Image by popturf.com
By Rebecca Taylor
With so many good movies coming out this past year, and no clear favourite, it is hard deciding which one will come out on top and win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Out of all the nominees, who do you think will be top dog?
Loading ...
By Natasha Tsakiris
It’s Hollywood’s biggest night in cinema, a night where a little gold statue named Oscar is all it takes to catapult your career in film forever: the Academy Awards. It is the Mecca for all film connoisseurs and lovers and the showdown for which actors and films were truly the best of the year.
The 85th Academy Awards may still be less than two months away but funny man and Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, who will be hosting this year, announced the list of nominees alongside Gangster Squad’s Emma Stone.
With less than two months away until the big day, we present to you the list of the elite few who nabbed a coveted nomination. Are you shocked? Who do you think will win? The clock is ticking, so check out these films quick before Oscar night!
BEST PICTURE
Lincoln
Argo
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Amour
Django Unchained
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty
Beasts of the Southern Wild
OTD Pick: A tie between “Lincoln” and “Les Misérables”, but there’s always the underdog “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, which could be this year’s “Slumdog Millionaire”.
By Rebecca Taylor
If you’re like me, you have spent the majority of the past few days watching holiday movies. Everyone has a different holiday tradition about what movie they watch with their family. This got me thinking about what movies you, our readers, like to watch during this festive time. Take the poll below to let us know what your favourite holiday movie are.
Loading ...
By Natasha Tsakiris
This winter season, many literary classics will be released as film adaptations. While some of these novels have been deemed “unfilmable,” directors have taken these well-known stories and transformed them into onscreen gems. This award season, it’s a battle of the books on screen. They may all be big players in the literary world, but will these adapted versions become box-office gold? Read the books before you see the movie and see if they live up to the expectations!
We begin with the science fiction puzzle Cloud Atlas, based on a novel by David Mitchell, and directed by Lana and Andy Wachowski and Tom Tykwer. The plot centers on a series of stories where characters’ lives are intertwined as they cross paths in the past, present, and future. The film is a challenge to follow and understand but is nonetheless a breathtaking onscreen epic. The film was released in September and is already predicted to win Academy Awards in the visual effects category.
Next is Ang Lee’s imaginative adaptation of Life of Pi, Canadian author Yann Martel’s coming-of-age tale. After being shipwrecked and lost at sea, 16-year-old Pi (Suraj Sharma) must survive onboard a lifeboat with a full-grown Bengal tiger. It is an incredible story with stunning visuals that blur the line between reality and fantasy.
Up next is director Joe Wright’s theatrical telling of Leo Tolstoy’s love affair period piece Anna Karenina, starring Keira Knightley as the titular character. The film brings a new vision to the epic love story and follows one woman caught between two men, with scandal and betrayal following. Wright uses the stage to set his story, giving a whole new meaning to the magic of theatre.
It’s St. Patrick’s Day and what better way to celebrate than indulging in some of the greatest films of all time? Here is our list of top 20 Irish films. No matter what your preference, there’s a film here for you!
#20 Patrick (TV 2004) 
Narrated by the fabulous Liam Neeson and Pulitzer Prize winning author Frank McCourt, Patrick is one of the best documentaries about St. Patrick — today’s namesake.
#19 Angela’s Ashes (1999) 
Based on the bestselling autobiography by Frank McCourt, and starring Emily Watson, this film provides an insightful look into life for Ireland’s working class in the 1930’s and 40’s.
#18 In the Name of the Father (1993) 
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Pete Postlethwaite, this film tells the story of the Guildford Four and their wrongful imprisonment in the 1970’s.
#17 Leap Year (2010) 
Leap Year stars Amy Adams as an American who travels to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend because a man proposed to on a Leap Day must accept it.
#16 Dancing at Lughnasa (1998) 
Meryl Streep stars as one of five sisters trying to make the most out of their lives in rural Ireland in the 1930’s.
#15 The Secret of Roan Inish (1994) 
10-year-old Fiona is sent to live with her grandparents and discovers a secret family legend that they are descended from a selkie — a seal who can turn into a human.
#14 Leapin’ Leprechauns (1995) 
A young boy discovers his family’s land is home to a fairy mound, and they are not happy that his father wants to build a theme park on top of their home!
#13 Leprechaun (1993) 
Warwick Davis stars as a sociopath leprechaun who goes on a killing streak. If you’re into horror movies you’ve got the luck of the Irish as this film has five sequels!
#12 Waking Ned Divine (1998) 
Ned Divine wins the lottery and dies from the shock, and the locals rally to try and claim the money with a substitute Ned.
#11 Michael Collins (1996) 
Biopic of the Irish politician, this film stars Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn and Julia Roberts.
#10 Luck of the Irish (2001) 
Teenager Kyle Johnson is faced with the revelation that his mother’s family are secretly leprechauns!
#9 Boondocks Saints (1999) 
Two Irish vigilantes set out to rid Boston of crime while being pursued by the FBI. If you like this then you might also like the 2009 sequel The Boondocks Saints II: All Saint’s Day
#8 Cinderella Man (2005) 
This Academy Award winning film stars Russell Crowe as James Braddock — a washed up boxer in the 1930’s who makes a surprising comeback to become a boxing champion while inspire a nation. If Cinderella Man inspires you, you can also watch the 2005 documentary Cinderella Man: The Real Jim Braddock Story.
#7 Some Mother’s Son (1996) 
Starring Helen Mirren, this film follows several members of the 1981 hunger strike and the effect it had on the families of the prisoners. You can also check out the 2008 film Hunger, a biopic focussed not just on the hunger strike, but also on its leader Bobby Sands.
#6 Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959) 
Starring Albert Sharpe and a young Sean Connery, it follows Darby O’Gill and his relationship with the leprechauns and his ongoing match of wits with the king of the leprechauns. This film is an oldie, but a goodie perfect for the entire family
#5 P.S. I Love You (2007) (
Based on the best-selling novel by Cecelia Ahern, this film stars Hilary Swank as a widow who receives letters her husband wrote before his death to help her cope. Also stars Gerard Butler, James Marsters, Kathy Bates, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Harry Connick Jr. and Lisa Kudrow.
#4 Gangs of New York (2002) 
Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Daniel Day-Lewis tell the story of an orphan child who grows up to seek revenge on his father’s killer.
#3 The Boys and Girl from County Clare (2003) 
Two brothers return home to challenge each other to win a local music competition and comedy ensues.
#2 The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) 
Cillian Murphy stars as a young man whose family and friends are torn apart as they each take different sides of the rebellion.
#1 The Secret of Kells (2009) 
This animated feature was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The film follows a young boy and the creation of the infamous Book of Kells. Family oriented, this film is the #1 must see Irish film.
Don’t hav
e time for a full film? Check out an episode of Father Ted, a comedy about three priests and their housekeeper or the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Up the Long Ladder” where the crew of the Enterprise encounter a group of Irish immigrants in space!
I try to read books before they hit the silver screen, but truthfully, it doesn’t usually happen. This year, I’m planning ahead. It seems like a great year for book adaptations, from children’s classics getting a darker twist, to modern cult favourites getting mainstream attention. To make sure I don’t miss them, I’ve compiled a list of adaptations that look the most promising and created my must-read list.
Jennifer Lawrence stars as 'Katniss Everdeen' in The Hunger Games. Photo credit: Murray Close
I was hooked when this film’s first teaser was released. Dramatically fading to black between shots, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) was frantically running through the woods with a bow and arrow as trees on fire crashed down. I had no idea what was going on, but it was intense. I was sold.
Release date: March 23
I’ve heard all the references to Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby, but I’ve never really understood them. The F. Scott Fitzgerald classic has been on my “To Read” list forever, but now that Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge) is directing it, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire and Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan (in his unpaid Hollywood debut), I must read it right now.
Release date: December 25
The title alone makes me laugh, but it sounds amazing, doesn’t it? It’s based on the mashup novel by Seth Grahame-Smith, the same guy who penned Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. And yes, it exactly what it sounds like; Abe Lincoln has a secret life as a vampire hunter.
Release date: June 22
This movie is the best film news in the past nine years for Lord of the Rings megafans. Peter Jackson brings us back to Hobbiton with this prequel to the epic J. R. R. Tolkien trilogy, to be followed by There and Back Again next year.
Release date: December 14
An Edgar Allan Poe poem just over 1000 words turned into a full-length feature? Not exactly. It’s a fictionalized account of Poe’s encounter and pursuit of a serial killer who later becomes the subject of The Raven. In its dark and ominous 19th century setting, I can’t help but be reminded of Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow.
Release date: March 9
by Katy Littlejohn
photo by Jefferson Noguera, Spain, 2010.
Remember summer? I know it’s been a while, so let me remind you how it goes:
Sunshine
Warm breezes
The beach
Fruity beverages
For ladies, sundresses
For men, an excuse to wear sandals
Grease’s beloved song, “Summer Nights,” evokes the heart of summer, even in the cold days of February. Here we are in the dead of winter: it’s high time we got out of our slushy funk and started to anticipate that most wonderful time of the year. Here are a few ways OTD’s A&E is suggesting you rediscover your summer lovin’ in February, without having to drop everything for a week in Mexico.
photo by Amy Burton, California, 2009.
Just like Christmas movies that help get us in the right frame of mind for the holidays, there are movies that make us feel ready for summer. Any blockbuster you saw in the summer is a great start to getting you back to those lazy days, so here are a few suggestions:
photo by Benjamin Earwicker, Idaho, 2008.
From Here to Eternity: if making out with a cutie on the beach while waves crash around you doesn’t make the temperature rise, what will?
Dirty Dancing: “It was the summer of 1963 when everyone called me Baby and it didn’t occur to me to care…” Relive that summer at Kellerman’s and have the time of your life!
Jaws: hey, at least there’s a beach and the weather is always warm and sunny.
On Golden Pond: an oldie about oldies; cottage life at its most (dramatically) charming.
Mamma Mia!: Greece, sunshine, and singing—perfect!
Make a playlist composed completely of summery songs. Press play, don some shades, and pretend you’re on a summer drive in the sunshine, the radio playing your all-time favourites. Here are a few to get you started:
“Summer of ’69”–Bryan Adams
“The Boys of Summer”–Don Henley
“What a Wonderful World”–Louis Armstrong
“Hotel California” –The Eagles
“Young Turks” – Rod Stewart
“Summer Breeze”–Seals and Crofts
“California Girls” –The Beach Boys
“California Girl” – Chilliwack
“California Gurls” – Katy Perry
“Summertime”– Ella Fitzgerald or Janis Joplin
“Sunny Afternoon” – The Kinks
“In the Summertime”– Mungo Jerry
“Summer in the City” – The Lovin’ Spoonful
“Hot Stuff” – Donna Summer
“Night Moves” – Bob Seger
“Groovin’” – The Rascals
Photo by Sanja Gjenero, Croatia, 2009.
Maybe you don’t have the luxury of the two-month summer you had in school anymore, but you can recreate it by making some time to read for pleasure. Think back to the childhood version of yourself: what is the one book you remember loving? Does it remind you of the way life was back when you first read it? It’s no coincidence that the best summer stories are tales about children.
The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling: nothing like spending your time off going through 3000+ pages of pure magic!
W. O. Mitchell’s How I Spent My Summer Holidays: A prairie summer story told through the eyes of a child by one of Canada’s favourite storytellers
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain: an American classic about adventures in the sun
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez: any book that talks about forever is next door to the “summer that never ended” memories we have from our childhood.
photo by the Horton Group, Tennessee, 2009
Find time to read the classics, the titles you put on the back burner while you got busy with life, and the harmless guilty pleasure reads to recreate the easy living of summertime.
It may be cold outside, but you can create a warm day by reliving all things summer. Don’t let the mid-winter blues get to you: escape to that warm, sunny spot in your memory.
photo by the Horton Group, Tennessee, 2009.
by Gina Macdonald
Madonna has had a long and eventful career filled with elaborate costumes, staging, and controversy. It comes as no surprise then that her latest film W.E. was much the same.
Gina Macdonald, Toronto, 2012. CAPTION: “Myself outside the theatre, eagerly awaiting the screening”
The film’s tagline: “Their affair ignited a scandal. Their passion brought down an empire,” refers to the love story between King Edward VIII (James D’Arcy) and the woman he was obsessed with at the time, Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough). Simpson was a married American social climber who influenced the king so much that he abdicated the throne in 1936 in order to be with her. As a modern parallel to this historical controversy, director-writer Madonna and co-screenwriter Alek Keshishian introduce Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish), whose obsession with Wallis’ story brings her to the 1998 Sotheby’s auction of their belongings.
The film follows an absolutely riveting portrayal of both their stories in a way that only the Material Girl could have produced. It is riveting in the sense that the costumes and the sets were breathtaking, but it leaves the dialogue, the characters, and the storylines as not much to be desired.
Riseborough’s depiction of Wallis Simpson definitely carried the film, and her delivery of Simpson’s witty, candid dialogue was perfect. Meanwhile, it was probably by no fault of hers, but Cornish’s Wally Winthrop is one-dimensional and wooden, even while using Wallis’ story to leave her abusive husband for Sotheby’s Russian security guard Evgeni (Oscar Isaac).
The parallels between the two are exemplified when Wally, wandering through the Sotheby’s auction for about a century, sees a piece of the royal pair’s artefacts, closes her eyes, and has a flashback to a moment in the 1930s. These moments often end with Wallis and Wally sharing a time-bending conversation about Wallis’ sacrifices for Edward and vice versa.
Other weird scenes include Edward and Wallis’ Benzedrine-induced dance party to the Sex Pistols’ “Pretty Vacant,” and Wally’s shock when Wallis’ apparition tells her to “get a life.” However, stunning visuals paired with a beautiful soundtrack by Abel Korzeniowski serve to make the film more than bearable, so if you have a free afternoon, it might be worth making the trip to the Magic Lantern Carlton Cinema, the only theatre showing W.E. in Toronto.
For more information, see showtimes and reviews, here:
IMDB
Rainbow Cinemas
Huffington Post
by Katy Littlejohn
Craig Toron, New Jersey, 2009.
There’s a lot of pressure from the traditional Rom-Com and Nicolas Sparks date nights. They depict the perfect version of love and how a couple should act in order to achieve their happily-ever-after moment. Those of us who live in front of the screen, not in it, know better. There is no moment 2 hours into you and your significant other’s meet-cute that triggers the “ambiguously upbeat pop song that has nothing to do with the plot… put in at the end to try to convince you that you had a great time…” (Friends with Benefits, 2011).
This year, men, instead of curling up with your gal and letting your mind wander until the end credits roll on Titanic or Sleepless in Seattle, find a movie that will keep both of your attentions. Ladies, you don’t really want to make your fellow feel pressured to get the Brad Pitt looks and the Colin Farrell body—that just makes them self-conscious which isn’t a good night for anyone. So this year, keep The Notebook on the shelf and consider one of these flicks for that perfect romantic evening.
1. E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial: Here’s a story to warm even the coldest of hearts. There’s zero romance in this movie, so there’s no pressure. The only thing you really have to worry about is whether or not you find the alien lovable or creepy. Either way, as E. T. says to Elliot, he’ll “be right here.”
2. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: Who doesn’t love Ferris? Besides Mr. Rooney, that is. This classic will bring you back to the carefree sort of love you had in high school.
3. Benny & Joon: The non-traditional take on a Rom-Com. This is a love story that is both multi-dimensional and real. There is heartbreak, young love, and best of all, Johnny Depp.
4. Almost Famous: If you like rock and roll, this is a great choice. Above all, it’s about a love affair with rock, but beyond that it’s got a great story line, charming characters, and a kick-ass soundtrack.
5. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective: Marilyn Monroe once said that “if you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything.” A good start is a classic Jim Carey movie!
6. Chicago: Though musical theatre may not be your cup of tea, Chicago features a lot of mostly naked women in heels with guns, which your man will most definitely appreciate. Plus, the Danforth’s own Music Hall is featured in the film! Keep an eye out for any other local landmarks.
7. WALL-E: Here’s a great pick if you or your date are environmentally conscious. It may be a love story between two robots, but it’s adorable. Also, the message is a great debate starter for when it’s over.
8. V for Vendetta: This is by no means a traditional love story, but it is a love story nonetheless. It also presents an empowering message: “power to the people” mixed with “Big Brother is watching”…until you lure him into the abandoned subway system and ninja him to death. Plus, Natalie Portman makes one hot bald girl.
9. Brokeback Mountain: A little heartbreak, a little social repression, a little Heath and Jake. Though ultimately a tragic and dark story, there are those moments of clarity where our two leading men exude happiness. And that’s a beautiful thing.
10. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: This one might strike up the conversation of “would you ever have your memory erased to forget an ex?” It’s a great question, and hypothetically phrased, a great conversation to have with someone you’re serious about.
11. Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Everyone’s got a past they’d rather run from than face. This is an absolute classic when it comes to messed-up boy meets messed-up girl. Messed-up girl tries to run away from messed-up boy, loses her cat in the rain, and we all wind up with the perfect last frame of the two of them kissing in the rain with Cat sandwiched between.
12. Across the Universe: Another musical, yes, but Julie Taymore’s direction paired with the immortal music of The Beatles just leads to a great night. As the last line in movie states, “all you need is love.”
13. Armageddon: Ok, so this one is considered one of the most romantic movies ever. However, gentlemen, for your consideration: Bruce Willis, rocket ships, nuclear bombs, and Michael Clark Duncan. Really, how much more macho can you get?
14. Stranger than Fiction: This may be one of Will Farrell’s best performances as literary character, and real-world resident, Harold Crick. The story itself is delightfully charming, but the performances of the all-star cast, including Emma Thompson, Dennis Hoffman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Queen Latifah, are endearing and real, completing this magical story.
The key to finding something the two of you can enjoy together: if by the end of the movie you have a million things to talk about, sparked by something that happened in that movie, GREAT! It’s not old news that a relationship grows strong when there’s good communication. On the other hand, you could always take a cue from Elvis: “A little less conversation, a little more action.”
Either way, happy Valentine’s Day, Danforth!
Just because Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, doesn’t mean you have to be dreading the fact that you’re single. Instead, gather up your unattached gal pals for a movie night together. And even though love is in the air, you have to go for the rom-coms. Skip the mushy stuff and opt for one of these choices instead.
Celebrate BFF-love with this high-speed, gun-slinging duo as they run from the law after a terrible mishap. Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon make up the rough-and-tumble pair and bring the movie to life with their perfect chemistry. A pre-fame Brad Pitt cameo doesn’t hurt either.
Although there is a romantic thread running through this film, it’s a very tangled one, because sometimes love can be tricky, and sometimes romance can be frivolous. Director Woody Allen swoops you into his quirkily charming narrative filled with beautiful Spanish guitar, and leaves you thankful you weren’t really weaved into the mess.
This three-time Academy Award nominee is the anti-love story. It’s a brutally honest answer to what happens after the rom-com ends and life takes hold. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as the perfectly-paired but imminently doomed couple. This is not one for the hopeless romantic.
If you’re planning a night with the girls you grew up with, then this is the pick for you. This all-star cast features the story of four women reflecting on the antics and lessons of the summer they realized they were growing up. The story features a 1970s soundtrack you won’t be able to stop yourself from singing along to.
This movie is the best alternative to a rom-com if you’re looking for some great laughs. Two best friends go to their high school reunion armed to impress with a stack of elaborate lies, when really they’re both still single party girls. The story takes a hilarious route to a lesson in how lucky you are to have your girls.
