those prix fixe menus and romantic bars Plus! Sexy events 25 Valentine’s Day Planner Love FOOD Pukka’s Indian spins amaze 28 • MOVIES Lego Movie makers demand an Oscar 61 • MUSIC Covering the cover bands 44
FROM DJ TO STAND-UP WITH BRASS-BALLS ATTITUDE, PLUS BLACK HISTORY EVENTS PAGE 50
PAGE 34
FEBRUARY 6–12 2014 • ISSUE 1672 VOL. 33 NO. 23 MORE ONLINE DAILY @ nowtoronto.com 32 INDEPENDENT YEARS
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CONTENTS
AGNES OBEL FRI FEB 21 9PM TGH
AN EVENING WITH ZUCCHERO THUR MAR 13 8PM MH
Co-presented with CHIN Radio
Photo by Michael Watier Clothing: Hat and jacket Cease & Seckle (nathanielinc.com), shirt Marlon Durrant Bespoke
50 BLACK HISTORY MONTH with special guests MONKEYJUNK WED, MAR 12 8PM MH
50 Trixx fix Stand-up star of the Kuumba Comedy Night discusses his stage strategies, his mentor, Russell Peters, and more 52 Trixx on black history Comedy comer respects his roots – he’d just like to see black history acknowledged every month of the year Black History events Events listings through the month of February
An RBI Production
10 NEWSFRONT TICKETS ON SALE FRENDSFIRST NOW PUBLIC FRI FEB 7 10AM
PAT METHENY UNITY GROUP
11 Tory’s trials John Tory’s edgy backers 16 Sochi extremes Anti-gay rainbow float balloon over Olympics 12 Crazy Town Parsing the book on Ford 20 Firing line No taming the cops’ big14 Reality check Social housing score ass budget
22 DAILY EVENTS 25 VALENTINE’S DAY PLANNER
w/ Chris Potter Antonio Sanchez Ben Williams Giulio Carmassi
TUE APRIL 15 8PM MH
TUE MAR 18 MH
25 EVENTS Sexy and romance-based events to February 14 and beyond
28 FOOD&DRINK
An rbi production
28 Review Pukka 30 Recently reviewed Special prix fixe menus for Valentine’s Day 32 Drink up! The best bars for the sexiest dates
34 LIFE&STYLE Contact NOW
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FEBRUARY 6-12 2014 NOW
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FEBRUARY 6-12
ONLINE This week’s top five most-read posts on nowtoronto.com
38 The Scene Leanne Simpson, Dom Kennedy, Prefuse 73, Brrrrr! 39 Interview Catl 40 Interview Weeknight 42 Club & concert listings 43 T.O. Notes 44 Roundup Tribute bands 46 Six Degrees Elton John to Anna Lunoe 49 Album reviews
G
38 MUSIC
*
G
54 Dance interview The Radio Show’s Kyle Abraham; D Dance and theatre listings 55 Theatre reviews Of Mice And Morro And Jasp; Heartbeat Of Home; Metamorphosis; A Masked Ball; Idiot’s Delight; Free Outgoing 58 Comedy listings
Review Christina Battle/Kristie MacDonald; Must-see galleries and museums
sale price
54 STAGE
59 ART
1/2 EXPANSION
60 BOOKS
Review The Two Sisters Of Borneo Readings
1. T.O. Is On Fire Local take on Billy Joel classic is the cathartic soundtrack to the Rob Ford era. 2. Ford gets distracted The mayor can’t answer a question about social housing without stopping to bet on the Super Bowl. 3. Ford takes VanCity RoFo goes to BC for a funeral, ends up partying with 20-year-olds at a Coquitlam bar. 4. R.I.P. PSH Senior film writer Norman Wilner pays tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of the most talented actors of his generation. 5. Ford sued The mayor faces a lawsuit alleging he orchestrated a jailhouse beat-down. Just another day at City Hall.
THE WEEK IN TWEETS
61 MOVIES
61 Writer/director interviews The Lego Movie’s Phil Lord and Christopher Miller D 62 Reviews Oscar-nominated shorts; Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia; The Unbelievers; The Monuments Men; Sex After Kids 64 Also opening Vampire Academy; RoboCop 66 Playing this week 72 Film times 75 Indie & rep listings Plus the Toronto Black Film Festival 76 Blu-ray/DVD The Big Gundown; Romeo And Juliet; Winnie; Scorned G
“Let’s cut to the chase and call it ‘Arguably Genocidal Guy Station’” @ROBERTKLARER is not a fan of the proposal to rename Union Station after John A. MacDonald. “We’re more the Canadian Sopranos.” @CHRISCAPLE on Doug Ford’s denial of reports that his family consider themselves the Canadian Kennedys.
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NOW FEBRUARY 6-12 2014
5
Michael Watier
February 6 -20
Fresh Snow rock out at the Silver Dollar to honour the Kinks’ 50th anniversary, Feb 15
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
6
7
+Elton John The yellow brick
9
10
catch this docu-musical inspired by a story of murdered prostitutes. Bluma Appel. 2 pm. $24-$99. 416-368-3110.
artworks made of fabric hangs at the Gladstone Hotel, to Apr 27. Free. 416-531-4635.
+LONDON ROAD Last chance to
Guggenheim goods at AGO, Feb 19
11
12
13
14
psych rockers play the Phoenix, w/ former 13th Floor Elevators member Roky Erickson and Golden Animals. Doors 8 pm. $27.50. RT, SS, TF. activism 101 What makes for great grassroots activism? Steve Hall and NOW contributor Saul Chernos discuss. 7 pm. Free. The Ossington. on.fb.me/1fwNXAp.
jazz musician, who recently found the spotlight thanks to a collab with Classified, plays Markham’s Flato Theatre w/ pop singer/songwriter Royal Wood. 8 pm. $49-$53. 905-305-7469. +idiot’s delight 1936 drama about eccentric characters at an Italian resort gets two performances today at the Young Centre. 1:30 and 7:30 pm. To Mar 1. $5-$74. 416-866-8666.
Olympic movement critic discusses her book Sexual Diversity And The Sochi 2014 Olympics. City Hall Library. Free. 1 pm. torontopubliclibrary.ca. Wavelength Festival The four-day music fest kicks off w/ Phèdre, Tops, Ostrich Tuning, Zoo Owl and others. Silver Dollar. 8 pm. $10-$15, pass $49. wavelengthtoronto.com.
cians play the blues and roots fest, which continues through Sunday in venues all across town. Free-$15. winterfolk. com.
Psych rockers the Black Angels rise up at the Phoenix, Feb 11
HARD TWIST 8: THIS IS PERSONAL Great group show of
AFTER SNOWDEN: WHAT NOW FOR A FREE INTERNET? A lecture
by Ron Deibert. 10:10 am. Free. St. Clement’s Church. 416-4836664.
The Black Angels Austin
Robert Delauney, Red Eiffel Tower
Legend Mavis Staples plays, Feb 7
Mavis Staples R&B powerhouse comes to RCM’s Koerner Hall. 8 pm. $40-$95.
road leads to the Air Canada Centre when the pop star plays this sold-out show. 8 pm. $59$171. ACC, TM. DAVID HAWE NOW photographer’s Big Locks show – queer bears with bouffant hair – opens at Wayla Bar, on view to Mar 3. Free. 416-901-5570. gardiner east solutions A public meeting discusses the results of Waterfront Toronto’s evaluation. 6:30 pm. Free. Reference Library. gardiner eastpublicmeetingfeb6.eventbrite.ca.
David Myles The Halifax folk-
+HELEN LENSKYJ Tenacious
celebrating our men in dance Shavar Blackwood,
Shawn Byfield and other choreographers from the African diaspora present works at the Enwave. To Feb 8. $18-$30. 416-973-4000. +kuumba comedy night Trixx, Jay Martin, DJ Lissa Monet and others take part in this night of stand-up and music at Harbourfront’s Brigantine Rm. 8 pm. $18. 416-973-4000.
endless love Opening week-
end for the remake of the classic romantic weepy.
Death Angel/Children of Bodom Old-school heavy metal
takes over Sound Academy for the Halo Of Blood tour. Doors 7 pm, all ages. $30-$40. LN, RT, SS. gloria Just-opened Chilean film celebrates the spirit of a middle-aged woman who yearns for real connection.
17
family day on Toronto’s waterfront Inuit art, crafts
for the kids, skating and more. 10 am-6 pm. Free. Queens Quay West. waterfrontbia. com.
18
Old Man Luedecke Hugh’s
Room hosts the banjo-toting singer/songwriter’s I Never Sang Before I Met You album launch. 8:30 pm. $22.50-$25. 416-531-6604. arrabal The world premiere of this cultural coming-of-age story told through dance and song continues at the Panasonic until Apr 20. 8 pm. $44$84. 416-872-1212.
20
turing dance and stories about forgiveness opens tonight at the Black Box Theatre. To Mar 1. Pwyc-$35. 416-538-0988.
sewn imaginary worlds are on view at the Textile Museum. To Apr 13. $6-$15. 416-599-5321. tribes Nina Raine’s play deals with a deaf man who meets a woman who’s losing her hearing. To Mar 2 at the Berkeley Street Theatre. 8 pm. $22-$49. 416-368-3110.
forgiveness, a theatrical poem Modern Times’ play fea-
GUGGENHEIM MASTERPIECes
Early 20th century European art from the NYC museum’s collection at the AGO, to Mar 2. $16.50-$25, Wed 6-8:30 pm $12.50. 416-979-6648, ago. net.
6
February 6-12 2014 NOW
pics with the LGBTQ community. 4-10 pm daily to Feb 23. Free. Ryerson U outdoor viewing lounge, Victoria and Gould. pridehouseto.ca.
15
+Christina Battle/Kristie MacDonald Excellent art
Kinks 50th Anniversary Zeus, the Golden Dogs, Fresh
show probing the meaning of natural disasters closes tomorrow. Gallery 44. Free. 416-979-3941.
Shary Boyle, Sarah Sze and Joana Vasconcelos explore space, culture and gender at Scrap Metal, to Feb 22. Free. 416-588-2442.
Snow, the Elwins and others pay homage to the English band. Silver Dollar. 9:30 pm. $10. 416-975-0909. mark forward The snarky stand-up celebrates 15 years in the business. 8 pm. Comedy Bar. $15. 416-551-6540.
More tips
Heather Goodchild/Jérôme Havre Superb installations of
Ticket Index • CB – Circus Books And Music • HMR – Hits & Misses Records • HS – Horseshoe • LN – Live Nation • MA – Moog Audio • PDR – Play De Record • R9 – Red9ine Tattoos • RCM – Royal Conservatory Of Music • RT – Rotate This • RTH – Roy Thomson Hall/Glenn Gould/Massey Hall • SC – Sony Centre For The Performing Arts • SS – Soundscapes • TCA – Toronto Centre For The Arts • TM – Ticketmaster • TMA – Ticketmaster Artsline • TW – TicketWeb • UE – Union Events • UR – Rogers UR Music • WT – Want Tickets
pridehouse toronto winter games Watch the Sochi Olym-
LOCATING OURSELVES Artists
CONSTITUTION AND STRATEGY Science for Peace lecture by
19
8
Soupcans Buzz Records and PPOP present the ominous punk band alongside Surinam, Cellphone and Huren. The White House. 9:30 pm. $8. facebook.com/peopleputout.
Winterfolk Over 150 musi-
professor Irvin Studin. 7 pm. Free. University College, rm 179. scienceforpeace.ca.
16
Saturday
Hot Tickets Live Music Movies theatre Comedy Dance Galleries Readings Daily Events + = feature inside Weepy Endless Love opens, Feb 16
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NOW february 6-12 2014
7
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email letters@nowtoronto.com GET GREAT SEATS for
VALENTINE’S DAY!
Reserving judgment on 2014 budget
Re On The Budget Bubble (NOW, January 30-February 5), Adam Giambrone cites no proof of his assertion that money in city of Toronto reserves “is almost all gone now.” In fact, city reserve funds (excluding obligatory reserves) are up to over $1.7 billion today. We can argue over whether $1.7 billion in reserves is sufficient, but Giambrone cannot deny the existence of these reserves. Bruce Hogarty Toronto
Book City’s departure bad for the Annex
I’ll be missing the Annex location of Book City (NOW, January 23-29), though my wallet, walls and floors stacked with books may be happier. And while the building owner has been a credit to the community, it is grating to see other empty storefronts in each of the three short blocks of Bloor around Book City. There is far less need for another restaurant or bar versus this excellent bookstore. Hamish Wilson Toronto
Permanent residents deserve our vote
Cara Faith Zwibel makes a great case for the vote for permanent residents (NOW, January 30-February 5). Why not start a petition to the deputy mayor on Avaaz.org? I don’t know the minimum number of signatures required for a response, but someone at City Hall should. Virginia Stead Toronto
Casablanca Experience Cinema’s Greatest Love Story with Live Orchestra The TSO performs Max Steiner’s glorious score of Casablanca live while the film plays on a big screen above the stage! Steven Reineke, conductor
The talented one was Paul
Disappointed to see that the “Paul is uncool” sentiment still survives in the new millennium, with Stephen Du Manoir’s flippant aside that everyone’s two favourite Beatles are dead
(NOW, January 30-February 5). Everyone’s got their favourite Beatle, but Paul McCartney has more talent in his eyebrows than most of us can even fantasize. There would have been no Beatles without him, and quite possibly George Harrison might not have become the wonderful songwriter he was without the daily exam ple of two giants. McCartney also did more than any of the other Fab Four to enhance his co-workers’ songs with infinite grace. Check out the annotated recording sessions to see who was present most often. And this is a John Lennon fan talking. I suspect I’ve thought about your comment a lot longer than you ever did. Steve-Paul Simms Toronto
Saskatchewan over Guatemala
Re Open For Justice In Guatemala, by Rachel Warden (NOW, January 30). Apart from the kidnappings and torture, Warden’s story seems quite similar to how Canadian uranium companies operate in northern Saskatchewan. Check out Committee for Future Generations website. Mike Bray From nowtoronto.com
From card-carrying Dipper on Stintz, Chow
NOW is the only paper that I’ve noticed that picked up on the fact that mayoral candidate Karen Stintz was curiously silent during the ice storm crisis (NOW, January 16-22). It was very odd behaviour for someone who clearly wishes to replace Rob Ford. I was starting to wonder whether she herself had been trapped in her house by a power failure. I’m a card-carrying Dipper but have thought that if we’re destined to be ruled by Tories, a red Tory like Stintz wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen. Funny that she
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february 6-12 2014 NOW
HAHAHA.COM/BILLBURR
still hasn’t officially announced. Olivia Chow might win if the right decides to split the vote for her (NOW, January 30-February 5), but I’m neither optimistic nor enthusiastic about that option. Actually, I’m nearly apoplectic that she appears to be the best option we have. We seem to have become a charisma-free party. M. Fielding Toronto
Jewish perspectives and being Canadian
I wish to thank Bernie M. Farber for Harper Rapture (NOW, January 30February 5). There are uniquely Canadian-Jewish perspectives, not just pro-Israeli perspectives, that are not being expressed in the media to the extent required. Furthermore, I encourage those of other faiths in the House of Abraham
“ There are uniquely CanadianJewish perspectives, not just pro-Israel ones. ” to comment in support of the shared values concluding the article and on the need to honestly assess their role as a Canadian community. Hal Beck Toronto
PM’s love for Israel
While the prime minister is perfectly free to be in love with Israel, he is not entitled to force Canadian taxpayers to pay for the bloated entourage of cabinet ministers and business people he took with him on his trip. Nor is he allowed to pretend that his views represent the views of most Canadians. Most of us are interested in evenhandedness in foreign policy matters, and we are less interested in watching heads of state fishing for domestic votes, an activity masquerading as principled loyalty to the Jewish state. Geoff Rytell Toronto
T.O.’s best-kept cheap eats secret?
I can’t believe you didn’t include the Papaya Hut in your Eat Cheap issue (NOW, January 16-22). Now I know why it’s Toronto’s best kept secret. Kate Smith Toronto
Time to give Ford his two weeks’ notice
Re Rob Ford A Dead Weight On T.O. (NOW, January 23-29). Why can’t we fire our worst employee? Toronto is a business, and we Torontonians are its owner. We hired Rob Ford to manage our city, but like all hiring decisions made within an organization, this decision is not final and [is] thus subject to review, especially in the face of the blatant lack of professionalism and misrepresentation of our city shown by the mayor.
As for all jobs, the process of picking the best candidate for mayor starts with applicants submitting their resumés (choosing to run), continues with intense rounds of interviews (campaigning) and finally ends with a hiring decision (being elected). The process is by no means perfect, which is why every company reserves the right to fire employees with just cause and two weeks’ notice. As any police surveillance tape, cellphone home video, YouTube upload or tweet will show, Ford has given us more than just cause for dismissal. Kristen Schooley Toronto
Burroughs 100 Toronto Queer pioneer, experimental writer, druggie – these don’t exactly guarantee massive success. But William S. Burroughs, who was all of the above, emerged as a major influence in American lit. Patti Smith and Lou Reed called him an essential inspiration, but he wasn’t just a punk hero. When NOW caught up with him at his home – in Kansas, no less, after he’d left New York City – Burroughs was about to be made a member of the Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters (page 7 the October 6, 1983 issue). The author of, among other titles, Junkie and Naked Lunch died in 1997, but his legacy is huge, so much so that a group of admirers plan to honour him Saturday (February 7) at Burroughs 100 Toronto, marking the centenary of his birth. Hear readings by Eric Schmaltz and others, a gay commentary by Neil Hennessy Hennessy, and DJ Marinko spinning. And don’t forget to try out the famous Dream Machine, promoted by Burroughs and his collaborator, painter Brion Gysin. It spins around, creating a light show Burroughs insisted was the equivalent of a hallucinogen. For event details, see Readings, page 60.
NOW welcomes reader mail. Address letters to: NOW, Letters to the Editor, 189 Church, Toronto, ON M5B 1Y7. Send e-mail to letters@nowtoronto.com and faxes to 416-3641166. All correspondence must include your name, address and daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for length.
Travel back in time with NOW’s online archives. See all the articles, the photos – even the ads – on every page of every issue, as originally printed. Just use the cool new searchable viewer online at nowtoronto.com/archive s
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Date:
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NOW FEBRUARY 6-12 2014
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R.I.P.
KATHRYN GAITENS
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Online Exclusive
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN 1967-2014 nowtoronto.com
MARTIN REIS
MICHAEL HOLLETT EDITOR/PUBLISHER ALICE KLEIN EDITOR/CEO PAM STEPHEN GENERAL MANAGER ENZO DiMATTEO SENIOR NEWS EDITOR PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY NOW COMMUNICATIONS INC 189 CHURCH STREET, TORONTO, ON., M5B 1Y7 TELEPHONE 416-364-1300 FAX 416-364-1166 E-MAIL news@nowtoronto.com ONLINE www.nowtoronto.com
Designs on winter cycling take shape during the annual Coldest Day Of The Year Bike Ride on Saturday, February 1. Martin Reis’s slide show at nowtoronto.com.
SENATE SCANDAL SHEET
BEN SPURR
Suspended Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau and retired Liberal Senator Mac Harb were formally charged with fraud and breach of trust by the RCMP this week. Here’s the line on numbers 5 and 73 respectively on the NDP’s Senate Hall of Shame commemorative hockey cards.
ROB FORD GETS SUED, GOES PARTYING Rob Ford was seen striking a serious pose in the council chamber January 29 as news broke that he allegedly ordered the jailhouse beating of Scott MacIntyre, the estranged common-law husband of Ford’s sister Kathy. The $1.2 million suit claims MacIntyre ended up with a broken leg because he said something the mayor took as a threat to expose his “long-standing” substance abuse and ties to criminals. Forty-eight hours later, Ford was partying up a storm in Vancouver, where he attended a funeral. He ended up getting ticketed by the RCMP for jaywalking while out on the town. Who gets busted for jaywalking on the pedestrian-friendly West Coast? nowtoronto.com.
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FEBRUARY 6-12 2014 NOW
ELECTION NOTEBOOK
POP GOES JOHN TORY’S TRIAL BALLOON
Ask the expert At henry’s
Wannabe mayor’s edgy backers plant false leak to convince him to run. Smells like desperation By ENZO DiMATTEO Here’s a twisted thought: The Liberals don’t have a horse in the mayoral race. Could yet-to-declare former PC leader John Tory be it? Now, that would be queer. The woman who heads up the Liberal party and currently occupies the premier’s chair, Kathleen Wynne, dealt the blow that set the stage to the downfall of hispolitical career when he was PC leader, trouncing him in Don Valley West in 2007. But the scuttlebutt at Queen’s Park this week is that Wynne’s deputy chief of staff, Tom Allison, the organizational whiz who helped direct her leadership win, has been tapped to become Tory’s campaign manager. It’s an intriguing proposition. Allison is good friends with Bob Richardson, the guy heading up the exploratory committee trying to find the path to victory for Tory. Only it’s all news to Allison. He hasn’t been asked by Tory or anyone else to run the campaign. He told me so himself. Actually, he’s a little pissed off that a few of the folks coalescing around Tory, the John Capobiancos of the world, are using his good name in what looks like an attempt to lure the recalcitrant Tory into a run. That’s right. The wooing continues. If you haven’t heard, Tory wants to be mayor. Desperately. But only if he can be assured of winning. Smells like things may be reaching the breaking point for his supporters. If Tory were serious about running, he’d send an emissary to make the overture to Allison, or meet with him personally on the QT. The offer wouldn’t be leaked to the Star, running the risk of embarrassment if Allison declines publicly. Such things are important in politics, among the backroom guys at least. The last thing you want is to look like a loser. Hence what looks like an attempt to build a PC-Liberal alliance around Tory like the one in BC that propelled Liberal Christy Clark to an improbable win as premier. A few Libs and PCs from that team are working for Tory now. For the record, Allison hopes Tory does run. He says he’d vote for
Q: him. But how he feels about the prospect of heading a Tory campaign is left open to interpretation. From what I could glean he’s not not interested. The timing is pretty good. He’s had to step into some big shoes in the preem’s office, and there’s a feeling in some quarters that he hasn’t been the best fit. Running a campaign is one thing, it’s said, and running a government something else altogether. His joining Tory’s team would definitely buy them some muchneeded lefty cred – maybe a few gay votes, too. A Wynne-Tory axis may seem off on the face of it, but they are friends and share a similar political sensibility. Both are civic-minded. Both call Toronto home. Both, more specifically, support dedicated revenue tools to raise money for public transit, an important issue in the upcoming provincial and municipal elections. Wynne is tight with a few other noteworthy conservatives, among them Bill Davis, who attended her swearing in and also happens to be a mentor of Tory’s. More to the point, Wynne’s and Tory’s political interests intersect on one other very important issue: neither wants Olivia Chow to be occupying the mayor’s chair come October 28. On that count, Allison may be persuaded. He managed the campaigns of three candidates who faced off against Chow in the past, and let’s just say the negative feelings he came away with are visceral. Tory may get his man just yet. 3 enzom@nowtoronto.com | @enzodimatteo
phOTO: ren BOSTelaar I have been usIng 35mm fIlm cameras for many years now but recenty I have been contemplatIng shIftIng to dIgItal for a couple of reasons. I travel for work and the convenIence of beIng to able to revIew my photos before gettIng back and havIng them developed would be a bIg bonus. I’ve been consIderIng the newer compact style dslr cameras because sIze and weIght are a consIderatIon when travellIng, but are they comparable In terms of Image qualIty to the full sIze dslr’s or 35mm fIlm that I’m used to workIng wIth?
of tones, and can capture images in far lower light than any consumer 35mm film. Today’s digital sensors can record levels of detail that even the finest-grained films would struggle to show. In that respect, digital cameras are better than film in almost every way. But like lovers of vinyl records who sneer at CDs When I fell in love with photogor mp3s, there are many people who will tell raphy, nearly twenty years ago, you that digital cameras can’t match the “feel” photos were always captured of film. Film’s strengths are its weaknesses, in batches of 24 or 36 and weeks or months and the aberrations that come with analogue would pass between pressing the shutter technology have a “feel” that digital sensors button and getting the prints back from the struggle to match. If you’re interested in lab. In the years since, film photography has transformed from the only way to capture pic- perfect precision, digital is right for you, but if tures to a small niche of the industry, but there you like atmosphere and texture, film still has the upper hand. are still a great many passionate analogue advocates who swear that the old way is still Instagram is one of the most popular smartthe best way. phone apps of all time, and in addition to being a social network for photographers it gives you I stopped shooting film in 2004, but a couple times a year, when I feel a bit creatively burnt the option of applying a “filter” to your images out, I’ll load a camera with a roll of slide film. that mimics the look of old film. It’s a cheap trick, but the results can be surprisingly lovely. It forces me to slow down and really look for the right moment before pressing the shutter Many cameras incorporate similar filters into their operating systems, making it possible button. It feels good. to shoot pictures with a film-like quality that “Feel” actually has a lot to do with it. In vircomes close to matching the real thing. tually every measurable way, modern digital If you’re really serious, a number of software cameras outperform even the best films. Digital sensors can produce truer colours, can titles from companies such a DxO and VSCO faithfully render detail across a broader range allow you to edit your images on your
We asked stellar Henry’s photographer REN BOSTELaaR to share some of the secrets of his trade. Here’s what he told us.
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computer and apply dozens of very carefully programmed film emulations. To my eyes, the end result is often nearly indistinguishable from a genuine scan of a negative or slide. It’s the best of both worlds. ❋ To learn more about your camera and how to take control over your light meter, take a Camera 101 and Camera 201 class with the Henry’s School of Imaging. These two classes will teach you how to overcome common problems as well as how to master the fundamentals of controlling motion, depth of field and the art of manual exposure. To see a full course list and to register, visit www.schoolofimaging.ca
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city hall
The book on crazy town DUPES, ASSORTED ENABLERS AND ONE LESSER-KNOWN HERO WHO TURN UP IN TORONTO STAR REPORTER ROBYN DOOLITTLE’S EXPOSé ON the ford clan By J ONATHAN GOLDSBIE Robyn Doolittle’s Crazy Town: The Rob Ford Story is a tome whose heft makes newspapers feel ephemeral by comparison. Articles may l inger online indefinitely, but books physically situate their contents as part of the historical record. If Crazy Town remains the definitive account of this singular period in Toronto, here are the people on whom history will look fondly and not so fondly. (Because I’m a friend and colleague of Doolittle’s, this isn’t an evaluative review of the book itself.)
losers
wise fundamentally misunderstand the practice of journalism – is truly alarming. She eventually came around, and fiercely, but so did almost everyone.
Mark McQueen
The chair of the Toronto Port Authority was also the co-chair of the organizing committee for the 2013 Garrison Ball, at which the mayor arrived impaired and from which he was subsequently asked (albeit indirectly) to leave. Citing Councillor Paul Ainslie and other, unnamed members of the 13-person organizing committee, the Star reported on the incident one month later. (It was the first time the mayor’s substance issues were discussed ex-
plicitly.) Later that day, McQueen got five of the other organizers to sign on to a public statement that gave the appearance of refuting the story. “As a civilian member of the volunteer organizing committee for the 2013 Toronto Garrison Ball,” it read, “I can confirm that I did not ask Rob Ford, Mayor of Toronto, to leave the event on February 23, 2013, for any reason. To my knowledge, no member of the event’s organizing committee, including Councillor Paul Ainslie, directed the Mayor to leave the event
The first-term councillor and former member of Ford’s Executive Committee concedes that the crack video reports were eye-opening for her. Up until then, she actually believed the Star had made up all the stuff about Ford’s being an alcoholic. “I kinda was buying the story that you were after him and he really wasn’t doing these things,” she told Doolittle in an interview for the book. “I thought the Star was picking on the mayor, and the mayor’s office perpetuated that idea.” Before she joined council in 2010, Robinson spent more than a decade as a senior manager in the city’s Economic Development and Culture Division. Rob Ford was a councillor for 10 of those years. That as late as winter 2013 she’d give him so much credence – or allow herself to be brainwashed or other-
winners Doug Ford Sr.
Doolittle paints the late Ford patriarch as the kind of self-made, by-his-own-bootstraps entrepreneur that his children claim to be. He grew up poor during the Depression and gradually built a multimillion-dollar business through talent and hard work. In other words, the book argues, he came by his every-man-for-himself faith in the free market honestly (though he later invented a creation myth for his business that quietly omitted its co-founder).
12
February 6-12 2014 NOW
Jayme Poisson
Through her police sources, Star reporter Poisson learned about Project Traveller (the
Scott MacIntyre
Last week, the ex-spouse of Ford’s sister Kathy filed suit against the mayor, accusing him of having arranged his March 2012 prison beating. But MacIntyre had nothing but kind words for Mayor Ford when Doolittle got in touch with him this past July. She wanted to know about the January 2012 incident that got him sent to jail in the first place, when he barged into Ford’s house, threatened him and demanded money he said the mayor owed him. (When police later tracked him down, MacIntyre was in possession of cocaine and heroin.) In response to Doolittle’s Facebook inquiries, he messaged her: “The Fords as a whole family treated me like one of their own and for the things that I did to them they were more than fair and it would be remiss for me to say any different… Rob did not deserve the disrespect I caused and I paid my debt to society and have put this all behind me and wish you and all other media would do the same. Why don’t you do a story on what a great job Rob has done as Mayor of this City.” There’s a decent chance these comments will be used against MacIntyre in court.
Jaye Robinson
As an MPP in the 1990s, he was as boorish as his kids would be on Toronto city council – but because, unlike them, he wasn’t born into privilege, he was somewhat more able to get away with it.. While there’s no hint that he mistreated his offspring, they did have a fairly complicated relationship. When tens of thousands of dollars were stolen from him in 1998, he subjected his children – then ranging in age from 28 to 37 – to lie-detector tests. (Kathy and then-husband EnnioStirpe were the culprits.)
that night.” But the requests to remove Ford were actually put to his entourage. Ainslie says he spoke only to Mark Towhey. (Towhey, Ford’s chief of staff at the time, maintains that this never happened.) Doolittle suggests the statement’s misdirection may have been deliberate. “The wording of the letter seemed duplicitous,” she writes. And one of those who signed it told her he suspected it was an exercise in deducing which of the committee members had served as the Star’s anonymous sources.
year-long probe into a gang of alleged gun- and drug-runners) well in advance of the raids in which it culminated. Poisson drew the connection between that operation, the men in the infamous photo with Ford and those trying to sell the crack video. Even bigger: she found out that police first heard about the video via the wiretaps through which they’d been eavesdropping on suspected members of the Dixon City Bloods. Poisson also nailed down the precise date and time the police raids would occur, allowing the Star to put a dozen reporters and photographers in place to capture it. The paper even put a team outside the mayor’s house in case police executed a warrant there, too.
Earl Provost
One of the best lines in the book (I’m not going to spoil it) concerns a very brief phone call the mayor made to his then chief of staff from the City Hall parking garage minutes before his crack admission. If Provost wasn’t Doolittle’s source for this, he would at least have had to confirm it for her. Either way, we are grateful.
And then there’s Rob Ford
Though the revelation that he began using hard drugs after his father’s death in 2006 could make him a sympathetic figure, that feeling wears very thin by the end of the book. When Ford’s life is laid out in its entirety, it’s actually pretty hard to feel anything but contempt for him. 3
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Deborah Baic/ CP Photo
REALITY CHECK
ford’s big social housing
zero
On the mayor’s watch, the repair backlog and waiting list for shelter at Toronto Community Housing has gone from bad to godawful By Ben Spurr Rob Ford calls himself a champion of community housing. He famously tours blighted apart ment buildings and visits with needy tenants, extending his personal pro mise to get fridges fixed, patch holes in the walls or get rid of bedbugs. These jaunts have become a defin ing part of his political persona, and are welcomed by many residents. “I’m the only one that goes into the housing projects and helps these people out,” Mayor Ford told NOW in a brief interview outside his office last week. But as is often the case, Ford’s boasts mask a less favourable truth. Several key indicators make clear that the state of community housing has deteriorated, not improved, on his watch. When Ford took office in Decem ber 2010, there were 142,555 people on the city’s waiting list for commu nity housing. At the end of 2013 there were 167,472, a 17.5 per cent increase.
And for all Ford’s promises to get individual units fixed, the repair backlog at city-run social housing provider Toronto Community Hous ing continues to balloon. It rose from $647 million at the start of 2011 to $862 million today. “He’s spent more time as mayor – give him credit – touring public housing,” says Councillor Adam Vaughan. But “he hasn’t fixed it. You can scream at the cockroaches and the bedbugs all you want. Screaming doesn’t make them go away.” The repair backlog is expected to get much worse over the next decade and reach an estimated $2.6 billion, an amount the city can’t afford on its own. In November council approved a plan to pay one-third of the amount and ask the federal and provincial governments to contribute the rest. When the plan came up for a sec ond vote during the 2014 budget de bate, the mayor voted against it. Although he has aggressively sought provincial and federal fund ing for storm relief and the Scarbor ough subway, Ford told NOW there was no point in requesting housing funding, because “they’re not going to give us the money.” He suggested that doing so would only irritate the other levels of government. “Why you gonna sit there and ag gravate ’em?” he asked.
* * * In the early months of Ford’s term, a pair of scathing auditor general re ports found millions of dollars of questionable or untendered con tracts at TCH, and described a work place culture that lacked adequate accountability and permitted lavish employee spending. The scandal was a political gift for Ford, who used it as an excuse to oust the TCH leadership and appoint his own man to run the agency. Serving as an interim one-man board, Case Ootes, a former council lor and member of Ford’s transition team, pushed a controversial plan to sell up to 900 single-family TCH homes to finance repairs. A year later, Eugene Jones was ap pointed CEO. Jones has a reputation for turning around housing agencies in Detroit and Indianapolis, and Ford backed him to right the ship at TCH. “Today, there is a new board of direc tors and senior management team who are committed to customer ser vice excellence,” wrote the mayor’s spokesperson in an email. “The may or has already noticed a marked im provement in the conditions of the buildings he tours.” But the agency hasn’t been free of scandal under its new leadership. The city ombudsman determined last year that seniors were being un
the TCH score 142,555
People on the city’s waiting list for community housing when Rob Ford took office in 2010.
167,472
People on the waiting list at the end of 2013.
17.5
Percentage increase in number of people on the waiting list since 2010.
$647 million
Total amount of the repair backlog at Toronto Community Housing in 2011.
$862 million Total amount of repair backlog today.
$2.6 billion
How large the repair backlog is expected to grow over the next decade.
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February 6-12 2014 NOW
XE TA S
fairly evicted from TCH units. She also launched a probe into hiring practices under Jones, the results of which are expected this spring. In August, Jones was criticized for offering $150,000 in repairs to a com plex whose residents helped with a murder probe. Other tenants won dered where the money had come from, given the repair backlog. The new CEO even revived accusa tions of profligate spending when he proposed a $2 million renovation of the agency’s headquarters. (He quick ly backed off.) Jones was not available for an in terview with NOW, but a TCH spokes person says the agency is working to be more transparent. It now publishes quarterly financial reports, and re cently created a housing equity com missioner to ensure no one is evicted unnecessarily. But Councillor Ana Bailão, chair of the Affordable Housing Committee, says that although Jones has the per sonal touch with residents – just like Ford – he has yet to tackle the agency’s bigger problems. “Gene has brought that contact with tenants, which I’ve heard from tenants they really appreciate,” Bailão says. “But Gene still has a lot of work to do. There needs to be more accountability.” * * * The push to sell off TCH houses stoked huge controversy. Tenants, many of whom have mental health issues or other challenges, feared they were go ing to be displaced. Residents were kept in the dark. Housing activist Susan Gapka remem bers coming downstairs in June 2011 to find Ootes giving media a tour of her high-rise at 389 Church. He was suggesting to reporters that the build ing should be sold. If felt like an “ambush”, Gapka says. “That’s not a very good way to wake up in the morning.” The push-back from tenants was so fierce and opposition from council so strong that Ford abandoned the mass sell-off. Instead, in February 2012 he appointed Bailão to head up a hous ing task force that eventually found innovative ways to pay for repairs without uprooting tenants. Bailão arranged to refinance mort gages on some TCH homes, freeing up $94 million. By selling a smaller num ber of decrepit houses, another $59 million was raised. Tenants were involved in crafting the plans. “We earned and deserve to be part of the conversation,” says Gap ka. “That was a relief.” Now Bailão is spearheading Close The Housing Gap, a campaign to pres sure the federal and provincial gov ernments to address the repair back log. Because Ford wasn’t supportive, she partnered with Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson instead. She says Ford has fought her at vir tually every turn, and accuses him of hypocrisy on the housing file. “You don’t help these people out by going to their door. You help them out by making sure the budget has enough money to address their is sues,” she says. 3 bens@nowtoronto.com | @BenSpurr
Subways! Subways! Subways! That’s right, Rob. NOW Magazine is available free in subways every Thursday at over 65 Gateway Newstands locations. Your commute just got a lot less boring.
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Who’re we putin on? In this excerpt from her new book on the Olympic industry, Helen Jefferson Lenskyj argues that Russia’s anti-gay propaganda laws have much in common with Olympic values and homophobia in the West
When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the 2014 Winter Olympics to Sochi in 2007, issues of sexual diversity and homophobia in sport attracted little attention in the western media. Within western LGBT communities, however, it was widely known that sexual minorities in post-Soviet Russia faced significant challenges above and beyond those of their nongay counterparts. As early as 2006, the Ryazan region of Russia had banned the promotion of “homosexual propaganda” among minors, a move that marked the beginnings of a pattern that spread to a number of other Russian regions and finally, to the entire country. In October 2012, following an earlier court decision banning a Pride House (a safe space for LGBT athletes and spectators) at the Sochi 2014 Olympics, Russian LGBT activists announced plans to “out” gay politicians and gay members of the Russian Olympic Committee, and to appeal the case to the European Court of Human Rights. In a typical victim-blaming approach to the Pride House case, the judge had justified the ban on the grounds that it was “extremist” and could provoke “social-religious hatred.” Around the same time, the charge of “religious hatred” had been invoked in the Pussy Riot case. In the current climate, it is quite likely that
a Pride House would be the target of homophobic attacks, but responsibility for such attacks should lie with the attackers, not with the LGBT targets. However, just as Russian police routinely arrested the victims rather than the perpetrators of violence during gay pride events, this line of reasoning was unsurprising. These developments, as well as the increasing evidence of homophobia throughout the country, prompted the Federation of Gay Games to boycott the 2012 International Peace and Sport conference in Sochi on the grounds that its organizers had failed to ensure the safety of the Gay Games delegate. These events attracted little attention outside of the LGBT media, and it was not until Russia’s nation-wide legislation banning propaganda of “non-traditional sexual relations” to minors came into effect in June 2013 that the implications for LGBT athletes and spectators and for those who still believed in “Olympic values” finally became front page news around the western world. The Russian government began drafting the anti-gay law in January 2013. Had I been applying for an entry visa at that time, my role in developing and writing a curriculum guide on sexual orientations and homophobia for the Toronto Board of Education in 1991 may have caused a problem. However, to put the Russian law in perspective, as a Guardian article noted, as recently as 1987, Margaret Thatcher’s government had passed legislation known as Section 28 which banned the teaching or promotion of homosexuality in schools. And, in a letter to the Guardian Weekly commenting on the article, “Gay
Russian teens live in fear,” an Australian reader pointed out that in 1988 Hobart city council had banned a market stall that the Tasmanian Gay Law Reform Group wanted to set up. About 130 people had been arrested, and it was not until 1997 that homosexuality was decriminalized in Tasmania. More recently, in Ontario there was vehement opposition on the part of Roman Catholic leaders and school board officials to the province’s 2012 anti-bullying legislation, which required all schools to establish GayStraight Alliances, and, equally important, to allow students to call these clubs Gay-Straight Alliances if they chose to do so. Previously, some schools had insisted on erasing the gay word, thus weakening the intent and scope of the legislation. In language that would probably resonate with Russian Orthodox Church leaders, the Catholic Archbishop of Toronto claimed that the new law threatened religious freedom when it “overrides the deeply held beliefs of any faith community, and intrudes on its freedom to act in a way that is in accord with its principles of conscience.”
In 2010, conservative parental opposition had forced the Ontario Ministry of Education to shelve a new sex education curriculum, updated to replace the 1995 version, which would introduce “controversial” topics such as homosexuality and masturbation. There had been a similar struggle in the early 1990s when the Toronto Board of Education first introduced the anti-homophobia curriculum guide to which I contributed, and the recurrence of these debates 20 years later demonstrates the volatility of the sex-and-sexualities issue. As I examined the current situation in Russia, I was repeatedly struck by the parallels in western democracies. While these developments have rarely reached the extremes that exist in Russia, some recently disclosed government initiatives, most notably, citizen surveillance programs conducted by the US National Security Agency and the UK Government Communication Headquarters, clearly demonstrate that basic human rights, particularly freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of information, cannot be taken for granted. In September 2013, for example, the Canadian government issued a directive to wounded veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces forbidding them to disclose their “views on any military subject” through social media. As one retired
Advocates of a boycott who drew parallels with Nazi Germany’s antiSemitism met with a chilly reception.
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Who’re we putin on? œcontinued from page 17
officer claimed, “This is right out of something you would see during the Soviet era.” For their part, many Russians appear to accept a certain level of censorship, with opinion polls from 2002 to 2010 consistently reporting that 43 to 45 per cent of respondents agreed that “the state should ban books and films which insult morals.” In 2010-11, more than half concurred that political censorship on TV was needed. As well as the parallels with western democracies, I noted many characteristics that Putin’s Russia shares with the Olympic industry. As I’ve explained in past publications, I use the term industry to denote what is fundamentally a profitmaking enterprise for the IOC, multinational corporate sponsors, media rights holders, developers, resort and hotel owners, and other stakeholders. Thus, I challenge Olympic mythology and its pseudo-religious language: Olympic movement, Olympic values, Olympic spirit, Olympic family and Olympism. On a personal note, I was not planning to write another book on the Olympics until I read about the events of August 2013 – the now wellknown “rainbow fingernails” story. During the World Track and Field Championships in Moscow, two women on the Swedish team painted their fingernails in rainbow colours as a protest against the anti-gay laws. In response, a Russian athlete, Yelena
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state and should be treated like a state is particularly relevant. Both “states” share the following features: •Undemocratic governance; •Lack of transparency and accountability; •Fraudulent voting processes; •Hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy in leadership; •Evidence of systemic sexism, heterosexism, and homophobia; • LGBT invisibility enforced through direct or indirect means; •Ambitions to expand global power; • Reliance on religion or pseudoreligious mythology • “Sport-as-special” argument used for self-serving ends. Given the compatibility between the Olympic industry and Putin’s Russia, it could be argued that the relative immunity to international censure that both enjoy, and the IOC’s inaction on Russia’s human rights violations, are understandable. The Olympic industry myth that sport is apolitical has remarkable endurance, as does the Olympic promise of peace and harmony among nations through sport. If sport is apolitical, it is, of course, illogical to promise political outcomes, but mythology defies logic when the Circus Maximus is involved.
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Isinbayeva, denounced both the Swedish women and the (western) LGBT movement. Russia, she famously claimed, has no gays and lesbians. Isinbayeva’s statement, of course, did not come out of the blue; rather, it reflected a complex history of Russian attitudes, policies and practices on all sexuality-related issues. Although there was international outrage and censure of Russia’s anti-gay legislation in 2013, advocates of a boycott, particularly those who drew parallels with Nazi Germany’s anti-Semitism before the 1936 Berlin Olympics, generally met with a chilly reception. No one, it seemed, wanted to be reminded of the role played by the IOC and the United States in supporting Hitler’s regime, and, by extension, Putin’s. Olympic boycotts have had a long and often unrecognized history, but one specific boycott – that of the Moscow 1980 Olympics – is routinely invoked as proof that they are ineffective and only hurt the athletes. History will tell whether failure to organize a Sochi boycott represents another missed opportunity to challenge a repressive regime. A comparison of the Olympic industry and Putin’s Russia reveals important similarities. This is not to suggest actual equivalence between them, but rather to draw attention to some common characteristics, most notably in the ways each wields power. In this regard, Emily Cooper’s argument that the IOC acts like a
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policing
no taming cop costs External reviews by consultants take months or years to complete as budget cycles come and go without significant spending changes By DESMOND COLE
20
february 6-12 2014 NOW
In its quest to find savings in the rereviews the chart every year. cently approved 2014 operating The city’s legal counsel, Karl budget, council didn’t even preDruckman, warned that dramatic tend to examine policing costs. changes to the organizational strucAlthough we spend a quarter ture of the police force may be ilof our property taxes on polilegal. cing (that’s just over $1 billion), “The ability for the board to come trimming the police budget seemed along a year from now and say, ‘Undo a non-starter for even our efficiencyall that because this is how we want it loving mayor, Rob Ford. to be done’ is just not realistic and The January 16 meeting of the could have legal consequences.” Toronto Police Services Board, Druckman reminded board just two weeks before counmembers that it is primarily cil’s January 30 vote, shed Chief Blair’s job to set the some light on the tricky policing structure and politics of police spending. thereby proThere, the familiar dytect the Review, review namics between the board public. and top cops, the same imT P S B Toronto Police Services Board chair Alok Mukherjee council appasse that has blocked mean ingful budget reductions in the past, pointees Michael Thompson and were once again on display. Frances Nunziata protested that the Essentially, the board believes it board is not merely a rubber-stampcontrols the budget, but TPS believes ing body. it has the sole discretion to make onThompson fumed: “If our ideas the-ground policing decisions. The and our input are of no value, why police say the board lacks the exper- waste time? tise to make those calls. “It seems to me like we’re trying to The board in turn looks to consult develop efficiencies, but it doesn’t ing firms like KPMG for seem to be going both ways. That budget analysis, but that has been a problem publicly all advice usually ends up along with respect to this ortaking months or years to ganization. The public is wonproduce and is sometimes dering, ‘Why are policing costs dismissed as ill-advised approaching a billion dollars? or even dangerous by poWhat are we getting for it? And lice brass. what is this board doing with At the board’s respect to its duties?’” Red herring January 16 In the end, the board unanimeeting, for ex Deputy Chief Peter Sloly mously agreed to approve the orample, chair Alok Mukherjee reganizational chart and to review ported on Chief Bill Blair’s internal and amend it if a consultant can organizational review (CIOR), a twoidentify savings. year undertaking to find budget savBut the lengthy process of exterings. nal review means next year’s chart The board has spent over $1 mil- may come up for approval before a lion on the CIOR, only to identify sav- consultant can report back on any ings of less than $2 million. Mukher- savings in this year’s. jee noted the paltry sum while The complexity of the TPS, Ca adding that overall police nada’s largest municipal pospending just keeps climblice force, means that very ing. few are qualified to review He then asked the board and advise on it. to approve the hiring of an Those who do are either external consultant, essenpaid consultants whose tially to review the chief’s work takes review, using money, no less, time and is WTF! from the city’s 2013 surplus. not necesCouncillor Michael Thompson sarily bindFirms like KPMG and Ernst & Young have been hired in the past to ing, or police execs who inevitfind police budget savings, but re- ably warn that reducing the budget views take time and budget cycles may in turn reduce public safety. come and go without significant The already hamstrung civilian spending changes. board must also accept that about 90 When discussion turned to the per cent of the police budget is fixed, TPS’s structure and staffing, Muk tied up in negotiated police salaries herjee suggested interim approval of and benefits. the TPS organizational chart with Part of the CIOR deals with the the possibility of revisiting it later. proper number of police needed to Meanwhile, another consultant keep the peace. The “right number” could review the chart to find sav- report isn’t public yet, but one wonings. That’s when the real fireworks ders what chance the public has to inwent off. fluence ongoing police budget discusDeputy Chief Peter Sloly, subbing sions if the civilian police board, by its for the absent Blair, said Mukherjee’s own admission, lacks the clout, knowcall for a mid-year review was “a bit how and legal ability to do so. 3 of a red herring,” since the board news@nowtoronto.com
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daily events meetings • benefits Daily events appear by date, then alphabetically by the name of the event. r indicates kid-friendly events indicates queer-friendly events For Black History Month events, see page 52 For Valentine events, see page 25
5
How to place a listing
All listings are free. Send to: listings@nowtoronto.com, fax to 416-364-1166 or mail to Daily Events, NOW Magazine, 189 Church, Toronto M5B 1Y7. Include a brief description of the event, including participants, time, price, venue, address and contact phone number (or e-mail or website if no phone available). Listings may be edited for length. Deadline is the Thursday before publication at 5 pm.
Thursday, February 6
Benefits
Book Lover’s Ball (Toronto Public Library)
Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and dinner with Canadian authors Jason Mott, Steven Galloway, Kamal Al-Solaylee and Suzanne Collins. 6 pm. $750. Fairmont Royal York, 100 Front W. bookloversball.ca. Lovelash (Sheena’s Place) Fundraising performances of Terence Vince’s musical comedy. Today and tomorrow 8 pm; Feb 8, 2 & 8 pm. $25. Tranzac Cub, 292 Brunswick. entractstudios.com. Singles Bowling Mixer (Riverdale Housing Animation Program) Fundraiser for singles ages 30 to 45. 7:15 pm. $20. Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth. justidateevents@gmail.com. Winter Soiree (OneFamily Fund) Get-together for young professionals with performances and DJ dancing. 7 pm. UpTown Loft, 2464 Yonge. onefamilyfund.ca.
Events
AGO First Thursdays: Long Winter Takeover Art conversations, a live table tennis
performance, music and more. 7 pm. $15, adv $12. Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas W. ago.net.
Beginning The Journey: The Charms And Challenges Of Historical Fiction Talk by
author Marina Endicott. 7 pm. Free. Reference Library, 789 Yonge. t orontopubliclibrary.ca. Community Quilt Group Explore historic and contemporary quilting techniques and make friends while you improve your sewing skills. 6-8 pm. Free. Gibson House, 5172 Yonge. 416-395-7432.
Dames Making Games: Public Policy Edition Lecture on diversity in a range of disciplines related to games. 6 pm. Free. Hart House Debates Room, 7 Hart House Circle. harthouse.ca.
Help Decide The Future Of The Gardiner Ex-
pressway East Public meeting on the results of the evaluation and alternative solutions for the future. 6:30 pm. Free. Reference Library, 789 Yonge. gardinereastpublicmeetingfeb6. eventbrite.ca. Living A Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Seminar on natural therapies with naturopath Rahim Kanji. 7 pm. Free. Big Carrot, 348 Danforth. 416-466-2129. Money 101: Personal Financial Management For Teens Teens learn how to manage
their income, savings, expenses and budget. 6 pm. Free. Brentwood Library, 36 Brentwood N. Pre-register 416-394-5247.
february 6-12 2014 NOW
Live music Dance Theatre
42 54 54
Comedy Art galleries Readings
58 60 60
Movie reviews Movie times Rep cinemas
66 72 75
festivals • expos • sports etc.
Festivals this week
Kuumba The festival of black arts and
culture features visual arts, theatre, films, comedy, dance workshops, panel discussions, readings, a kinky hair showcase, kids’ activities and concerts with artists including comedian Jay Martin and Dr Jay de Soca Prince. Free and ticketed events. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com/kuumba. Feb 7 to 9 Rhubarb Festival Festival of contemporary theatre and performance art, with performances, talks, poetry and more. $10-$20, some free and pwyc events. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com. Feb 12 to 23 Toronto Black Film Festival Feature films, shorts and documentaries plus a life workshop with Stedman Graham and a concert by Lorraine Klaasen. $10-$30,
Peggy Mason – Building Peace In The 21st Century: Reflections Over 30 Years Science
for Peace lecture by Canada’s former ambassador for disarmament Peggy Mason. 7 pm. Free. University College, rm 179, 15 King’s College Circle. scienceforpeace.ca.
5Rainbow Health Ontario Conference
Conference focused on LGBT health and wellness, with workshops, talks on research and programs, networking and more. To Feb 7. Toronto Hilton, 145 Richmond W. rainbowhealthontario.ca/conference.
5Rally & March For Global LGBT Equality Rally on the eve of the Sochi Olympics to demand human rights in Russia and across the globe. 6 pm. Free. Russian Consulate, SE corner Bloor and Church. j.mp/feb6rally.
5Run To Protest Putin And Celebrate Gay
Athletes Wear pink, bring a flashlight or glow
stick and join runners and walkers to create a giant flowing pink triangle to protest Russia’s assault on LGBQT people on the eve of the Olympics. 5:20 to 5:50 pm. Free. Queen’s Park, 111 Wellesley W. margaretwebb.com. Six Degrees Of Social Innovation Meet with others across the city’s social change sector to connect and celebrate. 6 pm. Free. Centre for Social Innovation Annex, 720 Bathurst. Pre-register socialinnovation.ca/six. Spectacular Deaths Of Massive Stars Lecture. 7 pm. Free. Jane/Dundas Library, 620 Jane. 416-394-1014. Toronto Sportsmen’s Show Outdoor activities, a birds of prey show, chainsaw carving demo, vendors and more. To Feb 8, 10 am-8 pm; Feb 9, 10 am-6 pm. $19, stu/srs $13, kids free. Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place. torontosportshow.ca.
film pass $129, workshop $149. Various venues. torontoblackfilm.com. Feb 11 to 16
continuing Great Digital Film Festival Fan favourite
sci-fi, action and cult films in digital format. $6. Scotiabank Theatre (259 Richmond W), Cineplex Cinemas Mississauga (309 Rathburn W). cineplex.com/ digitalfilmfest. To Feb 6
Jay Martin takes the stage at the Kuumba comedy show.
Benefits
5Heartbreakers Revue (Singing Out) Mem-
Festival of c ontemporary Israeli art, film, photography, video, theatre, dance and music. Various prices and venues across the GTA. spotlightonisraeliculture. com. To Mar 31 Winterlicious Culinary festival with participating restaurants offering special prix-fixe menus for brunch, lunch and dinner. toronto.ca/winterlicious. To Feb 13
(includes buffet lunch). Free Times Café, 320 College. yiddishvinkl.com.
Friday, February 7
Benefits
Motionball THREESIXTYFIVE Gala (Special
Olympics Canada) Performances by Carmen Electra, Running Red Lights, DJ Skratch Bastid and others, an Under Armour fashion show, silent auction and more. 7 pm. $150. Liberty Grand, 25 British Columbia. mball.ca/mb365. Vodka Tasting Fundraiser (English in Mind Institute, Haiti) Live music by Lina Fouro, raffle, a silent auction and more. 8 pm. $40-$50. Proof Vodka Bar, 220 Bloor W. bit.ly/1jg97b0.
Events
Burroughs 100 Toronto: The Dream Machine Williams Burroughs centenary cele-
bration, with readings by Eric Schmaltz and others, anecdotes on being gay by Neil Hennessy, a Moroccan dream machine veiwing lounge tent, music by DJ Marinko and more. 7 pm. $5. Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen W.
Women In Niqab Speak: A Study Of The Niqab In Canada Brown bag presenta-
tion by Canadian Council of Muslim Women director Alia Hogben and others. Noon-1:30 pm. Free (bring lunch). OISE, rm 2-227, 252 Bloor W. cwse@utoronto.ca. Yiddish Vinkl Ester Reiter talks about the Jewish women’s labour leagues and women activists in 1920s-30s Canada. Noon. $18
vironment. 6:30 pm. Free. Ryerson U, Victoria and Gould. pridehouseto.ca. Regina Jose Galindo The Latin American performance artist/writer talks about her work. 7 pm. $10. Prefix, 401 Richmond W. 416-591-0357, lacap.ca. Weaving Hope Amnesty Int’l holds an evening of music, poetry and creative action for the survival of indigenous peoples in Colombia. 7 pm. Free. United Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil. aito.ca.
Saturday, February 8
Spotlight On Israeli Culture
ON UNTIL MAR 2 Berkeley Street Theatre 22
listings index
facebook.com/events/1397798407137567.
Dr Sketchy’s Cabaret Life Drawing Sessions
to draw burlesque and circus performers, drag queens and alternative models. 7-10 pm. $10. Round, 152A Augusta. drsketchy.com. Dreileban: Etwas Besseres Als Den Tod Film screening and discussion. 6:30 pm. Free. Goethe-Institut, 100 University, North Tower. Pre-register library@toronto.goethe.org.
The Endless Need To Begin – Re: Turning To The Canadian Long Oem Colloquium with talks by Stephen Collis, Margaret Christakos, Michael Boughn and others. 1:30-4 pm. Free. Jackman Humanities Bldg, 170 St George. f acebook.com/events/602260896513498. Indigenous Rights In Colombia Discussion with indigenous lawyer María Particia Tobón Yagarí and deputy justice Federico Guzmán Duque. 2 pm. Free. Osgoode Hall Law School, Ignat Kaneff Bldg, rm 1001, 4700 Keele. cerlac2@yorku.ca.
Indigenous Ways To Build Relationships
Workshop for urban aboriginal women and youth. 12:30-4:30 pm. $125. Native Women’s Resource Centre, 191 Gerrard E. Pre-register guestli.st/207273.
My Portrait Of Rob Ford, The Ford Family And A City Caught In An Astonishing Scandal
Talk by Toronto Star reporter/ author Robyn Doolittle. 6 pm. $30 (includes copy of Crazy Town). Rotman School of Management, 105 St George. rotman. utoronto.ca/events. Pablo Helguera The Latin American artist talks about his work. 7 pm. $10. Prefix, 401 Richmond W. 416-5910357, l acap.ca.
5Pridehouse Toronto
Winter Games Lounge
Join the LGBTQ community to watch the Sochi opening ceremonies in an outdoor en-
bers of the LGBT Community Chorus perform to raise funds for a trip to the Unison Festival. 7 & 9 pm. $15-$20. The Flying Beaver Pubaret, 488 Parliament. pubaret.com. Laugh Out Loud (Trilium Health Partners) Fundraising gala featuring performances by comedians Martin Short and Gerry Dee. 6 pm. $500. International Centre, 6900 Airport (Mississauga). lol4trillium.ca. Mad About You Gala (Mood Disorders Assoc of Ontario) Awards gala with live and silent auctions. 6 pm. $250. Carlu, 444 Yonge. madaboutyougala.ca. Toronto Charity Bridal Show (CAMH/ Lakeridge Health/SickKids/Ontario Shores) A bridal beauty bar, groom’s lounge and more. Today noon-6 pm; tomorrow noon-7 pm. $15, adv $10. Brighton Convention Centre, 2155 McNicoll. thetorontocharitybridalshow.com.
Events
Ally Workshop Workshop and discussion on anti-oppression work and the role of an ally, with Robin Fraser, Jessie Short and others. 1-4 pm. Free. Xpace Cultural Centre, 303 Lansdowne. Pre-register alicia@xpace.info. Babble (Babel) Performance art event with Margaret Dragu, Christine Brault, Pam Patterson and Leena Raudvee. To Feb 10. Free. Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle. wiaprojects.com. DJ Skate Nights Soca On Ice outdoor skating party. 8 pm. Free. Harbourfront Centre Ice Rink, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000. Fairmount Park Winterfest Live music by the Lost Boys, shinny, sledding, a skate and ski swap, face painting and more. 2-5 pm. Free. Fairmount Park, 1725 Gerrard E. Food Jobs Forward: Growing Your Career And Community Mini-conference on
good food work, building sustainable food systems and community food security. 11:30 am-5 pm. $45. Food Forward Centre, 2 Homewood. Pre-register pushfoodforward.com.
Learn Everything About Video Marketing
DIY video workshop. 11 am. $169. Centre for Social Innovation, 315 Spadina. Pre-register big3videoagency.com. Look Before You Leap Presentation on the most common and basic legal rights of consumers and debtors. 2 pm. Free. Brentwood Library, 36 Brentwood N. 416-394-5247. rOwl Prowl Experience an evening of live owls on a guided walk. 7 pm. Free w/ admission. Kortright Centre, Pine Valley and M ajor Mackenzie (Kleinburg). Pre-register 905-8322289.
5Pridehouse Toronto Winter Games
Lounge Join the LGBTQ community to watch the Olympics and cheer on our athletes in an outdoor environment. To Feb 13, 4-10 pm daily. Free. Ryerson U, Victoria œ continued on page 24 œ continued on page 25
Artist: Kim Cain | Title: Diasporic Remix
Celebrate the many colours of Black. TD celebrates Black History Month. The TD Then and Now Series showcases Black history and culture through the inspired work of Canadian and global artists. We proudly collaborated with the Black Artists’ Networks Dialogue to bring you breathtaking exhibits, films, concerts, fashion and theatre. It’s a month-long celebration that will stay with you all year.
Learn more at td.com/ThenandNow
®
The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.
NOW february 6-12 2014
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events œcontinued from page 22
and Gould. pridehouseto.ca. Reiki Healing Talk and healing class. 1 pm. Free. World’s Biggest Bookstore, 20 Edward. thehealingteam.org. Repair Cafe Get help fixing a broken household item and learn how to do it yourself. 10 am-2 pm. Free. Reference Library, 789 Yonge. repaircafetoronto.ca. Seeding Of Eden Permaculture GTA forum on cultivating the Toronto Seed Library and growing a movement for seed freedom, with workshops and a potluck. 2-10 pm. Free. 160 Bartley. torontoseedlibrary@gmail.com. Tar Sands Dragon Opera Birdbone Theatre’s shadow and marionette puppet show about the proposed oil pipeline. 7 pm. Pwyc. Upfront Studio Theatre, 1290 Finch W, unit 17. westendnoline9@gmail.com. Toronto Ice Fest Wine- and food-tasting, live music, vendors and more. 2-7 pm. $60. Liberty Market Building Galleria, 171 East Liberty. info@iyellowwineclub.com.
What Well-Dressed Women Wore During The War Years 1812-14 United Empire Loyalists’ talk and potluck lunch. Noon. Free. St David’s Towers Community Room, 51 Donlands. uelgovsimcoe.org.
Sunday, February 9
Benefits
Families Of Sisters In Spirit (fundraiser for
missing and murdered women) Musical performances by Veronica Johnny, Rosary Spence, Chelsea Tappin and others. Doors 8 pm. $10. Rivoli, 334 Queen W. 416-596-1908. rPugalug Meetup (Pugalug Dog Rescue) Come out for a pug-specific off-leash and party. 1:30-3:30 pm. $7. PawsWay, 245 Queens Quay W. pawsway.ca.
Events
After Snowden: What Now For An Open And Free Internet? Lecture by Ron Deibert.
10:10 am. Free. St Clement’s Church, 70 St Clements. 416-483-6664. Cafe Cuba Information meeting on the Che Guevera Volunteer Work Brigade. 2 pm. Free. 290 Danforth. canadiannetworkonncuba.ca.
Creative Science Sundays: Music And Technology Hands-on workshop for youth 14 and up on DJ scratching and creating electronic music. 1 & 3 pm. Free w/ admission. Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills. 416696-1000. An Enchanted Evening Group meditation, live music and a vegetarian meal. 6-8 pm. Free w/donation for meal. Trinity-St Paul’s Church, 427 Bloor W. 416-539-0234. rFrozen Waters Nature and heritage hike exploring the ecology and history of the Don River. 10 am-noon. Free. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview. ebw.evergreen.ca. Georgian Desserts Cooking class. 10:30 am-3:30 pm. $75. Historic Fort York, 100
big3
NOW editors pick a trio of this week’s can’t-miss events
REMEMBER MISSING WOMEN
When women go missing, we have to make sure someone – especially police – notices. That’s the mission of Families of Sisters in Spirit, a grassroots volunteer organization led by the families of indigenous women who have disappeared or have been murdered. A funder for the org at the Rivoli on Sunday (February 9) features performances by Veronica Johnny, Rosary Spence, Chelsea Tappin and others. 332 Queen West. Doors open at 8 pm, $10. 416-596-1908.
RALLY FOR LGBT EQUALITY
To Russia with love? According to Garrison. 416-392-6907.
The Hazards Of Small Asteroids Talk on
some deluded persons, there are no gays in Russia! The Sochi Olympics are here, and so is the global march demanding human rights for LGBT people. Maybe the Russian Consulate will have something to say about it. That’s where the rally starts today (Thursday, February 6) at 6 pm. Free. 175 Bloor East, southeast corner of Bloor and Church. j.mp/feb6rally.
Monday, February 10
what scientists learned from the meteorite strike in Chelyabinsk. 3 pm. Free. Medical Sciences Bldg, JJR Macleod Auditorium, 1 King’s College Circle. royalcanadianinstitute. org. Memories Of Herstmonceux Castle Presentation by photographer/chorister Charlotte Broome. 2 pm. Free. U of T Knox College, room 4, 59 St George. ulyssean.on.ca. rMosaic Storytelling Festival Hugh Cotton and Celia Lottridge share folk tales from England, Ireland and Russia. 3 pm. Pwyc ($5 sugg). St David’s Anglican Church Parish Hall, 40 Donalnds. mosaicstorytelling.ca. Musical Chairs New musical reading series. 6 pm. Free. Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. 416-9238137.
Benefits
Star Bellydancer Canada Competition
of Egyptian antiquities lecture. 7 pm. $35. U of T, 4 Bancroft. thessea.org. Trampoline Hall Mini-lectures curated by Mark Slutsky and hosted by Misha Glouberman. 8 pm. $5-$6. Garrison, 1197 Dundas W. trampolinehall.net. Vincent Lam Hosts Hatsumi PEN Picks film screening and talk with the Giller Prize-winning author. 6:15 pm. $15. Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor W. bloorcinema.com. When Wearable Tech Meets Arts Talk by Sonic Wear founder Loretta Faveri and a performance by dancer Denise Mireau. 7 pm. Free. Reference Library, 789 Yonge. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Contest featuring various styles, solo performers and troupes. 7 pm. $25. Virgin Mobile Mod Club, 722 College. starbellydancer. com.
Syria Witness: The Syrian Civil Society Movement And Prosepcts For A Democratic Solution United Jewish People’s Or-
der presents a talk by Syrian jurist Aboud Kabawat. 11 am. Free. 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture. ujpo.org. rVaughan Winterfest Outdoor entertainment, horse-drawn wagon rides, floor curling, face painting and more. 10 am-3:30 pm. Free. Vellore Village Community Centre, 1 Villa Royale. v aughan.ca.
Winter Birds Photography Workshop
Hone your bird photography skills. 8-11 am. $65. High Park Nature Centre, 440 Parkside. Pre-register highparknaturecentre.com.
The Life Is Sweet Project (CAMH Fdn) Per-
formance of the play written and performed by Ashley Gibson. 8 pm. $30. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. angelwalk.ca.
Events
Exile And Belonging: Stories Of Immigrant Experience Class with Sanja Ivanov.
6:30 pm. Free. Lillian H Smith Library, 239 College. torontopubliclibrary.ca. Hands On Japanese Rope Bondage All-genders workshop with Midori. 7:30-10 pm. $70/ pair. Come as You Are, 493 Queen W. 416504-7934.
Lady Of The House, Lady Of Two Lands: Women In Ancient Egypt Soc for the Study
Tuesday, February 11
Events
Activism 101 – What Makes For A Great
WALK THIS WAY
We have nothing but love for chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat. She takes no sass from Rob Ford, which can’t be said for some of the bureaucracy. More importantly, she’s wise about smart growth. Find out just how smart on Wednesday (February 12), 7 to 9 pm, when she talks walking. Free. University of Toronto Schools auditorium, 371 Bloor West. Preregister at walktoronto.ca. Jennifer Keesmaat talks on walking in T.O. February 12.
Grassroots Campaign? Music and talk with
guitarist Steve Hall and independent journalist Saul Chernos. 7 pm. Free. The Ossington, 61 Ossington. on.fb.me/1fwNXAp. Australia & New Zealand Travel talk. 6:30 pm. Free. Adventure Travel Co, 408 King W. atcadventure.com. BookThug’s 10th Anniversary The publisher throws a party, with prizes, mystery guests and swag. 7:30 pm. Pwyc (sugg $5). Clinton’s, 693 Bloor W. 416-535-9541, bookthug.ca. Critical Art Writing Workshop with Sky Goodden. 6-9 pm. $60-$70. Gallery 44, 401 Richmond W #120. Pre-register 416-979-3941.
Game On, Or Game Over? How To Be A
Policy Player Lecture by Queen’s Park policy advisor Vass Bednar. 7 pm. $5, stu free. Hart House Theatre, 7 Hart House Circle. harthouse.ca. Gardening From The Hammock Scarborough Gardening & Horticultural Society talk by author Dan Cooper. 7:30 pm. Free. Scarborough Village Community Centre, 3600 Kingston. gardenontario.org. Hands On Body Harness All-genders workshop with Midori. 7:30-10 pm. $70/pair. Come as You Are, 493 Queen W. 416-504-7934. Revolution: A Film By Rob Stewart Green 13 film screening and discussion. 6:15 pm. Free. Jane/Dundas Library, 620 Jane. green13toronto.org. Tales From The Vault: A Peek Inside The World’s Greatest Jewellery Boxes – From Queen Mary To Gina Lollobrigida Seminar. 4:30-7 pm. $45. Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park. Pre-register rom.on.ca. 3D Printing For Total Beginners Learn the
basics of designing your own 3D printable items. 6:30-9:30 pm. $132. Hot Pop Factory, 215 Spadina. Pre-register hotpopfactory.com/ workshops.
TPP 101: An Introduction To The World Of Trade Regimes And Negotiations Talk and
slide presentation. 6:30 pm. Free. Japan Foundation, 131 Bloor W. jftor.org.
Wednesday, February 12 Art Of Feminine Dominance All-genders
workshop with Midori. 7:30-9:30 pm. $35. Come as You Are, 493 Queen W. 416-504-7934. CBC Connects A weekly live show lets you connect with CBC personalities. Noon-1 pm. Free. CBC Broadcasting Centre Atrium, 250 Front W. cbc.ca. 5Dare To Be Bare Women’s clothing optional yoga class. $20, stu $15. Glad Day Bookshop, 598 Yonge. Pre-register yogibare.ca.
High Altitude “Big Bang”: Formation Period Archaeology Of The Lake Titicaca Basin, Bolivia Lecture. 5:10 pm. Free. San-
ford Fleming Bldg, SF1105, 10 King’s College Rd. aiatoronto.ca.
Lost Rivers: Connecting Human And Nat-
ural Heritage Talk by Helen Mills. 7 pm. $10. Tollkeeper’s Cottage Museum, 750 Davenport. tollkeeperscottage.ca. Occupy Love Conscious Activism Documentary Series presents the screening of the Velcrow Ripper film on alternative systems of economics. 6:30 pm. Free. Hart House Debates Rm, 7 Hart House Circle. harthouse.ca. Photography And Pre-Raphaelitism, 1850s & 1860s Talk by Diane Waggoner of the Na-
tional Gallery of Art, Washington DC. 7:30 pm. Free. University College, rm 179, 15 King’s College Circle. wmsc.ca. Regrow Your Kitchen Scraps Workshop on turning scraps into a veggie garden. 5 pm. Free. Onsite [at] OCAD U, 230 Richmond W. terreform.org. Walk Toronto Talk by chief city planner Jennifer Keesmaat on walking to school. 7 pm. Free. University of Toronto Schools, 371 Bloor W. Pre-register walktoronto.ca.
upcoming
Thursday, February 13
Benefits
Just For Smiles Comedy Night (Operation Smile) Performances by comedians including Marc-Anthony Sinagoga, Liia Kajak and Only the Weak plus a silent auction and raffle. 7 pm. $15-$20. RYZE Toronto, 423 College. justforsmilesgbc@gmail.com.
Events
Citizenship, Immigration And Services
Public meeting with New Democrats from the city’s west end and local service providers. 6 pm. Free. Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton High School, 1515 Bloor W. 416654-0564.
Constitution And Strategy: Understanding Canadian Power In The World Science
for Peace lecture by professor Irvin Studin. 7 pm. Free. University College, rm 179, 15 King’s College Circle. scienceforpeace.ca. David Sisam The architect talks about his projects including the Humber River Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge. 6:30 pm. Free. Ryerson University, the Pit (ARC 200), 325 Church. arch.ryerson.ca.
Devastation Of Our Urban Canopy – Toronto’s Trees Threatened Forum on the
effects of extreme weather on trees and how the city can protect this natural resource. 7:30 pm. Free. Lawrence Park Community Church, 2180 Bayview. forourgrandchildren.ca.
Holy Hormones: How The Thyroid Affects Your Sex Drive And Fertility Seminar. 7 pm.
Free. Big Carrot, 348 Danforth. 416-466-2129.
How To Ban A Book In 10 Easy Steps A not-
so-tongue-in-cheek guide to the crazy world of book banning and censorship. 2 pm. Free. Downsview Library, 2793 Keele. freedomtoread.ca/events.
Neutrino Hunters: The Thrilling Chase For A Ghostly Particle Talk by author/professor Jay Jayawardhana. 6:30 pm. Free. Reference Library, 789 Yonge. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
5No More Rainbows: Sexual Diversity
And The Sochi 2014 Olympics Talk by Helen Jefferson Lenskyj. 1 pm. Free. City Hall Library, Queen and Bay. torontopubliclibrary.ca. Online Marketing & CRM Tools Learn how to build online campaigns, monitor their performance and identify leads. 6-9 pm. $65. Centre for Social Innovation, 215 Spadina. camptech.ca. Rock Her World All-genders workshop with Midori. 7:30-9:30 pm. $35. Come as You Are, 493 Queen W. 416-504-7934. 3
24
february 6-12 2014 NOW
Sexy, love-filled events and shows will rock your romantic world Compiled by JULIA HOECKE
Thursday, February 6 THE HEART SHOW Group exhibition of works that
showcase all matters of the heart. Works by Cyril Williams, Nicola Woods, Dana Green and others. Runs to Feb 16. Gerrard Art Space, 1390 Gerrard. gerrardartspace.com. LoveLash Terence Vince’s musical comedy satirizes the rom-com genre. Runs to Feb 8, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $25 (partial proceeds to Sheena’s Place). Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. entractestudios.com.. THE SEX SHOW Group exhibition of photography, painting and mixed media curated by Phil Anderson. Reception today at 8 pm. Runs to Feb 16. Gallery 1313, 1313 Queen W. g1313.org.
Friday, February 7 Lapdance Workshop Learn the moves used
by the pros to make your Valentine’s lap dance unforgettable. 8:30-10 pm. $39 (dress in red and bring heels). Brass Vixens, 721 Queen W. Pre-register toronto@brassvixens.com.
360 SCREENINGS: LOVE, VALENTINE’S EDI-
TION Immersive film screening with a live theatre portion. Runs to Feb 8, Fri 7 pm; Sat 2 & 7 pm. $60, art workers/under 30 $40. Secret location revealed 24 hours prior to event. 360screenings.com/2014-02. Valentini Blue Funk And Soul Cystic Fibrosis Canada benefit with Matt Morgan, the Emerson Street Rhythm Band, a silent auction, raffle, appetizers and more. 8 pm. $35, adv $30 . Castlefield Event Theatre, 2492 Yonge. 416-932-3900, bit.ly/1fChCt3
Saturday, February 8 A Jazz Valentine Jackie Richardson & Micah
Barnes perform. 8:30 pm, $32, adv $28. Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas W. 416-531-6604.
VALENTINE’S DAY CUPCAKE DECORATING Class Today 10 am-noon; Feb 14, 7-9 pm; Feb 15, 3-5 pm. $140/couple. Le Dolci, 1006 Dundas W. Pre-register ledolci.com.
Sunday, February 9 THE ANNEX FLEA Alternative Valentine’s shop-
ping. 10 am-4 pm. Free. Centre for Social Innovation, 720 Bathurst. annexflea.com.
BETRAYAL & BULLSHIT – PUTTING A FACE TO LOSS & HEARTBREAK F-You Project’s Valentine’s
Day edition with speakers talking about finding peace through devastation and grief. 6 pm. Free. Location released through @projectfword. LOVE...ACTUALLY Art songs about love and inevitable heartbreak with soprano Nathalie Paulin, mezzo soprano Lauren Segal, tenor Zachary Finkelstein, baritone Anthony Cleverton and pianist Rachel Andrist. 2:30 pm. $35. Rosedale Presbyterian Church, 129 Mount Pleasant. musicrpc.blogspot.ca . LUBA LESCYCHYN Signing copies of her book Theft By Chocolate. 2 pm. Free. Chapters, 142 John. chapters.indigo.ca.
Wednesday, February 12 COMMUNITY (LOVE) CREATES CHANGE
Group art show with poetry reading by Nicholas Power (Thu 7 pm), peformance by artist Leena Raudvee (Fri 4 pm), artist talk by Patrick Moore (Sat 11 am), and artist talk & tour by Rebecca Singh (Sat 4 pm). Runs to Feb 15. Free. Peter MacKendrick Community Gallery, Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie. atthebarns.org. continued on page 26 œ
Skin Tight Outta Sight Rebel Burlesque and Boylesque get decadent at Be Mein Valentine on February 13 and 14.
New casual trattoria on King West!
A free 20 minute teaser of our most popular workshop,
Giving Great Head
• Neapolitan-style pizzas and simple pastas • Gluten-free options
with Coco La Crème
Thursday February 6 @ 6pm
www.goodforher.com
For the first 20 people to email whats@goodforher.com
Purveyors of Pleasure since 1997 175 Harbord Street (416) 588-0900
791 King West 647-748-5464 luceonking.com @luceonking
Join us on sss s sValentines Day s
and you could win a bottle of bubbly with your dinner! NOW February 6-12 2014
25
MONEY CAN'T BUY HAPPINESS, BUT IT CAN BUY BOOKS... WHICH IS PRETTY CLOSE.
events œcontinued from page 25
PRE-VALENTINES SPEED DATING Up to 20 dates, appetizers and a fun night out for singles 22 to 40. 7:30 pm. Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge. singleinthecity.ca.
Dunston and others. Doors 7:30 pm. $40$50 (eventbrite.com). Armenian Youth Centre, 50 Hallcrown Place. 416-570-4356.
Thursday, February 13
1006 Dundas W. Pre-register ledolci.com.
VALENTINE’S DAY TRUFFLE-MAKING Class. 7-9 pm. $140/couple. Le Dolci,
BE MEIN VALENTINE! Skin Tight Outta Sight Rebel Burlesque and Boylesque T.O. celebrate the decadence of the Weimar Republic Berlin with a sexy cabaret and after party. Today 8 pm, tomorrow 9 pm. $25$40. Gladstone H otel, 1214 Queen W. bemeinvalentine2014.eventbrite.com.
Thu & Sat $15-$20, Friday package $250 per couple. The Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria. 416-363-5299.
Les Femmes Fatales Valentine Burlesque Show Entertainment by
Dainty Box, sweet treats and hip-hop/R&B beats by DJ Nix. Today and tomorrow, doors 9 pm. $13 sliding scale. Unit 2, 163 Sterling. daintysmith.com. The Karpenters Tribute to the Carpenters. 8 pm, $49-$54. Flato Markham Theatre, 171 Town Centre Blvd, Markham. 905-305-7469. THE LOVELOCKS EP release party for the female alt-country duo. Performance, chocolatier, photo booth, raffles and more. 8 pm. $20 (includes a copy of the EP). Revival Bar, 783 College. thelovelocksband.com.
bakkaphoenixbooks.com
Bridgewater, Carlos Morgan, Wade O Brown, Quisha Wint, Michael
party with DJs Kris Steeves, Fromby
More subtle than a
Hotel Room!
Outer Layer for Valentines!
26
February 6-12 2014 NOW
© ephemera-inc.com
� �
416.869.9889
A Sweetheart Of A Valentine’s Concert Performance by Jane
HER-TORONTO: METROP-HER-LIS EDITION Dance
The Power Of Love: Tribute to Luther Vandross Alana
577 Queen Street West
house and retro for those looking to meet their match. Prizes, secret message board and more. 10 pm. $5. WAYLA Bar, 996 Queen E. 416-901-5570.
DJs Trading Fours. 10 pm. Free. Detour Bar, 193.5 Baldwin. detourbar.com
Jacky Bouchard, Richard Whiteman and Jon Meyer perform. 7 to 9 pm. $5. Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington E. reservoirlounge.com.
www.stamps.eu ink the perfect card I’ll tht it if u o ab go to � luxurious body products � you Layer r � champagne truffles � Oute � scented candles � www.outerlayer.com
Love At Winterfolk, with Swamperella, kicks off the festival February 14.
Hearts Of Stone
Love You Madly Valentine
84 Harbord St • 416-963-9993
ALL THE SINGLE LADIES! (AND MEN) DJ Hew!DW spins top 40, electro,
Monheit. 8 pm, $64-$69. Flato Markham Theatre, 171 Town Centre Blvd, Markham. 905-305-7469. BE MINE Valentine’s dinner and dancing to funk, soul, R&B, disco, reggae and top 40 by Lady Kane and DJ Chad. $55. Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge. 416-481-6865, alleycatz.ca. FIRST COMES LOVE A romantic dinner, special animal encounter, interactive presentation and tour of the reproductive labs. Today and tomorrow 6:30-9 pm. Toronto Zoo, Meadowvale N of 401. Preregister 416-392-5929. Heart Beats DJs Sydney Blu, the Scumfrog, Simon Jain and Ticky Ty. Doors 10 pm. $15. CODA, 794 Bathurst. codatoronto.com.
Jazz & Romance: A Swingin’ Affair John Alcorn plays. Runs to Feb 15, 9 pm.
BROKEN HOMES by Ben Aaronovich
Friday, February 14
Brass Band and OMGBLOG.COM spinning future house and big city disco all night. Doors 10:30 pm. $5. La Perla, 783 Queen W, upstairs. herherher.com. HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE? Valentine event with complimentary bubbly, fivecourse menu, romantic photobooth with props, candy bar and DJ dancing. 6 pm. Brassaii, 461 King W. 416-598-4730, brassaii.com.
pm. Cameron House, 408 Queen W. thecameron.com.
Valentine’s Big Band Dance
INTIMATE ILLUSIONS – AN EVENING OF MAGIC Magician Dan Trommater cre-
lesque revue features Sasha Van Bon Bon, Kitty Neptune, Fay Slift, Coco Framboise and many others. 10 pm. $18-$20. Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor W. ticketfly.com. THE SEANPOD LIVE! Comedy Bar presents a Valentine’s Day special with Mark Edwards and others. 10 pm. $10. 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, comedybar.ca.
KLAPP: Valentine’s Day Rock & Roll party DJ Madame Hair. 9:30 pm.
concert series, plus homemade food. Not just for couples, all welcome. 8 pm. $45$60. Trinity St Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor W. torontojazzbuzz.com.
ates a unique Valentine’s Day experience. Feb 14-15 at 7 and 9 pm. $40-$50. IndustREALarts Room, 688 Richmond W. dantrommater.com.
Free. The Queen’s Legs, 286 Eglinton W. 416-481-3555. Love At Winterfolk Swamperella, 11 pm, Random Order 10 pm, Ginger St James Band 9 pm, HOTCHA! 8 pm. $12, adv $10. Black Swan, 2nd flr, 154 Danforth. winterfolk.com. LOVE TRAIN REVUE Black History Month celebration with George St Kitts, Robin Banks, Billy Newton-Davis, Lorraine Scott, Kenni Hite and others performing Motown, jazz, funk, blues, African folk, reggae and more. $45-$50. Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge. 905-787-8811, rhcentre.ca.
LucSculpture MASQUERADE BALL Valentine art event with music by
Kaminari, Yoshi & Chie, artist Sar Sehgal and DJ Yannick Torres Ariel Bihan. 8 pm. $30-$40 couple, $20-$25 person (eventbrite.ca). LucSculpture School & Studios, 663 Greenwood. lucsculpture.com
MY FUNNY VALENTINE’S DINNER
AND SHOW Julie McGregor, Mark Kieswetter, Duncan Hopkins, Kevin Dempsey perform as part of The Singer’s Jazz Series. 7:30 pm. Pauper’s Pub Upstairs, 539 Bloor W. singersjazz.com. PROMISE HEART PARTY Massive warehouse party with DJs Tone Depth, Tricky Moreira, Ali Black and Chobo, lights and lasers, art installations and more. 10 pm. $30-$40. Tower Automotive Building, 158 Sterling. ilovepromise.com. Rock Out Against MS! Seed and Robotman play this benefit concert. Doors 9 pm. $7. The Hideout, 484 Queen W. facebook.com/events/344422272363889. ROMANTIC DINNERS Aphrodisiac-inspired menu and tango ensemble Payadora performance option. Tango and Salsa Dinner with tango performance, dance lesson, live salsa band and DJ. Dinner and dancing mixer option also. Reserve. Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas W. 416-588-0307. St Valentine’s Day Massacre Show Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party. 11
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SIXTY SWING LOUNGE: FUN JAZZ FOR FOODIES Acoustic jazz and swing
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VALENTINE’S DINNER & DANCE Benefit event for New Vi-
sions Toronto new wheelchair-accessible van campaign. Buffet dinner, dancing, raffles, silent auctions, door prizes and music by DJ Michael B. 5-9 pm. $25, adv $15. The Older Women’s Network, 115 the Esplanade. pmurphy@newvisionstoronto.com.
SINGLE LADY VALENTINE DINNER
Nachos and red wine specials for the independent ladies, single boys and respectful couples. Michelle spins a playlist of all female artists. 4-10 pm. The Beaver, 1192 Queen W. 416-537-2768. VALENTINE’S DAY The 45s play 60s pop rock for this party. 9 pm. No cover. Eton House, 710 Danforth. the45s.ca. Valentine’s Day Andria Simone and Those Guys play pop-infused soul from her new album, Good Lovin’. Doors 8 pm, $15. Drake Hotel Underground, 1150 Queen W. thedrakehotel.ca.
Sunday, February 16 KEVIN MORRIS: AN (ANTI) VALENTINE’S SHOW Actor/
singer Morris performs alongside Chris Tsujiuchi. 7 pm. $10-$15. The Flying Beaver Pubaret, 488 Parliament. pubaret.com.
Valentine’s Day Done – A Dystopian Response Evening of magical
VALENTINE’S DAY RAG BAG CABARET Comedy by Rachelle Elie, Kenny Rob-
inson and Ali Hassan, burlesque by St Stella, music by Sonya Jezebel Cote and guitarist Matt Masotti and others. 8 pm. $25, adv $20 (available at LIT Espresso Bar, 220 Roncesvalles). The Village Healing Centre, 240 Roncesvalles. lukejackson@ lukejackson.com.
realism with author Andrew J Simpson, musician Blake Walters and poet Jill Anne Chouinard. 8 pm. Free. No One Writes to the Colonel, 460 College. 416-928-6777. 3
Saturday, February 15 DJ Skate Nights Yes Yes Y’All Valen-
tines outdoor skating party. 8 pm. Free. Harbourfront Centre Ice Rink, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000.
MY BLOODY VALENTINE MASQUER-
ADE BALL Rock concert with bands 8oz Soul, Hork and Raised Emotionally Dead. 8 pm. $15, adv $10. Rockpile East, 2787A Eglinton E. eightozsoul@gmail.com. Heartbreak Hotel DJ dancing. Cinema Nightclub, 135 Liberty. cinemapresents.ca. Songs Of Love Jazz-Tonic Band and Serge Grinkov perform. 7-9 pm. $15. Grace Church on-the-Hill, 300 Lonsdale. 416-8798126. SPACELUST DJs Shamps, Kirk and Pablo play biker disco, boogie electronique, Zulu jive and house. 11 pm. $10. La CasaTropical. Directions available from spacedust.us@ gmail.com.
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Glenn Chipkar & the Swing Shift Big Band Orchestra, Larisa Renee, Trio Bella, Vivianna Castell, DJ Ralph & Theresa Yuan. Doors 7 pm, $50-$100 (ticketweb.ca). Palais Royale, 1601 Lake Shore W. palaisroyale.ca. Valentine’s Cabaret Singer-songwriter Will Gillespie hosts this event with burlesque by Gigi Vanilla and Miss Mitzy Cream, belly dance by Raziya, prizes and more. 8:30 pm, $18, adv $12 (eventbrite). Evangeline’s Camera Club, 2094A Dundas W. willgillespie.ca.
THE SCANDELLES: IT’S NOT A COMEBACK IT’S A RETURN This bur-
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Valentine’s food
Valentine’s planner food
PLUCKY PUKKA Upscale resto’s creative – often spectacular – spins on familiar dishes strip Indian fare of clichés
PUKKA (778 St. Clair West, at Ar-
ñ
lington, 416-342-1906, pukka.ca, @pukkatoronto) Complete dinners for $60 per person, including tax, tip and a glass of wine. Average main $22. Open nightly 5 to 10 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: barrier-free. Rating: NNNN
Now in its third month, Harsh Chawla and Derek Valleau’s Pukka dares to go where few of Toronto’s countless Indian restos have ever ventured – upscale. Oh, we’ve had several attempts in the past. Both the Rice Factory’s Bombay Bistro on Balmuto and Debu Saha’s various valiant efforts attempted to raise the bar higher than the closest all-you-can-eat buffet but never found an audience. Seems when Toronto thinks Indian, we only want it cheap. Those who balk at entrees in the double digits will likely stay away, but those who appreciate a creative kitchen, attentive service and background music that stays exactly there will find much to love at Pukka. They even take reservations and hang up your coat. No wonder the modish 70-seat room’s packed with well-heeled locals this freezing Tuesday eve.
By STEVEN DAVEY
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February 6-12 2014 NOW
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Chef Cornel d’Silva (clockwise from left) preps papri chaat; butterchicken impresses; say yes to Eton Mess; papri chaat refreshes; chef Dinesh Butola shows off stuffed paneer.
Our order of shareable tapas-style plates quickly taken, we’re soon knocking back a round of sweet mango lassis ($3.90) and laying waste to ex-Amaya chef Dinesh Butola’s contemporary spin on papri chaat ($8.40). The starter’s intoxicating mix of puffed rice, ripe mango and Granny Smith apple dressed with pomegranate seeds and threads of vermicelli-like sev in sweet yogurt dressing makes the perfect foil for spicy southern-fried Chicken 65 ($9.60). Southern India, that is. His mains dazzle as well. Vegetarians won’t feel like second-class citizens when they opt for grilled paneer that’s been dusted with turmeric, stuffed with spinach and a forest’s worth of wild mushrooms and garnished with nasturtiums, a puddle of pistachio korma sauce underneath ($17.30). And though it’s an unwritten law that virtually every Indian restaurant in the western hemisphere
Critics’ Pick NNNNN Rare perfection NNNN Outstanding, almost flawless NNN Recommended, worthy of repeat visits NN Adequate N You’d do better with a TV dinner
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Indicates patio
T:5.833”
freshdish
steven davey
HOW TO SHOP FOR Bar none
david laurence
Located in an intentionally anonymous storefront just around the corner from the equally hard-to-find original, the long-delayed Bar Buca (75 Portland, at King West, 416599-2822, buca.ca, @bucatoronto) didn’t so much open last Thursday as explode. By 1 pm, the 40-seat room was packed to the rafters – no surprise when much of executive chef Rob Gentile’s casual all-day-tilllate-night Italian carte rarely breaks 10 bucks. And, no, Bar Buca doesn’t do reservations.
is required to include butter chicken on the menu, Pukka’s rises above the Subcontinental cliché, here a marriage of chunky tender chicken breast and nutty gravy finished with wilted fenugreek ($17.90). But who needs sides of saffronscented basmati rice ($4.60) in cute glass jars with resealable lids when there are baskets of buttery garlic naan and crisp whole-wheat roti ($7.20) straight from the tandoor oven? Borrowing a well-thumbed page from Vancouver chef Vikram Vij’s playbook, Butola sends out smoky lamb chops fashioned into “lollipops” in a minty cream sauce ($25.90). Sadly, since there’s five of them and three of us, muggins loses the toss. A side of French al dente greens beans finished with sweetly caramelized onion and shredded coconut ($8.70) more than makes up for it. And who can say no to the dessert known as Eton Mess ($7.60), especially when it translates as rosewatersoaked meringues in pomegranate syrup and sweet lassi cream? See what we mean next Friday through Sunday when Pukka offers a Valentine’s Day-themed tasting menu alongside its regular à la carte lineup for $110 per couple, $150 with wine. At these prices, it doesn’t pay to be single. 3 stevend@nowtoronto.com | @stevendaveynow
LESSON 1: BY VARIETAL VARIETAL SIMPLY MEANS GRAPE, LIKE PINOT NOIR OR SYRAH. LOOK FOR IT ON THE LABEL!
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C’est La Vie! Pinot Noir-Syrah 166934 750mL Reg $11.95 Now $10.95 Smokehouse rises Over in Cabbagetown, the long-overdue 420 Smoke House (420 Parliament, at Gerrard, 416-924-5858, the420smokehouse.com, @giniray33) is finally up and running. Look for regulation racks of St. Louis-style ribs alongside specialties like smoked oysters and jerked pickerel.
SAVE $1.00
Get the recipe or visit lcbo.com/burger
’Cue hits Greenwood Out on the Danforth, the vegetarian-friendly Greenwood Smokehouse (673 Danforth, at Pape, 416-469-2270, greenwoodsmokehouse.com, @greenwood_BBQ) has also opened for business. Pit boss Warren de Simone promises the expected brisket, ribs and pulled pork as well as mushroom burgers and vegan chili with double-smoked corn.
Makeover jinx The curse of Restaurant Makeover strikes again: Phil’s Original BBQ at College and Ossington has called it quits after a 15-year run. A success from the get-go when it opened as DiPamo’s, downtown’s first barbecue specialist never seemed to recover from a franchise deal gone sour that resulted in the resto’s having to change its name several years ago. SD
Featured products available at many LCBO stores. Price subject to change without notice. Price offers in effect until March 2, 2014.
NOW February 6-12 2014
29
Valentine’s planner food
JANUARY 31 TO FEBRUARY 13, 2014
prix fixe deals
Chefs are prepping special meals for your day of love Compiled by Steven Davey Ascari Enoteca
1111 Queen E, at Caroline, 416 792-4157, ascarienoteca.ca Over in Leslieville, this F1-obsessed trat says “that’s amore” with a $45 three-course multiple-choice prix fixe that races out of the gate with nibbles like olive-oil-poached albacore crostini and bufala m ozzarella with white anchovies and designer greens. Continue with squid-ink pasta laced with lobster or classic lasagna Bolognese and a victory lap of cannoli in rich dulce de leche and your nosh will be strictly win-win. Friday, February 14, from 5:30 to 11 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: barrier-free, three steps to washroom.
Batifole
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744 Gerrard E, at Howland, 416-462-9965, batifole.ca New owner/chef Pascal Geffroy salutes the big day in sleepy South Riverdale with three very French courses – tiger shrimps sautéed in Pernod with tomato concasse, grilled veal chops stuffed with prosciutto and chèvre in marsala sauce, and almond panna cotta in chocolate sauce – for $48 per person. Friday and Saturday, February 14 and 15, from 6 to 10:30 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms in basement.
Beast
96 Tecumseth, at Whitaker, 647-352-6000, thebeastrestaurant.com, @BeastRestaurant When it comes to eating high on the hog, nothing beats Scott Vivian and Rachelle Cadwell’s snout-to-tail bistro, especially on the big day, when their three-course prix fixe of cauliflower soup, grilled hanger steak with creamed spinach and one of the missus’s classic chocolate tarts goes for $45. Big spenders can break the bank with six courses, including one of roasted bone marrow, for all of $75. Friday, February 14, from 5 to 11 pm. Reserva-
tions accepted. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washroom on same floor.
Bent
777 Dundas W, at Markham, 647-352-0092, bentrestaurant.com, @BentRestaurant Televisual toque Susur Lee’s latest trat’s $85 four-course pan-global extravaganza starts with spicy steak tartare dressed with both garlic croutons and potato chips, follows with his foie gras pâté with seared duck confit and barbecued char siu pork, and lobster ’n’ shrimp thermidor with beef tataki, and finishes with two desserts – warm banana-chocolate cake and Italian-style English trifle. Friday, February 14, from 6 to 11 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: barrier-free, washrooms in basement.
Beverley Hotel
335 Queen W, at Beverley, 416-493-2786, thebeverleyhotel.ca, @beverleyhotelTO Former Fabarnak and Hawthorne chef Eric Wood resurfaces with a Valentines-themed three-course prix fixe. For $125 a couple, get a choice of starters like roasted squash with compressed apple and pickled woodland mushrooms, as well as mains such as spot prawns with crab claws, scallops and pommes purée or pan-seared bison with foie gras tortellini. D essert calls for what chef describes as “the Lovebombe for two,” hazelnut butter cake with chocolate fudge, passion fruit curds and sparkly bits. Friday and Saturday, February 14 and 15, from 5:30 to 10 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: barrier-free.
Cafe Diplomatico
594 College, at Clinton, 416-534-4637, diplomatico.ca, @CafeDiplomatico Impressing your inamorata on the special day doesn’t have to break the bank, not when this old-school Italian cantina’s $39 per couple (!) three-course prix fixe includes a
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885 Dundas W, at Claremont, 416-7030668, cafe668.com Paramours of all persuasions will appreciate this unusually sophisticated Southeast Asian vegetarian resto, from the dim romantic lighting to the all-organic local beer and wine lineup. We highly recommend the $37.95 prix fixe for two – chef’s signature 668 salad and a choice of either pad thai or Singapore vermicelli, a second choice of spicy curried coconut or veggie “beef” in black bean sauce, and a shared dessert of deep-fried bananas with coconut cream. Friday, February 14, from 5 to 10 pm and Saturday, February 15, from 3:30 to 10 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms in basement.
Drake One Fifty
150 York, at Adelaide W, 416-363-6150, drakeonefifty.ca, @thedrakehotel Who says Bay Street doesn’t have a heart? Not the financial district’s artiest watering hole, where executive chef Ted Corrado offers a five-course prix fixe for $75 that gets going with oysters on the half shell and either house-cured pork testina with cherries or smoked steelhead salmon. Go with an intermezzo of lightly charred mackerel with soft-poached egg or warm cauliflower mousse laced with chèvre, and a main of either seared duck magret with wilted dandelions or Cumbrae lamb of loin and belly sided with beet spaetzle. Finish big with cinnamon raspberry mousse and strawberry pâté dipped in chocolate. Friday, February 14, from 5 pm to 2 am. Reservations accepted. Licensed.
Focaccia
17 Hayden, at Yonge, 416-323-0179, focacciarestaurant.com This low-key boîte just off the main drag often gets lost in the stampede to the next big thing. Fall in love all over again come the day when any two starters, mains and desserts go for 64 bucks. We’d opt for Caesar and arugula salads paired with braised veal shank osso bucco, grilled 6-ounce New York strip loins and a double order of chocolate marble cake with warm Nutella sauce for maximum bang. Friday, February 14, from 5 to 10 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: one step at door, 18 steps to washrooms on second floor.
Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen W, at Dufferin, 416-531-4635, gladstonehotel.com, @GladstoneHotel Beyoncé isn’t the only one drunk on love. Café chef Mario Paz is also getting in on the action with a romantically inclined three-course prixfixe. Priced at $64.35 plus tax per person (gratuity included!), it begins with either a halfdozen raw oysters in Thai mignonette or a frisée-festooned potato salad thick with house-made lardons and continues with a choice of roasted halves of Cornish hen with Jerusalem artichokes or braised short ribs with cheese-curd-infused smashed potatoes and a chocolate fondue finale for two. Thursday to Saturday ,February 13 to 15, from 5 to 11 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: barrier-free.
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half-litre of chardonnay or a 60-ounce pitcher of Dip Primo lager. Throw in the likes of antipasto frito, eggplant parmigiana with salad and an assortment of mini-pastries served with coffee or tea and you’re bound to get lucky. Better still, the promotion continues through the end of the month. Friday, February 14, from 11 am to 1 am, with a set by ex-Stars guitarist Alan Snoddy at 7:30 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms in basement.
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478 Queen W, at Denison, 416-504-5127, grasslands.to, @grasslandsto Stephen Gardner’s rebranded Fressen joins in the love action with six all-vegetarian tapas-style courses. Who needs meat when there’s three dips to start, two soup options – cream of cauliflower or barley beet – cheesy Le Baluchon pastry puffs, avocado or arugula salad, followed by grilled polenta with ’shrooms or faux chicken fettucini, and gooey chocolate cake to finish? Friday, February 14, with seatings at 6 and 8:30 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms in basement.
Karelia Kitchen
1194 Bloor W, at Brock, 647-748-1194, kareliakitchen.com, @KareliaKitchen Now that Scandinavian furniture’s back in style again for the third time, Nordic cuisine was bound to follow suit. Look no further than this charming Bloordale café where co-owner chef Leif Kravis’s $60 four-course prix fixe for two gets both of you a glass of sparkling cider
Check out our online
and an amuse of house-smoked salmon tartar. Next up, your choice of either duck liver pâté or cold-smoked diver scallops, followed by braised beef cheeks or beet-cured ’n’ panseared gravlax, and a finish of blood-orange tarts or chocolate hazelnut crepes. Friday and Saturday, February 14 and 15, from 5 to 10:30 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: barrier-free.
Luma
350 King W, at John, 647-288-4715, oliverbonacini.com Who says Valentine’s Day is all about a quiet little dinner à deux? Not this splashy resto in the TIFF Lightbox, which will only be seating threesomes – or more! – on the 14th. Incoming chef Michael Wilson promises a $50
“group love” family-style feast featuring fritto misto, potato and kale dauphinoise, warm chocolate cake and salted caramel chicharrón (aka pork rinds). Not got a ménage à trois? Show up on your ownsome and the feast’s half-price! Friday, February 14, from 5 to 11 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: barrier-free.
La Palette
492 Queen W, at Portland, 416-929-4900, lapalette.ca It’s toujour l’amour every day of the year at Shamez Amlani’s incomparable west-side bistro. Gaze longingly into each other’s eyes over chef Brock Cavanaugh’s $85 sevencourse menu that includes so many options,
we can’t list them all. Here are a few highlights: escargots with seasonally foraged mushrooms, halves of butter-poached lobster, roasted chicken Supreme with sweetpotato bread pudding, and wild boar tenderloin in port demi-glace. You can even get pan-seared foie gras on brioche fried in foie gras for an additional 15 bucks! Friday, February 14, with seatings at 6:30 or 7 and 9 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: barrier-free, washrooms in basement.
Le Sélect
432 Wellington W, at Spadina, 416-5966405, leselect.com Jean-Jacques Quinsac and Frédéric
Geisweiller’s esteemed French bistro has been celebrating Valentine’s Day in style for 37 years, first at their tiny storefront resto at Queen West and Spadina and now in much more luxe digs south of King. This year’s no different. The $55 three-course prix fixe allows you to pick and choose through a veritable greatest hits of their carte. A ballotine of Cornish hen with foie gras stuffing paired with braised beef short ribs over blue cheese barley risotto, and a classic lemon tarte, peut-être? Friday, February 14, from 5 to 10:30 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms in basement.
Winter Dining guiDe FRENCH FiNE DiNiNg
Skin + Bones
980 Queen E, at Carlaw, 416-524-5209, skinandbonesto.com, @skinandbonesto This stylish and unusually spacious wine bar from some of the crew responsible for the original Pizzeria Libretto and Enoteca Sociale offers chef Kimberley Hernandez’s $95 “feasting menu” for two, including smoked salmon lettuce wraps with traditional garnishes of hardboiled egg, capers and crème fraîche chased by a roasted breast ’n’ braised leg of some local chicken with black truffles and a dessert tray. Friday and Saturday, February 14 and 15, from 5 pm to midnight. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms on same floor. 3
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Le PaPiLLOn On the Park
1001 Eastern avenue, 416-649-1001 | lepapillonpark.com Bonsoir les amoureux. We’re offering the following menu February 13 - 16th. Book your reservation now.
Potato Fondant • Flétan safran -Oven Roasted Halibut w. Sautéed Wild Mushrooms, Kale & Mussels in a Saffron Broth
PreMières renCOntres: Potage aux huitres Smoked Oyster Cream & Brandy Soup • tartare De Bison Wild Bison Tartar • salade D’homard - Lobster Marinated in
With Calabrese Sausage (Vegetarian Option available)
Basil, Pickled Fennel, Cherry Tomato & Radishes in Morning
Dessert: Crème Brûlée Chambord ryan’s temptation
glory Vinaigrette
entrée: Chevreuil au Chocolat - Venison Loin w Chili
grand Canard Marnier - Duck Confit w Cherry grandMarnier Sauce, Potato Parisienne & Vegetables
Chocolate Sauce, Chestnut Purée, Caramelized Carrots &
BaR & gRiLL
shakey’s
2255 Bloor St. West, 416-767-0608 | shakeys.ca | Brothers Rob & Chris Lundy, owner & executive chef at Shakey’s, have always had a thing for Bloor West Village and have strong ties to the community. “Everything we could ever want is right here on our doorstep. Our meat comes from Rowe Farms, our fish comes from Snappers and our bread comes from Mains: Dave’s Organic Burger, roasted sweet Potato soup, Chris’ Daily Lunch special (check on twitter!)
CaSuaL ELEgaNCE
@ShakeysTO
Cobs. Everything is available within two blocks.” Check Twitter for great daily specials and drop in to Shakey’s for a true taste of Bloor West Village, to catch the game with friends or to cheer on Canada at the Olympics!
appetizers: Mushroom arancini, Mac and Cheese Fritters, homemade Chili
Wish restaurant
3 Charles Street East, 416-935-0240 | wishintoronto.com | facebook: /WishRestaurant Chef Pauline agnew is a firm believer that atmosphere and delicious food are essential to a pleasant dining experience. Never pretensious, her menu changes regularly offering seasonal dishes like malt braised short ribs with creamy hominy corn grits, braised veg, house made horseradish & parsnip crisps. But regulars can always count on the scrumptious blue crab cake with
tomatillo salsa & lemon aioli which have been a staple for years. Renda abdo (legendary 7 West and Smith, the hip eatery on Church) has made Wish a ‘must’ at Yonge & Bloor for loyal and new clientele alike. its charming, shabby chic style is minimal in design but maximum in appeal!
Blue Crab Cake with tomatillo salsa & Lemon aioli, Malt Braised short ribs with Creamy hominy Corn
grits, Braised Veg, house Made horseradish and Parsnip Crisps
WINTER DINING GUIDE GUIDE WINTER DINING
TORONTO’S LOCAL TORONTO’S LOCAL
67 Front St. E. at Church 67 Front St. E. at Church cestwhat.ca cestwhat.ca
Since 1988 Toronto's cultural Since 1988 has Toronto's ambassador offered acultural diverse ambassador has offered a diverse menu of comfort food made from menu of with comfort food madeMarket from scratch St. Lawrence scratch with St. Lawrence Market fresh ingredients and an unsurfresh ingredients and an unsurpassed selection of local craft passed selection of local craft beer, wine, and original music. beer, wine, and original music.
FEBRUARY FEATURE: FEBRUARY FEATURE:
FAVOURITES: Lamburger, Jambalaya, Falafel, Roti, Butter Chicken, Moroccan Stew
FaVOurites: Lamburger,Jambalaya, Jambalaya, Falafel, roti, Beer: 42 on tap and FAVOURITES: Lamburger, Falafel, Roti, Butter Chicken, Moroccan Stewcask BEER:Chicken, 42 on tapMoroccan and cask.stew WINE: 12 VQA by the glass. WHISKY: 34 international. Butter Wine: VQa by the glass Whiskey: 34 international BEER: 42 on tap and cask. WINE: 12 VQA by the glass. WHISKY: 34 12 international.
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Valentine’s planner drink
Valentine’s drink
WHAT we’re DRINKING TONIGHT
Hendrick’s Gin
Infused with rose petals and cucumber along with traditional botanicals like juniper and citrus peel, Hendrick’s could be your modern love potion this February 14. Mixing gorgeously with everything sparkling and floral, this Scottish gin is a failproof V-Day game plan. (Think candlelit bubble bath.) Price: 750 ml/$47.95 Availability: LCBO 637504
Hoping for a sexy date? These bars are ripe for romance. By Sarah parniak Black Hoof Cocktail Bar 923 Dundas West, 416-792-7511, hoofcocktailbar.com
This Black Hoof offshoot’s candlelit glow and fetching mixed drinks make for a memorable night. Even when packed in close proximity to others, you can easily imagine you’re the only two people in the pretty little room. Hours: Nightly 6:30 pm to 2 am. Accessibility: Six steps at door, washrooms in basement.
Geraldine
1564 Queen West, 647-352-8815, geraldinetoronto.com Specializing in V-Day essentials absinthe and oysters (aphrodisiacs, if you believe in such things), this gorgeous Parkdale spot boasts a killer cocktail list and a piano in case you feel a serenade coming on. Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 6 pm to midnight, Friday and Saturday 6 pm to 2 am, Sunday 6 pm
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February 6-12 2014 NOW
to 11 pm. Closed Mondays. Accessibility: Entrance barrier-free, washrooms on main floor.
Smith
553 Church, 416-926-2501, 553church.com It’s got the goods for a sexy date: three low-lit floors with plenty of nooks and crannies to sip boozy cocktails like the sumptuous Lolita (Calvados, Fernet Branca, sweet vermouth and maraschino, $14), slurp oysters and share dessert. Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 5 to 11 pm, Friday and Saturday 5 pm to midnight. Brunch Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 4 pm. Closed Mondays. Accessibility: Nine steps at door, unisex washrooms upstairs.
Swirl Wine Bar
946½ Queen East, 647-351-5453, swirltoronto.com If you’re hoping to get laid this V-Day (because that’s the point, right?), Swirl’s a good place to
start. Hidden in plain sight, this second-floor space has vibes like a bohemian apartment. Comfort + charm + legit wine selection = smooth romancing. Hours: Monday and Tuesday 5 pm to 11 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 5 pm to midnight, Friday to Sunday 5 pm to 2 am. Accessibility: Up one flight of stairs, washrooms on same floor.
Wallflower
1665 Dundas West, 647-352-5605 Opulence shouldn’t eclipse feeling on Valentine’s Day. Screw overpriced champagne and plastic romance. At the adorable Wallflower you can play footsie under one of the backroom tables and dawdle over oysters and $33 bottles of sparkling wine. Hours: Daily 5 pm to 2 am. Accessibility: Entrance barrier-free, washrooms in basement. drinks@nowtoronto.com | @s_parns
ings, new releases and more
Drink pink Paul Till
Love-drunk
tasting notes Events, openings & closPop the top on Valentine’s Day with pink fruit brews like Mort Subite Kriek Lambic (brewed with sour cherries, 375 ml/$3.50, LCBO 69591) and Früli (with raspberries, 250 ml/$2.60, LCBO 698548). These Belgian cupid juices pair beautifully with sweet treats and chocolate.
Do good with whisky
Glenfiddich is donating $2 from every bottle of 15 Year Old Single Malt (750 ml/$71.95, LCBO 605972) sold here to Wounded Warriors Canada, a non-profit organization that helps Canadian Forces members injured in service. More info at woundedwarriors.ca.
Lowalcohol bubbles
Coffin Ridge Sparkling Pear
Teresina Moscato D’Asti
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Rating: NNN Why: You know how Italophiles are always going off about “la dolce vita”? I’m pretty sure this light and aromatic little number, fresh fruit and a clothing-optional hot tub are what they’re referring to. 5% ABV Price: 750 ml/$17.95 Availability: Vintages 365213
Rating: NNNN Why: Tastes like someone conjured up baskets of juicy pears (in this case Bartlett), hired Pegasus to crush them and then fermented them into liquid Tinkerbell. Who doesn’t want to drink magic on V-Day? 5.5% ABV Price: 750 ml/$19 Availability: LCBO 332668, or from coffinridge.ca
Bubbles are an obvious choice on Valentine’s Day, but the last thing you want is to lose your head when you’ve presumably already lost your heart. Over-imbibing can compromise precious bedroom hours. Hence, some low-alcohol fizz for your consideration.
Cremant Ciderie St-Nicolas Rating: NNNN Why: It’s appropriate to sip sweetness on the day of love, so this is a great V-Day choice. If you want to add some edge, this creamy, honeyed cider tastes great doctored with bitters and a slug of whisky. 2.8% ABV Price: 750 ml/$12 Availability: LCBO 61671
By Sarah parniak
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= Critics’ Pick NNNNN = Ambrosial NNNN = Dangerously drinkable NNN = Palate pleaser NN = Sensory snooze N = Tongue trauma
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NOW February 6-12 2014
33
life&style
5 take
By SABRINA MADDEAUX
Get sweating
style notes The week’s news,
Today is WWF’s National Sweater Day (Thursday, February 6), so turn down the heat and layer on these stylish sweatshirts in support of action on climate change.
views and sales Shop local for your sweetheart
Get a jump-start on Valentine’s Day and browse oneof-a-kind baubles from Canadian brands Armed, Fredrick Prince, Cuchara, Micalla and more at the Gardiner Museum Shop’s (111 Queens Park, 416-4085066, gardinermuseum.on. ca) annual Jewellery Trunk Show & Sale. The shopping frenzy happens Friday (February 7)from 5 to 9 pm.
2
1
Spread the love
3
4
Do some good and get 20 per cent off your next denim purchase at Over the Rainbow’s (101 Yorkville, 416-967-7448, rainbowjeans.com) second annual Love Denim Drive. Donate your previously worn jeans until February 16 to get in on the discount, and earn another 5 per cent off by tweeting a photo of your donation with the hashtag #LoveDrive. All preloved denim goes to the United Way.
Jewellery overload Cheaper than Tiffany’s and better for the environment, local eco jewellery designer Lara Bazant’s unique adornments are 50 per cent off until February 14 on larabazant.com. Enter the code WINTER1450 to take advantage of the discount.
1. Shared 2014 winter athletics rainbow leaf unisex sweatshirt ($78, Drake General Store, 1144 Queen West, 416-531-5042, and others, drakegeneralstore.ca) 2. MSGM teal Lipstick Toilet Paper edition sweater ($515, Ssense, ssense.com)
Big winners
3. Stay Home Club crewneck sweatshirt ($50, stayhomeclub.com) 4. Vintage Troop panheadprint crewneck sweatshirt ($149, F As In Frank, 418 Queen West, 647-341-6606, fasinfrankvintage.com) 5. Ostwald Helgason royal blue and black floral crewneck sweater ($780, Ssense, ssense.com)
34
FEBRUARY 6-12 2014 NOW
5
The inaugural Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards (CAFA) gala was held Saturday evening, February 1, at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Winners included Sarah Stevenson for emerging talent, Jeremy Laing for womenswear designer of the year and Travis Taddeo for menswear designer. Read my thoughts on whether the CAFAs are all they’re cracked up to be at nowtoronto.com.
wewant…
CANADIAN DIAMOND EARRINGS If you’re going to part with a huge wad of cash and buy diamonds this Valentine’s Day, make sure they’re the ethical kind. Don’t support jewellers who profit from mining conflicts, worker exploitation or poor environmental practices. Celebrate your love, but not at the expense of others, with these 0.36 carat Canadian diamond earrings from the Fair Trade Jewellery Company. They’re set in nickel-free recycled 18 kt gold or platinum and are mined in the Northwest Territories, free from any sort of conflict or labour issues. So go on, show these babies off and feel great about it. ($1,495, 523 Parliament, 647-4308741, ftjco.com) 3
store of the week
Gadget
HOLY SMOKE
Nest, the company Google just bought for $3.2 billion, brings you the Nest Protect, a WiFi-enabled smoke and carbon monoxide detector that doesn’t annoy. A soothing voice warns you of danger and lets you silence false alarms with a calm hand-wave instead of a frantic towel swing – unless it’s an actual emergency, in which case it’ll rightfully annoy. $129 from store.nest.com/ca ALEXANDER JOO
Giftagram giftagram.com
It’s way too cold out to go Valentine’s Day shopping, so don’t. Use Giftagram, a Toronto-based iPhone app that lets you buy and send presents via email or text without ever leaving the cozy warmth of your couch. Browse the app’s network of boutique local retailers and quality national brands, and send with a few easy taps. It’s truly the lazy person’s shopping solution, and you don’t even need the recipient’s address. Send gifts using only a phone number or email address; giftees receive a notification directing them to a secure landing page where they type in their preferred address for delivery. Right now Giftagram only delivers within the Toronto area, but there are plans in the works to expand. Giftagram picks: Muttonhead toques ($40) and Jenny Bird Maderas necklaces ($50) are both star products by local designers. Look out for: Fun experiential gifts like an urban renewal facial ($99) from local all-natural skin care brand Pure + Simple and yoga classes ($40) from 889 Yoga. The app also has a special Valentine’sthemed section to make shopping even simpler. Download from the App Store on iTunes.
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393 Danforth Ave, Chester subway 416-778-9585 • citrahairstudio.com NOW FEBRUARY 6-12 2014
35
ecoholic
When you’re addicted to the planet By ADRIA VASIL
HACK ATTACK: The cough syrup guide
Whether you’ve got a dry tickle or a nasty, subway-clearing cough, you’ve probably been tempted to hit a bottle of the sticky stuff. Question is, are they safe, sustainable and effective?
BENyLIN, ROBITUsSIN and NYQUIL These sugary blends of artificial colouring, genetically modified corn syrup and fossil-fuel-derived propylene glycol rely on one cough-suppressing ingredient: dextromethorphan (DM). The American College of Chest Physicians will tell you there’s no solid evidence that DM or the expectorant guaifenesin actually help with common virus- inducedcoughs, so don’t waste your money. Besides, the Quebec coroner’s office has warned that DM syrups have deadly overdose risks. Score: N
BUCKLEY’S Buckley’s insists that though it tastes awful, it works. Interestingly enough, these guys rely on natural ingredients like camphor and menthol mixed with Canada balsam and pine needle oil. So it’s too bad two of its main non-medicinal ingredients are butylparaben and propylparaben, banned from children’s products in Denmark because of their endocrine-disrupting potential. Shame they don’t reformulate. Score: NN
HERBION This herbal syrup is made with hyssop, Malabar-nut tree leaves and soothing licorice. It gets its sweetness from the stevia plant as well as the sugar alcohol sorbitol, which is usually corn- derived. It’ll soothe throats and helps break up mucous, but don’t count on its stopping coughs. Score: NNN
NIN JIOM and HELIXIA Unlike many other herbal/ homeopathic cough syrups, these brands both have a lot of happy return customers according to my informal poll of health store advisers/pharmacists, although good placebo-controlled studies are lacking. Nin Jiom, from Hong Kong, uses a good dozen throat-soothing expectorant herbs in a simple honey/ sucrose base. Helixia, from Germany, gets its power from a dried ivy leaf extract (those with ivy allergies take note), but is sweetened with corn-derived sorbitol and contains some natural flavour additives. Still, since it’s from the EU, Helixia’s sorbi tol is likely GMO-free. Score: NNN
TE ST L
AB
HONEY Turns out all Dr. Mom ever really needed was a teaspoon of honey. A couple of studies have found that a spoonful of dark honey before bed actually works better than DM suppressants to reduce overnight coughing in kids. Honey isn’t recommended for those less than a year old because of potential botulism risk, which isn’t an issue for older kids. Give yourself a bonus point if you buy the local organic kind. Score: NNNN
ecoholic pick
Get your copy of Adria Vasil’s latest book, Ecoholic Body: Your Ultimate Earth-Friendly Guide To Living Healthy And Looking Good – in bookstores everywhere!
GREEN Find OF THE WEEK
HANKYBOOK
All it takes is a cold slap of wind upside the face to get your nose running, and when that happens it’s time, my friend, to bypass the virgin-forest tissue and reach for a new take on the old. Enter the 100 per cent certified organic cotton HankyBook. It’s, well, a book of sorts made of – you guessed it – hankies. The format (patent pending) means you turn the page each time you need to, and the protective cover keeps any unsightly stuff safely tucked inside. Just blow, tuck away and wash. Find a retailer at hankybook.com.
nature notes the city for support. The new Home Energy Loan Program (aka HELP) will make low-interest loans to residents looking to boost their homes’ water and energy efficiency. You can repay the city in instalments on your property tax bill, and if you move before the bill is paid off, no problemo, the new owner will take over payments. Check if your home is in one of the pilot areas at livegreentoronto.ca.
L’ORÉAL’S FORESTFRIENDLY MAKEOVER
The world’s largest beauty company has just vowed to obtain its renewable raw materials from sustainable sources with a “zero deforestation” policy. L’Oréal says it has been moving to fair trade Brazilian soy oil producers who don’t clear-cut the Amazon, and 100 per cent of the palm oil in its lipsticks, creams and such is now certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Acknowledging the flak the RSPO has received, the company says it will step up its game to ensure its palm oil is deforestation-free – by 2020. Still a ways away, yes, but at least the makeover is in motion, spurred by Greenpeace International’s Protect Paradise Tiger Challenge. Now, if L’Oréal would just stop using formaldehyde-releasing preservatives and parabens linked to endocrine disruption, we could give it a guiltfree high-five.
36
February 6-12 2014 Now
KEYSTONE IN THE CLEAR?
T.O. LAUNCHES LOANS FOR GREEN RENOS
Though long gone are the days when the feds and the province forked over cash to help homeowners go green (R.I.P. ecoENERGY Retrofit program), Mike Holmes wannabes can now turn to
Somewhere in the belly of Ottawa, Stephen Harper and Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver were doing a little happy dance last week when the U.S. State Department removed another hurdle to the Keystone XL pipeline by saying building the line to move tar sands crude wouldn’t boost greenhouse gas emissions. The Pembina Institute says the State Department’s report improved on an earlier draft. “The assessment now acknowledges that under some circumstances, constraints on new pipeline capa city could have a substantial impact on oil sands production l evels.” Will Obama heed the fine print? As the battle-
ground shifts from the bureaucratic to the poli tical arena, and Republicans ratchet up pressure, one thing’s certain: activists are readying “epic” opposition. Hundreds of protests were held earlier in the week, and a major Washington rally is planned for February 17. ecoholic@nowtoronto.com | @ecoholicnation
alt health
Let’s get things moving There are many natural remedies for irregularity By elizabeth bromstein Look out! Over-share coming…. I don’t poop as much as I would like. It’s awful. I feel bloated and generally uncomfortable a lot of the time. My abdomen gets distended. I’m grouchy. It’s worse since I had a baby. Constipation is a very common
problem, particularly among women. It’s generally defined as having fewer than three bowel movements a week, though for some healthy people that number may be the norm. The thing is, when you’re stopped up, you know it. You’re full of shit.
What the experts say “Constipation is the most complained-about digestive concern. I recommend 1 to 2 tablespoons of chia seeds or flaxseeds per day in addition to magnesium bisglycinate, a highly bioavailable amino acid chelate. It’s not dependent on stomach acid for absorption and is well tolerated. Constipation may indicate a toxic lifestyle. Herbal detoxification that cleanses the colon can make a significant difference. The synergistic effect of botanicals like fennel and Turkey rhubarb root works to support a healthy digestive tract and remove debris stuck to the intestinal walls. Sweep your colon with organic herbs to improve digestive function. Fermented foods like kefir and high-
quality probiotics are also recommended by naturopaths.” SARA CELIK, naturopath, Toronto “Chew well – try for 30 times. Avoid liquids during meals except for herbal teas, broths, soups or stews. Eat food warm or at least at room temperature. Avoid greasy or very spicy food.” ZORANA ROSE, naturopath, Toronto “Abdominal massage stimulates peristalsis, the muscle contractions of the digestive system that move waste. Some things you can do yourself: A cold cloth on the abdomen for no more than 10 minutes increases blood flow to the intestines and encourages movement. Something as simple as rubbing the abdomen for a few minutes in a
astrology freewill
Laxatives are a quick fix. Stimulant versions contract your intestinal muscles, while saline ones add extra water to the stool, clockwise direction can give great relief. Start off lightly, increasing the pressure a little with each pass until you’re using medium pressure and then decreasing pressure with each pass, back to a light pressure to finish off. Move in a clockwise direction because it mimics the natural flow of the digestive system.” AMANDA MROZ, massage therapist, Integrative Health Institute, Toronto “Acupuncture and acupressure work well for constipation. A point on the arm, san jiao 6, has been called the ‘poo press.’ It’s on the back of the arm, about a quarter of the distance from the wrist to the elbow, between the two bones. Press for 45 seconds to a minute when
02| 06
2014
by Rob Brezsny
Aries Mar 21 | Apr 19 “You know it’s Sat-
urday when you are wiping off vodka stains from your face with a marshmallow,” testifies the woman who writes the Tumblr blog French Fries Absinthe Milkshakes. I really hope you don’t even come close to having an experience like that this week, Aries. But I’m worried that you will. I sense that you’re becoming allergic to caution. You may be subconsciously wishing to shed all decorum and renounce self-control. To be clear, there’s nothing inherently wrong with relaxing your guard. I hope you will indeed give up some of your high-stress vigilance and surrender a bit to life’s sweet chaos. Just please try to find a playful and safe and not too insane way to do so.
Taurus Apr 20 | May 20 What is the single best thing you could do to fulfill your number one desire? Is there a skill you should attain? A subject you should study? A special kind of experience you should seek or a shift in perspective you should initiate? This is a big opportunity, Taurus. You have an excellent chance to identify the specific action you could take that will lead you to the next stage of your evolution. And if you do manage to figure out exactly what needs to be done, start doing it! Gemini May 21 | Jun 20 When songwrit-
ers make a “slant rhyme,” the words they use don’t really rhyme, but they sound close enough alike to mimic a rhyme. An example occurs in “The Bad Touch,” a tune by the Bloodhound Gang: “You and
me baby ain’t nothing but mammals / So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel.” Technically, “mammals” doesn’t rhyme with “channel.” I suspect that in the coming week you will have experiences with metaphorical resemblances to slant rhymes. But as long as you don’t fuss and fret about the inexactness you encounter, as long as you don’t demand that everything be precise and cleanedup, you will be entertained and educated. Vow to see the so-called imperfections as soulful.
Cancer Jun 21 | Jul 22 “Almost,” writes novelist Joan Bauer. “It’s a big word for me. I feel it everywhere. Almost home. Almost happy. Almost changed. Almost, but not quite. Not yet. Soon, maybe.” I’m sure you know about that feeling yourself, Cancerian. Sometimes it has seemed like your entire life is composed of thousands of small almosts that add up to one gigantic almost. But I have good news: there is an excellent chance that in the next 14 to 16 weeks you will graduate from the endless and omnipresent almost; you will rise up and snatch a bold measure of completeness from out of the ever-shifting flow. And it all kicks into high gear now. Leo Jul 23 | Aug 22 One of the chapter
titles in my most recent book is this: “Ever since I learned to see three sides to every story, I’m finding much better stories.” I’m recommending that you find a way to use this perspective as your own in the coming weeks, Leo. According to my analysis
of the astrological omens, it’s crucial that you not get stuck in an oppositional mode. It would be both wrong and debilitating to believe that you must choose between one of two conflicting options. With that in mind, I will introduce you to a word you may not know: “trilemma.” It transcends a mere dilemma because it contains a third alternative.
Virgo Aug 23 | Sep 22 In 1984, Don Hen-
ley’s song The Boys of Summer reached the top of the Billboard charts. “Out on the road today / I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac,” Henley sings wistfully near the end of the tune. He’s dismayed by the sight of the Grateful Dead’s logo, an ultimate hippie symbol, displayed on a luxury car driven by snooty rich kids. Almost 20 years later, the band the Ataris covered The Boys of Summer but changed the lyric to “Out on the road today / I saw a Black Flag sticker on a Cadillac.” It conveyed the same mournful contempt, but this time invoking the iconic punk band Black Flag. I offer this tale to you, Virgo, as an encouragement to update the way you think about your life’s mythic quest, to modernize your old storylines, to refresh and refurbish the references you invoke to tell people about who you are.
Libra Sep 23 | Oct 22 Food aficionado Michael Pollan says that Americans “worry more about food and derive less pleasure from eating” than people in other countries. If you ask them what their association is with “chocolate cake,” they typical-
but you shouldn’t take any of them longterm (if at all). Other recommended remedies: eat more fibre, fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Drink more water. sitting on the toilet. Your bowels can move right away. There’s another spot about 2 inches from the belly button on either side. Press until it’s slightly uncomfortable and hold for about a minute. The large intestine’s job is to let go, to get rid of things you no longer need, not just poo. When people have a tendency to hold on to emotional stuff – it could be grief and sadness – their bowels tend to do the same.” KALEB MONTGOMERY, Chinese medicine practitioner, Toronto “Make a formula of cascara sagrada and senna leaf with a small amount of licorice and a little bit of ginger, with mint and fennel added to help decrease intestinal spasms. Take a tea-
ly say “guilt.” By contrast, the French are likely to respond to the same question with “celebration.” From an astrological perspective, I think it’s appropriate for you to be more like the French than the Americans in the coming weeks – not just in your attitude toward delicious desserts, but in regards to every opportunity for pleasure. This is one of those times when you have a licence to guiltlessly explore the heights and depths of bliss.
Scorpio Oct 23 | Nov 21 In the Inuktitut
language spoken among the eastern Canadian Inuit, the word for “simplicity” is katujjiqatigiittiarnirlu. This amusing fact reminds me of a certain situation in your life. Your quest to get back to basics and reconnect with your core sources is turning out to be rather complicated. If you hope to invoke all of the pure, humble clarity you need, you will have to call on some sophisticated and ingenious magic.
Sagittarius Nov 22 | Dec 21 “What is
the purpose of the giant sequoia tree?” asked environmentalist Edward Abbey. His answer: “The purpose of the giant sequoia tree is to provide shade for the tiny titmouse.” I suggest you meditate on all the ways you can apply that wisdom as a metaphor to your own issues. For example: What monumental part of your own life might be of service to a small, fragile part? What major accomplishment of yours can provide strength and protection to a ripening potential that’s underappreciated by others?
Capricorn Dec 22 | Jan 19 “To burn with desire and keep quiet about it is the greatest punishment we can bring on ourselves,” wrote the poet Federico García Lorca. I urge you to make sure you are not inflicting that abuse on yourself in the coming weeks, Capricorn. It’s always dangerous to be out of touch with or secret-
Get more exercise. Avoid alcohol, smoking, caffeine. These are the same fixes for everything, all the time. Then there are those yogurts containing probiotics that get ladies dancing in the commercials. I eat plenty of fibre – which you can also get in supplement form – and drink lots of water, walk everywhere, eat yogurt, take probiotics, but I’m not about to give up wine or coffee. There’s got to be another way! spoon in a cup of boiled water at night, but not for too long, the first two herbs particularly. You can take licorice, dandelion root, burdock and Turkey rhubarb for longer than a week. Also fennel, ginger and mint. Bulking laxatives that bulk up the stool include psyllium husk and flaxseed. Add a bit of slippery elm powder to these. Put a tablespoon of that mixture into a very tall glass of juice or water and stir. Soak prunes with a little bit of cinnamon overnight, then eat the prunes and drink the soaking water.” CELINA AINSWORTH, herbalist, Toronto
Got a question?
Send your Althealth queries to althealth@nowtoronto.com
ive about your holy passions, but it’s especially risky these days. I’m not necessarily saying you should rent a megaphone and shout news of your yearnings in the crowded streets. In fact, it’s better if you are discriminating about whom you tell. The most important thing is to not be hiding anything from yourself about what moves you the most.
Aquarius Jan 20 | Feb 18 Back in 2002,
three young men launched YouTube, in part motivated by a banal desire. They were frustrated because they couldn’t find online videos of the notorious incident that occurred during the Superbowl halftime show, when Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction exposed her breast. In response, they created the now-famous website that allows people to share videos. I foresee the possibility of a comparable sequence for you, Aquarius. A seemingly superficial wish or trivial interest could inspire you to come up with a fine new addition to your world. Pay attention to your whimsical notions.
Pisces Feb 19 | Mar 20 “I believe more in
the scissors than I do in the pencil.” That’s what 20th-century author Truman Capote said about his own writing process. Back in that primitive pre-computer era, he scrawled his words on paper with a pencil and later edited out the extraneous stuff by applying scissors to the manuscript. Judging from your current astrological omens, Pisces, I surmise you’re in a phase that needs the power of the scissors more than the power of the pencil. What you cut away will markedly enhance the long-term beauty and value of the creation you’re working on.
Homework: I’ve gathered together all of your longrange, big-picture horoscopes in one place. Go here to read your forecasts for 2014: bit.ly/BigLife2014. NOW february 6-12 2014
37
music
more online
nowtoronto.com/music A new 50:50 cover video of Ron Sexsmith’s Secret Heart by Bellwoods + Searchable upcoming listings
WOLFGANG GARTNER
NIC POULIOT
the scene Shows that rocked Toronto last week LEANNE SIMPSON,
ñNICK FERRIO, TARA WILLIAMSON and SEAN
CONWAY at the Music Gallery, Thursday, January 30.
Rating: NNNN There’s an art to pulling off an hourlong spoken word performance, and Leanne Simpson has mastered it. In St. George the Martyr Church, otherwise known as the Music Gallery, an elder said a prayer, Peterborough singer/ songwriter Nick Ferrio played two winning tunes, and then the Peterborough author, activist and academic took over with short stories from her book Islands Of Decolonial Love, reworked as spoken word poems and songs. Engaging and conversational, she paced the set perfectly, beginning with the emotional title song that saw her joined by a four-piece band. (She and pianist/singer Tara Williamson harmonized beautifully.) The focus then moved to Simpson’s writing, sometimes unaccompanied, sometimes set to live or pre-recorded music. Simpson’s ancestry is Mississauga Nishnaabeg, and her vivid stories explore the lives of modern-day indigenous people.
38
FEBRUARY 6-12 2014 NOW
No one seemed ready for her to leave the stage, so it was something of a comedown to have the night end with other musicians. Sean Conway, also from Peterborough, played a couple of original country tunes, and then Williamson brought things to a close with songs that swung between lounge, jazz, pop and musical theatre. CARLA GILLIS
DOM KENNEDY at the Hoxton, Friday, January 31. Rating: NNN
Dom Kennedy’s first visit to Toronto has been a long time coming – like, half a decade (the L.A. rapper’s been on the scene since he dropped his 25th Hour mixtape in 2008). Consequently, prior to showtime the Hoxton lineup wrapped around the block. Early-scheduled hip-hop shows are rarely in fact early, but because of another event at the venue later that evening, Kennedy emerged at 9 pm, wearing his classic L.A. Kings Gretzky jersey, and wasted little time on banter – a necessity since his set clocked in shy of an hour. While material off his latest studio album, Get Home Safely, was received warmly (especially Still Callin’ and Pleeze), people went nuts for songs
at Echo Beach, February 1.
WOLFGANG GARTNER, SHARAM, LEE FOSS and BASSJACKERS as part of Brrrrr! at Echo Beach, Saturday, February 1. Rating: NNNN
ñ
The Arctic temperatures Toronto’s been experiencing of late held off for the second annual outdoor EDM festival, Brrrrr! Unfortunately, the weather was still heinous. Because there were only two stages, you could see every performer (11 total) if you were inclined to – and close by, hot-drink huts, ice bars and Beaver Tails shacks gave the event a wholesome, village-like vibe. You’d never know how wet the weather was from the way the crowds gamely stuck it out. Granted, they had help: Dutch duo Bassjackers lived up to their name with rumbling beats that could truly warm from the inside out. In the Technodome – a spherical tent that looks like a cross between an igloo and Epcot – Chicago deep house DJ/producer Lee Foss was dropping soul vocals into a steady beat, playing on for a blissed-out group before passing the decks over to Sharam. Outside, Wolfgang Gartner showed how he’s cultivated such a faithful fan base. Take, for example, one 10-minute chunk of his set: he teased out the signature sample from Biggie’s Hypnotize, leading into a spell of hip-hop before unleashing a gigantic buildup and abruptly launching into a comJULIA LECONTE pletely different direction.
from the Yellow Album mixtape (My Type Of Party, We Ball) – Pacific Coast driving music at its finest. The only problem was the set’s brevity. Kennedy’s material is fun, easy and free-flowing, and onstage his natural charisma and laid-back demeanour shine. With good vibes flowing, it sucked to have to snap out of it so soon. The crowd wasn’t ready. On the
upside, it won’t be six years till we see him again. Before telling everyone to get home safely, Kennedy promised to HOLLY MACKENZIE return in 2014.
PREFUSE 73 with NOSAJ THING and FALTYDL at the Hoxton, Friday, January 31.
Rating: NN Brooklyn producer FaltyDL sounded almost apologetic as he mumbled into
31km
the mic that he was playing the last song of his opening set of moody, drum ’n’ bass-inspired downtempo – a sign that this was not going to be a night of extroverted fist-pumping. Next up, Nosaj Thing started out very ambient and experimental before launching into some heavier abstract hip-hop grooves, his hands dancing all over his gear as he chopped up and reworked his tracks. However, the crowd only really responded when he dropped in Kendrick Lamar’s Money Trees at the end of his set. Prefuse 73 made less of an attempt to play to the Friday-night crowd, instead walking the fine line between experimental and easy listening, which may have pleased his more hardcore fans but pretty much cleared the dance floor. The Hoxton is a much more pleasant club to be in when it’s not overcrowded with amped-up EDM bros, but a half-empty room of sedated IDM beat heads is a little too far in the opposite direction. Much as we enjoy the recorded sounds of the three artists, the live experience could use BENJAMIN BOLES some work.
= Critics’ Pick NNNNN = Perfect NNNN = Great NNN = Good NN = Bad N = Horrible
Ñ
Blues-Punk
Catl
Toronto two-piece scales down, stands up and lets loose By Benjamin boles CATL , the Nature Boys, Patrick Grant at June Records (662 College), Sunday (February 9), 6 pm. Pwyc. 416-516-5863. Watching Catl shake their asses onstage at the Dakota, it’s easy to forget they were once best known for sitting down while playing. Now, not only has singer/guitarist Jamie Fleming ditched his chair, but the stage is getting crowded with a guest harmonica player and a pair of go-go dancers shaking maracas. Seems since last year’s hiatus, the Toronto blues-punk band has been reborn as something much more extroverted. “Sitting down was a big part of Catl, but then Sarah [Kirkpatrick] got chained to the drums, so I thought I’d move around a bit and give the stage show more dynamics,” Fleming explains after the show. “People want to see people move.” Judging from the dancing in the audience, Fleming is right. But this shift came out of a period of uncertainty for the duo, when drummer A ndrew Moszynski quit – only a year after replacing founding member Johnny LaRue. “In a very non-rock ’n’ roll manner, Andrew actually gave us notice and told us in advance that he was leaving,” Kirkpatrick recalls. “At the time, we didn’t really know what we were going to do. We didn’t want to go through getting another drummer again, because you get so attached to them, and also because it’s so much work for us to teach them the songs.” Kirkpatrick originally joined the band as a backup vocalist and organ player, bringing an upbeat garage vibe to Fleming’s minimalist blues grooves. Since they’d already obtained working visas to tour the U.S., the pair decided to see if they could pull off the material with Kirkpatrick on drums. But instead of sitting down behind a full kit, she opted to remain standing (and dancing) while banging away on just a floor tom and snare. They tested out the new format in the Deep South last spring, and the response was so good that they returned to Memphis in November to record their upcoming LP, This Shakin’ House. Their first record without any covers, it also finds Kirkpatrick taking on more lead vocal duties than before, which perfectly balances out Fleming’s raspy hollering. It still sounds like the same Catl we know and love, but from a slightly shifted perspective – revealing just how much of a dance band they actually are. 3 Flato Markham Theatre Banner Ad benjaminb@nowtoronto.com | @benjaminboles
2014 Juno Nominee - Single of the Year “Inner Ninja”
NOW February 6-12 2014
39
dark pop
Weeknight
Brooklyn duo harmonize their influences on a haunting debut album By Julia leconte Weeknight with Prince Innocence, Elsa and RLMDL at the Silver Dollar (486 Spadina), Tuesday (February 11), doors 9 pm. $6. RT, SS, TW.
What do you get when you cross classic hip- hop videos, Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet and traditional Day of the Dead imagery? The new video for Brooklyn- based dark pop
duo Weeknight’s single Dark Light. These disparate ingredients – each bold and ambitious – could’ve spelled disaster. But in the hands of director Austin Kearns, the result seems bound to become a cult favourite. “I used to be a dancer, and I really only like hip-hop or dance music videos, so I thought if I were going to make a music video, that’s what was going to happen,” says Weeknight’s Holly MacGibbon, who co-wrote the video treatment with Kearns. The director came up with the other concepts, and soon the band found themselves shooting in their Brooklyn loft and on a nearby rooftop.
“I totally stayed out of it,” jokes Weeknight’s other member, Andy Simmons. Of the storyboards, maybe. But Simmons’s life experience inspires the duo’s brooding, hymnal sound. “I used to go to church with my grandmother every week,” he says. “She was the organ player. So my first musical influences were those weird, echoey church harmonies.” That’s evident on the band’s lush, synth-heavy upcoming record, Post Everything (Hand Drawn Dracula), whose eerie aesthetic arises from Simmons and MacGibbon’s borderline spooky, near-constant two-part harmonies. “We’ve always loved singing together,” says Simmons. A couple since 2005 and musical collaborators since 2007, the two are understandably excited to leave behind their various part-time jobs and hit the road for the next couple of months. Onstage, the album’s sensuous orchestration comes to life thanks to Simmons’s guitar, MacGibbon’s synths, a drum machine and cued-up samples. Plus, of course, those affecting voices. “There were maybe six vocal takes for each song,” says Simmons. “[We had to] step away, and eventually the initial melody of the songs totally went away and we ended up singing around it, giving it a darker, more haunting feel. It was a lot of experimenting and finding out what really worked.” 3 julial@nowtoronto.com | @julialeconte
JULY 24TH MOLSON CANADIAN AMPHITHEATRE
ON SALE SATURDAY AT 10AM!
MAY 12 DANFORTH MUSIC HALL
DOORS 8PM - SHOW 8:45PM - 19+ FOR VIP PACKAGES, NEWS, MERCH & MORE
VISIT DOWN-NOLA.COM
MARCH 22 VIRGIN MOBILE MOD CLUB
TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY FEBRUARY 10 AT 10AM DOORS 6PM • ALL AGES ALL DATES, ACTS AND TICKET PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. TICKET PRICES SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE FEES.
MAY 28 MOLSON CANADIAN AMPHITHEATRE SHOW 7:30PM
THE BELLE GAME w/ Anamai, Fevers, Post-show DJ set by Natural Animal SAT FEB 8 • THE HORSESHOE TAVERN
CHILDREN OF BODOM
w/ Death Angel, TYR SUN FEB 16 • SOUND ACADEMY GLASVEGAS w/ The Ceremonies SUN FEB 22 • VIRGIN MOBILE MOD CLUB
AMERICAN AUTHORS
WED FEB 26 • VIRGIN MOBILE MOD CLUB WHITE LIES w/ Wildlife THU FEB 27 • VIRGIN MOBILE MOD CLUB All dates, acts and ticket prices subject to change without notice. Ticket prices subject to applicable fees.
40
February 6-12 2014 NOW
JUNE 24 • MOLSON CANADIAN AMPHITHEATRE ON SALE TOMORROW AT 10AM! ALL DATES, ACTS AND TICKET PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. TICKET PRICES SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE FEES.
#DMB2sets NOW february 6-12 2014
41
n
clubs&concerts hot
ELTON JOHN Air Canada Centre (40 Bay), tonight (Thursday, February 6) See preview, page 46. LONG WINTER VOLUME FOUR w/ The Wooden Sky, the Bicycles, Teenanger, HSY, Alvvays and others The Great Hall (1087 Queen West), Friday (February 7) Music and art explosion. OLDIES 990, DJ JAY FERGUSON The Gladstone (1214 Queen West), Friday (February 7) See tribute band preview, page 44. PPOP LAUNCH WEEKEND w/ The Victim Party, Soupcans, CATL, Philly Moves, Surinam and others The White House (277.5 Augusta), Izakaya Sushi House (294 College), June Records (662 College) and Crawford (718 College), Friday to Sunday (February 7 to 9) See CATL preview, page 39. MAVIS STAPLES Royal Conservatory’s Koerner Hall (273 Bloor West), Friday (February 7) Chicago gospel/R&B singer.
HILLSIDE INSIDE w/ A Tribe Called Red, Lido Pimientia, Tanya Tagaq, Timber Timbre and others St. George’s Church (99 Woolwich, Guelph) and other venues, Friday to Sunday (February 7 to 9) Indoor version of the summer fest. THE BEVERLEYS Sonic Boom Kensington (201 Augusta), Saturday (February 8) Garage-punk in-store. JOHN TALABOT CODA (794 Bathurst), Saturday (February 8) Spanish house DJ/producer. THE BELLE GAME, ANAMAI, FEVERS, DJ NATURAL ANIMAL Horseshoe (370 Queen West), Saturday (February 8) Dark orchestral pop. WEEKNIGHT, PRINCE INNOCENCE, ELSA, RLMDL Silver Dollar (486 Spadina), Tuesday (February 11) See preview, page 40.
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WILD FEATHERS
HOLY GHOST (DJ SET)
FEB 12 :: THE HORSESHOE
FEB 14 :: THE HOXTON
DELOREAN
CAYUCAS
MAR MAR18 18::::THE THEHOXTON HOXTON
FEB 20 :: THE HOXTON
MAR 2 :: THE GARRISON
UPCOMING
DANFORTH MUSIC HALL
FEB 8
JOHN TALABOT (DJ SET)
FEB 12
COM TRUISE
WRONGBAR
FEB 27
BEARDYMAN
CODA
CODA
FEB 28 UP ALL NIGHT W/ MAISON MERCER
SUPER8 & TAB + JAYTECH MAR 1
THE FRATELLIS
MAR 1
JEROME ISMA-AE
MAR 6
OUR VINYL WEIGHS A TON TOUR
THE PHOENIX VIRGIN MOBILE MOD CLUB
W/ PEANUT BUTTER WOLF
TRUST
ADELAIDE HALL
AUGUSTINES
THE GARRISON
MAY 15
MURPHY’S LAW
HARD LUCK BAR
MAR 22
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
MAR 11
SAM SMITH
MAR 28
BOY & BEAR
APR 4
SOUND ACADEMY
W/ KITTEN & BORN CASUAL
MAR 28
EXCISION
VIRGIN MOBILE MOD CLUB THE PHOENIX
WARPAINT
APR 5
JOHN NEWMAN
MAY 2
CHROMEO W/ OLIVER
HOXTON FEB 7
12TH PLANET
FEB 8
HOXTON HOUSE PARTY
W/ HEROBUST, STARKEY & TWO FRESH
FEB 15
DON DIABLO
FEB 21
KEYS N’ KRATES W/ SLEEPY TOM
FEB 28
CAMO & KROOKED
MAR 1
THE CHAINSMOKERS
MAR 7
A TRIBE CALLED RED
W/ TOM WRECKS
VICETONE
SOUND ACADEMY
MAR 21
MAISON MERCER
WILL SPARKS
MAY 31
DANKO JONES
MAR 25
MAR 15
w/ DIRTYPHONICS & ILL GATES
APR 11 UP ALL NIGHT W/
APR 16
RiFF RAFF
MAR 14
CODA
J. ROCC, JONWAYNE & KNXWLEDGE MAR 8
MAR 4
SHAPESHIFTER
MAR 22
HARD LUCK BAR
BLASTERJAXX
MAR 28
CLASSIXX & RAC
APR 5
DJ SNAKE
APR 12
TYCHO
THE GARRISON
THE ANGELIC UPSTARTS
CYRIL HAHN & DIGITALISM (DJ SET)
Tickets available at ticketweb.ca, Rotate This, Soundscapes and Play De Record. For info visit www.embracepresents.com.
Follow us on Twitter NOW 42
FEBRUARY 6-12 2014 NOW
@nowtoronto
PSYCHEDELIC
GOLDEN ANIMALS
Golden Animals are one of the most arresting duos to register on our radar in a long time. Singer/guitarist Tommy Eisner and drummer/backing vocalist Linda Beecroft play inspired desert-psych. Since the group’s inception in 2006, they’ve divided their time between Brooklyn and the California desert, though Beecroft is originally from Sweden. Their powerful second album, Hear Eye Go, came together after a successful Kickstarter campaign and was released last September through Reverb Appreciation Society, the label of the Austin Psych Fest. It mixes 60s psych, Depressionera blues and Mojave mysticism to powerful effect. It’s hard to believe two people can make such a big sound. For their Phoenix show, they’re bringing along organist Flor Zabala for added fullness. And they’re not the only band worth heading to the Phoenix for: the superb Black Angels play a headlining set after idiosyncratic cult legend Roky Erickson. Tuesday (February 11), doors 8 pm, at the Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne). $27.50. RT, SS, TF.
Just Announced BRIAR RABBIT Drake Hotel doors 7 pm, all ages, $10. February 16.
SHAKURA S’AIDA, NATASHA WATERMAN, SUCCESS, TYANNA NIKKITA, SARA LONDON, DJ JONATHAN SHAW, DJ SHAREEL, ZACK WERNER IDOL SCHOOL STUDENTS Dr Roz’s Unity & Music Festival Fundraiser for Liberia Ricky Ricardos 7 pm, $35. EB. February 16. MAGIC! Virgin Mobile Mod Club doors 7 pm, all ages, $18. LN, TW. February 18. THE HOLY GASP, OS TROPIES Gasp, Gasp Saving Gigi 8 pm, all ages, $6. February 20. BLEEDING RAINBOW Unit 2. February 22. TWO WAY MONOLOGUES Handlebar 10 pm, pwyc. February 25.
COMPLAINTS DEPT, ADRIAN X, AYO LEILANI, PURSUIT GROOVES, BRENDAN PHILIP Rap N’ Roll: The Afro Alternative Music Showcase The Piston 9 pm. $10. daltonhiggins.wordpress.com. February 27.
DOOMSQUAD, HSY, PETRA GLYNT, MOONWOOD, MAS AYA CD release Com-
fort Zone 9 pm, $7. RT, SS, TF. February 27. FLORENCE K Glenn Gould Studio 8 pm, $32.50. TB. February 27.
DIGITS, KEN PARK, FARRAGOES, MEKELE Mixtape release Encore Studios
facebook.com/events/201545806710779. February 28. RIFF RAFF The Danforth Music Hall doors 7 pm, $28.25-$34.25. TM. March 4. SLEEPY SUN Horseshoe doors 9 pm, $11.50. HS, RT, SS, TF. March 7.
LI DONG, MATT LUCKER, BRIAN SEO, KEELY VALENTINE, VJ GEE Pop Goes The
World Event Co Celebration Hard Rock Cafe doors 9 pm, $15, adv $10. EB. facebook.com/ events/721075047917631. March 7. 10 YEARS Lee’s Palace doors 10 pm, $14.50. HS, RT, SS, TF. March 8. TRUST Adelaide Hall doors 9 pm, $21. TW. March 8.
WISH, SENSEI, UNCUT, THIS MESS The Garrison doors 8:30 pm, $10. facebook.com/ events/209024089292899. March 8. SNOW THA PRODUCT Wrongbar doors 7 pm, all ages, $16.50. RT, SS, TF. March 8.
YOUNG DOCTORS IN LOVE, SCEPTRE HEARTS Crosswires Handlebar. March 9. INFERNAEON, THE ABSENCE, FROM THE EMBRACE, THE MIRAGE THEORY
Hard Luck Bar 7 pm, $10. March 10. MIDDLE CLASS RUT Horseshoe doors 8:30 pm, $15. HS, RT, SS, TF. March 12.
DEATH, ARSON, CYCLOPS 76 6 6
Phoenix Concert Theatre doors 8 pm, $26.50. RT, SS, TM. March 21. THE DIRTY NIL Silver Dollar 9 pm. March 21. THE WOODEN SKY Horseshoe doors 9 pm, $17.50. HS, RT, SS, TF. March 22.
THE DARCYS, REUBEN & THE DARK, NO
Lee’s Palace doors 8 pm, $15. HS, RT, SS, TF. March 25. RON POPE, VON GREY Hard Luck Bar doors 8 pm, all ages, $16.50. RT, SS, TF. March 27.
TERRAPLANE SUN, FLAGSHIP, LITTLE DAYLIGHT The Three Of Clubs Tour Drake
Hotel doors 7 pm, $15. LN, RT, SS. April 5.
TAKING BACK SUNDAY, THE USED, TONIGHT ALIVE, SLEEPWAVE Kool
Haus doors 6 pm, all ages, $34.50. LN, RT, SS. April 8. DEAN WAREHAM Horseshoe. April 9.
THE FLESHTONES, THE ROYAL CROWNS Horseshoe doors 9 pm, $10.50.
HS, RT, SS, TF. April 11.
BETTY WHO, CARDIKNOX, ZAK WATERS The Garrison doors 8 pm, $10. RT, SS, TF. April 15.
SHAPESHIFTER The Garrison doors 8 pm, $15. TW. April 16.
VNV NATION Phoenix Concert Theatre
doors 8 pm, $10. RT, SS, TF. May 2.
NEKO CASE, THE DODOS Canadian
Music Week Massey Hall doors 7:15 pm, all ages, $39.50-$54.50. RTH. cmw.net. May 9. SOHN Horseshoe doors 8:30 pm, $15. HS, RT, SS, TF. May 14. MAD CADDIES Lee’s Palace doors 8 pm, $17.50. HS, RT, SS, TF. May 18. AMY SKY Hugh’s Room 8:30 pm, $35, adv $30. May 31.
WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS, LEIF VOLLEBEKK Virgin Mobile
Mod Club doors 7 pm, $20. HS, RT, SS, TF. June 8.
TURF: TORONTO URBAN ROOTS FEST Fort York Garrison Common $tba. torontourbanrootsfest. com. July 4-6.
MÖTLEY CRÜE, ALICE COOPER The Final Tour Molson Amphitheatre doors 6 pm, all ages, $25$125. LN. August 10.
this week How to find a listing
Music listings appear by day, then by genre, then alphabetically by venue. Event names are in italics. See Venue Index, online at nowtoronto.com, for venue address and phone number. = Critics’ pick (highly recommended) ñ 5= Queer night
B = Black History Month event V = Valentine event How to place a listing
All listings are free. Send to: music@nowtoronto.com, fax to 416-364-1166 or mail to Music, NOW Magazine, 189 Church, Toronto M5B 1Y7. Include artist(s), genre of music, event name (if any), venue name and address, time, ticket price and phone number or website. Deadline is the Thursday before publication at 5 pm. Weekly events must confirm their listing once a month.
Thursday, February 6 Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop/Soul
Air Canada Centre Elton John. See preview, page 46. ñ Alleycatz North of 7 Band. Art Gallery of Ontario First Thursday Tasha the Amazon, Pick a Piper, DJs Tape ñ Deck Bros 7 to 11:30 pm. Crocodile Rock Sonic Parade 10 pm. Dakota Tavern Sam Cash & the Romantic
T.O. Music Notes Super-Smiling Buddha
Just Shows co-founder and Parts & Labour show booker Mark Pesci is bringing his talents to another west-end venue, College Street’s Smiling Buddha – pencilling in singers, bands and DJs as well as comedians. One of his first shows? Peach Kelli Pop with Average Times, First Base and Non-Stop Girls on March 21. Bonus? The venue has a brand-spanking new sound system to boot.
& the nominees are... The 2014 Juno Award nominations were announced Tuesday morning, February 4, in Toronto, and the contenders from our city span all categories. Pop-rock crooner Serena Ryder has five nods including album of the year and single of the year; hip-hop superstar Drake scooped four nominations including album of the year and artist of the year; while folk veteran Ron Sexsmith scored two noms. Other Torontonians we’re psyched about? Rich Kidd getting a rap-recording-of-the-year nod, Yamantaka // Sonic Titan scoring for alternative album, and the Weeknd for R&B/soul recording. The leading overall nominees were Arcade Fire. The Montreal group scooped six nominations. The Juno Awards go down March 30 in Winnipeg.
Drake
Dogs, Tyler Kyte 9 pm.
The Danforth Music Hall John Butler Trio, Little Hurricane doors 7 pm, all ages. ñ Drake Hotel Lounge The Digs (funk/R&B/
soul) doors 11 pm.
First Canadian Place Waterfall Stage Cody Karey 12:15 pm.
The Hideout Scully & the Crossbones (rock)
10 pm.
Horseshoe Dave Hause, Northcote,
Chuck Coles doors 8:30 pm. Lee’s Palace When Earth Sleeps, Flood the Sun. Linsmore Tavern Bullets Stray, Rock Bottom (indie pop) 9 pm. Mélange Open Stage Lee Van Leer 9 pm. The Painted Lady EP release Julian Cruz 10 pm. Pauper’s Pub Jam Mike Barnes (rock) 10 pm. The Piston CD release The Pinecones 9 pm. See album preview, page 49.
ñ
continued on page 44 œ
Neko case at Massey Hall, May 9. NOW February 6-12 2014
43
We can’t offer any reason as to why so many tribute acts are playing Toronto this week, but we’re not complaining. Especially because musicians are picking cooler and cooler acts to pay homage to. In other words, this is no classic rock bar band bro-fest.
GOT YOU COVERED
Cameron Ingles of the Disraelis and Optical Sounds delivers an encore performance tonight (Thursday, February 6) of Joy Division’s final concert in 1980, released as a live album in 2007. He and a full band will tackle the material, which he did for the first time in 2008 to glowing reviews. Velvet Underground (510 Queen West), doors 9 pm. $5. Oldies 990 play 50s and 60s hits, but they’re hardly your average wedding band (though they have been known to play nuptials). Members include Peter Elkas, Ben Gunning and Ryan Myshrall, also known for their solo projects and as 90s prog-pop band the Local Rabbits. Joseph Shabason (DIANA) adds sax, and Gavin Maguire sweet beats. Their three sets Friday (February 7) at the Gladstone (1214 Queen West) are sure to be a fun, sweaty good time. Bonus: DJ set by Sloan’s Jay Ferguson to follow. 9:30 pm. $10.
You can’t see (all four) Beatles or Bob Marley any more, but fear not, Toronto: you’ve got lots of chances for the next best thing By CARLA GILLIS
When Fleetwood Mac came to town last April, Dwayne Gretzky played a show that same night as an FM cover band, perfect for fans who couldn’t afford the real thing. In October, they gave us Dwayne’s Dworld, a set of songs from the early 90s comedy of almost the same name. For their Friday (February 7) show at the Horseshoe (370 Queen West), the eight-piece band celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show with a set of Fab Four tunes. 9 pm. $10. BOB MARLEY STOMPIN’ TOM
Also on Friday, Seven44 (744 Mt Pleasant) has the Def Leppard tribute band Rock of Ages at 9:30 pm, while Hugh’s Room (2261 Dundas West) hosts a tribute to Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, featuring Pat Rush, Jesse Whiteley, Chris Antonik, Dylan Wickens and others. 8:30 pm. $25-$27.50. The fun continues Saturday (February 8) when Pixies tribute act Come on Pilgrim take over the Central (603 Markham) at 10 pm ($5), and Practically Petty – a Tom Petty cover band – play Linsmore Tavern (1298 Danforth) at 9:30 pm. $5-$10. Saturday also sees birthday celebrations (replete with musical tributes) to Bob Marley and Stompin’ Tom. Marley heads will congregate at Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor West, $10-$15) for House of David Gang, Messenjah, Meccacity Sound and others. Across town at Eton House (710 Danforth, $25-$30), Melanie Doane, Whiskey Jack, Mickey Andrews and many others honour the East Coast folk legend. Both events also help food banks, so be sure to bring a non-perishable food item. Last but not least, the intriguingly named Bon Jovi Family Singers play the Horseshoe on Tuesday (February 11). But they don’t actually perform Bon Jovi songs. Nor are they a “they.” Just one guy who goes by “Blind Lemon Bon Jovi.” So who knows what you might hear. Bonus: it’s free. 3
FLEETWOOD MAC
carlag@nowtoronto.com | @carlag
clubs&concerts œcontinued from page 43
RIVOLI The Modern Hearts, Darryl McCarty, the Raspberry Heaven, Trial ’N’ Dagger doors 9 pm. SILVER DOLLAR Wave of Terror, Gold Pony, Stan Simon & the Hotel Bibles, Signe Miranda’s Veranda 8 pm. SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY’S Skip Tracer 9:30 pm. VELVET UNDERGROUND Joy Division’s last concert The Optical Sounds Players, DJ Lazarus doors 9 pm.
FOLK/BLUES/COUNTRY/WORLD
ASPETTA CAFFE Open Mic El Faron 8 pm. BAR RADIO Jessie Laine 9 pm. THE BIER MARKT Daniella Watters 7 pm. BRAZEN HEAD Peter James Fox (singer/song-
writer) 9 pm.
CAMERON HOUSE FRONT ROOM Harlan Pepper 10 pm, Corin Raymond 6 pm. ñ CAMERON HOUSE BACK ROOM Ben Sures.
CAVERN BAR & BISTRO Open Mic 9 pm. DOMINION ON QUEEN The Wee Folk Club 7 pm. GENERAL MOTORS CENTRE Night Train Tour Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia ñ Line, Tyler Farr doors 6:30 pm, all ages.
GROSSMAN’S The Responsibles 10 pm. HUGH’S ROOM Double CD release
Del Barber, Ridley Bent 8:30 pm. ñ THE LOCAL Joshua Piche & Adam Colacino
(roots/blues) 9 pm. LOU DAWG’S North Of Nashville Ty Owens (country). MILESTONES Azalea (alt country) 7:30 pm, all ages. MONARCHS PUB Jerome Godboo, Kevin Vienneau, Eric Schenkman, Gary Craig 9 pm. NAWLINS JAZZ BAR Nothin’ But the Blues 8 pm. TRANZAC SOUTHERN CROSS Bluegrass Thursdays Houndstooth (bluegrass/old-time) 7:30 pm. WISE GUYS Open Jam Jon Long 10 pm.
JAZZ/CLASSICAL/EXPERIMENTAL
ADELAIDE HALL Rana Farhan, Sina Salimi doors 9 pm.
EMMET RAY BAR John Wayne Swingtet (Gypsy swing) 9 pm.
GALLERY 345 Duo Pifa: Stolen Moments Sybil Shanahan, Caitlin Broms-Jacobs (cello, oboes) 8 pm. THE JAZZ BISTRO Mark Eisenman Trio 9 pm. KAMA Thursdays At Five Steve McDade 5 to 8 pm.
continued on page 46 œ
Friday may 9 @massey hall
tues february 18 sunday march 30 @kool haus • $ 26.50 advance
all ages • $49.50 - $69.50 adv + $1 Charity Fee
sat june 14 @eCho beaCh • $ 37.50 adv • all-ages
3 days | 3 stages | 44 artists
ARTIST LINEUP TO BE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 14
44
FEBRUARY 6-12 2014 NOW
all-ages • $39.50 - $54.50 advance
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FEB 15
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NOW february 6-12 2014
45
clubs&concerts œcontinued from page 44
Kanji Jess NG, Duane Forest (jazz/soul/bossa nova) 7:30 to 10:30 pm.
Musideum AIM Toronto Colin Anthony, Rob
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7
WINGSPAN SATURDAY FEBRUARY 8
BELOW ZERO TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11 PRESENTED BY LIVE NATION
Piilonen, Michael Lynn, Brenda Joy Lem and others (experimental improvised music, dance and spoken word) 8 pm. Old Mill Inn Richard Underhill Trio 7:30 pm. The Rex Barry Altschul Trio 9:45 pm, Arbuckle 6:30 pm. Saving Gigi A Continuing Series... Jarl Anderson, Tom Rasky, John Lennard 8 pm. Tranzac Southern Cross One Big Song Group (jazz) 10 pm.
Dance Music/DJ/Lounge
BLACKBERRY SMOKE
FIRE IN THE HOLE TOUR 2014 W/ THE DELTA SAINTS THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13
FCDA LOVE FRIDAY FEBRUARY 14 PRESENTED BY SMALL WORLD
HABIB KOITE TUESDAY FEB 18
Clinton’s Throwback Thursdays (90s rap/hiphop) doors 10 pm. Crawford Twisted Thursdays DJ Law (video dance party). Dance Cave Transvision DJ Shannon (alt/indie/ electro/retro). Disgraceland A Hard Days Night DJ Nick Harris (rock/hip-hop favourites) 10 pm. EFS Untitled DJ Soundbwoy doors 10 pm. Goodhandy’s T-Girl Party DJ Todd Klinck.5 Handlebar Nintendo Knights Chip Tune, DJ DKSTR (classic gaming tournament) 10 pm. Midpoint Nintendo Thursdays (80s Vs 90s). Rivoli Pool Lounge DJ Bunitall (R&B/hip-hop). Round Archi-Textures Hans Ohm, LeeLee Mishi, Purrpelle, Lumberjockey, Kalu (techno/ bass/trance/DnB/downtempo) 9 pm. WAYLA Bar Random Play DJ Dwayne Minard (70s/80s) 10 pm.
Friday, February 7
PRESENTED BY LIVE NATION
Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop/Soul
MAGIC!
Alleycatz Lady Kane. Armenian Youth Centre AYF Winterfest
Danny Fernandes, Kevork Artinian (pop/R&B/ Armenian pop) doors 7 pm. RCM_NOW_contests_1-5bw_Feb6_Pure__V 14-01-27 2:40 PM Bovine Sex Club Breached, Blind Page Race, 1 Asleep Behind the Flame, Bike Thiefs.
722 COLLEGE STREET
themodclub.com
VCastlefield Event Theatre Valentini Blue Funk & Soul: Cystic Fibrosis Canada Benefit Matt Morgan, the Emerson Street Rhythm Band 8 pm. Gladstone Hotel Ballroom Loving In The Name Of Oldies 990, DJ Jay Ferguson (50s & 60s hits) doors 9 pm. The Great Hall Long Winter Volume Four The Wooden Sky, the Bicycles, HSY, Hassler, Teenanger, Alvvays, Not the Wind Not the Flag, Farang, Sheezer, Ark Analog, Gingy, Smartboys, Sexy Merlin 7 pm. Harlem Unbuttoned (pop/soul/R&B) 7:30 pm. The Hideout The Cover Boys (rock) 10 pm.
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Horseshoe Gretzky. ñDwayne Izakaya Sushi House PPOP Launch Weekend The Victim Party, Wasted ñ Potential, Stuck Out Here, Beat Noir (punk) 9:30 pm.
Lee’s Palace The Fifths, the Standstills, Mohrs. Linsmore Tavern The Legendary Castaways
(reggae) 9:30 pm.
Phoenix Concert Theatre Buckcherry, Airbourne, Bleeker Ridge doors 7 pm.
Rivoli The Outerspacers, Hisland, Something
You Whisper, the Leavers doors 8 pm.
Conservatory of Music Koerner Hall Mavis Staples (soul/ ñ gospel/blues) 8 pm. Saving Gigi Bloor Ossington Folk Festival presents... Kevin Kane, Eamon Mcñ Grath, Brendan Canning doors 7 pm. BRoyal
Seven44 Rock of Ages (Def Leppard tribute) 9:30 pm.
Silver Dollar Brave Little Toaster, A Devil’s Din, Sick Wicked & Nasty, Bamboo 9 pm.
The Sister Farewell To Tim Hanna The Enoch’s. Sneaky Dee’s UKAE, Hotel Royal, Chad Price, Jonathan Black doors 9 pm.
Sound Academy Down with Webster, Sonreal, D-Pryde doors 7 pm, all ages.
Southside Johnny’s Busted Again (rock/top 40) 10 pm.
St George’s Church Hillside Inside A Tribe Called Red, Lido Pimientia 10 pm, ñ all ages. Tranzac Southern Cross Blastronaut 10 pm, Michelle McAdorey 7:30 pm.
Folk/Blues/Country/World
Bar Radio Sinner’s Choir 9 pm. Cameron House Front Room Kayla Howran
CONTESTS
Rennie Harris Puremovement SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2014 8PM KOERNER HALL “The Ambassador of Hip Hop” Rennie Harris mixes athletic dance, hip hop, poetry, and other forms of music and theatre into these visceral, energetic, and inspiring concert dance performances. “Even if you didn’t know toprock from downrock or a pop from a crump, you [have] to admire the sheer magnitude of what the human body is capable of doing, as demonstrated by this remarkably athletic and energetic company.” (Herald-Tribune)
10 pm, Patrick Brealey 8 pm, David Celia 6 pm. Cameron House Back Room Maple Leaf Champions Jug Band, Union Duke. The Dock Ellis Jessica Stuart Few, Katie DuTemple, Caylie Staples (indie folk/ pop/jazz) doors 9 pm. Free Times Cafe Marik Rutt (folk/singer/songwriter) 8:30 pm. Full of Beans Coffee Transmutations Art Show Opening Reception Dwight Perreira (folk/blues) 4 to 6 pm. General Motors Centre Crop Circles & T ractor Beams Dean Brody, Cassadee Pope 8 pm, all ages. Grossman’s Sandi Marie 6 to 9 pm. The Hole in the Wall Ken Yoshioka Trio w/ Pete Schmidt (blues) 10 pm. Hugh’s Room Tribute To Muddy & The Wolf Pat Rush, Jesse Whiteley, Douglas Watson, Jerome Godboo, Dylan Wickens, Chris Antonik, Mississippi Pete Temple 8:30 pm. Lula Lounge Yani Borrell (salsa) 10:30 pm. Nawlins Jazz Bar The N’Awlins All Star Band w/ Brooke Blackburn (jazz/blues) 8:30 pm. Reposado The Reposadists Quartet (gypsy bop). 3 Windows Open Jam Dano & Miss Jaye 9 pm. Tranzac Southern Cross The Foolish Things (folk) 5 pm. Tranzac Michelle McAdorey Band (folk/rock) 7:30 to 9:30 pm.
ñ
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Jazz/Classical/Experimental
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! 416.408.0208 www.performance.rcmusic.ca 273 BLOOR STREET WEST (BLOOR & AVENUE RD.) TORONTO
46
February 6-12 2014 NOW
1 2 3 4
Elton John comes to town tonight (Thursday, February 6) to entertain the ACC (40 Bay) as only a piano- playing knight can do. ($59-$171, ACC, TM.) Back in 2001, Sir Elton made headlines performing a duet with rapper Eminem at the Grammys, a surprising pairing given the latter’s extremely LGBT-unfriendly lyrics. (Maybe the mayor will help out on Crocodile Rock tonight!) Eminem, of course, recently topped the charts with Rihanna (for the second time) with The Monster, in which the Barbadian sings about befriending things under her bed. Follow Rihanna on Instagram: she never sleeps, so what does she even own a bed for? Something’s fishy there. Rihanna’s most famous T.O. connection is her onagain, off-again maybe relationship with Drake. If one day they get married, we’ll finally have a first couple of Commonwealth hip-hop!
Havana to Toronto (Afro-Cuban jazz) 9 pm.
Gallery 345 The Art Of The Piano David Virelles 8 pm.
nowtoronto.com
English pop superstar/Academy Award-winning composer Elton John and Aussie DJ/SXSW darling Anna Lunoe might not seem to have a lot in common (except for the fact that they both play shows in Toronto this week, of course), but it turns out the entertainment world is small. We played six degrees of separation with the vet and the rookie, and uncovered some juicy links in between.
Dominion on Queen Friday Night Jazz Pulse
Grossman’s Combo Royale (jazz) 10 pm. Habits Gastropub Harry Vetro Quartet (jazz)
WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO THIS CONCERT AT:
Six degrees of stardom
9 pm.
5
Imperial Pub Jazz Fridays Jazz Generation (big band classics) 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
The Jazz Bistro Mark Eisenman Trio 9 pm. Lula Lounge Roberto Linares Brown Trio 8 pm. Old Mill Inn John Sherwood Duo 7:30 pm. The Rex Barry Altschul Trio 9:45 pm, Chris
Gale 6:30 pm, Hogtown Syncopators 4 pm. Touché Mistura Fina Quartet (Brazilian MPB music) 10:30 pm. Trinity St. Paul’s Church I’m Austrian Canadian Gregory Oh, Ed Reifel, Mike
ñ
6
Drake has been an instrumental figure in the rise of the Weeknd, promoting, collaborating and touring with Abel Tesfaye fairly steadily since 2011. Drake also tried to build up a different act called Casual Friday, but that failed miserably. Don’t ask him about it. Last time the Weeknd came through town in October, he had as his opener the talented Anna Lunoe, who hits the Drake Underground (1150 Queen West) Friday (February 7). I suppose playing on a Friday night is technically opening for the weekend again. (Doors 11 pm, $10, thedrakehotel.ca.)
Fedyshyn, g27 Chamber Orchestra 8 pm.
Cameron House Back Room CD release The
Dance Music/DJ/Lounge
Zilis.
Scotty Scratch, Armani. Brassaii Love Me Till I’m Me Again Geoff Brown 10 pm. Bunda Lounge Assembly Mike Huckaby, Adam Khan, Haf (deep transportation/synth) 10 pm. Cabin Nightclub Legendary Groove F ridays Spence Diamonds & Mista Jiggz (R&B/funk/ soul/hip-hop/house ). CODA Motor City Legends Kevin Saunderson, Octave One, Greg Gow, Jamie Kidd, Mike Gibbs. Crocodile Rock DJ CrocRock. Dance Cave Bif Bang Pow DJ Trevor 10 pm. Disgraceland Cyborg Solidarity Movement DJ Rage Electro, Classic Synth 10 pm. Drake Hotel Underground Elementary Anna Lunoe, Rynecologist, Meech doors 11 pm, Burroughs 100 Toronto: The Dreamachine DJ Marinko 7 to 11 pm. Drake Hotel Lounge DJ Your Boy Brian doors 10 pm. Emmet Ray Bar DJ Pie & Mash 10 pm. Fly Pop Fridays DJ Sumation doors 10 pm.5 The Garrison Chronologic: Goin’ Steady DJs Musical Trip Through Time doors 10 pm. Handlebar Soul Skank (funk/soul/dancehall/ motown/live sax performance) 10 pm. The Hoxton 12th Planet w/ Herobust & Two Fresh w/ Starky & Steady doors 10 pm. Media Bar & Lounge Faded Fridays DJ Wikked, MC Crazy Chris (hip-hop/R&B/reggae). The Piston Building Blocks (funk/soul/hiphop) 10 pm. Rivoli Pool Lounge Bump N’ Hustle 18-Year Anniversary Party Paul E Lopes, Mike Tull doors 10 pm. The Savoy Frkn Wknd DJ Caff (R&B/hip-hop/ dancehall) 10 pm. WAYLA Bar Video Dance Party DJ Truewind 10 pm.
10 pm, Big Tobacco & the Pickers 6 pm. Dakota Tavern Bluegrass Brunch 10 am to 2 pm. Dominion on Queen Saturday Night Blues: CD release James Anthony 8 pm. Eton House Stompin’ Tom Birthday Tribute Whiskey Jack, Mickey Andrews, Douglas John Cameron, Sean Cullen, Melanie Doane, Steve Fruitman, Paul Langlois, Mary McIntyre and others doors 7:30 pm. Free Times Cafe Josh & Jeff 8:30 pm. Full of Beans Coffee Saturday Open Mic Nolan Randall (contemporary) 1 to 4 pm. Grossman’s Park Eddy (rock/soul) 10 pm. Humble Beginnings Songbird (folk) 12:30 to 2:30 pm. Kehillat Eytz Chaim Azalea (alt country) 10:30 am. The Korner Pub Azalea (alt country) 5 pm, all ages. The Local Steve Gleason (folk/blues) 9 pm, Arthur Renwick (blues) 5 pm. Lula Lounge Conjunto Lacalu (salsa) 10:30 pm. BRivoli African Invasion Music Showcase doors 7 pm. Saving Gigi Bloor Ossington Folk Festival presents... Alex Lukashevsky, Kirk Ramsey doors 8 pm. Small World Music Centre Gustavo Santaolalla 8 pm. St George’s Church Hillside Inside Timber Timbre, Tanya Tagaq 2 pm, all ages. Tranzac Southern Cross Scott B Sympathy (folk) 6:30 pm, Jamzac 3 pm.
Aria Complex Reload Andrew Oddesey,
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Saturday, February 8 Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop/Soul
Alleycatz Soular (R&B/soul/funk). ARMENIAN YOUTH CENTRE AYF Winterfest Razmik Amyan (Armenian pop) doors 7 pm. Black Swan Saturday Sessions Open Stage
and Jam Brian Gladstone 2 pm. The Central Come On Pilgrim (Pixies tribute), Whiskey Hearts Collective (acoustic roots rock) 10 pm. The Danforth Music Hall Kodaline, LP doors 7:30 pm, all ages. Dora Keogh The Swingin’ Blackjacks (rockabilly/blues). Drake Hotel Underground Gems, the Smoking Bells (dream pop) doors 8 pm. The Garrison The Dream Syndicate, Poppy Seed & the Love Explosion doors 9 pm. Handlebar The Breaks, the Blue Stones, Towanda, Rebecca Everett 10 pm. Hard Luck Bar Mother Leads, the Wicked Mercy, Womb, Hot Young Writers, Suns of Stone doors 9 pm. The Hideout Shawn Brady & the Electric Blood Band (rock) 10 pm. Horseshoe The Belle Game, Anamai Fevers, DJ Natural Animal (dark pop) doors 9 pm. BHot Box Puff Lounge Bob Marley’s Birthday For Knowledge. BLee’s Palace NuFunk Bob Marley Tribute & Benefit for Parkdale Food Bank and Community Centre in Jamaica Messenjah, House of David Gang, Megacity Sound, DJ Friendlyness and others (reggae) doors 9 pm. Linsmore Tavern Practically Petty (Tom Petty tribute) 9:30 pm. Opera House Dark Tranquility, Exmortus, Omnium Gatherum, the Parallax doors 7:30 pm. The Rex Danny Marks (pop) noon. Silver Dollar Christian Hansen, Hayley Stark, Rotary Dial, Janitors, Roman Walte 9 pm. Sonic Boom Kensington In-store performance The Beverleys 2 pm. See album preview, page 49. Southside Johnny’s Moonshine (rock/top 40) 10 pm, The Bear Band (rock/blues) 4 to 8 pm. Tranzac Double album release party Bile Sister, Skullbong, DJ Scalez 10 pm. The White House Studio Project PPOP & Buzz Records Soupcans, Surinam, Cellphone, Huren (weirdo noise pop) 9:30 pm.
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Folk/Blues/Country/World
Bar Radio The Hand Me Downs Bluegrass Band 4 to 7 pm.
Thu Feb 6
LIVE MUSIC
Fri Feb 7
THURSDAY FEB 6 @ 8 PM JESS NG with DUANE FOREST
10pm
FRIDAY FEB 7 @ 9 PM DAN GAGNON from BIG OTTER CREEK
Sat Feb 8
SATURDAY FEB 8 @ 9 PM DJ: MR FURIOUS
Sun Feb 9
10 Sam caSh & The romanTic DogS WiTh Tyler KyTe 7 riDley benT pm
pm
graham playforD & The flying J’S neW!
10-2pm
bluegraSS brunch
colonel Tom & The american pour 10pm
beau’S presents Sundays 10-2pm
bluegraSS brunch 9 The mercenarieS Tue Feb 11 9 The TreaSureS Wed Feb 12 9 The STrumbellaS pm
SUNDAY FEB 9 @ 7 PM DUANE FORREST
pm
Soulful, Reggae, Jazz & Bossa Nova
pm
TOP 10 Omikasa in Toronto – BLOGTO
KANJI SUSHI & SAKE LOUNGE 1346 Queen St. W. | 416.536.8448 kanjitoronto.com
w/Scoop Trumbull & The Wrong noTeS & ScarleTT Jane
249 OssingtOn Ave (just north of Dundas) 416-850-4579 · thedakotatavern.com
Jazz/Classical/Experimental
Alliance Française Downtown Classiques de poche Caroline Chéhadé & Philip Chiu (violin, piano) 7:30 pm. Array Space Diane Roblin & Happening Joe Sorbara, Kyle Brenders, Diane Roblin, Howard Spring (drums, saxophone, piano, guitar) 8 pm. C’est What 25th Anniversary Show The Hot Five Jazzmakers (trad jazz) doors 2 pm. Chalkers Pub Rob Botos Trio (jazz) 6 to 9 pm. Gallery 345 CD release Mike Downes & the Parallel Streams Ensemble (jazz) 8 pm.
continued on page 48 œ
THE OSSINGTON THU 6 UH OH PRESENTS Too Close... an evening of comedy, vid screenings & music...
HOME OF THE BLUES SINCE 1943 THANK YOU TORONTO FOR MAKING US A BEST BLUES BAR FINALIST!
MON 10 COMEDY AT Open mic... Thou Shalt Kill...
OSS
TUE 11 FAKE COPS Improv comedy wonder-kids... WED 12 WINTER ROMANCE Warm feelings, cool tunes w/ DJ Humble Kyle ... 61 OSSINGTON AVE | 416•850•0161 | theossington.com
thu Feb 6
Fri Feb 7
SUNDAY FEB 9
NEW ORLEANS CONNECTION ALL STAR JAZZ BAND 4:30-9pm THE NATIONAL, BLUES JAM with BRIAN COBER 10pm-2am MONDAY FEB 10
NO BAND REQUIRED TUESDAY FEB 11
NICOLA VAUGHAN
9:30pm- 2am
WEDNESDAY FEB 12
BRUCE DOMONEY 10pm-2am
416-977-7000 GROSSMANSTAVERN.COM
379 SPADINA AVE (JUST S. OF COLLEGE) PARKING AVAILABLE
presents
Tickets available at www.TicketFly.com Fri Feb 7 | drs 8pm | $10 adv/$15 dr
FRIDAY FEB 7
SATURDAY FEB 8
TM
SAT 8 SECRET MODELS w/Les Secret Models... All hit, dance party, freakout session...
THURSDAY FEB 6
THE HAPPY PALS 4:30-8pm PARK EDDY with CHOLE WATKINSON 10pm-2am
anchorSHOP
ThE ModErN hEarTS
THE RESPONSIBLE 10pm-2am SANDI MARIE 6pm-9pm COMBO ROYALE 10pm-2am
thur Feb 6 | drs 9pm | $8 adv/$10 dr
FRI 7 SWEAT PANTS w/DJ Coolin Hip hop, soul, reggae, RnB, dancehall, deep, deep grooves...
SUN 9 BRASS FACTS TRIVIA Prizes, pals, knowledge w/Famous Kirk Hero...
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THE DAKOTA TAVERN
Cameron House Front Room Chris Culgin
Sat Feb 8
pineconeS JoSe contreraS + Secret gueSt
Building BlockS dJs general eclectic + gueStS rock∙Funk∙pop∙r&B∙Hip Hop
Beam me up diSco dJs a digital needle & cycliSt diSco dance party
mon tHe corner Feb 10 Snoqualmie tue tWo-Four tueSdayS Feb 11 mercy FligHt + gueStS Wed Spire empire · nikki Fierce Feb 12 paraSona · giraFFe
Serving great Food • 5:30 - 10:30pm! 416.532.3989 • 937 Bloor Street West www.thepiston.ca
w/ darryl mccarTy, THe raSPBerry Heaven, Trial ‘n’ dagger
ThE LEavErS SoMEThiNg yoU WhiSpEr hiSLaNd, ThE oUTErSpaCErz Tickets available at www.ticketscene.ca sat Feb 8 | drs 7pm
afriCaN iNvaSioN MUSiC ShoWCaSE sun Feb 9 | drs 8pm | $10 Families oF sisTers in spiriT Fundraiser For missing & murdered Women
vEroNiCa JohNNy roSary SpENCE ChELSEa TappiN ChEri MaraCLE CriS dErkSEN
mon Feb 10 | drs 8:30pm | $5
MC ChriS LoCkE
Trixx, Simon King, Bryan HaTT Jordan FoiSy, STeve adamS, danny PoliSHcHuK, adam cHriSTie, rHiannon arcHer, micHael KHardaS Brian aylward and more! WWW.aLTdoTCoMEdyLoUNgE.CoM wed Feb 12 | drs 8pm | $10 stu/$15 reg asB ryerson Comedy nighT
SpECiaL gUEST
BEN MaThai
(From JusT For laughs shoWCase & CBC’s laugh ouT loud)
zippEr iN ThE CroTCh
STudenTS From THe HumBer comedy ScHool thu Feb 13
parLoUr BirdS PluS gueSTS Fri Feb 14 | drs 8pm | $20 adv
aNE BrUN w/ LiNNEa oLSSoN
Tickets: northerntickets.com 332 QUEEN ST. W. | 416.596.1908 | rivoli.ca NOW February 6-12 2014
47
clubs&concerts œcontinued from page 47
Grossman’s The Happy Pals (trad jazz) 4:30 to 8 pm.
VHugh’s Room A Jazz Valentine Jackie Rich-
ardson & Micah Barnes 8:30 pm. The Jazz Bistro Mark Eisenman Trio 9 pm. Music Gallery Jazz Avant Series Anenon & Lina Allemano’s Titanium Riot doors 7 pm. Nawlins Jazz Bar The N’Awlins All Star Band w/ Brooke & Duane Blackburn (jazz/blues) 9 pm, Sam Heineman (piano jazz) 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Old Mill Inn Mark Kieswetter Duo 7:30 pm. Paintbox Bistro David Braid, Matt Brubeck (jazz) 8 & 9:30 pm. Paul’s Churrasco The Tavares/Botos Jazz & Latin Trio 8 pm till midnight. The Rex Brian O’Kane Quintet 9:45 pm, Nick Teehan Group 7 pm, Laura Hubert Band 3:30 pm.
Royal Conservatory of Music Koerner Hall The Windy Seasons ñ Europa Galante, Fabio Biondi 8 pm. Seven44 Climax Jazz Band (traditional jazz) 4 to 7 pm.
Toronto Centre for the Arts George Weston Recital Hall Winter Concert Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra 7:30 pm.
Dance Music/DJ/Lounge
Andy Poolhall Love That DJ!! DJs Medicine
Muffin, MartyMcFly, Maddi Qwikstepp, Skank Honto (ghetto funk/breakbeats/classic house/80s & 90s retro vinyl) 10 pm. Baltic Avenue Good Vibes This Broken Mixtape (hip-hop/pop/indie rock/dance). Cinema Nightclub Sex Lies Video DJ Undercover, Mike Toast (top 40/dance) doors 10 pm. Clinton’s Shake, Rattle, Roll (60s rock/pop/ soul) doors 10 pm. CODA DJ Kicks Tour John Talabot, Jeff Button, Kevin McPhee, Gera 10 pm. Crawford Upstairs Ignition DJs Caff & Walmer Convenience (R&B-hip-hop/dancehall) 10 pm. Crawford Downstairs Still Fly DJ J-Wiz (bangers/hip-hop/R&B/reggae).
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Crocodile Rock DJ CrocRock. Dance Cave Full On DJ Pat (alternative) 10 pm. Drake Hotel Underground Racks & Bands
DJs Vanity Muscles, Johnny Hockin doors 11 pm. Drake Hotel Lounge DJ Dougie Boom doors 10 pm. Emmet Ray Bar DJ Cruz Controlla (hip-hop/ soul) 10 pm. Gladstone Hotel Ballroom Big Time Mannerisms, DJs Catalist, Lazy Ray, Efsharp 10 pm. Guvernment Chroma Global Saturdays DJ John J, Illegal Alien, DJ JC. Harbourfront Centre Soca On Ice: DJ Skate Night 8 to 11 pm. Lou Dawg’s DJ Kenny Bounce (funk/soul/ blues/hi-hop). May Cafe Villa Grande’s Pajama Jam Dance party The Responsables, DJs Tyler Ball & Satan Himself, No Pants Society (electronic/ hip-hop/bass) 10 pm. Parts & Labour Party & Bull$hit Family Business (hip-hop/old school) 10 pm. The Piston Beam Me Up (disco) 10 pm. Rainbow Palace Late Night Styles Reggae Bash DJs Chocolate, Patrick Roots, Lindo P. The Red Light Strictly Business DJ Numeric (classic hip-hop/R&B) 10 pm. Rivoli Pool Lounge DJ Plan B (hip-hop/rap/club). SET Boutique Her Majesty Saturdays Heather Van Viper. Sneaky Dee’s Shake A Tail (60s pop/soul) 11 pm. 3030 Dundas West Open Mind DJ Corey Dawkins (soca/dancehall/hip-hop) 10 pm. WAYLA Bar Debauchery DJ Jamal, Hey!DW (house/top 40/electro) 10 pm.
Sunday, February 9 Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop/Soul
Crawford PPOP Launch Weekend
Illvibe, Philly Moves, SpookyFish, Johnñ ny Active, Blackboltt & Che Ruben, Just John (hip-hop) 10 pm.
Dominion on Queen Rockabilly Brunch The Cosmotones 11 am to 3 pm.
Handlebar Crosswires Mies Coma, Prom,
Field Study 8 pm. The Hideout Scott Barrager (rock) 10 pm. Hirut Fine Ethiopian Cuisine Acoustic Open
Stage Nicola Vaughan (pop rock) 3 to 6 pm. June Records PPOP Launch Weekend CATL, the Nature Boys, Patrick Grant (rock ’n’ roll) 6 pm. See preview, page 39. Linsmore Tavern Pat Perez & John Dickie Band (R&B) 3 to 7 pm. Rivoli Families Of Sisters In Spirit Fundraiser Veronica Johnny, Rosary Spence, Chelsea Tappin, Cheri Maracle, Cris Derksen doors 8 pm. The Sister Shak Shak 5 to 7:30 pm. 3030 Dundas West EP release AHI.
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Folk/Blues/Country/World
Black Bear Pub Jam SNAFU 3:30 to 7:30 pm. The Cage 292 Jam Phill Hood 10 pm. Cameron House Front Room The Double
Cuts 10 pm, Lara MacMillan 7 pm. Cameron House Back Room Jon Bryant. C’est What Noah Zacharin doors 2:30 pm. Dakota Tavern Bluegrass Brunch 10 am to 2 pm. Drake Hotel Underground Maria Taylor, PJ Bond (indie folk) doors 8 pm, Family Concerts The Monkey Bunch doors 2:30 pm. Duffy’s Tavern Ken Yoshioka (blues) 10 pm. Free Times Cafe Zack Werner’s Idol School Showcase Zack Werner’s Idol School 7 pm. Full of Beans Coffee Jeff & Debbie Currie (oldies) 2 to 4 pm. Gladstone Hotel Ballroom Acoustic Family Brunch 10 am to 2 pm. Grossman’s The National Blues Jam Brian Cober (double slide guitar) 10 pm. Hamilton Place Theatre Crop Circles & Tractor Beams Dean Brody, Cassadee Pope 8 pm, all ages. The Local The Belle Regards (jumble folk) 9 pm, Chris Coole (old-time country) 5 pm. Lula Lounge CD release Josefina Torres L, Cafe Con Pan (cumbia/bolero/son) 7 pm, Jorge Maza Group (salsa) 1 pm. Muckish Irish Pub The Rave 4 pm. Relish Bar & Grill Stir It Up Sundays Open Mic 9 pm. Southside Johnny’s Open Jam Rebecca Matiesen & Phoenix 9:30 pm. Tranzac Southern Cross Ozere (alt-country folk) 7:30 pm, Max Layton & Robert Priest (singer/songwriters) 5 pm.
Folk/Blues/Country/World
Cameron House Front Room Rucksack Willies 10 pm, Rae Billing 6 pm. Dominion on Queen Good Neighbours Open Mic 8 pm. Free Times Cafe Open Stage Monday Christian Bridges 7 pm. Grossman’s No Band Required. The Local Hamstrung String Band (bluegrass/traditional country) 9 pm. Lou Dawg’s Ryerson Open Mic Don Campbell. Magic Oven Queen E Magic Mondays Open Jam Shahi Teruko (soul/R&B/jazz/funk) 9 pm. On Cue Ken Yoshioka (blues) 8 pm. The Painted Lady Open Mic Mondays 10 pm. Relish Bar & Grill Bentroots (New Orleans blues) 8 pm. Tranzac Southern Cross Open Mic Mondays 9 pm.
Jazz/Classical/Experimental
(jazz) 9 pm.
Gallery 345 Ton Beau String Quartet 3 pm. Gate 403 Joel Hartt & Mark Kieswetter 5-8
pm.
Grossman’s New Orleans Connection All Star Jazz Band 4:30 to 9 pm.
BHirut Fine Ethiopian Cuisine Eucalyptus
(calypso) 7 pm. Kanji Duane Forrest (jazz/soul/bossa nova) 7:30 pm. Morgans on the Danforth Jazzy Sunday Allyson Morris, Adrean Farrugia 2 to 5 pm. Nawlins Jazz Bar Brooke Blackburn (solo guitar jazz/blues) 7 to 10 pm. The Rex Barry Romberg’s Strictly from Prehistoric 9:30 pm, The Lanka Suite Tova Kardonne & the Thing Is doors 6:30 pm, Red Hot Ramble 3:30 pm, Excelsior Dixieland Jazz noon. Rosedale Presbyterian Church Love... Actually: Recitals At Rosedale Nathalie Paulin, Lauren Segal, Zachary Finkelstein, Anthony Cleverton (soprano, mezzo soprano, tenor, baritone) 2:30 pm.
Royal Conservatory of Music Mazzoleni Hall Mazzoleni Masters Martin Beaver 2 pm.
Tranzac Southern Cross The Lina Alle-
mano Four (jazz) 10 pm, the Toronto Improvisers Orchestra 1 pm.
Dance Music/DJ/Lounge
Club 120 Stacked Sundays DJs Flipside, Iron Mike, Fresque, the Nightowls, Chris Vench 4 am to 2 pm.5 The Red Light 80s Dance Party At The Red Light 9 pm.
Monday, February 10 Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop/Soul
Dora Keogh Open Stage Julian Taylor, Chris Scian (roots/pop) 9:30 pm. Drake Hotel Underground Elvis Monday Slime, Valley Maker, Adam’s Mind, the Electric Ants (indie) doors 9:30 pm.
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre
The Art of Song Paul Appleby, Anne Larlee (tenor, piano) noon to 1 pm. The Jazz Bistro Jazz At The Bookstore release Fern Lindzon, Chris Gale, George Koller, Nick Fraser (jazz) 7 pm. Nawlins Jazz Bar Stacie McGregor (solo piano jazz) 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Rasputin Vodka Bar The Absinthe Saloon Jazz Distillers Linda Carone (vintage jazz & blues) 9:30 to 11:30 pm. The Rex Rachel Therrien & Nestor Rodriguez Group 9:30 pm, Trevor Giancola Trio 6:30 pm. Tranzac Southern Cross Hobson’s Choice (indie chamber jazz) 10 pm, Aurochs (jazz) 7:30 pm.
Dance Music/DJ/Lounge
Alleycatz Salsa Night DJ Frank Bischun 8:30 pm. Bloke & 4th Swank DJ Geoff Brown. Disgraceland Tornado DJs Karen, Ian and
Alison (rock/mashups/hip-hop/stoner/electro) 10 pm. Reposado Alien Radio DJ Gord C. Toby’s Famous All Dressed Tuesdays DJ Caff (funk/soul/new Jack swing/rock/reggae) 10 pm.
Wednesday, February 12
Dance Music/DJ/Lounge
Black Swan Acoustic Open Stage Nicola Vaughan (pop rock) 9:30 pm. Cherry Cola’s Rock N’ Rolla Music City North StillNative, Palindromes, Norway (prog-psych rock). Curzon Tony Carpino. The Hideout Don Campbell (rock) 10 pm. Horseshoe The Wild Feathers, Saints of Valory, Jamestown Revival doors 8 pm. The Loaded Dog Tommy Rocker (classic rock) 9 pm. The Piston Spire Empire, Nikki Fierce, Parasona, Giraffe 9 pm.
(jazz) 9 pm, Hobson’s Choice (jazz) 7 pm. The Jazz Bistro Composers Series: Tribute To Gershwin Adam Makowicz (piano) 8:30 pm. Kitch Luke Vajsar (solo bass) 9 pm. Lula Lounge Euphonia (classical) 8 pm. The Rex Humber College Student Jazz Ensembles 9:30 pm, U of T Student Jazz Ensembles 6:30 pm.
Alleycatz Salsa Night DJ Frank Bischun 8 pm. Dance Cave Manic Mondays DJ Shannon
(retro 70s/80s) 10 pm. Handlebar Secret Meeting Moon McMullen, Barbapoppa (vinyl) 9 pm. Reposado Mezcal Mondays DJ Ellis Dean. Thompson Hotel 1812 Bar Blacklist DJ PG-13.
Tuesday, February 11
from the Path and others (metal) doors 6 pm, all ages. Drake Hotel Underground Jeremy Messersmith, Tristen (pop) doors 7 pm. Grossman’s Nicola Vaughan (pop rock) 9:30 pm. The Hideout Jeans Off Duo (rock) 10 pm. Horseshoe Dave Bookman’s Nu Music Night Bon Jovi Family Singers, Beautiful Nothing, Cayleah, Jack Marks & Lost Wages doors 8:30 pm. Phoenix Concert Theatre The Black Angels, Roky Erickson, Golden Animals (psych rock) doors 8 pm. The Piston Two-Four Tuesdays The Mercy Flight 9 pm. Silver Dollar Weeknight, Prince Innocence, Elsa, RLMDL doors 9 pm. See preview, page 40.
tra (jazz) 4:30 pm.
Bakan, John Creson and Adam Rosen 8 pm. Dominion on Queen Hot Club Of Corktown Django Jam 8:30 pm.
Emmet Ray Bar Andrew Downing’s ANAHTAR
Barry Livingston Group 7 pm.
Emmet Ray Bar John Shearsmith Group
February 6-12 2014 NOW
tic rock) 10 pm. Horseshoe Jonathan Wilson (70s Laurel Canyon folk rock) doors 8 pm. The Piston The Corner, Snoqualmie 9 pm.
Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop/Soul
Dominion on Queen Wintergarten Orches-
48
Paradise Fears, Sunderland doors 6 pm.
The Hideout Unplugged Dan Gagnon (acous-
Jazz/Classical/Experimental
Aspetta Caffe Luke Vajsar (solo bass) 4 pm. College Street United Church Jazz Vespers
WIN a Jay Malinowski prize pack at nowtoronto.com/contests
Drake Hotel Lounge The St Royals (soul/Motown/R&B) doors 10 pm. ñ Hard Luck Bar Acoustic & In The Round Tour
Brazen Head Greg Wyard (pop) 9 pm. CODA For Today, Like Moths to Flames, Stray
ñ ñ
Folk/Blues/Country/World
Annie’s Bar & Grill 3 Windows 3 Windows
Open Jam Jaye Smith-Baxter, Dano Murray, Jim Nielsen, Jeremy Bard 9 pm. Cameron House Kristin Bussandri (singer/ songwriter) 6 to 8 pm. Cameron House Front Room Friendly Rich 10 pm, New Country Rehab 8 pm. C’est What Molly Thomason doors 8:30 pm. Drake Hotel Lounge Memphis Tuesdays The Unseen Strangers (country) doors 10 pm. The Duke Live.com Open Jam Jon Long 8:30 pm. Free Times Cafe SAC Toronto Open Stage 7:30 pm. Henry VIII Ale House Ken Yoshioka (blues) 7 pm. Hugh’s Room Discoveries Alex Samaras, Anna Gutmanis, Ariel Shtezen & the Morals 8:30 pm. Izakaya Sushi House Drummers In Exile (drum & dance circle) 8:30 pm. Linsmore Tavern Gary 17s Open Stage: WinterFlock 9 pm. Lou Dawg’s Tangled Up In The Blues Chris Caddell, Cassius Pereira & Kenny Neal Jr. Old Nick Live Forum Jennifer Brewer 9:30 pm. Virgin Mobile Mod Club Fire In The Hole Tour Blackberry Smoke, Delta Saints doors 7 pm.
Jazz/Classical/Experimental
Array Space Audiopollination 15 Alister Spence, Alexandra Spence, Pierre Monñ geon, Sarah Peebles, Bea Labokova, Jonnie
Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop/Soul
ñ
Folk/Blues/Country/World
Aspetta Caffe Open Jam El Faron. Bar Radio Greg McEvoy (folk/pop) 9 pm. Dakota Tavern The Strumbellas, Scoop
Trumbull & the Wrong Notes, Scarlett Jane doors 8 pm. Dominion on Queen Corktown Ukulele Jam 8 pm. Dora Keogh The StepCrew (Celtic troupe). Emmet Ray Bar Peter Boyd (blues) 9 pm. Flato Markham Theatre David Myles, Royal Wood (folk/roots) 8 pm. Free Times Cafe Best Of The Open Stage Charlotte Fabro, Lesly Armstrong, Sarah Katz 8:30 pm. Grossman’s Bruce Domoney 10 pm. The Hole in the Wall Poppa K & Olesh (Richard Keelan, Alex Maksymiw) (folk/roots). Hugh’s Room New Country Rehab (alt/ country) 8:30 pm. The Local Ben Sures (singer/songwriter) 9:30 pm. On Cue Brian Cober (double slide guitar) 8 pm. Silver Dollar High Lonesome Wednesdays Crazy Strings (bluegrass). Tranzac Tiki Room Comhaltas Irish Slow Session 6 pm. Tranzac Southern Cross Mose Stephensen 7:30 pm.
ñ ñ
Jazz/Classical/Experimental
Alleycatz Carlo Berardinucci Band (swing/ jazz) 8:30 pm. Chalkers Pub Lisa Particelli’s GNOJAZZ Jam Session 8 pm. Gallery 345 Tokai String Quartet 8 pm. Nawlins Jazz Bar The Jim Heineman Trio (jazz) 7 to 11 pm. The Rex Earthtones 9:30 pm, Worst Pop Band Ever (jazz) 6:30 pm. Roy Thomson Hall Montreal Symphony Orchestra 8 pm. St Anne’s Anglican Church Music For Magical Spaces The Junction Trio (classical) 7:30 pm. Tranzac Southern Cross PEDZ (indie guitar/ pedal experimental) 10 pm.
Dance Music/DJ/Lounge
Brassaii Les Nuits DJ Undercover. Crocodile Rock DJ CrocRock. Disgraceland Pressure Drop DJ Vania (rock/ post punk/old skool beats) 10 pm.
Handlebar Greasy Listening (rare vinyl) 9 pm. Reposado Spy Vs Sly Vs Spy (live guitar soundtracks).
Wrongbar Com Truise doors 9 pm.
3
album reviews
lyrics are often doing so to hide the fact that those lyrics suck, so it’s nice to hear Gardens & Villa’s discernible words; they’re not just using atmospherics as a surrogate for substance. Goldsworthy’s highly layered mix of sounds maintains a pleasant balance between harder edges and winsome feel-good vibes. Fluttering opener Domino, the sparkly synth-funk of Avalanche and shuffling Purple Mesa are among the album’s standouts. Top track: Avalanche KEVIN RITCHIE
NNNN ñTHE BEVERLEYS
album of the week RASHAD ñISAIAH NNNN
Cilvia Demo (Top Dawg Entertainment) Rating: The opening track on Isaiah Rashad’s latest mixtape clocks in at just one and a half minutes but still lays the groundwork for the entire EP by sharing lessons Rashad learned – and hasn’t been able to entirely unlearn – from his father. In the single verse, Rashad explains: “My daddy taught me how to drink my pain away, my daddy taught me how to leave somebody.” The following 13 tracks unapologetically reflect on where the 22-year-old is today. Like TDE labelmate Kendrick Lamar’s, Rashad’s distinctive voice and raw, heartfelt rhymes hit hard. Even if they’re
generally delivered with an easier flow and more laid-back vibe, sharp production and catchy hooks increase each track’s impact. Standout tune Soliloquy, featuring Rashad’s lyrical prowess and rapid-fire delivery over an ominous piano loop, proves why everyone is right to be so damn excited about the Chattanooga, Tennessee, native. With room to grow as he collects more life experience, Rashad is one to watch. And if he plans on “finessing like [he’s] Timmy Duncan,” he’s aiming for longevity. Top track: Soliloquy Isaiah Rashad plays Tattoo with Tre Mission February 27. HOLLY MACKENZIE
Hip-hop
Pop/Rock
DREAMVILLE Revenge Of The Dreamers (independent) Rating: NNN Happy champagne birthday, J. Cole. On the 29th of January, the New York via North Carolina rapper rang in his 29th bday with a big announcement: the birth of his label, Dreamville (a new Interscope subsidiary), which shares a name with Cole’s crew. And to celebrate? A new mixtape from the quartet (Cole and fellow emcees Bas, Omen and KQuick). Like anyone trying to make a good first impression, the guys don’t come on too strong. Solid rhymes over chilled-out production pique interest without overwhelming with awe. Bas has the most natural flow (Golden Goals); Omen has a knack for deadhonest, introspective storytelling (Motion Picture); while Bas, Cole and KQuick all shine on Lit – an irresistible if rambling joint effort recalling A$AP Rocky’s song of the same name while using Miguel’s sexy-as-fuck Do You hook to great effect. The only dud is Cole’s Bitchez, an infantile track (especially from someone who’s proven capable of writing from a woman’s perspective), though Omen does do a fine 2 Chainz impression on his guest verse. Top track: Motion Picture JULIA LECONTE
ñTEMPLES
Sun Structures (Fat Possum/Heavenly) Rating: NNNN It would be easy to write off Temples as retro-loving hippies who likely don’t own any records released later than 1969. Their recent singles teem with kaleidoscopic psychedelia and Beatles harmonies, and their November set at the Horseshoe was too brief to show much well-roundedness. Their velvet blazers, turtlenecks and wild hair, meanwhile, only added to the throwback vibe. What a surprise, then, that not only does the Kettering, England, four-piece’s debut album give us close to an hour of music, but, like Tame Impala records, it delivers retro influences through an overwhelmingly modern filter. Temples have been called “production-obsessed,” and their attention to detail comes through in the dense but sensitive layers of cosmic effects, groovy rhythms and oh-so-hooky melodies. The songwriting is outstanding: striking and smart, concise and full, and James Bagshaw sings superbly throughout. The Golden Throne sounds a bit like caper film music. The bong-worthy A Question Isn’t Answered and Sand Dance bring in Eastern influences, while Keep In The Dark is buoyant psychedelic pop. Top track: The Golden Throne CARLA GILLIS
= Critics’ Pick NNNNN = Perfect NNNN = Great NNN = Good NN = Bad N = Horrible
Ñ
(Buzz) Rating: Though it clocks in at just over seven and a half minutes, the debut EP from local trio the Beverleys packs a mighty punch. Three years of constant Toronto gigging has given the band (two guitars, drums and no frigging middle ground whatsoever) pummelling momentum manifested in three high-energy tracks. All three demand multiple listens. For all the rollicking fury of the Stooges-influenced single Bad Company, the band effortlessly switches gears to early 80s R.E.M. on Dreams, a rumbling wonder of a track that rises steadily with Joanna Lund’s throaty howl before sprinting to the finish. This Is Not A Union is the weakest effort, moving with a ferocious stomp but never straying from a standard Los Angeles punk blueprint. They’ve been fond of calling their music “junk punk,” but the EP is seriously hefty. It’s all loud as hell, sure, but there’s so much more going on than that. Top track: Dreams The Beverleys play an in-store at Sonic Boom Kensington on Saturday (February 8). JOSHUA KLOKE
psychedelia, some Big Star-inspired riffs (especially on the title track) and hints of 80s alt rock. Bright-sounding opener Gloomy Monday and delightful earworm In N’ Out, featuring strings by Randy Lee of the Bicycles, are two of the record’s best. But you’re going to want to listen to this as a proper album. Bonus: it comes in bananacoloured vinyl. Top track: In N’ Out The Pinecones play the Piston tonight (Thursday, February 6). SARAH GREENE
ñBROKEN BELLSNNNN
NNNN ñTHE PINECONES
Ooh! (Reel Cod) Rating: It’s been a number of years since the Pinecones evolved from a sprawling Haligonian twee-pop band to a powerful Toronto-based trio, but the full synthesis of that transformation has never been more apparent than on the group’s self-produced third album. An antidote to the winter blues, this is a nostalgic record with more than its share of harmony parts (incredibly, all done by two guys: guitarist Paul Linklater and bassist Brent Randall). Though still British Invasion-inspired, it’s not married to one era. For instance, there’s lots of
After The Disco (Sony) Rating: Maybe it was the excess of hype preceding Broken Bells’ 2010 self-titled debut, but we couldn’t help but feel slightly let down by how innocuous it felt. James Mercer and Brian Burton haven’t changed up their formula too much since then, but their psychedelic soul-pop doesn’t sound nearly as anemic this time around, and the whole album is rich with memorable hooks, as opposed to just the singles. There’s very little actual disco here, so don’t worry that they’ve gone EDM – they’re still basically a soft rock duo. It’s easy to play spot-the-influence, but there’s such a wide range of classic pop references that the mixture itself becomes its own distinct thing. One minute they sound like they’re doing a new wave version of John Lennon, the next they’re aping the Bee Gees, pastoral 70s folk pop and glitter-covered glam rock. There’s nothing really new here, but who cares when it’s executed this well? Top track: No Matter What You’re Told Broken Bells play the Danforth Music Hall March 3. BENJAMIN BOLES
SAM ROBERTS BAND Lo-Fantasy (Universal) Rating: NNN Sam Roberts can’t keep his psychedelic, African-influenced groove under wraps. Light on the meat-and-potatoes bangers that rock radio prefers from him, his latest release experiments with a healthy amount of soul-searching while his 11 tracks roam unchained. Five fulllengths in, Roberts plays it anything but safe: nothing resembles Don’t Walk Away Eileen. Lo-Fantasy harkens back to the wandering vibe of his 2006 sophomore full-length, Chemical City, while retaining the jazzy feel of 2011’s Collider. “I could’ve been a contender,” he sings desperately on Kid Icarus, the closest to a traditional single on the album. At times airy and middling, the record (CD version comes with gratuitous Youth Banda remixes) isn’t career-defining. Thankfully, though, Roberts is less concerned with sticking to a chunky, riffdriven formula than with experimenting with the many layers that he and his band are capable of producing. Top track: Golden Hour Sam Roberts Band play Adelaide Hall on February 13. JK GARDENS & VILLA Dunes (Se-
cretly Canadian) Rating: NNN Urban sounds intrude into natureobsessed pop music on the second album by Santa Barbara five-piece Gardens & Villa. Producer Tim Goldsworthy (Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colours) toughens up the group’s bucolic flower-power vibes with 80s analog synth glam that complements singer Chris Lynch’s impressionistic lyrics about love in a retrofuturistic dystopia. Lynch’s airy vocals and penchant for the flute were the band’s signatures on their 2011 debut, but this time his instrumental gifts are used in service of straight-forward pop songwriting rather than elusive hippie-dippy ambience. Bands that intentionally obscure their NOW FEBRUARY 6-12 2014
49
clothing: Hat and jacket - Cease & Seckle - www.nathanielinc.com // Shirt - Marlon Durrant Bespoke
Black history month special
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february 6-12 2014 NOW
xx i r T
comedy’s cockiest stand-u p keeps it real without overplaying the race card By GLENN SUMI
Photos by MICHAEL WATIER
When I sit down with Frankie “Trixx” Agyemang and tell him I’m happy he’s finally on NOW’s cover, he’s modest at first, saying he’s amped and honoured. Then his eyes light up. “This should make some comedians happy,” he says, smiling mischievously. “Can’t wait for the Facebook messages afterwards.” Boom. In less than a minute he’s revealed the kind of brass-balls honesty that makes his stand-up act so funny. This is Trixx the fearless truth-teller, the comic who doesn’t like performing at KUUMBA COMEDY NIGHT: certain open mics frequented only by CELEBRATING OUR IDENTITY other comics who never laugh. with Trixx, Jay Martin, Nick Why not? I ask. Are they bitter? Reynoldson, Marlon “Comedians bitter?” he says, his Palmer and DJ Lissa Monet, face deadpan. “Never.” at the Brigantine Room, Harbourfront Okay, the guy’s got attitude. It’s Centre (235 Queens Quay West), there in the snarl or cocky look he Friday (February 7), 8 pm. $18. 416-973-4000. Trixx also appears sometimes adopts in publicity photos. this week at Comedy Bar, Baltic You can also see it when he crosses a Avenue, Rose Theatre and Rivoli. See stage to begin his act, even before he Comedy listings, page 58. picks up the mic, scanning the audience for any sign of dissent. All this would be hard to take if he didn’t have the goods to back it up. But his astute insights into human behaviour and his willingness to be vulnerable make his act stand out. Tomorrow night he headlines Harbourfront’s annual Kuumba showcase of black comedy. He’s hand-picked the other stand-ups: Jay Martin, who’s helmed the night several times, as well as Nick Reynoldson and internet sensation Marlon Palmer. The post-show DJ, Lissa Monet, was also chosen by Trixx. continued on page 52 œ
NOW february 6-12 2014
51
BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL
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œcontinued from page 51
Speaking of DJs, that’s how he first made his mark, spinning music and cracking jokes to crowds of thousands – an experience that trained him for comedy. “I learned early on how to control a crowd,” he says, relaxed in a room at the NOW offices. “As a DJ, you’re the centre of attention; the music is all you, people are looking at you and pointing to you. I would make hacky jokes like, ‘Hey, Africans, leave the white girls alone,’ but I’d also riff on people’s birthdays, make the crowd feel like they were part of the show.” Whether in a comedy club or at one of his sold-out, self-produced theatre gigs, his material is solid. I’ve seen him riff on Drizzy and Lil Wayne like an expert jazz musician. He can cleverly deconstruct how gender roles are established in the schoolyard. His depictions of women and children are dead on, likely because after his parents split, his mother’s two sisters from Ghana emigrated to Canada and he babysat nieces and nephews. When he himself was a kid in Malton, his hairdresser mom let him stay at home watching R-rated VHS tapes of Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor weekend evenings while she was busy with clients. He studied those routines and imitated them – at school (where he got addicted to making people laugh) and then by himself in the shower. Even now he’s got a geek-like excitement about comic technique. “I just want to get better,” he says. “I still watch [George] Carlin. He’s got these opinions; some of them aren’t even jokes. I see how he conveys the message to the crowd so even if they don’t agree they don’t turn on him. “Then I’ll watch someone like Kevin Hart, who’s the new guy. I used to hate him. But I love seeing how he moves around onstage. Chapelle’s like that, and Chris Rock, too. Look how clear and precise Rock is with his words. He repeats a premise sometimes so it’s drummed into your head. I love those minute details.” Trixx – the name comes from playing pranks as a child, and he adopted it for his DJ persona – often headlines at Absolute Comedy clubs across the province, does Kenny Robinson’s Nubian night regularly, hosts
52
FEBRUARY 6-12 2014 NOW
“THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH FOR ME.” By TRIXX There is no such thing as Black History Month for me. Why should I make the coldest month the time to reflect on the various accomplishments and struggles of black people? I face struggles in June, March and sometimes August. February is just another month. Heck, I almost had my phone turned off this morning over $3, and the cellphone company couldn’t care less that it’s February. And let’s be honest: winter is a season that incites a lot of anger. I mean, who’s happy when you have to shovel a driveway every three days in the freezing cold while ducking ice pellets? Or heading into your home where the furnace is pumping but it’s just so frickin’ cold outside that the house doesn’t seem to be heating up. Why choose wintry February to do any type of reflection when I can reflect in September? Some black people use this month as a way to channel and warrant hatred toward white people, and that bothers me. I know slavery existed, and it’s something we can never forget. But racism and prejudice exist now, too, and it isn’t only black people who face this. Why should February be the month when I decide to dwell on a negative shadow of our distant past? I don’t do that in January or December. Black people have a very beautiful history. The mere thought of how far we’ve come should be enough to inspire us to want to learn about it all the time. When I listen to an old jazz or rock and roll record and process how we as a people have influenced the essence and sounds in today’s most popular trends in music, I smile. However, I can do this in April, not just February. There was a time when being told to sit in the back of the bus was a sign of disrespect. It was a place designated for us. It was kind of like the corner of a room you sent disobedient children to stick their noses in until you told them they could move. Now they’re the most popular seats on a bus. Even when we don’t want to, we set trends. Celebrate that. I know I do. But not just in February. Don’t get me wrong now; acknowledging black history is necessary. Black History Month is cool for drawn-out slide shows and presentations at local high schools. All children should learn about it in school. Problem is, in February it’s called black history, but in March it’s called history. But to me, what our people have done throughout time is part of history. Not black history – history. The essence of our culture, who we are as a people, should be displayed year round. Why don’t we just combine lessons on Christopher Columbus, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.? One month to recognize what we’ve done is an honour, but a year’s worth of knowledge is powerful.
a podcast (the Unruly Podcast) and performs regularly in the U.S. But although he’s auditioned many times, he hasn’t yet been invited to one of the big Canadian comedy festivals like Just For Laughs or the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. “I’ve done JFL showcases clean, dressed up, dressed down, dirty, with all-Canadian material – every possible way I can imagine,” he says. “But...,” his voice trails off. He enjoys producing his own solo shows. He mounted his first, 2009’s Trixx: Mistrial, to clear his name after being unfairly fired from his overnight on-air job as a host at Flow 93.5. It was inspired by his own expletive-filled onstage rant after the station tried spreading rumours about him. The steady stream of solo shows keeps the new material coming. “My biggest fear is that people will say, ‘He’s still doing jokes from the 90s?’ Everybody likes greatest hits, but you shouldn’t be able to sit in an audience and predict the act: ‘Okay, here he’s going to talk about the bus.... Now he’s gonna talk about telephones....’ When you can supply a comic’s punchlines, you know something’s wrong.” Robinson is a mentor, as is Russell Peters, who’s given him some opening slots; he stays at Peters’s place whenever he’s in L.A. “His generosity is unreal,” he told me in an earlier interview. “He’s done a lot for comedians, even down to putting money in your pocket without being asked. I’ve never seen anybody give back like him in my life.” Rather than study Peters onstage, however, Trixx looks at him offstage. “I like seeing how Russell treats people, not just in his immediate circle, but his fans,” he says. “He has a great memory. He’ll see a fan he met four years earlier and know what they were wearing and where they were sitting. It’s uncanny. He makes his fans feel like they’re his friends.” Opportunities like the Kuumba show are related to the colour of his skin. But he says he doesn’t like to overplay the race card in his act. “I hate ‘White people do this, black people do that’ material,” he says. “It’s annoying. People don’t want to go to a comedy show and feel segregated.” In fact, one of his most memorable shows was in North Carolina, opening for a redneck comic. Trixx, as usual, didn’t use the N-word a lot or rely on BET-approved material. “And this old redneck came up to me afterwards and told me it was refreshing to see a black guy talking to everyone and not just to the black people. “When I write a joke,” he says, “I always wonder, ‘Will this work in Indonesia or Thailand?’” 3 glenns@nowtoronto.com | @glennsumi
MORE ONLINE
Interview clips at nowtoronto.com
BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS r indicates kid-friendly events
5 indicates queer-friendly events Thursday, February 6 CELEBRATING OUR MEN IN DANCE
dance Immersion presents a showcase by artists of African descent, including Shawn Byfield, BaKari I Lindsay and others. To Feb 8, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 1 pm. $18-$30. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416973-4000, danceimmersion.ca. ONCE ON THIS ISLAND A poor Caribbean girl rescues and falls in love with a rich man in this musical. Runs to Feb 9, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $25-$50. Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E. actingupstage.com. THE RADIO SHOW Kyle Abraham presents a dance work about identity and communication. Runs to Feb 8, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $39. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.
UNDERGROUND ALPHABET RAILROAD
Kids from different countries befriend the children of slaves in their town in this play about the right to education. Runs to Feb 10, see website for times. $16, child $8. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. bit.ly/1i7DE7R.
Friday, February 7 KUUMBA The festival of black culture fea-
tures visual arts, theatre, films, panel discussions, comedy, dance, kids’ activities and more. Free and ticketed events. To Feb 9, see website for schedule. Harbourfront Centre 235 Queens Quay W, 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com/kuumba.
KUUMBA COMEDY NIGHT: CELEBRATING OUR IDENTITY Stand-up
by Trixx, Jay Martin, Nick Reynoldson and Marlon Palmer. 8 pm. $18. Harbourfront Centre Brigantine Rm, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com. MAVIS STAPLES The Chicago R&B/gospel singer performs. 8 pm. $40-$95. Royal Conservatory of Music Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor W. performance.rcmusic.ca. NJACKO BACKO Music and stories from Cameroon. 1:30 pm. Free. Davenport Library, 1246 Shaw. 416-393-7732.
THE UNDERGROUND COMEDY RAILROAD SHOW All-black comedy
tour featuring Trixx, Gilson Lubin, Keesha Brownie, Andrew Searles, Daniel Woodrow and Rodney Ramsey. 10 pm. $15-$20. Baltic Avenue, 875 Bloor W. undergroundcomedyrailroad. com.
Saturday, February 8 AFRICAN INVASIONS MUSIC SHOWCASE Live
music. Doors 7 pm. Rivoli, 332 Queen W. 416-596-1908, rivoli.ca.
The Butler, starring Oprah Winfrey and Forest Whitaker, screens February 15.
Caribbean Spaces Book launch and discussion with author Carole Boyce Davies. 6:30-8:30 pm. Free. Ryerson University Podium Bldg, POD250, 350 Victoria. facebook. com/events/603820669690622. Ian Keteku Slam poetry performance. 1:30 pm. Free. Amesbury Park Library, 1565 Lawrence W. torontopubliclibrary.ca. Family Motel Film screening. 6 pm. Free. Fairview Library, 35 Fairview Mall. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Asha Jibril appears in Family Motel, screening February 13.
Friday, February 14 ANEEMAH’S SPOT A funeral brings two childhood friends together to mourn, share stories and try to move on in this play by Motion. To Feb 16, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Fri-Sun 1 pm. $15-$25. 918 Bathurst Centre for the Arts, 918 Bathurst. aneemahsspot.com.
rUnderground To Upper Canada
Discussion for kids nine to 13 on slavery in North America and the Underground Railroad. 10 am. Free. Eatonville Library, 430 Burnhamthorpe. torontopubliclibrary.ca. Love Train Revue Celebration with George St Kitts, Billy Newton-Davis, R obin Banks, Kenni Hite, Lorraine Scott and others performing Motown, jazz, funk, blues, African folk, reggae and more. $45-$50. Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge. 905-787-8811, rhcentre.ca.
Saturday, February 15 blk ken and barbie: the dis- identification performance Dis-
AH SO WE DANCE Kay-Ann Ward's dance
show recreates the story of today’s dancehall scene from Jamaica, Africa and beyond. 9 pm. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W, Lakeside Terrace. harbourfrontcentre.com. ANEEMAH’S SPOT A funeral brings childhood friends together in this play by Motion. 1 and 8 pm. $15-$25. Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts, Mississauga. aneemahsspot.com. Bob Marley Tribute Concert House of David Gang, Messenjah, DJ Chocolate and others. 9 pm. $15 or $10 w/canned food donation to Parkdale Food Bank. Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor W. nufunk.ca. Beatboxing Exercises and vocal games. 10 am. Free. Agincourt Library, 155 Bonis. torontopubliclibrary.ca. Kenny Robinson The comic performs. 2 pm. Free. Maria A Schuka Library, 1745 Eglinton W. 416-394-1000, torontopubliclibrary.ca. J Nichole Noel Interactive stories with the author/storyteller. 2 pm. Free. York Woods Library, 1785 Finch W. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Toronto Urban Book Expo – Tube Celebrate the Canadian urban fiction scene with authors, talks and more. 1-4 pm. Free. Malvern Library, 30 Sewells. 416-396-8969.
Sunday, February 9 black future month 3014 Panel discussion with artists in the Afrocentric group exhibition including Ola Ojo, Jordan Clarke and Hillina Seife. 2-5 pm. Free. Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E. regentparkarts.ca.
THE UNDERGROUND COMEDY RAILROAD SHOW All-black comedy
tour with Andrew Searles, Keesha Brownie, Trixx, and others. 8 pm. $25. Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton. undergroundcomedyrailroad.com.
Tuesday, February 11 Calypso Party! Jump up and join the fun with Roger Gibbs and Shak-Shak. 6:30 pm. Free. Annette Library, 145 Annette. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Kenny Robinson: A Hysterical Look At Black History The comed-
ian performs comedy based on Canadian black history with a twist. 2 pm. Free. College/Shaw Library, 766 College. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Michael St George – Dub/Drums
cussion with artist Rose-Ann Marie Bailey. 2-5 pm. Free. Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E. regentparkarts.ca. The Butler Screening of the film starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey. 2:30 pm. Free. Cedarbrae Library, 545 Markham. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Sunday, February 16 Dr Roz’s Unity & Music Festival Fundraiser for Liberia Shakura S’Aida, Tyvanny Nikkita, Sara London, Natasha Waterman, Success, DJ Jonathan Shaw, DJ Shareel and others play this benefit. 7-11:30 pm, $35 (eventbrite.com). Ricky Ricardos, 423 College. 416-875-4465. Syncopation: Black Roots Archie Alleyne Scholarship Fund benefit show celebrating the black music scene in Toronto from the 50s to the 70s. 3 pm. $35. Daniels Spectrum, Ada Slaight Hall, 585 Dundas E. aasf.ca. Up From The Roots Music and poetry open mic. Doors 7 pm. $10. Harlem, 67 Richmond E. info@upfromtheroots.ca.
Session of poetry, music, drumming and inspiration. 2 pm. Free. Woodside Square Library, 1571 Sandhurst Circle. torontopubliclibrary.ca. REMEMBERING AFRICVILLE Film screening and talk. Non-residence students pre-register with equity@rsuonlie.ca. 6-8 pm. Free. Pitman Residence, PIT200, 160 Mutual. facebook.com/events/229020107222214. Toronto Black Film Festival Feature films, shorts and documentaries plus a life workshop with Stedman Graham and a concert by Lorraine Klaasen. To Feb 16. $10$30, film pass $129, workshop $149. Various venues. torontoblackfilm.com. We Are One Jazz Project Benefit concert by the choir made up of kids from eight schools in the Jane/Finch area and two schools in Scarborough. 7 pm. $25$100. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. ticketmaster.ca.
the 50th anniversary of the election of Canada’s first black mayor, Saint Firmin Monestime, opens today with guest speakers and continues to Feb 23. 7-9 pm. Free. City Hall, 100 Queen W. facebook.com/fkzotoronto.
Wednesday, February 12
Wednesday, February 19
World Music Sunday Black History Month Celebration Music by Andre Craig, Malcolm Gould and Nicole Brooks. 10 am. Free. St John’s United Church, 2 Nobert. stjohns-uc.com.
Tuesday, February 18 Monestime A photo exhibit celebrating
Music and stories tracing the roots of calypso. 1:30 pm. Free. Humberwood Library, 850 Humberwood. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Calypso With Roger Gibbs Music and storytelling. 2 pm. Free. Guildwood Library, 123 Guildwood Pkwy. torontopubliclibrary.ca. rStay Driven Kids eight and up join Duane Gibson and learn how hip-hop can inspire them. 1:30 pm. Free. Malvern Library, 30 Sewells. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
MLK Was Here: Readings And Reflections On Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s 1967 Lost Massey Lectures Speakers talk about drawing new
Arato. 7:30 pm. Free. North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Beatboxing 101 Rhythm workshop with Eddy Daoriginalone. 10:30 am. Free. Parkdale Library, 1303 Queen W. 416-393-7686. Caribbean Folk Songs & Calypso
meaning from King’s work and pushing the agenda for peace and justice. 6:30 pm. Free. Hart House Great Hall, 7 Hart House Circle. events.utoronto.ca.
Working For Freedom: The Story Of Josiah Henson Talk by author Rona
Thursday, February 20
songs, retro and modern calypsos. 10:30 am. Free. Alderwood Library, 2 Orianna. torontopubliclibrary.ca. These Words Of Mine United Black Students at Ryerson presents an evening of poetry, dance and art. 6-9 pm. Free. Ryerson University Student Centre, SCC115, 55 Gould. rsuonline.ca/index2.php/section/20.
Thursday, February 13 Black History Month Talent Showcase Open Mic 6 to 8 pm. Free.
Mississauga Celebration Square C Cafe, 300 City Ctr, Mississauga. m ississauga.ca.
ist Lamin Martin. 6:30 pm. Free. Fairview Library, 35 Fairview Mall. torontopubliclibrary. ca. Dwayne Morgan Spoken word celebration. 6 pm. Free. Kennedy/Eglinton Library, 2380 Eglinton E. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
The Great Black North Anthology Evening of poetry readings. 6:30 pm. Free. Downsview Library, 2793 Keele. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Friday, February 21 Divine Decade Soweto Gospel Choir performance. 7:30 pm. $62. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front E. sonycentre.ca.
Saturday, February 22 a celebration of curls Workshop
on styling textured hair with celebrity stylist Felicia Leatherwood. 3:30 pm. $25, adv $15. Emmanuel Howard Park United Church, 214 Wright. 647-686-4130. Kenny Robinson The comedian performs. 2 pm. Free. Bendale Library, 1515 Danforth Rd. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Music And Stories From The Caribbean Songs and stories tracing the Caribbean folk roots of calypso. 10:30 am. Free. Taylor Memorial Library, 1440 Kingston. 416-396-8939.
Shaun Boothe And Live Your Legacy: An Exploration Of Black Cultural Icons The hip-hop artist dis-
cusses issues of race, media, black history and the importance of living a legacy. 2 pm. Free. Cedarbrae Library, 545 Markham Rd. torontopubliclibrary.ca. Paul Mooney The writer/comic performs part of his Out Of Darkness – The Last Stand tour in this benefit for Stolen from Africa. $35-$75. Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor W. stolenfromafrica.org. the state of blackness OCAD U and the Ontario Arts Council present this oneday interdisciplinary conference on black artistic production and teaching. 2-7 pm. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queen Quay W. Register at thestateofblackness.com. Voices Of Orisa Chanting, dance, live music and narration are part of a show about a continent’s desire to share the truth about its own spirituality. To Feb 23, Sat 8 pm, Sun 3 pm. 20-$25. Creative Creatures Studio, 822 Dundas W. africanwomenacting. org.
Sunday, February 23 Black History Month Reading
ustin Clarke, George Elliott Clarke, Camille A A Isaacs and Orville Lloyd Douglas read from their work. 4 pm. Ben McNally Books, 366 Bay. 416-361-0032.
Know Your History Celebration
Music And Stories Of The Caribbean Roger Gibbs performs traditional
George Elliott Clarke reads on February 24.
Breaking Barriers – Artistic Entrepreneurship Talk by digital art-
Bob Marley – The Making Of A Legend Film screening and discussion. 6:30 pm. Free. York Woods Library, 1785 Finch W. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Sickle Cell Association of Ontario benefit with drumming by Creole Drummatix, dance by Ballet Creole, speakers, Caribbean food and more. 12:45 pm. $25. Assembly Hall, 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park. uponastarbooks.ca/KYHC.html. Moi Aussi Movie night celebrating artists of the African diaspora with a screening, drumming, performances and more with artists Abdoulayee Kone and Robert Small. Doors 6:30 pm. Free. OCAD U, 100 McCaul. facebook.com/events/687240881316741. Word Sound Power Open mic and community networking with music by DJ Black Lotus and others. 8 pm. Free. Harlem, 67 Richmond E. facebook.com/ events/183646371823377.
Monday, February 24 George Elliott Clarke Reading from his work and talking about what it’s like to be our city’s poet laureate. 1 pm. City Hall Library, Queen and Bay. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Tuesday, February 25 African Roots In Music Of The
Americas Discussion and performances with Nova Scotia musician/music producer Lionel Williams. 7 pm. Agincourt Library, 155 Bonis. torontopubliclibrary.ca. Dances Of Madagascar Tsingory Dance perform the dance and music of the island. 2 pm. Free. North York Public Library, 5120 Yonge. torontopubliclibrary.ca. Mary Mink, The Making Of A Myth
Author Guylaine Petrin explores the story of Mary Mink, the daughter of 19th-century local black businessman James Mink. 6 pm. $5. St Matthew’s Clubhouse, 450 Broadview. riverdalehistoricalsociety.com.
Wednesday, February 26 Caribbean Stories And Music Music
and stories tracing the folk roots of calypso. 1:30 pm. Free. Oakwood Library, 341 Oakwood. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
The Great Black North Anthol-
ogy Poetryreading with Kevan Anthony Cameron, Andrea Thomson, Ian Keteku and others. 6 pm. Free. Riverdale Library, 370 Broadview. torontopubliclibrary.ca. Talking Points Cocktail reception and conversation on black representation in contemporary visual arts with Wedge Curatoria Projects director Kenneth Montague and artist Jérôme Havre. 6 pm. $12. Textile Museum, 55 Centre. 416-599-5321 ext2228.
Thursday, February 27 CONVERSATIONS ON HAITI United Black Students at Ryerson presents a discussion. 6-9 pm. Free. Ryerson Student Centre, SCC115, 55 Gould. rsuonline.ca/index2.php/section/20. rap n’ roll: the afro alternative music showcase Performances by Complaints Dept, Pursuit Grooves, Adrian X, 88 Days of Fortune’s Ayo Leilani and Brendan Philip. 9 pm. The Piston, 937 Bloor W. daltonhiggins.wordpress.com.
5Write On! Open Mic Nite Series Dialogue and performances that highlight the cultural contributions of queer African-Canadians through music, spoken word, dance, performance art and a panel discussion. 6 pm. $10. 519 Community Centre, 519 Church. facebook.com/writeonopenmic.
Friday, February 28 5Queering Black History Month
An evening of queer black history, performances, speakers and more. 5:30 pm. Free. Ryerson Student Centre, SCC115, 55 Gould. facebook.com/events/604572219612687.
Monday, March 3 Viola Desmond Award Ceremony
Awards presentation by the Black History Awareness Committee at Ryerson. 5-8:30 pm. Podium Building, POD250, 350 Victoria. facebook.com/events/479806302130132.
Thursday, March 6 Wordz In Motion Poet Motion explores words and sounds. 4:30 pm. Free. Centennial Library, 578 Finch W. 416-395-5490, torontopubliclibrary.ca. 3
NOW february 6-12 2014
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more online nowtoronto.com/stage Scenes on ROSENEATH’S DIB AND DOB AND THE JOURNEY HOME, SINGLE THREAD’S FIREBRAND, RONNIE BURKETT’S THE DAISY THEATRE and more Fully searchable listings with venue maps nowtoronto.com/stage/listings
DANCE PREVIEW
Plans of Abraham Choreographer gets in tune with his emotions in The Radio Show By KATHLEEN SMITH
Kyle Abraham’s interests in painting, hip-hop and rave culture have influenced his dance.
THE RADIO SHOW choreography by Kyle Abraham. Presented by Abraham.In. Motion and World Stage at the Fleck Dance Theatre (207 Queens Quay West). Continues to Saturday (February 8), Thursday-Saturday 8 pm. $39. harbourfrontcentre.com. 416-973-4000.
One of the hottest rising stars of the American dance scene right now, Kyle Abraham is holding on tight. “It’s been a crazy ride,” the dancer/ choreographer admits over the phone from his home in New York City, where he’s landed briefly en route from France to Toronto for the Can-
adian premiere of The Radio Show at World Stage. Seems everyone wants a piece of the Pittsburgh native who is still growing Abraham.In.Motion, the company he started in 2006 after stints with Bill T. Jones, Kevin Wynn and Dance Alloy, among others. “We’re in the process of trying to find an executive director to do development,” he laughs. “But I haven’t been in the country long enough to even meet with any applicants.” Although he might not be dancing it in Toronto due to a back injury, The Radio Show is typical of Abraham’s dimensional choreographic style
dance listings B = Black History Month event
Opening
BAH SO WE DANCE Harbourfront Centre presents a show by Kay-Ann Ward that recreates the story of today’s dancehall scene from Jamaica, Africa and beyond. Feb 8 at 9 pm. Free. 235 Queens Quay W, Lakeside Terrace. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com. ARRABAL Mirvish and BASE Entertainment present a dance-theatre show about the underground world of tango clubs in 1970s Argentina. Previews to Feb 12, opens Feb 13 and runs to Apr 20, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-
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FEBRUARY 6-12 2014 NOW
Sun and Wed 2 pm. $44-$84. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
BCELEBRATING OUR MEN IN DANCE
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dance Immersion and Harbourfront NextSteps present a showcase by artists of African descent, including BaKari I Lindsay, Shavar Blackwood, Mafa Makhubalo, Patrick Parsons, Sani Abu Mohammed, Shawn Byfield and others. Feb 6-8, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 1 pm. $25-$30, stu/srs $18-$20. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, danceimmersion.ca. DANCENETTE Arabesque Academy presents multi-genre dance with Dance Sister Dance, Revival, Ariel Len, Anna-Lisa Diorio, Zingari
fuelled by ideas about identity and community. The work comes from memories of the choreographer’s late father, who suffered from Alzheimer’s-related aphasia in the final weeks of his life, as well as the abrupt termination of Pittsburgh’s only urban-format radio station, WAMO, in 2009. “There’s so much emotion in general when I think about my father’s experience of not being able to use his voice, and knowing what that was like for my family and me,” says Abraham. “That’s personal. But there’s also something about the loss of voice when we’re talking about race and/or
Dance Fusion and others. Feb 9 at 7 pm. $10$15. 1 Gloucester suite 107. dancenette.com. FRESH BLOOD The Chimera Project and Harbourfront NextSteps present works by 15 emerging choreographers. Feb 11-12 at 8 pm. $15-$25. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com. MONSHIRO-CHO Colin Anthony and Lîla Ensemble present a story told in choka form plus free-spirited dance and movement. Feb 6 at 8 pm. $10. Musideum, 401 Richmond W, suite 133. coexisdance.wordpress.com.
THE PROCESS REVEALED: HENDERSON/ CASTLE Toronto Dance Theatre presents ñ a sneak peek at the new show and talk with
Artistic Director Christopher House, choreographer Ame Henderson and musician Jennifer Castle. Feb 10 at 7 pm. Free. Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester. tdt.org. RISKY BUSINESS AND REBEL YELLS Dance Matters presents boundary-pushing works by Viv
urban culture. When there aren’t voices advocating for a community, how are people heard? How do you channel the interest, the sparks of excitement, frustration, anger, love? How is information given to those who don’t even necessarily think they deserve to be thought about in any regard?” Abraham has touched both popular and critical chords with work about such urgent ideas. Last year he was awarded a MacArthur Foundation prize. (He intends to put some of the $600,000 “Genius Grant” toward health insurance for his dancers.) The Radio Show won a Bessie in 2010. And both The Radio Show and his newest work, Pavement, continue to tour Europe and North America. Part of his success likely lies in his creative diversity: he’s studied painting and music and has an MFA from Tisch. Early obsessions with hip-hop and rave club culture strongly inform his practice. “I took all of that information in as ways I could be expressive,” he says. “What I studied later – Limón, Graham, Cunningham technique – just blended in organically with what I was already doing from those early hiphop parties and teenage raves. What I do now is still kind of a hybrid of all those things.” In spite of his deep love of music and moving to it, Abraham thinks of dance largely as a visual art. “I sometimes have hard feelings about the word ‘performance,’” he says, “because I think there’s something false about the performative. When you’re thinking about the visual experience of dance, about the work that moves you the most, you’re really thinking about that visceral connection, that quiet connection you have with something you might not be able to express in words. “Or maybe you can, but it’s actually through seeing something that it changes you. I love that, and I love how our perception can be really in tune with our emotions.” 3 stage@nowtoronto.com
Moore, Julianne Chapple, Ming Hon, Hanna Kiel and members of ILL NANA DiverseCity Dance Company. Feb 8-9, Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm. $18, stu/srs $14, ltd pwyc Sun at the door. Pia Bouman Studio, 6 Noble. dancematters.ca/tix. A SOLDIER’S TALE The Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre presents a sneak preview of a dance-theatre work by Michael Greyeyes about the aftermath of war. Feb 6 at noon. Free. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. coc.ca. STAR BELLYDANCER CANADA COMPETITION SBC presents contestants in solo and troupe categories and various bellydance styles. Feb 9 at 7 pm. $25. Virgin Mobile Mod Club, 722 College. starbellydancer.com. THE STEP CREW present Celtic music and percussive dance. Feb 12 at 8 pm. $20. Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth. stepcrew.com.
YEAR OF THE HORSE – SPRING FROLIC CONCERT
Toronto Chinese Dance Company presents
theatre listings How to find a listing
Theatre listings are comprehensive and appear alphabetically by title. Reviews are by Glenn Sumi (GS) and Jon Kaplan (JK). The rating system is as follows: NNNNN Standing ovation NNNN Sustained applause NNN Recommended, memorable scenes NN Seriously flawed N Get out the hook B= Black History Month event V= Valentine-related event
ñ= Critics’ pick (highly recommended) How to place a listing
All listings are free. Send to: stage@nowtoronto.com, fax to 416-364-1166 or mail to Theatre, NOW Magazine, 189 Church, Toronto M5B 1Y7. Include title, author, producer, brief synopsis, times, range of ticket prices (include stu/srs discounts and PWYC days), venue name and address and box office/info phone number. Listings may be edited for space. Deadline is the Thursday before publication at 5 pm.
Opening ALICE IN WONDERLAND: A TALE WITH NO PORPOISE by Katie Leamen (No Porpoise Produc-
tions). Six actors play 25 characters in this absurd twist on the tale. Opens Feb 12 and runs to Feb 16, Wed-Sun 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm. $20, stu $15. Dancemakers Centre for Creation, 9 Trinity, #313. noporpoiseproductions.com. BABBLE (BABEL) (WIAprojects). Performance art event in various rooms. Feb 8-10, see website for schedule. Free. Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle. wiaprojects.com. BACHELORETTE by Leslye Headland (Red Sandcastle Theatre). High school friends reunite 10 years later at a stagette that goes from playful to destructive. Opens Feb 11 and runs to Feb 17, daily at 8 pm. $20, stu/srs $15. 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, redsandcastletheatre.com. COSÌ FAN TUTTE/CARMEN by Mozart/Bizet (Toronto City Opera). The popular operas are performed in repertory. Opens Feb 12 and runs to Mar 2, Fri-Sat and Wed 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $28, srs $20, stu $15. Bickford Centre Theatre, 777 Bloor W. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca. THE DAISY THEATRE (Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes). This cabaret is inspired by the underground puppet shows of Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia and Le Chat Noir in Paris. Opens Feb 12 and runs to Feb 23, Tue-Sat 9:30 pm, Sun 8 pm. $30. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca. THE DREAMER EXAMINES HIS PILLOW by John Patrick Shanley (JR Theatre Company). A
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traditional dance and songs to celebrate Chinese New Year. Feb 8 at 3 pm. $10-$12. Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview Mall. 905-470-9914, chinesedance.com.
Continuing
HEARTBEAT OF HOME Mirvish presents Irish, Latin and Afro-Cuban performers in a music and dance show (see review, page 56). Runs to Mar 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $35-$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com. NNN (GS) BTHE RADIO SHOW Kyle Abraham/ Abraham.In.Motion and Harbourfront World Stage present a work about identity and communication that links the abrupt closing of an urban radio station with the effects of Alzheimer’s on a family (see story, this page). Runs to Feb 8, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $39. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com. 3
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Clown show
Mighty Mice OF MICE AND MORRO AND JASP by Heather Marie Annis, Byron Lavio lette and Amy Lee (U.N.I.T. Productions). At Factory Studio (125 Bathurst). Runs to Feb ruary 8. $25, stu/srs $20. 416-504-9971. See Continuing, page 58. Rating: NNNNN
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What’s pl aying this february
–Toronto Star
p hoto: c y l l a von t i e de m a n n
Artists often don’t get sufficient re spect or remuneration for their work, especially in a hard-nosed economy that keeps cutting arts grants. Just look at clown sisters Morro (Heather Marie Annis) and Jasp (Amy Lee), forced to panhandle and, when things don’t improve, stage their unique version of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice And Men. A 2012 Fringe hit, Of Mice And Morro And Jasp now has more space to breathe without time constraints, and the duo, directed by co-creator Byron Laviolette, expertly wring laughs and tears from the material. Laughs from Steinbeck’s tragic, Great Depression-set tale? The actions of friends Lennie and George, the for-
“a true delight and you’d haVe to be an idiot to miss it... dan chameroy a total delight… raquel duffy a Winner!”
on stage noW! production sponsor
Heather Marie Annis(left) and Amy Lee earn laughs and tears.
Ñ
= Critics’ Pick
nnnnn = Standing ovation
idiot’s delight robert e. sherWood
neW – salon series
patricia o’callaghan gregory oh daniel Williston
albert schultz as Norman
“delicious comedy… an enormously rich and Wonderful theatrical eXperience” p hoto: ja son h u dson
–Toronto Star
p hoto: c y l l a von t i e de m a n n
mer impetuous and childlike, the latter worldly and sharp, eventually lead to death and despair. As rewritten by impulsive Morro and controlling Jasp, the two are employed in a carnival rather than on a farm, but the situation is the same: life is tough, they hope to retire to a farm with bunnies, Morro unintentionally kills a dog and then the strongman’s wife. What’s to be done in their play-within-a-play? Must Jasp again clean up Morro’s mess and follow Steinbeck’s sad denouement? Lee and Annis share not only a special chemistry but also a strong connection with their audience. As in any good clown show, the give-and-take between viewers and performers involves more than breaking the fourth wall; here, three audience members become part of the action. But the actors go beyond laughs in this material, which feels uncomfortable and darker than the usual clown show. They handle it expertly: just watch their faces as things go from worse to worst and try to stop a tear of your own from welling up as they face what seems a hopeless situation. Still, these are characters (and performers) who can save a situation from the brink of disaster, so you can expect a happy ending. And rabbits – lots and JON KAPLAN lots of rabbits.
dan chameroy raquel duff y
CBC host Tom Allen narrates these distinct and immersive musical travelogues:
berlin to broadWay tWo shoWs only: february 13 & 15
aboard the orient eXpress
return engagement!
tWo shoWs only: february 25 & 26
on stage feb 13 production sponsor
the norman conquests
book your tickets noW!
alan ayckbourn
2 0 14 l e a d s p on sor s
nnnn = Sustained applause
416 866 8666 soulpepper.ca
g ov e r n m e n t s u p p ort
nnn = Recommended, memorable scenes
nn = Seriously flawed
n = Get out the hook
NOW february 6-12 2014
55
U of T Drama Festival (U of T Drama Coali-
theatre listings
There’s a dance storm a-brewin’ in Heartbeat Of Home.
œcontinued from page 54
dance theatre
Uneven beat HEARTBEAT OF HOME conceived and directed by John McColgan (Mirvish). At the Ed Mirvish Theatre (244 Victoria). Runs to March 2. $35-$130. 416-8721212. See Dance, page 54. Rating: NNN Heartbeat Of Home seems destined to play Las Vegas, where its lithe hoofers, catchy score and mishmash of Irish, Afro-Cuban, Latin and flamenco dance should fit right in amidst the phony Eiffel Tower and Coliseum. The vague narrative – Joseph O’Connor is credited with concept development and lyrics – involves people emigrating from various countries across the sea to the New World, where they soon strut, tap and bang their sturdy flamenco heels to mark out their territory. Competition ensues, but soon, as in some multi-ethnic wish fulfillment, the
cultures mix things up, resulting in fascinating musical and dance fusions. Since the show comes from the producers of Riverdance, there’s lots of impeccable Irish dancing (choreographed by John Carey), but the Latin movers (Clare Craze, Vanessa Guevara, Curtis Angus and Angelo Gioffré) are the ones who’ll get your hips swaying. David Bolger is the choreographer of the non-Irish sections. The versatile band shifts easily from genre to genre, and Lucia Evans sings O’Connor’s bland lyrics with realityshow gumption. There are some effective visual effects, too, as in a marvellous sequence in the second act that begins with a trumpet solo and footage of city skyscrapers and ends with a tap number on a steel girder that’s an homage to the iconic Men At Lunch photograph. A few more scenes like that – and fewer relying on Hallmark-card-ready sentiment – and this show could really GLENN SUMI kick ass.
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Free Outgoing BY
Anupama Chandrasekhar
woman deals with her alcoholic father and an ex-boyfriend who seduced her sister. Opens Feb 7 and runs to Feb 16, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20. The Box Studio, 89 Niagara. dreamer. brownpapertickets.com. Firebrand by Alex Dault (Single Thread Theatre Company). This site-specific production looks at the final years of Toronto’s first mayor, William Lyon Mackenzie. Opens Feb 6 and runs to Feb 22, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $20. Mackenzie House, 82 Bond. singlethread.ca. The Heel Vs Screwjob by Step Taylor (Code White Theatre). Two comical yet haunting one-acts about infatuation, addiction, impulsiveness, regret and more. Opens Feb 6 and runs to Feb 15, Wed-Sat 7 and 9:30 pm. $15, stu $10, Wed pwyc. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen W. codewhitetheatre@gmail.com. The Last Seven Steps Of Batholomew S. by Daniele Bartolini (Bata Shoe Museum). A voyager brings change to the places and people he visits. Opens Feb 7 and runs to Feb 28, Fri 7 pm. $50. 327 Bloor W. batashoemuseum.ca. n00b by Christopher Duthie (Young People’s Theatre/Vertigo Theatre). A boy obsessed with online gaming becomes isolated from reality. Opens Feb 11 and runs to Feb 20, see website for schedule. $15-$24. 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, youngpeoplestheatre.ca. The Norman Conquests by Alan Ayckbourn (Soulpepper). Remount of the fall trilogy about a philandering husband. Opens Feb 10 and runs to Mar 8, plays run in rep, see website for schedule. $37-$74. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
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Nostos: Encounters With The Open Program (Centre for Drama, Theatre & Perform-
ance Studies, U of T). Performances of three plays. Opens Feb 10 and runs to Feb 23, see website for schedule. $15-$25. 4 Glen Morris. nostosencounters.wordpress.com. Rhubarb Festival (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). The 35th edition of the new works fest features plays, performance art, dance and more. Opens Feb 12 and runs to Feb 23, see website for schedule. $10-$20, many events free/pwyc. 12 Alexander. 416975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com/rhubarb. V360 Screenings: Love (360 Screenings). Film screening combined with elements of theatre. Feb 7-8, Fri-Sat 7 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $40-$60. S ecret Location, see website for details. 360screenings.com. Tribes by Nina Raine (Theatrefront/Canadian Stage/Theatre Aquarius). A deaf man raised as part of the hearing world meets a young woman who’s gradually losing her hearing. Opens Feb 6 and runs to Mar 2, TueSat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $22-$49. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.
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tion). This competitive showcase features plays by students. Opens Feb 12 and runs to Feb 15, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm. $12, stu/srs $10. Hart House Theatre, 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849, drama.sa.utoronto.ca. Untitled Feminist Show (Young Jean Lee’s Theater Company/Harbourfront World Stage). Six performers define themselves without gender signifiers in this play without words or clothes (full nudity). Opens Feb 12 and runs to Feb 15, Wed-Sat 8 pm. $39. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.
One-Nighters
BAneemah’s Spot by Motion (Motionlive). A funeral brings two childhood friends together to share stories and try to move on. Feb 8 at 1 and 8 pm. $15-$25. Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts, Mississauga. aneemahsspot.com.
Butch Femme Salon Does The Red Carpet
(Belle Jumelles/Titus Androgynous). This glam party with performances by queer artists raises funds for Buddies’ programs. Feb 7, doors 8 pm. $10 or pwyc. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555.
Chinese New Year: Carnival China 2014
(Sony Centre for the Performing Arts). The China Broadcasting Performing Arts troupe presents dance, acrobatics and more. Feb 8 at 7:30 pm. $28-$128. 1 Front E. s onycentre.ca. Dib & Dob And The Journey Home by David S Craig & Robert Morgan (Theatre Direct/Roseneath Theatre). This family show features the adventures of two brothers lost in the woods. Feb 8 at 7 pm. $12. Wychwood Theatre, 601 Christie. t heatredirect.ca. The Life Is Sweet Project by Ashley Gibson (Angelwalk Theatre). Gibson performs her solo musical cabaret in honour of her mother to raise awareness for mental illness. Feb 10 at 8 pm. $30 (proceeds to CAMH). Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. a ngelwalk.ca. Tar Sands Dragon Opera (Birdbone Theatre). This shadow and puppet play deals with the proposed oil pipeline. Feb 8 at 7 pm. Pwyc. Upfront Studio Theatre, 1290 Finch W, unit 17. westendnoline9@gmail.com.
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Continuing
Cabaret by Christopher Isherwood, John Kander and Fred Ebb (Lower Ossington Theatre). An American writer falls for a nightclub singer in Nazi-era Berlin. Runs to Feb 23, ThuSat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 4 pm. $49-$59. 100A Ossington. lowerossingtontheatre.com. Cerulean Blue by Drew Hayden Taylor (Ryerson Theatre School). A blues band encounters various misfortunes in this comedy. Runs to Feb 12, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $14-$18. Abrams Studio Theatre, 46 Gerrard E. 416979-5118, ryersontheatre.ca. The Children’s Hour by Lillian Hellman (Encore Entertainment). A girl starts a malicious
rumour about two women at an all-girls school. Runs to Feb 9, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $28-$30. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. encoreshows.com. Così Fan Tutte by WA Mozart (Canadian Opera Company). Taking the subtitle (The School For Lovers) of Mozart’s comic opera about love literally, director Atom Egoyan sets the action in a school where two young couples learn about the inconsistencies of affection. The singing and acting are generally strong and Debra Hanson’s attractive design makes striking use of butterflies, but Egoyan’s concept is cool, often confusing and doesn’t get to the story’s heart. Runs to Feb 21, see website for schedule. $12-$332. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca. NNN (JK) The Country Wife by William Wycherley (George Brown Theatre School). A politician is caught between private shame and public scandal. Runs to Feb 15, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 1:30 pm (and Feb 12). $18, srs $12 stu $7. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, youngcentre.ca. Flesh And Other Fragments Of Love by Evelyne de la Chenelière (Tarragon Theatre). A troubled married couple find the body of a drowned woman during their vacation in Ireland; as they concoct her history, each is drawn to the woman. In a production that could use a shot of passion, Nicole Underhay as the drowned woman is ironically the most animated of the trio, though there are moments of striking poetry and intriguing staging as well. Runs to Feb 16, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sun (and some Sat) 2:30 pm. $48-$53, stu/srs $27-$45, rush $13. 30 Bridgman. 416531-1827, tarragontheatre.com. NNN (JK) Free Outgoing by Anupama Chandrasekhar (Nightwood Theatre). A teen sex video goes viral in this play about tech and traditional values in India (see review, page 57). Runs to Feb 16, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $25-$45. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, nightwoodtheatre.net. NNN (Susan G Cole) Genesis & Other Stories by Rosamund Small (Aim for the Tangent Theatre). The story of Adam and Eve is reset in 1965 America. Runs to Feb 15, Wed-Fri 8 pm, Sat 7 and 9 pm. $10$15. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, totix.ca. Idiot’s Delight by Robert E Sherwood (Soulpepper). Countesses, arms dealers, revolutionaries and others spend a weekend in a Swiss hotel on the eve of WWII (see review, page 57). Runs to Mar 1, see website for schedule. $23-$74, rush $5-$23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, youngcentre.ca. NNNN (JK) Jesus Hopped The ‘A’ Train by Stephen Adly Guirgis (Unit 102 Actors Co). This play looks at the judicial system and whether redemption is possible. Runs to Feb 15, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Feb 9 at 2 pm. $20, mat pwyc. Unit 102 The-
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continued on page 58 œ
Physical theatre
“A gripping and insightful story.” TIME OUT
THE GUARDIAN
TICKETS START AT JUST
$25
Photo of Anusree Roy by Tanja-Tiziana
On NOW to February 16
Factory Theatre Mainstage | 125 Bathurst Street FOR TICKETS call 416-504-9971 or visit nightwoodtheatre.net
Directed by Kelly Thornton Starring: Anusree Roy, Ash Knight, Andrew Lawrie, Ellora Patnaik, Sanjay Talwar, Asha Vijayasingham
56
february 6-12 2014 NOW
Ñ
= Critics’ Pick
Bugged out METAMORPHOSIS by Franz Kafka, adapted by David Farr and Gisli Örn Gardarsson (Mirvish). At the Royal Alex Theatre (260 King West). Runs to March 9. $25-$99. See Continuing, page 58. Rating: NNN
Gregor Samsa’s family doesn’t want him to bug them. That’s hard, since he awakens one morning to find himself transformed into a gigantic insect. Franz Kafka’s 1915 novella, adapted by directors David Farr and Gisli Örn Gardarsson, is an allegory about the other, how such a person is rejected and drummed out of conventional society, which prefers things to stay comfortably just as they are. The strength of this touring show begins with Börkur Jónsson’s design, which gives an intentionally skewed view of Gregor’s bedroom, a floor above his family’s staid drawing room. We see into it as if from above, the bed, chair and other furniture actually attached to the wall. In other words, the audience’s view is the same as Gregor’s as he rests on the ceiling.
nnnnn = Standing ovation
nnnn = Sustained applause
Unnur Ösp Stefánsdóttir and Björn Thors turn things upside down.
The intensely gymnastic performance of Björn Thors as Gregor, who spends his time crawling along the walls and ceiling, gives us an even better sense of that viewpoint. His eyes bulging, squatting with legs and arms flung akimbo, Thors physically captures Gregor’s hapless descent into solitude. Using the bannister on the staircase as a perch, Gregor eats stale cheese in preference to other food. He’s further isolated from the others by his speaking voice, which sounds normal to the audience but is unintelligible and causes physical pain to those around him. Increasing the tale’s horror is the process by which his family’s (Unnur Ösp Stefánsdóttir, Tom Mannion and
nnn = Recommended, memorable scenes
Edda Arnljótsdóttir) and various other characters’ (all played by Víkingur Kristjánsson) revulsion is eventually internalized by Gregor. It’s too bad that the production asks everyone but Stefánsdóttir, who plays Gregor’s sister, Greta, to enact broad, heavy-handed caricatures who speak in a largely declamatory and tiresome fashion. Greta begins sympathetically but has a change of heart and becomes brutal, a turn made believable by the actor. The design surprises us again at the end, when Jónsson shows us an ironic image of beauty that contrasts with the starkness of Gregor’s fate. JON KAPLAN
nn = Seriously flawed
n = Get out the hook
period Dramedy
A Masked Ball unveils some major visual and musical treats.
opera
Have a Ball A MASKED BALL by Giuseppe Verdi
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(Canadian Opera Company). At the Four Seasons Centre (145 Queen West). To February 22. $12-$332. 416-363-8231. See Continuing, page 58. Rating: NNNN
Scattered boos greeted some of the directing/design team of A Masked Ball on opening night, which is a shame. While Jossi Wieler and Sergio Morabito’s production – originally created for Staatsoper Berlin in 2008 – might have some logical inconsistencies, it’s a bold reimagining of Verdi’s timeless opera of love and political intrigue. The directors have set the story in Kennedy-era America, where the people’s beloved leader, R iccardo (Dimitri Pittas), is surrounded by supporters and some haters. It’s a time of social and political unrest, one act dominated by the disturbing image of a lynched black woman. But it’s also a period of frivolity and fun, as personified by Oscar (Simone Osborne), who’s usually a male page but is here a sort of edgy female artist trying to breathe life into the hallowed halls of Camelot. (At the climactic ball she wears a knockoff of Björk’s Oscar swan dress.) The main plot is a love triangle focused on Riccardo’s unrequited love for
IDIOT’S DELIGHT by Robert E. Sherwood (Soulpepper). At the Young Centre (50 Tank House). Runs to March 1. $23-$74, rush $5-$23. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca. See Continuing, page 56. Rating: NNNN
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Amelia (Adrianne Pieczonka), who’s married to his right-hand man, Renato (Roland Wood). In a clever move, the directors have added a fourth figure, Riccardo’s wife and First Lady (Adrienne Kress, decked out like a stylish Jackie) who knows about his affairs. And creeping around the edges are a couple of assassins waiting to take him out. Wieler and Morabito have an innate feel for the work’s drama, and the characters move on Barbara Ehnes’s candycoloured set like figures on a living chessboard. Some trivial distractions aside – a game of rock, paper scissors, for instance, or the use of pyjamas in one confusing act – the production is rife with brilliant bits of staging, like having a band play the waltz on a stage-within-a-stage in the final act, or the climactic murder, which happens in a slo-mo, drug-inducedhaze. Under Stephen Lord’s vivid, focused conducting of the Canadian Opera Company orchestra, the performers bring out the tragedy (and bits of comedy) in Verdi’s score, especially Pittas, whose Riccardo is believably extro verted and genial, and Pieczonka, whose voice throbs with dignity and passion. And Elena Manistina delivers some blood-curdling notes as the fortuneteller Ulrica, who presides over this GLENN SUMI production like a sentinel.
family drama
Gone missing FREE OUTGOING by Anupama Chandrasekhar (Nightwood). At Factory Theatre (125 Bathurst). Runs to February 16. $25$45. 416-504-9971. See Continuing, page 56. Rating: NNN It’s easy to see why Nightwood chose to produce Free Outgoing, a play about what happens to a single mother and her family when a cellphone video of her teen daughter having sex goes viral. It’s by a talented female playwright (Anupama Chandrasekhar). It’s about the unfair treatment of an openly sexual young woman in a conservative culture (a Tamil community in the Indian city of Chennai). It puts the spotlight on a prodigiously gifted actor, Anusree Roy, as the girl’s mother – all in keeping with Nightwood’s mandate. Roy gives a masterful performance as Malini, the cash-strapped mom first in denial, then completely desperate. Watch how she uses her body as she finally watches the video. When daughter Deepa, an excellent
Dan Chameroy and Raquel Duffy drink up in rediscovered gem Idiot’s Delight.
True Delight
Anusree Roy (left) and Asha Vijaya singham shed light on important issues.
student, is expelled from school and her boyfriend and his family disappear, leaving Deepa’s family to cope with the outraged neighbours gathered outside their house, Malini is forced to make difficult choices. As her son, who suffers the fallout from his sister’s actions, Andrew Lawrie conveys both anger at being colla teral damage and panic at having to grow up too soon. Sanjay Talwar is suitably weaselly as Malini’s sketchy colleague. Though this sounds like a play
It’s a pleasure to discover a largely forgotten script staged by talented artists, and that’s just what you get in Soulpepper’s production of Idiot’s Delight. Written in 1936, Robert E. Sherwood’s Pulitzer Prize winner delivers a powerful anti-war message three years before the start of World War Two with a combination of comedy, chilling foresight, romance and song and dance. At a resort in the Italian Alps, guests are scarce until the government orders the border closed and a trainful of tra vellers descend on the hotel. Among the new arrivals are a thirdrate but charming impresario, Harry Van (Dan Chameroy), with his showgirls; munitions dealer Achille Weber (Diego Matamoros); and Weber’s attractive “business adviser,” Irene (Raquel Duffy). Harry is sure he’s met Irene before, but she won’t admit anything at first. Only when war and bloodshed become imminent does she open up. The action builds slowly, but once it’s humming, director Albert Schultz’s production is theatrically and emotionally strong. At first you might think you’re watching a period comedy, but even early on there are dark notes. The ending is positively grim. Not all the characters are fully realized in terms of the writing or the acting, but there’s memorable work in William Webster’s German scientist, Gregory Prest’s ardent radical, Evan Buliung’s kind-hearted waiter, resigned to the fact that his world has been turned upside down, and Jeff Lillico’s ripped from the headlines, those headlines are from 2007 in India. Of course, cyber-bullying is still an issue here, and recent teen suicides prove the devastation it causes. But in Canada a principal would be more likely to descend on the kids sharing the video than to throw the victim out of school. A cautionary ad aimed at high schoolers about sharing material like the kind in this play aired during the Super Bowl. Talk about mainstreaming. All this doesn’t make the play irrelevant, just locationspecific. And Chandrasekhar’s decision to make Malini entirely friendless feels like a plot device. But more problematic is the playwright’s decision never to have Deepa appear onstage. This does keep the focus on a mother’s dilemma, but the strategy, seen by some as a brilliant move, sends the wrong message. Presumably, Chandrasekhar doesn’t want to exploit Deepa’s image, but her attempt to avoid re-victimizing the teenager renders her invisible. As it is, the play unfolds as just a first act, making me long for a second in which I can hear Deepa’s own voice.
no-nonsense American, hired to improve the hotel’s fortunes. Paolo Santalucia gives the Italian border officer a touch of humanity beneath his official strictness, while Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster brings warmth and understanding to her role as Harry’s second-in-command. Matamoros never turns Achille into a melodramatic monster, no matter how cold and controlling he is, and
Chameroy’s Harry is appealing, amiable and resilient. It’s Duffy, though, who keeps drawing our attention, whether spinning yarns about her White Russian past, confronting Achille or seducing all the men within sight or hearing as she slinks around in designer Lorenzo Savoini’s gowns. Hers is a masterful, rich performance, sure to be one of the JON KAPLAN year’s best.
Volcano presents
A BEAUTIFUL VIEW By Daniel MacIvor Starring Becky Johnson and Amy Rutherford Directed by Ross Manson Presented in association with BeMe Theatre, Munich
�������� �� �� ����� �, ���� Factory Studio Theatre $25 full price $20 students, seniors & arts workers PWYC March 4
����� ���� �������� Book before February 14 with the promo code CAMPING for $18 tickets! (Offer valid for performances Feb 28, Mar 1, 2, 4 & 5)
�������: �������.�� �� ���� ��� ��� ����
SUSAN G. COLE NOW february 6-12 2014
57
œcontinued from page 56
atre, 376 Dufferin. unit102theatre.com. LABOUR by Eric and Ryan Welch (Coyote Collective). This play explores the lives of burntout day labourers. Runs to Feb 9, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $20, stu/srs $15, mat pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson, Backspace. coyotecollective.wordpress.com. THE LADY’S NOT FOR BURNING by Christopher Fry (Alumnae Theatre). A suicidal soldier falls for a woman accused of witchcraft in 1400s England in this romantic comedy. Runs to Feb 8, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $20. 70 Berkeley. 416-3644170, alumnaetheatre.com. LONDON ROAD by Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork (Canadian Stage). Inspired by the real-life murders of five prostitutes in the English town of Ipswich, this show draws on verbatim interviews with residents to create a rich, troubling and honest portrait of humanity in all its complexity. Jackie Maxwell’s production is evocative, and the performances by the ensemble – both onstage and in the band – are revelatory. Not to be missed. Runs to Feb 9, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $24-$99. Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-3683110, canadianstage.com. NNNNN (GS) LOVELASH by Terence Vince (Entr’acte Studios). This musical comedy satirizes the rom-com genre. Runs to Feb 8, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $25 (partial proceeds to Sheena’s Place). Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. entractestudios.com. MADELEINE ROBIN KNOWN AS ROXANE by Grace Smith (Theatre Double Take). A woman tells her side of a love triangle in this imagined sequel to Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac. Runs to Feb 9, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20, stu/srs $15. lemonTree Studio, 196 Spadina (lower unit). roxane.eventbrite.ca.
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ñA MASKED BALL (UN BALLO IN MASCHERA)
by Giuseppe Verdi (Canadian Opera Company). Verdi’s tale of forbidden passion is set in the American south of the 1960s (see review, page 57). Runs to Feb 22, see website for schedule. $12-$332. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416363-8231, coc.ca. NNNN (GS) METAMORPHOSIS by Franz Kafka (Lyric Hammersmith/Vestuport/Mirvish). A family’s life is turned upside down when their son turns into a giant insect (see review, page 56). Runs to Mar 9, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $25-$99. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com. NNN (JK) OF MICE AND MORRO AND JASP by Heather Marie Annis and Amy Lee (U.N.I.T. Productions). The clown sisters take on John Steinbeck’s Depression-era tale of migrant workers seeking their dreams (see review, page 55). Runs to Feb 8, Tue-Sun 8 pm, mat Thu 1 pm, Sat 2 pm. $25, stu/srs $20. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst, Studio. 416-504-9971, morroandjasp.com. NNNNN (JK) BONCE ON THIS ISLAND by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Acting Up Stage Company). This remount of the musical fairy tale about the love between a peasant and a wealthy man on an unnamed Caribbean island should chase away those winter blues and provide a
bit of a Black History Month lesson to boot. The production has some nice touches – choreography, sound – but the book is thin and the cast uneven. Runs to Feb 9, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $25-$50. Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E, Ada Slaight Hall. 1-800-838-3006, actingupstage.com. NNN (GS) RAVENSCROFT by Don Nigro (Sterling Studio Theatre). A detective looks for the truth about a death and about himself in this dark comedy. Runs to Feb 8, Tue-Sun 8 pm. $20. 163 Sterling, unit 5. sterlingstudiotheatre.com. SCOTLAND ROAD by Jeffrey Hatcher (Amicus Productions). A woman in 19th-century clothing is found on an iceberg 75 years after the Titanic sinking. Runs to Feb 8, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $22, srs $20, stu $18. Papermill Theatre, 67 Pottery. amicusproductions.ca. SWEET CHARITY by Neil Simon, Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields (UC Follies Theatre Co). A dancer seeks true love in 60s NYC. Runs to Feb 8, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $25, stu/srs $12. Hart House Theatre, 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca. TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Alborn (Down n’ Out Productions). A man reunites with his former professor, who is battling ALS. Runs to Feb 12, daily at 6 pm (no shows Feb 7-8), mat Sun 2 pm. $65 (Winterlicious dinner show), Sun pwyc (show only). Campbell House Museum, 160 Queen W. 416597-0227, campbellhousemuseum.ca. THE UGLY ONE by Marius von Mayenburg (Theatre Smash/Tarragon Theatre). Von Mayenburg’s satire on beauty, temptation and conformity concerns an ugly inventor (David Jansen) whose plastic surgery changes his life for the better... until others start resembling him. The themes might be blunt, but Ashlie Corcoran’s production is razor sharp, with evocative sets and sound heightening the drama. Look for a clever use of apples and for richly nuanced performances by Jansen, Hardee T Lineham and Naomi Wright. Runs to Feb 16, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $48-$53, stu/srs $27-$45, rush $13. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman, Extra Space. 416-5311827, tarragontheatre.com. NNNN (GS) BUNDERGROUND ALPHABET RAILROAD by James Valitchka and Elle Reyes (Child and Teen Drama Program & Production Company). Kids from different countries befriend the children of slaves in their town in this play about the right to education. Runs to Feb 10, see website for times. $16, child $8. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. bit.ly/1i7DE7R. THE WAY BACK TO THURSDAY by Rob Kempson (Theatre Passe Muraille). Kempson’s warm song cycle explores 30 years in the relationship between a gay man and his grandmother, who share a mutual attraction to Rock Hudson. Afraid to tell her when he comes out, he flees Toronto for Vancouver, only to return and bring their relationship full circle. Kempson’s music and lyrics are multihued, his performance and that of Astrid Van Wieren engaging and attractive. Runs to Feb 8, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $15-$32.50, mat pwyc. 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca. NNNN (JK) 3
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13/14
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MORE ONLINE
Complete listings at nowtoronto.com
BTHE
comedy listings How to find a listing
Comedy listings appear chronologically, and alphabetically by title or venue. B = Black History Month event
To Feb 9, Thu-Sun 8 pm (and Fri-Sat 10:30 pm). $13-$22. 224 Richmond W. 416-967-6425, yukyuks.com.
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= Critics’ pick (highly recommended)
Friday, February 7
How to place a listing
All listings are free. Send to: stage@nowtoronto.com, fax 416-364-1166 or mail to Comedy, NOW Magazine, 189 Church, Toronto M5B 1Y7. Include title, producer, comics, brief synopsis, days and times, range of ticket prices, venue name and address and box office/ info phone number/website. Listings may be edited for space. Deadline is the Thursday before publication at 5 pm.
Thursday, February 6
ABSOLUTE COMEDY See Thu 6. THE BEST OF THE SECOND CITY presents classic
and original sketch and improv. 10:30 pm. $24. Second City, 51 Mercer. secondcity.com. CATCH 23 Comedy Bar presents a weekly improv pit fight. 8 pm. $10. 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, comedybar.ca. GLOBEHEAD 2014: PRELIMS Bad Dog Theatre presents the annual shortform battle royale w/ the Sufferettes, Hawkins, Tony Ho and others. To Feb 8, Fri-Sat 8 pm. (Quarterfinals start Feb 14.) $12, stu $10, pass $40. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, baddogtheatre.com/globehead-2014. KATHLEEN PHILLIPS SOLO COMEDY The Flying Beaver Pubaret presents the character comic in a live show. 7 pm. $10-$15. 488 Parliament. 647-347-6567, pubaret.com.
ñ ñ
ABSOLUTE COMEDY presents headliner DeAnne Smith w/ Dred Lee and host ñ Aaron Power. To Feb 9, Thu 8:30 pm, Fri 9 pm, ñ Sat 8 & 10:45 pm, Sun 8 pm. $10-$15. 2335 Yonge. 416-486-7700, absolutecomedy.ca.
BELLEVILLE-VILLE The Joy of Camping presents
an improv soap opera about 70s small-town Canada w/ Becky Belton, Adam Bailey, Don Berns and others. 8 pm. $10. Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton. facebook.com/TheJoyOfCamping. COMICAL: VOLUME 16 Comedy Bar presents stand-up w/ headliner TRIXX, Ryan Dillon, Keesha Brownie, Sara Hennessey, Bobby Knauff and host Michael Flamank. 9:30 pm. $10. 945 Bloor W. comedybar.ca. DOING IT! Moniquea Marion presents a new monthly one-woman comedy show with improv, standup, stories and more. 8 pm. $8. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. comedybar.ca. SPRING 2014 MAINSTAGE REVUE Second City presents previews of its upcoming collection of sketches, songs and improvisations. Indefinite run, Tue-Thu 8 pm, Fri 7:30 pm, SatSun 7:30 & 10 pm. $25-$29. 51 Mercer. 416343-0011, secondcity.com.
ñ
COMEDY NIGHT: CELEBRATING OUR IDENTITY Kuumba Festival preñ sents Trixx (see cover story, page 50), Jay BKUUMBA
Martin, Nick Reynoldson and Marlon Palmer. 8 pm. $18. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W, Brigantine Room. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com. SPRING 2014 MAINSTAGE REVUE See Thu 6. TOP SHELF COMEDY presents The Main Event, a weekly pro headliner and others. 9:30 pm. $5. St Louis Bar & Grill, 1963 Queen E. 416637-7427.
UNDERGROUND COMEDY RAILROAD SHOW presents Canada’s ñ first all-black comedy tour w/ Trixx, Gilson BTHE
Lubin, Andrew Searles, Keesha Brownie, Daniel Woodrow and Rodney Ramsey. 10 pm. $15-$20. Baltic Avenue, 875 Bloor W. undergroundcomedyrailroad.com. WEIRD AL KARAOKE Comedy Bar presents local performers doing original renditions of songs in Weird Al style. 10 pm. $tba. 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, comedybar.ca. YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN See Thu 6.
sketch comedy conglomerate. 9 pm. $10. 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, comedybar.ca. GLOBEHEAD 2014: PRELIMS See Fri 7. BKENNY ROBINSON Maria A Shchuka Library presents the comic in a Black History Month show suitable for ages 13 and up. 2 pm. Free. 1745 Eglinton W. torontopubliclibrary.ca. THE LONGFORM IMPROV SHOWCASE Comedy Bar presents Bacon Bits, Duo Dad, Bamboo Kids Club, Pressure Cooker & host Rob Baker. 10:30 pm. $8. 945 Bloor W. comedybar.ca. RED ROCKET COMEDY presents a weekly show w/ Joel West & guests. 8 pm. Free. Red Rocket Coffee, 1364 Danforth. redrocketcoffee.com. SPRING 2014 MAINSTAGE REVUE See Thu 6.
ñ
2013 | 2014 Season
Theatre (Toronto)
A Soldier’s Tale • Feb 20-22, 2014, 8pm Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre 207 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Choreographer: Michael Greyeyes
973-4000
$2825 - $3725 Adult $1875 - $26 stu/sen/CADA/SCDS
Box Office 416 harbourfrontcentre.com/nextsteps danceworks.ca
WEST END GIRLS: JO-ANNA DOWNEY FUNDRAISER EDITION present Carolyn ñ Taylor, Sara Hennessey, Christophe Davidson, Kate Anderson and others. 7 pm. $12. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. westendgirls.ca. YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN See Thu 6.
Sunday, February 9 ABSOLUTE COMEDY See Thu 6. HAPPY HOUR COMEDY: GIVE ME MY SPOT CON-
58
FEBRUARY 6-12 2014 NOW
Ñ
= Critics’ Pick
NNNNN = Standing ovation
NNNN = Sustained applause
NNN = Recommended, memorable scenes
Andrew Searles, Sharif and Trixx. 8 pm. $25. Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton. 905874-2800, undergroundcomedyrailroad.com. WAR PORSCHE Lara Johnson presents bold storytelling and dynamic improv w/ Colin Munch, Eric Miinch, Lara Johnson and others. 8 pm. $8. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. facebook. com/WarPorsche. YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN See Thu 6.
Monday, February 10
YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN presents Heidi Foss.
ABSOLUTE COMEDY See Thu 6. GIRLS NIGHT ON Comedy Bar presents a female
Ticket Prices
peting for a spot on Yuk Yuk’s Tuesday Night Show. 8 pm. Free. 229 College. ein-stein.ca. SPRING 2014 MAINSTAGE REVUE See Thu 6. STEAMY CREAMY COMEDY S.O.M.N. presents a weekly show. 8 pm. Free. Cafe Pamenar, 307 Augusta. facebook.com/steamycreamy. SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE The Sketchersons present live sketch and music w/ guest host McGee Maddox of the National Ballet of Canada. 9 pm. $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. thesketchersons.com.
UNDERGROUND COMEDY RAILROAD SHOW presents the black comedy ñ tour w/ Keesha Brownie, Zabrina Chevannes,
Saturday, February 8
DW 204 Signal
TEST Ein-Stein presents 6 contestants com-
Kathleen Phillips gets laughs at the Pubaret, February 7.
SUSAN KING
theatre listings
ALTDOT COMEDY LOUNGE Rivoli presents Mark Forward, Danny Polishchuk, Adam ñ Christie, Rhiannon Archer, Trixx, Simon King,
Jordan Foisy, MC Chris Locke and others. 9 pm. $5. 332 Queen W. altdotcomedylounge.com. THE BEST OF THE SECOND CITY presents classic and original sketch and improvisation. 8 pm. $14. Second City, 51 Mercer. secondcity.com. CHEAP LAUGHS MONDAY PJ O’Briens Irish Pub presents an open mic w/ Russell Roy & guests. 9:30 pm. Free. 39 Colborne. 416-815-7562. ILLUSTRATED MEN & FRIENDS present comedy w/ Neil Crone, Kevin Frank, Carolyn Scott and a musical guest. 8 pm. $15. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, redsandcastletheatre.com. IMPERIAL COMEDY SHOW Imperial Pub presents a weekly show. 9:30 pm. Free. 54 Dundas E. 416-977-4667, imperialcomedy.com. OFFICE PUB COMEDY presents 12 pros and amateurs each week w/ hosts Cassandra Sansosti and Blayne Smith. 8 pm. Free. The Office Pub, 117 John. 416-977-1900.
Tuesday, February 11 THE FIRESTARTER Fox & Fiddle presents weekly
pros & lotto spots w/ host Kyle Andrews. 8:30 pm. Free. 280 Bloor W. 416-966-4369. LES IMPROBABLES Supermarket presents a biweekly show with competitive improv en français. 7 pm. $5. 268 Augusta. 416-8400501, ligueimprotoronto@gmail.com. MEGA CRAZY CRAZY FRENZY! The Garrison presents stand-up w/ Geoff May, Aaron Hanson, Ian Gordon, Tom Hobson, Ian MacIntyre, Kathleen Phillips and hosts Matt Collins & Jeremy Woodcock. 9 pm. Free. 1197 Dundas W. 416-519-9439. THE SKIN OF MY NUTS presents a weekly open mic w/ host Vandad Kardar. 9:30 pm. Free. Sonic Espresso Bar, 60 Cecil. facebook.com/ skinofmynuts. SPRING 2014 MAINSTAGE REVUE See Thu 6. TUESDAY HEADLINER SERIES COMEDY Imperial Pub presents host Danny Polishchuk and guests. 9:30 pm. Free. 54 Dundas E. 416-9774667, imperialcomedy.com.
Wednesday, February 12 ABSOLUTE COMEDY presents Pro-Am night w/
headliner Steve Levine, Akshay Sharma, Allen Yiu, Alex Crawford, Leny Corrado, Rino Palumbo, Chad Gibson and host Simon Rakoff. 8:30 pm. $6. 2335 Yonge. absolutecomedy.ca. CONSENSUAL SNACKS Cassie Moes presents a comedic variety show dedicated to the world’s greatest seasoned tortilla chips. 8 pm. $5. Baltic Avenue, 875 Bloor W. 647-898-5324, facebook.com/events/262914677204957. FINAL FRONTIER Bad Dog Theatre Epic Wednesdays presents improv inspired by the Star Trek universe. 8 pm. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, baddogtheatre.com. SIREN’S COMEDY Celt’s Pub presents open-mic stand-up w/ host Cassandra Sansosti and headliner Brian Ward. 8:30 pm. Free. 2872 Dundas W. 416-767-3339. SPIRITS COMEDY Spirits Bar & Grill presents one of North America’s longest-running comedy shows. Wednesdays 9 pm. Free. 642 Church. 416-967-0001. SPRING 2014 MAINSTAGE REVUE See Thu 6. TOP SHELF COMEDY presents The Spotlight, a weekly night of top comics. 9 pm. $5. WAYLA Bar, 996 Queen E. 416-901-5570. YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN presents Allyson Smith. To Feb 16, Wed-Sun 8 pm (and Fri-Sat 10:30 pm). $13-$22. 224 Richmond W. 416-967-6425, yukyuks.com. 3
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NN = Seriously flawed
N = Get out the hook
art
In Christina Battle’s dearfield, colorado, words and photos recall a natural disaster.
video/photo installation
Nature’s fury What Was Will Be probes communities’ experience of n atural disasters By Fran Schechter Christina Battle and Kristie MacDonald at Gallery 44, 401
ñ
Richmond West #120, to February 15. 416-979-3941. Rating: NNNN
The words “natural disaster” bring to mind thoughts of devastating loss of shelter and lives, and our recent freezing days without power. In What Was Will Be, Christina Battle, a Canadian based in Denver, and Kristie MacDonald, a local who also works as an archivist, take a historical approach to representing extreme weather events. Time provides a sense of distance from the destruction and the human trauma that must have accompanied it. Battles’s video installation dearfield, colorado – an African-American town founded in 1910 and abandoned during the 1930s Dust Bowl era – is part of an ongoing project called Mapping The Prairies Through Disaster. It screens in a room clad with reflective metal sheeting, a reference to the power of dust storms to electrify metal, with a soundtrack of staticky “sferic” recordings, broadband impulses created by lightning strikes. Battle has photographed the decaying rural buildings under sunny skies, overlaying them with short quotes from survivors’ descriptions of the storms. Behind the peaceful images lies a history of broken dreams: of farmers uprooted by the drought and dust, the result of agricultural practices that destroyed the ecology of the Great Plains; and of black founders of towns like Dearfield who sought an escape from Southern racism in the North and West. In Mechanisms For Correcting The Past, MacDonald takes vintage found photos of shacks and small dwellings cut loose from their foundations by floods and turns them on an angle so their rooflines are approximately horizontal. Four tilted photographs hang on one wall, while on another a slide image emanates from a projector that a
mechanism on a carefully constructed wooden table raises and lowers at an angle. The strategy is pathetically inadequate to mitigate the hopeless condition of the ruined structures. These low-key, deceptively simple works carry an ominous message: since we’ve failed to learn from What Was, we’re doomed to endure similar disasters. 3 art@nowtoronto.com art listings on page 60 œ
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= Critics’ Pick NNNNN = This could change your life NNNN = Brain candy nnn = Solid, sometimes inspirational nn = Not quite there n = Are we at the mall?
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An agency of the Government of Ontario. Relève du gouvernement de l’Ontario.
NOW february 6-12 2014
59
books
MUST-SEE SHOWS B= = Black History Month exhibit V= = Valentine’s Day exhibit ART METROPOLE Fraser Muggeridge, talk
on Mike Nelson 7-9 pm Feb 6. Video: Network Consciousness, Feb 8-Mar 8, reception 7:30 pm Feb 8. 1490 Dundas W. 416703-4400. CLINT ROENISCH Tony Romano, to Mar 1. 944 Queen W. 416-516-8593. CORKIN GALLERY Collage: Barbara Astman, to Feb 28. 7 Tank House Lane. 416979-1980. VGALLERY 1313 The Sex Show, to Feb 16, reception 8 pm Feb 6. 1313 Queen W. 416536-6778. GALLERY TPW Nadia Belerique, Feb 8-Mar 1, reception 2-5 pm Feb 8. 1256 Dundas W. 416-645-1066. GALLERYWEST Jason Wright, to Feb 28, reception 7-10 pm Feb 6. 1172 Queen W. 416-913-7116.
GENERAL HARDWARE CONTEMPORARY
Painting: Alex Bierk, to Feb 15. 1520 Queen W. 416-821-3060. GEORGIA SCHERMAN Sandra Meigs, to Mar 1. 133 Tecumseth. 416-554-4112. GLADSTONE HOTEL Textiles: Hard Twist 2014 – This Is Personal, to Apr 27. B Photos: Jon Blak, to Feb 28, tour/
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film screening noon-2 pm Feb 9. 1214 Queen W. 416-531-4635. JESSICA BRADLEY GALLERY Painting: Ben Reeves, to Feb 15. 74 Miller. 416-537-3125. KOFFLER GALLERY Sigalit Landau, Feb 6-Apr 6, reception 6-9 pm Feb 6. 180 Shaw. 647-9250643. MERCER UNION Bridget Moser, Michael Vickers and Nikki Woolsey, Feb 7-Mar 22, reception 7 pm Feb 7. 1286 Bloor W. 416-536-1519.
and Viktor Tinkl, to Feb 28. Kim Adams, Feb 8-May 4, reception 2-4 pm Feb 9. Tyler Tekatch, to May 25. $10, stu/srs $8, free first Fri of month 5-9 pm. 123 King W (Hamilton). 905-527-6610. ART GALLERY OF MISSISSAUGA Visual Arts Mississauga group show, to Feb 22. 300 City Centre (Mississauga). 905-896-5088.
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ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO 1st Thursdays, 7
pm Feb 6 ($12-$15). The Great Upheaval: Modern Masterpieces From The Guggenheim Collection, to Mar 2 ($25, stu $16.50, Wed 6-8:30 pm $12.50). Artsy Games Organizing, to Mar 21 (Community Gallery). Light My Fire: Five Propositions About Portraits, to Apr 30. Brian Jungen and Duane Linklater, to Jun 15. Elevated: Contemporary
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FEBRUARY 6-12 2014 NOW
Hail Hamilton THE TWO SISTERS OF BORNEO by Ian Hamilton (Anansi), 326 pages, $19.95 paper. Rating: NNNN
ñ
ñNEUBACHER SHOR CONTEMPORARY
Painting: Bobby Mathieson, to Feb 8. 5 Brock. 416-546-3683. O’BORN CONTEMPORARY Jill Greenberg, to Mar 15. 131 Ossington. 416-413-9555. OPEN STUDIO Installation: Guillaume BrissonDarveau and Pascaline Knight, Astrid Ho, to Feb 15. 401 Richmond W. 416-504-8238. PARI NADIMI Pics Or It Didn’t Happen group show; installation: Joe McKay, Feb 6-Mar 29, reception 6-9 pm Feb 6. 254 Niagara. 416591-6464. PREFIX Regina José Galindo, Latin American Speakers Series talk 7 pm Feb 7 ($10). Video: Sylvia Safdie, Feb 6-Mar 29, reception 7-10 pm Feb 6. 401 Richmond W. 416-591-0357. SCRAP METAL Shary Boyle, Sarah Sze and Joana Vasconcelos, to Feb 22. Sat noon5 pm or by appt. 11 Dublin. 416-588-2442. STEPHEN BULGER Photos: André Kertész, to
THIS WEEK IN THE MUSEUMS ART GALLERY OF HAMILTON Joseph Calleja
MYSTERY
@nowtorontopromo
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David Hawe’s Big Locks show opens at Wayla Bar on February 6. Feb 22. 1026 Queen W. 416-504-0575.
VTAPE The Curatorial Incubator: Set
Tongues Wagging, Feb 8-Mar 7. The Curatorial Incubator: Screen Test, to Feb 7. 401 Richmond W #452. 416-351-1317. WAYLA BAR Photos: David Hawe, Feb 6-Mar 3, reception Feb 6. 996 Queen E. 416-901-5570.
Art In The AGO Tower, to Oct 12. $19.50, srs $16, stu $11, free Wed 6-8:30 pm (special exhibits excluded). 317 Dundas W. 416-9796648. ART GALLERY OF YORK U The Centre For Incidental Activisms (CIA) #2, to Mar 2. 4700 Keele, Accolade E bldg. 416-736-5169. BLACKWOOD GALLERY Ahmet Ögüt, to Mar 2. 3359 Mississauga N, U of T Mississauga (Mississauga). 905-828-3789. DESIGN EXCHANGE 100% TobeUs: 100 Cars, to Feb 9 (free, todesignoffsite.com). This Is Not A Toy, Feb 7-May 18. $10, stu/srs $8. 234 Bay. 416-363-6121. GARDINER MUSEUM OF CERAMIC ART Ron Thom And The Allied Arts, panel 7-8 pm ($15) Feb 11, Feb 13-Apr 27. $12, stu $6, srs $8; Fri 4-9 pm half-price, 30 and under free. 111 Queen’s Park. 416-586-8080. JUSTINA M. BARNICKE CounterIntelligence, to Mar 16. 7 Hart House. 416-978-8398.
McMICHAEL CANADIAN ART COLLECTION
David McEown and Ben Barak, to Mar 15. Mary Pratt, to Apr 27. Changing Tides: Contemporary Art Of Newfoundland And Labrador, to Jun 1. $15, stu/srs $12. 10365 Islington (Kleinburg). 905-893-1121. MOCCA Misled By Nature: Contemporary Art And The Baroque, Feb 8-Apr 6, curator/artist talks 1 pm, reception 2-5 pm Feb 8. 952 Queen W. 416-395-0067. OAKVILLE GALLERIES Sonny Assu (Centennial, 120 Navy); A Noble Line (Gairloch, 1306 Lakeshore E), to Feb 16. (Oakville). 905-844-4402. POWER PLANT Mike Nelson, to May 19, Robert Enright talk 2 pm Feb 9. 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4949. ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM Faces To Remember: Chinese Portraits Of The Ming And Qing Dynasties, to Feb 23. Wildlife Photographer Of The Year, to Mar 23 ($21, stu/srs $18.50, under 14 free). $15, stu/srs $13.50; Fri 4:308:30 pm $9, stu/srs $8. 100 Queen’s Park. 416-586-8000. RYERSON IMAGE CENTRE Black Star Subject: Canada; Robert Burley, Phil Bergerson and Elisa Julia Gilmour, to Apr 13. 33 Gould. 416979-5164. BTEXTILE MUSEUM OF CANADA Heather Goodchild and Jérôme Havre, to Apr 13. Telling Stories, to Apr 13. From Geisha To Diva: The Kimonos Of Ichimaru, to May 11. $15, srs $10, stu $6; pwyc Wed 5-8 pm. 55 Centre. 416-599-5321. UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ART CENTRE Framing Narratives: Renaissance To Modernism, to Mar 8. 15 King’s College Circle. 416-9781838. VARLEY ART GALLERY PechaKucha, artist’s talks 7 pm Feb 7. Colour, In Theory, to May 4. $5, stu/srs $4. 216 Main (Unionville). 905477-9511. 3
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MORE ONLINE
Complete art listings at nowtoronto.com/art/listings
Ian Hamilton’s great new Ava Lee mystery has the same wow factor as its five predecessors. The plot is complex and fast-paced, the writing tight, and its protagonist is one of the most interesting female avengers to come along in a while. A stylish young ChineseCanadian lesbian and a brilliant forensic accountant, Ava’s been working in the debt collection business with her partner, Uncle, a former Triad boss. Now he’s dying, and Ava’s in Hong Kong looking after him. When the Bornean furniture company she’s invested in falls victim to a suspected fraud, Ava follows the money trail to Amsterdam and then Kota Kinabalu to recoup her and her partners’ money. She attacks the problem with her usual fearless energy, and there’s never a dull moment.
If you like your mysteries with a strong travel element, Hamilton doesn’t disappoint. His locations are rich in detail, and his description of the huge Hong Kong wedding that opens the book is worthy of an anthropologist. In the previous books, Ava is ruthless when it comes to getting her clients’ money back, skilled in martial arts and ready to use violence when necessary. Here we’re given a glimpse of a softer Ava, torn apart by the impending death of Uncle, who, in a final intervention, shows how powerful he still is. Despite his past, Uncle is portrayed as an honourable man, as appealing a character as Ava. Their complicated relationship has been a big part of the books. Which makes me wonder: what’s going to happen without him? At the end, Hamilton skilfully throws in a new player, hinting that a fresh, scintillating collaboration awaits Ava LESLEY McALLISTER Lee. Hamilton does a signing Monday (February 10) at Chapters Indigo. See Readings, this page. Write books at books@nowtoronto.com
Hear Howard Shrier at Murder And Mayhem.
MORE KILLER BOOKS If you’re looking for more mystery action, check out the Murder And Mayhem event Wednesday (February 12) at the Runnymede Library. A raft of crime writers are slated to read, including Howard Shrier (Miss Montreal), Nate Hendley (The Mafia: A Guide To An American Subculture), Dorothy McIntosh (Babylon: Thriller), Jen J. Danna (No One Sees Me ’Til I Fall) and Sharon A. Crawford (Beyond The Tripping Point). See Readings, this page.
HARRIET WICHIN
art
READINGS THIS WEEK Friday, February 7 BURROUGHS 100 TORONTO: THE DREAM MACHINE Williams Burroughs centenary celebra-
tion with anecdotes on being gay by Neil Hennessy, readings by Eric Schmaltz and more. 7 pm. $5. Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen W. thedrakehotel.ca.
STEPHEN COLLIS/MARGARET CHRISTAKOS/
MICHAEL BOUGHN/PAUL DUTTON Poetry readings and performance. 8 pm. Free. Hart House Debates Rm, 7 Hart House Circle. facebook. com/events/602260896513498
Saturday, February 8 TORONTO POETRY SLAM Spoken word compe-
tition. 4:30 pm. $5. Drake Underground, 1150 Queen W. torontopoetryslam.com.
Sunday, February 9 BARRY BROWN Reading from his book From
Humanity: The World Before Religion, War & Inequality. Noon. Free. Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen E. shalomaste.com.
JOHN GEIGER/ANNA HOPE/TED BARRIS/RICK SMITH AND BRUCE LOURIE Authors’ brunch. 10
am. $50. King Edward Hotel, 37 King E. 416361-0032. LUBA LESCYCHYN Signing copies of her book Theft By Chocolate. 2 pm. Free. Chapters,
John and Richmond. chapters.indigo.ca. NAKED GIRLS READING: BAD ROMANCE Literary series. Doors 7 pm. $20-$25. Round, 152 Augusta. nakedgirlstorfeb.eventbrite.ca.
Monday, February 10 IAN HAMILTON Launching his new mystery novel, The Two Sisters Of Borneo. ñ 7 pm. Free. Indigo Manulife, 55 Bloor W. chapters.indigo.ca.
Tuesday, February 11 DAVID KERTZER Dine with the author of The Pope And Mussolini. 6:30 pm. $100. Grano, 2035 Yonge. RSVP to 416-361-0032.
Wednesday, February 12 STACEY MAY FOWLES/EMMA HEALEY/PETER UNWIN Reading. 8 pm. Pwyc. Press Club, 850 Dundas W. pivotreadings.ca.
MURDER AND MAYHEM Crime writers Howard Shrier, Nate Hendley, Dorothy McIntosh, Jen J Danna and Sharon A Crawford read. 6:30 pm. Free. Runnymede Library, 2178 Bloor W. torontopubliclibrary.ca. TORONTO CELEBRATES CANADA READS Meet some of this year’s nominated authors and their champions. 7 pm. Free. Reference Library, 789 Yonge. torontopubliclibrary.ca. books@nowtoronto.com
= Critics’ Pick NNNNN = Can’t live without it NNNN = Riveting NNN = Worthy NN = Remainder bin here we come
N = Doorstop material
movies more online nowtoronto.com/movies
Appreciation of PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN, 1967-2014 • Review of VAMPIRE ACADEMY • and more
writer/directsor interview
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
LEGO LAUGHS
How to build a different kind of toy story By NORMAN WILNER THE LEGO MOVIE written and directed by
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Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, from a story by Lord, Miller, Dan Hageman and Kevin Hageman, with voices of Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell and Will Arnett. A Warner Bros. release. 100 minutes. Opens Friday (February 7). For venues and times, see Movies, page 66.
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are used to playing with reality. In their wonderful TV series Clone High and their feature film work, they’ve played with the distinction between straight storytelling and self-aware parody. When characters in the animated Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs or the live-action 21 Jump Street comment on the absurdity of their situation, it’s part of the fun. “We enjoy crossing back and forth over the line between what’s real and what’s not,” Miller says. They’re antic deconstructionists, really. Which is why it’s so much fun to see their sensibility shine through in their new animated adventure, The Lego Movie. “What’s interesting about Lego is it’s constantly reminding you that it’s a facsimile of something else,” Miller says. “It’s a reproduction of the Taj Mahal or a police car or whatever. That’s stimulating to us artistically; I think it’ll always be a hallmark of our work. It’s real, we’re trying to really hook you, and we’re trying to convince the audience to invest emotionally in this moment, and then the very next moment we slap everybody and say, ‘Just kidding! This is all fake.’” The genius of The Lego Movie is that it busts out each new insane plot develop-
Ñ
ment with the unhinged enthusiasm of a child spinning a story to entertain himself. “It was always our hope to make a movie that felt like it was from the mind of an eight-year-old,” Miller says. “Which was not difficult, given the filmmakers,” laughs Lord. “That was sort of a guiding principle,” Miller continues. “And what’s great about Lego is that you have all this infinite possibility, all this [potential] creativity, and you have licensed characters who could interact with each other in a way you can’t do with any other movie.” “That’s kinda how you played with Lego when you were a kid, and how kids play with them now,” Lord says. “We wanted it to have that logic that doesn’t really have [any] underpinnings but kind of feels right. We worked hard just to do that, and we felt that if we told a coherent emotional story and you were invested, then we could be really illogical with everything else in the movie.” “The trick was to find a story that actually worked on an emotional arc at the same time,” Miller says. “If you had an eight-yearold tell you a story for 90 minutes, it would make you sleepy.” The other characteristic that defines their work is its endless optimism, which sets them apart from animators who make movies about bickering prehistoric mammals or farting minions. “We try to avoid any mean-spirited humour and just have it be fun,” Miller says. “Just from a psychological standpoint, it’s really helpful having films with a joyful message and positivity, so we try to do that with all our movies, really.”
REVIEW THE LEGO MOVIE (Phil Lord, Christopher Miller) Rating: NNNN Sweet, funny, preposterously complex and uniquely ridiculous, The Lego Movie feels like a quantum step up for both CG animation and movies based on marketing pitches. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs) have created a sprawling 3D fantasy universe designed to mimic stop-motion animation. (There’s some actual stop-motion work, but good luck telling the difference.) They’ve also folded every heroic quest into the story of Emmet (voiced by Moneyball’s Chris Pratt), an ordinary construction worker who finds himself dubbed The Special, the one person who can save the universe from the evil plans of the sinister Lord Business (Will Ferrell). Emmet’s allies include characters from various Lego realms, including punk warrior Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) and a cockier-than-usual Batman (Will Arnett). Aiding Lord Business is the literally bipolar team of Bad Cop and Good Cop, both voiced by Liam Neeson. Kids will be thrilled by the non-stop activity and insane creative leaps, while grown-ups will also appreciate those leaps – especially one toward the end – and delight in how the voice actors are enjoying themselves NW as much as the audience.
ñ
= Critic’s Pick NNNNN = Top ten of the year NNNN = Honourable mention NNN = Entertaining NN = Mediocre N = Bomb
That includes this summer’s sequel, 22 Jump Street. “We have a friend, [producer] Lindsay Doran,” Lord says. “She gave a TED talk about positive films and why somehow those films don’t seem as important to us. “We obviously disagree,” he laughs, “and think [The Lego Movie] should win the Oscar.” 3 normw@nowtoronto.com | @wilnervision
Phil Lord (left), Elizabeth Banks and Chris Miller avoid mean-spirited humour in The Lego Movie.
NOW FEBRUARY 6-12 2014
61
documentary
Vital Vidal Gore Vidal: The United States Of
ñAmnesia
(Nicholas D. Wrathall). 83 minutes. Opens Friday (February 7). For venues and times, see Movies, page 66. Rating: NNNN
Nicholas D. Wrathall’s documentary Gore Vidal: The United States Of Amnesia weaves extensive footage of the author and gadfly – who died in 2012 – discussing American political and cultural policy (and his own illustrious personal life) with admiring testimonials from celebrated writers and thinkers who knew him over the decades, including Tim Robbins and Sting. Everyone has very nice things to say, but the real star is Vidal himself – a
man born to privilege who understood the contradictions of his queer liberal perspective and reinvented himself as an outspoken critic of conservatism and religious oppression, a game and witty debater and a subversive author and screenwriter. It’s a bracing history of a life vividly lived, and few documentaries manage the simple visual eloquence of cutting between clips of the young, furious Vidal and the physically faltering but still mentally acute man he became in his later years. Wrathall doesn’t shy away from the reality of old age, although it’s heartening to see Vidal’s eyes still blaze with righteous fury while old rivals like William F. Buckley Jr. slide into louche parNorman Wilner odies of themselves.
Feral is all bark, no bite.
short films
Oscar hopefuls Check out this year’s batch of Academy Award nominees By NORMAN WILNER Oscar Shorts at TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King West) from Friday (February 7) to February 13. tiff.net. See Movies, page 66.
Someone at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a dog person. Two of this year’s five nomi nees for best animated short feature scene-stealing pups, or artistic representations thereof – and they’re pretty damn adorable. This week you can see them in the Lightbox’s annual Oscar Shorts screenings, which separate the animated and live-action nominees into separate packages. The animated program (rating: NNN) runs about 80 minutes in total, and the aforementioned canines can be found in Mr. Hublot, a delightfully odd French com edy about a fussy little man who takes in a particularly chaotic puppy. The twist is that both characters – and everything else in their world – are mechanical in na ture, letting directors Laurent Witz and Alexandre Es pigares build an entire world of clanking metal ob jects. The other dog-centric title is Room On The Broom, a British production with an all-star voice cast that in cludes Gillian Anderson, Rob Brydon, Timothy Spall and current best supporting actress nominee Sally Hawkins. Produced for BBC television, it’s pleasant enough but very clearly pad ded to fill a half-hour broadcast slot. The dog’s still great, though. If you’ve seen Frozen, you’ll already have encountered Disney’s Get A Horse!, which puts Mickey Mouse (voiced, through the magic of digital audio res toration, by Walt Disney) and his
friends through the 3D CG rendering process for a ca lamitous chase sequence. The other two shorts are vividly realized exercises in specific animation styles – Shuhei Morita’s Possessions in CG geometry, Daniel Sousa and Dan Golden’s Feral in hand-drawn minimal ism – with minimal impact. The 97-minute live-action series (rating: NNNN) has considerably more on its mind – though not all the pieces land as well as they should. Selma Vilhunen and Kirsikka Saari’s Do I Have To Take Care Of Everything? is a generic farce about a Finnish family racing to get to a wedding, and Anders Walter and Kim Magnusson’s Helium is the mawkish tale of a hospital orderly com forting a dying boy with tales of a fantastical afterlife. The other three entries are far stronger. Mark Gill and Baldwin Li’s The Voorman Problem stars The Hob bit’s Martin Freeman as a psychiatrist confounded by a patient (Tom Hollander) who claims to be a god. And Esteban Crespo’s That Wasn’t Me takes a formulaic setup about African child soldiers and European do-good ers and spins it into something murky, ugly and power ful. But the real highlight is Xavier Legrand’s Just Before Losing Everything, a half-hour piece about a woman (Léa Drucker) making a desperate at tempt to put her affairs in order before abandoning her marriage. It’s abso lutely riveting and totally focused, and Legrand – a former child actor making his debut as a writer-direc tor – makes excellent use of the limited running time. 3
february 6-12 2014 NOW
documentary
Atheist icons The Unbelievers (Gus Holwerda). 77 minutes. Opens Friday (February 7). For venues and times, see Movies, page 66. Rating: NNN Biologist Richard Dawkins and physicist Lawrence Krauss are the rock stars of the atheist movement, travelling the world to debate religious fundamentalists and deliver rational, wellargued speeches about finding meaning in the very meaninglessness of a world without gods. Gus Holwerda’s upbeat doc mostly focuses on the pair’s tour of Australia, where they speak at the Sydney Opera House and a number of colleges despite some minor agitation from Christian and Muslim protesters. It’s weird to feel unfulfilled by a documen-
tary about people with whom I absolutely agree, but Holwerda’s desire to package Dawkins and Krauss’s ideas in a slick, fast-moving presentation works against the pair’s conversational rhythms – to say nothing of what it does to their more complex arguments. Everything’s chopped down to a rallying cry, reducing the conflict between secular and theological positions to a simplistic us-versus-them argument that only one side deserves to win. If you’re already on that side, you can come away feeling empowered. But painting the opposition as blinkered, howling idiots doesn’t really help. It might feel satisfying in the editing suite, but it doesn’t serve anyone in the long run, even the film itself. Norman Wilner
normw@nowtoronto.com | @wilnervision
Mr. Hublot is a delightfully odd French short.
62
Gore Vidal burns with passion and righteous fury.
Ñ
Richard Dawkins (left) and Lawrence Krauss deserve a more balanced and complex film.
= Critic’s Pick nnnnn = Top ten of the year nnnn = Honourable mention nnn = Entertaining nn = Mediocre n = Bomb
® AWARD ACADEMYGOLDEN AWARDGLOBE NOMINEE! WINNER! BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“ONE OF THE BEST PICTURES OF THE YEAR!” Owen Gleiberman, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY Stephen Holden, THE NEW YORK TIMES · Kenneth Turan, LOS ANGELES TIMES
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
© HF PA
HHHHH “OUTLANDISHLY ENTERTAINING HHHHH WINNER! GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD “A MASTERPIECE. “OUTLANDISHLY ENTERTAINING HHHHH “AHHHH MASTERPIECE. ® AWARD WINNER! GOLDEN GLOBE ®
BEST FOREIGN ACADEMY AWARD LANGUAGE NOMINEE! FILM “ONE OF THE BEST PICTURES OF THE YEAR!”
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM THE TELEGRAPH
© HF PA
The New York Times
Owen Gleiberman, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY Stephen Holden, THE NEW YORK TIMES · Kenneth Turan, LOS ANGELES TIMES
® OF LIFE. MOVES TO THE INSISTENT BEAT Manohla Dargis, THE NEW YORK TIMES THE TELEGRAPH
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
© H F PA
A GRAND SWOONING LUSH TO THE POINT OF INSANITY” MOVES EPIC, TO THE INSISTENT BEAT OF LIFE.
The New York Times
Catherine Shoard, THE GUARDIAN Manohla Dargis, THE NEW YORK TIMES
“DAZZLING “OUTLANDISHLY ENTERTAINING
A GRAND SWOONING EPIC, LUSH TO THE POINT OF INSANITY” A MOVES GLORIOUS VIVIDLY TOEXPERIENCE. THE INSISTENT BEATORIGINAL.” OF LIFE. Catherine Shoard, THE GUARDIAN
The New York Times
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
BEST ACTRESS BÉRÉNICE BEJO
NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW
“GIVES UNFAILINGLY VIVACIOUS AND POIGNANT. “DAZZLING “A MASTERPIECE. EVEN THE CYNICS A FAITH IN THE VIBRANCY OF MOVIES
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WINNER
WINNER
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
BEST ACTRESS BÉRÉNICE BEJO
NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW
A F I L M BY
Michael Atkinson, THE VILLAGE VOICE
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
AS G H A R F A R H A D I
B É R É N I C E B E J O
TA H A R R A H I M
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
B É R É N I C E B E J O ALI M O S A F FA AS GHAR FA R H A DI
Elizabeth Weitzman, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Catherine Shoard, THE GUARDIAN Richard and Mary Corliss, TIME
Richard and Mary Corliss, TIME
BÉRÉNICE BEJO
B É R É N I C E B E J O ALI M O S A F FA WINNER WINNER
Elizabeth Weitzman, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Manohla Dargis, THE NEW YORK TIMES
A GLORIOUS EXPERIENCE. A GRAND SWOONING EPIC, LUSH TO THEVIVIDLY POINT OFORIGINAL.” INSANITY” AND THE REVIVING ARTISTRY OF PAOLO SORRENTINO.”
BEST ACTRESS
NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW
TA H A R R A H I M
HHHH
WINNER
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BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
THE TELEGRAPH
ALI M O S A F FA
Elizabeth Weitzman, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Michael Atkinson, THE VILLAGE VOICE
GIVES EVEN THE CYNICS A FAITH IN THE VIBRANCY OF MOVIES AND THE REVIVING ARTISTRY OF PAOLO SORRENTINO.”
A F I L M BY
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Richard and Mary Corliss, TIME
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
“A BLAST!”
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George Clooney (left) and his Monuments Men pals obviously love The Great Escape.
The world’s SOLID MONUMENTS best films. ñ Only shorter. CAPER PICTURE
Clooney strikes gold in clever pic about art experts By NORMAN WILNER
TIFF Bell Lightbox is the only place in Toronto with an exclusive run of the 2014 Academy Award nominees for Best Live Action and Best Animated Short Film on the big screen.
Opens February 7 Tickets on sale now | tiff.net/OscarShorts TIFF prefers Visa. ONLY AT
REITMAN SQUARE, 350 KING STREET WEST
THE MONUMENTS MEN directed by George Clooney, written by Clooney and Grant Heslov from the book by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter, with Clooney, Matt Damon and Bill Murray. A Sony Pictures release. 118 minutes. Some subtitles. Opens Friday (February 7). For venues and times, see Movies, page 66. Rating: NNNN
As a director, George Clooney seems fascinated by moral posturing: Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, Good Night, And Good Luck and The Ides Of March are all linked by characters who stand for righteousness while acting questionably. His new film, The Monuments Men, has no such ambiguity, and it turns out that clarity is kind of bracing. This is the kind of movie nobody
COMEDY
Limp laughs SEX AFTER KIDS (Jeremy Lalonde). 107 minutes. Opens Friday (February 7). For venues and times, see Movies, page 66. Rating: NN If your idea of funny is seeing legendary actor Gordon Pinsent say the word “fellating” with a straight face, then you’ll probably enjoy Sex After Kids. It’s a limp Canadian comedy connecting six stories of people’s shrivelled-up sex lives after children have entered the equation. New mom Jules (Shannon Beckner) would rather rub up against her wash-
makes any more – a Second World War caper picture with charming character actors zipping around Europe using their wits far more than their weapons. Based on clues in Alexandre Desplat’s score, I’m thinking Clooney loves The Great Escape at least as much as I do. Here he applies that model to the true story of a small band of art experts dispatched after D-Day to locate thousands of sculptures and paintings seized by the Nazis from Jewish collectors. Clooney plays team leader Frank Stokes. His crew includes a Met curator (Matt Damon), a Chicago architect (Bill Murray), a New York choreographer (Bob Balaban) and a grumpy St. Louis sculptor (John Goodman). Tagging along with the Allied forces lib-
erating Europe, they track the stolen treasures before the retreating Germans can destroy them. Clooney’s script, co-written with his long-time producer Grant Heslov, is earnest and clever, making some very good points about the importance of art to the world while telling an involving story about characters we come to adore. In the film’s best scene, an unexpected amateur performance of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas touches someone very, very deeply, and Clooney is smart enough to let us see it happen in something close to real time, and let us feel what that person feels. There’s more than one kind of art, after all. 3
normw@nowtoronto.com | @wilnervision
ing machine than have sex with her of plot points go undeveloped. randy husband, Ben (Ennis Esmer); And I wish the thing were funnier. same-sex couple Jody (Kate Hewlett) Thomas Kratz’s cutesy, overblown and Larissa (Mary Krohnert) are enscore seems to be having a lot more gaged in a power struggle after they fun than the audience. have a kid; single dad Gage (Kris The acting, though, is deHolden-Reid) is unsuccessfully cent. Esmer (The Listener) looking for a sane partner; has great comic timing and so on. as the frustrated husUnlike writer/director band, while Katie BoJeremy Lalonde’s previland sizzles in the ous film, the amusing underwritten role of The Untitled Work Of his tempting emPaul Shepard, also starployee at a bar. ring Holden-Reid, there’s And veterans Mimi no central figure here, so Kuzyk and Jay Brazeau the film sprawls and gets do their best in a tired flabby. The device of a mommy Beckner and plot about an older couple group connecting many of the Esmer kid whose kids have flown the around. coop. GLENN SUMI stories feels contrived, and lots
also opening Vampire Academy
(D: Mark Waters, 110 min) The Twilight franchise might be done, but the imitators are out for blood, including this flick based on the first in a series of young-adult paranormal romance novels. Zoey Deutch, Lucy Fry, Gabriel Byrne and Olga Kurylenko star.
RoboCop
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FEBRUARY 6-12 2014 NOW
(D: José Padilha, 110 min) Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton and Abbie Cornish star in this remake of the actioner about a part-man, partrobot police officer. Vampire Academy opens Friday (February 7), and RoboCop opens Wednesday (February 12). Screened after press time – see review of Vampire on February 10 at nowtoronto.com/movies and RoboCop in next week’s issue.
Ñ
= Critic’s Pick NNNNN = Top ten of the year NNNN = Honourable mention NNN = Entertaining NN = Mediocre N = Bomb
WHAT’S ON
THIS WEEK
SERVING ONTARIO BEER & WINE!
FEB 7–13, 2014 506 Bloor St. W. @ Bathurst, Toronto
GORE VIDAL: THE UNITED STATES OF AMNESIA
THE UNBELIEVERS Featuring Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss Renowned scientists Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss court controversy, enraging as many as they enlighten in their crusade to replace religion and politics with reason. Skype Q&As with Lawrence Krauss & guests—select dates.
This captivating retrospective explores the life and work of the iconic, trailblazing and controversial American writer Gore Vidal. Skype Q&As with director—select dates.
FRI, FEB 7–20, select times
FRI, FEB 7–12, select dates and times
PEN PICKS SERIES: HATSUMI
Presented with the Toronto Society of Architects
Hosted by author Vincent Lam Fiction meets fact as we feature some of PEN Canada’s most celebrated writers. Dr. Vincent Lam (Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures) hosts the film Hatsumi. Post-screening Q&A with Vincent Lam.
MON, FEB 10
6:15 PM
Presented with
OPPOSITIONS: ARCHITECTURE ON FILM SERIES Explore the world of design and cultural development with two films that contrast living in corporate settings versus off-the-grid sustainability. Post-screening Q&As with guests.
THU, FEB 13 GARBAGE WARRIOR 6:30 PM
TICKETS & FULL SCHEDULE WWW.BLOORCINEMA.COM
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WORK HARD—PLAY HARD 9:15 PM
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65
Playing this week How to find a listing
Movie listings are comprehensive and organized alphabetically. Listings include name of film, director’s name in brackets, a review, running time and a rating. Reviews are by Norman Wilner (NW), Susan G. Cole (SGC), Glenn Sumi (GS), Andrew Dowler (AD) and Radheyan Simonpillai (RS) unless otherwise specified. The rating system is as follows: NNNNN Top 10 of the year NNNN Honourable mention NNN Entertaining NN Mediocre N Bomb
Ñ= Critics’ pick (highly recommended)
Movie theatres are listed at the end and can be cross-referenced to our film times on page 72.
ñTHE ACT OF KILLING
(Joshua Oppenheimer, Christine Cynn) plays its intriguing premise for maximum impact, offering former Indonesian death squad leader Anwar Congo and his associates the chance to re-enact their crimes onscreen, filtered through the tropes of musicals or thrillers or any other genre they might choose. It burns itself into you. Subtitled. 115 min. NNNNN (NW) Kingsway Theatre
AMERICAN HUSTLE (David O. Russell) is nominally a story about the barely remembered 1978 Abscam sting, in which the FBI used a small-time con artist to snare politicians on bribery and corruption charges. But the plot is incidental to the shouting. Director/co-writer Russell has fully embraced the notion that drama only exists when characters are yelling at one another in mid-shots. Everybody races around shouting about their ambitions and desires, and whoever shouts the loudest is the person with whom we’re supposed to sympathize. Some people love this strategy; I find it exhausting and pointless – especially in the second half, when scenes seem to exist because Russell had noticed Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence’s characters hadn’t yelled at each other in a while. American Hustle is being compared to Goodfellas (because crime) and Boogie Nights (because sideboob, I guess). Let’s throttle back on that and see it as what it is: an incoherent, overacted mess. 138 min. NN (NW) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Mississauga, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Humber Cinemas, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, Varsity, Yonge & Dundas 24 ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES
(Adam McKay) contains plenty more of
Perennial Oscar nominee Judy Dench scored another nom for her performance in Philomena.
the same. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially for Anchorman diehards. Like its predecessor, the movie is most itself when its stars goof around, so it’s a shame that it expends so much energy trying to imitate the original, which at its best seemed to be making it up as it went along. 118 min. NNN (JS) Coliseum Mississauga, Colossus, Queensway, Yonge & Dundas 24
ANOHANA THE MOVIE: THE FLOWER WE SAW THAT DAY (Tatsuyuki Nagai) is an
animé film about estranged friends who reunite when they hear a message from someone who died in a childhood accident. 99 min. Opens Feb 9 at Coliseum Scarborough, Courtney Park 16, Queensway, SilverCity Fairview, Yonge & Dundas 24
Juliette Lewis and Julianne Nicholson as Barbara’s sisters, Benedict Cumberbatch as the family loser, Abigail Breslin, Chris Cooper and Margo Martindale – are also impressive, especially Martindale as Violet’s sister. For all its deep flaws (terrible music, some clunky staginess), August: Osage County is extremely entertaining. Sit back and enjoy the ride. 121 min. NNNN (SGC) Beach Cinemas, Canada Square, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Interchange 30, Queensway, Rainbow Promenade, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Mississauga, SilverCity Yonge, Varsity, Yonge & Dundas 24
THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY (Malcolm D. Lee)
is like the Christmas dinner that starts off with laughs and high spirits but keeps dragging along until you can’t hold down nocuous dramedy about two parent-kid the eggnog. Set during one holiday weekcombos who get way end, this sequel to 1999’s more than they barThe Best Man has the gain for when they typical sex, secrets and EXPANDED REVIEWS head to a small Conscandals, followed by a nowtoronto.com necticut town for rah-rah football game, a interviews at Middleshamelessly dour cameo ton College. Buttoned-down heart surby the grim reaper and a climactic visit geon George (Andy Garcia) is pushing his from the stork. There’s enough material to son Conrad (Spencer Lofranco) to get exlast until Easter. 120 min. NN (RS) cited about the school, while free-spirited Interchange 30 Edith (Vera Farmiga) can’t figure out why Audrey (real-life sister Taissa Farmiga) is BLUE JASMINE (Woody Allen) stars considering just this one institution. Soon Cate Blanchett as the emotionally George and Edith have broken away from unhinged wife of a corporate sleazebag the official tour – leaving the kids to spark (Alec Baldwin) who moves to San Franan uneasy friendship – and form an uncisco to live with her sister (Sally Hawkins) likely bond that makes them question when he’s busted. Expect Oscar to come everything about their comfortable lives. calling on the amazing Blanchett. 98 min. There are way too many plot holes in dirNNNN (SGC) ector/co-writer Rodgers’s script, and the Interchange 30, Mt Pleasant, Yonge & stakes would be a lot higher if we knew Dundas 24 more about these people’s lives. But the THE BOOK THIEF (Brian Percival) reframes performances are very engaging – Vera the Second World War as a coming-of-age Farmiga’s especially – and the parent-child story about a young German girl (Montensions feel authentic. Just don’t expect sieur Lazhar’s Sophie Nélisse). Director the earth to move. 100 min. NNN (SGC) Percival has helmed a lot of Downton Carlton Cinema Abbey episodes, and it shows in film’s odd AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (John propriety. A movie about the Holocaust Wells) is a perfectly constructed slice can’t be afraid of confronting its own of Oklahoma Gothic about a family that message. 131 min. NN (NW) convenes when the alcoholic patriarch disKingsway Theatre, Regent Theatre, Silverappears. It’s close to parody. You can buy City Mississauga the many variations on family rot and the CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (Paul Greengrass) stars heightened reality onstage (Tracy Letts Tom Hanks in a fantastic performance as wrote the screenplay based on his Pulitzer the eponymous skipper of a commercial Prize-winning play), but all the revelations vessel hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009. are almost too much when they’re in your The rest of the film is far more problemface on the screen. Still, Wells’s cast is so atic, with director Greengrass applying the good, they make the thing believable. tense, jangled docudrama aesthetic of Meryl Streep is a knockout as drug-addled United 93 to another true-life hostage matriarch Violet, and though you couldn’t crisis. Some subtitles. 134 min. NNN (NW) say she matches her, Julia Roberts definInterchange 30, Kingsway Theatre, Mt itely holds her own as her rage-fuelled Pleasant daughter Barbara. The rest of the cast –
AT MIDDLETON (Adam Rodgers) is an in-
more online
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Q&A with Director and Cast Friday, Saturday and Sunday following both evening shows.
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FEBRUARY 6-12 2014 NOW
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Fri Feb. 7 - Thurs Feb 13 1:30, 3:50, 6:40 & 9:15
ñDALLAS BUYERS CLUB
(Jean-Marc Vallée) stars Matthew McConaughey as Ron Woodroof, a hard-living, womanizing Texas electrician who became an unlikely AIDS activist in the mid-1980s after being diagnosed with HIV. McConaughey shed 47 pounds for the role and is almost unrecognizable, but his charm and passion shine through, and he gets strong support from Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner. Expect major acting nominations come awards season. 117 min. NNNN (GS) Canada Square, Carlton Cinema, Eglinton Town Centre, Kingsway Theatre, SilverCity Mississauga, Yonge & Dundas 24
DELIVERY MAN (Ken Scott) finds Quebec
writer/director Scott remaking his 2011 comedy Starbuck for the American market, with Vince Vaughn replacing Patrick Huard and the action moved from Montreal to Brooklyn. It’s exactly the same movie, but it holds up okay. 105 min. NNN (NW) SilverCity Mississauga
DEVIL’S DUE (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett) tracks a pair of newlyweds who return from their honeymoon expecting a baby, unaware that the mother is carrying one of the Antichrists who’ll oversee the end of days. Allison Miller and Zach Gilford give strong performances as the couple and the material could have made for an enjoyable B movie, but the pic’s foundfootage approach ruins any potential fun or scares. It’s distracting, rote and unbelievable, dull when it should be fun and frightening. 90 min. NN (Andrew Parker) Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yorkdale DEVIL’S KNOT (Atom Egoyan) dully dramatizes the prosecution of teens Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr. for the murders of three young boys – a true story previously chronicled in three Paradise Lost documentaries and West Of Memphis. Egoyan must have seen the project as a chance to revisit the themes of The Sweet Hereafter, another film about a community ravaged by the inexplicable death of its children. But he does absolutely nothing with that opportunity, instead following an outside investigator (Colin Firth) attempting to help defence attorneys build an alternate theory of the crimes. The script shifts clumsily between multiple perspectives – most histrionically that of Reese Witherspoon’s distraught mother – while lazily teasing potential theories of the crime that weren’t fully explored until after the trial. The cast is tonally all over the place continued on page 68 œ
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and the whole thing is framed, cut and scored like cheap TV. I’ve never seen a movie shot by Paul Sarossy that looked this bad. 114 min. NN (NW) Varsity
ENDER’S GAME (Gavin Hood) is Harry Potter And The Starship Troopers, a very expensive, very elaborately designed attempt to build a new super-franchise out of Orson Scott Card’s 1985 sci-fi novel about a gifted young boy (Asa Butterfield) chosen to save the world from an alien threat. 113 min. NN (NW) Interchange 30
ñTHE FINAL MEMBER
happy-go-lucky snowman Olaf, the best sidekick since Timon and Pumbaa. 102 min. NNN (GS) 401 & Morningside, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24
ñGOOD VIBRATIONS
(Lisa Barros D’Sa, Glenn Leyburn) is a manic, joyous dramatization of the story of Terri Hooley, a man so in love with music that he dedicated himself to spreading it, and changed the culture of 1970s Belfast as a result. It’s more or less an Irish version of 24 Hour Party People; consider that an endorsement. 101 min. NNNN (NW) Kingsway Theatre
(Jonah Bekhor, Zach Math) chronicles the quest of Siggi Hjartarson, proprietor of the Iceland Phallological Museum, as he tries to secure the donation of a human penis. Directors Bekhor and Math treat their subject with precisely the right amount of respect, acknowledging Hjartarson’s comGORE VIDAL: THE UNITED STATES OF mitment while still allowing us to enjoy AMNESIA (Nicholas Wrathall) 83 the ridiculous carvings he sells in the gift min. See review, page 62. NNNN (NW) shop. The parade of eccentrics is fascinatOpens Feb 7 at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema ing – Tom Mitchell, an affably insane GRAVITY (AlAmerican intent on donatfonso Cuarón) ing his member before plays as both an imhe dies, seems like a lost mediate, nail-biting EXPANDED REVIEWS Will Ferrell improv charthriller and a stunning nowtoronto.com acter – and the story extechnological accompands in a really interestplishment, following ing fashion. (Oh, grow up.) Some subtitles. two astronauts (Sandra Bullock, George 75 min. NNNN (NW) Clooney) stranded in Earth orbit and cut Kingsway Theatre off from mission control. There are things here you’ve never seen before; this is a 47 RONIN (Carl Rinsch)s a great big stupid great, unprecedented picture. 91 min. epic set in a fantastical Japan populated by monsters and witches. Keanu Reeves NNNNN (NW) stars as an orphaned warrior who joins a Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum band of masterless samurai on a mission Mississauga, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, of vengeance. Best to seek out Kenji MizoGrande - Steeles, Yonge & Dundas 24 guchi’s or Hiroshi Inagaki’s adaptation of THE GREAT BEAUTY (Paolo Sorrenthe story; they may not have swirling tino) stars Toni Servillo as 60-somesmoke dragons or bird-headed monks, but thing journalist Jep, who wrote a bestthey work their own magic. 118 min. N selling novel in his 20s but hasn’t written (NW) a thing that matters since. Instead, he’s 401 & Morningside, Coliseum Mississauga, immersed himself in all things shallow: Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney the party circuit, pseudo-intellectual Park 16, Scotiabank Theatre confabs with the rich and famous, meaningless sex. Shades of La Dolce Vita. Jep FREE BIRDS (Jimmy Hayward) follows a reflects on his empty life in a series of pair of savvy turkeys who travel back in spectacular vignettes that come tumbling time to the first Thanksgiving to take their out of cinematographer Luca Bigazzi and ancestors off the menu. A surprisingly writer-director Sorrentino’s vivid imaginaclever script and talented voice actors tion: over-the-top bashes, an artist perprovide just enough silly slapstick for kids forming beside Roman ruins, a moneyand clever pop culture references for grubbing doctor injecting botox in public. parents to turn the dull concept into fun Garish party sequences collide with family fluff. 91 min. NNN (Phil Brown) serene images of Rome’s ancient art; Interchange 30 beautiful inspirational music meets club FROZEN (Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee) is an en- bangers. Sure, it’s self-indulgent, but tertaining Disney animated musical about Sorrentino is the kind of director you want two Nordic princesses, one who’s holed to indulge. Just let the damn thing wash herself up in icy isolation and the other over you. Subtitled. 142 min. NNNNN (SGC) who wants to track her down. It’s basically TIFF Bell Lightbox, Varsity The Snow Queen mixed with Wicked. The songs are derivative but efGRUDGE MATCH (Peter fective. Look for a hilarious ditty Segal) pits Sylvester by Josh Gad’s scene-stealing Stallone against Robert
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De Niro in a Rocky vs. Raging Bull scenario. To keep this hollow gimmick going, Grudge Match resorts to plenty more devices: Kevin Hart refuelling his motormouth shtick; Alan Arkin playing the same old potty mouth he won an Oscar for in Little Miss Sunshine; a cute, precocious kid (actually, he’s pretty annoying). 113 min. NN (RS) Interchange 30
ñHER
(Spike Jonze) is set in the very near future, in a Los Angeles where emotionally withdrawn Theodore Twombley (Joaquin Phoenix) installs an operating system on his PC that’s basically an artificial intelligence – and winds up falling in love with it. Of course he’s drawn to it, or her (as voiced with perfect, perky opacity by Scarlett Johansson). Why wouldn’t he be? She’s perfect for him. She just doesn’t, you know, exist in the physical realm. Her is as wide-open and genuine as writerdirector Jonze’s adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are, though not as emotionally raw. It’s a movie where people process their feelings rather than release them, essentially about how technology can facilitate a relationship over impossible distances and what happens when one partner evolves more quickly than the other. In the end, it’s a movie as beholden to Annie Hall as it is to 2001, and don’t think that isn’t the strangest sentence I’ve written this year. 125 min. NNNN (NW) Canada Square, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Humber Cinemas, Interchange 30, Queensway, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Yorkdale, Varsity
THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG
(Peter Jackson) is another two hours and 40 minutes of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and his dwarf allies encountering giant spiders and orcs and elves and more orcs (or possibly the same orcs again) and a soupçon of political treachery on the way to the mountain where the dragon Smaug lies sleeping in his plundered gold. You may ask yourself why this isn’t the end of it. Some subtitles. 161 min. NN (NW) 401 & Morningside, Carlton Cinema, Coliseum Mississauga, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale
ñTHE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
(Francis Lawrence) proves the Oscar curse can be beaten. Best-actress winner Jennifer Lawrence is a knockout in this second instalment of the franchise, which, unlike many actors’ releases following Oscar wins, is not total crap. It’s much better than Part 1: the script doesn’t need much set-up, there’s more focus on the relationship between Katniss (Lawrence) and Gale (which means more charismatic Liam Hemsworth), and director Lawrence keeps the violence offscreen instead of sanitizing it. Katniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) are having trouble faking the love relationship that made them co-winners of the 74th Hunger Games, the arena spectacle in which a male and female from 12 districts fight to the death until there’s one person standing. But they’re sparking revolution
= Critics’ Pick NNNNN = Top ten of the year NNNN = Honourable mention NNN = Entertaining NN = Mediocre N = Bomb
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0.25”
I, FRANKENSTEIN (Stuart Beattie) always
seems to be 30 seconds away from making sense. If it could just slow down for a breath, if something could just not explode in this scene, if the gargoyles and the demons could sheathe their killing swords and let somebody finish a freaking sentence, then maybe a decent movie might emerge. But that’s not the kind of picture I, Frankenstein is. It might have been at one point, before it was hacked down to 93 minutes of action sequences and anything resembling a plot was muddled into incoherence. All it is now is a showcase for CG cameras swooping through elaborately rendered sets – an ancient cathedral here, a massive underground laboratory there – while Aaron Eckhart punches a series of stuntmen in the foreground. Eckhart can be a charming, charismatic screen presence when given the chance – even when playing a monster – but this movie isn’t interested in letting him loose. In the end, he’s just another stuntman. 93 min. N (NW) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Carlton Cinema, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale
ñINSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
ñTHE INVISIBLE WOMAN
(Ralph Fiennes) seems like a safe project for a follow-up to 2011’s Coriolanus. It’s a conventional drama about the relationship between Charles Dickens (director Fiennes) and Nelly Ternan (Love Crazy’s Felicity Jones), the young woman who became his mistress. But while all the trappings of the proper British period piece are in place, this is a much more experimental treatment of the story than
out of it. 111 min. NN (NW) 401 & Morningside, Canada Square, Carlton Cinema, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Humber Cinemas, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Mississauga, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale
JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT (Kenneth Branagh) is a proudly square espionage thriller that satisfies on that basic spymovie level – the one where people race through city squares shouting technobabble into jacket mics while a clock ticks down to an unspecified disaster. The plot itself never makes too much sense – an initial attempt on hero Chris Pine’s life, while nicely conceived and executed, is forgotten maybe three seconds after it happens – and the scenes between Pine and Keira Knightley are painfully stiff, compounded further by her laboured American accent. Director Branagh can’t stop hamming it up as the Russian baddie, glowering and snarling in scenes that don’t call for that level of intensity. In fairness, it’s not his fault. That’s exactly how Tom Clancy would have written it. Some subtitles. 105 min. NNN (NW) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Carlton Cinema, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24
LAST VEGAS (Jon Turteltaub) stars veterans Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline in a bachelor party comedy that sets up gags as familiar as the routine in a seniors home. Even the jokes have bunions. Yet the four Oscar winners are so good at playing against each other, you can’t help wondering why they finally decided to do so now in a comedy that pays out as rarely as a slot machine. 110 min. NN (RS) Interchange 30
JACKASS PRESENTS: BAD GRANDPA (Jeff
Tremaine) spins off Johnny Knoxville’s long-time old-man-makeup character into a Borat-style mixture of hidden camera pranks and simple storytelling. There’s no social satire, but the combination of Knoxville and 8-year-old Jackson Nicoll’s public pranks with intergenerational-bonding road comedy tropes feels like a vintage John Hughes comedy with Jackass interludes. As close to a sign maturity as these permanent adolescents can manage. 90 min. NNN (Phil Brown) Yonge & Dundas 24
LABOR DAY (Jason Reitman) is a ludicrous
coming-of-age drama about a teenage boy (Gattlin Griffith) who spends a lifechanging holiday weekend in 1987 with his depressed mother (Kate Winslet) sheltering an escaped convict (Josh Brolin) who’s kinda-sorta holding them hostage. Reitman’s not interested in creating a sense of real danger as much as he is in remaking The Bridges Of Madison County, with a lonely woman rediscovering love at the hands of an imposing stranger. (Sure, he’s forced himself into her home, but he’s fixing that squeaky door and teaching her son how to throw a ball! And just taste his peach pie!) Brolin very nearly sells his impossible character as a misunderstood man trying desperately to be decent, and Griffith is appropriately hesitant and watchful. But Winslet settles for another of the mannered, Important Actor performances she’s been giving in movies like The Reader and Revolutionary Road, and Reitman doesn’t do anything to snap her
LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER (Lee Daniels) is
one big black history lesson featuring great performances by Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo and especially Forest Whitaker as a White House butler. But don’t expect anything like the director’s disturbing Precious or The Paperboy. Daniels is decidedly domesticated here, aiming to teach and please. 132 min. NNN (SGC) Yonge & Dundas 24
ñTHE LEGO MOVIENNNN
(Phil Lord, Christopher Miller) 100 min. See interview and review, page 61. (NW) Opens Feb 7 at 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Carlton Cinema, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande Steeles, Humber Cinemas, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24
LINSANITY (Evan Jackson Leong) is a doc tracking what happened to Jeremy Lin before he rocketed from obscurity to bona fide NBA stardom in a matter of days in 2012. Unfortunately, Lin himself lacks warmth and humour, but the film hits its stride once he hits his. 89 min. NNN (Julia LeConte) Kingsway Theatre LONE SURVIVOR (Peter Berg) turns an actual 2005 incident in which four Navy SEALs were stuck in the mountains of Afghanistan when a mission went sour into an endless action sequence meant to celebrate brotherhood, honour and shooting people in the head. Some subtitles. 122 min. N (NW) 401 & Morningside, Canada Square, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yorkdale THE METROPOLITAN OPERA: RUSALKA is a live high-def broadcast from the Met of Dvorak’s lyric opera, starring Renée Fleming in one of her signature roles and Montreal’s Yannick Nézet-Séguin at the podium. Subtitled. 252 min.
Flick Finder
NOW picks your kind of movie FAMILY
DOC
FOREIGN
SCI-FI
FROZEN
VISITORS
THE GREAT BEAUTY
HER
This sweet musical inspired by the Snow Queen tale snapped up the Golden Globe for animated feature and is the odds-on favourite to snag the Oscar in the same category.
Godfrey Reggio’s pic is more experimental than documentary, but don’t let that scare you away from this mesmerizing meditation on the human gaze. A very watchable primate figures prominently.
Feb 8, 12:55 pm, at Beach Cinemas, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Eglinton Town Centre, Queensway, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge
THE MONUMENTS MEN ñNNNN
(George Clooney) 118 min. See review, page 64. (NW) Opens Feb 7 at 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande Steeles, Humber Cinemas, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Mississauga, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Varsity
ñMUSCLE SHOALS
(Greg Camalier) is about the musically inclined backwater town in Alabama that has seen everyone from Aretha Franklin to the Rolling Stones come through to produce hits. They’re among the many who speak affectionately here about their time with Rick Hall, of FAME Studios, arguably the backbone of the Muscle Shoals music industry. The interviews are woven together like music, composing a film with storytelling rhythms that strikes emotional chords. Soul aficionados will savour every beat. 111 min. NNNN (RS) Kingsway Theatre
NEBRASKA (Alexander Payne) is a black-
and-white road movie about a Montana speaker salesman (Will Forte) who gets to know his remote, alcoholic father (Bruce Dern) as the pair drive to Lincoln to cure the older man’s obsession with a sweepstakes. It lacks the highs and lows of The Descendants and Sideways, feeling much more like director Payne’s 2002 drama About Schmidt: a slow, deliberate roll
Toni Servillo stars as a world-weary journalist making his way through Berlusconi’s Rome in this visually stunning – and Golden Globewinning – study of decadence and corruption.
Joaquin Phoenix was inexplicably denied an Oscar nomination for his performance as a man who falls in love with his operating system. Her’s script by Spike Jonze should win, however.
through a series of modest incidents that inform our understanding of its central character. Problem is, Nebraska never surprises. Road movies are by definition formulaic, but there’s a predictability to the way Bob Nelson’s screenplay trickles out details and shading that feel more calculated than they should. This isn’t to say that Nebraska is bad, but it’s awfully safe and contrived – not what we’ve come to expect from Payne. 115 min. NNN (NW) Canada Square, Carlton Cinema, Kingsway Theatre, Yonge & Dundas 24
THE NUT JOB (Peter Lepeniotis) might be the new low point for CGI movies about anthropomorphized animals. The nonsensical plot interweaves a human bank heist and animal nut heist. Despite an impressive celebrity voice cast (including Will Arnett and Liam Neeson), this Canadian/ South Korean co-production can’t deliver the glossy production values of the Hollywood competition, never mind the heart and wit of a Pixar film. When a CGI Psy wanders into the end credits to perform Gangnam Style, it tells you how much time the filmmakers wasted making the movie and how desperate they were to pull in anything like entertainment. 83 min. N (Phil Brown) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Humber Cinemas, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24 THE OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2014: ANIMATED (various) 79 min. See re-
view, page 62. NNN (NW) Opens Feb 7 at TIFF Bell Lightbox
continued on page 71 œ
STARTS FRIDAY Tobacco use, Language may offend.
T:11.25”
(Joel Coen, Ethan Coen) plays as comedy, musical and drama all at once, with the tone steered by Oscar Isaac’s soulful interpretations of traditional folk songs that somehow manage to reflect precisely what his character, itinerant troubadour Llewyn Davis, is feeling in the moment. Beautifully realized and packed with delightful incidents – the recording of Please Mr. Kennedy is probably the most satisfying three minutes you’ll spend in a movie theatre this year – Inside Llewyn Davis understands its characters in a way few movies do, giving Isaac and co-stars Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Adam Driver and F. Murray Abraham room to detail their performances into something much more than folk scene clichés. 105 min. NNNN (NW) Canada Square, Carlton Cinema, Kingsway Theatre, SilverCity Mississauga, TIFF Bell Lightbox, Varsity
you might expect, with a complex consideration of all the characters – including Dickens’s wife, Catherine (Joanna Scanlan) – and an editorial style that lingers on uncomfortable silences and repressed impulses. Fiennes and Jones are terrific, but the actor/director gets excellent work out of pretty much everyone, including his English Patient co-star, Kristin Scott Thomas. 111 min. NNNN (NW) Interchange 30, Regent Theatre
MAX DEPTH 2.6875"
against the wealthy 1 per cent, so baddie President Snow dreams up a new tourney in which the winners of the previous 24 games have to go into the ring. Who cares about plot holes in a fantasy? This is highly entertaining, and Lawrence is red hot in all ways. 145 min. NNNN (SGC) Carlton Cinema, Coliseum Mississauga, Colossus, Eglinton Town Centre, Kingsway Theatre, Queensway, Scotiabank Theatre
Check Theatre Directory or SonyPicturesReleasing.ca for Locations and Showtimes NOW FEBRUARY 6-12 2014
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Oscar Nominated Short Films 2014: Live Action ñThe NNNN
16, Eglinton Town Centre, Queensway, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Mississauga, SilverCity Yorkdale
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (Christopher Landon) is better than
RoboCop (José Padilha) 110 min. See Also Opening, page 64. Opens Feb 12 at 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Carlton Cinema, Cineplex Cine mas Empress Walk, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande Steeles, Humber Cinemas, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promen ade, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank The atre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale
(various) 107 min. See review, page 62. (NW) Opens Feb 7 at TIFF Bell Lightbox
the last film in the found-footage franchise, but it’s still not very memorable – or scary. In an L.A. barrio, strange noises are emanating from beneath teenager Jesse’s apartment, and soon he, his sister and his camcorder-wielding friend investigate their neighbour’s pad, leading to lots of running up and down stairs and opening doors that should definitely stay shut. Style and plot points seem lifted from far more effective films and the ending provides fewer answers than questions. 84 min. NN (GS) Coliseum Mississauga, Colossus
The Past (Asghar Farhadi) sees the pleasant soapiness that greased A Separation, director Farhadi’s Academy Award winner, reach full froth. Ali Mosaffa plays Ahmad, an Iranian who returns to a Paris suburb to finalize his divorce so his wife (Bérénice Bejo) can marry another man (Tahar Rahim). Ahmad’s desire to fix things ends up fissuring his ex-wife’s family dynamic, exposing lies on top of lies. Mr. Fixit’s nobility is never undermined, his insistence that everyone unburden themselves of their secrets offered as the solution to, and never the cause of, the problems of those around him. Farhadi may be heavyhandedly rooting for the cathartic power of the truth, but his melodrama is so overwrought and shot through with nasty misogyny (all the female characters feel like caricatures of 19th-century Viennese hysterics) that everything about it rings false. 130 min. NN (JS) Varsity Philomena (Stephen Frears) is an odd but effective combination of investigative drama and buddy picture, as a devout, working-class woman (Judi Dench) and a privileged, cynical journalist (Steve Coogan, who also co-wrote and coproduced the film) find common ground in the search for the son she was forced to give up. 98 min. NNNN (NW) Canada Square, Eglinton Town Centre, Interchange 30, Kingsway Theatre, Rain bow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Varsity
ñ
Rhymes for Young Ghouls (Jeff arnaby) is a genre experiment disguised B as a coming-of-age story – a magic-realist drama set on a native reservation in late70s Quebec, where teenage Aila (Kawen náhere Devery Jacobs) strives to find her own identity as an artist and an individual while her community tries to separate itself from the institutionalized oppression of government overseers. The finished film doesn’t quite live up to writer/ director Barnaby’s considerable ambition – a number of the supporting actors don’t seem to understand the tone he’s after, including The Wild Hunt’s Mark Antony Krupa. But when Aila’s dead mother shows up for a casual conversation and the movie simply accepts that these things happen, it feels like a new creative voice is making itself heard for the first time. Some subtitles. 88 min. NNN (NW) Yonge & Dundas 24 Ride Along (Tim Story) is a buddy cop
flick in which Ice Cube pays homage to himself by citing It Was a Good Day, his classic track about going 24 hours without police harassment. Now Cube plays a detective with an iron fist who shakes down ex-cons for information and threatens frame-ups. This rich opportunity to say something meaningful is instead played for cheap laughs. 100 min. NN (RS) 401 & Morningside, Carlton Cinema, Coli seum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park
ñRush
(Ron Howard) chronicles the ongoing rivalry in the mid-70s between two wildly different Formula One racers: the cold, cerebral Austrian Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) and the wildly charismatic English playboy James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth). Director Howard and superb screenwriter Peter Morgan contrast their stories effectively, getting even non-fans intrigued by the politics of commercial endorsements and the psychology of competition. 123 min. NNNN (GS) Yonge & Dundas 24
Saving Mr. Banks (John Lee Hancock)
covers the last several months of the 20plus years that Walt Disney (Tom Hanks, who’s terrific) spent convincing author P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) to sell him the rights to Mary Poppins. The film sheds little light on the creative process, and its portrayal of Travers is insultingly paternalistic. It’s all about burnishing Disney’s personal reputation. 125 min. NN (SGC) Canada Square, Colossus, Interchange 30, SilverCity Mississauga
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) uses James Thurber’s short story about a daydreamer to explore loneliness and the need for human connection in the increasingly disconnected digital age. Director/star Stiller’s picking at something really meaningful here, and even if his movie doesn’t totally get there, the journey is the thing. 114 min. NNN (NW) Interchange 30, Yonge & Dundas 24
ñThe Selfish Giant
(Clio Barnard) takes its name from Oscar Wilde’s religious parable, but its real ancestry lies in director Barnard’s previous work, 2010’s The Arbor. Like that experimental documentary, her new feature is set on a miserable housing estate in Bradford, in northern England, where impoverished families grind through miserable lives. Thrown out of school for his violent outbursts and disrespectful behaviour, young Arbor (Conner Chapman) pulls his friend Swifty (Shaun Thomas) into scavenging metal for a local junkyard owner (Sean Gilder). Working with a mixture of seasoned character actors and non-professional kids, Barnard creates a sense of a much larger community filtering in and out of Arbor and Swifty’s world. It’s a compelling show-don’t-tell strategy, blending drama and social commentary in manner worthy of Ken Loach at his peak. Go and see this. It’s fantastic. 91 min. NNNNN (NW) TIFF Bell Lightbox
Sex After Kids (Jeremy Lalonde) 107 min. See review, page 64. NN (GS) Opens Feb 7 at Carlton Cinema
ñThe Square
(Jehane Noujaim) is an exhilarating doc that follows three activists during the Cairo demonstrations that toppled Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak and their aftermath. Director Noujaim and her crew fearlessly capture the activists’ arguments, violence and bitter disappointment, approaching a subject that is often simplified and reduced with
Get Oscar Isaac, of Inside Llewyn Davis, a decent winter coat, for god’s sake. uncommon nuance. Oscar-nominated for best doc. Subtitled. 108 min. NNNN (SGC) Kingsway Theatre
ñStranger by the Lake
(Alain Guiraudie) is a seductively stark thriller. Everything has been stripped down, including the characters, nearly all of them frequenters of a secluded nude beach and the adjoining woods used for cruising. Handsome, amiable Franck goes to the lake to sunbathe, chat, swim, have sex. One evening he witnesses a murder, but this doesn’t appear to discourage him from returning the next day or even from flirting with the killer. Psychology or motives are not discussed. As in the fiction of Duras or Hitchcock, eros and death are entwined without rational explanation. Exquisitely crafted, sexually explicit without seeming lewd, Stranger By The Lake extends an invitation that’s hard to refuse. Don’t be afraid. Dip a toe in. The water’s fine. Subtitled. 100 min. NNNNN (José Teodoro) TIFF Bell Lightbox
That Awkward Moment (Tom Gormi
can) is supposed to be a light, frothy romcom about three New York bros (Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan and Miles Teller) who all swear off proper relationships and immediately find themselves bedding women with real romantic potential. And then, well, it shits the bed. At a key moment, writer/director Gormican actually seems to believe that the unforgivably cruel actions of a certain character are not only not that big of a deal, something that can be fixed. He’s so very, very wrong. That’s a shame, because the movie Gormican thinks he’s making seems like it’d be kind of fun, with engaging performances by Jordan, Teller and Mackenzie Davis, some nicely complex work from Imogen Poots and mostly competent work from Efron. Pity it’s all for nothing. 95 min. NN (NW) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Carl ton Cinema, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, Silver City Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24
ñThor: The Dark World
(Alan Tay lor) is a very silly movie for all its selfseriousness, which is why it works. Once again, Tom Hiddleston steals the picture
as the unpredictable Loki, though Kat Dennings comes awfully close to stealing it herself as Jane Foster’s scrappy sidekick. Some subtitles. 112 min. NNNN (NW) Scotiabank Theatre
Three Night Stand (Pat Kiely) is a messy dramedy about an appealing Montreal couple (Sam Huntington and Meaghan Rath, of the American Being Human series) who drive to a chalet in the Laurentians for what’s supposed to be a big romantic weekend. Nothing good comes of it. Some subtitles. Some subtitles. 92 min. NN (NW) Kingsway Theatre
ñ12 O’Clock Boys
(Lotfy Nathan) plays like a dirt-bike version of the fourth season of The Wire. For two years, documentarian Nathan followed a Baltimore kid named Pug who dreams of joining the packs of stunt riders who dazzle his neighbourhood with sustained wheelies – performed by pointing their bikes upward like the hands of a clock – and total disregard for the police. There’s just one drawback: Pug develops his skills – on a pokey quad bike – to the exclusion of his studies, his family life and pretty much everything else, pitting him against his exhausted mother, his overworked teachers and a whole lot of other obstacles. In Nathan’s gorgeous slow-motion shots of the 12 O’Clock Boys riding for the camera, we see the glory to which Pug aspires; in the rest of the movie, we see the life that’s really waiting for him. 76 min. NNNN (NW) Carlton Cinema
ñ12 Years a Slave
(Steve McQueen) is a stunning adaptation of the memoir of Solomon Northup, a free American sold into slavery in 1841. Chiwetel Ejiofor is a revelation as Northup, and McQueen directs with a total lack of sentiment, crafting each sequence with a merciless forward momentum that compensates for the episodic nature of the narrative. One of the best films of the year. 133 min. NNNNN (NW) Carlton Cinema, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Scarborough, Interchange 30, Mt Pleasant, Queensway, SilverCity Mis sissauga, Yonge & Dundas 24
The Unbelievers (Gus Holwerda) 77 min. See review, page 62. NNN (NW) Opens Feb 7 at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Vampire Academy (Mark Waters) 110 min. See Also Opening, page 64. Opens Feb 7 at 401 & Morningside,
ineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum C Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Rain bow Woodbine, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24
ñVisitors
(Godfrey Reggio) is unlike any of the Koyaanisqatsi director’s previous works. It’s not a documentary exactly, but a kind of essay film, constructed entirely of images of people (and one endlessly watchable primate) and places drifting across the screen in sumptuous black-and-white, all set to an alternately calm and propulsive Philip Glass score. The flow of images is designed to be open to interpretation, but it seemed to me that Reggio is exploring every permutation of his chosen title, including a slowmotion recreation of a roomful of people reacting to some sort of off-screen event – perhaps they’re not rooting for the home team – and a thrilling visual essay on impermanence. None of us is here forever, after all. But that’s just my take; you’re free to make of Reggio’s art what you will. That’s what it’s there for. 87 min. NNNN (NW) TIFF Bell Lightbox
The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin
corsese) is another sprawling look at the S inner workings of a massive criminal enterprise, like Goodfellas and Casino; here, it’s the stock frauds and swindles of rich prick Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio). Scorsese’s prior kicks at this particular can are shot through with real consequence, but the worst thing that can happen to Belfort is that he might face a little jail time for the his white-collar crimes, which are so complex that the movie can’t even engage with them. Since the stakes are so low – and since Belfort is so unlikeable – Scorsese plays the story as a cartoon, treating the ludicrous corporate culture of Belfort’s company, Stratton Oakmont, like a bacchanal and rushing alongside him through the increasingly Dionysian universe he creates around himself. But the movie doesn’t know when to quit, and three hours of spectacular excess proves exhausting. 180 min. NN (NW) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Humber Cinemas, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Scotiabank Theatre, Silver City Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Varsity 3 NOW February 6-12 2014
71
Midtown CANADA SQUARE (CE) 2200 YONGE ST, 416-646-0444
Online expanded Film Times
Aurora Cinemas • Cine Starz • Elgin Mills 10 • First Markham Place SilverCity Newmarket • SilverCity Richmond Hill • Interchange 30 5 Drive-In Oakville • SilverCity Oakville • Winston Churchill 24
nowtoronto.com/movies
(CE)..............Cineplex Entertainment (ET).......................Empire Theatres (AA)......................Alliance Atlantis (AMC)..................... AMC Theatres (I)..............................Independent lndividual theatres may change showtimes after NOW’s press time. For updates, go online at www.nowtoronto.com or phone theatres. Available for selected films: RWC (Rear Window Captioning) and DVS (Descriptive Video Service)
Downtown
BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA (I) 506 BLOOR ST. W., 416-637-3123
GORE VIDAL: THE UNITED STATES OF AMNESIA Fri 9:00 Sat 12:00, 4:45, 9:30 Sun-Mon 1:00, 6:00 Tue 4:00, 8:45 Wed 3:30 THE UNBELIEVERS (PG) Fri 4:00, 6:30 Sat 2:30, 7:00 Sun 3:30, 8:30 Mon 3:30, 9:15 Tue 6:30 Wed 6:00
CARLTON CINEMA (I) 20 CARLTON, 416-494-9371
AT MIDDLETON (14A) Thu 1:25, 7:00 DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (18A) 1:30, 4:00, 6:55, 9:25 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (PG) Thu-Sat, Mon-Tue 3:35, 9:05 Sun 9:05 THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (PG) Thu 3:50, 9:20 Fri-Wed 9:25 I, FRANKENSTEIN (PG) 1:50, 7:05 Thu 4:15, 9:15 INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (14A) Fri-Wed 1:25, 4:10, 7:00, 9:30 JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT (PG) Thu 4:10, 9:40 LABOR DAY (PG) 1:15, 3:45, 6:40, 9:10 THE LEGO MOVIE (G) Fri-Wed 12:40, 3:55, 6:35, 9:00 NEBRASKA (PG) Thu-Sat, Mon-Tue 1:10, 6:45 Sun 6:45 RIDE ALONG (14A) 4:15, 9:20 Thu 1:40 mat, 7:10 ROBOCOP (PG) Wed 1:45, 4:15, 6:50, 9:20 SEX AFTER KIDS Fri-Wed 1:30, 3:50, 6:40, 9:15 THAT AWKWARD MOMENT (14A) Thu 1:35 4:05 6:50 9:35 Fri-Wed 1:35, 4:05, 7:10, 9:35 TORONTO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL Wed 5:00, 7:00, 9:00 TORONTO FILM SOCIETY Sun 2:00 12 O’CLOCK BOYS Thu 1:45, 7:15 12 YEARS A SLAVE (14A) Fri-Wed 1:10, 3:55, 6:45
RAINBOW MARKET SQUARE (I)
SCOTIABANK THEATRE (CE) 259 RICHMOND ST W, 416-368-5600
AKIRA (14A) Thu 7:15 DEVIL’S DUE (14A) Thu 3:10, 5:25, 7:45, 10:00 Fri 3:40, 5:55, 8:10, 10:30 Sat 6:05, 8:15, 10:30 Sun 12:30, 3:30, 5:55, 8:10, 10:25 Mon-Tue 3:10, 5:25, 7:35, 9:50 47 RONIN (PG) Thu 1:50, 4:30, 7:10, 9:55 Fri 1:45, 4:30, 7:50, 10:30 Sat 2:15, 5:00, 7:50, 10:30 Sun 2:15, 4:55, 7:50, 10:30 Mon-Tue 1:45, 4:20, 7:00, 9:55 Wed 1:50, 4:25, 7:20, 10:00 GHOST IN THE SHELL Thu 9:50 HER (14A) Thu 1:10, 3:55, 6:45, 9:35 Fri 1:15, 4:00, 6:55, 9:45 Sat 12:25, 3:15, 6:55, 9:45 Sun 1:15, 4:00, 6:45, 9:45 Mon-Wed 1:15, 4:00, 6:45, 9:30 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG 3D (PG) Thu 9:20 Fri-Sun 6:20, 9:50 Mon-Wed 6:10, 9:35 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (PG) Fri-Sat 3:00 Sun-Wed 2:45 THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (PG) Thu 2:25, 5:40, 8:55 Fri 2:25, 5:45, 9:25 Sat 2:35, 5:45, 9:30 Sun 2:35, 5:45, 9:00 Mon-Tue 2:25, 5:40, 9:00 Wed 2:25 I, FRANKENSTEIN 3D (PG) Thu 12:25, 2:45, 5:00, 7:40, 10:10 Fri 12:40, 2:55, 5:20, 7:40, 10:05 Sat 7:40, 10:05 Sun 12:30, 2:50, 5:20, 7:40, 10:05 Mon-Tue 2:55, 5:15, 7:40, 10:00 Wed 3:35, 6:25, 9:10 I, FRANKENSTEIN: AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE (PG) Thu, Mon-Tue 1:00, 3:20, 5:50, 8:10, 10:20 Fri-Sat 1:10, 3:30, 6:00, 8:20, 10:40 Sun 1:00, 3:20, 5:50, 8:05, 10:20 LABOR DAY (PG) Thu 2:10, 4:45, 7:25, 10:10 Fri-Sat 2:00, 4:35, 7:10, 10:00 Sun 1:55, 4:35, 7:10, 9:55 Mon-Tue 2:05, 4:35, 7:05, 9:40 Wed 2:00, 4:35, 7:05, 9:50 LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS (R) Thu 2:45 LONE SURVIVOR (14A) Thu 1:30, 4:20, 6:55, 9:40 Fri, MonTue 1:55, 4:45, 7:30, 10:15 Sat 1:40, 4:30, 7:30, 10:15 Sun 1:40, 4:30, 7:25, 10:10 Wed 1:35, 4:45, 7:30, 10:15 THE METROPOLITAN OPERA: RUSALKA Sat 12:55 MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (14A) Thu 5:15 THE MONUMENTS MEN (PG) Thu 7:00, 10:00 Fri 12:55, 1:25, 3:45, 4:20, 6:30, 7:20, 9:35, 10:20 Sat 12:30, 1:20, 3:20, 4:20, 6:30, 7:20, 9:40, 10:20 Sun 12:40, 1:25, 3:40, 4:20, 6:30, 7:15, 9:35, 10:05 Mon-Tue 12:55, 1:25, 3:45, 4:30, 6:35, 7:15, 9:20, 10:05 Wed 12:55, 1:40, 3:45, 4:30, 6:30, 7:15, 9:20, 10:05 RIDE ALONG (14A) Thu 1:35, 4:00, 9:30 Fri 12:45, 3:10, 5:35, 8:00, 10:45 Sat 12:40, 3:10, 5:35, 8:00, 10:45 Sun 12:45, 3:10, 5:35, 8:00, 10:30 Mon-Tue 1:35, 4:10, 6:30, 8:55 Wed 1:55, 4:15, 6:35, 8:55 ROBOCOP (PG) Wed 12:45, 1:25, 3:30, 4:10, 6:15, 6:55, 9:05, 9:45 ROBOCOP: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE (PG) Wed 2:05, 4:50, 7:35, 10:25 SNATCH (14A) Thu 12:30 THOR: THE DARK WORLD (PG) Thu-Fri, Mon-Wed 12:55 Sat 1:00 Sun 1:10 THOR: THE DARK WORLD 3D (PG) Thu 3:35, 6:20, 9:00 Fri-Sun 3:55, 6:40, 9:15 Mon-Tue 3:35, 6:25, 9:10 THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (18A) Thu 12:40, 1:45, 5:30, 9:15 Fri, Mon-Tue 1:05, 4:55, 8:40 Sat 12:45, 4:45, 8:40 Sun 12:55, 4:45, 8:40 Wed 1:05, 4:55, 8:45
MARKET SQUARE, 80 FRONT ST E, 416-494-9371
TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX (I)
AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) 6:30, 9:15 Thu 12:40, 3:40 mat I, FRANKENSTEIN (PG) Thu 3:05 JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT (PG) Thu 9:00 LABOR DAY (PG) Thu 3:45 6:50 9:20 11:30 Fri-Wed 1:00, 3:45, 6:50, 9:25 Sat, Tue 11:35 late THE LEGO MOVIE (G) Thu 9:00 Fri, Sun-Mon, Wed 12:15, 2:35, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30 Sat, Tue 12:15, 2:35, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30, 11:30 THE MONUMENTS MEN (PG) Thu 7:00, 9:30 Fri, SunMon, Wed 12:45, 3:50, 6:40, 9:20 Sat, Tue 12:45, 3:50, 6:40, 9:20, 11:40 THE NUT JOB (PG) Thu 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:00 Fri-Tue 12:40, 2:45 PHILOMENA (PG) Thu 12:50 Fri-Wed 12:35, 6:45 ROBOCOP Sat 11:00 THAT AWKWARD MOMENT (14A) Thu 12:55, 3:00, 5:05, 7:15, 9:25 Fri-Wed 12:55, 3:00, 6:45, 8:55 THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (18A) Thu 12:35, 4:15, 8:00 Fri-Wed 3:05, 8:50
THE GREAT BEAUTY (14A) Thu 12:05, 3:05, 6:30, 9:10 Fri 12:05, 3:05, 6:05, 9:10 Sat 12:05, 3:05, 6:30, 9:35 Sun 12:00, 3:05, 7:00, 9:00 Mon 6:00, 9:00 Tue-Wed 12:00, 3:00, 6:15, 9:15 INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (14A) Thu 12:10, 4:55, 7:20, 9:30 Fri-Sat, Wed 12:10, 2:40, 7:20, 9:40 Sun 12:10, 2:45, 7:20, 9:40 Mon 6:10, 8:15 Tue 12:10, 2:40, 7:20, 9:30 THE OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2014: ANIMATED Fri, Sun, Tue 12:15, 4:25, 8:35 Sat, Wed 2:35, 6:45 Mon 6:45 THE OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2014: LIVE ACTION Fri, Sun, Tue 2:05, 6:15 Sat, Wed 12:15, 4:25, 8:35 Mon 8:35 THE SELFISH GIANT (14A) Thu 2:35, 4:40, 9:10 STRANGER BY THE LAKE (R) Thu 12:20, 2:40, 6:50, 9:45 Fri 12:00, 5:00 Sat 5:00 Sun 6:50, 9:15 Mon 9:05 Tue 2:30, 5:00, 9:45 Wed 2:30, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30 VISITORS (G) Thu 12:00, 2:10, 4:30, 7:00, 9:00 Fri 2:10,
350 KING ST W, 416-599-8433
4:10, 5:55 Sat 12:45, 7:10, 9:15 Sun 3:00, 5:00, 10:00 Mon 6:20, 8:40 Tue 1:45, 4:10, 8:45 Wed 12:40, 3:15, 7:00, 9:00
VARSITY (CE)
55 BLOOR ST W, 416-961-6304 AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) Thu 1:10, 4:05, 6:30, 10:25 Fri-Sun 12:45, 3:55, 7:10, 10:20 Mon-Wed 1:05, 4:10, 7:15, 10:20 AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (14A) Thu, Mon-Wed 1:15, 4:10, 7:00, 9:45 Fri-Sun 1:05, 4:05, 7:05, 10:05 DEVIL’S KNOT (14A) Thu 2:10, 4:50, 7:30, 10:30 THE GREAT BEAUTY (14A) Thu 1:00, 4:10, 7:20, 10:30 Fri-Sun 12:40, 3:50, 7:00, 10:10 Mon-Wed 12:45, 3:55, 7:05, 10:10 HER (14A) Thu 1:20, 4:20, 7:15, 10:05 Fri-Sun 1:25, 4:20, 7:20, 10:30 Mon-Wed 1:20, 4:20, 7:10, 10:05 THE MONUMENTS MEN (PG) Fri-Wed 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 10:20 THE PAST (14A) Thu, Mon-Wed 12:50, 3:45, 6:40, 9:35 Fri-Sun 12:30, 3:30, 6:25, 9:25 PHILOMENA (PG) Thu 1:30, 4:00, 9:30 Fri-Sun 12:25, 2:50, 5:10, 7:40, 10:00 Mon-Wed 1:30, 4:00, 6:25, 9:00 THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (18A) Thu 2:30, 6:45, 10:10 Fri-Wed 1:30, 5:30, 9:30
VIP SCREENINGS
AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) Thu 12:45, 3:50, 7:00, 10:00 FriSun 12:15, 3:15, 6:30, 9:35 Mon-Wed 12:45, 3:50, 7:00, 10:05 HER (14A) Thu 1:00, 3:55, 6:50, 9:50 Fri-Sun 1:00, 3:55, 7:00, 10:00 Mon-Wed 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 10:15 INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (14A) Thu 12:55, 3:35, 6:30, 10:15 THE MONUMENTS MEN (PG) Fri-Sun 12:45, 3:40, 6:45, 9:45 Mon-Wed 1:00, 4:00, 6:50, 9:50 THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (18A) Thu 2:00, 6:20, 9:15 Fri-Sun 12:30, 4:30, 8:30 Mon-Wed 2:00, 6:00, 9:40
YONGE & DUNDAS 24 (CE) 10 DUNDAS ST E, 416-335-5323
AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) Thu 3:00, 6:45, 9:20, 10:15 Fri, Mon-Wed 3:25, 6:50, 10:15 Sat-Sun 11:55, 3:25, 6:45, 10:15 ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES (PG) Thu 7:35, 10:30 Fri-Tue 4:40, 7:30, 10:25 Wed 4:40, 10:25 ANOHANA THE MOVIE: THE FLOWER WE SAW THAT DAY Sun 12:45, 9:30 Wed 7:30 THE ATTORNEY (14A) Fri, Mon-Wed 3:15, 6:30, 9:40 SatSun 12:50, 4:00, 6:50, 9:40 AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (14A) 7:10, 10:00 Fri-Sun 1:35 mat, 4:20 THE BIG CHILL Mon 1:30, 7:00 BLUE JASMINE (14A) Thu 4:15, 9:30 DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (18A) Thu 7:05, 9:50 Fri 2:55, 6:10, 9:35 Sat-Sun 11:55, 2:55, 6:10, 9:35 Mon-Wed 6:25, 9:35 FROZEN (G) Thu 1:30 Fri, Mon-Wed 1:40 Sat-Sun 12:55 FROZEN 3D (G) Thu 4:05, 6:40 Fri, Mon-Wed 4:10, 6:40 Sat-Sun 3:55, 6:30 FROZEN SING-ALONG Thu 2:30, 5:05 Fri-Wed 1:40 GRAVITY: AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE (PG) Thu 2:15, 4:50, 7:40, 10:05 Fri, Tue-Wed 1:55, 4:25, 7:55, 10:20 Sat-Sun 2:10, 4:50, 7:40, 10:05 Mon 1:55, 4:25, 10:20 JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT (PG) Thu 4:35, 6:55, 7:55, 9:30, 10:30 Fri, Mon-Wed 2:35, 5:10, 7:45, 10:20 Sat-Sun 12:05, 2:35, 5:10, 7:45, 10:20 JACKASS PRESENTS: BAD GRANDPA (14A) Fri 4:15, 9:45 Sat 12:55, 6:45 Sun 4:30 Tue 4:15 Wed 1:30, 9:45 JAI HO (14A) Thu 3:25, 6:30, 9:40 LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN Tue 7:00 LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER (14A) Thu 1:30, 6:45 THE LEGO MOVIE 3D (G) Thu 9:25 Fri, Mon-Wed 2:30, 3:30, 5:00, 6:00, 7:30, 10:10 Sat-Sun 12:00, 1:00, 2:30, 3:30, 5:00, 6:00, 7:30, 10:10 THE LEGO MOVIE (G) Fri-Wed 1:45, 4:15, 6:45, 9:30 MISS GRANNY (PG) Thu 1:30, 4:15, 7:05, 9:55 Fri-Wed 4:10, 9:55 NEBRASKA (PG) Thu 9:15 Fri, Mon-Wed 9:10 Sat-Sun 9:05 THE NUT JOB 3D (PG) 4:55, 7:20 Thu 9:45 Sat-Sun 2:15 mat THE NUT JOB (PG) Thu 2:25 Fri, Mon-Wed 2:15 Sat-Sun 12:05 RHYMES FOR YOUNG GHOULS (14A) Thu 1:50, 4:05, 6:20, 8:35 Fri, Mon-Wed 1:45, 7:05 Sat-Sun 1:15, 7:05 RUSH (14A) Fri 1:30, 7:00 Sat 3:45, 9:30 Sun 7:00 Mon 4:15, 9:30 Tue 1:30, 10:00 Wed 4:15 THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (PG) Thu 6:15 Fri-Wed 9:45 THAT AWKWARD MOMENT (14A) Thu 3:05, 4:30, 5:30, 7:00, 8:00, 9:30, 10:30 Fri 2:05, 3:05, 4:30, 5:30, 7:00, 8:00, 9:30, 10:30 Sat-Sun 12:40, 2:05, 3:05, 4:30, 5:30, 7:00, 8:00, 9:30, 10:30 Mon-Wed 1:45, 4:05, 7:00, 8:00, 9:30, 10:30 12 YEARS A SLAVE (14A) Thu-Fri 3:40, 6:40, 9:50 Sat-Sun 12:35, 3:40, 6:40, 9:50 Mon-Wed 6:40, 9:50 VAMPIRE ACADEMY (PG) Fri 2:40, 5:10, 7:50, 8:45, 10:30 Sat-Sun 12:00, 2:40, 5:10, 7:50, 8:45, 10:30 Mon-Wed 2:00, 4:30, 7:50, 8:45, 10:30
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (14A) Fri 3:30, 6:20, 9:10 Sat 12:50, 3:40, 6:40, 9:35 Sun 12:05, 3:00, 6:00, 8:50 MonWed 3:30, 6:20 BRIDE FOR RENT (PG) Thu 3:40, 6:50 Fri 3:45, 6:30, 9:15 Sat 1:00, 3:50, 6:30, 9:20 Sun 12:00, 2:40, 5:20, 8:00 Mon-Wed 3:50, 6:45 DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (18A) Thu, Mon-Wed 4:20, 7:00 Fri 4:10, 6:50, 9:25 Sat 1:40, 4:15, 6:50, 9:30 Sun 12:20, 3:10, 5:45, 8:20 HER (14A) Thu, Mon-Wed 3:30, 6:25 Fri 3:30, 6:25, 9:20 Sat 12:30, 3:25, 6:20, 9:15 Sun 12:00, 2:55, 5:50, 8:45 INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (14A) Thu 4:15, 6:45 LABOR DAY (PG) Fri 3:35, 6:15, 8:55 Sat 12:35, 3:30, 6:10, 9:00 Sun 12:30, 3:20, 6:00, 8:50 Mon-Wed 4:10, 6:50 LONE SURVIVOR (14A) Thu 3:30, 6:30 NEBRASKA (PG) Thu, Mon-Wed 4:00, 6:40 Fri 4:20, 7:00, 9:30 Sat 2:10, 4:40, 7:10, 9:40 Sun 1:00, 3:40, 6:10, 8:40 PHILOMENA (PG) Thu, Mon-Wed 4:30, 7:00 Fri 4:30, 7:10, 9:30 Sat 12:40, 2:50, 5:00, 7:30, 9:40 Sun 1:10, 4:00, 6:20, 8:30 SAVING MR. BANKS (PG) Thu 3:50, 6:40 Fri 4:00, 6:40, 9:25 Sat 12:30, 3:10, 6:00, 8:50 Sun 12:10, 2:50, 5:30, 8:10 Mon-Wed 3:40, 6:30
MT PLEASANT (I)
675 MT PLEASANT RD, 416-489-8484 BLUE JASMINE (14A) Fri 9:35 Sat 4:15 Sun 2:10 CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (14A) Thu 7:00 12 YEARS A SLAVE (14A) Fri 6:45 Sat 6:45, 9:30 Sun 4:30 Tue-Wed 7:00
REGENT THEATRE (I) 551 MT PLEASANT RD, 416-480-9884
THE BOOK THIEF (PG) Thu, Sat, Wed 7:00 Fri 6:45 Sun 4:30 THE INVISIBLE WOMAN (PG) Fri 9:15 Sat 4:30 Sun 2:15 Tue 7:00
SILVERCITY YONGE (CE) 2300 YONGE ST, 416-544-1236
AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) Thu 12:30, 3:30, 6:35, 9:40 Fri 1:00, 4:00, 7:20, 10:30 Sat 12:20, 3:30, 6:45, 10:00 Sun 12:10, 3:25, 6:40, 9:50 Mon-Wed 12:30, 3:35, 6:40, 9:45 AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (14A) Thu 7:00, 9:40 FROZEN (G) Thu 12:30 Fri 1:50 Sat 12:40 Sun-Tue 1:10 Wed 1:25 FROZEN 3D (G) Thu 3:00, 6:00 Fri 4:20, 6:50 Sat 3:15, 5:40, 8:05 Sun 4:00, 6:30 Mon-Tue 3:50, 6:20 Wed 3:55, 6:20 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG 3D (PG) Thu 8:30 I, FRANKENSTEIN 3D (PG) Thu 1:00, 3:50, 6:50, 9:10 Fri 9:30 Sat 10:30 Sun 9:10 Mon-Wed 9:00 JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT (PG) Thu 1:10, 3:40, 6:20, 9:00 Fri 2:00, 4:40, 7:40, 10:15 Sat 7:35, 10:20 Sun 1:30, 4:20, 6:55, 9:40 Mon-Tue 1:15, 4:00, 6:30, 9:10 Wed 1:15, 4:00, 9:45 LABOR DAY (PG) Thu 12:40, 3:20, 6:10, 8:50 THE LEGO MOVIE 3D (G) Fri 3:50, 6:30, 9:20 Sat 12:00, 2:25, 2:55, 5:00, 6:30, 9:20 Sun 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:55 Mon-Tue 4:15, 7:00, 9:40 Wed 4:10, 6:50, 9:20 THE LEGO MOVIE (G) Fri 1:20 Sat-Sun 12:30 Mon-Tue 1:40 THE METROPOLITAN OPERA: RUSALKA Sat 12:55 THE MONUMENTS MEN (PG) Thu 7:00, 9:45 Fri 1:10, 4:10, 7:00, 10:00 Sat 1:10, 4:05, 7:00, 9:55 Sun 1:20, 4:10, 7:05, 10:00 Mon-Tue 1:00, 3:45, 6:50, 9:45 Wed 3:45, 6:30, 9:15 THE NUT JOB 3D (PG) Thu 4:10 Fri 4:30, 6:40, 9:10 Sat 5:50, 8:15, 10:25 Sun 2:40, 4:50, 7:20, 9:35 Mon-Tue 2:40, 4:50, 7:10, 9:25 THE NUT JOB (PG) Thu 1:30 Fri 2:20 Sat 12:10 Sun 12:20 Mon-Tue 12:30 ROBOCOP (PG) Wed 1:30, 4:20, 7:05, 9:50 THAT AWKWARD MOMENT (14A) Thu 1:20, 4:00, 7:10, 9:30 Fri 2:30, 5:00, 7:50, 10:20 Sat 3:05, 5:25, 7:45, 10:15 Sun 3:00, 5:20, 7:40, 10:00 Mon-Tue 1:50, 4:30, 7:15, 9:35 Wed 1:50, 4:30, 7:20, 9:40 VAMPIRE ACADEMY (PG) Fri 1:30, 4:50, 7:30, 10:10 Sat 12:00, 2:40, 5:15, 7:55, 10:30 Sun 12:50, 3:40, 6:20, 9:20 Mon-Wed 12:40, 3:20, 6:10, 8:45 THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (18A) Thu-Fri 12:50, 4:30, 8:20 Sat 6:00, 9:45 Sun 1:00, 5:10, 9:00 Mon-Tue 12:35, 4:40, 8:30 Wed 12:50, 5:10, 8:55
Metro
West End HUMBER CINEMAS (I) 2442 BLOOR ST. WEST, 416-769-2442
AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) Thu 3:15, 6:30, 9:20 Fri-Tue
6:30, 9:30 Wed 7:00 HER (14A) Thu 6:45, 9:30 LABOR DAY (PG) Thu 4:30, 7:15, 9:45 Fri-Tue 3:45, 9:50 Wed 4:30, 9:50 THE LEGO MOVIE (G) Fri 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40 Sat-Tue 12:15, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40 Wed 2:40, 5:00, 7:20 THE MONUMENTS MEN (PG) 3:35, 6:40, 9:20 Sat-Sun, Tue 1:00 mat THE NUT JOB (PG) Thu 4:15, 5:30 Fri 2:30, 4:30 Sat-Tue 1:30, 2:30, 4:30 Wed 2:30 ROBOCOP (PG) Wed 4:15, 6:50, 9:40 THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (18A) Thu 7:45 Fri-Tue 6:20
KINGSWAY THEATRE (I) 3030 BLOOR ST W, 416-232-1939
THE ACT OF KILLING (14A) Thu 12:00 THE BOOK THIEF (PG) Thu 1:10 Fri-Wed 12:20 CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (14A) Fri-Wed 2:00 DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (18A) Thu 8:55 Fri-Wed 12:00, 7:00 THE FINAL MEMBER (14A) Thu 6:00 GOOD VIBRATIONS (14A) Thu 9:15 Fri-Wed 6:00 THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (PG) Fri 10:45 Sat 2:35, 10:45 Mon, Wed 2:35 INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (14A) Thu 7:10 Fri-Wed 9:05 LINSANITY (PG) Thu 7:40 MUSCLE SHOALS (PG) Thu 4:00 Fri-Wed 4:10 NEBRASKA (PG) Thu 3:20 Fri, Sun, Tue 2:35 NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON (14A) Thu 11:15 Fri-Wed 7:45 PHILOMENA (PG) Thu 5:20 Fri-Wed 5:10 THE SQUARE (18A) Thu 2:00 THREE NIGHT STAND Fri-Wed 9:35
QUEENSWAY (CE)
1025 THE QUEENSWAY, QEW & ISLINGTON, 416-503-0424 AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) Thu 1:00, 2:45, 4:05, 6:45, 7:20, 10:15, 10:30 Fri-Sat 12:20, 3:35, 4:00, 7:00, 7:15, 10:05, 10:30 Sun 12:35, 2:30, 3:45, 6:00, 6:50, 9:55, 10:00 MonTue 12:40, 2:30, 3:45, 6:00, 6:50, 9:55, 10:00 Wed 12:40, 2:30, 3:45, 5:45, 6:50, 9:00, 9:55 ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES (PG) Thu 10:15 ANOHANA THE MOVIE: THE FLOWER WE SAW THAT DAY Sun 12:45 Wed 7:30 AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (14A) Thu 12:55, 3:50, 6:55, 9:55 Fri 1:25, 4:30, 7:30, 10:25 Sat 12:35, 3:25, 7:30, 10:25 Sun, Tue 1:35, 4:20, 7:15, 10:05 Mon 1:00, 3:50, 7:15, 10:05 Wed 1:35, 4:20, 10:05 THE BIG CHILL Mon 7:00 A CINDERELLA STORY (G) Sat 11:00 DEVIL’S DUE (14A) Thu 9:30 FROZEN (G) Thu 2:15 Fri 2:00 Sat 11:20 Sun-Wed 1:55 FROZEN 3D (G) Thu 4:55, 7:35 Fri 4:35, 7:05 Sat 2:00, 4:35, 7:05 Sun-Wed 4:30, 7:10 FROZEN SING-ALONG Thu 12:40, 3:20 HER (14A) Thu 12:35, 3:25, 6:20 Fri-Wed 9:45 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG 3D (PG) Thu 4:20, 8:20 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (PG) Thu 12:45 THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (PG) Thu 6:30, 9:45 I, FRANKENSTEIN 3D (PG) Thu 12:50, 3:10, 5:35, 8:00, 10:20 Fri 1:00, 3:40, 6:05, 8:25, 10:45 Sat 6:05, 8:25, 10:45 Sun 5:50, 8:10, 10:30 Mon 1:05, 3:25, 10:30 Tue 1:05, 3:25, 5:50, 8:10, 10:30 JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT (PG) Thu 1:30, 2:00, 4:30, 4:40, 7:15, 7:25, 10:00, 10:05 Fri 2:05, 4:40, 7:10, 9:55 Sat 11:30, 2:10, 4:40, 7:10, 9:55 Sun 2:00, 4:40, 7:25, 10:00 MonTue 12:40, 4:40, 7:25, 10:00 Wed 2:05, 4:40, 7:20, 10:00 LABOR DAY (PG) Thu 1:30, 3:15, 4:15, 6:15, 7:10, 9:00, 10:00 Fri-Sat 1:50, 3:00, 4:50, 6:15, 7:45, 9:30, 10:30 Sun 2:10, 3:00, 4:50, 7:00, 7:35, 9:40, 10:15 Mon-Tue 2:10, 3:00, 4:55, 7:00, 7:35, 9:40, 10:15 Wed 2:10, 4:55, 7:35, 10:15 THE LEGO MOVIE 3D (G) Thu 9:15 Fri 12:05, 2:30, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10 Sat 12:00, 2:30, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10 Sun 12:00, 2:25, 5:00, 7:40, 10:10 Mon-Wed 2:25, 5:00, 7:40, 10:10 THE LEGO MOVIE (G) Fri 1:35, 4:10, 6:50, 9:20 Sat 11:05, 1:35, 4:10, 6:50, 9:20 Sun-Wed 1:25, 4:00, 6:40, 9:15 LONE SURVIVOR (14A) Thu 1:10, 3:55 Fri-Wed 9:00 THE METROPOLITAN OPERA: RUSALKA Sat 12:55 THE MONUMENTS MEN (PG) Thu 7:00, 9:50 Fri 12:00, 1:15, 1:30, 3:30, 4:20, 4:30, 6:45, 7:20, 7:45, 10:00, 10:20, 11:00 Sat 12:00, 12:15, 1:15, 1:30, 3:30, 4:20, 4:30, 6:45, 7:20, 7:45, 10:00, 10:20, 11:00 Sun 12:30, 1:15, 1:30, 3:30, 4:10, 4:30, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 9:20, 9:50, 10:20 Mon-Tue 1:15, 1:30, 3:30, 4:10, 4:30, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 9:20, 9:50, 10:20 Wed 1:15, 1:30, 3:00, 4:10, 4:30, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 9:30, 9:50, 10:30 THE NUT JOB 3D (PG) Thu 4:30, 6:50 Fri 3:45, 6:30 Sat 1:05, 3:45, 6:30 Sun-Tue 3:35, 6:20 Wed 3:25, 6:20 THE NUT JOB (PG) Thu 1:45 Fri 1:05 Sat 11:00 Sun-Wed 12:50 RIDE ALONG (14A) Thu 2:30, 5:15, 7:50, 10:25 Fri 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:05, 10:40 Sat 3:00, 5:30, 8:05, 10:40 Sun 12:25, 2:55, 5:25, 7:55, 10:25 Mon-Wed 2:55, 5:25, 7:55, 10:25 ROBOCOP (PG) Wed 12:45, 1:45, 3:30, 3:35, 4:35, 6:30, 7:00, 7:25, 9:25, 10:00, 10:15 THAT AWKWARD MOMENT (14A) Thu 2:00, 2:40, 4:45, 5:10, 7:40, 8:30, 10:10 Fri-Sat 12:45, 3:15, 5:45, 8:15, 10:45 Sun 12:40, 3:15, 5:40, 8:05, 10:30 Mon-Tue 12:45, 3:15, 5:40, 8:05, 10:30 Wed 3:15, 5:40, 8:05, 10:30 12 YEARS A SLAVE (14A) Thu 12:30, 3:30, 6:40, 9:40 Fri 12:15, 3:25, 6:40, 9:40 Sat 6:40, 9:40 Sun 12:10, 3:05, 6:30, 9:35 Mon-Tue 1:45, 3:20, 6:30, 9:35 VAMPIRE ACADEMY (PG) Fri-Sat 12:10, 2:45, 5:15, 7:55, 10:35 Sun 12:05, 2:35, 5:10, 7:45, 10:20 Mon-Tue 2:35, 5:10, 7:45, 10:20 Wed 5:10, 7:45, 10:20 THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (18A) Thu 12:50, 4:00, 4:45, 8:00, 8:45 Fri 12:45, 2:20, 4:45, 6:20, 9:00, 10:15 Sat 11:05, 12:45, 2:50, 4:45, 6:20, 9:00, 10:15 Sun 12:00, 1:05, 3:30, 4:00, 8:15, 8:20 Mon-Wed 12:55, 4:00, 4:50, 8:15, 8:45
RAINBOW WOODBINE (I)
WOODBINE CENTRE, 500 REXDALE BLVD, 416-213-1998 DEVIL’S DUE (14A) Thu 9:25 FROZEN (G) Thu 1:15, 4:15, 6:40 Fri-Tue 1:20, 4:05, 6:45 I, FRANKENSTEIN (PG) Thu 1:05, 3:45, 6:45, 9:15 Fri-Tue 9:25 JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT (PG) Thu 1:25, 3:55 LABOR DAY (PG) Thu 1:10, 4:05, 6:50, 9:30 Fri-Wed 4:45, 7:10, 9:35 THE LEGO MOVIE (G) Thu 9:10 Fri-Wed 1:15, 4:00, 7:00, 9:20 LONE SURVIVOR (14A) Thu 9:20 THE MONUMENTS MEN (PG) Thu 7:00, 9:40 Fri-Wed 1:05, 3:55, 6:55, 9:30
72
FEBRUARY 6-12 2014 NOW
The Nut Job (PG) Thu 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:05 Fri-Wed 1:00, 2:55 Ride Along (14A) Thu 1:30 4:10 7:10 9:35 Fri-Wed 1:30, 4:10, 7:05, 9:40 RoboCop (PG) Wed 1:20, 4:05, 6:45, 9:25 That Awkward Moment (14A) Thu 1:20 4:00 7:00 9:45 Fri-Wed 1:25, 4:20, 7:15, 9:45 Vampire Academy (PG) Fri-Wed 1:10, 4:15, 6:50, 9:15
East End Beach Cinemas (AA) 1651 Queen St E, 416-699-1327
American Hustle (14A) Thu 7:00, 10:00 Fri 3:30, 7:15, 10:15 Sat-Sun 12:30, 3:30, 7:15, 10:15 Mon-Tue 7:10, 10:15 Wed 7:10, 10:10 August: Osage County (14A) Thu 6:45, 9:30 Fri 3:45, 6:45, 9:30 Sat-Sun 12:45, 3:45, 6:45, 9:30 Mon-Tue 7:20, 10:00 I, Frankenstein 3D (PG) Thu 7:30, 9:45 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (PG) Thu 9:30 The LEGO Movie 3D (G) Fri 4:30, 7:30, 10:00 Sat-Sun 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 Mon-Wed 6:45, 9:15 The LEGO Movie (G) Sat-Sun 12:00 The Metropolitan Opera: Rusalka Sat 12:55 The Monuments Men (PG) 7:00, 9:45 Fri 4:00 mat SatSun 1:00, 4:00 mat The Nut Job 3D (PG) Thu 7:15 Fri 3:15, 6:30 Sat-Sun 3:00, 6:30 Mon-Wed 6:30 The Nut Job (PG) Sat-Sun 12:15 RoboCop (PG) Wed 7:30, 10:20 That Awkward Moment (14A) Thu 7:45, 10:15 Fri 4:15, 7:45, 10:10 Sat, Mon-Tue 7:45, 10:10 Sun 1:15, 4:15, 7:45, 10:10 Wed 7:45, 10:00 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Thu 8:00 Fri-Wed 8:45
North York Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk (CE) 5095 Yonge St., 416-847-0087
American Hustle (14A) Thu 3:50, 7:00, 10:00 Fri 3:50, 7:00, 10:10 Sat 12:35, 3:50, 7:00, 10:10 Sun 12:35, 3:50, 7:00, 10:05 Mon-Wed 3:50, 7:00, 10:05 August: Osage County (14A) Thu 3:40, 6:40, 9:35 FriWed 9:10 Frozen (G) Sat-Sun 1:00 Frozen 3D (G) 3:30, 6:20 Gravity: An IMAX 3D Experience (PG) Thu 4:40 7:20 9:50 Fri-Wed 4:30, 7:20, 9:50 Sat-Sun 1:55 mat Her (14A) Thu 9:10 I, Frankenstein 3D (PG) Thu 4:00, 6:30, 9:05 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (PG) Thu 4:45, 7:30, 10:05 Fri-Sat 4:50, 7:40, 10:20 Sun 2:00, 4:50, 7:35, 10:15 MonWed 4:50, 7:35, 10:15 Labor Day (PG) Thu 4:20, 7:05, 10:10 Fri 4:00, 7:10, 10:15 Sat 7:10, 10:15 Sun 12:25, 3:45, 6:55, 9:55 Mon-Wed 3:45, 6:55, 9:55 The LEGO Movie 3D (G) 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 Sat-Sun 2:20 mat The LEGO Movie (G) Sat-Sun 11:55 The Metropolitan Opera: Rusalka Sat 12:55 The Monuments Men (PG) 3:40, 6:40, 9:30 Sat-Sun 12:40 mat The Nut Job 3D (PG) Thu 4:10, 6:35 RoboCop: The IMAX Experience (PG) Wed 4:30, 7:20, 10:00 That Awkward Moment (14A) Thu 4:50 7:10 9:40 Fri-Wed 4:40, 7:15, 9:40 Sat-Sun 2:15 mat 12 Years a Slave (14A) Thu 9:00 Vampire Academy (PG) Fri 5:20, 8:00, 10:30 Sat 2:00, 5:30, 8:00, 10:30 Sun 2:10, 4:45, 7:25, 10:10 Mon-Wed 4:45, 7:25, 10:10 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Thu 5:00 8:50 Fri-Wed 4:55, 8:50 Sat-Sun 12:30 mat
SilverCity Fairview (CE)
Fairview Mall, 1800 Sheppard Ave E, 416-644-7746 American Hustle (14A) Thu 12:40, 3:50, 6:55, 9:55 Fri, SunTue 1:10, 4:05, 7:10, 10:10 Sat 7:10, 10:10 Wed 1:10, 4:05, 10:10 Anohana the Movie: The Flower We Saw That Day Sun 12:45 Wed 7:30 August: Osage County (14A) Thu 9:45 A Cinderella Story (G) Sat 11:00 Devil’s Due (14A) Thu 9:30 Frozen (G) Thu 1:10 Fri, Sun-Wed 1:20 Sat 12:00 Frozen 3D (G) Thu 3:55, 6:45 Fri, Sun-Wed 4:10, 6:50 Sat 1:30, 4:10, 6:55 I, Frankenstein 3D (PG) Thu 12:50, 3:10, 5:30, 7:50, 10:00 Fri-Wed 9:40 Labor Day (PG) Thu 1:20, 4:10, 6:50, 9:35 Fri, Sun-Tue 2:00, 4:45, 7:25, 10:05 Sat 11:20, 2:00, 4:45, 7:25, 10:05 The LEGO Movie 3D (G) Fri, Sun-Tue 4:30, 7:15, 9:45 Sat 2:20, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 Wed 4:30, 7:10, 9:45 The LEGO Movie (G) Fri, Sun-Tue 1:50 Sat 11:50 Lone Survivor (14A) Thu 1:00, 4:00 Fri, Sun-Wed 9:50 Sat 9:30 The Metropolitan Opera: Rusalka Sat 12:55 The Monuments Men (PG) Thu 7:00, 9:50 Fri, Sun-Wed 1:40, 4:20, 7:05, 9:55 Sat 11:05, 1:40, 4:20, 7:05, 9:55 The Nut Job 3D (PG) Thu 3:00, 5:20, 7:35 Fri, Sun-Wed 5:05, 7:30 Sat 2:40, 5:05, 7:15 The Nut Job (PG) Thu 12:45 Fri, Sun-Wed 2:20 Sat 11:10 Ride Along (14A) Thu 12:55, 3:45, 6:40, 9:25 Fri, Sun-Wed 2:10, 4:40, 7:20, 10:00 Sat 11:30, 2:10, 4:40, 7:20, 9:50 RoboCop (PG) Wed 1:30, 4:25, 7:15, 10:05 That Awkward Moment (14A) Thu 1:40, 4:20, 7:10, 9:40 Fri, Mon-Tue 12:55, 4:15, 7:00, 10:15 Sat 1:00, 4:15, 7:00, 10:15 Sun 1:30, 4:15, 7:00, 10:15 Wed 4:15, 7:45, 10:15 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Thu 1:30, 5:25, 9:20 Fri, Mon-Wed 12:45, 3:10, 6:40, 9:35 Sat 12:30, 3:15, 6:40, 9:45 Sun 3:00, 6:40, 9:35
SilverCity Yorkdale (CE) 3401 Dufferin St, 416-787-2052
A Cinderella Story (G) Sat 11:00
Devil’s Due (14A) Thu 1:30, 4:00 Fri-Wed 9:15 Frozen (G) Thu 1:20 Fri, Sun-Wed 1:10 Sat 11:05 Frozen 3D (G) Thu 4:10, 6:55 Fri, Sun-Wed 3:50, 6:50 Sat 1:45, 4:30, 7:15 Frozen Sing-Along Thu 12:45, 3:30 Her (14A) Thu 9:40 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) Thu 10:10 I, Frankenstein 3D (PG) Thu 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 9:45 Fri-Sat 8:05, 10:30 Sun-Wed 6:30, 9:15 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (PG) Thu 2:05, 4:40, 7:15, 10:00 Fri, Sun-Wed 9:40 Sat 10:00 Labor Day (PG) Thu 1:00 4:00 6:50 9:50 Fri-Wed 1:00, 3:50, 6:40, 9:25 The LEGO Movie 3D (G) Fri 1:30, 4:30, 7:35, 10:10 Sat 11:30, 2:10, 4:55, 7:35, 10:10 Sun-Wed 1:30, 4:15, 7:00, 9:35 The LEGO Movie (G) Fri 12:50, 3:30 Sat 12:20, 2:55, 5:30 Sun-Wed 12:45, 3:25 Lone Survivor (14A) Thu 7:00, 10:00 The Monuments Men (PG) Thu 7:00, 9:55 Fri-Sat 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 10:20 Sun-Wed 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 10:15 The Nut Job 3D (PG) Thu 3:20, 5:35, 7:50 Fri, Sun-Wed 4:10, 6:45 Sat 1:50, 4:10, 6:45 The Nut Job (PG) Thu 1:00 Fri, Sun-Wed 1:15 Sat 11:30 Ride Along (14A) Thu 2:00 4:45 7:30 10:05 Fri-Wed 2:20, 4:55, 7:30, 10:05 Sat 11:45 mat RoboCop (PG) Wed 12:50, 4:00, 7:15, 10:10 That Awkward Moment (14A) Thu 2:10, 5:00, 7:40, 10:15 Fri 12:45, 3:05, 5:30, 8:00, 10:30 Sat 12:40, 3:05, 5:30, 8:00, 10:30 Sun-Wed 2:00, 4:45, 7:40, 10:10 Vampire Academy (PG) Fri 2:20, 5:00, 7:45, 10:25 Sat 11:40, 2:20, 5:00, 7:45, 10:25 Sun-Wed 1:50, 4:40, 7:25, 10:00 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Thu 12:50, 4:45, 9:00 Fri-Sat 1:30, 6:25, 10:15 Sun-Tue 12:50, 4:45, 8:40
Scarborough 401 & Morningside (CE) 785 Milner Ave, Scarborough, 416-281-2226
American Hustle (14A) Thu 5:10, 8:15 A Cinderella Story (G) Sat 11:00 47 Ronin (PG) Thu 8:20 Frozen (G) Thu 5:30, 8:00 Fri, Tue 5:20, 7:45 Sat-Sun 2:00, 5:20, 7:45 Mon, Wed 6:00 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) Thu, Mon 5:00, 7:55 Fri-Sat 4:50, 8:20 Sun 4:50, 8:15 Tue 4:15, 6:45, 10:10 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG) Sat-Sun 12:40 I, Frankenstein 3D (PG) Thu 5:15, 8:25 Fri 5:50, 8:10, 10:25 Sat 12:45, 5:50, 8:10, 10:25 Sun 12:45, 5:35, 7:55, 10:15 Mon, Wed 5:30, 8:25 Tue 4:20, 8:10, 10:25 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (PG) Thu 5:20, 7:50 FriSat, Tue 10:15 Sun 10:10 Mon, Wed 8:25 Labor Day (PG) Thu 5:25, 8:05 Fri, Tue 4:20, 7:00, 9:45 Sat 1:20, 4:15, 7:00, 9:45 Sun 1:20, 4:15, 7:00, 9:30 Mon, Wed 5:05, 7:40 The LEGO Movie 3D (G) Fri, Tue 5:05, 7:35, 10:05 Sat 12:10, 2:35, 5:05, 7:35, 10:05 Sun 12:10, 2:35, 5:05, 7:35, 10:00 Mon, Wed 5:45, 8:15 The LEGO Movie (G) Fri, Tue 4:15, 6:50, 9:25 Sat 11:10, 1:30, 3:10, 4:00, 6:50, 9:25 Sun 1:30, 3:10, 4:00, 6:50, 9:15 Mon, Wed 5:00, 7:30 Lone Survivor (14A) Thu 5:40, 8:25 The Monuments Men (PG) Fri, Tue 4:30, 7:15, 10:00 Sat 11:05, 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 10:00 Sun 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 9:50 Mon, Wed 5:10, 8:00 The Nut Job 3D (PG) Thu 6:10 Fri, Tue 4:40, 7:05 Sat-Sun 2:15, 4:40, 7:05 Mon, Wed 5:15 The Nut Job (PG) Thu 5:05 Sat 11:15, 12:00 Sun 12:00 Ride Along (14A) Thu 6:00, 8:20 Fri, Tue 5:30, 8:00, 10:25 Sat 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00, 10:25 Sun 12:30, 2:50, 5:15, 7:40, 10:05 Mon, Wed 5:40, 8:10 RoboCop (PG) Wed 5:25, 8:05 That Awkward Moment (14A) Thu 5:50, 8:10 Fri, Tue 5:40, 8:05, 10:25 Sat 12:50, 3:15, 5:40, 8:05, 10:25 Sun 12:50, 3:15, 5:40, 8:00, 10:15 Mon, Wed 5:50, 8:20 Vampire Academy (PG) Fri, Tue 5:15, 7:50, 10:20 Sat 12:15, 2:45, 5:15, 7:50, 10:20 Sun 12:05, 2:35, 5:05, 7:30, 9:55 Mon, Wed 5:20, 7:50 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Thu 7:40 Fri-Sat, Tue 9:15 Sun 9:10 Mon, Wed 7:35
Coliseum Scarborough (CE)
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Anohana the Movie: The Flower We Saw That Day Sun 12:45 Wed 7:30 August: Osage County (14A) Thu 9:45 Bride for Rent (PG) 1:15, 4:05, 6:45, 9:30 Sat only 12:45 4:00 6:45 9:30 A Cinderella Story (G) Sat 11:00 Devil’s Due (14A) Thu 2:35, 5:20, 7:50, 10:15 Fri-Wed 10:05 47 Ronin (PG) Thu 10:05 Frozen (G) Thu, Sat 1:30 Fri, Sun-Wed 1:10 Frozen 3D (G) Thu 4:15 7:00 Fri-Wed 4:15, 7:05 I, Frankenstein 3D (PG) Thu 1:05, 3:40, 7:25, 9:50 Fri-Sun, Tue 2:10, 4:45, 7:25, 9:45 Mon, Wed 2:10, 4:45, 7:25, 10:10 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (PG) Thu 1:55, 4:35, 9:55 Fri, Tue 12:50, 4:00, 6:55, 10:15 Sat 6:55, 10:15 Sun 4:00, 6:55, 10:15 Mon 1:25, 4:00, 6:55, 10:15 Labor Day (PG) Thu 2:00, 4:40, 7:20, 10:10 Fri-Tue 1:35, 4:35, 7:15, 9:50 Wed 1:35, 4:35, 9:50 The LEGO Movie 3D (G) Fri, Tue 12:00, 2:30, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10 Sat 11:20, 12:00, 2:30, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10 Sun 11:55, 2:30, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10 Mon, Wed 1:40, 4:20, 7:10, 9:45 The LEGO Movie (G) Fri-Wed 1:00, 3:55, 6:30 Lone Survivor (14A) Thu 12:55, 3:55 The Metropolitan Opera: Rusalka Sat 12:55 The Monuments Men (PG) Thu 7:00, 10:20 Fri-Sun, Tue 1:20, 4:10, 7:35, 10:30 Mon, Wed 1:20, 4:10, 7:40, 10:30 The Nut Job 3D (PG) Thu 3:25, 5:35, 7:55 Fri, Sun-Wed 4:25, 7:00 Sat 1:45, 4:25, 7:00 The Nut Job (PG) Thu 1:00 Fri, Sun-Wed 1:45 Sat 11:15 Ride Along (14A) Thu 2:15, 4:45, 7:30, 10:00 Fri, Sun, Tue 2:15, 4:50, 7:30, 10:00 Sat 11:45, 2:15, 4:50, 7:30, 10:00 Mon, Wed 2:15, 4:50, 7:35, 10:00 continued on page 74 œ
REITMAN SQUARE, 350 KING STREET WEST, TORONTO
NOW February 6-12 2014
73
movie times œcontinued from page 73
RoboCop (PG) Wed 1:05, 4:00, 6:55, 10:15 That Awkward Moment (14A) Thu 1:35, 4:25, 8:00, 10:30 Fri, Sun-Wed 1:55, 4:40, 7:20, 9:55 Sat 11:30, 1:55, 4:40, 7:20, 9:55 12 Years a Slave (14A) Thu 6:50, 9:50 Fri-Wed 9:15 Vampire Academy (PG) Fri-Sat, Tue 12:10, 2:45, 5:20, 8:00, 10:40 Sun 12:00, 2:40, 5:20, 7:50, 10:25 Mon 2:00, 4:55, 7:45, 10:20 Wed 2:00, 4:55, 7:15, 10:20 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Thu 1:45, 5:40, 9:35 Fri-Wed 9:40
Eglinton Town Centre (CE) 1901 Eglinton Ave E, 416-752-4494
American Hustle (14A) Thu 3:35, 6:45, 9:55 Fri 12:40, 3:50, 7:10, 10:25 Sat 12:20, 3:35, 6:45, 10:00 Sun 12:20, 3:30, 6:45, 9:55 Mon-Wed 3:35, 6:50, 10:05 The Big Chill Mon 7:00 A Cinderella Story (G) Sat 1:00 Dallas Buyers Club (18A) Thu 3:50, 6:40, 9:30 Devil’s Due (14A) Thu 10:25 Frozen (G) Fri, Sun 2:00 Sat 11:30, 2:00 Frozen 3D (G) Thu 5:10, 7:40 Fri, Sun 4:40, 7:15 Sat 4:35, 7:10 Mon-Wed 5:15, 7:45 Frozen Sing-Along Thu 2:45, 5:20, 7:50 Hasee Toh Phasee Fri 12:55, 4:05, 7:20, 10:35 Sat 12:50, 4:05, 7:20, 10:35 Sun 12:40, 3:55, 7:10, 10:25 Mon-Tue 3:30, 6:40, 9:55 Wed 3:30, 6:45, 9:55 Her (14A) Thu 10:20 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) Thu 3:20, 6:55, 10:30 Fri-Sat 10:05 Sun 9:20 Mon-Wed 9:35 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Thu 3:40 I, Frankenstein 3D (PG) Thu 2:15, 4:40, 7:10, 9:45 Fri 12:50, 3:20, 5:45, 8:15, 10:45 Sat 12:45, 3:20, 5:45, 8:15, 10:45 Sun 12:00, 2:25, 4:55, 7:25, 10:00 Mon-Wed 4:25, 6:50, 9:30 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (PG) Thu 4:50, 7:25, 10:05 Fri 2:20, 4:50, 7:25, 10:00 Sat 11:55, 2:35, 5:10, 7:55, 10:30 Sun 2:20, 5:00, 7:40, 10:15 Mon-Wed 4:55, 7:30, 10:10 Jai Ho (14A) Thu 3:40, 6:55, 10:15 Fri 12:30, 3:45, 7:05, 10:20 Sat 12:05, 3:25, 6:40, 9:55 Sun 12:25, 3:45, 7:00, 10:15 Mon-Tue 3:30, 6:45, 10:00 Labor Day (PG) Thu 2:25, 4:30, 7:15, 10:10 Fri-Sun 1:35, 4:15, 6:55, 9:40 Mon-Wed 4:10, 6:55, 9:40 The LEGO Movie 3D (G) Thu 9:25 Fri 2:30, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10 Sat 11:40, 2:30, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10 Sun 12:00, 2:30, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10 Mon-Wed 4:40, 7:15, 9:50 The LEGO Movie (G) Fri 12:30, 1:50, 4:25, 7:00 Sat 11:10, 12:15, 1:50, 4:25, 7:00 Sun 1:50, 4:25, 7:00 Mon-Tue 3:40, 6:15 Wed 3:45, 6:15 Lone Survivor (14A) Thu 4:10, 7:00, 9:50 Fri-Sat 9:45 Sun 9:50 Mon-Wed 10:15 The Metropolitan Opera: Rusalka Sat 12:55 The Monuments Men (PG) Thu 7:00, 10:00 Fri-Sun 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 9:35, 10:30 Mon-Wed 4:20, 7:10, 9:00, 10:00 The Nut Job 3D (PG) Thu 4:50, 7:10 Fri-Sat 5:20, 7:45 Sun 4:45, 7:05 Mon-Wed 5:00, 7:20 The Nut Job (PG) Thu 2:30 Fri 12:40, 3:05 Sat 11:15, 12:25, 2:50 Sun 12:10, 2:25 Philomena (PG) Thu 2:10, 4:35, 7:05, 9:35 Fri, Sun 1:45, 4:10, 6:50, 9:25 Sat 5:35, 7:50, 10:15 Mon 4:15, 9:20 Tue 4:30, 6:55, 9:25 Ride Along (14A) Thu 2:20, 4:55, 7:25, 10:00 Fri 12:35, 3:00, 5:30, 8:05, 10:40 Sat 3:10, 5:40, 8:10, 10:40 Sun 12:15, 2:45, 5:20, 7:55, 10:30 Mon-Tue 5:20, 7:55, 10:30 Wed 4:30, 7:00, 9:45 RoboCop (PG) Wed 3:40, 4:35, 6:40, 7:35, 9:30, 10:30 That Awkward Moment (14A) Thu 3:00, 5:30, 8:00, 10:30 Fri 3:00, 5:25, 7:50, 10:25 Sat 12:30, 2:55, 5:25, 7:50, 10:20 Sun 12:30, 3:00, 5:25, 7:50, 10:25 Mon-Wed 5:25, 7:50, 10:25 Vampire Academy (PG) Fri 2:25, 5:15, 8:00, 10:45 Sat 11:45, 2:25, 5:10, 8:00, 10:45 Sun 2:05, 4:50, 7:35, 10:20 Mon-Tue 4:50, 7:35, 10:20 Wed 5:00, 7:40, 10:20 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Thu, Mon-Wed 4:45, 8:45 Fri, Sun 12:45, 4:45, 8:45 Sat 2:45, 6:35, 10:25
Woodside Cinemas (I) 1571 Sandhurst Circle, 416-299-3456
Hasee Toh Phasee Fri, Mon-Wed 3:30, 6:30, 9:30 SatSun 12:30, 3:30, 9:30 Inga Enna Solluthu Thu 6:30, 10:30 Jai Ho (14A) Thu 3:30, 9:30 Jilla (14A) Thu 3:00, 7:00 Fri-Wed 4:00, 7:00, 10:30 Pannaiyarum Padminiyum 7:30, 10:30 Sat-Sun 1:00 mat Rummy Thu 4:00, 10:30 Veeram (14A) Thu 7:15 Fri, Mon-Wed 4:00 Sat-Sun 1:00, 6:30
GTA Regions Mississauga
Coliseum Mississauga (CE) Square One, 309 Rathburn Rd W, 905-275-3456
Akira (14A) Thu 7:15 American Hustle (14A) Thu 12:10, 3:20, 6:30, 9:35 Fri, Mon-Wed 1:00, 4:00, 7:05, 10:15 Sat 12:20, 4:00, 7:05, 10:15 Sun 12:15, 4:00, 7:05, 10:15 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG) Thu 9:50 The Big Chill Mon 7:00 A Cinderella Story (G) Sat 11:00 47 Ronin (PG) Thu 12:15, 3:25, 6:15 Fri-Wed 9:50 Frozen (G) Thu 12:20 Fri-Wed 1:40 Frozen 3D (G) Thu 3:45, 6:40, 9:20 Fri-Wed 4:20, 6:55, 9:30 Frozen Sing-Along Thu 1:15, 4:00, 7:15 Ghost in the Shell Thu 9:50 Gravity: An IMAX 3D Experience (PG) Thu 12:45 3:00 5:20 7:40 10:20 Fri-Wed 1:10, 3:35, 5:50, 8:05, 10:20 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) Thu 3:30, 7:00, 10:30 Fri, Sun-Wed 6:30, 10:00 Sat 2:45, 6:30, 10:00 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG) Thu 12:00 Fri, Mon-Wed 2:20 Sat 11:15 Sun 2:45 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Thu 12:05, 3:35, 6:50, 10:15 Fri, Mon-Wed 1:05, 4:10, 7:20, 10:30 Sat 12:30, 3:45, 7:20, 10:30 Sun 12:30, 3:40, 6:50, 10:05 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (PG) Thu 1:40, 4:50, 7:30, 10:25 Fri-Sat 2:00, 5:00, 7:50, 10:40 Sun 2:00, 5:00, 7:50, 10:30 Mon-Tue 1:50, 4:40, 7:45, 10:20 Wed 1:50, 4:40, 7:40, 10:20 The LEGO Movie 3D (G) Thu 9:00 Fri, Mon-Tue 2:30, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10 Sat 11:30, 2:30, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10 Sun 12:00, 2:30, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10 Wed 2:30, 5:05, 7:35, 10:05 The LEGO Movie (G) Fri-Tue 1:30, 4:05, 6:40, 9:10 Wed 4:05, 6:40, 9:10 Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (R) Thu 2:45 Lone Survivor (14A) Thu 1:30, 4:25, 7:20, 10:05 Fri, Mon-Tue 1:20, 4:25, 7:15, 10:25 Sat-Sun 12:45, 4:15, 7:15, 10:25 Wed 1:20, 4:25, 7:10, 9:55 The Metropolitan Opera: Rusalka Sat 12:55 Monty Python And The Holy Grail (14A) Thu 5:15 The Nut Job 3D (PG) Thu 5:30, 7:45, 10:10 Fri-Wed 5:10, 7:30 The Nut Job (PG) Thu 1:00, 3:15 Fri, Sun-Wed 2:50 Sat 11:45, 2:50 Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (14A) Thu 12:25, 2:50, 5:10, 7:35, 9:45 Fri, Sun, Tue 2:10, 4:50, 7:00, 9:40 Sat 7:00, 9:40 Mon 2:10, 4:50, 9:40 RoboCop (PG) Wed 2:10, 5:00, 7:45, 10:30 RoboCop: The IMAX Experience (PG) Wed 1:10, 4:15, 7:00, 9:40 Snatch (14A) Thu 12:30 That Awkward Moment (14A) Thu 12:40, 3:05, 5:30, 8:10, 10:30 Fri 3:00, 5:30, 7:55, 10:35 Sat 12:10, 3:00, 5:30, 7:55, 10:35 Sun 1:50, 4:40, 7:25, 9:55 Mon-Wed 2:00, 4:35, 7:25, 9:45 Vampire Academy (PG) Fri 2:40, 5:20, 8:00, 10:45 Sat 12:00, 2:40, 5:20, 8:00, 10:45 Sun 12:05, 2:40, 5:20, 7:55, 10:30 Mon-Tue 2:40, 5:20, 7:55, 10:30 Wed 5:15, 7:50, 10:25
Courtney Park 16 (CE)
110 Courtney Park E at Hurontario, 416-335-5323 American Hustle (14A) Thu 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 10:10 Fri-Sat 10:20 Sun-Wed 10:05 Anohana the Movie: The Flower We Saw That Day Sun 12:45 Wed 7:30 August: Osage County (14A) Thu 3:20, 6:10, 8:55 FriSat 9:40 Sun-Wed 9:25 47 Ronin (PG) Thu 9:05 Frozen (G) Thu 1:35 Fri-Wed 1:40 Frozen 3D (G) Thu 4:00, 6:30 Fri-Wed 4:15, 6:55 Frozen Sing-Along Thu 1:05, 2:40, 5:10 Gravity: An IMAX 3D Experience (PG) Thu, Sun-Tue 1:30, 3:45, 6:00, 8:15, 10:30 Fri-Sat 1:30, 3:45, 6:00, 8:15, 10:45 Hasee Toh Phasee Fri 3:15, 6:25, 9:45 Sat 12:10, 3:15, 6:25, 9:45 Sun 12:10, 3:15, 6:25, 9:30 Mon-Wed 3:15, 6:25, 9:30 Her (14A) Thu 1:55, 4:40, 7:30, 10:20 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) Thu 5:05, 8:30 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG) Thu 1:40 I, Frankenstein 3D (PG) Thu 1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10:00 Fri 2:25, 4:55, 7:20, 9:55 Sat 12:05, 2:25, 4:55, 7:20, 9:55 Sun 12:05, 2:25, 4:55, 7:20, 9:40 Mon-Wed 2:25, 4:55, 7:20, 9:40 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (PG) Thu 1:25, 4:30, 6:55, 9:25 Fri-Sat 2:10, 4:40, 7:15, 10:00 Sun-Tue 2:10, 4:40, 7:15, 9:45 Wed 2:10, 4:40, 9:55 Jai Ho (14A) Thu 3:35, 6:40, 9:45 Fri 3:30, 6:40, 10:05 Sat 12:20, 3:30, 6:40, 10:05 Sun 12:20, 3:30, 6:40, 9:50 MonWed 3:30, 6:40, 9:50 Labor Day (PG) Thu 1:45, 4:20, 7:00, 9:35 Fri 2:40, 5:15, 7:50, 10:40 Sat 12:00, 2:40, 5:15, 7:50, 10:40 Sun 12:00, 2:40, 5:15, 7:50, 10:25 Mon-Wed 2:40, 5:15, 7:50, 10:25 The LEGO Movie 3D (G) Thu 9:00 Fri 2:45, 5:10, 7:35, 10:15 Sat 12:15, 2:45, 5:10, 7:35, 10:15 Sun 12:15, 2:45, 5:10, 7:35,
Need some advice?
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10:00 Mon-Wed 2:45, 5:10, 7:35, 10:00 The LEGO Movie (G) Fri-Tue 1:55, 4:20, 6:45 Wed 4:20, 6:45 Lone Survivor (14A) Thu 1:50, 4:35, 7:20, 10:05 Fri-Sat 1:20, 4:05, 6:50, 9:50 Sun 4:05, 6:50, 9:35 Mon-Tue 1:20, 4:05, 6:50, 9:35 The Monuments Men (PG) Thu 7:40, 10:25 Fri-Sat 2:00, 4:45, 7:30, 9:25, 10:30 Sun-Tue 2:00, 4:45, 7:30, 9:10, 10:15 Wed 4:45, 7:30, 9:10, 10:15 The Nut Job 3D (PG) Thu 4:15, 6:45 Fri-Wed 3:35, 5:45, 7:55 The Nut Job (PG) Thu 1:10, 2:05 Fri, Mon-Wed 1:25 SatSun 11:55, 1:25 Ride Along (14A) Thu 2:00, 4:25, 6:50, 9:15 Fri 2:30, 5:00, 7:25, 10:10 Sat 12:05, 2:30, 5:00, 7:25, 10:10 Sun 12:05, 2:30, 5:00, 7:25, 9:55 Mon-Wed 2:30, 5:00, 7:25, 9:55 RoboCop (PG) Wed 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 10:00 RoboCop: The IMAX Experience (PG) Wed 2:15, 5:00, 7:45, 10:30 That Awkward Moment (14A) Thu 1:05, 3:25, 5:40, 7:55, 10:15 Fri-Sat 1:00, 3:20, 5:40, 8:00, 10:35 Sun-Wed 1:00, 3:20, 5:40, 8:00, 10:20 Vampire Academy (PG) Fri 2:35, 5:05, 7:40, 10:25 Sat 12:00, 2:35, 5:05, 7:40, 10:25 Sun 12:00, 2:35, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10 Mon-Wed 2:35, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Thu 1:15, 5:00, 8:45 Fri-Wed 1:05, 4:50, 8:35
SilverCity Mississauga (CE) Hwy 5, east of Hwy 403, 905-569-3373
August: Osage County (14A) Thu 5:00, 7:35 Fri 4:25, 7:10, 10:00 Sat 1:10, 4:10, 7:05, 10:00 Sun 1:10, 4:10, 7:00, 9:40 Mon-Wed 4:35, 7:30 The Book Thief (PG) Thu 4:35, 7:40 Fri, Sun 7:00, 9:55 Sat 6:30, 9:45 Mon-Wed 7:00 Dallas Buyers Club (18A) Thu 4:40, 7:15 Fri 4:00, 6:50, 9:30 Sat 1:30, 4:15, 7:00, 9:50 Sun 1:20, 4:00, 6:45, 9:30 Mon-Wed 4:45, 7:25 Delivery Man (PG) Thu 4:40 Fri 5:00, 7:30, 10:05 Sat 1:40, 4:50, 7:45, 10:25 Sun 2:00, 4:30, 7:25, 9:50 MonWed 5:00, 7:35 Inside Llewyn Davis (14A) Thu 5:25, 7:45 Labor Day (PG) Thu 5:10, 7:50 Fri 4:55, 7:40, 10:25 Sat 2:00, 4:40, 7:15, 10:15 Sun 1:45, 4:25, 7:10, 10:00 MonWed 5:10, 7:45 The Monuments Men (PG) Thu 7:00 Fri 3:30, 4:10, 6:40, 7:20, 9:40, 10:20 Sat 12:45, 1:20, 3:40, 4:20, 6:40, 7:20, 9:40, 10:20 Sun 12:45, 1:20, 3:40, 4:20, 6:40, 7:20, 9:25, 10:05 Mon-Wed 4:40, 5:20, 7:20, 8:00 Ride Along (14A) Thu 4:45, 7:10, 8:00 Fri 5:30, 7:50, 10:30 Sat 12:55, 3:10, 5:40, 8:00, 10:30 Sun 2:15, 5:00, 7:40, 10:15 Mon-Wed 5:30, 7:50 Saving Mr. Banks (PG) Thu 4:50, 7:30 Fri 4:35, 7:35, 10:15 Sat-Sun 1:50, 4:35, 7:30, 10:10 Mon-Wed 4:30, 7:15 12 Years a Slave (14A) Thu 4:30, 7:25 Fri 3:45, 6:45, 9:50 Sat 1:00, 3:55, 6:50, 9:55 Sun 12:55, 3:55, 6:55, 9:55 MonWed 4:50, 7:40 Walking With Dinosaurs (PG) Fri 4:45 Sat-Sun 1:15, 3:30 Mon-Wed 4:55 Walking With Dinosaurs 3D (PG) Thu 5:15
Find out what’s written in the stars, page 37. Rob Brezsny’s Free Will
Astrology 74
February 6-12 2014 NOW
North Colossus (CE) Hwy 400 & 7, 905-851-1001
American Hustle (14A) Thu 3:45, 6:50, 9:55 Fri-Sun 12:25, 3:30, 6:35, 9:45 Mon-Wed 3:30, 6:35, 9:45 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG) Thu 4:00, 6:55, 10:00 Fri-Sun 9:50 Mon-Wed 9:20 August: Osage County (14A) Thu 3:55, 6:45, 9:35 A Cinderella Story (G) Sat 11:00 Devil’s Due (14A) Thu 4:45, 7:20, 9:50 Fri 1:25, 3:35, 5:50, 8:10, 10:30 Sat 5:50, 8:10, 10:30 Sun 12:55, 3:20, 5:35, 7:50, 10:00 Mon-Wed 3:35, 5:50, 8:05, 10:25 47 Ronin (PG) Fri-Sat 10:35 Sun 10:25 Mon-Wed 10:10 Frozen (G) Fri-Sat 12:30 Sun 12:20 Frozen 3D (G) Thu 3:40, 6:10 Fri-Sat 3:05, 5:35, 8:05 Sun 2:45, 5:20, 7:55 Mon-Wed 4:25, 7:25 Frozen Sing-Along Thu 4:00, 6:35 Fri, Sun 1:15 Sat 11:25 Gravity 3D (PG) Thu 4:10, 6:25 Gravity: An IMAX 3D Experience (PG) Thu 4:40, 7:10, 9:20 Fri-Sun 1:05, 3:10, 5:15, 7:45, 10:00 Mon-Tue 3:50, 6:00, 8:10, 10:15 Her (14A) Thu 9:05 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) Thu 5:15, 8:50 Fri-Wed 4:40, 8:30 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG) Fri-Sun 1:10 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Thu 4:50, 8:20 Fri, Sun-Tue 3:45, 6:55, 10:05 Sat 2:30, 7:00, 10:05 I, Frankenstein 3D (PG) Thu 4:55, 7:15, 9:40 Fri-Sat 12:55, 3:20, 5:45, 8:15, 10:45 Sun 12:05, 2:30, 4:55, 7:15, 9:50 Mon-Wed 4:55, 7:15, 9:50 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (PG) Thu 3:35, 6:15, 8:55 Fri 1:50, 4:35, 7:30, 10:15 Sat-Sun 12:00, 2:35, 5:00, 7:30, 10:15 Mon-Wed 4:50, 7:30, 10:00 Labor Day (PG) Thu 4:05, 6:40, 9:30 Fri-Sat 2:00, 4:50, 7:35, 10:25 Sun 1:40, 4:15, 7:05, 9:40 Mon-Wed 4:15, 7:05, 9:40 The LEGO Movie 3D (G) Thu 9:00 Fri-Sun 12:15, 2:40, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10 Mon-Wed 4:35, 7:10, 9:35 The LEGO Movie (G) Fri, Sun 1:30, 4:10, 6:45, 9:10 Sat 11:05, 11:35, 1:30, 4:10, 6:45, 9:10 Mon-Wed 3:30, 6:10, 8:40 Lone Survivor (14A) Thu 4:15, 7:00, 9:45 Fri-Sun 1:00, 4:00, 6:50, 9:35 Mon-Tue 4:00, 6:50, 9:30 Wed 3:50, 6:50, 9:40 The Metropolitan Opera: Rusalka Sat 12:55 The Monuments Men (PG) Thu 7:00, 9:50 Fri-Sun 12:40, 1:20, 3:40, 4:20, 6:40, 7:20, 9:40, 10:20 Mon-Tue 3:40, 4:20, 6:40, 7:20, 9:40, 10:20 Wed 3:40, 4:20, 6:40, 7:20, 9:25, 10:15 The Nut Job 3D (PG) Thu 3:30, 6:00, 8:10 Fri-Sun 3:00, 5:10, 7:25 Mon-Tue 4:10, 6:45 Wed 4:10, 6:55 The Nut Job (PG) Fri-Sun 12:50 Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (14A) Thu 8:40 Ride Along (14A) Thu 4:20, 7:05, 9:40 Fri, Sun 1:55, 4:30, 7:00, 9:55 Sat 11:50, 2:25, 4:55, 7:15, 9:55 Mon-Wed 4:30, 7:00, 9:55 RoboCop (PG) Wed 5:00, 7:40, 10:20 RoboCop: The IMAX Experience (PG) Wed 4:00, 6:45, 9:30 Saving Mr. Banks (PG) Thu 3:50 That Awkward Moment (14A) Thu 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 Fri-Sun 12:35, 2:55, 5:25, 7:50, 10:20 Mon-Tue 5:00, 7:35, 10:00 Wed 5:10, 7:35, 10:05 Vampire Academy (PG) Fri-Sat 12:20, 2:50, 5:20, 8:00, 10:40 Sun 12:15, 2:50, 5:20, 8:00, 10:30 Mon-Wed 5:20, 8:00, 10:30 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Thu 4:30, 8:30 Fri-Sun 12:45, 4:45, 8:45 Mon-Wed 4:45, 8:45
Interchange 30 (AMC)
30 Interchange Way, Hwy 400 & Hwy 7, 416-335-5323 August: Osage County (14A) Fri 4:50, 7:20, 9:55 Sat 2:20, 4:50, 7:20, 9:55 Sun 2:20, 4:50, 7:20 Mon-Wed 4:40, 7:20 The Best Man Holiday (14A) Thu 4:50, 7:20 Blue Jasmine (14A) Thu, Mon-Wed 5:05, 7:45 Fri 5:05, 7:15, 9:30 Sat 2:50, 5:05, 7:15, 9:30 Sun 2:50, 5:05, 7:45 Captain Phillips (14A) Thu, Mon-Wed 4:30, 7:15 Fri 7:15, 10:00 Sat 4:00, 7:15, 10:00 Sun 4:00, 7:15
Ender’s Game (PG) 4:45, 7:15 Fri 9:50 Sat 2:15 mat, 9:50 Sun 2:15 mat The Family (14A) Thu, Mon-Wed 4:35, 7:10 Fri 4:35, 7:10, 9:35 Sat 2:00, 4:35, 7:10, 9:35 Sun 2:20, 5:10, 7:35 Free Birds (G) Thu 5:15, 7:35 Grudge Match (14A) Thu, Mon-Wed 5:10, 7:30 Fri 4:40, 7:05, 9:45 Sat 2:10, 4:40, 7:05, 9:45 Sun 2:10, 4:40, 7:30 Her (14A) Fri 4:45, 7:20, 10:05 Sat 2:05, 4:45, 7:20, 10:05 Sun 2:05, 4:45, 7:20 Mon-Wed 4:35, 7:15 The Invisible Woman (PG) 4:55, 7:25 Fri 9:55 Sat 2:25 mat, 9:55 Sun 2:25 mat Jai Ho (14A) Thu 6:45 Last Vegas (PG) Thu 4:55, 7:25 Fri 4:30, 7:35, 9:40 Sat 2:30, 5:05, 7:35, 9:40 Sun 2:25, 4:55, 7:35 Mon-Wed 4:55, 7:40 Philomena (PG) 5:00, 7:25 Fri 9:45 Sat 2:55 mat, 9:45 Sun 2:55 mat Saving Mr. Banks (PG) Fri 7:05, 9:50 Sat 4:05, 7:05, 9:50 Sun 4:05, 7:05 Mon-Wed 4:30, 7:20 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) Thu, Mon-Wed 4:55, 7:30 Fri 4:30, 7:30, 10:00 Sat 2:00, 4:30, 7:30, 10:00 Sun 2:00, 5:00, 7:30 12 Years a Slave (14A) 7:00 Fri 9:50 Sat 4:10, 9:50 Sun 4:10
Rainbow Promenade (I)
Promenade Mall, Hwy 7 & Bathurst, 416-494-9371 American Hustle (14A) 9:15 Thu 3:45 mat August: Osage County (14A) Thu 9:30 Frozen (G) Thu 1:20 4:05 6:50 Fri-Wed 1:25, 4:05, 6:50 I, Frankenstein (PG) Thu 9:35 Labor Day (PG) 12:55, 4:10, 6:55, 9:25 The LEGO Movie (G) Fri-Wed 1:20, 3:55, 7:00, 9:20 The Monuments Men (PG) Fri-Sun, Tue-Wed 1:10, 3:50, 6:45, 9:30 Mon 3:50, 6:45, 9:30 The Nut Job (PG) Thu 1:15 4:00 7:00 Fri-Wed 1:15, 4:00, 7:05 Philomena (PG) Thu 1:00, 6:45 Fri-Wed 9:20 Ride Along (14A) Thu 1:05, 3:55, 7:10, 9:45 RoboCop (PG) Wed 1:05, 4:05, 6:50, 9:35 That Awkward Moment (14A) Thu 12:50 3:50 7:15 9:40 Fri-Wed 1:00, 4:15, 7:15, 9:40
West Grande - Steeles (CE) Hwy 410 & Steeles, 905-455-1590
American Hustle (14A) 7:05, 10:15 Sat-Sun 12:15, 3:20 mat Tue 4:00 mat Devil’s Due (14A) Thu 9:55 Frozen (G) Sat-Sun 1:00 Frozen 3D (G) Thu 7:20 Fri, Mon, Wed 7:00 Sat-Sun 3:40, 6:45 Tue 4:00, 6:45 Gravity 3D (PG) Thu 9:45 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG) Thu 8:00 I, Frankenstein 3D (PG) Thu 7:45, 10:15 Fri, Mon, Wed 7:40, 10:10 Sat-Sun 12:35, 2:55, 5:15, 7:40, 10:10 Tue 5:15, 7:40, 10:10 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (PG) Thu 7:15, 10:00 Fri, Mon, Wed 7:10, 9:55 Sat-Sun 1:40, 4:20, 7:10, 9:55 Tue 4:20, 7:10, 9:55 Labor Day (PG) 7:00, 9:50 Sat-Sun 1:30 mat, 4:10 Tue 4:10 The LEGO Movie 3D (G) 7:40, 10:10 Sat-Sun 2:30 mat, 5:05 Tue 5:05 The LEGO Movie (G) Sat-Sun 12:00 Lone Survivor (14A) Thu 7:10, 10:05 Fri-Wed 9:45 The Monuments Men (PG) 7:20, 10:15 Sat-Sun 1:20 mat, 4:20 Tue 4:20 The Nut Job 3D (PG) Thu 7:30 Fri, Mon, Wed 7:25 Sat-Sun 3:00, 5:15, 7:25 Tue 5:15, 7:25 The Nut Job (PG) Sat-Sun 12:30 RoboCop (PG) Wed 7:30, 10:15 That Awkward Moment (14A) Thu 7:35 10:10 Fri-Wed 7:35, 10:05 Sat-Sun 12:10, 2:40 mat, 5:05 Tue 5:05 Vampire Academy (PG) 7:15, 10:00 Sat-Sun 2:00 mat, 4:40 Tue 4:40 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Thu 7:50 Fri-Wed 9:30 3
indie&rep film complete festivals, independent and
repertory schedules
How to find a listing
2 pm. Flight Of The Butterflies. Noon. The Human Body. 1 pm. Sat 8-sun 9 – Great White Shark. 11 am, 1 & 3 pm. Flight Of The Butterflies. Noon & 4 pm. Under The Sea. 2 pm. mon 10-wed 12 – Great White Shark. 11 am & 2 pm. Flight Of The Butterflies. Noon. The Human Body. 1 pm.
Repertory cinema listings are comprehensive and appear alphabetically by venue, then by date. Other films are listed by date. B = Black History Month event V = Valentine event =
ñ= Critics’ pick (highly recommended) How to place a listing
All listings are free. Send to: movies@nowtoronto.com, fax to 416-3641166 or mail to Rep Cinemas, NOW Magazine, 189 Church, Toronto M5B 1Y7. Include film title, year of release, names of director(s), language and subtitle info, venue, address, time, cost and advance ticket sales if any, phone number for reservations/info or website address. Deadline is the Thursday before publication at 5 pm.
festivals the great digital film festival
scotiabank theatre, 259 richmond w (ST), cineplex cinemas mississauga, 309 rathburn w (CM). cineplex.com/digitalfilmfest
thu 6 – Fan favourite sci-fi, action and cult
films in digital format. $6. Screening times the same at both theatres. thu 6 – Snatch (2000) D: Guy Ritchie. 12:30 pm. Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998) D: Guy Ritchie. 2:45 pm. Monty Python And The Holy Grail (1975) D: Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones. 5:15 pm. Akira (1988) D: Katsuhiro Otomo. 7:15 pm. Ghost In The Shell (1995) D: Mamoru Oshii. 9:50 pm.
toronto black film festival
carlton cinema, 20 carlton (CC); al green theatre, 750 spadina (AG); isabel bader theatre, 93 charles W (IB). torontoblackfilm.com
Btue 11-feb 16 – Film festival aimed at encouraging the development of the independent film industry and promoting more films on the reality of black people from around the globe. $10, opening night $20, closing night $15, festival pass $129. torontoblackfilm.com. tue 11 – Opening night: The Forgotten Kingdom (2013) D: Andrew Mudge, and short film My Verse. 7 pm (IB). wed 12 – Small Small Thing (2012) D: Jessica Vale & Kiruana-Kigali (2012) D: Goran Kapetanovic. 5 pm. The Suspect (2013) D: Stuart Connelly. 7 pm. From Above (2013) D: Norry Niven. 9 pm. All screenings at CC.
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Cinemas big picture cinema gerrard 1035 gerrard e. bigpicturecinema.com
thu 6-wed 12 – Check website for schedule.
BLOOR hot docs Cinema
506 Bloor W. 416-637-3123. bloorcinema.com
Thu 6 – Doc Soup: If You Build It (2013) D:
Patrick Creadon. 6:45 pm. $15. hotdocs.ca. A Story Of Children And Film (2013) D: Mark Cousins. 9:30 pm. fri 7 – The Unbelievers (2013) D: Gus Holwerda. 4 & 6:30 pm. Gore Vidal: The United States Of Amnesia (2013) D: Nicholas D Wrathall. 9 pm. sat 8 – Gore Vidal: The United States Of Amnesia. Noon, 4:45 & 9:30pm. The Unbelievers. 2:30 & 7 pm. sun 9 – Gore Vidal: The United States Of Amnesia. 1 & 6 pm. The Unbelievers. 3:30 & 8:30 pm. mon 10 – The Unbelievers. 3:30 & 9:15 pm. PEN Canada’s Picks: Hatsumi (2012) D: Chris Hope, with host author Vincent Lam. 6:15 pm. $15. pencanada.ca. Tue 11 – Gore Vidal: The United States Of Amnesia. 4 & 8:45 pm. The Unbelievers. 6:30 pm. Wed 12 – Gore Vidal: The United States Of Amnesia. 3:30 pm. The Unbelievers. 6 pm.
ñ ñ
Ñ
reg hartt’s cineforum 463 Bathurst. 416-603-6643.
thu 6 – Fear And Desire (1953) D: Stanley
Tishuan Scott (left) and Ashton Sanders close the fest with The Retrieval.
T.O. Black Film Fest steps it up TORONTO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL
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from Tuesday (February 11) to February 16. Various locations. torontoblackfilm.com. See listings, this page. Rating: NNNN
Now in its second year, the Toronto Black Film Festival feels tighter and sharper, with a stronger slate of features and a couple of attentiongrabbing special events, including an evening with Steadman Graham on February 13 at the Lightbox. Graham’s appearance has nothing to do with films or filmmaking – it’s a seminar built around his “ninestep plan for success,” with a base ticket price of $149. The fest proper opens Tuesday (February 11) with the South African drama The Forgotten Kingdom, about a young Johannesburg man (Zenzo Ngqobe) who returns home to Lesotho to bury his father and stumbles into a journey of self-discovery. Writer/director Andrew Mudge takes a fairly generic premise and brings it to life with rich detail and character. I’m hoping the visibility of its opening slot White Pine Pictures presents The Anatomy Of Burlesque (2003) D: Lindalee Tracey. 8:30 pm. $50 (funder for the Lindalee Tracey Award). whitepinepictures.com.
Camera Bar
1028 Queen W. 416-530-0011. camerabar.ca
sat 8 – An American In Paris (1951) D: Vincente Minnelli. 3 pm.
cinematheque tiff bell lightbox reitman square, 350 king w. 416-599-8433, tiff.net
thu 6 – Masculin Féminin (1966) D: Jean-Luc Godard. 6:30 pm. ñ fri 7 – Jean-Luc Godard X 2: Made In USA
(1966), and Anticipation (1967). 6:30 pm. Soldier Of Orange (1977) D: Paul Verhoeven. 9 pm. L’Altra Italia presents Passione Sinistra (2013) D: Marco Ponti. 9 pm. sat 8 – The Symbol Of The Unconquered
attracts some distribution interest; there’s no reason this film couldn’t enjoy a couple of weeks in commercial release. I’m reluctant to say anything about the plot of The Suspect, screening Wednesday (February 12), because the impact of writer/director Stuart Connelly’s debut depends on the careful parcelling out of details. So I’ll just say this: it’s a thriller, it’s very smart, and Mekhi Phifer and William Sadler should make more movies together. Speaking of thrillers, it’s nice to see Blue Caprice (February 16) play the big screen. Alexandre Moors’s moody fictional meditation on the relationship between John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo – who terrorized the Beltway area
with a series of sniper killings in the fall of 2002 – went straight to disc in Canada last month, but Isaiah Washington’s intensity as the fictional “John” deserves a larger canvas. The festival closes with The Retrieval (February 16), a grim Civil War-era drama about two free black men charged with luring a third (Bill Oberst Jr.) to the South and slavery. Comparisons to 12 Years A Slave are inevitable but pointless; they’re different films, with different goals. And this one works fine on its own. Norman Wilner Strong opener The Forgotten Kingdom deserves a commercial release.
Kubrick. 2 pm. Strike (1925) D: Sergei Eisenstein. 5 pm. Blood Simple (1985) D: Joel and Ethan Coen. 7 pm. fri 7 – The Tell Tale Heart (1953) D: Ted Parmelee. 2 pm. The Pearl Of Death (1944) D: Roy William Neil. 2:10 pm. The Exorcist (1973) D: William Friedkin. 3 pm. sat 8 – The Green Hornet Chapter Two (1940) D: Ford Beebe. 2 pm. The Charge Of The Light Brigade (1936) D: Michael Curtiz. 2:25 pm. Kinji Fukasaku X 2: Battle Royale (2000). 7 pm. Battle Royale II: Requiem (2013). 9 pm. sun 9 – Key 56 (2011) D: Alexandre Hamel. 2 pm. Le Patin Libre (2011) D: Reg Hartt. 2:30 pm. Jane Jacobs (2006) D: Don Alexander. 6 pm. The Darkside Of Oz: The Wizard Of Oz (1939) D: Victor Fleming, with Pink Floyd’s Darkside Of The Moon as the soundtrack. 7 pm. Kid Dracula: Nosferatu (1922) D: FW Murnau with Radiohead’s Kid A and OK Computer as the soundtrack. 9 pm. mon 10 – Charlie Chaplin’s First Films, Part Two: Between Showers, A Film Johnnie and Tango Tangles (1914) D: Mack Sennett. 2 pm. Brazil (1985) D: Terry Gilliam. 2:30 pm. God zilla (1954) D: Ishiro Honda. 5 pm. The Tale Of Zatoichi (1962) D: Kenji Misumi. 7 pm. Harakiri (1962) D: Masaki Koayashi. 9 pm. tue 11 – DW Griffith As An Actor (1908-09): The Adventures Of Dollie, A Calamitous Elopement, Balked At The Alter, Betrayed By A Handprint and others. 2 pm. The Lost Stooges (1990). 5 pm. Labyrinth Of Passion (1982) D: Pedro Almodóvar. 7 pm. The Films Of Aditya Shankar. 9 pm. wed 12 – The History Of Animation From Before Gertie The Dinosaur Until Now, Part Two. 2 pm. The Covered Wagon (1923) D: James Cruze. 5 pm. Rebel Without A Cause (1955) D: Nicholas Ray. 7 pm.
revue cinema
400 Roncesvalles. 416-531-9959. revuecinema.ca
Thu 6 – Philomena (2013) D: Stephen Frears. 7 pm. Dallas Buyers Club (2013) ñ D: Jean-Marc Vallée. 9 pm. fri 7 – Nebraska (2013) D: Alexander Payne. 7 pm. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) D: Joel and Ethan Coen. 9:15 pm. sat 8 – Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) D: Francis Lawrence. 1:30 pm. Inside Llewyn Davis. 4:30 & 9:15 pm. Nebraska. 7 pm. sun 9 – Ecole Charles-Sauriol presents L’Illusioniste (2011) D: Sylvain Chomet. 11 am. $15, family of four $40 (funder for school trip). mcbindi@gmail.com. Hunger Games: Catching Fire. 1:30 pm. Inside Llewyn Davis. 4:30 & 9:15 pm. Nebraska. 7 pm. mon 10 – Inside Llewyn Davis. 7 pm. Nebraska. 9:15 pm. tue 11 – Inside Llewyn Davis. 7 pm. The Book Thief (2013) D: Brian Percival. 9:15 pm. wed 12 – Inside Llewyn Davis. 1 & 9:15 pm. The Book Thief. 6:45 pm.
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(1920) D: Oscar Micheaux. 3 pm. Jean-Luc Godard X 2: 2 Or 3 Things I Know About Her (1966), and L’Aller Et Retour Des Enfants Prodigues (1967). 4:45 pm. Paris Vu Par (1965) D: Jean-Luc Godard and various directors. 7:30 pm. Stephen King: The Shawshank Redemption (1994) D: Frank Darabont. 10 pm. sun 9 – God’s Step Children (1938) D: Oscar Micheaux. Noon. Brokeback Mountain (2005) D: Ang Lee. Q&A w/ musician Gustavo Santaolalla to follow. 2:30 pm. Far From Vietnam (1967) D: Jean-Luc Godard. 6 pm. mon 10 – Check website for schedule. tue 11 – La Chinoise (1967) D: Jean-Luc Godard. 6:30 pm. wed 12 – Check website for schedule.
Fox Theatre
2236 Queen E. 416-691-7330. foxtheatre.ca
Thu 6 – Philomena (2013) D: Stephen Frears. 7 pm. Dallas Buyers Club (2013) ñ D: Jean-Marc Vallée. 9 pm.
= Critics’ Pick nnnnn = Top ten of the year nnNn = Honourable mention nnn = Entertaining nn = Mediocre n = Bomb
fri 7 – Saving Mr Banks (2013) D: John Lee Hancock. 7 pm. Inside Llewyn Davis ñ (2013) D: Joel and Ethan Coen. 9:20 pm. sat 8-sun 9 – Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) D: Francis Lawrence. 1:30 ñ pm. Inside Llewyn Davis. 4:30 & 9:20 pm. Saving Mr Banks. 7 pm. mon 10-tue 11 – Inside Llewyn Davis. 7 pm. Saving Mr Banks. 9:15 pm. wed 12 – Saving Mr Banks. 7 pm. Inside Llewyn Davis. 9:20 pm.
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the royal 608 College. 416-466-4400. theroyal.to
GRAHAM SPRY THEATRE
Thu 6 – Closed. fri 7 – Dallas Buyers Club (2013) D: Jean-
thu 6-wed 12 – Continuous screenings
Night Fridays: Our Robocop Remake (2014), a crowd-sourced film with more than 50 filmmakers. 11:30 pm. o urrobocopremake.com. sat 8 – An American Tail (1986) D: Don Bluth. 2 pm. Inside Llewyn Davis. 4 & 7 pm. Dallas Buyers Club. 7 pm. sun 9 – Ernest & Célestine (2012) D: Sté-
CBC Museum, CBC Broadcast Centre, 250 Front W, 416-205-5574. cbc.ca
Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Free. thu 6-wed 12 – Winter preview.
ontario science centre
770 Don Mills. 416-696-3127. ontariosciencecentre.ca
thu 6-fri 7 – Great White Shark. 11 am &
Marc Vallée. 7 pm. Inside Llewyn Davis ñ (2013) D: Joel and Ethan Coen. 9 pm. Late
continued on page 76 œ
NOW february 6-12 2014
75
indie&rep film œcontinued from page 75
phane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner. 2 pm. Dallas Buyers Club. 4 & 9 pm. Inside Llewyn Davis. 7 pm. mon 10 – Dallas Buyers Club. 7 pm. Inside Llewyn Davis. 9 pm. tue 11 – Inside Llewyn Davis. 7 pm. Dallas Buyers Club. 9 pm. wed 12 – Inside Llewyn Davis. 6:45 pm. The Black Museum Lecture Series presents Carnival Of Souls (1962) D: Herk Harvey. 9 pm. $5. theblackmuseum.com.
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other films thu 6-wed 12 –
The CN Tower presents Legends Of Flight 3D. Continuous screenings daily 9 am-10 pm. 301 Front W. 416868-6937, cntower.ca. Casa Loma presents The P ellatt Newsreel (2006) D: Barbra Cooper, a film and permanent exhibit on the history of Casa Loma and Henry Pellatt. Daily screenings 10 am4:30 pm. Included w/ admission. 1 Austin Terrace. 416-923-1171, c asaloma.org. The Hockey Hall of Fame presents Stanley’s Game Seven 3D, a film of Stanley Cup history. Plays daily at the top of and half past each hour. Mon-Sat 9:30 am-6 pm, Sun 10 am-6 pm. Included w/ admission. Brookfield Place, 30 Yonge. h hof.com. thu 6 – Trashcompactor presents Ken Anger X 2: Hollywood Babylon (1972) D: Van Guyler, and Fireworks (1947). 8 pm. $8, naked people free. Cinecycle, 129 Spadina, down the lane. facebook.com/events/ 410817792382077, hktrashcompactor@ gmail.com. CERLAC (The Center for Research on Latin American and the Caribbean) Film series presents Nostalgia For The Light (2010) D: Patricio Guzman. 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Free. Nat Taylor Cinema, York U, 4700 Keele, N102 Ross. cerlacfilmseries.wordpress.com. fri 7 – Deutscher Filmklub presents Dreileben: Etwas besseres als den Tod (2011). German w/ s-t. 6:30 pm. Discussion to follow screening. Free. Goethe-Institut, 100 University, 2nd flr. Pre-register library@toronto.goethe.org. Vfri 7-sat 8 – 360 Screenings: Love, Valentine’s Edition: Immersive film screening with a live theatre portion. Fri 7 pm, Sat 2 & 7 pm. $40-$60. Secret location revealed 24 hrs in advance. 360screenings.com/2014-02. Bfri 7-sun 9 – Harbourfront Centre presents the Kuumba Festival, celebrating Black History Month with the Black Identity film series. Free. Studio Theatre, York Quay Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. harbourfrontcentre.com. Fri: Home Again (2012) D: Sudz Sutherland. 8 pm. Q&A w/ director to follow. Invisible City (2009) D: Hubert Davis. 10:30 pm. Sat: Short films including Remember Africville (1991) D: Shelagh MacKenzie, Colour Of Beauty (2010) D: Elizabeth St Philip, and Black Soul D: Martine Chartrand. 1 pm. Soundtrack For A Revolution (2009) D: Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman. 2 pm. Sun: Shorts: Hardwood (2002) D: Hubert Davis, and My Father’s Hands D: Sudz Sutherland. 2:30 pm. sun 9 – Toronto Jewish Film Festival’s Chai Tea & A Movie series presents Igor And The Cranes’ Journey (2012) D: Evgeny Ruman. Tea 4 pm, film 5 pm. $15. City Playhouse Theatre, 1000 New Westminster, Vaughan. 416-3249121, tjff.com. Toronto Film Society presents the Winter Screening Series: Peter Ibbetson (1935) D: Henry Hathaway, and I’ll Never Forget You (1951) D: Roy Ward Baker. 2 pm. $15. Carlton Cinema, 20 Carlton. 416-970-6011, torontofilmsociety.com. West Hill United Church’s Meaning In The Movies presents Her (2013) D: Spike Jonze. 10:30 am. Free. 62 Orchard Park. westhill.net. tue 11 – Green 13 monthly environmental screening presents Revolution D: Rob Stewart. 6:15 pm. Free. Jane Dundas Library, 620 Jane. green13toronto.org. Ontario Colalition for Abortion Clinics, Native Youth Sexual Health Network, Medical Students for Choice and OPIRG present Young Lakota (2013) D: Marion Lipschutz and Rose Rosenblatt. Discussion to follow. 7 pm. $5-$10 sugg donation. Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex. itvs.org/films/young-lakota. wed 12 – Hart House presents the Conscious Activism Documentary Series with a screening of Occupy Love (2012) D: Velcrow Ripper. 6:30 pm. Free. Hart House Debates Room, 7 Hart House Circle. Pre-register at consciousactivism.eventbrite.ca. 3
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76
february 6-12 2014 NOW
blu-ray/dvd Romeo And Juliet
By ANDREW DOWLER
disc of the week
(D Films, 2013) D: Carlo Carlei, w/ Hailee Steinfeld, Douglas Booth. Rating: NNN; Blu-ray package: NN
This version of the world’s best-known and arguably greatest love story has been designed as pure entertainment, and it works pretty well. Shakespeare’s tale of the forbidden love of a boy and girl from feuding families has been judiciously pared down with an eye to clarity by Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes. Director Carlo Carlei provides sumptuous settings and costumes and keeps up the pace with plenty of sword fights, an ever-moving camera and a clever score that layers romantic airiness over a thriller’s drive. Douglas Booth, as Romeo, has the edge on Hailee Steinfeld’s Juliet for both passion and a grip on the language, although she has a quiet way of suggesting that puberty hasn’t kicked in until the moment she meets him. But the richest performances are Paul Giamatti’s as Friar Laurence and Leslie Manville’s as the Nurse. Strangely, the actors and Fellowes have little to say in the extras. Instead, the four three-minute promo spots concentrate on the crew’s goals and approaches. EXTRAS Four making-of mini-docs. English audio. English, Spanish subtitles.
Winnie (D Films, 2011) D: Darrell Roodt w/ Jennifer Hudson, Terrence Howard. Rating: NN; Blu-ray package: none Winnie, a sometimes bland biopic about South African freedom fighter Winnie Mandela, Nelson’s first wife, rockets through everything up to his life sentence for treason in its first 40 minutes. This
Tomas Milian (left) and Lee Van Cleef hit all their targets.
The Big Gundown (VSC,
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1966) D: Sergio Sollima, w/ Lee Van Cleef, Tomas Milian. Rating: NNNN; Blu-ray/DVD package: NNNNN The Big Gundown has the sweeping vistas, epic feel, bravura set pieces, iconic characters and classic Ennio Morricone score of one of Sergio Leone’s classic Fistful Of Dollars trilogy. But director Sergio Sollima has a more political sensibility than Leone, so elements of racism and class struggle inform this tale of an unofficial American lawman (Lee Van Cleef) hunting a Mexican peon (Tomas Milian) in Mexico for the
headline treatment portrays her as a smart, sober-minded young woman with a social conscience. Things get more interesting when she gets busted and tossed into solitary. Here, Jennifer Hudson struts her acting chops as a woman in abject misery who may be desperately attempting to retain her sanity or may be waging psychological warfare on her captors. Or maybe both. Either way, this is Hudson’s and the movie’s finest sequence, though she later does a good job of showing her character’s increasing inner hardness. Terrence Howard’s Nelson is a
rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl. There’s fun in the contrast of Van Cleef’s gimlet-eyed rectitude and Milian’s broad terror and glee, and a bit of genrebending unease when you notice that the bad guy is smarter and more charming than the hero. You can hear Morricone’s score – guitar, trumpet, voice, galloping rhythm, creative percussion and a killer title song – on a music-only track with an optional commentary presented in subtitles and on a CD. You also get the 110-minute Italian
and 95-minute American versions. The longer adds visual and character richness and leaves the score intact. Milian, Sollima and screenwriter Sergio Donati all give solid interviews that touch on the movie, their craft and careers. EXTRAS Commentary, two Sollima interviews, two Donati interviews, Milian interview, commentary, isolated music track, soundtrack CD, more. Italian audio with English subtitles on Italian version. English audio, no subtitles on U.S. cut.
smart, energetic guy with an iron core, and clearly in love with Winnie. Elias Koteas, on hand throughout as the face of police oppression, ably embodies the personally and politically committed racism of apartheid. The tail end of the closing credits acknowledges that some fiction has been mixed in with the facts, but lacking an explanatory doc, we’re left to guess what that is. EXTRAS English, French audio. No subtitles.
I liked Scorned better when it was a different movie called The Loved Ones. There, the crazed torturer was a nerdy high school girl who abducts a hot classmate and works out her twisted prom-night fantasies on him with the help of her loving dad. It had a nasty attitude and a satirical edge. In Scorned, the nut job is a woman (AnnaLynne McCord) wreaking revenge on the boyfriend (Billy Zane) and best friend (Viva Bianca) who cheated on her. It has a who-cares attitude and all the edge of a dough ball. McCord yo-yos between folksy charm and barked orders without ever conveying menace or madness, and she might as well be doing it in a vacuum. Zane and Bianca convey as much terror – their only function – as people waiting for a bus. Shocks and effects are few and ineffective. Be glad there are no extras, for only sadness comes from watching earnest hype for the likes of Scorned. EXTRAS English audio. English, Spanish subtitles. 3
Scorned (Anchor Bay, 2013) D: Mark
Jones, w/ AnnaLynne McCord, Billy Zane. Rating: N; Blu-ray package: none
ON DEMAND THIS WEEK
ON ROGERS
ON BELL
ON iTUNES
ON NETFLIX
The Fifth Estate (2013) Thrillerish drama about the work and persecution of Wikileaks’ creator Julian Assange.
A Single Shot (2013) A hunter and a gang of thugs stalk each other in a remote forest.
Ender’s Game (2013) A brilliant boy is recruited into the military to lead the Earth in a war against genocidal aliens.
All About Eve (1950) Classic drama about an ingenue attempting to take over a Broadway star’s personal and professional life.
Ñ
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6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 35 37 40 41 30 32 33 34 36 38 39 42 44 45 48 50 52 53 56
Genre for B.B. King Space or nautical prefix Parkay product Refuses to admit Bust ___ (laugh really hard) He followed Peyton as Super Bowl MVP 10 years ago Neely of hockey Sidekicks Exactly so “Now we’re in for it!” Tells a completely different story? Stick or gel alternative Did some birthday party work Give a hoot
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}
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“Dirty Jobs” host Mike “Aladdin” parrot Rocky conclusion? What the theme entries are full of 67 Stagecraft 68 Don Juan’s mother 69 Homer’s dad 70 Low poker pair 71 Site of the Taj Mahal 72 “Don’t think so” DOWN 1 Cartridge filler 2 “To Kill a Mockingbird” author Harper 3 Arced toss 4 Inspiration for Broadway’s “Mamma Mia!” 5 Scales in the sky
42 43 46 47 49 51 54 55 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66
“To do today” list Bid silently Make people wonder “Labor ___ vincit” (Oklahoma’s motto) Oddball Yodeling setting Tatter “L.A. Law” actress Susan Epic poem with 9,896 lines Coat fabric Unknown, on a sched. Cape-waving cheer Go haywire Lowest point on Earth’s surface Record label of Cee Lo Green Toon collectible Japanese carp Filter through slowly Imps New Mexico arts mecca “Curiouser and curiouser!” utterer Company behind “Mega Man” and “Street Fighter” Rookie reporter You might say it when you get it Stirrup’s spot Needle hole Jazz legend Hancock Aspen activity Lorna of literature and cookies Picky ___ Strip in the Middle East Echolocation user Berlin wail 8 1/2” x 11” size, briefly By means of Mr. McKellen Thunder’s org. Use thread
help wanted
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research studies
Experienced Newspaper Drivers
CAMH is looking for participants FOR A TREATMENT STUDY FOR MARIJUANA DEPENDENCE! In this study, we aim to determine whether a medication containing similar ingredients as cannabis, in addition to weekly therapy sessions, are effective for treating marijuana. Compensation as well as TTC metropass is provided if you participate in this study. To participate or learn more, please call 416-535-8501 x 6012
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career training
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DIGITAL MULTIMEDIA WEB STARTS MARCH 10. SIGN UP TODAY! Contact Jeannie Baxter at 416-703-1999 ext 271 jbaxter@torontoimageworks.com TORONTO IMAGE WORKS www.torontoimageworks.com 80 Spadina Avenue, Suite 207 416-703-1999
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ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEEK! FEB 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8 IS CANADAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WEEK TO EXPLORE HOW CANADIANS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AROUND THE WORLD. CHECK OUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHERS AT www.volunteertoronto.ca
Canada Mathare Education Trust raises funds to improve access to education in Kenya. A Chapter Growth and Event Volunteer is needed to help create fundraising events and projects and assist with recruitment and long-term planning. An interest in event planning, leadership, or volunteer coordination would be an asset. 5 hrs per month. Age 18+. Contact Leah: l.stuartsheppard@gmail.com
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Ontario Council for International Cooperation works to increase public awareness and engagement of global poverty. OCIC seeks dedicated volunteers on an as-needed basis to help make events and programming more accessible to others. Tasks include accompanying those with accessibility needs at events, taking notes and providing general support. Contact Lisa: admin@ocic.on.ca
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ShelterBox Canada an international disaster relief charity, is looking for Office Volunteers and Ambassadors. Office Volunteers provide administrative and fundraising support during the week, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm. Ambassadors raise funds and awareness through speaking engagements and organizing events. Volunteers of all ages welcome! Contact Stephanie: support@shelterboxcanada.org BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Southern Africa Embrace Foundation advocates for marginalized women and children in South African countries and seeks a volunteer HR Recruiter with passion and extensive professional experience. While learning more about international development, the volunteer will assist with communications and volunteer relations. Min 10 hours per month. Age 23+. Contact HR: hr@sae-foundation.org.
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Savage Love By Dan Savage
Agree to marry already
What is the best way to sanitize a
I’m a 30-year-old straight guy 18
l atex dildo? At least I think it’s a latex dildo. I actually don’t know. I had a yeast infection a few months ago, and before I knew what was up I used my toy. Now I’m afraid to touch it until I know it won’t reinfect me! Inserting This Chances Harm “It sounds like ITCH isn’t 100 per cent sure what the dildo is made of,” said Hannah Jorden, senior staff sex educator at Smitten Kitten (smittenkittenonline.com), a progressive sex toy and gear shop based in Minneapolis. Don’t feel bad, ITCH: most people don’t know what their sex toys are made of. “Sex toys aren’t regulated like food when it comes to packaging,” Jorden said. “There’s no list of ingredients on the back. It could be latex, some other porous rubbery substance or even a nasty, rash-inducing, endocrine-disrupting, cancer-causing mixture of PVC and phthalates.” For someone who works in a sex toy shop, Jorden sure makes sex toys sound scary – and phthalates, a chemical compound found in everything from cosmetics to shower curtains to sex toys to food packaging, are pretty fucking scary. Phthalates block male hormones, harm fetal genital development, interfere with adult brain function and may put people at greater risk of breast cancer and testicular cancer. But the good news is that you don’t have to settle for shitty, dangerous, potentially toxic sex toys. “The trick,” said Jorden, “is to buy only nonporous, nontoxic toys from trustworthy manufacturers and retailers.” So maybe your best course of action, ITCH, would be to toss that old dildo and buy yourself a new one. So what should you look for when you go dildo shopping? “The best option is medical-grade, platinum-cured silicone,” said Jorden. “Silicone dildos are popular because they come in lots of different textures and firmnesses, and you can quickly sterilize them by putting them in boiling water for a few minutes or running them through the hot dishwasher cycle. As long as they’re sterilized between uses, silicone dildos can be safely shared with different partners, and they can be used in different orifices without risk of bacterial contamination.” Those platinum-cured silicone toys are going to be pricier, of course, but aren’t our orifices worth it? And our breasts and balls? And our children and their genitals? But if you can’t afford silicone, or if you have a sentimental attachment to older sex toys, you can put condoms over them and continue to use them. “It’s not a foolproof approach,” Jorden warned, “and it supports companies that make low-quality toys. A silicone toy will last a lifetime, and when you buy one you’re investing in a company that cares about quality and your sexual and reproductive health. Progressive sex shops, like those that are members of the Progressive Pleasure Club (progressivepleasureclub.com), can help ITCH figure out which toys are safe and which should be avoided.” Jorden recommended a few trustworthy brands: toys from Fun Factory, Tantus and Vixen Creations are safe, nontoxic and phthalate-free. And here’s a nonporous, nontoxic, non-silicone option for you, ITCH: the stainless steel toys made by NJoy (njoytoys.com). They’re pricey, it’s true, but they are as indestructible as they are beautiful.
onths into a relationship with a m 30-year-old bisexual woman. We get along wonderfully and fuck wonderfully. Have you ever tried to see who can outrim whom? Fun stuff. We want a life together. The snag is that while she’s nontraditional in many respects, she also has a certain dedication to Catholicism and wants us to marry. I’m agnostic on God, but I don’t care at all for his earthly representatives; the idea of a priest giving me permission to kiss her is repellent. A secular courthouse wedding isn’t much more appealing to me. I know that a marriage licence doesn’t automatically come with a dead bedroom and a dresser full of pleated jeans to put in it, but it seems utterly unnecessary. It’s also a binary sort of thing, and thus our go-to solution when we have a conflict – compromise – doesn’t work here. I suggested flipping a coin as a sort of probabilistic compromise. She wasn’t interested. Breaking up over the details of your future life together seems like a dumb thing for two smart people in love to do, but that’s the outcome we’re inexorably moving toward. Running Into No Go If you were my boyfriend, RING, and you told me – right after I had defeated you in a rimming contest – that you would marry me if you lost a coin toss but not because marriage mattered to me, I would never rim your ass again. Because if my feelings, however contaminated they were by Catholicism, mattered less
to you than a coin toss, well, then your ass would have to learn to eat itself. Maybe it will help if you look at it this way: You’ve already lost the coin toss. You fell in love with a woman who wants to spend her life with you, and you want to spend the rest of yours with her. And the woman you want to spend the rest of your life rimming wants to marry the man she spends her life rimming. Since you would be willing to marry her if you lost a coin toss, RING, then clearly marriage isn’t something you couldn’t bring yourself to do. That means you’re the one who should compromise.
Friend is in a fix I write to you on the behalf of a
oung employee of mine. I manage a y restaurant and I’m perceived as pretty levelheaded, so employees feel comfortable confiding in me. The scenario: A 21-year-old Mexican employee came to me and blurted out, “I had sex with a woman. Then, two months later, I met her husband at a bar. I did NOT know that she was married! She didn’t tell me! As it turns out, her husband is a good guy. Now I really feel bad and I don’t know what I should do.” Then he asked me what he should do. I told him I was not a good resource, but that I knew of one. This young man is a very spiritual guy and really does appear shaken. I asked him how many times he “dated” this woman. He said maybe five and that the sex happened only once. What should I tell him? Employee Relations Resource
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You should tell him that some married people cheat on their spouses, ERR, and that some married cheaters fuck people who wouldn’t fuck ’em if they knew they were married. It’s unfortunate – and it’s unnecessary, as there’s no shortage of people, married and single, who will happily fuck married people. Then you should tell him that some married couples have open relationships, some have “don’t ask/don’t tell” understandings about outside sex, some married men are into cuckolding, and some people “cheat” because they’re married to “good guys” or “good gals” who have sexually neglected and/ or rejected them. Unless he can depose this woman and her husband, your employee has no way of knowing if this woman’s husband was wronged. But if a wrong has been committed here – if your employee was party to an infidelity – he didn’t knowingly do anything wrong, ERR, so the wrong isn’t his. Nor is it his to right. He should avoid further contact with this woman – unless he gets an explanation from her that eases his conscience – and he should avoid becoming buds with the husband, however good a guy he might be. UMP!, my amateur porn festival, might H be coming to your city! Check out humptour.com. ail@savagelove.net m @fakedansavage on Twitter
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