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Blindness

As a fan of Canadian cinema, I’m by default a fan of Don McKellar’s work. Aren’t we all, after all? McKellar wrote Blindness, a film which I really knew nothing about it before I watched it, other than the author’s previous work. In the film, a Japanese man (Yûsuke Iseya) living in an unknown city finds himself in suddenly blind while sitting in traffic. A man (McKellar) offers to drive him home, after getting him to his destination, he steals the car. Blindness, while usually described as darkness is instead described as brightness. It slowly spreads from Iseya’s character to the Doctor to McKellar’s character to a prostitute who was… Read More »Blindness

Streamers

Robert Altman’s film Streamers is one of the least Robert Altmanesque Robert Altman films I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of Robert Altman films. Streamers is set in the barracks of a handful of Airborne Army officers waiting until they (like the rest of their mates) are sent off to Vietnam. What makes this film so unlike most of Altman’s features is that it’s cast can be counted on one hand, and the film never leaves their barracks. To put it simply, this film is based on a play, and it’s damn obvious. Altman shot this like a play, and as such it’s missing much of his trademark… Read More »Streamers

Splice

So, we have Sarah Polley, David Hewlett, and directed by Vincenzo Natali. Hells yeah I’m going to see it. For the unfamiliar, Sarah Polley is the actress who’s been in everything from The Adventures of Baron Munchausen to Exotica to The Sweet Hereafter to Last Night to eXistenZ to Dawn of the Dead to directing the incredible Away From Her. This woman fills me up with such patriotic joy that I think Chompy McBeaverton is about to cry.    David Hewlett is best known for his role as Rodney McKay on Stargate Atlantis (and SG-1). Vincenzo Natali is best known for the incredible horror thriller Cube. All of those were… Read More »Splice

Chloe

Chloe, the latest film by one of Canada’s greatest film makers, Atom Egoyan, is much like many of his other films, spectacular. Julianne Moore plays Catherine Stewart, who’s suspects her husband David (Liam Neeson) of cheating. Catherine hires an escort to seduce her husband, and report on his behaviour. The plot summary of this film doesn’t need any more than that. Egoyan’s tale is a thriller about desire and human nature. Julianne Moore’s and Amanda Seyfried’s performances are spectacular. The two actors are able to create an emotional connection for the audience to understand before the characters themselves understand it. Neeson, however seems more of a supporting character, but that’s… Read More »Chloe

Iron Man

A few months ago, a film came out called Iron Man 2. I was very perplexed. Iron Man was such an incredible film. This heart-wrenching story about a boy and his friendly metallic robot friend. I absolutely loved it, but when I thought of what Brad Bird film would make a good sequel, Iron Man was nowhere in my list. The first and obvious choice would be The Incredibles. Wait, what? Oh, I’m getting word that the film I’m thinking of is Iron Giant. Iron Giant. I’m sorry for the confusion ladies and gentlemen. So what’s Iron Man? Superhero film? Marvel Comics? Stan Lee? Starring Robert Downey Jr.? Oh. So,… Read More »Iron Man

Mr. & Mrs. Flotby

I recently hung out in High Park with a camera, and a couple who could best be described as “not hideous.”

Zardoz: The Musical

I don’t know why @Stagehandmusic suddenly sent me a message, but how could I not answer this?

Martha & The Muffins

Just recently purchased iconic Toronto band, Martha & The Muffin’s debut LP Metro Music. For those who don’t know Martha & The Muffins were a new wave band, started in the late 70s. They had one major hit with “Echo Beach,” which opens this album. If you’ve heard “Echo Beach,” you can probably guess what this record sounds like. The entire record is in the same vein, and while it never hits the catchiness of the lead track, it still a fun record. It has a light touch of punk, and unfortunately a bit too much of a helping of ’80s cheese. Definitely not going to find itself on my… Read More »Martha & The Muffins