main plot concerns the Romeo & Juliet-like love affair between Noam, an Israeli, and Ashraf, a Palestinian. In Tel Aviv they are able to live an openly gay life, and join their friends at frivolous events like a “rave against the occupation.” But back home Ashraf struggles to keep his relationship a secret, and is pressured to marry the sister of his sister’s fiancé. While the film highlight’s the freedom of Tel Aviv, it also shows the unequal and unfair treatment of Arabs in Israel, who live in poorer conditions and are subjected to humiliating searches by border guards. The tragic ending only reinforces the plea for peace. Would that love could conquer hate and peace could replace war. What better message could there be? (*There was an organized protest against the TIFF for selecting Tel Aviv as the featured city in the City-to-City program. Interestingly, The Bubble, which was part of this program, highlights the very inequalities that the protesters were protesting about in their condemnation of Israel.) (8/10)

Schmatta: From Rags to Richest to Rags

2009-09-28T20:39:00.003-04:00

Along with Michael Moore’s Capitalism, and the George Clooney film Up in the Air, the zeitgeist seems to be films about about jobs—-or, more specifically job loss, and how it affects people. Financial ruin. Loss of self esteem. And as the economy evolves, this process will continue for people working in certain areas. Schmatta looks at the garment industry, once the largest employer in New York City, and a force in labour (and politics) in the U.S. But while in 1965, 95% of clothing bought in the U.S. was made in the U.S., now it’s only 5%. The jobs, from sewers to designers, sales staff to delivery men, have gone. Only marketers remain, encouraging people to buy more—-high priced designer goods or low cost foreign-made goods. The result is either people spending themselves into debt or losing their jobs to sweatshops. Neither are productive to the economy or to the country built upon the dream of middle class job security. This movie to air on HBO. (7/10)

Life During Wartime

2009-09-28T20:31:00.002-04:00

I didn’t see Todd Solandz’s Happiness, which this film is supposedly a quasi-sequel of. It works as a series of extended scenes of family members with dysfunctional lives. Most are, or were involved with, someone with a sexual deviancy (such as pedophilia), which has had long lasting effects. There are some compelling scenes, particularly the one where the pedophile man, having been released from prison, confronts his college-aged son. While his crimes are unforgiveable, the son still has concern for his father and, touchingly, the father has concerns for his son. Particularly, he’s concerned that his son does not take after him. Only after questioning the son on his sexuality and fantasies is he reassured that he is not consumed by the same demons. Then he leaves, never to be seen again. It’s that kind of movies: no answers, but questions that make you think. The whole may not be as good as the sum of its parts, but those parts (the good, effective scenes) are worth it. (6.5/10)

Youth in Revolt

2009-09-28T20:26:00.002-04:00

Michael Cera does what he does best, playing an awkward teenaged virgin in love with a girl who’s attractiveness is out of his range. The twist is that he creates a suave, bad-boy alter ego, Francois Dillenger, to do his dirty work, so to speak, and help woo the girl. Of course, plans go awry, but everything ends happily ever after. Alas, the film (based on a cult favourite novel) is so full of cliché, things we’ve seen in other teen comedies (but much better), it’s like they just randomly took pages from 10 different scripts and inserted them in this one. A few chuckles, but that’s all I can say about this. Official website. (5.5/10)

Google Baby

2009-09-28T20:20:00.003-04:00

At the start of the documentary Google Baby we see an Indian doctor deliver a baby by C-section and, while sewing up the woman’s belly, talking on a cell phone (video). That is the world Zippi Brand Frank takes us into. A gay Israeli couple has a child by a surrogate mother in the United States. But the high cost (over $100,000) gives one of the men an idea for a business venture: combining Israeli sperm and American eggs, and using surrogate mothers in India. It’s a fascinating, thought-provoking, and disturbing prospect in this brave new world: like some dystopian future, women in poor countries are having babies for people in rich countries. Or, as the Indian doctor who runs the clinic would say: this is about one mother helping another. This mother wants a baby; this mother wants a house for her family. They trade baby for money and everybody is happy. Good? Bad? I don't know. A very interesting film. (7/10)

Jean Charles

2009-09-27T16:38:00.003-04:00

In 2005, a Brazilian man living in London was misidentified as a terrorist and killed by London police. Jean Charles looks at this incident solely from the perspective of Jean Charles de Menezes. He was an electrician, an outgoing friendly sort involved in some slightly crooked schemes—stealing business from the contractor he was working for, arranging visas for fellow Brazilians in London. While very involved with the Brazilian community, he was also an advocate for London, encouraging his newly arrived cousin to explore the city and take advantage of a life that they didn’t have in rural Brazil. The viewer has no sense that following the terrorist attacks on the London public transit, investigations were being made and Jean Charles (who was an electrician) was mistaken for a Muslim extremist by British police. All we see is his being shockingly shot out of the blue by the police force, and the sorrow of his friends and relatives both in London and Brazil. An interesting approach to telling this story that both adds and subtracts from the inherent drama in the real-life occurrence. Good performances all around, esp. Selton Mello as Jean Charles, who plays Jean Charles as a very likeable character and making his tragic death all the more poignant. (7/10)

Capitalism: A Love Story

2009-09-27T16:30:00.002-04:00

Michael Moore is up to his usual tricks: this time debunking the notion that capitalism=democracy, and exposing the very undemocratic means by which capitalists have treated workers shabbily, have infiltrated the gov’t (like the mafia secreting an agent in the police force, Goldman Sachs has put many of their executives in senior positions in the U.S. gov’t), and have (very un-capitalistically) taken bailouts—-which goes against the core idea that capitalism=survival of the fittest. And while there are obvious strengths and benefits to the free enterprise system, which might be said to have built American into a superpower, the growing disparity of wealth and power echoes the decline of the Roman Empire—-images of which Moore begins his movie—-and are certainly against any Christian beliefs of looking after the poor. Power to the people is Moore’s message. But will the people listen, and will they be able to restore a sense of fairness to American life? Official website. (7/10)

Chloe

2009-09-27T16:21:00.005-04:00

Based on a French film, Nathalie (which I haven't seen), Chloe tells the story of a wife, Catherine (Julianne Moore), who suspects her husband (Liam Neeson) of infidelity. She hires a high-priced escort (Amanda Seifried) named Chloe to meet with her husband to see what he will do. Chloe is good at what she does: she knows what to say and how to say it, seducing her clients as much with her words as her body. But it seems that she has her sights set more on Catherine than on the man she is supposedly setting up, and we wonder what her real motive is. At first I thought that Neeson may be actually be setting his own wife up. Or that Chloe is out to blackmail this affluent family (Neeson is a college professor, Moore a gynaecologist and their teenaged son a music student). But it’s neither of these. And that’s what didn’t work for me. Catherine growing interest in Chloe and Chloe's strange obsession with Catherine (Chloe also pursues and seduces the son), seems... weird. The resolution and ambiguous ending is not unpleasant, however, and the closing image is quite thought-provoking. Side note: the film is unabashedly set in Toronto and there’s something about Atom Egoyan's dark and slightly twisted sense that is so indicative of Canadian film, that you can’t entirely dislike it. (6.5/10)

A Single Man

2009-09-27T12:25:00.003-04:00

Tom Ford’s directorial debut, A Single Man, is, like his fashion, impeccably precise. Based on a story by Christopher Isherwood, the title character is George, a British college professor living alone in California. His male partner of 16 years had died some months ago and George struggles to exist. When he does, he does so in an orderly fashion. His house is gorgeous, his clothes meticulous. And on the one day that the film documents, he’s planning to end his life. He goes through the motions of normalcy, preparing for the act, but a series of small events jolt him out of routine. A fair-haired boyish student (Nicholas Hoult) pursues him with penetrating eyes. A gorgeous Spanish rent boy propositions him outside a liquor store and his best friend Charley (Julianne Moore) invites him for dinner. Images of his life with his lover Jim (Matthew Goode) reappear, but it is the young student's eager naivete that, perhaps, remind him of Jim, or of the life he could still have, begin to change his mind about death. Colin Firth never looked better and is a convincing George, however I found the film a bit cold and detached. I could understand George’s emotion intellectually, but not so much emotionally, leaving me intrigued, but not moved. I think this one requires a second viewing to properly appreciate and evaluate. (7/10)

Precious, Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

2009-09-27T12:06:00.002-04:00

Claireece "Precious" Jones does not have a good life. She’s overweight, poor and black. She’s now twice pregnant from her own father. Her mother is physically and verbally abusive. And although capable at math, she is unable to read or write. Director Lee Daniels takes these bleak circumstances and injects elements of a fantasy life, that keeps Precious’s spirits from totally failing. She's introduced to an alternative school with a caring teacher and with help from a social worker seh's able to deal with her circumstances and to some degree, her cruel mother. Emotional and uplifting (without being cloying or unrealistic), Precious (well played by novice actress Gabouray Sidibe) is a person one is glad to have met. Official website. Winner of the People's Choice Award at TIFF. (8/10)

Bran Nue Day

2009-09-27T11:57:00.004-04:00

Bran Nue Dae is shameless good fun: an Australian musical that will have you wishing you were an Aboriginie. Willie is a young man living with his stern Christian mother and in love with the silken-voiced Rosie. He leaves his small hometown of Broome for Catholic school in the city of Perth, but soon runs away, pursued by the zealous school priest (a hilarious Geoffrey Rush). On his trek back home, Willie is joined by a number of quirky characters, including a homeless Aboriginal man and a New Age/hippie couple. Of course everything ends up happily ever after, with just about everyone related to everyone else, but this riotous road movie is so genuinely good-hearted that the triviality of the plot doesn't matter. Just sit back and enjoy. (7.5/10)

Eyes Wide Open

2009-09-27T11:48:00.003-04:00

Haim Tabakman's Eyes Wide Open looks at the life of an Orthodox Jewish man living in Jerusalem. Aaron is devout, married with children, and runs a small butcher shop. His ordered existence is thrown into turmoil when he admits a young Orthodox man, Ezri, into his shop on a rainy day and ultimately offering him a job and a place to stay. Strangely alluring, Ezri awakens something in Aaron and the two begin a forbidden affair. But in the closed world of the ultra-Orthodox quarter, where group pressures enforce conformity, Aaron is forced to choose between this passion and his duty to his wife, his children, and his faith. A compelling, well-directed film, in some ways comparable to Brokeback Mountain, one which I feel needs a second viewing before I can fully evaluate. (7.5/10)

Video: interview with director Haim Tabakman.

The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls

2009-09-27T11:32:00.003-04:00

Instantly recognizable celebrities in their native New Zealand, the Topp Twins are not well known here. This film, and their performance at Yonge-Dundas Square, tells us why this pair of country-singing comic lesbian sisters are so popular, and makes one wonder why they haven't become a hit over here. That their film won the People's Choice documentary award at TIFF shows you how quickly they can win over a crowd. These are down home country girls whose humour, like that of Dolly Parton, say, is never mean-spirited, but always simple and positive. They've created a series of characters whose zany observations appeal to all ages (I'm reminded of Mary Walsh and Cathy Jones of CODCO); their musical harmonies evoke (as one writer said) the Everly Brothers, and reminds me of early kd lang; and their message is of both tolerance and of political activism. A very enjoyable film. (8/10)

Up in the Air

2009-09-16T09:00:00.003-04:00

Up in the Air is a refreshing (and intelligent) mainstream comedy, well-paced and directed by Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking, Juno), who is turning into a winning director. George Clooney plays a man who is hired by companies to lay off their employees. He travels all over the country—-much to his delight, as he enjoys collecting frequent flyer miles, and has no interest in setting down. His dream of reaching the elite 10 million mile mark from American Airlines (he would be only the 7th passenger in history) is put in jeopardy when young Natalie (Julie Kendrick) proposes firing people over a video conference system. Meanwhile, develops a steamy affair with a businesswoman (played wonderfully by Vera Farmiga) who also has a busy flying schedule and is not interested in commitment. We come to care about these characters and their interplay, so when the resolution to their story arrives it is both jarring and real and true. Very well done. (8.5/10)

City of Life and Death

2009-09-16T08:45:00.002-04:00

Lu Chuan's beautiful black and white film recounts the grim horrors of the Rape of Nanking, where hundreds of thousands of Chinese were killed, and tens of thousands of women were raped (and forced to become "comfort women") by the Japanese army in 1937. Nanking (now Nanjing) was the Chinese capital and part of Japan's plans to conquer Asia as Nazi Germany was conquering Europe. Interestingly, although a Chinese film, it does not seek to demonize the Japanese, and in fact portrays one particular soldier sympathetically. Kadogawa does his job, but does not descend to barbarism himself unlike his savage commander. Meanwhile, Chinese citizens are being protected by well-meaning and connected Chinese and foreigners (including a German, who's able to use the Germany-Japan alliance as a way of protecting Chinese civilians). Mr. Tang, an aid to the German, and his family are beset with terrible tragedy as they and others try their best to survive (and help other survive) the horrors of war. A sobering film that says, sadly, these are the terrible things that happened. (7.5/10)

Bright Star

2009-09-16T08:35:00.002-04:00

Bright Star is an exquisitely presented telling of the romance between poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw) and his strong-willed and fashionably creative neighbor Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). Yet the sweeping romantic journey one might expect turns out to be a rather measured series of events. The only real obstacle to their love is that Keats has no income. His poems did not sell well, and he spends most of his days moping around with his writer friend Charles Brown. A beautiful and lyrical film directed by Jane Campion, but at times it just seems like some old PBS period piece--not that I dislike those things, but one was hoping for more. (6.5/10)

Broken Embraces (Los abrazos rotos)

2009-09-11T06:42:00.010-04:00

The new Almodovar feels a bit like the magnificent Spanish auteur has recycled some of his old movies. Certainly he's re-used a number of his actors. Broken Embraces stars Lluís Homar (Bad Education) as a director recalling his love for an actress, Lena (Penélope Cruz), who was also the mistress of a powerful businessman. He recounts much of this story to Diego, son of his manager and agent Judit, played by Blanca Portillo (Volver). Of course, there is a complex melodramatic Almodovar-esque plot, with evocative music by Alberto Iglesias. Events and people from the past haunting characters in the present--an Almodovar trademark. Judit's unwillingness to tell her son the truth about the past--particularly about his father--remniscent of Manuela and her son in my favorite Almodovar, All About My Mother. Obsessive characters (Ernesto, son of Lena's businessman lover), multiple identities (both the director and Ernesto Jr. have changed their names), and characters that don't always tell you the truth--more hallmarks of Almodovar. Yet somehow this film misses some of the freshness of his other work. Still, there's nobody that can weave a web and tell a story like Pedro Almodovar. (7/10)

An Education

2009-09-11T06:29:00.008-04:00

It's the early Sixties and 16 year old English girl Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is studying hard to get into Oxford. But doing the right thing, getting a degree, seems so dull and boring. And what does it get you? The chance to be dull and boring like her stern teacher? Along comes David (Peter Sarsgaard in a Hugh Grant-like cad role), a man in his thirties who charms her (and her parents) and introduces her to a world of concerts and eating out in restaurants and jetting off to Paris just for the heck of it. True, his occupation is dubious, and his friends Danny and Helen (Dominic Cooper and Rosamund Pike) seem only interested in pleasure, but the Life seems so much more fun than the dull life school and education can offer. But, of course, getting things easy is usually not the best, and young Jenny does learn her lessons. A sweet little coming-of-age story directed by Lone Scherfig (Italian For Beginners), with a wonderfully comic performance by Alfred Molina as Jenny's father. (7.5/10)

Alive in Joburg

2009-09-06T20:24:00.003-04:00

This is the 2005 six-minute short film, directed by Neill Blomkamp, that was the basis for District 9.

District 9

2009-08-22T18:00:00.013-04:00

District 9 is a smart and entertaining film. A science fiction film that combines elements of a thriller and an action movie, yet its core reveals a reflection and a commentary on humanity. Note: SPOILERS below.

The aliens in District 9 have not brought an armada to conquer humans and destroy Earth. In fact, it seems that they're here only because their ship has malfunction and remains hovering over the city of Johannesburg. The malnourished aliens are given refuge by humans in what becomes just like any other slum: poor living conditions and crime. Further, the human inhabitants resent these slum dwelling immigrants. Violence occassionally erupts, and it is decided that they will be evicted and moved to a more remote location--a tent city called District 10.

The aliens resemble upright grasshoppers, slightly larger than the typical human. They are derogatorily called "prawns" by the humans for their somewhat crustacean-like appearance. Some of them fall prey to, or participate in various vices (looting, prostitution, black market activity) abetted by Nigerian gangs. They have weapons, but do not use them. These particular aliens seem not to be warriors, but merely worker drones. Only two of them (and the child of one) seem to have the intellectual capability to be able to fix their ship and return home.

In a brilliant performance, Sharlto Copley plays Wikus Van De Merwe, an official charged with orchestrating the eviction of the aliens. Initially he seems like a bureaucratic fool--too bumbling to be truly evil, yet callous and so determine to exercise his task that he is immune to human feeling for the creatures he is dispossessing of their "home."

Due to an accident, Wikus is infected with something that causes him to physically change into one of the aliens. His hand turns into a floppy claw which horrifies him, but which draws great interest from the evil scientists and businesspeople who wish to use him for medical experiments as he is a link between human and alien. The alien weaponry only works when fired by alien "hands," and now they've found an alien/human being who might be the key to exploiting these powerful new weapons.

Wikus goes on the run, as he now becomes enemy of both the state and the aliens (who he had formerly been evicting from their homes). He realizes, though, that the best place for him to hide is in slums. It is there that he is reunited with one of the "smart" aliens, absurdly named Christopher Johnson. Wikus had previously hassled Christopher and his son, and indirectly caused a confrontation that led to the death of Johnson's friend. But they realize that they can help each other, and the two work together to reclaim the special *fluid* that will help Johnson and his son re-start the spacecraft and return home.

There are some very touching scenes involving the growing friendship and respect that Wikus and Johnson develop. Also Wikus's cell phone pleas to his wife, whom he desperately wants to return to, but can't because he is a wanted man.

The Johannesburg setting brings to life the squalid townships, the legacy of apartheid, the cruelty of the police forces, and the notion of humans of different backgrounds, ethnicities, languages, etc. living together not always in harmony. The notion of the refugee/immigrant who is exploited, yet looked on with derision and suspicion. The ability of humans to help each other; and the greed and callousness to treat each other inhumanely. All of these factors come into play, enhanced by the setting, the mock-documentary style of the early part of the film (the back story, basically), and the turn to a thriller/action-type film which changes what might have become more of a dreary intellectual-type exercise (I've actually read of people walking out of the film during the first part) into a very entertaining film. (8.5/10)

Camille Paglia

2009-08-09T09:28:00.009-04:00

Back in June, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) hosted Camille Paglia for a lecture titled "Hollywood and the Bible." I have long been a fan of Paglia, and have been reading her column on Salon.com for years. She's a noted author (Sexual Personae), teacher (professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia), social critic and independent-minded feminist. She has strong opinions about many things, and woe to he who gets in her way.

The lecture was part of a run up to the ROM's current exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and they brought in a strange trio of speakers who might be thought of as anti-religious.

Regardless, Camille was her usual sharp-witted, fast-talking, hard-working self. After being introduced, she talked a bit about herself: her upbringing in an Italian-American family in New York state. She then gave an overview of Hollywood's history of Biblical epics. These great sweeping historical epics, as well as the ceremony of the Church, were formative in her beliefs. As a teacher, she also sees the importance of great religious works, along with Art and Culture as essential learning for young people. How can people understand and appreciate (and distinguish between quality and trash) unless they know the history of Religion, Art and Culture which influences Artists?

Although ensconced in academia, I'm sure she would consider herself a blue collar worker. And indeed, Camille worked hard that night. She went overtime in her lecture (was given "the hook" she said amusingly, by ROM head William Thorsell), which began at 7pm and ended close to 9pm. Although Thorsell suggested she skip the Q&A, Paglia insisted that she would do it, allowing those people who had to leave to leave ("If you have babysitters waiting at home, please feel free to go," she told the audience), and she entertained us some more with lengthy answers to audience questions.

Then she went and did a book signing in the museum's gift shop. While going to take her picture I noticed that she was not signing books assembly-line style, but taking the time to chat with every single person who brought a book to sign. She began at 7pm, and by 9:45 pm when I left the museum she still had a long line up of people to sign books for, but was still going strong, giving time for each fan to have their own chat with the great Camille. She had not taken any break and continued to talk non-stop. What a woman! Indefatiguable. Powerful. Glorious.

Back track

2009-08-09T09:19:00.004-04:00

Apologies, but I haven't blogged in over two months. This is not because nothing has been happening or I haven't been doing anything. Anyhoo, I'm going to start back again, blogging about things that have happened in the past couple of months until I can catch up to the present. The first back track post will be my review of Loot (below), which I saw quite a while ago. I had written the review, but didn't post it until today.

Loot

2009-06-28T19:23:00.011-04:00

Saw the second preview of Joe Orton's Loot, produced by Soulpepper at their lovely theatre in the Discovery District.

Orton had a brief life and career, but he blossomed in England in the mid-Sixties with with edgy, outrageous, provocative plays like Entertaining Mr. Sloane and What the Butler Saw. Loot is an outrageous farce about two young men who rob a bank and hide the money in the coffin of the mother of one of the men. The mother died at the hands of her nurse, who is angling to marry the dead woman's husband (she had previously married--and killed--several husbands). And then there's the unscrupulous, genius-in-his-own-mind police inspector--who pretends he's from the water board so as to search the premises without a warrant.

The production is well designed and performed; my problem was with the play itself. Weirdly, I think the world today is so freaky that it's actually caught up with Orton's outrageousness, rendering it somewhat tame.

Positive reviews for Loot in the Globe and Star. I, myself, was less taken with the show. I saw the second preview, and perhaps things changed somewhat, but I doubt it. The problem for me was that the show doesn't date well. (In the Star's review, the opening sentance is: "The wonderful thing about British playwright Joe Orton's darkly comic plays is that they don't lose their potency over time.")

Yet, I felt that the play did lose it's potency. Somehow the amoral behavior of the characters in the play doesn't seem so shocking today. Nor the disrespect for the church and the police force. Nor the veiled bisexuality of Hal and Dennis. Call me callous, but the whole notion of hiding stolen loot in the coffin of one's mother did not set me on edge. And I think that's where Orton's strength lies, turning morality upside down and putting the audience ill at ease. And while his earlier Entertaining Mr. Sloane can still put one on edge (I re-read both Loot and Sloane recently), I find that Loot comes across as more titillating than outrageous.

The cast and set were good, and I particularly liked Michael Hanrahan as Truscott (reminded me a bit of Stephen Fry's batty inspector in Gosford Park, but with a dark side).

Fun, but not as edgy/funny as it might have been. The audience got a fair number of laughs, although they didn't laugh much at one of my favorite lines in the play:

Truscott (to Hal, referring to Hal's mother's glass eye and false teeth): Most people would at least flinch upon seeing their mother's eyes and teeth handed round like nuts at Christmas.

Now, that's a killer!

Emirates A380

2009-06-02T22:31:00.006-04:00

The Airbus A380 made its first appearance in Canada in the form of an Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai landing at Toronto Pearson on Monday June 1, 2009. The plane can seat 14 in first class, 76 in business, and 399 in economy. The flight will operate 3 times weekly. (Due to the aviation agreement between Canada and the U.A.E., the limited 7 weekly flights are shared between Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways and Dubai-based Emirates). The A380 is an upgrade over the B777 service previously; and the A380 itself was previously scheduled on the Dubai-New York route. On the same day, Emirates also inaugurated A380 service to Bangkok.

Photos from blogTO.

Video from the Toronto Star:

Doubt

2009-05-31T10:06:00.007-04:00

Went to see Canstage's production of Doubt: A Parable, the play by John Patrick Shanley. The play won the 2005 Tony Award and was relased as a film (starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman and nominated for 5 Academy Awards) in 2008. I had seen the film; I thought it might help my enjoyment of the play, but I think it dimmed my appreciation somewhat.

The play is set at a Catholic school in the Bronx in 1964. The principal of the school, a stern and conservative nun named Sister Aloysius, counsels the young and naive num Sister James to be observant and suspicious of the behavior of the students and of the parish priest, Father Flynn. When Sister James is confounded by confusing behavior of the school's only black student, Donald Muller, and his relationship with Father Flynn, Sister Aloysius reacts as if her suspicions of the non-traditional and progressive priest were confirmed, and begins a hunt to reveal his misdeeds.

The characters are rather one-note, and played without much colour. Seanna McKenna's Sister Aloysius is a driven woman, sure in her convictions. David Storch's Father Flynn is an amicable man, uncomfortable in the glare of the Sister's spotlight--which she is shining on his private proclivities (whatever they may be). Daniela Vlaskalic plays Sister James as earnest and easily swayed by both the Sister and the priest.

The fourth character int he play is Donald's mother, played by Raven Dauda, who helplessly tries to explain her seemingly callous position to Sister Aloysius, when the Sister reveals her suspicions to the mother. This intriguing, brief scene--which won Viola Davis a Best Supporting Actress nomination for the film--can be confouding, and really makes you look at the situation and whether morality needs to be flexible. Just as Sister Aloysius is frustrated with the male hierarchy of the church and seeks to act on her own, Donald's mother is frustrated with a society that would see her son bullied and abused (by his father) and chose the (questionable) attentions of the priest as, perhaps, the lesser of two evils.

Of course, the play never resolves the central question (did he, or didn't he?), and I found that the handling of the final line (which I won't reveal) in the film and play left me with different conclusions (not of the central question--but of what Sister Aloysius means in her cry of anguish). For me, the answer to the central question is: I saw nothing wrong with the behavior of Father Flynn. I saw nothing amiss in the behavior of the boy (who we don't see in the play, but do see in the film--which was written and directed by the playwright himself). Father Flynn may have been guilty of something, but I'm not sure that it was criminal, and I know he owed no duty to confess it to Sister Aloysius, who seemed to appoint herself to a god-like judge and jury position. While her intentions may have been good (to protect the boy), there were better ways for her to go about it (like talking to the boy). I'm sure that some people feel just the opposite.

I went to Canstage's Theatre Club discussion group about the play, held at the lovely Nicolas Hoare book store on Front St. An interesting discussion with many of the regulars of the group (who are largely older people, and subscribers to Canstage) led by a woman who is a writer and prof at York University. One thing that struck me out of that conversation is that there has been a reversal in who we might believe in a similar situation then vs. now. Then, we would be inclined to believe the adult authority figure. Priestly abuse was less known and teachers were given respect. Now, a child's word would be believed over an adult, and teachers and priests would immediately fall under suspicion. The play also seems to be about how we can judge people and jump to conclusions based on incomplete information. Sister Aloysius cleary jumps to conclusions about Father Flynn. But isn't that similar how we, in this world of news clips and sound bites, jump to conclusions all the time... about murders and abuductions in the news (the Tori Stafford case comes to mind, Canada's version of Jon Benet Ramsey) to which celebrity is sleeping with whom (look at the Jon & Kate plus 8 marriage train wreck). And just as it was dangerous for Sister Aloysius to go on her witch hunt of Father Flynn, and poison Sister James's view of him, probably we the public shouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions in our own life. And perhaps that's the "parable" of the title.

Glee

2009-05-19T21:55:00.002-04:00

Glee is great! Glee is my new favorite TV show. The pilot episode tonight was terrific. Too bad we have to wait till the fall for the actual series. Don't have time to write more now. Here's the extended trailer:

Star Trek lens flares

2009-05-17T14:56:00.008-04:00

OK, count me in as one of those people who like--nay, LOVE--the ridiculous lens flares in Star Trek. Ridiculous, because they happen so often. As if "the future was so bright it couldn't be contained in the frame." But it's the STYLE, man. That's the style of the film. So cool.

Here's a little parody from Jim Emmerson's Scanners blog: Film Critic Keyboard Cat in the 23½ Century! (Or: "Play 'em off the bridge, KC!").

Apparently, director J.J. Abrams had this to say about the lens flares:

Q: I'm curious to hear more about why you decided to use so many lens flares, and exactly when you decided to use them?

A: [Smiles] I don't know what you're talking about. [Laughs] I'm kidding. I know what you're saying with the lens flares. It was one of those things... I wanted a visual system that felt unique. I know there are certain shots where even I watch and think, "Oh that's ridiculous, that was too many." But I love the idea that the future was so bright it couldn't be contained in the frame.

The flares weren't just happening from on-camera light sources, they were happening off camera, and that was really the key to it. I want [to create] the sense that, just off camera, something spectacular is happening. There was always a sense of something, and also there is a really cool organic layer thats a quality of it. They were all done live, they weren't added later. There are something about those flares, especially in a movie that can potentially be very sterile and CG and overly controlled. There is something incredibly unpredictable and gorgeous about them. It is a really fun thing. Our DP would be off camera with this incredibly powerful flashlight aiming it at the lens. It became an art because different lenses required angles, and different proximity to the lens. Sometimes, when we were outside we'd use mirrors. Certain sizes were too big... literally, it was ridiculous. It was like another actor in the scene....

Air New Zealand - The Matchmaking Flight and Nothing to Hide

2009-05-16T10:36:00.003-04:00

Just read about this interesting marketing campaign by Air New Zealand: The Matchmaking Flight. The've set up a website similar to dating websites, where single people in North America and New Zealand can register and meet others online. Then they will have a singles flight from Los Angeles to New Zealand, the object being for people to meet in flight or at an arrival party in Aukland, and then spend a wonderful, romantic time in beautiful New Zealand.

The've also launched an ad campaign called "Nothing to hide" featuring Air New Zealand employees wearing only body paint.

These programs are, naturally, getting a lot of media attention. Good work, Air New Zealand!

Star Trek

2009-05-15T21:14:00.011-04:00

Although I have general familiarty with Star Trek and the Star Trek characters, I've never watched any of the Star Trek movies or seen a complete episode of any of the TV series (including the original). I'm a Star Wars fan, so let's get that out of the way.

I did find Star Trek to be a very entertaining prequel. Screenwriters Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman and director J.J. Abrams should be commended for producing a film that's got action, humour (not just jokes), provides backstory to the characters, and is just a good sci-fi space/war film (despite the flimsy plot and weak villain.

I really enjoyed Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto as James T. Kirk and Spock. The way those characters were written (atagonists, who will ultimately become best of friends) and performed reveals both chemistry and complexity. Kirk's emotional baggage (his father died in battle on the day he was born) is revealed in his youth as womanizing recklessness and a cocksure attitude that hides his intelligence and desire to succeed in Star Fleet. Spock's baggage comes from being a half-breed (his father is Vulcan, his mother human) who was bullied by Vulcan children in school, and he, in adulthood struggles to suppress emotion.

The other crew members are enjoyable and this is one blockbuster film where I actually want to see a sequel--providing, of course, it's up to the same standards. Seeing the characters develop and grow, and the inter-relations between the characters (Uhura and Spock are romantically involved, for example), should prove interesting. But they really need to do more with the plot and create a more complex, interesting and powerful villain. And some internal conflict (ie. within the core group) would be good, too.

Star Trek: live long and prosper! Official website. (8.5/10)

Patrik, Age 1.5

2009-05-15T20:56:00.004-04:00

Suburban gay couple Goran and Sven think they are about to receive a year and a half old child from the adoption agency, but wind up with Patrik, a juvenille delinquent teen. Conflict, of a largely comedic nature, ensues, driving Sven from the house. Slowly, Goran and Patrik begin to bond, as they satisfy each other's need for a family. Eventually Sven returns and everybody lives happily ever after. While the plot is simple and predictable, the film is so sweet, and it's sensitively directed by Ella Lemhagen. And I'm a sucker for this kind of unexpected family comedy/drama (ie. Transamerica, Billy Elliot) and was totally won over. Quirky humour, sentimental tear-jerking at times. Great performances by Gustaf Skarsgård as Goran, and Thomas Ljungman as Patrik. Nice score and soundtrack (Ventura Highway, Love Me Like You Used To, Here You Come Again), too. Official website. (8.5/10)

Malcolm Gladwell on the draft lottery

2009-05-13T22:35:00.003-04:00

I thought Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point, Blink) had some interesting ideas on the draft lottery in this exchange with Bill Simmons on ESPN.com.

The consistent failure of underdogs in professional sports to even try something new suggests, to me, that there is something fundamentally wrong with the incentive structure of the leagues. I think, for example, that the idea of ranking draft picks in reverse order of finish -- as much as it sounds "fair" -- does untold damage to the game. You simply cannot have a system that rewards anyone, ever, for losing. Economists worry about this all the time, when they talk about "moral hazard." Moral hazard is the idea that if you insure someone against risk, you will make risky behavior more likely. So if you always bail out the banks when they take absurd risks and do stupid things, they are going to keep on taking absurd risks and doing stupid things. Bailouts create moral hazard. Moral hazard is also why your health insurance has a co-pay. If your insurer paid for everything, the theory goes, it would encourage you to go to the doctor when you really don't need to. No economist in his right mind would ever endorse the football and basketball drafts the way they are structured now. They are a moral hazard in spades. If you give me a lottery pick for being an atrocious GM, where's my incentive not to be an atrocious GM?

I think the only way around the problem is to put every team in the lottery. Every team's name gets put in a hat, and you get assigned your draft position by chance. Does that, theoretically, make it harder for weaker teams to improve their chances against stronger teams? I don't think so. First of all, the principal engine of parity in the modern era is the salary cap, not the draft. And in any case, if the reverse-order draft is such a great leveler, then why are the same teams at the bottom of both the NFL and NBA year after year? The current system perpetuates the myth that access to top picks is the primary determinant of competitiveness in pro sports, and that's simply not true. Success is a function of the quality of the organization.

Another more radical idea is that you do a full lottery only every second year, or three out of four years, and in the off year make draft position in order of finish. Best teams pick first. How fun would that be? Every meaningless end-of-season game now becomes instantly meaningful. If you were the Minnesota Timberwolves, you would realize that unless you did something really drastic -- like hire some random sports writer as your GM, or bring in Pitino to design a special-press squad -- you would never climb out of the cellar again. And in a year with a can't-miss No. 1 pick, having the best record in the regular season becomes hugely important. What do you think?

Jay Triano signed as Raptors head coach

2009-05-11T20:40:00.003-04:00

You have to wonder where the Toronto Raptors are going.

2006-2007 they were 47-35
2007-2008 they were 41-41
2008-2009 they were 33-49

For all intensive purposes last season was a disaster. Expectations were high. Not only were the Raptors expected to make the playoffs, but they were suppposed to get to the second round at least. But it was not to be.

Sam Mitchell was replaced early in the season with interim head coach Jay Triano, who had been a long time assistant with the Raptors. It made no difference. Under Triano, the team was 25-40. The Raps finished second last in the Eastern Conference, ahead of only the disasterous New York Knicks and more disasterous Washington Wizards.

The promise of the off season was a new start. A decent lottery pick (the Raps are in the 9th spot going into the lottery), Shawn Marion's expiring contract (which gives cap space to sign a quality free agent), and new coaching staff. But now we hear that Jay Triano has been signed to a 3-year deal.

I keep wondering why the Raptors keep going on the cheap with their head coaches. Other than Lenny Wilkins, the team has never had a "name" coach (Darryl Walker? Butch Carter? Kevin O'Neill? Not exactly household names). The Raptors, meanwhile, have opted for inexperienced coaches even while coaches with plenty of NBA experience--head coaching experience--are not given a sniff.

I certainly don't want to root against my own team, but one can almost predict a repeat of last season: slow start, Triano is sacked, new interim coach brought in, season ends in dismal failure. Certainly we hope that doesn't happen. Maybe the Raps will be like the Blue Jays who brought in Cito Gaston who turned the team's fortunes around. The difference though is that Cito once managed the Blue Jays to 2 world series. Jay Triano, has not been at that level. Unless he's surrounded by top guys, I can't see him keeping up in a league with Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Greg Popovich, Doc Rivers, Mike Brown, etc., etc. coaching against him.

Hot Docs, pt. 4

2009-05-09T10:09:00.006-04:00

Just saw this interview with Prom Night in Mississippi director Paul Saltzman by Jian Ghomeshi on his radio show.

Review of Objectified on Salon.com.

Gary Hustwit's documentary "Objectified" -- which is ostensibly about industrial design, although its real subject is the way the objects around us can come to mean something in our lives -- is so straightforward, sensible and thought-provoking that it alleviates that design noise instead of adding to it.

Hot Docs, pt.3

2009-05-08T06:26:00.010-04:00

Prom Night in Mississpippi (dir. Paul Saltzman)
Although their local high school is integrated, the small town of Charleston, Mississippi had been having separate Black and White proms for years until actor Morgan Freeman (who had lived in Charleston as a child) offered to pay for an integrated prom. Despite ingrained prejudices from many of the parents and some of the students, the kids prove that it can be done: yes, black and white students can have fun together. It sounds elementary, but there are still people in this word that haven't figured that out yet (and despite the integrated prom, a White-only prom was still held). But you know what? The kids are all right. Official website. (8/10)

Outrage (dir: Kirby Dick)
Outrage examines closted American politicans who actively legislate against gay & lesbian people. It also attempts to show how the mainstream media conveniently turns the other way, enabling the politicians (and their many gay support staff--Washington D.C., it would seem, is full of gay people) to lead a double life. And it's only activists and bloggers who are actively trying to expose the hypocrisy of people who, in their zeal for political power, will throw their own kind under the bus. On a positive note, the film does show that there can be some redemption, as politicians who have come out usually change their ways and start using their political skills for the cause. Official website. (7.5/10)

H2Oil (dir: Shannon Walsh)
The Alberta tar sands are one of the world's largest oil resources. The complex and environmentally-damaging processing involved should be raising all sorts of red flags in Canada, but it's not. H2Oil looks at how the processing of the oil sands abuses the water system: it uses 4 barrels of fresh water to produce 1 barrel of oil; the contaminated water by-product is stored in massive tailing ponds which leech this water into the ground and into the Athabasca River; First Nations people down river have noticed a rise in cancers (not to mention deformed fish); through all this the gov't of Alberta and Canada are dismissive or silent. Why? Money. And to demonstrate the further corruption, we learn that the Alberta gov't appointed a Suncor executive (one of the oil companies) as the deputy minister of oil sands development. Why on earth are we letting the fox guard the henhouse? Once again, the environment and the people lose. Important topic, decent film, although I wanted a bit more. Official website. (7/10)

Hot Docs 09, pt. 2

2009-05-04T23:55:00.009-04:00

Objectified (dir. Gary Hustwit)
I haven't seen Gary Hustwit's previous film, Helvetica, about the sans serif typeface, but like that famous modernist font, Objectified is impeccably made. It features industrial designers, creators of everyday objects from Macintosh computers to vegetable peelers. Starkly modern, with a hint of the intellectual, Objectified elevates the everday to a slightly more cerebral and artful thing. True, there were some topics that weren't fully developed (sustainability, for instance), but it interested me and made me think. Beautifully shot, too. Official website. (7.5/10)

The Way We Get By (dir: Aron Gaudet)
The Way We Get By follows three seniors who, along with a cadre of volunteers, act as greeters for U.S. military troops leaving for, and returning from, duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Flights leave and depart out of Bangor, Maine, day and night, but regardless of the time these tireless seniors are there: welcoming and thanking the troops, or sending them off on their tour of duty. This selfless act provides great meaning to their lives (all three have lost their spouses) and great comfort to the young troops whose lives have been changed by the war. A very touching and well put together film, directed by the son of one of the greeters (who was at the screening). Official website. (8.5/10)

Hot Docs 09

2009-05-04T06:19:00.011-04:00

Defamation (dir: Yoav Shamir)
Director Yoav Shamir is the genial narrator of Defamation, a surprisingly entertaining (and thought-provoking) documentary about anti-Semitism. Like Michael Moore, Shamir is provocative, showing people on both sides of the issue (often saying unintentionally funny things which reveal their own prejudices). There are those that see anti-Semitism as a pervasive evil in society, and those that anti-Semitism is merely a cult of vicitimhood by people who are largely successful in the world. Who'd a thunk a film about anti-Semitism could be so fun? Official website. (8.5/10)

Hair India (dir: Raffaele Brunetti, Marco Leopardi)
Hair India looks at how India fits in the global economy through the hair industry. The film follows a poor Bengali family about to partake in a religous pilgrimage where they will give up their hair at a temple. Highly prized, "temple hair" is sold at auction to international dealers who turn it into high-priced hair extentions, which get sold back to wealthy Indian women. (7/10)

City of Borders (dir: Yun Suh)
We are told that Jerusalem is a city of borders: between east and west, between Israeli and Palestinian, between Jew and Arab, between secular and ultra-Orthodox, and between gay and straight. City of Borders looks at how Shushan, the only gay bar in Jerusalem, brings together people crossing all these borders to find a sense of community and a sense of self. Official website. (7.5/10)

Black Wave: The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez (dir: Robert Cornellier)
The Exxon Valdez ran aground and leaked massive amounts of oil in Prince William Sound, Alaska, over 20 years ago, yet the ramifications still resonate today. This well-structured and edited film reviews the story, examines the impact on residents of the fishing town of Cordova, and the nefarious handling of the environmental disaster by Exxon. Yes, it's a film about environmental activism and evil corporations (which we've come to expect at Hot Docs), but it's really well done and worth seeing and thinking about. Official website. (8/10)

Italian for Beginners and Lovely and Amazing

2009-05-02T09:54:00.006-04:00

Written and directed by Lone Scherfig, I think I first saw Italian for Beginners at the 2001 Toronto International Film Festival (I know I saw 2 of her follow up films, Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself and Just Like Home at TIFF) and then saw it at least twice more when it came out in the theatres because I liked it so much. I recently watched it again on DVD.

Italian for Beginners is a Dogme 95 film, a style which eschews artificiality in favour of naturalism. Movies are filmed on real locations, with the natural light and sound, and hand-held cameras. As such, the films have a certain verite quality to them. Ostensibly a romantic comedy, the Dogme style gives this film a likeable awkwardness, while freeing it from the prettiness of a Hollywood rom-com.

Somehow one imagines Scandinavians to be awkward in romantic relationships, anyways, just the way one expects Italians to be suave. In this film, the Danes will ultimately succumb to their romantic relationships in in Italy, in Venice.

The film is an ensemble piece, where 3 couples will ultimately come together, awkwardly. And it's successful because the lovers are flawed, yet suited to each other. They are able raise each other up, and in some cases to be charmed by the weaknesses of their mate. The film has a wonderful deadpan humour and some of the best lines (including the final line) reveal their meaning solely in the subtext.

I also watched Lovely and Amazing recently on DVD. A total chick flick, the movie is about a family of women, all of whom are unhappy in their life. The mother (Brenda Blethyn), is getting liposuction and flirts in vain with her handsome married doctor.

She has two adult daughters. Catherine Keener is unfulfilled as a wife (whose husband is cheating on her) and mother, her art projects fail to sell, strangers appear hostile, and she has a disastrous fling with a student (Jake Gyllenhaal). Emily Mortimer is a struggling actress, insecure of her appearance. And Annie, an adopted African-American pre-teen, struggles to fit in.

While the movie isn't great, and doesn't seem to be about anything, somehow the likeability of the unhappy characters made me sympathetic to their life. And the title (it comes from the mother telling one of her daughters, who's down on herself, "I think you're lovely and amazing") is a total winner for me.

Watchmen

2009-04-28T20:27:00.014-04:00

I'm not familiar with the graphic novel upon which Watchmen is based. I imagine it might be helpful to know some of the details, some of the backstory, about this group of former superheroes circa 1985, in a world living under the threat of nuclear annihilation. The U.S. (with Nixon in his third presidency) and U.S.S.R. are both threatening world destruction... a perfect world for superheroes.

But many of these superheroes have gone bad, are sociopathic; while others wile away the time in anonymous obscurity. It was not clear to me the powers of some of them. What exactly were the special skills of Night Owl (Dan) and Silk Spectre (Laurie), who become lovers after Laurie dumps Dr. Manhattan (Jon), a big blue naked man who exists outside of space and time and has truly super powers. The villianous Ozymandias, supposedly the world's smartest man (although he doesn't demonstrate this well), who suffers from terrible-looking hair (is it a cheap hairpiece, or what?), suffers from all the movie villain cliches: he is arrogant, vain, totally cocksure of himself; he has a secret lair in a remote location (Antarctica); his evil plan cause death and destruction to millions (although there is an ironic benefit); he lays a trap for the people who try to stop him, but isn't smart enough to realize it won't work; he confesses his nefarious plot, explaining how and why everything was done (in case you weren't paying attention). Yawn

And I haven't even mentioned the two most curious characters, Rorschach and The Comedian. Speaking like Clint Eastwood, Rorschach has a serial killer-esque quality to him. He's brutal and has total disdain for society, which he considers immoral. His own vigilante justice is all he can see. The Comedian, meanwhile, is callously brutal and cruel, and seems to delight in killing people. And yet these are also among the superhero Watchmen.

Superheroes have always had their conflict: they are vulnerable to human failings and human emotions while their job (super hero) demands they be above all of that. But here the heros have gone to the dark side of human nature. That in itself is interesting. If only the film concentrated more on that, and the cold war/Dark Knight-esque atmosphere, rather than the ridiculous scheming which had the latter part of the film resemble an Austin Powers movie. Then it might have been something. Sorry, but Watchment just didn't do it for me. (6.5/10)

Bea Arthur

2009-04-25T16:29:00.005-04:00

It has just been reported that Beatrice Arthur, star of Maude and The Golden Girls, has died at 86.

Sad news, as she was such a wonderful performer, adept at both comedy and drama, and a star on both TV and the Broadway stage.

I have the CD of her one-woman (plus piano accompanist) show, Bea Arthur on Broadway - Just Between Friends, where she tells interesting and amusing anecdotes about her life and career on the stage and on TV. She sings a number of songs, some from roles she played on Broadway (she originated Lucy Brown in The Threepenny Opera, Yente the Matchmaker in Fiddler on the Roof, and Vera Charles in Mame), and other classic show tunes (Some People from Gypsy, for example). And she provides a recipe for roast lamb!

A talented and delightful lady, I look forward to reading and seeing news stories recounting her career.

Raising Victor Vargas

2009-04-19T18:01:00.007-04:00

I remember seeing Raising Victor Vargas at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2002. It played at the Uptown 2 and was introduced by then-programmer B. Ruby Rich, who had a knack for introducing small, feel-good films to TIFF audiences. I recently re-watched it on DVD.

In Raising Victor Vargas (written and directed by Peter Sollett, who directed Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist), Victor is a latino teen living in the Lower East Side with his imposing Dominican grandmother, his good-boy younger brother Nino and sharp-tongued younger half-sister Vicky. Over long, hot New York summer he pursues the beautiful and somewhat aloof Judy (who looks like a young Jennifer Lopez). The pride of both young lovers hides their own vulnerability, and Sollett convincingly portrays the characters, their friends and family with both touching reality and reality-based humour. The film also reinforces the strength of the family, and how, despite their arguments, the siblings and their grandmother all love and need each other dearly.

Trailer:

Spring Awakening, cont'd

2009-04-19T18:00:00.008-04:00

I was able to see Spring Awakening once more before it left Toronto, this time with Kyle Riabko in the lead. His Melchior was a bit different than Matt Doyle's, but it was also good. Riabko had played Melchior on Broadway before the show closed, and then had played the role throughout the tour (except for a brief break during the Toronto run when he was working on a TV series pilot). This allowed Toronto audiences to see not one, but three different actors playing Melchior (I also saw tour understudy Perry Sherman, who was also good). I had read somewhere that, being a singer, Riabko's acting was weak but his singing was strong. I actually quite liked his acting performance; I found his singing OK, but nothing exceptional. In my final viewing of ths show I sat in the very first row of the orchestra. If you've seen the show you know that at a number of times the cast come right up to the front of the stage where there are steps leading down towards the first row. Hence, at times the actors are right in your grill... and at times I felt a bit awkward looking directly at them when they were literally a few feet away. I had wanted to sit on the stage seats, but they were sold out for the run, but I think being up front was the next best thing... better, in some ways, since from the stage seats you are often looking at the back of the actors when they are performing down stage.

And again, I have to say I was disappointed in the Toronto audiences. Having seen the show so many times, I know where all the laughs should come and what scenes should evoke audience response. But really, Toronto, why are we all sitting on our hands? The Broadway audience was so much better, so full of fanboys and fangirls who could really get excited about Totally Fucked, for instance. Ah well, I guess it's just the Canadian politeness.

I think I previously failed to mention Steffi D. who, along with Kyle Riabko, are Canadian members of the cast. She plays Ilse and she has a good voice for that role.I can say that both Canadians are representin'. I see that she's got a bunch of videos of her castmates on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SteffiD5.

Original Broadway cast perform at the 2007 Tony Awards where they sing Totally Fucked as Totally ------ (hands over their mouth):

Spring Awakening

2009-04-11T09:50:00.025-04:00

If my excitement over the touring production of Spring Awakening coming to town tags me as a middle-aged fanboy, well, so be it.

The original Broadway production of Spring Awakening opened in December 2006 at the Eugene O'Neil Theatre, following an off-Broadway run at the Atlantic Theatre Company. It would go on to win 8 Tony Awards (on 11 nominations) in 2007, and the cast album (CD) would win a Grammy Award in 2008.

The show is based on the controversial play by Frank Wedekind, which was banned repeatedly since its inception in 1891. The musical itself was also seen as somewhat edgy given its handling of issues involving teenage sexuality and other sensitive topics (masturbation, teen pregnancy, abortion, suicide, homosexuality, corporal punishment, physical and sexual abuse). But the lyrical, contemporary pop music, the magical lighting design and non-realistic staging, and sensitive portrayal of the teenaged characters, make it a very mature and relevant piece of theatre with appeal to audiences of all ages. (I must say I resent those dismissive reviews that see the show's popularity with young people as a sign that it can't be any good. And don't these people remember what it was like to be young?)

The show follows Melchior, an independent-minded teenager who becomes involved with Wendla, who is naive and coming to turns with her own feelings of sexuality. Melchior's friend Moritz is also coming to terms with sex, but is very angst-ridden, not a good student, and ridden hard by his teachers and father. The other boys and girls in this social set are similarly dealing with their own private fantasies and real life difficulties, often the result of oppressive authority figures (parents, teachers) and repressive societal mores.

I saw the Broadway production in 2008. Original stars Jonathan Groff and Lea Michelle were still playing Melchior and Wendla, although Tony winner John Gallagher Jr. (Moritz) had left the show. Blake Bashoff was playing Moritiz, and he continues to play Moritiz in the touring production. Although I had the cast CD and was very familiar with the music, I was very moved by the production, the amazing staging, the performances of the young cast, and the terrific audience response to the show.

While it played in the 1,100 seat Eugene O'Neil Theatre on Broadway, Spring Awakening played the 2,100 seat Canon Theatre in Toronto. The combination of the massive theatre and the overly polite Toronto audiences, did not help the show. But having seen the touring production more than once, I am very satisfied with the quality of the production.

Matt Doyle (filling in for tour lead Kyle Riabko, but who understudied the lead in the Broadway cast) is a winning Melchior, showing both strength and sensitivity as a singular young man constrained by the strict and oppressive morality of the times. Christy Altomare sensitively plays the naive Wendla (I liked her Whispering), confused by feelings of sexuality and sensuality that her own mother refuses to explain to her. And Blake Bashoff is terrific as the angst-ridden Moritz, destructively confused by his own growing sexuality and by the oppressiveness adult authority figures. That guy brings it every night and I give props to him.

Angela Reed and Henry Stram are very strong as the adult female and male characters. These are mostly the villains of the show, but they play them well, with elements of reality and humour. And the rest of young actors and actresses are pretty good. Overall, perhaps not as strong as the Broadway cast, but there are some individual performances I liked, such as Ben Moss as the innocent Ernst and Andy Mientus is funny as Hanschen.

The on-stage band is terrific, led by a very enthusiastic Jared Stein. The sound is crisp and clear (I've seen other shows at the Canon with muddy sound). The Tony-winning lighting design by Kevin Adams continues to amaze. The use of LEDs and florescent tubes and the like, which are mostly visible in the simple, yet beautiful set design (which includes onstage seating), are able to create so many different moods. And I love the choreography/movement by Bill T. Jones, who won a Tony for his first foray on Broadway. So different, and so right.

The Sixth Man--the Toronto audience--was a bit disappointing, and one wishes there were more young people to hoot and holler--but also because this is a show about them, that speaks about sensitive topics in a real and direct way--like an episode of Degrassi (another put-down by those who dismiss this show; personally, comparing it to Degrassi is a compliment in my mind).

For more info: official blog of the tour, Totally Trucked. The tour continues to cities like Boston, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Chicago. Go see it!

The show recently opened to great acclaim in London, England, at the Novello Theatre. I've seen some clips, and hearing the cast speak and sing wth British accents gives it a different twist.

Spring Awakening
Book & lyrics by Steven Sater (super!). Music by Duncan Sheik (amazing!). Directed by Michael Mayer (brilliant!).

Duplicity

2009-04-10T09:46:00.003-04:00

Like his previous film, Michael Clayton, Tony Gilroy examines the dirty dealings and intrigue of the corporate world. Where Michael Clayton took on the legal industry, Duplicity shows how consumer goods companies are using sophisticated espionage techniques (and former gov't agents) to spy on their competition and steal their secret formulas.

But Duplicity is corporate spy caper/romantic comedy that's a bit too long and tries too hard to be too clever. It's like a juggling act that goes on too long--eventually, it ceases to amaze. I was losing interest in the convoluted double- and triple-crossing time-shifting plot, and the final "twist" led to an unsatisfying ending for me. Leads Julia Roberts and Clive Owen were untrusting of each other professionally and romantically, so we don't know whether we should care about them or not. Not a bad movie, but you might want to wait for the DVD. (7/10)

Adventureland

2009-04-07T21:09:00.005-04:00

What's with Rush? The Canadian rock band whose heyday was in the 1970's and 80's seems to be mentioned in every movie these days. The last three movies I've seen have featured a character that's into Rush: I Love You, Man, Fanboys and Adventureland.

Adventureland is an intelligent and sweet romantic comedy about the smart, college-bound James Brennan, who finds himself stuck in a mindless summer job at an amusement park, the titular Adventureland, and falls in love. Written and directed by Greg Mottola (who directed the supergood Superbad), Adventureland received a lot of positive reviews and perhaps that spoiled it a bit for me. Although I liked the film, I thought a smart film like this could have done more than the cliched rom-com plot contrivances: the leading woman is involved with another man--a married man, whose clearly a player and not good enough for her (I was reminded of the unlikely complication-relationship between Norah and "friend with benefits" Tal in the excellent Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist), which I'll blog about at some future date--and the leading man has a fling with a hot chick (who, in this galaxy, wouldn't likely date a sweet, nice guy like him). I also didn't like the casting of recognizable actors, namely Ryan Reynolds, Bill Hader and Kristin Wiig (I kept expecting SNL wackiness from them--and their presence took me out of the film).

On the plus side was the lovely and amazing (to quote the title of the movie I just bought on DVD) performance of Jesse Eisenberg, as the wonderfully sweet and likeable hero James Brennan. I also liked Kristin Stewart as Em, his love interest. Martin Starr, as James' co-worker friend, was also good.

And I do applaud the fact that Mottola did not stoop to the usual gross-out gags, or excessive use of swear words or sex for humour. So, it's pretty smart and pretty good. I'll give it an eight. (8/10)

Toronto Blue Jays Opening Day

2009-04-06T19:06:00.006-04:00

It's that time of year. Tonight the Toronto Blue Jays have their season opener at Rogers Centre vs. Detroit Tigers. Although a Blue Jays fan, I haven't been giving the team my full support for some time--and refuse to do so until they fire the general manager, J.P. Ricciardi. Last year I went to only 2 games, both on free tickets from work. I refuse to give that time my hard earned dollars until they get their management in order. Enough said on that.

On a more positive note, it's good to see Cito Gaston back with the team. Looks like he's sending out this lineup for the opening day game: Scutaro, Hill, Rios, Wells, Lind, Rolen, Overbay, Barajas, Snider.

Of course, Roy Halladay is the starting pitcher. He continues to be one of the top pitchers in the league (20-11, 2.78 ERA last season) and one of the greatest (if not the greatest) in Blue Jays history. It's too bad he isn't being given much support. The rotation drops of precipitously after Halladay, with Jesse Litch, David Purcey, Scott Richmond and Ricky Romero.

B.J. Ryan has supposedly returned as closer, despite reports that he's throwing in the mid-80's. Three other lefties in the 'pen: Scott Downs, Jesse Carlson and Brian Tallet.

On the offensive side, we'll need Vernon Wells and Alex Rios to step it up. Hopefully Aaron Hill can stay healthy. What Scott Rolen will give us is a big question.

I'm high on rookie OF Travis Snider. He showed flashes last year (.301 BA in 73 ABs) and hopefully he can keep that up.

The game is about to start now. Batter up!

=========

Jays win 12-5!

Michelle Obama Superstar

2009-04-05T11:59:00.009-04:00

This morning, Howard Kurtz (host of one of my favorite shows, Reliable Sources), was questioning why the media was "gushing" over Michelle Obama. Her European Tour was like something out of Evita (to paraphrase another ALW show): Let's hear it for the European Tour, it's been an incredible success!

But why shouldn't they gush? Aren't we all wrapped up in her spell? Barack Obama may be the first African-American President of the United States, but she's the first African-American first lady. She's a highly intelligent and accomplished lawyer. She's a working mother, with two adorable daughters. She's outgoing and personable--as was evidenced by her friendly embrace with Queen Elizabeth II, like they were girlfriends from the old neighborhood.

She's statuesque, beautiful, and has an eclectic sense of style. She's able to do the high/low fashion mix, wearing J.Crew one day, Azzedine Alaia the next. She's brought recognition to some lesser-know names like Isobel Toledo, Jason Wu, Maria Pinto, Narciso Rodriguez and Thakoon Panichgul. While Michelle is mostly seen in American designers (or designers from other countries who now live in the U.S.) she was also seen in an unusual asymmetrical cardigan by Japanese avant garde designer Junya Watanabe. Any woman who can wear preppy J.Crew one day and fashion forward Junya Watanabe the next gets big time props from me.

New York Times slideshow of European Tour fashion.

Not since Nancy Reagan, and Jackie Kennedy before her, has White House fashion been so talked about--and so important. Michelle Obama is her own stimulus package for the beleaguered fashion industry. Forget Jackie O. Bring on Michelle O!

Release your inner fanboy

2009-04-04T09:57:00.007-04:00

OK, so it's not a classic comedy. But the movie Fanboys is an amusing way to release the inner fanboy, the inner geek, the inner nerd.

It is 1998, and a group of friends and Star Wars fanboys go on a road trip from Ohio to the highly secure Skywalker Ranch in California, domain of George Lucas, creator of Star Wars. Their plan is to view The Phantom Menace (Star Wars episode 1) months before its official release because one of their group has a terminal illness. In typical road movie format, comic adventures ensue, including a run-in with Star Trek fans (Star Wars and Star Trek fans are mortal enemies, it would seem), a rough-looking rural gay bar (shades of the cantina scene in Star Wars), and cameos by the likes of William Shatner, Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia herself!), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian himself!), Seth Rogan, Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes (Jay and Silent Bob themselves), and Harry Knowles (of Aint It Cool News fame--I think only nerds understand the significance of that).

As if to prove the nerd fanboy point, when Roger Ebert gave this film a 1 1/2 star review (where he says, "Its primary flaw is that it's not critical. It is a celebration of an idiotic lifestyle, and I don't think it knows it."), he received an angrily worded e-mail from Jimmy Mac, "the Chicago-based co-host of the "The Force-Cast," the most downloaded Star Wars podcast on the net" titled "Idiotic??? How dare you, Ebert!"

Indeed, it's not a critical examination. Fanboys is a low-budget celebration of friendship and fandom (7.5/10).

The importance of package design and brand equity

2009-04-04T09:40:00.006-04:00

As I blogged about before, Tropicana had redesigned its packaging from the iconic 'orange with a straw sticking out of it' to a contemporary, yet generic look. Now we hear from Advertising Age that "sales plunged 20%" as a result of the design debacle.

After its package redesign, sales of the Tropicana Pure Premium line plummeted 20% between Jan. 1 and Feb. 22, costing the brand tens of millions of dollars. On Feb. 23, the company announced it would bow to consumer demand and scrap the new packaging, designed by Peter Arnell. It had been on the market less than two months.

Now that the numbers are out, it's clear why PepsiCo's Tropicana moved as fast as it did. According to Information Resources Inc., unit sales dropped 20%, while dollar sales decreased 19%, or roughly $33 million, to $137 million between Jan. 1 and Feb. 22. Moreover, several of Tropicana's competitors appear to have benefited from the misstep, notably Minute Maid, Florida's Natural and Tree Ripe. Varieties within each of those brands posted double-digit unit sales increases during the period. Private-label products also saw an increase during the period, in keeping with broader trends in the food and beverage space.

Officially, Tropicana is not admitting that the package redesign has anything to do with their decline in sales. According to AdAge: "A spokeswoman for Tropicana in an e-mail said, "No dots to connect here." The company did not respond to further requests for comment." Love that line, "No dots to connect hear."

ER

2009-04-03T06:28:00.003-04:00

Last night was the final episode of ER. I didn't realize it was a 2-hour episode and missed the first part, but enjoyed what I saw. For many years I was a regular watcher of the show, but hadn't watched it much in recent seasons. The cast changed, and you lose track of the story lines, and it seemed like the show had had its run.

But watching that final episode you could see why it lasted 15 seasons. It was a great show. Even though the cast turned over a few times, it still maintained the quality and spirit. I liked that they brought back a lot of the old cast. It was great to see Noah Wyle, Eriq La Salle, Laura Innes and others. But it was bittersweet, too. Like seeing old friends you hadn't seen in years and knowing you will likely never see them again.

I was also reminded of St. Elsewhere, the hospital show that I followed for many years, that came before ER. And then Grey's Anatomy, which I followed after ER (but which I'm losing interest in). There's something about the hospital drama that's so dramatic and compelling. I wonder what will be next.

But for now it's goodbye, ER.

President's Choice Dulce de Leche Ice Cream Dessert

2009-04-02T20:15:00.005-04:00

What makes them so delicious?

On the President's Choice website they are described this way: "Vanilla ice cream on a chocolate wafer topped with dulce de leche and pralined pecans, enrobed in a chocolatey coating. Elegant enough for entertaining, scrumptious enough to be enjoyed all by yourself as a special indulgence."

They are $5.49 at No Frills (not sure how much they cost at Loblaws) and I've bought 3 boxes (of 4) in the past couple of months. So good. So addictive. I've tried some of the other PC ice cream desserts, but this one is the best. Yummy!

Gillette Fusion

2009-03-30T21:01:00.004-04:00

So I bought a new Gillette razor today, the Gillette Fusion Phenom. It has 5+1 blades... 6 blades in total. Why do you need so many blades to shave your face?! It's ridiculous. Those Gillette people need to be stopped! What's more ridiculous is I bought the thing--in part because it was on sale for $7.59. Given the outrageous price of the cartridges, buying the razor (which comes with 2 cartridges) for $7.59 seemed like a good deal. Those cartridges probably cost 10 cents to make... and they sell them for $15.00 (or so) for 4. No wonder Gillette can afford to have Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Thiery Henry as their spokesmen.

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-03-28T11:38:00.006-04:00

Although it's not scheduled to be released until the fall, a poster and trailer for the live action movie version of the famous children's book Where the Wild Things Are have been released (illustration at left is from the book; it's not the movie poster). Of course, the 1963 children's book is famous for the illustrations of Max and the wild things he encounters in his imaginings. Written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, it is a classic.

The movie version is directed by Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, music videos), who co-wrote the script with Dave Eggers. I'm not sure how they are going to turn a short book into a feature-length movie, but the trailer does show that the "wild things" are not CGI monsters, but shaggy, human-in-an-oversized-costume-like creatures. I much prefer that to computer-generated monsters. They are like those oversized mascots you see waving to children... and scaring them because of their enormous size.

Here's a lengthy interview with the reclusive Spike Jonze in Ain't It Cool from November 2008. There had been some delays in the film and some studio controversy that almost derailed the production. The release of the trailer makes on think that things have smoothed out and are moving forward.

I'm sure there'll be more to say about this movie as more and more information leaks out... although this is a film I don't want to know too much about before I see it.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

2009-03-28T10:35:00.003-04:00

I'm thrilled that The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series starts this Sunday on HBO Canada. Based on Alexander McCall Smith's series of books (he's now up to the 10th now), there have been some good write-ups recently in the New York Times and in today's Toronto Star.

It was originally supposed to be a 2-hour movie (with aspirations for feature release, although there was a deal to show it on the BBC, too), but it got picked up as an HBO series. Co-written by Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Love, Actually) and Anthony Minghella (Cold Mountain, The Talented Mr. Ripley), who also directed the premier episode (and who is now dead, along with Sydney Pollack, who was a producer), this was the first major film or TV production to be filmed in Botswana.

In The Star article, Alexander McCall Smith has this to say about the origins of the book series:

"I live in Scotland, but I spent my childhood in Zimbabwe, right next door to Botswana.

"I started to visit Botswana back in the 1980s, and I worked at the University of Botswana ... I fell in love with the country, although I didn't dream at that stage that (we'd) have this very long literary conversation.

"I wanted, I suppose, with the books, to say something about this extraordinary country, get across some of its particular magic and appeal. And I sat down one day and started to write the story about a woman who has a little detective agency, and off it went. And I have just finished the 10th novel.

"Botswana is an extraordinary country," he further enthused. "An amazing place. When you go there, you have this strange feeling, a very strong feeling, that you are in a place which is just thoroughly good.

"I think that there's been a tendency to portray Africa in very negative tones. And most people see Africa in the media presented as being a continent full of distress and suffering. Now, that distress and suffering is there, but there's also this wonderful joy and these marvellous human qualities, which the film has so beautifully brought out."

I think that's part of the appeal of the books. The innate goodness of the characters, led by the indominatable Mma Precious Ramotswe, and including her friend (then fiance, then husband) Mr. JLB Matekoni, esteemed mechanic and proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, and Mma Grace Makutsi, who graduated with the unprecedented mark of 97% from the Botswana Secretarial College, and the goodness of Botswana, its people and of Africa as a whole.

As Jill Scott, who plays Mma Ramotswe, says, "Botswana was never tainted or touched by apartheid. So that makes the country and the people very strong and very warm towards each other. They don't have ugliness. They just don't have it. The character itself started to come to me based on where I was, just being around the people, having dinner, having conversations ...

"There was such a gentle nature to the people that I understood why Ramotswe was so kind and so gentle and so loving, and why she wants the best for her country.

"She's a powerful woman, that lady."

As a devout reader of the series (I've read up to the 9th book, so far), I can't wait to see Mma Ramotswe and the others brought to life on TV.

Cabaret

2009-03-19T21:08:00.006-04:00

In honour of Natasha Richardson, I was today listening to the 1998 Broadway revival cast album of Cabaret. I saw that production, directed by Sam Mendes at Studio 54, some years later, when original stars Alan Cumming and Natasha Richardson had left the show. I saw John Stamos as the Emcee and Heather Laws (?) as Sally Bowles. Hal Linden was Herr Schultz and Polly Bergen was Fraulein Schneider. It was amazing. They had cleared the seats from near the stage and had small tables and chairs like an actual cabaret. I had bought a ticket in one of those seats, right next to the stage. It was the first time I saw Cabaret (I've see in once since, an uninspiring production in London) and it was one of the best theatrical experiences I've ever had.

The cast album is amazing. Alan Cumming is marvellous as the pan-sexual Emcee. Really, a delicious performance. And Natasha Richardson makes a marvellous Sally Bowles. She doesn't have a singer's voice. She's an actess who sings, which I think makes her more suitable to Sally than, say, Liza, a natural singer. Sally was probably not a great singer, playing as she was in the Kit Kat Club in Berlin. But she was charismatic, and a performer, and she performed for a living.

And the character and life of Sally is revealed in the great songs of Kander & Ebb. In Don't Tell Mamma, in Perfectly Marvellous, in Maybe Next Time. But I particularly like her wrenching version of Cabaret, as well as her daring Mein Herr.

Bye-Bye, Mein Lieber Herr;
Farewell, mein Lieber Herr.
It was a fine affair,
But now it's over.
And though I-
Used to care,
I need the-
Open air.
You're better off without me.
You'll get on without me,
Mein Herr.

Natasha Richardson

2009-03-18T22:55:00.002-04:00

Tragic the death of Natasha Richardson from a seeingly minor skiing accident. Such a radiant talent, from a legendary acting family (her mother is Vanessa Redgrave, her father is actor/director Tony Richardson, her grandfather is Michael Redgrave) who was married to actor Liam Neeson, and has two sons.

Liam was apparently in Toronto doing a movie, but flew to Montreal to be with her in the hospital. She was then flown to a New York hospital with Neeson by her side. Her mother and sister (Joely Richardson) and sons were in New York and were able to be with her in her last hours.

From the New York Times: Natasha Richardson, 45, Stage and Film Star, Dies

Atheist Bus

2009-03-15T12:01:00.002-04:00

Last week I finally saw one of those Atheist Bus ads (on the subway). I applaud that group for allowing atheists to come out of the closet, so to speak. I am still yet to see the "THERE'S PROBABLY NO GOD. NOW STOP WORRYING AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE." ads on an actual bus, but it would seem that they do have them on buses and streetcars in Toronto. Perhaps they will be coming to your town, too.

Canadian Atheist Bus Campaign.

Flickr photostream.

World Baseball Classic

2009-03-14T15:32:00.006-04:00

As the World Baseball Classic moves into round 2 this weekend, I'm finally able to blog about last weekend's games that I saw in Toronto at Rogers Centre.

The opening Canada vs. USA game was the most exciting. 42,000 Canadian and American fans. Close game (6-5) where Canada had the tying run in scoring position and go-ahead run at the plate in the form of Jason Bay. Joey Votto opened my eyes, getting 4 of Canada's 7 hits. I had never heard of the rookie, who last year hit .297 with 24 HR and 84 RBI for the Cincinatti Reds. It was good to see a near full house at Rogers Centre.

The next game was a 15-6 rout by the USA over Venezuela. This game started at 8pm and didn't end until almost midnight.

The third and final game I saw was Canada's disappointing 6-2 loss to Italy. Having played a close game with Team USA, perhaps the Canadians were looking ahead of Italy to a potential match with Venezuela (who had beaten Italy and who were trounced by the US). Instead the Canadians played like they were a Toronto-based team (Raptors, Leafs, Jays, FC) and faced boo-ing on more than one occassion. Of course, it was limited boo-ing, as only 12,000+ bothered to show up. To paraphrase a Canadian heckler who was sitting near us at the Canada-USA game, "Stop doing that!"

Edit to add: there's a good photo gallery on BlogTO.

The World According to Bertie

2009-03-03T19:35:00.007-05:00

Just finished the latest book in Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street series, The World According to Bertie. Despite it's title, it's not really about six year old Bertie's worldview, but continues the series of short, easy-reading glimpses into the lives of a group of people in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The first book started as a newspaper serial. A short chapter a day was published in the Scotsman, and these were published under the title 44 Scotland Street. Just as Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City begins with a young woman (Mary Ann) moving into a new flat (at 28 Barbary Lane), so too Alexander McCall Smith's story begins with a young woman (Pat) moving into a flat (at 44 Scotland Street) and meeting a new set of people.

Pat is a student who, over the series, falls for a series of unsuitable, egocentric men (Bruce, Wolf) and has her part-time employer, Matthew, fall for her. Across the landing lives Domenica Macdonald, a delightful older woman and anthropologist. She has an artist friend Angus Lordie who lives nearby with his beloved dog Cyril, who sports a gold tooth. Also in the building is Bertie, his overbearing mother Irene and hapless father Stuart. There's also Big Lou who runs a coffee shop across from Matthew's art gallery.

Various things have happened over the course of the 4 books in the series so far. Nothing life-or-death, but things which are often amusing. McCall Smith has the ability to get into the life and angst of characters of different ages and different stages in life. What causes consternation for the characters is completely different, yet makes perfect sense for those characters.

At the core is a very positive message that our own lives are shaped by our relationships with others. And if we only treated people as we want to be treated ourselves, things will work out fine.

Alexander McCall Smith is quite a remarkable author when you consider the number of books he writes. So prolific!

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency came out some 10 years ago, and is now on the 10th book in the series. Love them! I've read the first 8, and am just waiting for the 9th to come out in paperback. I only just discovered there is a 10th book, "Tea Time for the Traditionally Built." Lots of reading ahead. So popular are these books that they were made into an HBO series, filmed in Botswana itself. It starts Jill Scott as Mma Ramotswe and Anika Noni Rose as Mma Makutsi. I can't wait!

There are several books in the Isabel Dalhousie series, none of which I have read yet. I have read the three books in the series about Prof. Dr. Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld. The dust jacket describes him as a cross between Frazier Crane and Inspector Clouseau--an apt description. And I've read the first four books of the 44 Scotland Street series. I just discovered that there is a fifth book, "The Unbearable Lightness of Scones."

While no one would call McCall Smith's books "literary," they are just so enjoyable to read and give one such pleasure. No wonder they're popular with book clubs.

Blossom Dearie

2009-03-02T20:54:00.003-05:00

I recently discovered the singer Blossom Dearie (her actual name: Margrete Blossom Dearie) and even more recently discovered that she had recently died (Feb. 7th, I think)!

I'm not sure how I never encountered her before. She has a very unique, winsome, girlish voice. I have two of her songs on some compilation CDs I got recently: the Cole Porter song "Always True to You (in my fashion)" and "Rhode Island is Famous for You" (not sure who wrote that). I don't even know the story of Rhode Island. Is it from a musical? It's delightful anyways. Some of the lyrics:

Copper comes from Arizona
Peaches come from Georgia
Lobsters come from Maine
The wheat fields are the
sweet fields of Nebraska
And Kansas gets bonanzas from the grain
Ol' whiskey comes from ol' Kentucky
Ain't the country lucky?
New Jersey gives us glue
And you come from Rhode Island
And Rhode Island is famous for you

So my mission now is to find out more about Ms. Dearie, and to get some of her CDs.

Her interpretation of "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top" from Oklahoma:

Luck Be A Lady

2009-03-01T10:10:00.005-05:00

In a previous post on the song "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" I mentioned the Broadway revival of Pal Joey. The revival had received mixed reviews and I just read on Playbill.com that it will close today, March 1, 2009. Pal Joey began previews on Nov. 14, 2008, and opened officially on Dec. 18, 2008.

Coincidentally, the Des McAnuff-directed revival of Guys and Dolls opens on the same day Pal Joey closes. This production stars Oliver Platt, Lauren Graham, Kate Jennings Grant and Craig Bierko.

Guys and Dolls was last seen on Broadway in the Tony-winning Jerry Zacks-directed 1992 revival starring Nathan Lane, Faith Prince, Josie de Guzman and Peter Gallagher. I never saw that production, but I have the cast CD and it's excellent. Faith Prince's squeaky voice is perfect as Miss Adelaide, and she's great in "A Bushel and a Peck," "Adelaide's Lament" and "Marry the Man Today." Nathan Lane also makes a very funny Nathan Detroit. Love his "Sue Me." Also love Walter Bobbie's "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat."

I had read somewhere that Peter Gallagher had a cold when they recorded the cast album, and so his "Luck Be a Lady" is just OK. Josie de Guzman's "If I Were A Bell" is very good. I just recently heard Dinah Washington's swinging version of that song. Great!

Guys and Dolls has so many great songs, and the traditional look--men in hats and striped 30's era suits, with Broadway marquees as a backdrop--just shouts Broadway. I'm hoping this revival turns out to be good. The casting seems a bit suspect compared to the last revival that many will still remember. And given the economy and the uncertainty of Broadway even in the best of times it's always a crap shoot. So as they sing in "Luck Be a Lady"

Stick with me, baby, I'm the fellow you came in with
Luck be a lady,
Luck be a lady,
Luck be a lady tonight.
Coming out, coming out, coming out Right!

Legal bloodbath

2009-02-28T19:30:00.003-05:00

I work in the marketing department of a major Canadian-based law firm. And while the Canadian legal industry has (so far) been able to weather the economic crisis (the layoffs of 38 administrative staff at Cassels Brock in January 2009 being the exception), I continue to be shocked by the ongoing layoffs from the major U.S. and international firms.

From Above the Law:

The week ending February 20 was the first week in which major law firms laid off more than 1,000 people in a single week and, of course, the week prior to that we had "Black Thursday" or the "Valentine's Day Massacre" (although I will always think of the Valentine's Day Massacre as Drexel Burnham Lambert's bankruptcy filing in 1990, which was also a slight misnomer, as it, too, actually occurred on February 13).
* * *
In one fell swoop, Latham vaulted to the #2 spot on the ranking of firms by total layoffs. Latham's 440 (190 associates, 250 staff) is second only to Allen & Overy, which has laid off 462 to date (260 attorneys, 202 staff). Linklaters is pushed to #3 (210 attorneys, 150 staff). Cadwalader (156 total), the firm that started this round, drops out of the Top 10 (although it remains in one black corner of our hearts).
* * *
All told, 560 people were laid off by major firms this week - 252 attorneys, 308 staff. To put that in context, more people were fired this week than in any month in 2008. Last year, the two busiest months at major firms were December, which had 435 layoffs (186 attorneys, 249 staff), and November, which had 431 (223/208).
* * *
The numbers ("BigLaw" only):
560 for the week.
2,708 in February (1,104 attorneys, 1,604 staff).
4,248 in 2009 (1,798 attorneys, 2,450 staff).

Demisemiseptcentennial

2009-02-28T13:00:00.005-05:00

March 6, 2009 marks the 175th Anniversary of the founding of the City of Toronto (my hometown; I was born at Mount Sinai Hospital on University Ave.), founded on March 6, 1834. The previous name had been the Town of York, founded on August 27, 1793. At the birth of Toronto, the city had only 9,000 inhabitants. Now, it has over 2.5 million and over 5 million in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

There will be events at City Hall commemorating this anniversary. Might go and check some of them out. http://www.toronto.ca/175/index.htm

Tropicana

2009-02-26T19:20:00.009-05:00

Out with the new, in with the old.

A few weeks ago I was reading about the packaging redesign of Tropicana oranage juice. Created by Arnell Group, the new look ditches the familiar green Tropicana logo above an orange with a straw sticking out of it for a photoshopped glass of orange juice and the Tropicana name written vertically in a sans-serif font. The look is generic and sterile. It chucks all that brand equity out the door.

Then I read today in Advertising Age that Tropicana "is junking the new orange-juice package design it just launched only weeks ago" and switching back to the old look.

The super cool blog Brand New covered this with the title Tropicana Hits Command-Z.

According to a New York Times article: Tropicana Discovers Some Buyers Are Passionate About Packaging.

It took 24 years, but PepsiCo now has its own version of New Coke.

The PepsiCo Americas Beverages division of PepsiCo is bowing to public demand and scrapping the changes made to a flagship product, Tropicana Pure Premium orange juice. Redesigned packaging that was introduced in early January is being discontinued, executives plan to announce on Monday, and the previous version will be brought back in the next month.

Also returning will be the longtime Tropicana brand symbol, an orange from which a straw protrudes. The symbol, meant to evoke fresh taste, had been supplanted on the new packages by a glass of orange juice.

The about-face comes after consumers complained about the makeover in letters, e-mail messages and telephone calls and clamored for a return of the original look.

In this AdAge video, Peter Arnell, CEO of Arnell Group lamely tries to defend his firm's design. Mostly he talks about the orange cap, the one thing that Tropicana is keeping. Instead of a normal orange-colour screw cap on the cartons of Tropicana, Arnell Group created a screw cap that actually looked like an orange.

Further from the NYTimes article:

An ad campaign for Tropicana that helped herald the redesigned cartons, also introduced last month, will continue to run, Mr. Campbell said. Print and outdoor ads that have already appeared will not be changed, he added, but future elements of the campaign — like commercials, due in March — would be updated.

Unlike the packaging, the campaign has drawn praise, particularly for including in its family imagery several photographs of fathers and children hugging. Such dad-centric images are rare in food ads.

The campaign, which carries the theme "Squeeze it’s a natural," was created by Arnell in New York, part of the Omnicom Group.

squeeze
it's a natural

What does that mean?! Squeeze it's a natural?

This whole episode just shows you: marketers, advertisers, designers... nobody knows anything.

Oscar fashion

2009-02-23T19:59:00.011-05:00

And now for what's really important in the world: Oscar fashion.

Best dressed couple: Sean and Robin Wright Penn. Both wore matching black and looked fantastic. RWP had a Jerry Hall-ish look going for her, which worked.

Best dresed woman: Kate Winslet in Atelier Yves Saint Laurent. Sculpted retro hairstyle. Diamonds at ears and wrist. Not too much, not too little. Just right.

Best dressed man: John Legend in a retro narrow-legged black suit. Looked great performing the song from Wall-E.

Honorable mention: Meryl Streep.

In defence of some people who landed on worst dressed lists:

I loved Sarah Jessica Parker. She is a true fashionista. A princess dress from Dior couture. Yes, it pushed her boobs up beyond belief, but the sea-foam green dress had a pixie-ish Tikerbell quality. A delight.

I liked Jessica Biel in dress that looked like she wrapped herself in a sheet. The hair was likewise loose. She's stunningly beautiful (she walked right by me at the Toronto Film Festival last year and she's gorgeous), and I thought her look had a certain casual California chic.

Mickey Rourke in Jean Paul Gaultier. He looked great, people. Except for the greasy hair. Ick.

Edit to add: Most adorable award goes to the Slumdog Millionaire kids

Academy Awards

2009-02-23T00:03:00.004-05:00

Slumdog Millionaire was the expected big winner at the 81st Academy Awards with 8 total awards.

The show itself was OK, nothing particularly good, nothing particularly bad (OK, the salute to movie musicals was bad... very bad, like Yikes bad).

I was happy with most of the winners. Yay to Kate Winslet and Sean Penn. And yay for Slumdog Millionaire, a deserving winner.

The one disappointment for me was that the amazing Waltz with Bashir did not win best foreign-language film. I didn't see the winner (Departures, from Japan), but I hoped Bashir would get some recognition, if only so more people would see it..

Comments on fashion and other things later. Time for bed.

Oscar time

2009-02-22T18:01:00.006-05:00

Hugh Jackman is set to host the 81st Academy Awards tonight. An unusual choice, but I have some confidence that Jackman can do a decent job. In the past 20 or 30 years the hosts have mostly been comedians, including Johnny Carson, Billy Crystal (who was extremely popular, although I wasn't as high on him as some; that said, I did like when they did montages of the nominated films and Crystal would put himself into all of the movies--that was funny), Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, Steve Martin, Chris Rock, Ellen Degeneres and Jon Stewart.

I read in the LA Times that Oscar producer Bill Condon (who directed the Dreamgirls movie, not to mention Kinsey and Gods and Monsters) "acknowledges (the Oscar telecast) is a strange hybrid: "A theater production celebrating movies that's broadcast on TV."" Along with being a movie star (Wolverine in the X-Men movies, opposite Nicole Kidman in Australia), he's also done Broadway theatre, starring as Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz and Curly in Oklahoma! So, he should be confident performing on stage. He can sing, he can dance. Bring back those interpretive dance numbers!

Oops, I see that the red carpet coverage has begun. There's Ben Mulroney, son of our former Prime Minister, leading the Canadian coverage for e-talk. And there's Ryan Seacrest, leading the coverage for E! Let the fawning and gown-critiquing begin! Huzzah!

Roger Ebert; and Darwin at 200

2009-02-22T14:53:00.008-05:00

I meant to post this earlier. For the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, Roger Ebert posted this entry on his own blog: Darwin survives as the fittest. The blog post has 308 comments to date, all of which Ebert has read--as noted by his replies to some of the comments. An except from his blog post:

Darwin's Theory has been much developed and improved by countless scientists over the years, most dramatically since the discovery of DNA--which Darwin knew nothing about, but which uncannily supported his theory and revealed the mechanism by which it works. The Theory has been called "the best theory in the history of science." Intelligent Design, on the other hand, has been described as a pseudoscience and Creationism in Science's clothing. A federal court decision declared it a subterfuge to smuggle a religious belief into tax-supported schools.

Nonetheless, the debate, which is not taken seriously in any other nation on earth, may never be over; my thread alone still draws new comments. Some of the supporters of ID are civil and sincere; others inform me I am going to Hell or simply quote scripture at me. A lot of ID advocates repeat the same arguments over and over, apparently lifting them from ID websites, as if they had not been pretty well exhausted in the preceding comments, which total more words than A Tale of Two Cities, a reading experience you will find much more enjoyable.

As the self-appointed referee in this particular match, I declare Darwin the winner. If you don't agree, please read the comments yourself.

Ebert had been locked in a bit of debate with Intelligent Design propenents, notably since his blog post Win Ben Stein's mind. Posted on December 3, 2008, this blog entry has 1308 comments. Below is a cartoon posted on Ebert's blog entry (Auth (c) 2005 The Philadelphia Inquirer. Reprinted by permission of Universal Press Syndicate. All rights reserved.)

On this topic, one should also check out Ebert's tongue-in-cheek commentary, Creationism: Your questions answered.

Ebert may not be able to speak anymore, but he can still write. A recent photo of him, his wife and stepdaughter when he was receiving an Honorary Lifetime Membership from the Director's Guild of America in January 2009.

Facebook

2009-02-22T10:01:00.002-05:00

On a message board I read someone posted a link to this funny article on Facebook from Time: Why Facebook is for old fogies. It features a list of reasons, such as:

1. Facebook is about finding people you've lost track of. And, son, we've lost track of more people than you've ever met. Remember who you went to prom with junior year? See, we don't. We've gone through multiple schools, jobs and marriages. Each one of those came with a complete cast of characters, most of whom we have forgotten existed. But Facebook never forgets.

The God Delusion

2009-02-22T08:38:00.011-05:00

I just finished reading Richard Dawkins's "The God Delusion," which was given to me (I kid you not) as a Christmas present. Although an atheist myself, I was only vaguely familiar with Mr. Dawkins, who is apparently a world-famous atheist and author of a number of book on atheism. According to the book cover, he is "the Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University." Dawkins presents very sensible and logical reasons behind his thinking. He cites examples and proofs from science. He also points out the wild inconsistencies with religion (largely focusing on Christianity--which he is most familiar with and which English-language readers would be most familiar with) and how inconsistently and selectively people of faith seem to follow the very tenets of their religion.

Atheism seems to be in the cultural zeitgeist right now. The atheist bus campaign has supposedly come to my hometown of Toronto, although I have yet to see one of the buses with the sign "THERE'S PROBABLY NO GOD. NOW STOP WORRYING AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE." The atheist bus campaign got lots of publicity when it placed its ads on the London and other U.K. cities' public transit system starting last year.

The United Church of Canada launched a campaign which featured two versions of the atheist bus slogan--but with one word changed: THERE'S PROBABLY NO GOD. NOW STOP WORRYING AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE/THERE'S PROBABLY A GOD. NOW STOP WORRYING AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE." People were referred to their web/discussion site wondercafe.ca, where there was a poll. When I did the poll "no God" was ahead by a couple of percentage points, although "God" has come storming back and now leads 55%-45%. Given that this is the website of a major national church, one would hope that God would have the lead. I think this was a pretty smart campaign, and I give them props for putting it out so fast... and risking that "no God" might give "God" an run for His money.

Another thing I was reminded of is when Dawkins says that some of his opponents accuse him of anti-religion hostility. One of the book chapters is titled "What's wrong with religion? Why be so hostile?" For some reason, I can't help but hear the latter sentence in the voice of Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight asking "Why so serious?"

At the start of that chapter, Dawkins quotes a George Carlin bit:

Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man--living in the sky--who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time... But He loves you!

And I think it was very interesting, and good, and prescient, and forward-thinking of President Obama, in his Inaugural Speech, to mention not only the plurality of religions in the United States, but "non-believers," as well. "On a morning of countless firsts in U.S. history, add this: Barack Obama's inaugural speech is the first time a president has ever explicitly acknowledged not only "Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus" but non-believers as well." (USAToday)

So, it would seem now that atheists have been invited to the table--and no longer have to cower in the closets or keep silent as others spout out their religious beliefs. Now the atheist's beliefs--perhaps rooted in science, perhaps rooted in philosophy, perhaps rooted in an individual's idiosyncratic way of thinking--can be treated as equal.

Kids from Slumdog Millionaire

2009-02-21T11:20:00.003-05:00

All the child actors from Slumdog Millionaire will be in attendance at the Academy Awards, according to reports. It should be adorable to see those wide-eyed kids walking the red carpet with the likes of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Actually, watch out for Angelina, kids... she might try and adopt you on the spot!

Academy Awards

2009-02-20T20:35:00.004-05:00

The Academy Awards are this Sunday. Here are my votes (if I had a vote). These are NOT who I think will win. They are who I would vote for. I'm not voting for categories where I haven't seen any of the nominees, or categories where I'm unsure..

Of the major nominated films, I HAVE seen: Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, Frost/Nixon, The Reader, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Wrestler, Doubt, The Dark Knight, Revolutionary Road, Rachel Getting Married, Vicky Christina Barcelona, Wall-E, The Duchess, Trouble the Water, Waltz with Bashir, Wanted, Happy-Go-Lucky

I have NOT seen: Changeling, Frozen River, Bolt, Kung Fu Panda, Tropic Thunder, Iron Man, In Bruges, Australia, none of the short/feature documentaries (except for Trouble the Water), none of the foreign-language films (except for Waltz with Bashir), Hellboy, Defiance, none of the short films (animated or live action).

They was robbed: The Wrestler should have been nominated for Best Picture, Sally Hawkins for Best Actress.

Actor in a Leading Role: MICKEY ROURKE, THE WRESTLER
Actor in a Supporting Role: HEATH LEDGER, THE DARK KNIGHT
Actress in a Leading Role: KATE WINSLET, THE READER
Actress in a Supporting Role: VIOLA DAVIS, DOUBT
Animated Feature Film: WALL-E
Art Direction: THE DARK KNIGHT
Cinematography: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Costume Design: THE DUCHESS
Directing: DANNY BOYLE, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Documentary Feature: TROUBLE THE WATER
Documentary Short: undecided
Film Editing: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Foreign Language Film: WALTZ WITH BASHIR
Makeup: THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Music (Score): A.R.RAHMAN, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Music (Song): JAI HO, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Best Picture: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Short Film (Animated): undecided
Short Film (Live Action): undecided
Sound Editing: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Sound Mixing: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Visual Effects: THE DARK KNIGHT
Writing (Adapted Screenplay): SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Writing (Original Screenplay): MILK

Obama goes to Canada

2009-02-19T20:26:00.006-05:00

"I love this country," said Barak Obama during his first foreign trip as President, a several hour jaunt to Ottawa. "(I) think that we could not have a better friend and ally." And the Canadian people loved him back. Thousands lined the route from the airport (where he was met by the GG, Michaelle Jean) or waited outside Parliament Hill. Mostly Obama was involved in closed-door meetings with PM Stephen Harper, although he also made a detour to the Byward Market for a local delicacy: the beavertail. A special beavertail was created for the president (an "Obamatail") topped with whipped cream in the shape of an "O."

Meanwhile, Timothy's, the Canadian coffee shop chain, released a special "Presidential Blend No. 44."

Trouble the Water

2009-02-17T21:45:00.006-05:00

Directors Tia Lessin and Carl Deal's great luck was to meet Kimberly Rivers Roberts. A resident of the Lower Ninth Ward, Kim and her husband Scott were forced through necessity to weather Hurricane Katrina in their house. Kim had a camcorder and documented life in her neighborhood before and during Katrina, ending when her camera battery died and she and some neighbors were holed up in the attic, as flood waters rose to the level of the STOP on a nearby stop sign.

The film, nominated for an Academy Award, follows the resourceful couple as they seek help from the military, from FEMA, from their country, only to be let down. Ultimately, they are forced to fend for themselves and drive a truck out of town with as many neighbors as they can. Thanks to the help of various relatives in Louisiana and Memphis, they are able to get back on their feet and eventually return to New Orleans

There are scenes that we have seen before--the devastation, the dead left abandoned, the living piteously waiting on the roadside or outside the Convention Center, all in despair--beyond frustration--as no one seems willing or able to help. Now it takes a more personal turn, as we see people who are directly affected, and people who were able to escape and leave behind those less fortunate.

These are people who had very little to begin with, yet courageously soldier on despite obstacles that would try a saint. It's very remarkable. And briefly the film shows scenes of George Bush and then-FEMA director Mike Brown ("Brownie, you're doin' a heckuva job"), and one is so grateful that the United States is under new management. Amen.

Movie website: Trouble the Water
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/user/TroubleTheWater

Shaquille O'Neal

2009-02-16T12:54:00.004-05:00

The Big Cactus stole the show in the land of the sun. Appearing in his 15th NBA All Star game, Shaq proclaimed himself the godfather of the league and put on a show.

During player introductions he performed a masked dance with JabbaWokeeZ, winner of season one of America's Best Dance Crew. (Muchmusic broadcasts the MTV show in Canada, and I've watched it occassionally and it's pretty good. I remember the JabbaWokeez and like them.)

Then, in the game he executed a perfect role reversal give and go. With Chris Paul in the post and Shaq on the wing, Shaq delivered a bounce pass between Dwight Howard's legs to Paul, cut to the basket, got the ball back and went in for a thunderous dunk.

Shaq and JabbaWokeeZ:

Shaq's give-and-go:

Miley Cyrus

2009-02-16T11:13:00.013-05:00

I never thought I'd be blogging about Miley Cyrus, but I just read that she is being sued because of a photo which has surfaced showing Miley and some friends doing the "slanty-eye" gesture. Back when I was a kid, this "chinky" gesture was meant to mock East Asian people... just like the word "chink" itself.

One had thought it had disappeared, but was revived last summer when the Spanish men's Olympic basketball team was seen doing this gesture in an advertisement in Spanish newspapers. Although offensive to Asian people in North America, in Spain it was seen as something friendly, and was the team's way of saluting their summer Olympic hosts: China. Well, maybe. It was said that Chinese people from China were not offended, but of course they weren't. Who makes fun of Chinese eyes in China? They're all Chinese! It was not something they had seen before; it was not something they associated with racism. It's only in places where Asian people were in the minority (such as the U.S. and Canada), where they suffered real racism, that they were taunted with this offensive gesture--meant to imply that there was something wrong with their eyes. They were "different" from the norm.

But what to think about Miley Cyrus. She was brought up in the U.S. and you would think that she would know that it was an offensive gesture. On the other hand, there is an Asian guy in the photo and he doesn't appear to take offense at all the white people squinting. (The funny thing is that he actually has large eyes.) Also, this photo was not meant to be public--it was just a bunch of young people goofing off.

Some people, however, took it seriously.

"Lucie J. Kim, who brought the suit against the pop star, claims to represent over 1 million people in the LA area of Asian Pacific Islander descent. Kim claims that she and others are "a victim of [Cyrus'] discriminatory acts." The suit claims that every one of the 1 million Asian Pacific Islanders in the LA area "is entitled to a minimum of $4,000 for a civil rights violation stemming from the photograph. The damages could exceed $4 billion dollars."

Yikes! Are young people--even celebrity young people--goofing off worth $4 billion? Couldn't we just spit in Miley's moo goo gai pan the next time she orders Chinese take-out and call it even?

Russell Peters

2009-02-16T10:21:00.008-05:00

I haven't seen a lot of Russell Peters's material before, but I recently saw his new DVD "Red, White and Brown." Filmed at the WAMU Theatre at Madison Square Gardens in New York and broadcast on Showtime, Peters does his racial joke schtick in front of a multi-ethnic audience... and they eat it up. Yes, he plays on stereotypes, mocks various ethnic groups, does spot-on accents (Indian, Chinese), and the only disappointment is when he doesn't make fun of your own enthic group.

Peters is Indo-Canadian and hails from Brampton, a suburb of Toronto. While totally Canadian, growing up in multi-ethnic Canada has provided him with ethnic insights that provide the basis for his humour.

I found him really funny and am glad he's enjoying success (hosting the Junos, playing arena-sized shows).

On some later blog post I'll have to write about my favorite comedian (who also does racial humour), Margaret Cho.

Trailer for Red, White and Brown:

South Pacific

2009-02-15T09:24:00.013-05:00

Although I've seen it many times, I recently re-watched the 1958 movie version of South Pacific on a widescreen TV. Such an enjoyable film. Wonderful score. Yes, the coloured filters were tiresome, but the show is able to combine so many genres (musical comedy, drama, war story, love story) so well, and the exotic South Pacific setting (actually filmed in Hawaii) is so enchanting.

The songs, of course, a memorable. Emile de Becque's powerful "Some Enchanted Evening" and "This Nearly Was Mine," Nellie's fun "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" and "Honey Bun," Bloody Mary's alluring "Bali Hai" and effervescent "Happy Talk" and Lieutenant Cable's soaring, love-struck "Younger Than Springtime." Rogers & Hammerstein didn't just drop in a good song here and there--all their songs were hits.

Strangely, the film won only one Academy Award--for sound, of all things (it was also nominated for cinematography and music). The cast was very good, though. Mitzi Gaynor made a delightful, bubbly Nellie. Rossano Brazzi was believable as a mature cultured Frenchman who had really thought about what was important in life. John Kerr had both an officer's intelligence and a boyish looks, which of course, were so alluring to Juanita Hall's determined Bloody Mary. And Ray Walston was perfect as the wise guy Billis. Much of the singing was dubbed: the roles of Emile de Becque, Lt. Cable, Bloody Mary and Stewpot.

The show is extremely popular and has been revived numerous times, although shockingly it has only had one Broadway revival, the current Lincoln Center production which starred Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot. I have to say I was a bit disappointed with the cast CD (I wasn't able to see the show when I was in NY last year, as it was sold out). Paulo Szot sounds good (and won the Tony), Kelli O'Hara is adequate (I prefer a more bubbly Nellie, and she sounded more mature), Matthew Morrison is a bit weak as Joe Cable (his voice doesn't have the power to soar in "Younger than Springtime," for example) and Loretta Ables Sayre's Bloody Mary sounded like a second rate hotel lounge act (OK, it wasn't that bad, but I was disappointed nonetheless).

The recording that I found surprisingly good was the Carnegie Hall concert version (2005) which was shown on PBS and which I have on DVD. Reba McEntire gives a country twang to Ensign Nellie Forbush (from Little Rock, ARK) and shows she can act, too. Brian Stokes Mitchell is magnificent as Emile de Becque. His "This Nearly Was Mine" is incredible. Alec Baldwin was very funny as Billis, Lilias White was wonderful (as always--check out her Effie in the concert version of Dreamgirls) as Bloody Mary, and Jason Danieley sang a very good Lieutenant Cable.

I vaguely recall being indifferent to the TV version of South Pacific with Glenn Close and Harry Connick Jr.

South Pacific was based on stories from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning Tales of the South Pacific. The stage musical itself won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1950 and won 10 Tony awards, including all 4 acting awards: Mary Martin (Nellie Forbush), Ezio Pinza (Emile de Becque), Juanita Hall (Bloody Mary) and Myron McCormick (Luther Billis).

Rogers & Hammerstein had previously produced musicals with very all-American settings (Oklahoma!, Carousel and the film State Fair). South Pacific would lead them on a string of Asian-influenced musicals. South Pacific was set amid the war in the South Pacific and included Tonkinese Bloody Mary and her daughter Liat; The King and I was set in Thailand and Flower Drum Song was about Chinese-Americans in San Francisco.

(An interesting side note: Juanita Hall, who played Tonkinese (Vietnamese) Bloody Mary was actually African-American. Rossano Brazzi and Ezio Pinza, who played French Emile de Becque in the movie and stage versions respectively, were both Italian. Yul Brynner, who famously played the King of Siam (Thailand) in The King and I was Russian. And Rita Moreno, who played Burmese Tuptim, was actually Puerto Rican. Talk about your cross-cultural casting!)

Starring Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza, the original production of South Pacific opened on Broadway in 1949 and played 1,925 performances (Broadway's second-longest running show at the time). I've seen some clips of Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin, but haven't heard the original Broadway cast album in its entirety. Juanita Hall (Bloody Mary) is the only member of the Broadway cast to reprise her role in the film (magnificently). Although I find it curious that they had her singing voice dubbed by the woman who had played the role in London.

But back to the movie. I read an interesting blog post about the movie South Pacific. There's an interesting scene that I noticed when watching the film that this blogger commented about. He writes: "When Emile de Becque asks the U.S. Navy and Marine officers what they’re fighting for in World War II, they can’t come up with an answer. Can someone explain this? Why wouldn’t they say, we’re fighting for freedom? Two years after Pearl Harbor, these Americans don’t know what they’re fighting for?"

The blogger wonders how American military officers fighting a war against the Japanese, who had terrorized and occupied countries around the Pacific rim (Korea, China, the Philippines, various south Pacific islands, etc.) would have doubts about their mission.

Cmdr. Harbison: “He’s (de Becque) an honest man, but he’s wrong. Of course we can’t guarantee him a better world if we win. The point is, we can be sure it’ll be worse if we lose, can’t we? (Silence from Brackett and Cable) Well, can’t we?”

Capt. Brackett: “I don’t know.”

I found that dialogue very interesting because you would have expected the American soldiers and officers to be more gung-ho about their mission. Freedom. Liberty. Justice. Especially in a show that was created when America was seen to do no wrong. So I found that dialogue to be very modern, very contemporary. Certainly you could see a movie set in Iraq or Afghanistan to feature officers expressing some doubt about what they were fighting for and if it was doing any good. That this dialogue was in a movie about a war that had been won is all the more intriguing.

Raptors trade

2009-02-13T20:40:00.007-05:00

Bryan Colangelo finally executed the trade that was rumoured for months. The Raptors send Jermaine O'Neal, Jamario Moon and a conditionnal first round pick to the Heat for Shawn Marion, Marcus Banks and cash.

With the Raps floundering this season, and with Bosh and Calderon presently out with injuries, this is a good deal for the Raps because of Marion's expiring contract. JO is owed $23 million next season, but Marion's $19 million salary coming off the books at the end of the season will open up cap space for the Raps to go after a high-priced free agent.

The Matrix earned his reputation playing with Steve Nash for the Suns, but at 30 his skills are in decline. This season he's averaging 12 ppg and 8.7 rpg. His career averages are 17.9/10.

The trade of O'Neal grants a starting center spot to Andrea Bargnani who is finally coming around. He's now second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.8 ppg and 5.3 rpg (career avg. 11.6/4.2).

This trade can be traced back to BC's first big move, trading Charlie Villaneuva to the Bucks for T.J. Ford. With the emergence of Jose Calderon, Ford was traded for Jermaine O'Neal. O'Neal is now traded for less than half a season of Shawn Marion.

The best result for the Raptors would be to stay in the dumps where they are and perhaps they might luck into a high lottery pick. A high pick combined with cap space could result in a promising season next year. Bad would be to scratch and claw their way up to the 9 spot, get a low lottery pick and have the free agents afraid to sign with the team because (a) it's dysfunctional, and (b) the fear that Chris Bosh may leave. Of course, one doesn't hope one's team will do poorly, but I can't help but thinking of that year that David Robinson was injured and the Spurs ended up with the #1 pick. That turned out to be Tim Duncan... and that led to an NBA Championship.

We'll see what happens...

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

2009-02-12T19:04:00.007-05:00

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was the last of the major Oscar-nominated films for me to see. Indeed, it was curious. What was curious was that it didn't seem to follow a typical movie format of rising and falling action, of highs and lows, of crisis and climax, of big emotional moments. For me, the film just went along on a straight line. It was the recounting of a person's life (Benjamin Button) from birth to death. That's all. No story arc. No redemption. No message. It just was. If that sounds like I didn't like it--that's not the case. I liked the movie (somewhat). I liked the characters. There were no real villains, no huge obstacles, no bridges to cross, no triumphs, no tragedies. I didn't love it. I wasn't excited about it. It was like a sandwich: tasty, nutritious, filling, but in the end, just a sandwich.

As for its Oscar potential, other than the aging effects on Brad Pitt (make-up? special effects?) which were very good, I don't really see it as a serious contender for any other categories. That it got 13 nominations (a feat accomplished by very few films in Oscar history, and a credit it can keep forever) is award enough. (8/10)