NOW_2011-12-15 by NOW Magazine

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december 15-21 2011 NOW

AJAX 85 Kingston Rd. E Baywood Centre AURORA 15483 Yonge St., Unit 2B 14785 Yonge St. BOLTON 12612 Hwy. 50, Unit 15 BRAMPTON Bramalea City Centre Shopper’s World 30 Victoria Cres. 4520 Ebenezer Rd., Unit 6 253 Queen St. E, Unit 3 25 Peel Centre Drive 499 Main St. S BROOKLIN 5969 Baldwin St. S, Unit 7 COBOURG 975 Elgin St. W, Unit B ETOBICOKE Sherway Gardens 1234 The Queensway 22 Dixon Rd. 6620 Finch Ave. W, Unit 4 GEORGETOWN Georgetown Market Place KESWICK 76 Arlington Dr., Unit 11 MAPLE 2943 Major Mackenzie Dr., Unit 4 MARKHAM 3636 Steeles Ave. E, Unit 101 9570 McCowan Rd., Unit 4 505 Hood Rd., Unit 12 7780 Woodbine Ave., Unit 3 4300 Steeles Ave. E, Unit E32 4300 Steeles Ave. E, Unit E67 8901 Woodbine Ave., Suite 218 3255 Hwy. 7 E, Unit E98 MISSISSAUGA Meadowvale Town Centre Square One Dixie Outlet Mall Erin Mills Town Centre 153 Lakeshore Rd. E 6325 Dixie Rd., Unit 1 3105 Dundas St. W, Unit 102 7955 Financial Dr., Unit B 808 Britannia Rd. W, Unit 2 25 Watline Ave., Unit 10 7205 Goreway Dr. NEWMARKET 16715 Yonge St. NORTH YORK Peanut Plaza Sheridan Mall 1905 Avenue Rd. 4367 Steeles Ave. W 149C Ravel Rd. Fairview Mall 4905 Yonge St. 5815 Yonge St. 3111 Dufferin St. 3040 Don Mills Rd., Unit 17B OAKVILLE 1027 Speers Rd., Unit 22 RioCentre Oakville 478 Dundas St. W, Unit 7 OSHAWA Taunton Harmony Plaza 1053 Simcoe St. N, Unit 4B PICKERING Pickering Power Centre Pickering Town Centre 611 Kingston Rd. RICHMOND HILL 9196 Yonge St. 1480 Major Mackenzie Dr. E 10 West Pearce St., Bldg. B Hillcrest Mall 9350 Yonge St. Times Square Mall SCARBOROUGH Woodside Square 1571 Sandhurst Circle, Unit 502K 5095 Sheppard Ave. E 1900 Eglinton Ave. E, Unit E5A 3300 McNicoll Ave. 1291 Kennedy Rd. 2555 Victoria Park Ave. 411 Kennedy Rd. 3495 Lawrence Ave. 1448 Lawrence Ave. E 5661 Steeles Ave. E, Unit 5 19 Milliken Blvd., Unit U THORNHILL 31 Disera Dr., Unit 140 Promenade Mall Shops on Steeles 6236 Yonge St. TORONTO Dragon City Mall 421 Dundas St. W, Unit G8 Dufferin Mall Gerrard Square 228 Queen’s Quay W 1015 Lakeshore Blvd. E 1821 Queen St. E 275 College St. 604 Bloor St. W 1348 St. Clair Ave. W 1461 Dundas St. W 2 St. Clair Ave. E 272 Danforth Ave. 471 Eglinton Ave. W 662 King St. W, Unit 2 939 Eglinton Ave. E, Unit 106 154 University Ave., Unit 101 2200 Yonge St., Unit 104 2397 Yonge St. 9A Yorkville Ave. East York Town Centre 2400 Bloor St. W 919 Bay St. 525 University Ave. 45 Overlea Blvd. Oriental Centre Mall 1448 Lawerence Ave. E 10 Clock Tower Rd., Unit B1A 1118 Finch Ave. W, Unit 1 6236 Yonge St. 3850 Sheppard Ave. UXBRIDGE 11 Brock St. W WHITBY 25 Thickson Rd. N WOODBRIDGE 5317 Hwy. 7, Unit 2 200 Whitmore Rd.

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ONLY AT Subject to change without notice. 1 Applicable to new activations made on or before December 31, 2011 on consumer plans (excludes employee purchase plans). Includes local airtime only. Subject to Rogers Terms of Service and Acceptable Use Policy, available at rogers.com/terms. 2 Offer only available from Rogers or Rogers Authorized Dealer locations until the earlier of December 31, 2011 or while quantities last to customers who activate two new lines (hardware upgrades excluded) on a Rogers Couples and Family Voice & Data Plan with a 3-yr. term and complete the online submission form at www.rogerspromotions.com/tabletoffer/ within 30 days of activation. Allow 3-4 weeks from online submission for delivery. Early cancellation fees apply. Offer subject to change without notice, not redeemable for cash and may not be combined with any other offer. Limit one tablet per account. Customers who select expedited tablet delivery and cancel their service within 15 days of activation in accordance with their Rogers Wireless Service Agreement rendering them ineligible for the $0 tablet must return it in original condition or will be charged $679.99 (plus applicable taxes). See rogers.com/tabletoffer for full terms and conditions. 3 Offer only available from Rogers or Rogers Authorized Dealer locations until the earlier of December 31, 2011 or while quantities last to new Rogers TV and Internet customers who have subscribed to both Rogers TV (Digital Basic or above) and Internet (Lite tier or above) with a 2-yr. term (new activations only), requested installation of cable TV and Internet services before December 31, 2011 and completed the online submission form at www.rogerspromotions.com/tabletoffer/ within 30 days of activation. Allow 3-4 weeks from the later of service installation or online submission for delivery. Early cancellation fees apply. Offer subject to change without notice, not redeemable for cash and may not be combined with any other offer. Limit one tablet per account. Customers who cancel their service within 30 days of activation in accordance with the terms of their Rogers Cable Service Agreement rendering them ineligible for the tablet must return it in original condition or will be charged $679.99 (plus applicable taxes). See rogers.com/tabletoffer for full terms and conditions. TMTrade-marks of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., used in Canada under licence. ©2011 NOW december 15-21 2011

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12/12/11 5:47 PM

CONTENTS INTIMATELY ATELY EL ELY 1112 1112 1112 1112 1112 POWERFUL INTIMATELY POWERFUL

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR FRIENDSFIRST MEMBERS Public on sale Monday, Aug 15 at 10am

Season highlights include:

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69 HOLIDAY MOVIE SPECIAL

Interviews We talk to Robert Downey Jr., Gary Oldman, Max von Sydow, Jamie Bell, Jeremy Irvine and others on their seasonal blockbusters Reviews We weigh in on Young Adult, Carnage, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and more; plus an analysis of the Oscar odds on the most prestigious pics

12 NEWS

16 City budget Ford’s real endgame 18 Port lands Stop the speed-up 21 G20 conspiracy My mea culpa

22 Fair trade Is it bowing to big box? 24 Web jam Hello to World Star Hip Hop 25 Ecoholic T.O.’s most eco religious orgs

26 DAILY EVENTS 30 FOOD &DRINK 30 Reviews Pizzerias Libretto 29 LIFE&STYLE and Defina 2

Alt-health Making every minute count Astrology

32 Drink up!; Recently reviewed More great pizza spots

34 GIFT GUIDE

Ten days left Time to get serious with NOW’s prezzie picks

42 NEW YEAR’S EVE GUIDE JOAN BAEz

DALA

WED NOvJUST 2 9PM RTh

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Party on Make your plans to ring in the new year with NOW’s survey of all the December 31 parties, events and shows.

STEvEN PAGE FRI APR 13 8PM WGT

ANNOUNCED!

48 MUSIC

SAT JUNE 8 8PM GGS ALEJANDRA RIBERA

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DECEMBER 15–21

64 STAGE 64 65 67 68

Theatre reviews Parfumerie; Memphis; A Very Lupe Xmas; Theatre listings Gift ideas What to get the show lover on your list Comedy listings Dance listings

63 ART

Review That Was Now Must-see galleries and museums

63 BOOKS

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Review The Free World Readings

So give them something they’ll love!

69 MOVIES

69 Holiday movie special A roundup of all the new releases 76 Playing this week 79 Film times 82 Indie & rep listings Plus Toronto critics choose The Tree Of Life as best flick of 2011 83 Blu-ray/DVD Kung Fu Panda 2; Meet Me In St. Louis; 13; Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes

iPad 2 There’s no hotter gift this holiday season than the iPad 2. It’s sleek, powerful and so much fun! With over 140,000 apps available, the iPad is what ever you want it to be.

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THE TOP FIVE MUST-READ POSTS ON NOW DAILY

1. Millions more reasons to save Transit City The cost of cancelling Transit City is more than expected – millions more. 2. Budget buy-in The Ford administration is trying very hard to sell its austerity measures (read cuts) in the new budget. 3. Ronley Teper’s Lipliners Local weirdo folk troupe rides the streetcar westbound on Dundas long enough to perform a song. Watch it on NOWTube. 4. Caplansky cart The deli king’s food truck opened permanently on Queen East in a parking lot. How’s the grub? 5. Gifts gifts gifts The whole city is shopping for the holidays. Beat the crowds by getting the inside track on cool gifts in NOW’s Gift Guide, updated daily till Christmas.

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Audited circulation 104,072 (Oct 10 - Sept 11) ISSN 0712-1326 Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 298441.

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NOW DECEMBER 15-21 2011

December 15-29 Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Suzanne nacha The painter’s

intriguing sign-centred installation is at Harbourfront Centre to Dec 31. Free. 416-973-4000. +ST. VincenT It’ll be exciting to see how the inventive guitarist and singer pulls off her layered Strange Mercy tunes at the Phoenix. Doors 8 pm, $20. HS, RT, SS, TM.

Buck 65, What’s In The Box, Dec 26

Sing-along MeSSiah Join the chorus when Tafelmusik performs Handel’s classic. Massey Hall. 2 pm. $26-$43. RTH. The Wizard oF oz Elicia MacKenzie and Yvan Pedneault star in this all-ages musical. To Jan 6 at the Elgin. 1 and 6 pm. $27-$85. 1-855-599-9090.

Fucked Up keep it real for COUNTERfit benefit at the Great Hall, Dec 20

haVe yourSelF a blueSy chriSTMaS The David Rotundo

unconventional walkabout telling of the Nativity story continues. Evergreen Brick Works. 7:30 pm. $10-$25. To Dec 30. 416-504-7529, theatrecolumbus.ca. Fucked up The hardcore heroes present a holiday benefit for COUNTERfit and the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, with PS I Love You and Quest for Fire. Great Hall. Doors 7 pm, $20. RT, SS.

lantern parade, drums, costumes and more. 6:30 pm. Free. Oxford and Augusta. Sloan Night two of the COUNTERfit funder, with Ohbijou and Bonjay. Great Hall. Doors 7 pm. $20. RT, SS. repulSion Catherine Deneuve stars in Roman Polanski’s thriller, part of TIFF Cinematheque’s Polanski series. 9 pm. $9.50$12. Bell Lightbox. tiff.net.

kenSingTon MarkeT WinTer SolSTice Street fest features a

dorian FiTzgerald FitzGerald’s beautiful paintings interpreting glossy-magazine images hang at Clint Roenisch to Jan 3. Free. The canadian TenorS The classical-pop vocal quartet gets us in the holiday spirit at Roy Thomson Hall. 8 pm. $39.50-$89.50. And Dec 23.

The liFe and TiMeS oF Mackenzie king VideoCab’s

Band, Dr Draw, Cheryl Lescom and Chuck Jackson take over Hugh’s Room. 8:30 pm. $25$30. And Dec 20. daVid hockney The Brit artist’s exhilarating iPhone/ iPad paintings are at the ROM until Jan 1. $13.50-$15. 416586-8000.

berg’s powerful adaptation of the popular book and play about one horse’s experiences during the First World War opens wide today. See it after unwrapping presents?

art show addressing issues related to appropriation continues at the Drake, to Feb 6. 416-531-5042. WhaT’S in The box Five-day music festival, with Buck 65, Sepalcure, Hooded Fang, Doldrums, Odonis Odonis and many others. Drake Hotel. $5. To Dec 30. 416-531-5042.

the Tony Award-winning revival of the iconic counterculture musical continues at the Royal Alex. To Dec 31. 8 pm. $35-$130. 416-872-1212. bed & breakFaST This all-ages puppet-filled adaptation of The Princess And The Pea story continues at the Tarragon Extra Space until Jan 1. 2 pm. $20-$25. 416-531-1827.

Day musical previews tonight (opens tomorrow) at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. To Jan 15. $62-$180. 416-6443665.

Catch the progressive metal act at the ACC. 3 and 8 pm. $29-$63.50. TM. +parFuMerie Adam Pettle and Brenda Robins’s charming adaptation of Miklós Laszló’s classic romantic comedy continues at the Young Centre until Dec 31. 1:30 and 7:30 pm. $28-$65. 416-866-8666.

comic look at Canadian history closes today at Cameron. 2:30 pm. $30. 416-703-1725.

+War horSe Steven Spiel-

+ThaT WaS noW Clever group

hair The touring production of

+Sherlock holMeS: a gaMe oF ShadoWS Robert Downey Jr,

Jude Law and Swedish star Noomi Rapace get into period gear in this sequel to Guy Ritchie’s reboot. Opening day. The SkydiggerS The rootsrockers play two holiday Horseshoe shows with the Good Family – the Good Brothers and the Sadies! 8:30 pm. $22.50. HS, RT, SS, TM. And Dec 17

red Last chance to see John

Logan’s award-winning play about painter Mark Rothko’s struggle to create a masterpiece. 2 and 8 pm. $22-$99. Bluma Appel. 416-368-3110. leahy The singing, dancing and fiddling family bring their Christmas show to the Sony Centre. 7 pm. $35-$45. 416-872-2262.

Repulsion’s Deneuve dazzles, Dec 21

The STory Theatre Columbus’s

Saturday

aMerican idioT The Green

chagall and The ruSSian aVanT-garde Beautiful AGO

show of works from Paris’s Centre Pompidou continues to Jan 15. $25, stu $16.50.

+pina Wim Wenders’s marvellous 3-D tribute to legendary dance artist Pina Bausch opens on screens today. headSToneS Hugh Dillon gives fans of his reunited hard rock band an early present. Sound Academy. Doors 8 pm. $30, VIP $75. RT, SS, TM.

More tips

TranS-Siberian orcheSTra

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

The nuTcracker Spend Christmas Eve day at the Four Seasons Centre taking in a matinee of the National Ballet of Canada’s lavish production of the seasonal chestnut. 1 pm. $38-$133.50. 416-345-9595.

Hot Tickets Live Music Movies Theatre Comedy Dance Galleries Readings Daily Events + = feature inside

53 53 76 64 67 68 63 63 28

Bed & Breakfast, Tarragon, Dec 27

ART BY AMY GUIP

JOIN ONSTATHE POST- GE SH DANCEOW PARTY !

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email letters@nowtoronto.com January 13 @ 7:30 & 10:00 PM Queen Elizabeth Theatre TICKETS SHOW ON SALE

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another anniversary of the Montreal Massacre has come and gone (NOW, December 8-14), and all the office of Security Minister Vic Toews deemed worthy of repeating

was that the gun registry is useless, even on a provincial level, because “criminals don’t register their guns.” One wonders whether the minister would just as well have us dispense with vehicle registration to make life

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on messing with mother nature (NOW, December 8-14). Wow. I’ve recently arrived from Australia, and I’m none too proud of our environmental credentials, but I never expected this from Canada. For many years I’d thought of Canada as an enlightened, forward-thinking country. Since arriving, I’ve read of obstructing climate negotiations, expensive bicycle lane removals (I’ve lived on three continents and never seen that!!) and now the Ontario environmental commissioner’s annual report. We’re worse than the U.S. I’ve met many Canadians on my travels who wore the maple leaf on their backpacks so as not to be mistaken for Americans. My advice to Americans: wear the stars and stripes so you’re not mistaken for Canadians. Ed Booth Toronto

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thank you for your coverage of the environmental commissioner’s report this week. Great critical work. You captured many of the issues highlighted by the commissioner. In particular, the material on the Far North Act deserved the close attention you gave it, an element absent from coverage in most media outlets. Andrew Pickles Legislative Assistant Jonah Schein, MPP, Davenport

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now editor susan g. cole scored solidly against anti-feminist Marc Rudov on The John Oakley Show when she argued that action should be taken 365 days a year on violence against women, not just on the one day when we remember the Montreal Massacre. There’s a strong gender bias in law enforcement, a deeper bias than racism against black men. Evidence of that surfaced again recently in the enquiries regarding sex-related misconduct in the RCMP. The violence with which police officers sometimes make arrests of women suggests flagrant sexual debauchery. For example, the handling of G20 protesters. Mary Morgan Toronto

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in three lean years for the ttc (NOW Daily, December 11), Ben Spurr writes, “While [Councillor Peter] Milczyn’s 15-cent fare increase would avoid the service cuts, those service reductions are actually seen by [TTC chair Karen] Stintz and [TTC general manager Gary] Webster as necessary to deter ridership growth. Lowering service standards will drive away 3.7 million additional riders next year, and that will allow the city to avoid spending $93 million on new buses they can’t afford.” Dollar-store city. Kamal Reilly Toronto

Maev Beaty cover a beauty

a wee fan letter here. i just read Glenn Sumi’s piece on Maev Beaty (NOW, December 8-15) and want to let you know how much I enjoyed it and, knowing Maev a little bit, what a great job Sumi did of getting her onto the page. Geoff Whynot Toronto

Jay-Z, Kanye on Auto-Tune

reviewer kevin ritchie seems a little confused about the “backing band” at the Jay-Z/Kanye West show at the ACC (NOW, December 1-7). There was a laptop DJ quite adept at pressing play on his computer and one other musician who also could have been checking his email behind a bunch of synthesizers. To say that constitutes a band is a stretch. The most work done that night was by the person or team who ran the AutoTune plug-in on Kanye’s microphone Strangely, Jay-Z, while covering a large portion of his recorded output, chose not to perform his Death Of Auto-Tune, I guess so as not to embarrass Kanye. I left the concert with a bad taste. My thoughts may be best summed up by Rick Rubin, “Hip-hop isn’t about art any more. It’s about getting paid.” Christopher Butcher Toronto

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i appreciated emily weed on’s piece on the proposed TCHC housing sell-off (NOW, November 10-17). I’m also a market-rent tenant with TCHC, and while my home isn’t up for sale, my family will face eviction to make space for rent-geared-to-income tenants displaced by the sell-off. Unlike Weedon, however, I have no confidence that we’ll land on our feet. The Toronto rental market is notoriously tight right now. We cannot compete with the professional childless couples landlords prefer. I’m appalled that the TCHC board would so casually throw families, children and vulnerable people into turmoil without considering other solutions to the shortage of cash for repairs. TCHC tenants facing displacement need to speak and enlist the support of Torontonians. If we can save libraries, surely we can prevent families from being evicted. Dominique Russell Toronto 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 416-364-1166. All correspondence must include your name, address and daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for length.

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ellie kirzner, in her book review of Whose Streets? The Toronto G20 And The Challenges Of Summit Protest (NOW, December 8-14), comments on the “inefficiency of smash-ups in attracting recruits” to the anti-capitalist cause. Fuck recruits; give me co-conspirators. Coincidentally, Tahrir Square seems to have given global movements against capital a muchneeded kick-start, and y’know what? They torched waaaaaay more police property than the Toronto black bloc. Brad Fougere “new democrats must seriously consider the fact that they may be electing the next prime minister of Canada” (NOW, December 8-15)? Wow, I hope Adam Giambrone has a prescription for that weed he’s smoking. Eviltoryoverlord the tea party concert on december 1 at the Sound Academy should definitely have been at the top of your Shows That Rocked Last Week lineup (NOW, December 8-14). It was an outstanding concert by one of the greatest power trios ever, whose sheer firepower, talent and showmanship had the rapt audience screaming and dancing with joy. The band is a national treasure that NOW inexplicably ignores while covering acts they blow off the stage. Pattization

VISUAL ARTS The Power Plant Exhibitions Through Mar. 4 Featuring two exhibitions: a new photographic work by Vancouver artist Stan Douglas, Entertainment: Selections from Midcentury Studio and Coming After, a group exhibition of young, international artists.

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Wasn’t that a Tea Party?

DANCE Dance Ontario − DanceWeekend 2012 Jan. 20–22 Showcasing dance from some of Toronto’s best dance companies. From ballet, b-boy and Bharatanatym, to hip hop, modern and Middle Eastern, to fiery flamenco and folk, to dances from the African Diaspora. Part of NextSteps.

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PERFORMANCE World Stage 2012 Flex Pass – Limited time offer! Don’t miss the best international and Canadian contemporary performance. A new season of World Stage begins February 18. Purchase four tickets, to any World Stage shows, for only $110. That’s a savings of almost 50%! It’s a perfect gift for the theatre and dance lovers on your shopping list. To order, call 416-973-4000.

VISUAL ARTS York Quay Centre Through Dec. 31, FREE Featuring nine exhibitions including In deep. Artist Suzanne Nacha creates a dialogue around the language of painting and the nature of the human psyche as it playfully unfolds in this installation of large-scale painted objects.

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Mavis Staples Sunday, January 29, 2012 8pm Koerner Hall Mavis Staples has blazed a rhythm & blues trail while staying true to her gospel roots, and has inﬂuenced artists from Bob Dylan to Prince, who dubbed her “the epitome of soul.”

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regarding benjamin boles’s Frontlines column (NOW, December 8-14). Religious true believers will only have more problems if they read their holy books. The Bible is the big book of multiple choice. You can turn your swords into ploughshares or sell your clothes to buy a sword – it depends which idea you need confirmed. Now, isn’t that convenient? Paul Hannah

Firing blanks on gun logic

what the hell does rob ford’s support for shooting ranges have to do with gun violence (NOW, December 8-14)? The range at Union Station operated safely for years, and virtually no one in the city even knew it existed before it was closed. Companyspamdump

NOW DECEMBER 15-21 2011

newsfront

Michael hollett EDITOR/PUBLISHER alice Klein EDITOR/CEO DAVID LOGAN gEnERaL managER eLLIe kIrzNer 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

Barometer SendinG a meSSaGe to rob ford

whoa, nellie! K1 Thai Boxing event hosted by PinkMafia at the Great Hall, Friday, December 9, in support of Nellie’s women’s shelter. It was a knockout.

the rob Ford Book club, an effort to save public libraries from budget cuts, launches. Make a $10 donation to the tPL in the mayor’s name at robfordbookclub.tumblr.com and help flood his office with thank-you cards.

MIchAeL WAtIer

SavinG corporate face After months of watching the Syrian government suppress that country’s popular uprising with military force, canadian petrol giant Suncor announces it’s suspending operations in Syria. About time.

mumia abu-Jamal the Philadelphia prosecutor’s office announces it won’t appeal a court decision commuting the death sentence of the former MOVe activist to life imprisonment in the death of cop Daniel Faulkner.

Cityscape

Good week for

It’s not what architect Mies van der Rohe had in mind when he designed the TD Centre. Simple elegance was his thing. But one of the most significant examples of modern architecture is about to get a facelift – or blemish, depending on your perspective. The city’s Sign Variance Committee approved an application Tuesday to allow consultants Ernst & Young to erect an illuminated corporate logo on top of the building. Only, the approved sign is not as big as the owners wanted. Marie-Joseé Therrien, an architectural historian, appeared before the committee to oppose the move, arguing that the sign would ruin “the elegant orchestration of lights” across the face of the building and Mies’s vision “to create a distinctly public realm in the midst of Toronto’s formerly private financial district.”

before and after The handy makeshift bike lane that appeared at Dundas West and Sterling after pregnant cyclist Jenna MorThe harper rison was killed by a truck last month has been governmenT has blacked out. The yellow centre line on Sterling that imposed a deaTh was moved further east to allow cyclists and cars senTence on many of making rights onto Dundas more room has also The world’s mosT been blacked out. It’s unclear if city staff is behind the vulnerable paint job. Dan Egan, manager of cycling infrastructure, populaTions. didn’t immediately respond to NOW’s request for info. Local councillor Ana Bailão has been in discussions with staff about safety improvements to the corner.

On the record hAMISh WILSON

Greenpeace Canada climate and energy campaigner Mike Hudema on the damage done to the global climate change fight by Canada’s decision to pull out of the Kyoto Accord, announced by Environment Minister Peter Kent this week.

December 15-21 2011 NOW

Winter watch

The winter forecast for the Great White North, according to AccuWeather.com: stormy in Ontario. The environmental unknown: rising water temps in the Great Lakes, which are a couple of degrees Celsius above normal and as a result upping the odds of a major lake-effect snow event. Here comes the deluge.

bad week for

1 5

toronto wildlife centre the only facility for sick or orphaned wildlife in the GtA says it has received a notice of demolition from its landlord. the centre, which runs solely on donations, cares for 5,000 animals a year. Write themove@torontowildlifecentre.com if you can help.

veiled iSlamophobia Immigration Minister Jason kenney says a new reg banning Muslim women from wearing a hijab while taking their citizenship oath “is a matter of deep principle that goes to the heart of our identity and our values of openness and equality.” Nice try, Jason.

health care Spin the Fraser Institute, arguing for more private health care, claims that wait times for surgeries have increased to 19 weeks. But media outlets spin the story differently and note that Ontario has the shortest wait times in the country.

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The two communications giants that have struck a strange detente to take over Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment have a chance to right some historic wrongs, and not just the local NHL team’s inability to score a Stanley Cup. Strange to say, but hopefully Bell and Rogers will force MLSE to be a better corporate and community citizen. The company has been ineffectual at building winning teams but adept at controlling mid-size to jumbo sports facilities. In addition to owning the Air Canada Centre and adjacent condos, it has lucrative and self-serving management deals to run BMO Field, Ricoh Coliseum, Mastercard Arena, and even Oshawa’s General Motors Place. It no longer owns what we will never stop calling Maple Leaf Gardens, though it acts as if it hadn’t unloaded the yellow pile of bricks to Loblaws in 2004. Ryerson bought in in 2009 to kick-start a joint megagrocery-store and sports complex. The partially finished result is already proving to be a remarkable publicprivate partnership that does some

great heritage work and city-building at the same time. Instead of celebrating, MLSE has hit Ryerson with petty lawsuits trying to limit what the university does with this reborn building. First, it successfully prevented use of the name Maple Leaf Gardens. As if. Try getting the rest of us to call it anything but. And MLSE continues to try to prevent Ryerson, on ludicrous competition grounds, from holding concerts in the resurrected rink, which seats 2,600 for hockey, more for shows.

Maybe good karma from the new owners’ generosity will win Leafs the Cup.

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The greedy attempt to block a valid and much-needed use for the Gardens that could make the visionary university a few bucks is shameless corporate avarice by a company that just sold for $1.4 billion. Bell, Rogers, leave the Gardens at Ryerson free to flourish. Loblaws and the university have turned out to be more than honourable custodians of this hallowed building. Maybe the good karma of generosity will help the new MLSE finally win that Cup.

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Veering away from feature films like Melvin And Howard, director Jonathan Demme was set to release his Talking Heads concert movie Stop Making Sense when he spoke to NOW’s John Harkness about the real David Byrne and how Demme made decisions about which songs to include. Though he swore he’d never make another music doc and went back to making features (he won best picture and director [ ACTION ] Oscars for The Silence Of The Lambs in 92), he did eventually make videos for Bruce Spring_____ PDFX1A to Publication steen and the Pretenders and completed not one, but three documentaries about Neil Young, includ_____ Collecting to Ad Planner 2011’s Neil Young Journeys. (Page 9 of the issue)

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NOW december 15-21 2011

courtesy social planning council of toronto

city hall

Location of proposed service cuts in 2012 budget

Neighbourhoods with below average poverty (6.1%–24.5%) Neighbourhoods with above average poverty (24.6%–67.9%)

Mapping a budget disaster Is Rob Ford stashing cash for a future tax cut while sacrificing the city’s poorest neighbourhoods? By ENZO DiMATTEO it’s rare for the loquacious wild bunch who occupy council’s left wing to be stuck for words, rendered speechless by the latest end-run of the Ford administration – and there have been many such plays in this regime’s first year of living dangerously. But so flabbergasted were some at the revelations coming out of the second of two budget wrap-up sessions at City Hall Tuesday (December 13) that all they could do was shake their heads in disbelief – or was that disgust? I think I saw a few muttering to themselves about the havoc about to be wreaked on our beloved city as a result of the mayor’s ill-thought-out directive to city departments to cut 10 per cent from their bottom line. Those who could manage a few words used descriptors like “pitiful,” “disastrous” and “deeply disturbed.” At one point, the back-and-forth got so testy between Budget Committee vice-chair Doug Ford and opposition councillors that chair Mike Del Grande threatened to remove them from the meeting. That was during a tiff over wading pools after Adam Vaughan and others took exception to Ford’s comments that “the burbs got nuthin’” when David Miller was running the city. So this is what the budget deliberations have come down to: petty jealousies – what Councillor Gord Perks termed “a race to the bottom.” Perks urged – no, begged – his colleagues on the Budget Committee to “step back from the precipice” before the Fordists destroy Toronto altogether, cuz that’s where we’re headed. Who could argue with Perks’s appraisal? Almost 60 per cent of the cuts being proposed are in low-income neighbourhoods where the poverty rate is above 25 per cent of the population – to say noth-

december 15-21 2011 NOW

Site-specific cuts identified in map above (not including kids’ nutrition programs or cuts to TTC routes).

56%

Cuts located in low-income neighbourhoods.

24.5% Average poverty rate of neighbourhoods where cuts will be felt most.

ing of the complete mess being made of the transit file. Ford and Co. have a budget plan, a ham-fisted one. What’s missing is a strategy, a long-term direction, a playbook on how to finesse the finances so services can be preserved within current budget constraints – and if there happens to be a little left over in the kitty, let’s use it to grow the city. Sound like too much to ask? It’s fundamental. It’s been the practice of council, at least under Miller, to set service standards and make financial decisions based on those goals. Not this time around. Instead, the Fordists have opted to use the budget as a blunt instrument, making policy decisions through it instead of “harmonizing up,” as Perks put it. Very little thought is being given to what effects they’ll have on livability. There is no line item on the Excel spreadsheets handed councillors showing the human costs of this austerity agenda. Vaughan called it a “war on children.” Yikes. But, yes, if you can call bike lanes on Jarvis a war on the car, then it’s no stretch to say closing wading pools in the poorest neighbourhoods is a war on children. Del Grande took exception to that “holier-than-thou” (it’s a fave formulation of his) characterization. Councillor John Parker put it more delicately, saying the approach to this year’s budget is “novel.” “What we had in the past was a plan,” said Parker. “You can call it that if you wish, but I call it a wish list of what we’d like to spend money on. But taxpayers have told us they’ve had enough of that.” By “that,” Parker means more taxes. Yet Ford’s budget calls for an increase in property taxes and service cuts as well as hikes in user fees. Del Grande, on whose shoulders the budget seems to be weighing more heavily these days, judging by his more meas-

ured demeanour, added that some suggestions coming from the left are “creative.” However, he quickly caught himself in the next breath saying they don’t deal with the “philosophical” issue, by which he meant the fundamental principle of spending less, not more. And there’s the rub. The criteria parks staff used to decide which five (out of 106) wading pools to close is absent any consideration of socio-economic factors or population growth estimates in affected areas. The same goes for the criterion used to decide which community centres are on the chopping block. A cost-per-visit formula was used to determine which would be closed – an arbitrary measure when some of the threatened centres are still used by thousands of Torontonians. Staff is not totally to blame here. They’ve been given the order to cut by the mayor’s office and are working within severe time constraints, some four months earlier than in the past under a new timeline imposed by the Ford administration. Some of the financial assumptions of staff border on the reckless. On the transit file, the $65 million in financial penalties for killing Transit City shows up nowhere in the 2012 calculations. Joe Mihevc was stunned. “I can’t see how a responsible budget process can omit those costs,” he said. It gets worse. Staff is banking on the sale of 10 per cent of the city’s stake in Toronto Hydro, the sale of “surplus” real estate and part of this year’s $139 million surplus to cover the $700 million cost of state-of-good-repair for the TTC. That came as news to the non-Budget Committee members on council Tuesday – especially since the sale of Hydro was rejected by the mayor’s executive only a few weeks ago. And that “surplus”

real estate is a mystery. When questioned by Janet Davis, City Manager Joe Pennachetti replied that he was not in a position to say what properties are being considered for sale. There’s more. The Memorandum of Understanding signed between Ford and the province a year ago to kill Transit City and put the Eglinton Crosstown completely underground contains a provision that calls for enhanced bus service on Finch, But that’s not happening. In fact, bus service on Finch and throughout the city is being cut back. Another bomb in the fine print of that MOU was dropped last week when TTC general manager Gary Webster revealed that the province committed to more operational funding for the TTC in that document. So where’s the money and why isn’t it being factored into the current budget numbers? The Ford administration has set up the narrative of this budget as one of stark choices. Already, the trade-offs have begun – a program here for a few bucks from the Environment Office, for example. There’s no need to cut the crap out of services, to take away kids’ programs or make seniors who use community centres suffer. There’s money in that cash cow known as the Parking Authority. And let’s not forget the projected $139 million surplus, which has been stashed in a reserve fund for capital projects. Now we’re told that figure will actually be higher, since it only represents the surplus for the first two quarters of 2012. Maybe there’s something to the speculation that the Fordists are stashing cash while planning a big sell-off of city-owned land to fund a tax cut just in time for the next municipal election in 2014. Crazy, huh? 3 enzom@nowtoronto.com

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NOW december 15-21 2011

waterfront

Port lands: what’s the rush? Communities on water’s edge fear Trojan Horse in Ford’s port lands invasion By BEN SPURR nothing like vintage nonsense from Doug Ford to pack a meeting. Nearly 700 very engaged residents, no doubt still haunted by the spectre of a Ferris wheel and mega-mall on the shoreline, turned out Wednesday night, December 7, for a consultation on the future of the port lands. Hosted by the city of Toronto and Waterfront Toronto, the arm’s-length agency in charge of harbour development, the meeting held at the Reference Library on Yonge was the first since council voted to accelerate planning of the massive project. But judging from the response of this crowd, most interested observers actually favour a slow and steady strategy, not a speed-up.

The fear many expressed was that rushing would risk bungling the long-term goals of making the nearly 1,000 acres of industrial land on the city’s eastern waterfront ecologically sustainable, publicly accessible and pleasing to the eye. After those in attendance met in smaller working groups, they came back with recommendations to conserve and expand recreational areas and to ensure that the design lives up to the world’s highest enviro standards. One group demanded to know why the project is being hurried at all. Another voiced

the popular suspicion that Mayor Rob Ford’s administration is seeking to make a quick buck by selling off some port land to developers. “Don’t accelerate this project for short-term gain,” they advised. Waterfront Toronto president John Campbell attempted to assuage participants’ unease. “The guiding principles of design excellence and sustainability, they survive. They’re not being attacked,” he said. “We’re not throwing the baby out with the bathwater.” The city’s planning and growth man-

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agement chair, Councillor Peter Milczyn, acknowledged that people’s skepticism was legitimate, given the recent history of port land planning. Back in September, Councillor Doug Ford, the mayor’s brother, unexpectedly announced the administration’s intention of wresting control of the project from Waterfront Toronto and handing it to the Toronto Port Lands Company. Ford proposed building a giant Ferris wheel and monster retail on the site, but he and the mayor eventually backed down, and council voted to review existing plans with the goal of fast-tracking them. “I understand the fear and even the anger that was generated when Councillor Ford and the Port Lands Company unveiled their ideas,” said Milczyn, an ally of the mayor who put forward the motion to speed up the project. He maintains that the review is necessary to find ways to finance existing plans and to harmonize projects across the vast port lands area, much of which still lacks a blueprint for development. “This is not a Trojan Horse exercise,” he told NOW. Deputy city manager John Livey assured participants that any new strategy will stay true to existing plans to re-naturalize the mouth of the Don River, a design element that doubles as a flood protection zone and is seen as a cornerstone of the project by those who want a strong green component. Livey admitted there could, however, be some “tweaking” of details of the re-naturalization. While there are still two rounds of public consultation and several stakeholder meetings to go before June, when a staff report on the accelerated plan will be presented to city council, Campbell speculated that fast-tracking could mean building less housing. Instead, Waterfront Toronto is eyeing big anchor projects that it could use to generate cash for Don River re-naturalization and more modest mixeduse residential construction. “Are there things we could put there that would spur development, like a university and entertainment area or a research cluster?” Campbell asked in an interview. “Are there ways we can bring the private sector in to finance this?” Where to find multi-billion-dollar financing remains a huge question. Don River re-naturalization alone is pegged at $634 million, and large injections of government funds to pay for it are unlikely. Aside from the oneshot anchor projects Campbell raised, he also floated the novel idea of changing Waterfront Toronto’s mandate to allow it to raise money by issuing bonds to private investors. Oslo and other cities have financed their waterfront development by instituting road tolls on downtown streets, a political non-starter in Rob Ford’s Toronto. Milczyn speculates that if the review process results in a sound business plan, work on new port lands projects could break ground in five to 10 years. Critics say that timeline is much too ambitious. 3 bens@nowtoronto.com

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What this lawyer wishes he’d said to the judge By PETER ROSENTHAL among the many things we’ll never know in the aftermath of the Toronto G20 is how a political de fence would have affected the trial of those charged in “the main conspir acy” case. That’s because the case ended last month when six of those charged pled guilty to the lesser offence of counsel ling mischief (and two of them also to counselling obstruction of police), and 11 had their charges withdrawn. I was the lawyer for Pat Cadorette, one of the 11. I also represented Jaggi Singh, who in April 2011 had his con spiracy charge withdrawn in ex change for pleading guilty to “coun selling mischief” by suggesting the G20 security fence be torn down. Charges against two others of the 20 originally deemed by police and the Crown to be “the main conspiracy group” had been withdrawn earlier. Thus, none of the “conspirators” were actually convicted of conspiracy. Conspiracy is a nasty charge under Canadian law. All prosecutors need to establish is that two or more peo ple agreed to commit a criminal of fence. It’s a broader definition than is used in the U.S., where proof of an agreement to commit an offence is not sufficient; it must also be dem onstrated that some step was taken in the furtherance of the conspiracy. Still, it’s my view that prosecutors would have had real difficulties es tablishing that the talk at G20 activ ist meetings attended by undercover officers provided sufficient evidence for a verdict of conspiracy. On November 22, after the guilty pleas and the withdrawal of charges, the presiding judge complimented the prosecutors and the numerous defence counsel for reaching the res olution, thereby saving a huge amount of judicial resources. He then looked around the court room and asked, “Anything else?” I rose and walked to the front of the court. Here’s what I said: “With re spect, it is Mr. Cadorette’s position, with which I agree, that the real crimes committed on the G20 week

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G20 protesters were only trying to point out the unlawful behaviour of G20 leaders.

end were the conspiracies of some G20 leaders to continue wars, such as those against the people of Afghan istan and Iraq, and to continue the economic oppression of most of the world. It is Mr. Cadorette’s view, and I agree with him, that he was acting to attempt to limit those crimes.” So far, so good. I have no regrets about having said any of that. How ever, I’m not proud of my subsequent comment and lack of explanation. After I had stated the above, the judge said something like, “The courtroom is not the place for political speeches, Mr. Rosenthal. However, I will excuse it this one time.” I replied, “I’ll take it” and then sat down. I have been unhappy about my re sponse ever since. I wish I had said the following: “Thank you, Your Hon our, but I do honestly believe that what I said a minute ago should be regarded as having legal as well as political substance. “Three major G20 nations asserted they were attacking Iraq to destroy Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. It soon became apparent there weren’t any such weapons, but the invaders keep killing up to the present day. Some G20 leaders directed the inva sion of Afghanistan, where thou sands of people died, some of whom were fighting the invasion but many of whom were uninvolved civilians. “In the past two decades, in all the G20 countries, there has been in creased concentration of wealth, and the policies of G20 leaders have only increased this disparity. The Occupy movement, and the positive reaction to it, are indications of widespread opposition to these decisions. “If the charges against Mr. Cado rette had proceeded to trial, we would have argued that his actions were at tempts to limit those crimes. If he was convicted, we would have argued that his intent should be taken into account in mitigating his sentence. “The fact that the charges against Mr. Cadorette were withdrawn does not mean that he has not been pun ished. He was jailed for 16 days before being released on bail, and his condi tions included house arrest for 11 months (except for specified activ ities), no participation in protests and no cellphone use. Mr. Cadorette will receive no compensation for this punishment in spite of not being found guilty of any offence. It is only fitting that he be permitted to place his views of his actions on the rec ord of this honour able Court. Thank you very much for your indulgence.” 3 Peter Rosenthal is a lawyer with Roach, Schwartz & Associates and an adjunct professor of law and professor emeritus of mathematics at U of T.

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Unflattened

food politics

Fair trade war brewing Split in movement signals a new tolerance for corporate farming and retailing By wayne roBerts here’s a bit of bad news that fast expanding – fair trade cause. emerges, ironically, from a generally Just to reassure locals, Fairtrade good-news situation. The meteoric Canada – the label that attests to prorise of ethical consuming over the duction standards met by imports of past decade has given rise to forces chocolate, coffee, bananas, sugar, tea causing the first serious split in fair and other products – is not joining the trade ranks in over 25 years. walkout and might even benefit from As of January 2012, Fair Trade USA supplying U.S. retailers who want prowill complete its withdrawal from the ducts carrying the traditional fair international Fairtrade Labelling Ortrade seal of approval. ganization, hoping to double sales “Canada is not going along with the through easier ties to larger and more U.S.,” Mike Zelmer of FTC tells me. “We corporate producers and retailers. believe in the international moveThis may be the opening shot of ment; we were founding members.” the same kind of infighting that’s The discussion is all about the real plagued Big Organic over the last 01/12/11 sevmeaning fair trade contributions NOW_newspaper_v4_FNL_R1 3:17 PMof Page 1 eral years, a disappointing developto sustainability and whether large ment in the $6-billion-a-year – and corporations should qualify to get

the fair trade stamp of excellence. Some argue, using the organic food parallel, that this is akin to the Walmart scenario, where the company sells local organic food in a retail context that duplicates the conventional food system and freezes out small producers – the great majority of the world’s poor. The World Fair Trade Organization, connected to the Fairtrade Labelling Organization, has charged the American group with valuing U.S. sales of products over the welfare of producers. “The WFTO believes the interests of producers, especially small farmers and artisans, should be the main focus within the

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For all the interest in fair trade coffee, Canadians actually drink very little of it.

fair trade movement,” their stateharsh Sahara winds and militant ment reads. protests in Ghana and the Ivory Coast Fair Trade USA, on the other hand, (sources for high-quality chocolate), says it seeks to double U.S. sales to $2 led to a rogue’s gallery of major billion by 2015 by developing its own corporations signing on for the stacertification system, which is likely bility of long-term relationships with to pry open the doors to large farms competent producers. And now all of and plantation methods of growing these companies trumpet some fair cacao and coffee, both of which have trade products. traditionally been managed in diThe success story inspires many. verse forests by small producers. Over a million producers and some 5 The organization calls its initiative million people now benefit from a Fair Trade For All and says it aims to fair trade minimum price that proexpand eligibility, thus extending tects them in case of market gluts, as benefits to workers excluded by the well as a fair trade premium (in the previous focus on worker co-ops. The range of 30 cents a tonne for cacao) group hopes to make it easy for bigthat funds schools and health clinics. ger players to commit to fair trade, a Once-powerless peasants now control shift which, in turn, will grow consome of their fate and food sovereignsumer interest in fair ty through co-ops that CHOOSING share half the voting trade. It’s important to note TO BUY FAIR power in fair trade orgs. that fair trade wasn’t an But the large retailHere are the overnight success. Back in ers selling corporate products available 1988, when I first started chocolate now account bearing the Fairwriting regularly for NOW, Trade Canada label: for the lion’s share of I’d wend my way through a fair trade sales, and Cocoa • Coffee rabbit warren of desks to these retailers want a Cotton • Flowers sell a dozen or so bags of Bananas • Gold • Rice reliable supply from a fair trade coffee I’d just small number of speSpices and herbs picked up at a church-base- Shea butter • Olive oil cialized producers. ment Oxfam outlet. They aren’t organized Sports balls • Sugar Beginning in the Nethto source from co-ops Tea • Imported wine erlands, fair trade orgs serving the world’s sprang up around the world at this small farmers, the very people fair time to market food products from trade was created to serve. developing economies through food This is the dilemma the whole stores, rather than counting on cus- movement is trying to resolve. But tomers who happened to know which watch for many follow-up dilemmas craft stores and church basements as pressure is placed on fair trade to had fair trade coffee. This preliminwater down standards. ary network launched the skyrockWhile Fairtrade Canada stays loyal eting retail success of fair trade. to small producers, ethical consumThe growth of ethical consuming ing here is disappointingly weak. demonstrates the way change hapSure, Canadian fair trade sales grew 6 pens at the margins. Fair trade goods per cent to $330 million in 2009, but are mainly treats and indulgences, not Tim Hortons, which sells no fair everyday necessities, producing a custrade label coffee, is treated as a Catomer base that is quite self-conscious nadian icon and pours eight out of and even guilt-ridden, especially if every 10 cups of joe sold in Canada. products like chocolate are associated Nonetheless, Zelmer remains optiwith child labour or even slavery. mistic and points to Vancouver’s and Although less than 10 companies University of British Columbia’s re– the likes of Kraft (which recently cent moves to become fair trade. An chowed down on Cadbury), Nestle old instinct for collective action and and Mars – control the candy and enabling by public institutions might coffee market, they’re all vulnerable yet define future options for ethical to catastrophic risk from weather purchasing. 3 changes or labour unrest. In 2008, news@nowtoronto.com

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Sex and fighting site World Star Hip Hop comes to Toronto By nowtoronto.com editor JOSHUA ERRETT If you hear someone yell, “World Star Hip Hop” in public, you’re likely near a street brawl or a public sex act. WorldStarHipHop.com (WSHH) is a video aggregating site out of New York covering public fights, sex and, occasionally, hip-hop. Anyone can send in videos. The most vulgar fights/sex videos get uploaded, provided those four magic words are uttered during the filming. Last Sunday at around 2:30 pm, there was occasion to shout out “World Star Hip Hop” as an inebriated couple were filmed having sex on a

december 15-21 2011 Now

subway platform at Spadina station. The video was sent to WSHH and posted. In late November, the “World Star Hip Hop” name-drop was heard outside a downtown fast food spot where a group of teenage girls viciously beat up a woman on the sidewalk. Again, it was filmed, submitted and posted. I’d describe both videos as “hard to watch.” But both went viral, with local media piling on. Expect more local videos like this to come: WSHH is getting ready to launch a Toronto branch.

The website of World Star Hip Hop Canada were set up this spring, the domain registered anonymously. WSHH Canada spent the summer trolling for “affiliate” sites to spread its content. (Torstar has partnered with official “affiliates” of WSHH, sharing content across some of its sites.) It has yet to launch officially, though it has obviously already made an impression. Based on the success of the American site, which currently ranks higher

than sites like MTV and Travelocity in page views, WSHH Canada has a very good chance of becoming popular. And for a city that dropped its jaw at the site of public sex in the subway, it may also be eye-opening. Clicking on a WSHH link is sometimes like taking a peek through the gates of hell. It shows humans at their most inhuman. In the last year, the site posted videos of a man having sex with a woman while freestyle rapping to a crowd at a

house party, a woman dragged into the middle of the street by her hair and beaten, people having sex in the parking lot of a football stadium, and instances of a game called Knockout King, in which a random innocent person is sucker-punched so hard that he or she is knocked unconscious. WSHH does post a large volume of hip-hop videos, true to its name, but even rappers object to it: 50 Cent is trying to have it shut down. So is this site spreading brutal behaviour or simply documenting it? World Star Hip Hop or its Toronto branch gave me no answers to this question. But I would argue it’s the age-old “holding a mirror to society” question. Sites like these, unfortunately, are here to stay. Shunning them is pushing this underbelly of society even further under. Instead of smashing the mirror, it might be better to take a good hard look into it. joshuae@nowtoronto.com twitter.com/joshuaerrett

ecoholic

By ADRIA VASIL

When you’re addicted to the planet

If we can motivate the world to act for the planetary good via spirituality of any stripe, let me be the first to sign up for a sermon.

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DIRECTORY

Which churches, synagogues and mosques are going green? Growing up in Quebec, I went to church for three reasons: weddings, funerals and on rare December 24s when my mother wanted to hear mid night mass. Back then, the “We’ve got dominion over every living thing” angle was de rigueur. But the times they are achanging. Oh sure, most evangelicals south of the border may not believe in human induced climate change, but Canadian faith groups by and large have a dif ferent spin on the world. Many of them actually pushed the feds to take a strong position in sup port of carbon controls in Durban. Over 30 leaders from organizations including the Anglican Church of Ca nada, Canadian Council of Imams, Federation of Hindu Temples of Cana da, Presbyterian Church in Canada, United Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and others signed onto the Canadian Interfaith Call For Leadership And Action On Climate Change. They also circulated petitions to send to their MPs. Even the staunchest atheist would approve of the shared values ex pressed here for a sustainable econ omy, a shift away from a “cultures of selfinterest and unprecedented con sumption into cultures of justice for all.” Heck, if we can motivate the world to act for the greater planetary good via spirituality of any stripe, let me be

the first to sign up for a sermon. Maybe it’s time for the environ mental movement to loosen its neck tie and revive our spiritual connec tion to Gaia. Now to the question at hand. Ob viously, some denominations/parish es have been walking the walk more than others. St. Gabriel’s Passionist Parish on Sheppard was the first church in Canada built to the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environ mental Design) gold standard, a great achievement, though the building isn’t as upcycled or ironic as the Bud dhist temple in Thailand made entire ly from recycled beer bottles. The United Church of Canada quite famously stirred the pot when it asked its 590,000 members to stop buying bottled water. Other changes come from the ground up. Young Muslims partnered with Faith of Life Network to push for recycling pro grams in major mosques across the country. Their target? A 50 per cent waste reduction. Their motivation? The Koran is blunt: “Waste not by ex cess, for Allah loves not the wasters.” Greeningsacredspaces.net offers interfaith help on the howto side of energy audits, retrofits and solar faith initiatives for, you guessed it, sacred spaces, along with practical ecospirit ual workshops, tips on starting green teams in your faith community and more.

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The Green Church program is a top resource for Christians looking to take a more holistic approach. Not only does it offer suggestions on how to make your building and grounds more energy and waterefficient, but it also gives tips on ecologically in spired Bible passages for sermons and suggestions on Canadian sources for altar wine (grown in Quebec – who knew?). If you’re shopping around for a new church, mosque, synagogue, temple or faith, make sure to ask questions about its stance on major environmental issues and steps tak en to green its holy abode. And if you’re already part of a notsoenlight ened house of worship, start a green working group. Religious or not, we can all agree with Vandana Shiva that today’s tem ples in the new religion of develop ment (nuke plants, mines, dams, oil sands) are definitely places of false worship. And what’s sacrificed at those altars is plain for all to see. As Shiva says, they’ve obviously got dif ferent concepts of what’s sacred. This holiday season, let’s all pay homage to the earth’s sanctity.

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Due to the holidays we will have an early deadline for listings for our Dec 29 issue. Please submit all listings by Friday Dec 16 at 5 pm, to listings@nowtoronto.com, or by fax to 416-364-1166.

Everything Toronto.

nowtoronto.com

NOW december 15-21 2011

daily events meetings • benefits How to find a listing

Daily events appear by date, then alphabetically by the name of the event. r indicates kid-friendly events F indicates Festive events

How to place a listing

listings index

Live music Art galleries Readings

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Theatre Comedy Dance

ThePolarExpress screensatOntario PlaceCinesphere onDecember17.

FkensingtOn festiVe fOOdies rOOts Walk

Benefits

(trust fund for Morrison’s son) A performance by Whirling Dervishes, silent auction, champagne ceremony and more celebrate the life of the cyclist killed on Nov 7. 7:30 pm. $40, adv $30. Great Hall, 1087 Queen W. tinyurl. com/jennamorrison. Frgingerbread COOkie faCtOry (Trillium Health Centre) Decorate a gingerbread cookie and help support seniors’ health. To Dec 18. $4/cookie, 3 for $10. Sherway Gardens, QEW and Hwy 427. sherwaygardens.ca. FhOhO t.O. fundraiser (Daily Bread Food Bank) Fundraising party. 7 pm. $35. Virgin Mobile Mod Club, 722 College. hohoto.ca. FPin uP (Mercer Union) Sale of limited edition posters by artists including Miles Collyer, Melanie Lowe and Robert Tombs. 7 pm. Free. Mercer Union, 1286 Bloor W. 416-536-1519. Fsanta exPerienCe (Sleeping Children Around the World) Interactive play session with Santa featuring singalongs, dancing and stories. Weekdays and Saturdays to Dec 23. $5/child. Sherway Gardens, 25 the West Mall, QEW & hwy 427. sherwaygardens.ca.

FrsOunds Of the seasOn (food banks) CBC Radio’s annual open house with musical performances by Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Justin Rutledge, QuiQue Escamilla and others. 5:30 am. Free w/ food non-perishable food or cash donation. CBC Broadcasting Centre, 250 Front West. cbc.ca/toronto/community.

Events

FarCadia Craft shOW & sale Opening night reception today 5-9 pm, Authors Day Dec 17 noon-5 pm. Runs to Dec 24. 680 Queens Quay W. solocontinuity@yahoo.ca. breathing fOr stress relief Lecture. 7 pm.

Festivals this week

Winterfest On tOrOntO’s WaterfrOnt Puppet theatre, a Santa cruise, skating, pet photos, holiday light displays and more. Free-$12. Queens Quay. waterfrontbia.com. Dec 17 and 18

Free. Big Carrot, 348 Danforth. 416-466-2129. FChristmas CentrePieCe Workshop using natural materials. 6:30 pm. $32.50. Colborne Lodge, High Park. Pre-register 416-392-6916. FrChristmas in the Park Discover festive traditions in High Park and enjoy mulled cider and treats. Tue-Sun noon-4 pm to Jan 8. $3$6. Colborne Lodge, S end of High Park. 416392-6916. martha rOsler Contemporary art lecture. 7 pm. $12. Harbourfront Centre Studio Theatre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4949. Fa 1920s Christmas OPen hOuse Tours and live music by Taffanel Wind Ensemble. 6 pm. Free. Spadina Museum, 285 Spadina Rd. 416392-6910.

Experience a traditional Christmas in an 1859 row house. Tue-Fri from noon-4 pm, Sat-Sun noon-5 pm to Jan 8. $3-$6. Mackenzie House, 82 Bond. 416-392-6915. FrWrite a letter tO santa Claus Write with old-fashioned pen and ink on stationery made on an 1845 printing press. Tue to Fri noon-4 pm, Sat & Sun noon-5 pm to Dec 24. Free w/ admission. Mackenzie House, 82 Bond. 416-392-6915.

FOCCuPy tOrOntO: hOmes fOr the hOlidays Community potluck and toy drive.

Friday, December 16

Noon. Bring a toy and food dish to share. City Hall Christmas tree, 100 Queen W, at Bay. facebook.com/events/279958805388330. Frreadings With santa Kids listen to Santa read classic holiday stories. Saturdays and Sundays starting 9 am to Dec 24. Free (RSVP required). Eaton Centre, 250 Yonge. 416-598-8560. FrtOrOntO Christmas market Tradition-

al European Christmas market with beer and wine gardens, a reindeer petting zoo, workshops and more. Live music Thu-Sat from 7 pm. To Dec 18. Free. Distillery District, 55 Mill. torontochristmasmarket.com.

Fra ViCtOrian Christmas in tOrOntO

Benefits

Fa tOrOntO Christmas (local charities) Semi-formal holiday party with live music by Nights & Weekends plus DJs. $30-$40. Steam Whistle Brewing, 255 Bremner. facebook.com/ events/253139528061000.

Events

Fblues Christmas ball Beginner blues dance class and dancing to live music by Patrick Tevlin’s New Orleans Rhythm. 9:10 pm. $13-$15. Dovercourt House, 805 Dovercourt. swingtoronto.com.

Saturday, December 17

Benefits

bike shOP danCe Party (Charlie’s Freewheels) Dance the night away and help provide job taining to young people. 8 pm. $5. 242.5 Queen E. 416-532-6392. Frbreakfast With santa (North York Harvest Food Bank) Families enjoy breakfast wth Santa. $15. Jack Astor’s, Shops at Don Mills, 1090 Don Mills. shopsatdonmills.ca. FCarOl sing (Canadian food banks) Sing carols led by opera star Richard Margison and local choirs. 2 pm. Free (donations appreciated). Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge. 416-922-1167. rright tO Play Charity day (Right to Play) Free multi-sport classes for kids and adults take place at various venues across the city. Donation. sportplay.ca/righttoplayday.html.

Events

artisans gift fair One-of-a-kind handcrafted

gifts. Today and tomorrow noon-6 pm. Free. Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. artisansgiftfair.com. FrCanada sings Carol sing-along. 2 pm. Free (donations welcome). St John’s Presbyterian Church, 415 Broadview. 416-778-0796. FChristmas by lamPlight Victorian Christmas celebrations include ballroom dancing, taffy pulls and chestnut roasting. Today and tomorrow. Black Creek Pioneer Village, 1000 Murray Ross. Pre-register 416-736-1733. FrdeCOrate a tree Families decorate an edible tree for the birds and take a winter bird hike. Today and tomorrow 10 am-noon. $7.50. High Park Nature Centre, 440 Parkside. Preregister naturecentre@highpark.org. dJ skate night Skate beside the lake while DJs spin. Saturdays to Feb 19 (except Dec 24 & 31). 8-11 pm. Free. Harbourfront Ice Rink, 235

december 15-21 2011 NOW

76 80 82

Queens Quay. 416-973-4000. Fgifts fOr strangers Bring an inexpensive or home-made gift and hand it out to a passersby. 3 pm. Free. Nathan Phillips Square, Queen and Bay. giftsforstrangers.org. FhOliday dinner Cruise Seasonal dinner cruise aboard the Captain Matthew Flinders. $73. mariposacruises.com. FrhOliday games & Crafts Kids five to 12 play traditional early settler games. 1-4 pm. $15. Scarborough Historical Museum, 1007 Brimley. 416-338-8807.

Thursday, December 15

fundraiser in hOnOur Of Jenna mOrrisOn

Movie reviews Movie times Rep cinemas

festivals • expos • sports etc.

All listings are free. Send to: listings@nowtoronto.com, fax to 416-364-1166 or mail to DailyEvents,NOWMagazine,189 Church,TorontoM5B1Y7. 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.

FChristmas night market (Daily Bread Food Bank) Hats, jewellery, cupcakes, T-shirts, decorations and more by local artisans. 8-11 pm. $5 or non-perishable food item. Screen Lounge, 20 College (roof). screenlounge.ca.

64 67 68

Walk through the market to view the diverse festivals of light and sample foods. 9:30 am-1 pm. $45, stu/srs $40, child $30. Red pole with black cat at 350 Spadina. Pre-register 416923-6813. Frlantern-making Make a paper lantern to carry in the Kensington Market Winter Solstice Parade (Dec 21). 11 am-5 pm. $10 sugg. Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil. 416-598-3729. FmOVies & makers Arts and crafts show. 11 am-5:30 pm. Free. Fox Theatre, 2236 Queen E. foxtheatre.ca.

OCCuPy talks: exPlOring the heart Of OC-

CuPy Filmmaker Velcrow Ripper, activists Judy Rebick and Stefonknee Wolscht and other occupiers to discuss the role of love and compassion in politics and the occupy movement. Food served at 6:30 pm, discussion 7 pm. Free. Canadian Friends Service Committee, 60 Lowther. facebook.com/events/261504443903009. FrPOlar exPress PJ Party sCreening 3-D film screening, arts and crafts, a Santa visit and more. $15. Ontario Place Cinesphere, 955 Lakeshore W. ontarioplace.com. sCi-fi used bOOk sale Science, speculative, sword, sorcery and horror titles. 10 am-3 pm. Free (books $0.50-$1). Lillian H Smith Library, 239 College. 416-393-7746. Funsilent night tOrOntO Outdoor participatory sound sculpture performed by a roving swarm of boomboxes, speakers and iPhones. 7 pm. Free. Meet under the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal at the ROM, Bloor and University. facebook.com/events/290694057628746. What’s yOur stOry? Afternoon of storytelling from diverse cultural traditions. Today and tomorrow. 2, 3 & 4 pm. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000. FrWinter festiVal Launch of a new skating rink with music, cooking workshops and more. Noon-6 pm. Free. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview. evergreen.ca. FZine ZOne Zines, comics, bookworks, prints, knitted items, crafts, edibles, DJs and more. Noon-6 pm. Free. Xpace, 58 Ossington. 416849-2864. rZiOn sChOOlhOuse OPen hOuse Tour a 1910 school room and try your hand at turnof-the-century school activities. 1-4 pm. Free. Historic Zion Schoolhouse, 1091 Finch E. 416395-7435.

Sunday, December 18

Benefits

FhiP-hOP fOr hunger (Christmas food

drive) Concert with EPMD, DJ Ritz, Taboo, Kid Kut and others. Doors 8 pm. $10 w/ non-perishable food item, $18 from Ticketmaster. Guvernment, 132 Queens Quay E. 416-889-0045, ticketmaster.ca.

Events

FCarOls by Candlelight Carol singing. 7

pm. Free. Metropolitan United Church, Queen and Church. 416-363-0331 ext 26. Celebrate migrant WOrkers Vigil to ensure justice, diginity and status for all migrants. 5 pm. Free. Chinese Railway Workers’ Memorial, Blue Jays Way and Navy Wharf. migrantworkersalliance.org.

muslim exPerienCe in nOrth ameriCa: islamiC laW & demOCraCy Lecture by profes-

sor Mohammad Fadel. 1:30 pm. Free. Noor Cultural Centre, 123 Wynford. amss.org. 99 mrkt Local food, craft and art market. 11 am-5 pm. Free. Glass Factory, 99 Sudbury. 99sudbury.ca/99mrkt.

FrsWell sundays: Christmas in the gOlden age Of radiO Live performance of a

1930s-stye recreated radio show plus crafts. Noon-5 pm. $10, stu/srs $8, child $6. Spadina continued on page 28 œ

NOW december 15-21 2011

You r

Squee w z Ne

Minna Ola - $165

big3

NOW editors pick a trio of this week’s can’t-miss events

hip-hop food hopes

Toronto’s hip-hop community gets into the spirit of the season with an inspiring show at the Guvernment (132 Queens Quay East) on Sunday (December 18) at 8 pm. It’s planned as a massive food drive, and the slate includes American duo – and critical darlings – EPMD as headliners alongside T.O.’s DJ Law, comedian Trixx and more. Admission’s a reasonable $10 at the door, but only if you bring along a non-perishable food donation, or $18 via Ticketmaster. 416-889-0045.

œcontinued from page 26

Museum, 285 Spadina Rd. 416-392-6910.

4 9 3 Q U E E N S T R E E T W E S T - T W O B L O C K S W E S T O F S PA D I N A ! 416.504.7934 | INFO@COMEASYOUARE.COM W H E E L C H A I R AC C E S S I B L E | W O R K E R O W N E D & O P E R AT E D !

Toddle down The Taddle (Taddle Creek)

Lost rivers walk. 2 pm. Free. St George subway, Bedford entrance. 416-593-2656. FwinTer CrafT fair Handmade, local and affordable crafts. 11 am-4 pm. Free. Dufferin Grove Park, Dufferin S of Bloor. anarreshealth. ca/node/616.

Monday, December 19

What’s Next In... Issue: Dec 22

The Year In Review

Top 10 lists from all departments, looking back on 2011.

Issue: Dec 29

looKIng ahead To 2012

Resolutions, fantasies and fearless forecasts for the new year.

What’s love got to do with it? A lot, actually. This panel discusses the role of love and compassion in the Occupy movement and politics in general, and features media activist Velcrow Ripper, who shares Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Oakland footage, Rabble’s Judy Rebick, author of Transforming Power: From The Personal

EPMD’s Erick Sermon (left) and Parrish Smith boost Hip-Hop For Hunger on December 18.

events W W W. C O M E A S Y O U A R E . C O M

fighT CapiTal wiTh kindness

Benefits

Quiz/Trivia nighT (Horizon Children’s Cen-

tre) Play for prizes. $10/team. Pour Boy, 666 Manning. 416-343-7969.

Events

annex ToasTmasTers meeTup Improve your

public speaking skills. 6:30 pm. Free. Bloor St United Church, 300 Bloor W, rm 31. meetup. com/Annex-Toastmasters. life drawing Open session every Mon. 6:30 pm. $7. Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen E. donriverdwgsessions@hotmail.ca. sorauren park farmers markeT Mondays year-round. 3-7 pm. Sorauren S of Dundas. westendfood.coop.

sTep danCing lessons Learn Cape Breton

step dancing. 6:30 beginners, 7:15 all others. $10. Farmer Memorial Baptist Church, 293 S Kingsway. Pre-register 416-231-8717. Trivia nighT With host Terrance Balazo. 8 pm. Free. Clinton’s, 693 Bloor W. 416-535-9541.

Tuesday, December 20

Benefits

BenefiT ConCerT (COUNTERfit Drug Users

Memorial Project/Barriere Lake Legal Defense Fund) Performances by Fucked Up (today only), PS I Love You and Quest for Fire. Today and tomorrow 7 pm. $20. Great Hall, 1087 Queen W. 416-826-3330.

Events

garrison Creek: sQuaTTers, waTer and wolves Lost rivers walk. 2 pm. Free. Christie

subway. 416-593-2656. puB sTumpers Trivia night. 7:30 pm. Free. Stout Irish Pub, 221 Carlton. 647-344-7676. The sTop’s good food markeT Tuesdays year-round. 4-6 pm. Davenport-Perth Neighbourhod Centre, 1900 Davenport. thestop.org.

Wednesday, December 21

Benefits

people sTill goTs Ta eaT (Daily Bread Food Bank) Benefit concert with Rob Szabo, Nancy Dutra, Hotcha! and others. 8:30 pm. $10 sugg.

To The Political, Occupy T.O.’s Stefonknee Wolscht and others. Saturday (December 17), 6:30 pm food; meeting 7 pm. Free. Canadian Friends Service Committee, 60 Lowther. rabble.ca.

proTeCT migranT workers

In the midst of the holiday season, the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change wants folks to remember that the flowers, food, fruits and wine they’re enjoying are often grown and packaged by migrant workers. A vigil urges justice for these vulnerable workers, including access to social programs and full protection under provincial laws. Sunday (December 18), 5 pm. Free. Chinese Railway Workers’ Memorial, Blue Jays Way and Navy Wharf. migrantworkersalliance.org. Cameron House, 408 Queen W. 416-703-0811. Fplaying To poTenTial (Sistema Toronto) A holiday concert with Dr Draw and friends rasies funds for after-school music programs. 6:30 pm. $30, adv $25. Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas W. holidayshow.ca.

Events

FrCeleBraTe The reTurn of The lighT on The longesT nighT Winter Solstice celebration with music by Mark Battenberg and others, a lantern procession and peace flag ceremony. 6:30 pm. Free. Children’s Peace Theatre, 305 Dawes. 416-752-1550.

FrkensingTon markeT winTer solsTiCe

The market celebrates the longest night of the year with a lantern parade, drums, costumes and puppets. 6:30 pm. Free. Oxford and Augusta. redpepperspectaclearts.org. life-like drawing in The Box Drawing session. 7 pm. Free. Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen W. 416-531-5042. Trivia nighT Come out and play. 8 pm. $2. Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen W. 416-531-5042.

upcoming Thursday, December 22 FrsourCefire winTer solsTiCe All-ages

solstice celebration. 7:30 pm. Free. Unitarian Congregation of Mississauga, 84 South Service. 905-278-5622. 3

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alt health

Can you slow time?

You can sure alter your experience of it through novelty By elizaBeth Bromstein oh my freaking god. is it the holidays already? I seriously can’t handle this I feel like every time I turn around, it’s Christmas, Christmas, Christmas.

At this rate I’ll be old by next week, if I make it to old. I’ll be one of those people looking back at my life and saying, “WTF? Where did it go?” So why does time seem to move so

fast? Well, first we need a sense of proportion: there’s a theory that because a minute is a greater portion of child’s life than of an 80-year-old’s, time feels more elongated to the very

young and more fleeting in the decades after childhood. Then there’s the quality of our experience in the moment. Recent research showed that when people were dropped 15 storeys into a net, their fright made their sense of time slow down. Short of walking through life putting ourselves in danger, can we make our lives seem longer?

What the experts say “Time perception is linked to the way we live our lives. The more we do, the more quickly time seems to pass. In the 21st century we flee from boredom and stuff our schedules and look to our gadgets to divert us. But boredom requires being present in the moment, and in the right dosage it can be a very good thing. The human animal needs moments of quiet and stillness, and we’ve edited these out of our lives. Slow down. Be fully engaged. Have those moments of serendipity. When you have a free hour, go to the park. If you sit with boredom, eventually something comes out of that silence.” CARL HONORE, author, In Praise Of Slow, London, UK “The speed of time is determined by how many impressions and perceptions the mind takes in – the more im-

pressions, the slower time goes. The mind has a kind of desensitizing mechanism that switches off our attention to experiences that we’re more often exposed to. If we know that familiarity makes time pass faster, then we can slow down time by exposing ourselves to as much new experience as possible. Also, make a conscious effort to be mindful. This stretches time in exactly the same way that new experience does. Because we give more attention to our experience, we take in more impressions. In normal absorption, time goes quickly, but if you become absorbed to an intense degree, you can experience a massive slowing of time. This is what happens when athletes are ‘in the zone.’” STEVE TAYLOR, author, Making Time: Why Time Seems To Pass At Different Speeds And How To Control It, psycholo-

astrology freewill

by Rob Brezsny

Aries Mar 21 | Apr 19 Jim Moran (1908-

1999) called himself a publicist, but I regard him as a pioneer performance artist. At various times in his colourful career, he led a bull through a china shop in New York City, changed horses in midstream in Nevada’s Truckee River and looked for a needle in a haystack until he found it. You might want to draw inspiration from his work in the coming weeks, Aries. You will not only have a knack for mutating clichés and scrambling conventional wisdom. In doing so, you could also pull off feats that might seem improbable.

TAurus Apr 20 | May 20 One possible way to tap into the current cosmic opportunities would be to seek out storegasms – the ecstatic feelings released while exercising one’s buyological urges in consumer temples crammed with an obscene abundance of colourful material goods. But I advise you against doing that. It wouldn’t be a very creative solution to the epic yearnings that are welling up in your down-below-and-deep-inside parts. Instead, I offer a potentially far more satisfying recommendation: Routinely manoeuvre yourself into positions where your primal self will be filled up with sublime wonder, mysterious beauty and smart love. GeMini May 21 | Jun 20 I’m not an eitheror type of person. I don’t think that there are just two sides of every story and that you have to align yourself with one or the other. That’s one reason why, as an America voter, I reject the idea that I must

either sympathize with the goals of the Democratic or Republican party. It’s also why I’m bored by the trumped-up squabble between the atheists and the fundamentalist Christians, and the predictable arguments between dogmatic cynics and fanatical optimists. I urge you to try my approach in the coming weeks, Gemini. Find a third way between any two sides that tend to divide the world into Us against Them.

CAnCer Jun 21 | Jul 22 No one actually looks like the retouched images of the seemingly perfect people in sexy ads. It’s impossible to be that flawless, with no wrinkles, blemishes and scars. Acknowledging this fact, the iconic supermodel Cindy Crawford once said, “I wish I looked like Cindy Crawford.” Our unconscious inclination to compare ourselves to such unrealistic ideals is the source of a lot of mischief in our lives. Your assignment in the coming week, Cancerian, is to divest yourself, as much as possible, of all standards of perfection that alienate you from yourself or cause you to feel shame about who you really are. (More fodder to motivate you: tinyurl.com/SoftKill.) Leo Jul 23 | Aug 22 Barney Oldfield (18781946) was a pioneer car racer who was the first ever to run a 100-mile-per-hour lap at the Indianapolis 500. He was a much better driver while setting speed records and beating other cars on racetracks than he was at moseying through regular street traffic. Why? He said he couldn’t think clearly if he was travelling

gist, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK “We remember a life-threatening situation as though it happened in slow motion. Our team wanted to test whether this occurs because the brain speeds up and records more information, like a high-speed camera. We found that during heightened fear (in this case brought on by a 100-foot free fall), people do not actually take in more ‘frames per second,’ but they seem to remember the free fall as though it lasted longer than normal. We concluded that a scary event causes the brain not to record more but to remember more. That increased information density may make it feel as though time slowed. There is a relationship between the memories you form and the perception of time. It may be that as you age, fewer experiences are novel. With fewer new

12 | 15

2011

at less than 100 miles per hour. I suspect you may temporarily have a similar quirk, Leo – not in the way you drive but rather in the way you live and work and play. To achieve maximum lucidity, you may have to be moving pretty fast.

VirGo Aug 23 | sep 22 Back in August

2010, there was an 11-day traffic snarl on a Chinese highway. At one point the stuck vehicles stretched for 60 miles and inched along at the rate of a mile per day. In that light, your current jam isn’t so bad. It may be true that your progress has been glacial lately, but at least you’ve had a bed to sleep in and a bathroom to use, which is more than can be said for the stranded Chinese motorists and truck drivers. Plus I’m predicting that your own personal jam is going to disperse sometime in the next few days. Be prepped and ready to rumble on.

LibrA sep 23 | oct 22 Here’s a joke from Woody Allen’s movie Annie Hall: “Two elderly women are in a Catskills Mountain resort and one of them says, ‘Boy, the food at this place is really terrible.’ The other one says, ‘Yeah, I know – and such small portions.’” Is it possible you’re acting like the second woman, Libra? Are you being influenced to find fault with something that you actually kind of like? Are you ignoring your own preferences simply because you think it might help you to be close to those whose preferences are different? I urge you not to do that in the coming week. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, it’s very import-

things to remember, the years seem to go by faster.” CHESS STETSON, co-author with David Eagleman and Matthew Fiesta, Does Time Really Slow Down During A Frightening Event?, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas “Our internal clock is regulated by the neurotransmitter dopamine, whose levels decrease after our mid-20s. In our study, we asked adolescents and people in their 70s to estimate time. The teenagers’ estimated minute was 53 seconds, and the adults’ about 70, which would indicate that time was going by much quicker than the adults thought, while going much slower than the teenagers thought.” PETER A. MANGAN, department of psychology, Northern Arizona U, Yuma ant that you know how you feel and stay true to your feelings.

sCorpio oct 23 | nov 21 The Los Angeles

school district dramatically downgraded the role that homework plays in the life of its students. Beginning this fall, the assignments kids do after school account for only 10 per cent of their final grade. As far as you’re concerned, Scorpio, that’s not a good trend to follow. In fact, I think you should go in the opposite direction. During the enhanced learning phase you’re now entering, your homework will be more important than ever. In order to take full advantage of the rich educational opportunities that will be flowing your way, you should do lots of research, think hard about what it all means and in general be very well prepared. The period between late 2011 and early 2012 is homework time for you.

sAGiTTArius nov 22 | Dec 21 The Ama-

zon is the second-longest river in the world and has such a voluminous flow that it comprises 20 per cent of all river water in the world. And yet there is not a single bridge that crosses it. I love that fact. It comforts and inspires me to know that humans have not conquered this natural wonder. Which leads me to my advice for you this week, Sagittarius. Please consider keeping the wild part of you wild. It’s certainly not at all crucial for you to civilize it.

CApriCorn Dec 22 | Jan 19 Emotion is the resource we treasure when we’re young, says poet Naomi Shihab Nye, but eventually what we thrive on even more is energy. “Energy is everything,” she says, “not emotion.” And where does energy come from? Often, from juxtaposition, says Nye. “Rubbing happy and sad together creates energy; rubbing one image against another.” That’s what she loves

about being a poet. Her specialty is to conjure magic through juxtaposition. “Our brains are desperate for that kind of energy,” she concludes. I mention this, Capricorn, because the coming weeks will be prime time for you to drum up the vigour and vitality that come from mixing and melding and merging, particularly in unexpected or uncommon ways.

AquArius Jan 20 | Feb 18 Studies show

that if you’re sharing a meal with one other person, you’re likely to eat up to 35 per cent more food than if you’re dining alone. If you sit down at the table with four companions, you’ll probably devour 75 per cent extra, and if you’re with a party of eight, your consumption may double. As I contemplate your horoscope, these facts give me pause. While I do suspect you will benefit from socializing more intensely and prolifically, I also think it’ll be important to raise your commitment to your own physical health. Can you figure out a way to do both, please?

pisCes Feb 19 | Mar 20 “Were it not for the leaping and twinkling of the soul,” said psychologist Carl Jung, “human beings would rot away in their greatest passion, idleness.” To that edgy observation I would add this corollary: One of the greatest and most secret forms of idleness comes from being endlessly busy at unimportant tasks. If you are way too wrapped up in doing a thousand little things that have nothing to do with your life’s primary mission, you are, in my opinion, profoundly idle. All the above is prelude for the climactic advice of this week’s horoscope, which goes as follows: Give everything you have to stimulate the leaping and twinkling of your soul.

Homework: Make a prediction about what you will do in 2012. Tell me about it by going to http://RealAstrology.com and clicking on “Email Rob.” NOW december 15-21 2011

DAVID LAURENCE

food&drink

more online nowtoronto.com/food Search restaurants by style, location, $$ and more at NOWTORONTO.COM/RESTAURANTS or download iPhone Restaurant Guide at NOWTORONTO.COM/APPS

Owner/chef Rocco Agostino’s Ontario prosciutto and arugula pizza is a hit at Pizza Libretto.

Libretto goes east Food is better than ever at the new spinoff on the Danforth By STEVEN DAVEY slammed. Since we’d anticipated the crowd, we’re lucky enough to have reservations and are soon seated at a six-top with a front-row view of the open kitchen’s duelling wood-burning ovens. So much for soft openings. There must be as many clad-inblack servers and kitchen staff as customers. Would the table like to start with the $44 antipasto platter? We’d prefer the spicy meatballs offered at the original location on Oz but settle for bread and water instead, an ever-replenished complimentary basket of Thuet baguette sided with chili oil and unlimited bottles of

PIZZERIA LIBRETTO (550 Danforth,

at Carlaw, 416-466-0400, pizzerialibretto.com) Complete dinners for $40 per person (lunches $30), including tax, tip and a glass of wine. Average main $15. Open Monday to Saturday 11:30 am to midnight, Sunday 4 pm to midnight. Licensed. Access: two step at door, washrooms in basement. Rating:

NNNNN mr. greek must be quaking in his espadrilles. Why, here it is just Thursday noon and the new 150-seat Pizzeria Libretto on the Danforth is seriously

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house-carbonated eau du Lac Ontario ($3). Soon, we’re laying waste to an artful tangle of organic greens in white balsamic vinaigrette tossed with halved fresh figs, slivers of Bosc pear and raw blue cheese from a cow named Elizabeth in Quebec ($10). Another salad of bitter endive, heirloom beets, grapefruit wedges and candied walnuts in citrusy dressing ($11) disappears as quickly. What part of this culinary equation doesn’t compute? Two housemade ravioli stuffed with sweet Dungeness crab ($12) and six people. Good thing there’s all that absorbent bread to get every last gorgeous drop of sea urchin cream. A single Cumbrae beef short rib, a roasted potato (one), glazed carrots and abalone oyster mushrooms ($16) does not a shareable starter make. Fatty, too, and not the good kind.

But, like everyone else, we’re here for the pizza, and it doesn’t disappoint. Seven are holdovers from the first Libretto, knockouts like the VPN-certified Margherita ($13) and co-owner/chef Rocco Agostino’s superb duck confit drizzled with honey ($17). New pies include the Papa Luigi ($16), that same remarkably chewy cracker-thin crust brushed with family-recipe San Marzano tomato sauce and strewn with crumbled Gorgonzola, strips of roasted red pepper and see-through ribbons of Tyrolean speck. The Quattro Formaggi comes topped with a mudslide of truffled sauce and the four titular cheeses – bufala mozzarella, Montasio, Moliterno and parmigiano Reggiano – while the Funghi (both $18) arrives heaped with a veritable forest of ’shrooms, among them meaty abalone oysters and Hen of the Woods. And why not throw some smoky rashers of pork belly alongside sauce, bomba chili peppers and mozzarell’ on a pie ($15), since everyone else has gone hog wild? Desserts go for comfort, not flash,

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particularly the goat cheese panna cotta with blood orange syrup and frozen grapes and the chocolate pudding-like budino (both $7), no surprise to those familiar with Agostino’s work at Ferro, Silver Spoon and Enoteca Sociale. Best pizza in town? No question. The new Libretto’s not only bigger, but the food’s better than ever, and they take reservations, something they never did before. You’ll need ’em. 3 stevend@nowtoronto.com

DEFINITELY DEFINA PIZZERIA DEFINA (321 Ronces-

valles, at Grenadier, 416-5344414, pizzeriadefina.com) Complete dinners for $40 per person (lunches $30), including tax, tip and a glass of wine. Average main $15. Open Sunday to Thursday noon to 10 pm, Friday and Saturday noon to 11 pm. Brunch Saturday and Sunday noon to 2 pm. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms in basement. Rating: NNNN

after years of ripped-up streets, Roncesvalles is finally coming back into its own. For proof, look no further than the countless indie cafés and smart restos that have recently popped up along the Corso Polski, stylish family-friendly trats like Pizzeria Defina. Here it is early Saturday and continued on page 32 œ

= 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

Pasta Making with Mama Rosa @ 7 Numbers Eglinton Jan. 30 & Feb. 6

Chocolate Lovers’ Feast @ The Chefs’ House Feb. 2

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12/12/2011 PM31 NOW december 15-215:05:01 2011

food&drink This is the evolution of Pizza.

drinkup Give like the 1 per cent

A weekly look at what’s on LCBO shelves

WHAT: Les Trois Mousquetaires

WHAT: Hine Antique XO Grande Champagne Cognac

ñPorter Baltique 2011 (ale) Rating: nnnn

ñRating: nnnnn WHERE: Jarnac, France

WHERE: Brossard, Quebec WHY: 10 bucks for a bottle of beer? Hey, does your Beer Friend Forever deserve any less? Since were trying to give like the 1 per cent and save like the 99, let’s do the math: 9.2 per cent alcohol x 750 ml = a high factor of festive glow. But the final equation is taste, and this stuff is great. Chocolate, sour cherries, yeastiness: some might say it’s over the top, but it’s just tops. And vintage-dated for you cellar keepers out there. PRICE: 750 ml/$9.95 AVAILABILITY: At selected liquor stores (product #244376)

WHY: Its production refined over centuries, fine cognac is one of the ultimate liquid luxuries. This tantalizing tipple was blended from 40 different cognacs with a minimum age of 10 years, all grown in the top-rated Grande Champagne zone (different than the other Champagne). Antique’s flavour, a sort of “pineapple upside-down cake of the gods” experience, is the kind of happiness that money can buy. PRICE: 750 ml/$226.75 AVAILABILITY: At selected liquor stores (product # 241174) drinks@nowtoronto.com

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NEw sUNday brUNch mENU We use organic, locally sourced, sustainable produce. Suppliers include St John’s bakery and Rowe Farms. Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30am–3:00pm Sunday Brunch Sun 10:30am–3:30pm 189 Church St (at Church and Shuter) 416-364-1301 32

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= Critics’ Pick nnnnn = Liquid gold nnnn = Intoxicating nnn = Cheers nn = Drinkable n = Under the bridge

DEFINITELY DEFINA œcontinued from page 30

the breezy joint is already packed with rug rats and hungover hipsters. Soon we’re digging into one of the better Caesar salads ($8) in town, this one in a grilled-garlic vinaigrette studded with whole cloves and kissed with the slightest suggestion of anchovies. Secondi, like house-made pappardelle in a sweet, meaty Bolognese, scented with long threads of fresh basil chiffonade and a

healthy shaving of parmigiano ($14), also impress. Defina’s pizzas come two ways, both thin-crusted and correctly blistered: Neapolitan with a slight raised edge and completely flat Roman. The difference is negligible. The Red Hot Chili Pepper pie ($17) dressed with house San Marzano tomato sauce, creamy fior di latte, chorizo, salami and jalapeños packs a considerable punch, while the only thing missing on the cheesy Lasagna pizza ($14) is pasta.

Big meat eaters will appreciate Defina’s steak pizza topped with sliced sirloin, a whack of Gorgonzola and a handful of frozen peas ($18). Pay tribute to the nabe’s culinary history with the perogy-inspired Roncy ($16) dressed with thinly sliced potatoes, Asiago, pancetta and guanciale. Some say it’s the best pizza this side of Libretto. “Why does everybody always have to bring up Pizzeria Libretto?” bristles Defina chef Noah Bedard in Sd defence. “It’s only pizza.”

recently reviewed

Tons of restaurants, crossing cultures, every week Compiled by Steven Davey

More pizza spots in nabes all over town ñGerrard SpaGhetti & pizza

1528 Danforth, at Rhodes, 416463-7792. Sure, laugh at this family-run 41-year-old pizza ’n’ pasta parlour’s 70s decor – net curtains, maps on the wall, TV over the bar – but there’s nothing funny about its excellent pies. One of Toronto’s oldest pizzerias, it was originally located on Gerrard – hence the handle. And, no, they don’t deliver. Best: the skinny-crusted Ricardo with roasted sweet red pepper, lightly brushed tomato sauce, quartered button mushrooms, sun-dried tomato, mozzarella, crumbled blue cheese and fresh basil; the Nancy with nutty basil pesto, mild chèvre, fior di latte, and sliced Yukon Gold potato; to take home, explosive bottled homegrown hot peppers in garlicky olive oil. Complete dinners for $40 per person (lunches $30), including tax, tip and a glass of wine. Average main $15. Open Monday 4 to 11 pm, Tuesday to Thursday 11:30 am to 11 pm, Friday 11:30 am to midnight, Saturday 4 pm to midnight. Closed Sunday, holidays. Licensed. Access: barrier-free, washrooms in basement. Rating: nnnn

Obika

30 Yonge, at Front, 416-546-1062, obika. ca. Part of an international 16-resto chain that includes outposts in Rome, Tokyo and New York City, this fast-growing franchise in the atrium of the BCE specializes in European Union-protected Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP. Nearly every dish on the card features the incredibly rich cheese. Best: Margherita pizzas on appropriately floppy, thin, blistered crusts dressed with mozzarell’, fresh basil and San Marzano tomato sauce; the threecourse degustazione di Mozzarelle, one ball each of Classica, buttery Burrata and smoky Bufala Affumicata sided with DOP prosciutto, Parma ham and mortadella and a whole lotta cherry tomatoes ‘n’ arugula; I Rotoli, three sushi like mozzarella wraps stuffed with ham, cured bresaola and smoked salmon; to finish, ricottastuffed cannoli. Complete dinners for $40 per person (lunches $30), including all tax, tip and a glass of vino. Average main $15. Open Monday to Thursday 7 am to 11 pm, Friday 7 am to midnight, Saturday 11 am to midnight. Closed Sunday. Licensed. Access: barrier-free. Rating: nnn

ñpizza e pazzi

1182 St Clair W, at Dufferin, 647352-7882, pizzaepazzi.ca. Like Pizzeria Libretto, Danilo and Sandrelle Scimo’s stylish Corso Italia trat sticks to the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana’s party line: pies made with certifed Tipo 00 flour, San Marzano tomatoes and DOP mozzarella baked in a wood-burning oven at 485°C for 60 to 90 seconds. Monday to Wednesday from 5 to 7 pm, pay $10 for any drink and get the free appetizer buffet. Best: the benchmark Margherita, a correctly blistered and crackercrisp but still foldable thin crust dressed with family-recipe sauce, mozzarella di bufala and basil leaves; the Valtellina, a garlicky white-sauced pie heaped with shaved bresaola, parmigiana and raw arugula splashed with quality olive oil and lemon juice; papardelle in textbook bolognese; boozy tiramisu in a sundae glass. Complete dinners for $40 per person (lunches $30), including tax, tip and a glass of vino. Average main $15. Open Sunday to Thursday noon to 11 pm, Friday and Saturday noon to midnight. Licensed. Access: barrier-free. Rating: nnnn 3

= 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

Price subject to change. *TM/MC Keith’s Brewery.

†

NOW december 15-21 2011 LBK_N_111037_FP_BUZZ_R1.indd 1

11/29/11 2:21 PM

Movember might be over, but that doesn’t mean puppy won’t appreciate this moustache toy ($15, Timmie Doggie Outfitters, 867 Queen West, 416-203-6789, and other, timmie.ca).

You have one week left to gift shop before you officially earn present-hunting-procrastinator status. Our almost-last-minute guide will inspire you to get out to the stores. By ANDREW SARDONE and ALEXANDER JOO

Photos by DAVID HAWE Fashion assistant: STEFANIA YARHI

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Malcolm Gladwell’s trio of game-changing tomes – The Tipping Point, Blink and Outliers – are assembled in this box set ($56.10, Indigo, Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor West, 416-925-3536, and others, chapters.indigo.ca).

Make your own chai with Halfmoon’s spice-filled caddy ($45.95, Ecoexistence, 21 Vaughan, 416652-0808, ecoexistence.ca).

It would be a crime not to gift your favourite mixologist this set of mug shot glasses ($19.95, Drysdale & Co., 107 Danforth, 416-484-8592, drysdaleandco.com).

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The Mikli and Jean-Paul Gaultier eyewear collaboration collection ($325 to $460, Karir, Old York Lane, 138 Cumberland, 416-975-0536, and others, karireyewear.com) includes these tortoiseshell sunnies.

Hang up Margot Jenner’s soft ’shroom sculpture ($70, Propaganda, 686 Yonge, 416-961-0555, shopaganda.ca).

Bookhou’s 2012 calendar ($20, 798 Dundas West, 416203-2549, bookhou.com) is printed on natural linen.

If point blanket stripes aren’t her style, go for the all-over geometric print of this Pendleton cover ($98, Frock, 97 Roncesvalles, 416-516-1333, frock.ca).

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NIC POULIOT

New Year’s Eve guide Compiled by Julia Hoecke

Parties 5

=Queer night ALLEYCATZ Festive dinner menu, bubbly and party favours at midnight. The JamesKing Band plays and DJ Mike spins funk, house, R&B, reggae and more. Cocktails 6 pm, dinner 7 pm, dance 8:30 pm. Dinner & dance $75, dance only $30. 2409 Yonge. 416-481-6865, alleycatz.ca. ANNEX WRECKROOM Yes Yes Y’All NYE party. MC L.A! plays this queer hip-hop, R&B and dancehall jam. 9 pm to 4 am. Adv $15 (tickets at ticketpro.ca), $20 at the door. 794 Bathurst. 416-536-0346, theannexwreckroom.com.5 ARCADIAN COURT Singles party with dancing to top 40 and retro. Hors d’oeuvres, midnight toast, favours, prizes and more. 8 pm. 21+. Semi-formal dress code. $100 at the door, adv $59-$79. 401 Bay, 8th floor. 416-833-6154, clubzone.com. BALMY BEACH CLUB DJ Mike Harding, party favours, champagne and midnight snack buffet. 8 pm. $40. 1 Beech. 416-691-9962, balmybeachclub.com. BLACK EAGLE Mr Black Eagle 2011 Connor hosts this laid-back party with free champagne toast and music. 9 pm. No cover. 457 Church. 416-413-1219, blackeagletoronto.com.5 BOVINE SEX CLUB 20th Anniversary New Year’s Eve bash with rock giants Die Mannequin and Dearly Beloved. DJ Sir Ian Blurton, Jager toast at midnight, party favours and 3 am last call. Doors 9 pm. Adv $15 at the venue and Shanghai Cowgirl (538 Queen W). 542 Queen W. 416-504-4239, bovinesexclub.com. BRANT HOUSE Set menu for dinner, dancing, champagne toast, passed appetizers at this supper club. Upscale casual attire. Dinner and dance $85, dance only $40, reserve. 522 King W. 416-703-2800, branthouse.com. BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE DJs K-Tel and Triple-X spin top 40 club hits and retro faves. Performances by Cassandra and Donnarama and a midnight countdown. Doors 10 pm. $25. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555.5 C LOUNGE Old Hollywood Glamour party with DJ Fisher Pryce. Party favours and passed hors d’oeuvres included. Doors 9 pm. Style code in effect. $25 till Dec 26, $30 after. 456 Wellington W. 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca. CAPTAIN JOHN’S Spider Jones and the Fabulous

Folk rockers Elliott Brood play two sets at Lee’s Palace NYE.

DECEMBER 15-21 2011 NOW

Web entertain. Doors 6 pm, buffet dinner at 7:30 pm. $75, purchase by Dec 29. 1 Queens Quay W. 647-839-2854, captainjohns.ca. THE CENTRAL Girl And Boy 90s Party NYE. Dance to 90s pop, indie, dance, rock and rap with DJs Cobain and Blossom. Doors 10 pm. Prince includes a champagne toast. $10. 603 Markham. 416-913-4586, thecentralbar.ca. CENTRE OF GRAVITY Trip The Light Fantastic NYE event with Ill-esha, Jacob Cino, Jonah K, T-Minus, Kadmon, Spazzmonk, Justin Cider, Medicineman, Jerus Nazdaq, Rollin’ Cash, circus performances by Zero Gravity Cricus, belly dancing, intoxicating visuals and more. Doors 9 pm. Early bird $30 (Earth & Fire, 489 Queen W and Sideshow Cafe, 1300 Gerrard E), adv $40 tripthelightnye.eventbrite.com. 1300 Gerrard E. cirqlar.com/events/ticketinfo. CHERRY COLA’S ROCK N’ ROLLA’ Kyuss Lives plays this intimate party. Only 70 tickets available that include a meet-and-greet with the band. $200 (Rotate This, Cherry Cola’s). 200 Bathurst. cherrycolas.com. CHEVAL New Year at the Château Blanc. Midnight toast and passed appetizers. Doors 9 pm. Casual upscale attire required. $40. 606 King W. 416-363-4933, uniqlifestyle.com. CIAO WINE BAR Threecourse prix fixe menu. Party favours included. $70. 133 Yorkville. 416925-2143, ciaowinebar.com. CITY NIGHTCLUB Club crawl to the Roosevelt Room, London Tap House and City Nightclub. Happy hour drink specials, rooftop patio, party favours and more. 7 pm. $20-$45, adv $15, party bus tickets $25. 296 Richmond W. clubzone.com. CLINTON’S DJs Bangs & Blush present Bowties & Party Dresses, a party with 60s pop, soul and rock & roll. 9 pm. $15 on sale at venue. 693 Bloor W. 416-535-9541, clintons.ca. CLUB V Masquerade 2010 party, where masked faces are unveiled at midnight. Hors d’oeuvres, midnight champagne, masks and more. Dancing to top 40, hip-hop, house, R&B and mashups. Upscale event for a mature clientele. 10 pm to 4 am. Stylish dress code. Advance $40, $50 later. 88 Yorkville. 416-975-4397, clubzone.com.

CN TOWER The tower lights up for the count-

down to 2012. Award-winning cuisine at the 360 Restaurant, plus Look Out, Glass Floor and Sky Pod observation levels open. Dinner reservations 416-362-5411. 301 Front W. cntower.ca. COMFORT ZONE DJs Deko-ze, Manzone & Strong, Joee Cons spins. 480 Spadina. 416975-0909, comfortzonetoronto.com.

COURTHOUSE Bollywood New Year’s Eve party

with DJ K-Square and DJ Jiten spinning the best in Bollywood, bhangra, house & top 40. Midnight dhol session and party favours. Style code in effect. Doors 9:30 pm. Adv $30 (milati.com/nye). 57 Adelaide E. 416-2149379, liveatcourthouse.com. CROCODILE ROCK Affordable NYE party with low cover and inexpensive drinks. Party favours, ice luge, DJ Phil and midnight balloon drop. Three levels, two dance floors, roof-top patio. $25, adv $20. 240 Adelaide W. 416-599-9751, crocrock.ca. DAKOTA TAVERN CATL play R&B at this New Year’s Eve party. $tba, on sale at the Dakota. 249 Ossington. 416-850-4579, thedakotatavern.com. DANCE CAVE DJ Mr Pete. Doors 9 pm. Adv $12.50 (Ticketmaster, Soundscapes, Rotate This). 529 Bloor W, 2nd floor. 416-8708000, leespalace.com. DIM SUM KING Happy Endings party w/ Canblaster, Brenmar, MYD, Gingy, Milt Mortez spin. From 10 pm. 421 Dundas W, 3rd floor. 416979-8833. DOLCE SOCIAL The Social Ball. Doors 8 pm. $30. 647 King W. 416-361-9111, clubzone. com. DOMINION ON QUEEN Red Hot & Blue New Year’s Eve with the Gary Kendall Band. Three-course AAA prime rib dinner. Doors 7:30 pm, seating 8 pm. Show only doors 8:30 pm. $70, show only $25, adv $20. Reserve. 500 Queen E. 416-368-6893, dominiononqueen.com. DORA KEOGH Ginger St James performs for this soiree. 141 Danforth. 416-7781804, allens.to/dora.

DOUBLETREE BY HILTON Class 2012 Minutes To

Midnight with dancing to mashups, hip-hop, house, top 40 and more in the International Ballroom. 8 pm. Dinner and dance $80-$100, dance only $45-$75. 655 Dixon. 416-833-6154, clubzone.com. DOUBLETREE BY HILTON Glamour & Glitz 2012. Glamour & Glitz 2012 with dancing to the best in top 40, house, R&B, reggae and more in three ballrooms. Semi-formal event includes dinner, laser lights, balloon drop, midnight toast and DJs. Dinner 8 pm, dance 10 pm. Dinner and dance $80-$120, dance only $45-$75. 655 Dixon. 416-898-3535, glamour2012.com. DOVERCOURT HOUSE Swing And Blues Double Deck Ball with lindy hop on one floor, blues on the other. Up Jumped Swing performs. Swing beginner classes 8 to 9 pm, ball from 9:10 pm. Buffet supper, favours and midnight toast included. Tickets available at the door. $40$45. 805 Dovercourt. swingtoronto.com. DRAKE HOTEL Stardust party where Studio 54 meets The Last Days Of Disco. Several options to choose from including a party in the lounge and at the Sky Yard with hors d’oeuvres and midnight toast from 9 pm, $35, after midnight $20. Three-course dinner $75, Strolling Cabaret dinner from 8 pm, $75, four-course dinner from 9 pm, $100. 6 pm to 3 am. 1150 Queen W. 416-531-5042, thedrakehotel.ca. EL MOCAMBO Party with Sheezer, DJs Ben Fox (Dinosaur Bones) and Bobby Kimberly. $25 adv at Soundscapes. 464 Spadina. 416-7771777, elmocambo.ca. ETON HOUSE Drunk on Sunday perform from 7 pm. $20. 710 Danforth. 416-466-6161. FLY International DJ Micky Friedmann, DJ Mike Vieira and DJ Shawn Riker offer 10 hours of non-stop partying. 9 pm to 7 am. Adv $35, more at the door (wantickets.com/nye@fly). 8 Gloucester. 416-410-5426, flynightclub.com.5 FOOTWORK NYE 2012 with DJs Green Velvet, Anthony D’Amico, Evan G, Ticky Ty, Casualties of Sound. 10 pm. Earlybird $30 (online only), advance $40, more at the door (wantickets. com/footwork). 425 Adelaide W. FOUNDATION ROOM NYE12 party with DJs Spence Diamonds & Richniques spinning R&B, funk, soul, house and hip-hop. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and champagne toast. Early bird tickets $40, more later. Reserve. 19 Church. 416-364-8368, foundationroom.ca. continued on page 44 œ

NOW december 15-21 2011

New Year’s Eve guide

Deko-ze bangs out the afterthe-after-party beats at the Comfort Zone’s gleefully hedonistic New Year’s Day Bash (starting at 4 am). œcontinued from page 42

Fox & Fiddle Mississauga Class & Style party

with Kings of the Night All Stars spinning hiphop, top 40, club anthems, reggae, house and more. Cocktails 6 pm, dinner from 7 pm, dance 9 pm. Dinner & dance $45, dance only $30, adv $20. 285 Enfield Place (Mississauga). 905-5661355, ticketzone.com/kingsofthenight. The garrison Chronologic party with DJ Shit la Merde spinning dance music from 1890 to 2012 in chronological order. $20 (Rotate This, Soundscapes, Ticketweb). 1197 Dundas W. 416-519-9439, garrisontoronto.com. gaTe 403 Jazz It Up party with the Real Time Jazz Ensemble. 9 pm. $10. 403 Roncesvalles. 416-588-2930, gate403.com. gladsTone hoTel The Love Triangle party, with three events in one venue, featuring Jokers of the Scene w/ the Soul Proprietor of Bedouin Sound Clash, iDRUM and Runway Renee in the Ballroom, second floor Champagne Gallery and the Melody Bar. 10 pm to 4 am. $40 all parties, $50 dinner. Tickets at Gladstone, Rotate This, Soundscapes. 1214 Queen W. 416-531-4635, gladstonehotel.com. goodhandy’s Northbound Leather New Year’s Eve Fetish Party with DJ Jimi Lamort. Dress code attire includes leather, rubber, PVC, fetish sex wear, drag, lingerie and underwear, uniforms and gothic. Midnight champagne and party favours included. Doors 9 pm. $25 adv at northbound.com. 120 Church. 416-760-6514.5 guvernMenT/Kool haus Static party with international DJ Steve Aoki, DJs Thomas Gold and Mike Toast at Kool Haus. Magic party with 12 hours of nonstop dancing in the Guvernment.com. Static $65, Magic $40. 132 Queens Quay E. inktickets.com. habiTs gasTropub Mark Martyre entertains. Seven-course dinner and a glass of bubbly offered. Doors 8 pm. $90. 928 College. 416533-7272, habitsgastropub.com. hard rocK caFe SummerAid Does NYE party with Rebel Emergency, Team Flow DJs, the Little Black Dress, Grizzy and CondoKrew. 9:30 pm. Adv $25, more later. 279 Yonge. ticketscene.ca/events/5393. harleM Soulful Resolution New Year’s Party features soul food, soul music by DJ Solgroove, rum punch with dinner, midnight toast and party favours. Dinner and party $60, party only $30 (from 8 pm), reserve. 67 Richmond E. 416-368-1920, harlemrestaurant.com. horseshoe Alt country band the Sadies and Daniel Romano play this annual party. Doors open 9 pm. $25 advance (Ticketmaster). 370 Queen W. horseshoetavern.com. hugh’s rooM 9:30 pm. Folk trio the Good Brothers play this party. $45-$47.50. 2261 Dundas W. 416-531-6604, hughsroom.com. insoMnia Hip-hop, house and everything else with DJs Charles G & Parro. 563 Bloor W. 416-588-3907, insomniacafe.com. laTinada Latin-themed hot buffet, wine and midnight champagne toast and dancing to a live Cuban band. Party starts at 9 pm, doors at 8 pm. $75. 1671 Bloor W. 416-913-9716, latinada.com. la MaqueTTe Gala 2012 party includes a fivecourse dinner, dancing w/ DJ Jerry Aaron, bubbly toast and favours. Two seatings. Formal attire. Reserve. $110. 111 King E. 416-3668191, lamaquette.com.

december 15-21 2011 NOW

lee’s palace Roots alt country party with folk

rockers Elliott Brood. Two sets, 11:15 pm & 1 am. Doors 8:30 pm. Adv $20 (Ticketmaster, Rotate This, Soundscapes). 529 Bloor W. 416532-1598, leespalace.com. liberTy grand Grand 2012 with music by Baby Yu, Undercover, Richard Silas, Gabe Gallucci, Walter Vice, Alonso Mendez & DJ Rouge. Buffet dinner offered. Complimentary champagne toast and party favours included. Dinner doors 8 pm, club doors 9 pm. Club tickets $60, $50 before Dec 20, dinner & club $100, $90 before Dec 20. 25 British Columbia. 416870-8000, ticketmaster.ca, grand2012.com. The local DJ Hott Pants rings in 2012. 396 Roncesvalles. 416-535-6225, thelocalpub.ca. lola New Year’s Bash with Jeff & the 4 Heads. 8 pm. No cover. 40 Kensington. 416-348-8645. lula lounge Salsa Party! Hilario Duran and Lula Salsa All Stars play this Latin party. Doors 7 pm, salsa dance lesson at 9 pm, live music at 10 pm. $150 incl dinner, champagne toast, lesson and shows, $40 dancing only (incl bubbly at midnight). Reserve. 1585 Dundas W. 416-588-0307, lula.ca. Maison Mercer Enchanté party with music by DJ Ramy vs David. Midnight toast and snacks. Doors 10 pm. Gentlemen 25+, ladies 23+. $60, adv $50. 15 Mercer. 416-341-8777, maisonmercer.com, clubzone.com. Mariposa cruise lines Toronto harbour dinner cruise on the Captain Matthew Flinders includes dinner buffet and a midnight toast. DJ dancing and cash bar. Boarding at 8 pm. $124.95. 207 Queens Quay W. 416-203-0178, mariposacruises.com. Maro Fantasia party with complimentary champagne toast and passed appetizers. Setmenu dinner offered. Dinner and dance $85, dance only $40. 135 Liberty. 416-588-2888, unilifestyle.com/nye12. Mirage convenTion cenTre Stars 2012 Caribbean New Year’s Eve with Biggz-Piggphat Promo, Mr Audio, DJ Navi, Junya Menace, KOS, Don San Juan, Soca 101 and others spinning soca, reggae, chutney, top 40 and more. Complimentary buffet from 9, favours and midnight toast. 9 pm. $75-$100, adv $50. 1917 Albion. clubzone.com. old Mill inn Jazzy New Year’s with Heather Bambrick & the John Sherwood Trio. Hot & cold buffet offered from 7:30 pm includes complimentary champagne. Music from 8:30 pm. $120. Reservations required. 21 Old Mill Rd. 416-207-2020, oldmilltoronto.com. old Mill inn Vinyl 95.3 Solid Gold Dance party with Gord James playing disco/Motown and top 40. Glass of sparkling & hors d’oeuvres on arrival (7:30 pm), dinner from 8:30 pm. $150 (Reserve 416-207-2004). 21 Old Mill Rd. oldmilltoronto.com. old Mill inn The Gala Celebration. Gourmet six-course dinner and dancing to band Ascension. Black tie welcome. $229 (Reserve 416207-2020). 21 Old Mill Rd. oldmilltoronto.com. The ossingTon Love Handle New Year’s party with DJs Catalist & Famous Lee playing boogie and funk for dancing. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and champagne toast at midnight. 9 pm. Advance $15 from the venue. 61 Ossington. 416-850-0161. palais royale The Imperial Ball. Doors 9 pm. Stylish dress. $60. 1601 Lake Shore W. 416533-3553, clubzone.com.

parTs & labour White Girl NYE party with DJs Patrick McGuire, Josh McIntyre & Ghetto Gold Matt spinning hip-hop. DJ Scott Wade (Smithfits) on the main floor after midnight playing new wave, Britpop and punk. 9 pm. $10. 1566 Queen W. 416-588-7750, partsandlabour.ca. peridoT Hungama 2012 party with DJ Guru & DJ Alfa spinning bhangra and Bollywood. Dhol performance by Dholi Tanveer. $30 (bit.ly/rMw20D). 81 Bloor E. 416-515-7560, simplygaurav.com. phoenix concerT TheaTre Explosive NYE 2012 party with DJs Shane Percy, Mark Falco and Dwayne Minard. Go-go dancers, hot performers and midnight countdown. Doors 10 pm. $35 at the door, adv $30 (Priape, 501 Church). 410 Sherbourne. pitbullevents.ca.5 poeTry Jazz caFe Live jazz, live DJ, bubbles and eats. 9:30 pm. Formal dress. $20. 224 Augusta. 416-599-5299, poetryjazzcafe.com. pogue Mahone New Year’s Celebration with Celtic band Sandy MacIntyre & Steeped In Tradition at this party. Three-course dinner (8 pm), party favours and midnight champagne. 7 pm. $59.99 or $20 without dinner. 777 Bay. 416-598-3339, poguemahone.ca. qssis banqueT hall Dinner and DJ dancing. Midnight champagne and sweet table. Formal dress code. 6 pm. $55-$80. 3474 Kingston. 416-738-5170, nouvellesannes2011.com. rex Grooveyard play funk, soul and R&B classics. Appetizers and midnight toast included. Doors 8:30 pm. $60-$65. 194 Queen W. 416598-2475, therex.ca. richMond hill cenTre For The perForMing arTs The Blackboard Blues Band rings in 2012.

10 pm. $32-$35. 10268 Yonge (Richmond Hill). 905-787-8811, rhcentre.ca. rivoli Bump’N Hustle w/ Paul E Lopes & Mike Tull, Garage 416 w/ Blueprint & Moreno and Footprints dance party w/ Jason Palma, General Eclectic and Stuart Li. Doors open 9 pm. Adv $25 (milkaudio.com, Play De Record, Cosmos, Rivoli), $30 at the door. 332 Queen W. 416-596-1908, rivoli.ca. rosewaTer supper club New Year’s Eve 2012 includes a five-course prix fixe dinner, party favours and live music by Take Note. Reservations required. $125. 19 Toronto. 416-2145888, rosewaterroom.com. royal canadian legion – branch 11 Roast beef dinner at 6:30 pm, music by Par 3 from 8 pm. Cold buffet at 10 pm with music by Allen James. $25 dinner, dance and buffet $15. 9 Dawes. 416-699-1353. sheraTon cenTre club lounge Viva Las Vegas glitzy party with music by ISC Nation and DJ Delirious, performance by Divagirls and midnight lightshow. Party favours, midnight dessert station and midnight toast included. Three-course dinner offered. 7 pm. Dance $80, adv $40-$60, dinner and dance $100. 123 Queen W. 416-361-1000, sheratontoronto.com, clubzone.com. sheraTon cenTre club lounge Dream party w/ DJs Baba Kahn, Ritz, Infamous, Whitebwoy, Soca Sweetness, Juk, Winedown, Sean Stealth, Dattabass, Celebrity Dru, Sikka Sound Crew and Mark Black. Three-course dinner offered, balloon drop and laser show. 10 pm. Dinner & dance $75, dance $40. 123 Queen W. 416-3611000, sheratontoronto.com, clubzone.com. continued on page 46 œ

Red, Hot & Blue

new years eve SAT. DEC. 31, 2011

Dinner & Show (Advance Only) 3 COURSE PRIME RIB DINNER $70 | 4 for $240 | 7:30pm

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$20 Advance | $25 Door Doors 8:30pm | Show 9:00pm

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NOW december 15-21 2011

The Vue Venetian Gala party with DJs playing top 40, hip-hop, house, R&B and mashups. Party favours, midnight toast and hors d’oeuvres. 10 pm. $40, adv $30. 195 Galaxy Blvd. 416-213-9788, clubzone.com. WaTusi New Year party with four-course prix fixe menu including midnight champagne and favours. DJ Vania spins retro funk, Motown, 70s rock and soul. Dinner from 8 pm. $75, reserve. 110 Ossington. 416-533-1800, watusi.biz. Wicked Mobster’s Ball. Three-course aphrodisiac dinner, live entertainment, dance and midnight champagne countdown. Dress code mobsters, burlesque, 1930s or dress to impress. 7:30 pm. Party & champagne $60/ couple; dinner, show & party $99/cpl. 1032 Queen W. 416-669-5582, wickedclub.com. WRongbaR DJ Sneak and special guests. Doors 10 pm. Advance $30 (Rotate This, Soundscapes, online at wrongbar.com). 1279 Queen W. 416-516-8677.

New Year’s Eve guide

All Ages Zero Gravity hangs out at the Centre of Gravity. œcontinued from page 44

shoeless Joe’s king WesT New Year’s Eve

Party in the Executive Lounge with DJ, hats, horns, whistles, champagne toast and midnight buffet. Semi-formal dress. Doors 8:30 pm. $50. 1189 King W. getinvited.ca. silVeR dollaR New Year’s Eve party with Indian Handcrafts, Teenage Kicks w/ Topanga and guests. Doors 9 pm. $12 (Rotate This, Soundscapes). 486 Spadina. 416-763-9139, silverdollarroom.com. The sisTeR Ready Steady Ring: A Mod New Year with Modraphelia fashion show, DJ Bobbi Guy and music of The Jam. 9 pm. $20, adv $15 (Rotate This, Soundscapes and Good Catch General Store). 1554 Queen W. 416532-2570, mitzis.ca. sound academy Massive NYE 2012 party in the Solarium with DJs Mord Fustang, Adventure Club, Charlie Darker and Conway. Doors 10 pm. $40 (Ticketmaster). 11 Polson. 416461-3625, sound-academy.com. sPice RouTe Ten-course Asian feast and dancing with DJ Nick Fiorucci. 7 pm seating $60, 9 pm $90. Party only after 10 pm, $25. Party favours included. Reservations required. 24+. 499 King W. 416-849-1808, spiceroute.ca. Check out our suiTe 106 Black & White Masquerade Ball. DJ 416.364.3444 nowtoronto.com/classifieds Real Estate & Rentals Starting from Scratch spins. Prizes for best mask. Black-and-white dress code. 10 pm. $30. 106 Peter. 416-599-2224, clubzone.com. suiTe 106 Wetbar party with DJs Flawless and Vesh playing party anthems. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and party favours. Dress code in effect. Doors 9 pm. $25. 106 Peter. 416599-2224, clubzone.com. suPeRmaRkeT Do Right! New Year’s Eve Party with DJs John Kong, Circle Research and MC Abdominal. Dance to funk, disco, hip-hop and classics till late. Party favours offered. Doors 9:30 pm. Reserve for dinner. Advance tickets $20 (Play De Record, Soundscapes and the venue), $25 at the door. 268 Augusta. 416840-0501, supermarkettoronto.com.

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TaTToo Rock PaRlouR Fight for your right to party! $25. 567 Queen W. 416-870-8000, ticketdriver.com. This is london This Is Hollywood party with glitz and glamour of the stars with music by DJ Couture and Mark Vidovik. Doors 9 pm. $30 and more. 364 Richmond W. 416-8708000, thisislondonclub.com. ThomPson hoTel DJs Gary and Ryan play this party with events in the lobby, 1812 and Wellington rooms and rooftop. Hors d’oeuvres and glass of champagne on arrival. 9 pm. $200 includes rooftop access, adv $85 for all other areas (ticketweb.ca). 550 Wellington W. thompsonnye.com. Time nighTclub Twelve NYE party with hors d’ouevres, dancers, balloon drop, confetti, favours and DJ LRS. 9:30 pm. $20. 81 Peter. 416581-1118, timetoronto.com, clubzone.com. TRane sTudio Blue Note New Year’s Eve. Celebrate with jazz by the Brownman Quartet and three-course dinner. Doors 6:30 pm. $65, adv $55, dinner packages available. 964 Bathurst. 416-913-8197. TRanzac The Elwins, Maylee Todd, Rouge, Dr EW, Drumheller, Kite Hill, the Weather Station, Moon King, Lisa Bozikovic, DJ Craig Dunsmuir and others perform. Doors 8 pm. $15, adv $13 (Rotate This, Soundscapes, Tranzac). 292 Brunswick. 416-923-8137, tranzac.org. TRysT Pop Champagne party with house, hiphop and top 40. Dress to impress. Strict style code. No hats/runners/athletic wear/baggy jeans/work boots. Adv $25, more later. 82 Peter. 416-588-7978, clubzone.com. ulTRa Luxury indulgent Finale Ultra Privé party with gourmet prix fixe menu and dancing. Jojoflores spins. $50. 314 Queen W. 416263-0330, ticketdriver.com. VelVeT undeRgRound DJ Joe spins the best in new rock, retro 80s & 90s, dance and hip-hop. Party favours included. Doors 9 pm. $20 (Ticketmaster 416-870-8000, or at the club). 510 Queen W. 416-504-6688.

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Comedy massey hall Comedy extravaganza with stand-up by Steve Patterson, Frankie ‘Trixx’ Agyemang, Ryan Belleville, Claire Brosseau, Jay Brown, Darrin Rose, Kyle Radke, Graham Chittenden and host Andrea Martin. 7:30 pm. $39.50-$59.50. 178 Victoria. 416-8724255, masseyhall.com.

Theatre Jane malleTT TheaTRe A Gypsy’s Fantasy New Year’s Eve. Dinner at the Hot House Café is followed by a performance of The Gypsy Princess and a champagne party to ring in the new year. From 5 pm. $145 plus performance ticket. 27 Front E. 416-3667723, torontooperetta.com. mysTeRiously youRs... dinneR TheaTRe

IndIan tEEnaGE Time for an Handcrafts KIcKs upgrade?

all sTaR inTeRacTiVe New Year’s Bowling Bash with bowling for four, two games each. Bowling shoes, special gift, food, glass of bubbly at midnight included. Pool tables, cocktail lounges, jukeboxes and more. 6 & 10:30 pm reservations. $115. 2791 Eglinton E. 416-261-5011, allstarinteractive.ca. Famous PeoPle PlayeRs New Year’s Eve Gala with a four-course gourmet meal with appetizers, special NYE show, DJ dancing and midnight toast. Reserve. Adults/seniors $124.95, students/child $69.95. 343 Evans. 416-532-1137, fpp.org. mississauga celebRaTion squaRe Limelight Block Party with young artists performing on two stages. Sean Pinchin, SEAM, the Selyne Maia Trio, Matt Zadkovich, Gabriela Rodgers, Dale Luarca, the iDENTiTY CRiSiS and others perform. DJs, dance, spoken word, graffitti art and more. 8 pm. Free. 300 City Centre. mississaugaartscouncil.com. naThan PhilliPs squaRe Citytv New Year’s Bash. Outdoor alcohol-free celebration with performances by Down with Webster, Howie D, Anjulie and others. Hosted by Gord Martineau, Tracy Moore, Kevin Frankish and Dina Pugliese. Festivities begin at 10 pm. Free. 100 Queen W. citytv.com. ToRonTo zoo New Year’s Eve Family Countdown. Animal visits, keeper talks, Abbamania, Majinx Magic Show, the WotWots, Shrek and kid’s countdown. 5 to 8 pm. $20, child (4-12) $12, under 3 free. Meadowvale N of 401. 416-392-5929, torontozoo.com.

december 15-21 2011 NOW

Time for an

Murder At Twilight: A Vampire Murder Mystery! In the deep South, modern-day vampires, old-school monsters and humans try to get along. When the Reverend ends up dead, no one is above suspicion. Three-course dinner, mystery, dancing, midnight toast and truffle. Doors 6:30 pm. $169, adv $149. 2026 Yonge. 416-486-7469, mysteriouslyyours. com. Roy Thomson hall Bravissimo! Opera’s Greatest Hits. The Opera Canada Symphony perform excerpts from Tosca, La Traviata, Romeo And Juliet and more. 7 pm. $55-$145. 60 Simcoe. 416-872-4255, roythomson.com.

Spiritual sT laWRence hall Kick off New Year’s Eve day at this World Healing event to create a ‘thought image’ of healing for planet Earth. Music with Brent Titcomb, meditation by Eli Bay, a talk by Barbara Shreiner-Trudel and a candle-lighting ceremony. All ages. 6:30 to 8 am. Community breakfast to follow ($10). Free. 157 King E. universallightcentre.com. 3

NOW december 15-21 2011

music

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nowtoronto.com/music Audio clips from interviews with ST. VINCENT, JAMES CHANCE + Live video of RONLEY TEPER + Searchable upcoming listings

TITTSWORTH

ZACH SLOOTSKY

AT WRONGBAR, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10

the scene

TITTSWORTH, TORRO TORRO, DJ CAFF and GRANDTHEFT as part of SLOWED at Wrongbar, Saturday, December 10. Rating: NNN

As you might have guessed by its name, Slowed is a new party dedicated to slow (and slowed-down) dance music. While it’s more tempo-specific than genre-specific, the sound is largely framed around the emerging moombahton scene (essentially an electro version of reggaeton). However, anything that can be slowed down enough can work, and that eclecticism makes for a night that’s different from your average club outing. This edition wasn’t as packed as previous ones, but the dance floor still went off. Local opening DJs Torro Torro, DJ Caff and Grandtheft all did a great job warming up for Washington’s Tittsworth, who might’ve given them a little too much time to get the party started. It felt like he’d barely started playing when the lights came on. Still,

after decades of dance music BPMs creeping steadily higher, it’s refreshing to hear them move in the opposite BENJAMIN BOLES direction.

BON IVER at Massey Hall,

ñTuesday, December 6.

Rating: NNNN A week after receiving four Grammy nominations, Justin Vernon, aka Bon Iver, stood before the crowd at the first of two sold-out Massey Hall shows a man humbled. “That’s the word that’s been running through my head all night,” he said. “Humbled. I feel so lucky to be here.” The Wisconsin singer/songwriter’s 90-minute-plus set, though, was anything but meek or modest. Opening with Perth, he began quietly on guitar, his mournful falsetto rising to the rafters (and causing many around me to gasp and squeal). But when his eightpiece horn-heavy band and a thumping light show came to life a few bars in, we knew we were in for a night of visual and sonic high drama.

We’ve completed PHASE 1 of our EXPANSION! 415 Queen St. West 416-593-8888 stevesmusic.com 48

DECEMBER 15-21 2011 NOW

Shows that rocked Toronto last week

CheCk out our NEW AcOuStIc/ KEybOArd & rEcOrdINg dEPArtmENtS.

Even the small, fragile songs from 2008’s For Emma, Forever Ago got the epic treatment, with slowly building Flume veering into an anxious experimental breakdown full of guitar-pedal manoeuvres and dissonant horns before returning to a more familiar shape. Vernon went stripped-down and solo just once, for the tender Re: Stacks. A little more of that would’ve CARLA GILLIS been nice.

THE NATIONAL with

ñNEKO CASE at the Air Canada Centre, Thursday,

December 8. Rating: NNNNN From their dramatic entrance to their unplugged performance of Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks at the very end, Brooklyn indie rockers the National held the ACC in the palm of their hands. The band, with a two-person horn section and guest violinist Owen Pallett, focused on material from their recent High Violet but also played a handful of new songs debuted earlier in the day on CBC’s Q.

ChooSe your SpeCial! make a purChase of . . .

This was the best I’ve heard the ACC sound. Matt Berninger’s baritone vocals were clear, the Dessner brothers’ guitar tones were warm and distorted just enough, and Bryan Devendorf’s drum parts felt like they were grabbing my heartbeat. Berninger must have the longest mic cable in the world, judging by the distance he covered when he walked into the audience and invited the crowd to break past security and spill onto the floor. Alt-country queen opener Neko Case was as casual as ever, somehow bringing a kitchen vibe to the arena. Her big vocals, red hair and white tenor SARAH GREENE SG were in top form.

ANNA CALVI at Lee’s Pal-

ace, Thursday, December ñ 8.

Rating: NNNN Anna Calvi already had a reputation for intense live shows, but her second Toronto appearance this year (she played the El Mocambo May 27) exceeded expectations.

500

or more & Choose

She can sing her ass off, and plays guitar like she may have sold her soul in exchange for supernatural skills. But she wisely refrains from making her technical prowess the centrepiece of the show. Instead, Calvi focuses on understated tension and dynamics, only occasionally letting herself show off, which makes those moments all the more powerful. Her sudden shifts from gentle strumming and near-whispered vocals to blazing guitar solos and spine-tingling wails knock you on your ass every time, even when you know they’re coming. The drawback is that her live show is beginning to make her self-titled debut album seem underwhelming by comparison. Hopefully, when she heads back into the studio, it’ll be with a producer who understands that there’s no need to tone down her dramatics or cram her dark, bluesy dirges into a BB pop-friendly format.

1,000

or more & Choose

continued on page 50 œ

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thescene œcontinued from page 48

RYAN ADAMS at the Win-

ter Garden Theatre, Saturñ day, December 10.

Rating: NNNN There’s a vaudevillian time capsule on Yonge, housed in the upper reaches of the heritage-flagged Elgin, called the Winter Garden Theatre. Ryan Adams performed a stark, intimate, crowdpleasing set on its stage but was forced to battle the ghosts that haunt its sound system. Static kept clacking through the speakers, ruining Jessica Lea Mayfield’s otherwise beautiful and languid

opening set. Adams made us forget about the bothersome noise by drawing us into the music for over two hours, starting with Heartbreaker’s Oh My Sweet Carolina before heading straight into title track Ashes & Fire. This House Is Not For Sale, Dear Chicago and Whiskeytown’s 16 Days were also highlights, but a piano rendition of New York, New York held the room in hushed awe. Add in the obnoxious heckler and Adams would’ve been justified in storming out or throwing the sort of tantrum that once besmirched his rep. He’s obviously changed, but his talent JASON KELLER 3 remains constant.

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NO WAVE

JAMES CHANCE NYC legend sees the art in being an entertainer

By RICHARD TRAPUNSKI

NOW

New York. He set himself apart, though, by adding elements of jazz and funk to the already dissonant sound, creating a jittery, intentionally Friday (December 16). $9-$12. RT, SS. blurry mix of black and white music. Those boundaries aren’t nearly as It’s always exciting to get a chance to rigid in today’s music landscape, but talk to an underground music icon, Chance claims they were all too but in the case of No Wave hero prevalent when he began. James Chance, it’s also a bit intiminowtoronto.com/newsletters “There was some real racial hostildating. After all, he did once attack ity in New York in the 70s,” he says. Village Voice critic Robert Christgau “As a result, there was a lot of polarat one of his concerts. ization in the music scene. The people Despite his reputation for irreverwho went to CBGB’s and Max’s Kanence and confrontation, the pompasas City would never go to a jazz club, doured sax-wielding veteran is graeven though some of the best ones cious and nostalgic in conversation, were just a block away.” though an undeniable cockiness is Chance’s hyper-awareness of his still detectable beneath his New York audience prompted the confrontaaccent. It’s not hard to see Chance’s tional live show that still defines fingerprints on a lot of modern much of his legacy. Faced with “premusic, but he won’t take too much tentious SoHo artist types” and credit. “cross-legged remnants of the hippie “I’m happy when people say age,” the performer would often they’re influenced by me, but usually physically force individuals to react. I just don’t hear it,” he says over the He’s left the violence behind, but phone. “It seems superficial, based still shakes and shimmies like he did on image or some of the noisier asin his early years. Acting almost as a pects of No Wave that I moved beDJ, Chance plays and sings over rare yond long ago. When you stack my funk and Afrobeat records from the music against some of the other 60s and 70s as well as instrumental music from the 70s and 80s, it versions of his own songs. doesn’t sound quite as dated.” “I consider myself first and foreChance and his band, the Contormost an entertainer,” he says. “I feel tions, were one of four on the semlike that’s kind of a lost art.” inal Brian Eno-recorded, scene-

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JAMES CHANCE with ELL V GORE, SLIM TWIG, GRAND TRINE and THE SOUPCANS at the Silver Dollar (486 Spadina),

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All dates, acts and ticket prices subject to change without notice. Ticket prices subject to applicable fees.

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facebook.com/edgefesttoronto twitter.com/EdgefestToronto

* While Supplies Last!

electro dubstep

Zeds dead Toronto producers riding the rave revival wave By Benjamin Boles zeds dead at Kool Haus (132 Queens Quay East), Saturday (December 17), 10 pm. $21.50. PDR, RT, SS, TW.

ON SALE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16 -10AM • LIMITED VIP TICKETS AVAILABLE • GATES: 11AM VIP $72.50. VIP’s get access to VIP pit in front of stage, VIP only bars, food, restrooms, Edgefest t-shirt and Fast Pass into the venue.

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December 15-21 2011 NOW

If you needed further proof that the music industry as we knew it has changed forever, consider the example of Toronto electro/dubstep producers Zeds Dead. The YouTube clip of their bootleg remix of Blue Foundation’s Eyes On Fire has had well over 18 million views since October 2009, yet it only recently became available for sale. As you might suspect, despite their success, they’re not getting rich off selling records, but who is any more? “We definitely haven’t seen any direct money from it, despite the 18 million views,” says Hooks, aka Zach Rapp-Rovan, from a tour stop in Milwaukee. “Well, it’s served its purpose, though,” interjects DC, aka Dylan Mamid, “and has indirectly made us money.” He’s referring to the constant touring they’ve been doing for the past couple of years, which has seen them become one of the biggest draws in the newly revitalized North American

dance music scene. Considering it wasn’t long ago that they ran their weekly Bassmentality party in the tiny, sweaty basement of 751 (now every Wednesday at Wrongbar), headlining a venue like Kool Haus, which they do Saturday, is quite the feat. “Toronto has become just another place we tour to, so we end up doing only about three big shows here a year, like any other big city,” Mamid says with a hint of regret in his voice. “We don’t get a chance to actually play Bassmentality much any more.” As much as spreading music via the internet has helped their rapid rise to fame, both musicians wish there were more physical traces of their tunes in the real world. “I hope we get to press a vinyl single, just to have something physical to hold onto or put on my wall,” Mamid says. “It’s all so intangible now, with everything being digital.” “I thought Rumble In The Jungle was going to come out on vinyl, because Diplo said we were doing a 12-inch for it,” Rapp-Rovan adds, “but I guess nowadays that just means a two-song digital single.” 3 benjaminb@nowtoronto.com

clubs&concerts ST. VINCENT, COLD SPECKS

Phoenix (410 Sherbourne), tonight (Thursday, December 15) See preview, page 58.

DANIEL ROMANO & THE TRILLIUMS

hot

tickets

Horseshoe (370 Queen West), Friday and Saturday (December 16 and 17) Roots rock holiday show.

JAMES CHANCE, ELL V GORE, SLIM TWIG, GRAND TRINE, SOUPCANS

Kool Haus (132 Queens Quay East), Saturday (December 17) See preview, page 52.

HIP-HOP 4 HUNGER CHRISTMAS FOOD DRIVE w/ EPMD, DJ Ritz, DJ Law and more Guvernment (132 Queens Quay East), Sunday (December 18) Classic hip-hop icons.

Dakota Tavern (249 Ossington), Friday (December 16) See preview, nowtoronto.com.

THE SKYDIGGERS, THE GOOD FAMILY

ZEDS DEAD

WHITE COWBELL OKLAHOMA, SCHOMBERG FAIR, DARLINGS OF CHELSEA

Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor West), Saturday (December 17) A rowdy rock ’n’ roll holiday party.

FUCKED UP, PS I LOVE YOU, QUEST FOR FIRE, SLOAN, OHBIJOU, BONJAY

The Great Hall (1087 Queen West), Tuesday and Wednesday (December 20 and 21) Two great charity gigs organized by Fucked Up.

CHRIS PAUL

Silver Dollar (486 Spadina), Friday (December 16) See preview, page 50.

DANCE ROCK

The New Deal

After 13 years, jam-happy Toronto electronic band the New Deal are calling it quits. No big drama – Dan Kurtz is simply too busy with Dragonette, Jamie Shields is tied up scoring film and television, and Darren Shearer has landed a post-production gig in Los Angeles. This is your last chance to catch them in town, although their official final gig ever happens in Jamaica in January. At the Opera House (735 Queen East), Saturday (December 17), doors 9 pm. $25-$55. PDR, RT, SS, TW.

Just announced ROYCE DA 5'9 Sound Academy doors 8

ADAM COHEN Virgin Mobile Mod Club 7 pm, $22.50. RT, SS, TM, UE. February 11.

PAUL JAMES 61st Birthday Bash Sound

HEARTLESS BASTARDS Horseshoe doors 8:30 pm, $15.50. HS, RT, SS, TM. February 20.

pm. January 10.

Academy doors 8 pm. January 14.

REAL ESTATE Lee’s Palace doors 9 pm, $15.50. HS, RT, SS, TM. January 20. LOS CAMPESINOS Lee’s

Palace doors 9 pm, $20. RT, SS, TM. January 21 and 22.

FUJIYA & MIYAGI, VOLCANO PLAYGROUND Wrongbar 8

pm, $12.50. RT, SS. January 24.

THE DARKNESS Phoe-

nix Concert Theatre doors 8 pm, $29. RT, SS, TM. February 1.

THE CAB, THE SUMMER SET, HE IS WE, DAYS DIFFERENCE, PARADISE FEARS Vir-

gin Mobile Mod Club doors 6 pm, all ages, $17.50. RT, SS, TM, UE. February 4.

BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB Virgin Mobile Mod Club doors 7 pm, all ages, $18.50. RT, SS, TW. March 1.

BLACKIE & THE RODEO KINGS, HOLLY COLE, AMY HELM, MARY MARGARET O’HARA, SERENA RYDER AND OTHERS Mas-

sey Hall doors 7 pm, $35-$55. RTH, TM. March 21.

THE TREWS, POOR YOUNG THINGS, DIESEL Queen Elizabeth The-

atre doors 7 pm, all ages, $29.50-$39.50. TM. March 23.

CHILDISH GAMBINO, DANNY BROWN Sound Academy doors 8 pm, $25. RT, SS, TM. March 24.

FANFARLO Virgin Mobile Mod Club doors 7 pm, $16. RT, SS, TW. March 24.

THE WEDDING PRESENT Horseshoe

doors 8:30 pm, $18.50. HS, RT, SS, TM. March 25.

BOWERBIRDS The Garrison doors 8:30 pm, $12.50. RT, SS. March 27.

YUKON BLONDE Lee’s Palace. April 12 and 13.

HOT CHELLE RAE, ELECTRIC TOUCH Opera House doors 6 pm, all ages,

$17.50. RT, SS, TM. April 16.

ANI DIFRANCO Winter Garden Theatre doors 7 pm, $45. TM. April 21. M83 Sound Academy doors 8 pm, $25-$35. HS, RT, SS, TM. May 6.

NEON INDIAN Phoenix Concert Theatre doors 8 pm, $20. HS, RT, SS, TM. May 8.

DALA, KEVIN FOX Glenn Gould Studio 8 pm, $29.50. RTH. June 8.

FOSTER THE PEOPLE Downsview Park

doors 5 pm, all ages, $39.50-$79.50. TM. June 19.

SARAH MCLACHLAN, THE TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Molson Amphitheatre doors 6:30 pm, $39.50-$149.50. LN, TM. June 22.

COLDPLAY Air Canada Centre $tba. TM. July 23.

NOW DECEMBER 15-21 2011

rock).

lee’s pAlAce Langden, F Mary Killer, Creek side Strays, Townhall Crier 9 pm. nocturne Garage Electronique Hawri ‘n’ Mandy, Triads, Motobeacon, the Terror, Dino saur Dinosaur (indie/electronic fusion/rock/ chill) 10 pm. FpArts & lABour VICE Xmess December Issue Launch Party DJ Scott Wade 10 pm. phoenix concert theAtre St Vincent, Cold Specks doors 8 pm. See listing, page 58. the piston Dany Laj 10 pm. press cluB Scotty Mack Band 10 pm. rivoli Burnz N Hell, Blake Carrington, JR Mint (hip-hop) 8 pm. silver dollAr The Rhythm Method, Dress Rehearsal, Julian Hacquebard, Tess Parks doors 8:30 pm. the sister Daiva Paskauska. sneAky dee’s The Flatliners, Junior Battles, Permanent Bastards (punk rock) doors 9 pm. Fsound AcAdeMy EDGE Jingle Bell Rock benefit for the Daily Bread Food Bank Awolna tion, USS, Dinosaur Bones, the Pack A.D doors 7 pm, all ages. southside Johnny’s Skip Tracer (rock/top 40) 9:30 pm. superMArket Shoot the Image, Elos Arma, the Condo Krew, Jarek Hardy doors 8:30 pm. tiFF Bell lightBox Next Wave: Almost Famous Casey Mecija (Ohbijou) (acoustic set to follow film screening) 6:15 pm. velvet underground Use as Directed, the Bloody Five, Wasted Garbagemen, DJ Osaze doors 9 pm. Fvirgin MoBile Mod cluB HoHo TO Benefit Concert for the Daily Bread Food Bank 7 pm. white swAn R&B Rock Jam.

cloAk & dAgger puB Gord Light (pop/folk)

Folk/BlueS/countRy/WoRld

el MocAMBo New Hands, the Abbreviations,

8 pm.

clubs&concerts

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, at nowtoronto.com, for venue address and phone number. = Critics’ pick (highly recommended) ñ 5= Queer night

F = Festive 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, December 15 PoP/Rock/HiP-HoP/Soul

AlleycAtz Soular (R&B/soul/funk). AquilA upstAirs Cd release Maia Kruze (R&B). Bovine sex cluB Triple Gangers, Hut, Moves, DJ Cactus.

lounge Clang Christmas Toy Drive The Burning Boyz, Mike Cedar ñ & the Day Drinkings & Clang. FcAdillAc

clinton’s Salty Radio, Arizona Lily (indie/alt

10 pm.

Dangerband 9 pm.

Fthe gArrison Not-So-Silent Night:

ñAIDS benefit Young Rival, the Copper tone, Sandman Viper Command doors 9 pm. glAdstone hotel Melody BAr Urban

Preacher (rock/blues) 9 pm. heMingwAys Jan Albert (rock/country) 9 pm. horseshoe The Parlor Mob, Ambassadors, Stone River doors 8:30 pm.

ñ ñ

Blue Moon Firedance (drum and dance circle) cAstro’s lounge Jerry Leger & the Situation (country/folk/rock) 9 pm.

dAve’s... on st clAir Uncle Herb’s Open Mic (country/folk/blues/rock) 9:30 pm.

grAFFiti’s Rosalyn Dennett 8 pm. Fhugh’s rooM Christmas Show Betty & the

Bobs 8:30 pm. the locAl Jack Marks’ Lost Wages (country/folk ).

lolA Brian Cober (solo acoustic blues) 9 pm. nAco gAllery cAFe Laura Repo 9 pm. Fthe pAinted lAdy Jay Aymar’s Christmas Caravan (folk/roots) 8 pm.

Froy thoMson hAll Creole Christmas Pres ervation Hall Jazz Band 8 pm.

greaT gIgS FOr $5 Or LeSS

trAnzAc southern cross Bluegrass Thurs-

days Sorry Cousins 10 pm, Houndstooth (bluegrass/old-time) 7:30 pm.

Offerings shOwcase

Particularly Queer Holiday Pageant Heather Bambrick 7 pm.5

The free music and art newspaper Offerings hosts an oddball night of performances at Double Double Land Saturday (December 17), featuring the psychedelic soul of Isla Craig, electronic collage chaos by Gastric Female Reflex, tripped-out drones by Transcendental Rodeo and noise rock by Gravitons. $5.

Four seAsons centre For the perForMing Arts richArd BrAdshAw AMphitheAtre

crush

Jazz/claSSical/exPeRimental

drAke hotel underground Broken English, Bad Bad Not Good (jazz) doors 8 pm.

eMMet rAy BAr The John Wayne Swingtet (Gypsy jazz) 9 pm.

Fthe Flying BeAver puBAret Lea & Maggie’s

Mercy Bill McBirnie & Robi Botos noon. FgAllery 345 Torontiade Concert Katie Avery, Hunter Coblentz, Anne Prévost, Colin Repas, Wesley Shen (new music by local composers and performers) 8 pm. Songs For A Winter’s Day Alex Dobson, Marc di Ruggiero (art songs by Schubert & Schumann) 3 pm. gAte 403 Snake Oil Johnson (Ken Kawashima & Bob Vespaziani) 9 pm, Tim Shia Jazz Band 5 to 8 pm. hArleM underground Carl Bray (jazz) 8 pm. FiMperiAl puB Christmas Cabaret Cat Bent 8 pm. lulA lounge Devalution deVah Quartet (classical/rock/pop) 8 pm.

FMArkhAM theAtre For the perForMing Arts Handel’s Messiah Kindred Spirits Or

chestra, Irene Ilic, Claudia Lemcke, Stephen Harland, Jess Clarke 7:30 pm. MetropolitAn united church Noon At Met Andre Rakus (organ) 12:15 pm. Fnorth york centrAl liBrAry Celebrating The Season With Sound The Junction Trio 7 to 8 pm. old Mill inn hoMe sMith BAr John Sher wood (solo piano) 7:30 pm. reposAdo The Reposadists (Gypsy-bop jazz). rex Spencer Barefield w/ Dave Young 9:45 pm, Alex Goodman Quintet 6:30 pm.

FroyAl conservAtory oF Music koerner hAll Handel’s Messiah Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir 7:30 pm.

soMewhere there studio Tomasz Krako

wiak, Allan Bloor, Jack Vorvis, Ben Grossman, Michelangelo Iaffaldano, Tilman Lewis 8 pm. trAne studio Strange Attractors (all-star jazz composers quintet) 8 pm.

dance muSic/dJ/lounge

Alice FAzooli’s squAre one DJ Other Brother

Darryl (rocksteady/hip-hop/funk) 7 pm. BlAck Moon lounge Sound Directions (electronica/house/disco) 6:30 pm to midnight. coBrA lounge Emergency Prok & Fitch. Fly Rocket DJ Sumation 10 pm.5 goodhAndy’s Ladyplus Parties DJ Todd Klinck doors 8 pm.5 holy oAk cAFe DJ Craig Dunsmuir 10 pm. insoMniA DJ Ron Jon (funk/soul/house). lolABAr DJ Mr Stylus (hip-hop/funk/soul). rivoli pool lounge DJ Plan B (electrobeats/ disco). shAllow groove New Country Thursdays DJ Jonathan Demers 8 pm. velvet underground DJ Ozaze (industrial/ goth) 11:30 pm.

Friday, December 16 PoP/Rock/HiP-HoP/Soul

AlleycAtz Graffitti Park. BAr itAliA upstAirs Shugga (funk/soul/R&B/ top 40) 9:30 pm.

Bovine sex cluB Sinkin’ Ships, Teenage X, the Ward, DJ Vania.

cAdillAc lounge The Mashmen, the Back

Alley Ringers.

dAkotA tAvern Daniel Romano & the

Trilliums 7 pm. See preview, nowtoronñ to.com

dorA keogh The Circumstantialists (classic

rock).

el MocAMBo HonheeHonhee, Pkew Pkew Pkew, Atom Division 9 pm.

eton house Gerry Dickson (rock) 9 pm. the gArrison Kidstreet, Rival Boys,

cheap thrill$

Russell Manning (bass player for new wave revivalists Twin Shadow) DJs the upstairs lounge at Parts & Labour Friday (December 16), playing disco, Italo and soul. Free. kool hAus The Devil Wears Prada, Whitechapel, Enter Shikari, For Today doors 6 pm, all ages. lAMBAdinA Friday Night Expo DJ Red Out (live hip-hop/R&B) 10 pm. lee’s pAlAce Danny Michel Y Los Hombres Malos, Lindy Vopnfjörd (folk rock) doors 9 pm. phoenix concert theAtre Dir En Grey, the Birthday Massacre doors 7 pm, all ages. revivAl Hip-hop Karaoke Abdominal & More or Les, DJ Numeric & Ted Dancin’ 10 pm. Frivoli A Very Jitters Christmas The Jitters, Stacey Kaniuk, Ready Vision (power pop) 8 pm. rockpile Monsters of Mock. Fsilver dollAr Xmas With Satan Party James Chance, Ell V Gore, Slim Twig, Grand Trine, the Soupcans. See preview, page 50. the sister Tre Bien Ensemble, Ultimatemost High, Legendary Dirtbikers. southside Johnny’s Cameltoe (rock/top 40) 10 pm. unicorn puB Replay (R&B/soul/funk) 9 pm.

ñ ñ ñ

Folk/BlueS/countRy/WoRld

FroyAl conservAtory oF Music koerner hAll Handel’s Messiah Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir 7:30 pm.

soMewhere there studio Leftover Daylight

Series Allison Cameron, Germaine Liu, Nicole Rampersaud, Joe Sorbara 5tet, the Submuta tions 8 pm. trAne studio Hits From The Great American Songbook Margot Roi 8 pm. zipperz/cellBlock Roxxie Teraine’s Broadway Cabaret Roxxie Teraine and Adam Weinmann 7 to 9 pm.5

dance muSic/dJ/lounge

Annex wreckrooM Yes Yes Y’all! DJ Sean Sax, JJ Rock 10 pm.5 ñ BlAck Moon lounge Sound Directions (electronica/house/disco) 6:30 pm to midnight.

AquilA upstAirs Mr Rick & the Biscuits (blues). cAMeron house Brock Zeman, David Baxter

cAstro’s lounge DJ ‘I Hate You’ Rob (soul/

dAve’s... on st clAir Michelle Rumball (rock/

clinton’s Girl & Boy 90s Dance Party. drAke hotel lounge DJ Your Boy Brian doors

9 pm.

pop) 9:30 pm.

gAte 403 Sweet Derrick Blues Band 9 pm. glAdstone hotel Melody BAr Big Tobacco & the Pickers (country) 9 pm.

highwAy 61 southern BArBeque The Little Naturals w/ David Bacha 8 pm.

holy oAk cAFe Tony Allen & Co (old time) 10 pm, Square Peg String Band (old time) 7 pm.

Fhugh’s rooM Christmas Show Tanglefoot,

My Sweet Patootie 8:30 pm.

FkingswAy conservAtory oF Music Children’s Cushion Concert MARKUS noon to 1 pm. lolA The Mad Housewives 8 pm. lulA lounge Salsa Dance Party Yani Borrell & the Clave Kings, DJ Gio (salsa) 10 pm. nAco gAllery cAFe Sheroes #5 DJ Noloves (Yoko Ono tribute) 9 pm. Fpress cluB Blues Christmas Boogie Kallis tos von Rempel, the Griffith Hiltz Trio 10 pm. reBAs cAFé Open Mic Special Night David Crighton 6 to 9 pm. reposAdo The Reposadists (Gypsy-bop jazz). FtrAnzAc MAin hAll The Restivus Anna Jar vis 8 pm. trAnzAc southern cross John David Wil liams & the Boxcar Boys (New Orleans jazz) 10 pm, Greg Smith & the Bad Dreamers 7:30 pm.

Jazz/claSSical/exPeRimental

dAve’s... on st clAir Happy Hour Jazz Chick en Scratch 5 to 8 pm.

edwArd Johnson Building wAlter hAll

PianoFest 7:30 pm.

Fthe Flying BeAver puBAret Lea & Maggie’s Particularly Queer Holiday Pageant Hea ther Bambrick 7 pm.5 gAte 403 Ventana 5 Jazz Band 5 to 8 pm. FhArleM Deck The Halls Christmas Concert Mike Field Jazz Quintet 7:30 pm. Flower ossington theAtre A Child’s Christmas In Wales: Green Door Cabaret Welsh Christmas Allison Arends, Robert Missen, An gela Park (soprano, tenor, piano) 8 pm. FMusic gAllery Asalto Navideño Reimagined: A Christmas Concert Lido Pi mienta, DJ Linterna & Ulladat, DJ Javier Es trada, Sonora Longoria, Steve Ward and

Bocce, Autoportriat 9 pm. ñ FgrAFFiti’s A Very Vezi Christmas. the greAt hAll The Big Sound III: A Celebration Of Motown 10 pm. ñ heMingwAys Jan Albert (rock/blues) 10 pm. ñ Fhorseshoe Holiday Show The Sky diggers, the Good Family doors 8:30 pm. ñ

December 15-21 2011 NOW

others doors 7 pm. old Mill inn Fridays To Sing About Judy Mar shak, Bruce Harvey, George Kozub 7:30 pm. quotes Fridays At Five Mike Murley (saxophonist) 5 to 8 pm. rex Spencer Barefield w/ Dave Young 9:45 pm, Sara Dell 6:30 pm, Hogtown Syncopators 4 pm. Froy thoMson hAll Handel’s Messiah To ronto Symphony Orchestra 8 pm.

funk/R&B/punk rock/rockabilly) 10 pm.

10 pm.

the Flying BeAver puBAret Daddy Next Door DJ Dwayne Minard doors 10 pm.5 Fly Main Street House DJ DUnity 10 pm.5 FFootwork The DJs Who Stole Xmas Adam K, Andy Reid, Jeff Kirkwood, Dekoze 10 pm. Fox & Fiddle MAnsion Sexy Swagg Fridays Suppa Natty, Outcast, DJ Wise Guy. goodhAndy’s Amplify Weekend Edition doors 10 pm.5 FguvernMent Projek: Holidaze DJ Hype & Commix. hot Box cAFe Big Spliff JodaC & Mike S 7 pm. insoMniA Funkn’ Fresh Fridays Splattermon key & Skank Honto (house/breaks). MAison Mercer Extravaganza Chris Lake. the pAinted lAdy DJ NV (hip-hop/funk/soul/ rocksteady reggae) 10 pm. FpArts & lABour Parkdale Festivus Fundraiser: Benefit for Interval House DJ Vaneska 10 pm. pArts & lABour MAin Floor Crush (Twin Shadow DJ set), DJ Russell Man ning (italo/disco/soul) 11:30 pm. the piston Soulskank (soul/funk/dancehall/ reggae) 10 pm. rivoli pool lounge DJ Stu (rock/old school/ Brit/electro/classics/retro). the sAvoy DJ JRyDee (hip-hop/old school) 10 pm. 751 History Of Hardcore: Year X B7, Razor Edge, Scartat, Fuzzboy (hardcore/jungle/dubstep/ hard techno). FsMiling BuddhA Seven Inch Samurai: The 12 Inches Of Christmas DJs Nativity Rocker, Ginger Santa, King of Kings Magic Sparky, MistleTako, Purple Wolf, Triple Threat and others (mod/soul/ska/funk/R’n’R) 9:30 pm. sound AcAdeMy Redemption 54: Fallen Soldiers DJ Starting from Scratch, Mr Presto & D’Bandit. superMArket Course Of Time DJ Mr Charlton, Tudor, Kyle Marshall. velvet underground DJ Kymm (house/ techno) 10 pm. vogue supper cluB Swerve: CD release Big

continued on page 58 œ

advance ticketS @ ticketmaster.ca or 1-855-985-5000 • HorSeSHoe Front Bar • SoundScapeS • rotate tHiS tHurS december 15 @ Sneaky dee’S • $15.00 @ door

tHurSday december 15 • $5.00 • neW JerSey rock & roll

the parlor Mob

the aMbaSSadorS + Stone river friday december 16 Saturday december 17 $ 22.50

advance • annual holiday ShoWS

the fLatLinerS

Junior baTTles + permanenT basTards

Saturday

jAnuAry 21 the phoeniX • $ 27.50

advance

keith’S live preSentS...

Saturday december 31

$ 12.50 advance • students w/ valid i.d. get in free before 10:30pm!

dance cave nye With

dJ Mr. Pete

Saturday jAnuAry 7 @ opera houSe $ 15.50 advance • all-ageS • pSychobilly punk

friday jAnuAry 20 lee’S palace

reaL neW jerSey • $15.50 advance

the creepshow estate W/

With

The good family@10:15pm mon december 19 • no cover shoeless mondays

Space MonSter AdelledA tueS december 20 Mooreland Band Project secret suburbia Hosted by bookie (18th year)

become The sun Lake of the WoodS Quietus Please bring canned food donations

daylight For dead eyes christian hansen & the autistics before the curtain

tHurS december 22 • $8.00

Saturday december 24

Wed december 21 • no cover

Polarity

first annual holiday drinkin’ Party!

closed for

San SebaStian goddaMn robotS the organ thieveS the dirty nil

holidays

Fri december 23 • $7.00

Friday december 30

chriStmaS SWeater party!

detroit • $18.50 advance

jack roLLin dAndies the north the sweet Mack a northern drAwl

electric

six

child biTe + birThday boys

The dreadnoughTs + The brains

friday jAnuAry 27 horSeShoe • $15.00 advance

SMith wesTerns • fat poSSum garage •

tueSday februAry 7 koolhauS all-ageS • $26.50 advance

Saturday december 31

with

Hunters

Sat februAry 11 lee’S palace

daptone Soul & Funk • $22.50 adv

dAniel romAno

artist bookings: craig@horseshoetavern.com or 416-598-0720

horseshoetavern.com 370 Queen Street WeSt / Spadina 416-598-4226 • 1947 to 2010

W/ the bAbies

Saturday februAry 4 lee’S palace • $13.50 advance

this will

mt. zion destroy you

Friday february 10 @ great Hall • $17.50 advance

tueSday februAry 21 lee’S palace •

$ 15.50

advance

With

sheArwAter

keith’S live preSentS... Saturday februAry 25

advance • joe pernice alt country

exTraordinaires

Sunday mArch 25 horSeShoe • $18.50 advance

WedneSday April 4 opera houSe • $16.50 advance

nAdA brothers present surf the punch the wedding

avett brotherS meetS trampled by turtleS bluegraSS

thurs january 26 @ horseshoe • $12.50 adv

the heartbroken ladies of the canyon

tues february 14 @ garrison • $10.50 adv

veronica falls

dune cass MccoMBs tWiLight slow club griMeS sad

Sun february 19 @ rivoli • $12.00 adv

Sun december 18 • $ 10.00

langden thoroughbred creekside sTrays state Townhall crier aLvo • WizLe • ph2 Friday december 16 • $18.00 adv • WitH lindy

dAnny michel y los HoMBres Malos!

Sat december 17 • $15.50 adv • keitH’S live presents

schomberg fair + darlings of chelsea

tHurS december 22 • $7.00 annual punk X-maS throWdoWn

Fri december 23 • $ 10.00

Sharon SkuLLianS affiniTy the queers the atariS van etten take drugS a band

and hiS

tueSday februAry 28

tHurS december 15 • $6.00

dAnny cowBellmichel oklahoMa william fitzsimmons white

charles scud mounTain bradley Boys horSeShoe • $12.50 advance

thee silver

$ 16.50

the sadies herman (2 SetS: 11:20pm & 1:15am)

lee’S palace • $12.00 advance

horSeShoe • $13.50 advance

thurSday jAnuAry 19

eleventH annual nye BaSH!

friday jAnuAry 27

Saturday februAry 18

lee’S palace • $16.50 advance

keith’S live preSentS...

with

fri january 27 @ garrison • $14.50 adv

mon March 19 @ horseshoe • $8.00 adv

WedneSday februAry 29 lee’S palace • $ 12.00 advance

BourBon dK blue bonnets

called desire the reaL

Saturday december 24

Fri december 30 • $ 15.00

the takeover cLoSed for tre hoLidayS inner cityleji grooves december 29 The bass6 5izzlin 6akin dJ James redi cano • kether the 6th letter

tHurS

• $6.00

keith’S live preSentS...

Saturday december 31 nye • rootS alt country • $ 20.00 advance

ellioTT

brood (two sets: 11:15pm & 1:00am)

With nq Arbuckle @9:45pm artiSt bookingS: 416-598-0720 or ben@leespalace.com

leespalace.com 529 bloor Street WeSt / bathurSt NOW december 15-21 2011

december 15-21 2011 NOW

NOW december 15-21 2011

clubs&concerts œcontinued from page 54

Jacks, DJ Royale, Bozack Morris doors 10 pm. WOO’S LOUNGE Heart Of The City DJs J-Class, Kariz doors at 10:30 pm.

Saturday, December 17 POP/ROCK/HIP-HOP/SOUL

ALLEYCATZ Graffitti Park. BAR 460 Night of the Ghouls, the Rough Boys,

FTG, Swords of Texas, Schizoid (horror punk/ dbeat electronic hardcore) doors 8:30 pm. BOVINE SEX CLUB Blackie Jackett Jr, Jacques & the Valdanes, Jamsquid, DJ Sir Ian Blurton. FCADILLAC LOUNGE The Rizdales Country Christmas Show The Rizdales, Ancient Chinese Secret, Mr Rick & the Biscuits 4 to 7 pm. CHALKERS PUB Soul Stew (R&B/soul/jazz/ funk) 9:30 pm. CHARLIE’S BIKE SHOP Benefit Concert for Charlie’s Freewheels Youth Program 8 pm. CHEVAL Ali Shaheed Muhammad (hip-hop) 12:30 am. DORA KEOGH Aideen O’Brien (pop). DOUBLE DOUBLE LAND Isla Craig, Gastric Female Reflex, Transcendental Rodeo, Gravitons 9 pm, all ages. EL MOCAMBO Ascot Royals, Ambiosonic, Lambs Became Lions 9 pm. THE FLYING BEAVER PUBARET Lisa Goodridge (R&B/jazz) 9 pm. GLADSTONE HOTEL MELODY BAR Tin Roof Rusted (country) 9 pm. GRAFFITI’S Ian Philp, Bobby Sanderson, Steve Stanley evening, The Sin City Boys 4 to 7 pm.

OUTSIDER POP

ST. VINCENT Guitar geek rediscovers the joy of riffs By CARLA GILLIS ST. VINCENT and COLD SPECKS at the Phoenix (410 Sherbourne), tonight (Thursday, December 15), doors 8 pm. $20. HS, RT, SS, TM.

When Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent, plays the Phoenix tonight, expect to find her more gear-focused fans craning their necks to see how she coaxes out of her guitar all the elegant and gnarly sounds heard on her superb Strange Mercy (4AD) album. “I have a pretty intense pedal board,” the Manhattan-based musician admits from her parents’ home in Dallas. “And I have a truly amazing keyboard player, Daniel Mintseris, who sends MIDI program changes to it on specific cues so that I don’t have to do the tap-dancing routine. There’s a lot of technology onstage, but not technology for technology’s sake. Hopefully I’m always utilizing it toward a musical end.” Clark wrote the album – her third, which has landed on many critics’ 2011 best-of lists – during “an experiment in isolation” in Seattle. Unlike her previous release, Actor, which was written on computer, the 29-year-old wrote simple songs that she could play on guitar, then brought them into the studio with producer John Congleton. “John has a great saying: ‘Let’s make pop songs with fangs.’ The idea being, let’s take a conventional song and infuse it with just enough of a twist here and there so that it’s not the same thing you’ve heard a million times. It’s

DECEMBER 15-21 2011 NOW

a good way of working – merging this very conventional thing with all the stuff in your geeky brain that you find interesting.” Of interest to Clark’s geeky brain are themes of cruelty and kindness, sonic allusions to Disney movie scores, and lyrics that include dark sexual undertones and myriad pop culture and literary references, all building toward high tension. In contrast, her vocals are steady and sophisticated, her melodies stunning and mighty. And then there are the show-stealing guitar lines. She started playing the instrument at age 12 after being inspired by her uncle’s jazz duo, Tuck & Patti, with whom she sometimes went on the road. She studied at Berklee for a spell before becoming a touring guitarist for the Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens. Yet when it came to making her first two albums, the instrument fell to the wayside. “I think for a while I felt like guitar was cheesy,” Clark considers. “I mean, I loved players like Marc Ribot and Robert Fripp, but I just wasn’t sure how to approach it without [drawing from] that bag of tricks every guitar player has. “It wasn’t until I started touring that I began honestly missing it. Especially playing riffs, for lack of a better word. So with this record, I kept a stockpile of them. I would go, ‘Okay, go write some simple songs.’ And then I’d go, ‘Now write 10 riffs today.’ Once I had a song written, I’d figure out which riffs

worked with it and how I could make them into these kind of off-kilter hooks.” “Off-kilter” aptly describes Clark’s flawlessly executed blend of the beautiful and the ugly. A connoisseur of fuzz, she pits pretty arpeggiated lines against guttural grunge and atmospheric sounds that give songs like Cheerleader and Year Of The Tiger an unsettling slow-motion or underwater feel. In a recent interview, she listed seven pedals she keeps in constant use. Clearly she spends a lot of time in guitar stores. “I’ve spent so many hours in them from when I was 12 and 13 onward,” Clark laughs. “You know when you’re really young and excited to go into toy stores? And then when you’re about 12 you think, ‘Oh, toy stores are for kids, and I’m wearing a training bra’? Basically I took that excitement I had for the toy store and redirected it at the guitar store.” So, unlike for many musicians, the intimidation factor isn’t an issue? “Oh no. Not to sound crass or mean, but the thing to remember is that, if you get attitude from somebody working at a guitar store, you need to remember that they are working at a guitar store. You are buying something from them, and they are working at a guitar store. So don’t even worry. Don’t let it get under your skin. Let them have attitude all they want. You’ll be fine.” 3 music@nowtoronto.com

THE GREAT HALL The Good Lovelies. ñ HARLEM Kaysha Lee (reggae/soul/R&B) 7:30 pm.

HEMINGWAYS Jan Albert (rock/country/ blues/jazz) 10 pm. FHORSESHOE Holiday Show The Skydiggers, the Good Family doors 8:30 pm. FHUGH’S ROOM Christmas Show The Nylons 8:30 pm. THE KILT PUB Paris Black 9:30 pm. LAMBADINA Definition Of Music/R&B Showcase 8 pm. FLEE’S PALACE Holiday Extravaganza! White Cowbell Oklahoma, Schomberg Fair, Darlings of Chelsea (rock & roll) doors 9 pm. MASARYK-COWAN COMMUNITY CENTRE Keys To The Studio Celina Carroll, Dave Clark, Lori Gemmell, John Jowett, Teppei Kamei and others 2 pm. OPERA HOUSE Farewell Show The New Deal, Scientists of Sound, Sam Klass doors 9 pm. RANCHO RELAXO CD release Ghettosocks, El Da Sensei, Kool Krys & Fresh Kils doors 10 pm. REX Brunch Matinee Danny Marks (pop) noon. RIVOLI Toronto Indie Showcase Brave Little Toaster, Entire Cities, Radius & Helena 8 pm. ROCKPILE The Last Felony. FSILVER DOLLAR Up Your Chimney: Christmas Spanktacular with Coco Framboise Burlesque. THE SISTER Kestrels, Sianspheric. FSOUND ACADEMY Jingle Jam 9 Bunji Garlan, Popcaan, Swappi, Orlando Octave, Makamillion doors 10 pm. SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY’S Honey & Rust (soft rock/top 40) 10 pm. SPORTSTER’S Nicola Vaughan 10 pm. TRANZAC SOUTHERN CROSS Rachel Cardiello (indie pop) 10 pm. VIRGIN MOBILE MOD CLUB The Midway State, Jason Bajada & Shawn Hook doors 7 pm, all ages.

ñ ñ

FOLK/BLUES/COUNTRY/WORLD

AQUILA The Ken Yoshioka Blues Band (blues). CADILLAC LOUNGE Mary & Micky (country)

noon to 3 pm.

CASTRO’S LOUNGE Big Rude Jake (blues shouter) 4:30 pm.

DAVE’S... ON ST CLAIR Cadre (roots/blues) 9:30 pm.

FULL OF BEANS COFFEE Sorry Cousins 4 to 5:30 pm.

GATE 403 Bill Heffernan (folk/country/blues)

5 to 8 pm.

HIGHWAY 61 SOUTHERN BARBEQUE Echo & Twang 8 pm.

HOT BOX CAFE Dub Science: Open Mic Red Gor-

illa Sound Brigade (reggae/jungle/dubstep/ dnb/electro) 7 pm. FHUGH’S ROOM Celebrate The Season The

Ault Sisters noon to 4 pm. THE LOCAL Ron Leary Quintet (indie folk) 10 pm, Arthur Renwick 4 pm. LOLA Awakening w/ Trevor Jones 8 pm. LULA LOUNGE Salsa Saturday Changuy Havana, DJ Suave (salsa) 10 pm.

FMARKHAM THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS I’m Dreaming Of A Wright Christmas

Michelle Wright 8 pm. PRESS CLUB Lucas Stagg w/ Tonya Philpovich (roots) 10 pm. REBAS CAFÉ Open Mic Saturdays Just Us Band 1 to 4 pm. FREX Christmas Blues Jerome Godboo 3:30 pm. FSONY CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS A Leahy Family Christmas The Leahy Family 7 pm. SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY’S Robin Banks Trio (blues/jazz/soul) 3:30 to 7:30 pm. FST NICHOLAS ANGLICAN CHURCH Acoustic Harvest Christmas Tales & Tunes John Gardiner & Richard Knechtel 8 pm. TRANZAC SOUTHERN CROSS Michael Davidson 6:30 pm, Fiddle Class Anne Lederman noon. TRANZAC SOUTHERN CROSS Zebrina (jazz/ world) 8 pm.

FYOUNG CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Andrew Craig’s Gospel Christmas Project Jackie Richardson, Alana Bridgewater, Chris Lowe, Kellylee Evans, Toya Alexis, Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale 8 pm.

JAZZ/CLASSICAL/EXPERIMENTAL

CHALKERS PUB John Tank Group 6 to 9 pm. FCHINESE CULTURAL CENTRE P.C. HO THEATRE

Sultans of String, Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra (world-jazz-flamenco) 8 pm.

FCHRIST CHURCH DEER PARK Messiah Michael

Burgess, the Toronto Chamber Choir 8 pm. FTHE FLYING BEAVER PUBARET Lea & Maggie’s Particularly Queer Holiday Pageant Heather Bambrick 7 pm.5 GALLERY 345 Original & Improvised Charles James, John Williams, Emilyn Stam 8 pm. GATE 403 Bartek Kozminski El Mosaico Flamenco Jazz Fusion Band 9 pm, Sandy Blakely Trio noon to 3 pm. HARLEM UNDERGROUND Carl Bray (jazz) 8 pm. FJAM NOW Benefit Concert for To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) Commonsound all ages.

FLIVING ARTS CENTRE HAMMERSON HALL

Voices Of Christmas Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, the Ritz, Cawthra Park Concert Choir 4 pm. FLOWER OSSINGTON THEATRE Oh Baby, It’s Cold Outside: Christemkha Theresa Tova & Fern Lindzon 8 to 10 pm. FMETROPOLITAN UNITED CHURCH All Is Calm, All Is Bright Forte – The Toronto Men’s Chorus (chamber choir) 7:30 pm. OLD MILL INN Jazz Masters William Carn, Amanda Tosoff, Kieran Overs 7:30 pm. POETRY JAZZ CAFE Cruzao Latin Jazz Trio 9 pm. REX Elena Kapeleris (swing) 7 pm. REX Roy Patterson 9:45 pm. FROY THOMSON HALL A Chorus Christmas: Mystery Of The Season Toronto Children’s Chorus 2 pm. FROY THOMSON HALL Handel’s Messiah Toronto Symphony Orchestra 8 pm.

FROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC KOERNER HALL Handel’s Messiah Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir 7:30 pm.

SOMEWHERE THERE STUDIO Alaniaris (Michael

Kaler, Mark Zurawinski, Ken Aldcroft) 8 pm. FYORKMINSTER PARK BAPTIST CHURCH Glorious Sounds Of The Season Amadeus Choir 7:30 pm.

DANCE MUSIC/DJ/LOUNGE

ANNEX WRECKROOM DJ Rick Toxic 10 pm. CASTRO’S LOUNGE DJ Ken Spinson (old school/ underground hip-hop) 9 pm.

OF GRAVITY WEST Holiday Honey Treat Miss Honey Dijon, DJs Riñ chard Brooks, G.Cue, Simon Jain, Ludikris, FCENTRE

Johnny Batts, MC Manolo doors 10 pm. CLINTON’S Shake, Rattle & Roll (sixties soul & rock & roll). COBRA LOUNGE Crown Saturdays DJ Jed Harper. DRAKE HOTEL UNDERGROUND Jukebox (rock & soul dance party) doors 10 pm. DRAKE HOTEL LOUNGE DJ DB Cooper doors 10 pm. EMBASSY BAR Your Best Ever Wedding Party DJ MarshMarshMarsh (wedding dance hits). ETON HOUSE North Of 49 Rock & Roll Dance 9 pm. FFLY Campus Christmas Party DJs Alexx Brown, Kevin Bailey, Cole Stanley.5 FOOTWORK The Modern Love Affair Benoit & Sergio, Nitin, Sleazebot, Rafwat & Chorniy. GLADSTONE HOTEL MELODY BAR Beats N Brunch DJ Secret Agent 11 am to 4 pm. FGLADSTONE HOTEL BALLROOM Goin’ Steady

X-Mas 10 pm.

Goodhandy’s Candyland Sodom DJ Suma-

tion & DJ Blackcat (dance/pop/house) doors 10 pm.5 Fharbourfront Centre ICe rInk DJ Skate Night: 1 Love T.O. Holiday Skate Party 8 to 11 pm. holy oak Cafe Amigo, Amiga (Brazilian/jazz/ psych/disco) 10 pm. the hoxton EC Twins 10 pm. InsomnIa Sense Saturdays DJ Charles (deep house). kool haus Zeds Dead, the Killabits, Omar Linx (dubstep) doors 10 pm. See preview, page 52. lolabar DJ Mr Stylus (house/hip-hop/R&B/ reggae). maro Red Carpet Saturdays DJ Undercover (house/hip-hop/club anthems) 10 pm. mIamI mIx Staggerin Daggerin Vol 5 Suppa Natty, Outcast Sound, Soul Vibes, 5th Elements. mInt nIGht Club Marquee Saturdays Renegade Squad, Max B. naCo Gallery Cafe Crunch! Naco’s closing party John Caffery, the Whole Man, Alex MacClellan, Phil V 10 pm. neu+ral Fixion Saturdays DJ Dwight (alt/ electronic/indie/retro/remix). the PaInted lady Salazar 10 pm. Parts & labour Parkdale Soul Review DJs Mark Pesci & Kristal Kent (classic soul) 10 pm. the PIston Hot Blooded 10 pm. FrevIval Sweet Tears House For The Holidays DJs Starting from Scratch, Tyrone Solomon. rIvolI Pool lounGe DJ Osum (disco/electro/ funk). sneaky dee’s Shake A Tail (60s pop & soul) 11 pm. suIte 106 Wetbar NRG DK Mikey J & DJ Aguero. suPermarket Do Right Saturdays! DJ John Kong, MC Abs. sutra The Bridge DJ Triplet (ol’ skool hip-hop). Fvelvet underGround Blow Up Holiday Dance DJ Davy Love 10 pm.

Sunday, December 18 PoP/Rock/HiP-HoP/Soul

CadIllaC lounGe Liquer Box 9 pm. the flyInG beaver Pubaret Ashley Bea 7 pm. GraffItI’s Michael Brennan 4 to 7 pm. Fhard luCk bar Vibonics Holiday Jam Party

Vibonics, Inner City Grooves, MC Fübb & the Responsibles, Mushy Callahan, Cool Man Cool 8:30 pm. holy oak Cafe DEVO Tribute Laura Barrett & Co (pop) 9 pm. FhuGh’s room Christmas Show The Nylons 1 pm. lee’s PalaCe Thoroughbred State, Alvo, Wizle, PH2. the PIston Alanna Gurr, Donovan Woods 9 pm. southsIde Johnny’s Rebecca Matiesen & Phoenix Band 9:30 pm. vIrGIn mobIle mod Club Abandon All Ships doors 7 pm, all ages.

Folk/BlueS/countRy/WoRld

aquIla uPstaIrs The Sunday Junction Jam The

New Mynah Birds, Richard Keelan (mostly blues) 3:30 pm. aquIla uPstaIrs Open Mic The McDales (country) 8:30 pm. CadIllaC lounGe Cadillac Brunch Scotty Campbell (country) 4 pm. Cloak & daGGer Pub Ty Trumbull (folk/pop) 9 pm. dave’s... on st ClaIr John Campbell (pop/ soul) 6 to 10 pm. Gladstone hotel melody bar Sunday Family Acoustic Brunch (bluegrass) 9 am to 2 pm. Grossman’s Blues Jam Brian Cober 9:30 pm. the loCal Gord Zubrecki Band 10 pm. the loCal Chris Coole (banjo) 5 pm. lula lounGe Sunday Salsa Brunch Luis Mario Ochoa Quartet (Cuban son) 12:30 & 2:30 pm. lula lounGe Tio Chorinho & Maria Bonita & the Band, DJ General Eclectic (Brazilian) 8 pm.

8 pm.

thIrsty fox Pub Acoustic Open Jam Fera 4 to

8 pm.

FtranzaC maIn hall Flying Cloud Folk Club Seasonal Celebration 7 pm.

FyounG Centre for the PerformInG arts

Andrew Craig’s Gospel Christmas Project Jackie Richardson, Alana Bridgewater, Kellylee Evans, Chris Lowe, Toya Alexis, Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale 2 pm.

Jazz/claSSical/exPeRimental

Fblessed trInIty roman CatholIC ParIsh

A Child In The Manger: A Family Christmas Concert Blessed Trinity Liturgical Choir & Children’s Choir 3 pm. de sotos Jazz Brunch Paper Moon. Gate 403 Lara Solnicki, Richard Whiteman, Kurt Nielsen 9 pm, The France St Trio 5 to 8 pm, HomzyChoGrieve noon to 3 pm. huGh’s room David Bromberg Quartet w/ Mitch Corbin, Butch Amiot & Nate Grower. lola The Jazz Pistols (renditions of the Sex Pistols in jazz ballads) 5 to 9 pm. Fmassey hall Sing-Along Messiah Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra & Chamber Choir 2 pm. FmetroPolItan unIted ChurCh Carols By Candlelight 7 pm. rex Ted Warren’s Spark w/ Brian O’Kane 7 pm, Freeway Dixieland 3:30 pm, Brunch Matinee Excelsior Dixieland Jazz noon. rex Composers Collective Lina Allemano, William Carn, Don Scott, Michael Herring, Ethan Ardelli 9:30 pm. Froy thomson hall Handel’s Messiah Toronto Symphony Orchestra 8 pm. someWhere there studIo Jack Vorvis, Jill Aston (drums, guitarr) 5 pm. st PatrICk’s CatholIC ChurCh Carols That Choir (choral music) 8 pm. tranzaC southern Cross Monk’s Music (jazz) 5 pm. tranzaC southern Cross Jeff Hewer Quartet (jazz) 7:30 pm. tranzaC southern Cross Electronic Rhythm Assembly w/ Alex Mei (ambient electronic) 10 pm.

dance muSic/dJ/lounge

bovIne sex Club School For Band Aids DJ Candy-O.

FbrassaII Le Brunch Holiday Edition DJ Undercover & Pg-13 noon.

Castro’s lounGe Watch This Sound DJ Greg

(old school soul/reggae/dub/ska/rock-steady) 9 pm. Comfort zone Just Like The Old Days Deko-ze Vs Addy, J-Prez 6 am to 3 pm. GraffItI’s Blackmetal Brunch DJ Murder Mike (black metal) 11 am to 5 pm. FGuvernment/kool haus Hip-Hop 4 Hunger Christmas Food Drive EPMD, DJ Ritz, DJ Law, DJ Jclass, DJ Spence Diamonds, Trixx, Taboo, Kid Kut, Marli Superstar doors 8 pm. InsomnIa Sunday Mass DJ TvT (old school hiphop/disco/funk). the ossInGton Unlimited Sundays. velvet underGround DJ Hanna (retro 80s) 10 pm.

Monday, December 19 PoP/Rock/HiP-HoP/Soul

FbovIne sex Club Bovine Christmas Party The Wild Turkey’s.

Castro’s lounGe Rockabilly Night 9 pm. drake hotel underGround Elvis Monday doors 9 pm.

continued on page 60 œ

Fmarkham theatre for the PerformInG arts Mark Masri 8 pm. the PaInted lady Combo Royale (bluegrass

jazz) 9 pm.

PoGue mahone Celtic Ceilidh Sandy MacIntyre & Steeped in Tradition 4 to 8 pm. Press Club Staggy Townsend (country rock) 10 pm. rebas Café Peter Janes (singer/songwriter) 1 to 4 pm. Froyal Conservatory of musIC koerner hall Christmas Tour John McDermott 8 pm. suPermarket Freefall Sundays Open Mic/Jam NOW December 15-21 2011

clubs&concerts œcontinued from page 59

722 COLLEGE STREET (416) 588-4MOD (663)

SATURDAY DEC 17 /11

UK-UNDERGROUND

Harlem Open Jam Night CarolynT (R&B/soul/ jazz/pop/funk) 8 pm. Harlem UndergroUnd Daniel Gagnon (pop/ folk/rock) 8 pm. HorsesHoe Shoeless Monday Space Monster, Adelleda, the Mooreland Band Project 9:15 pm. FPress ClUb Domestic Bliss Mondays: Frantic City Christmas Bash Dany Laj & the Looks (garage rock/pop) 10 pm. Virgin mobile mod ClUb The Maine 7 pm.

Folk/Blues/Country/World

Cloak & dagger PUb Alun Piggins (folk/pop) 9 pm.

graffiti’s Kevin Quain’s Gutbucket Lounge 6

to 9 pm.

HigHway 61 soUtHern barbeqUe Chris

in the Loft’

OPOPO

DECEMBER

15 17 18 19 31

HOHOTO MIDWAY STATE ABANDON ALL SHIPS THE NAME

Chambers (blues) 7 pm. FHUgH’s room Have Yourself A Bluesy Christmas David Rotundo Band, Dr Draw, Chuck Jackson & Cheryl Lescom 8:30 pm. tHe loCal Bluegrass Mondays Hamstrung String Band 5 pm. old niCk Elana Harte, Linsay Coleman, Kim Jarrett 7 pm, all ages. tHe Painted lady Open Mic Mondays 9 pm. tranzaC soUtHern Cross Open Mic 10 pm.

Jazz/ClassiCal/experimental

emmet ray bar Myriad Chris Donnelly, Dan

Fortin, Ernesto Cervini 9 pm. gate 403 Jennifer Patrilli Jazz Band 5 to 8 pm. gate 403 Steve Farrugia Jazz Quartet 9 pm. rex Peter Hill Quintet 6:30 pm. rex Dave Young Quintet 9:30 pm. Froy tHomson Hall Handel’s Messiah Toronto Symphony Orchestra 8 pm. tranzaC soUtHern Cross This Is Awesome (jazz) 7 pm. ziPPerz/CellbloCk Roxxie Teraine’s Broadway Cabaret Roxxie Teraine & Adam Weinmann 10 pm.5

danCe musiC/dJ/lounge

Crawford Mix Fix Mondays (Motown/funk/

dance R&B). insomnia DJs Topher & Oranj. tHe ossington Ice & Yo (spooky styles). tHe Piston Junk Shop DJs Tweed & Jeeks (preto post-punk/new wave/garage/indie) 10 pm. rePosado Mezcal Mondays DJ Ellis Dean. waterfalls The Lion’s Den (reggae).

somewHere tHere stUdio Paul Newman, the Swyves (Aaron Lumley, Dan Gaucher, Jay Hay, Jeremy Strachan) 8 pm. trane stUdio David Krystal Band (jazz/pop) 8 pm. ziPPerz/CellbloCk Roxxie Teraine’s Broadway Cabaret Roxxie Teraine & Adam Weinmann 10 pm.5

Tuesday, December 20

danCe musiC/dJ/lounge

pop/roCk/Hip-Hop/soul

boVine sex ClUb Eargoggles Vol. 6 Screening

Endprogram, Sofistifucks. FtHe great Hall Benefit Concert for COUNTERfit’s Drug Users Memorial Project & the Barriere Lake Legal Defense Fund Fucked Up, PS I Love You, Quest for Fire doors 7 pm. FHoly oak Cafe New Christmas Music Edwin Sheard, Johnny Spence & Steven Foster (pop) 9 pm. HorsesHoe CD release Daylight for Deadeyes, Secret Suburbia, Christian Hansen & the Autistics 9 pm. tHe Painted lady Picturesound (Brit rock) 10 pm. tHe Piston Dead Tuesdays 10 pm.

Folk/Blues/Country/World

annex wreCkroom Drummers In Exile (drum

and dance circle) 8:30 pm. Castro’s loUnge Quiet Revolutions blueVenus (singer/songwriter showcase) 10 pm. Cloak & dagger PUb Slocan Ramblers (bluegrass) 10 pm. dakota taVern The Basement Revue Jason Collett (singer-songwriter) 10 pm. Fdrake Hotel UndergroUnd Holiday Party CD release Grand Canyon (country) doors 8 pm. drake Hotel loUnge Memphis Tuesdays (country) doors 11 pm. gate 403 Blues Night Julian Fauth (barrelhouse) 9 pm. graffiti’s Michael O’Grady w/ Jen Unbe evening, Max Marshall 5 to 7 pm. Hot box Cafe Hotbox Unplugged Open Stage/ Jam EvanB & JasonC 7 pm. FHUgH’s room Have Yourself A Bluesy Christmas David Rotundo Band, Dr Draw, Chuck Jackson & Cheryl Lescom 8:30 pm. tHe loCal The Local’s Birthday Party. lola The Sheryl Show 8 pm. Press ClUb Toast n’ Jam: Press Club Open Jam 10 pm. tHe rUsty nail Open Stage Jam Chad Campbell 9 pm. smiling bUddHa Open Stage 9 pm.

Jazz/ClassiCal/experimental

Andrew Craig’s Gospel Christmas Project Sat. Dec. 17, 8:00pm Sun. Dec. 18, 2:00pm

(sold out)

& 7:00pm

show added

Toya Alexis, Alana Bridgewater, Kellylee Evans, Chris Lowe, Jackie Richardson and the gospel ensemble Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale transform your favorite holiday classics into joyous

alleyCatz Swing Tuesdays Carlo Berardinucci & the Double A Jazz Swing Band. gate 403 Byung-gul Jung Jazz Band 5 to 8 pm. Harlem UndergroUnd John Campbell (jazz/ pop/soul/R&B) 8:30 pm. rex Abbey’s Meltdown 6:30 pm. rex Rex Jazz Jam 9:30 pm. Froy tHomson Hall Christmas With The Canadian Brass Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Brass, Etobicoke School of the Arts Chorus 8 pm.

andy PoolHall 24K Hip-Hop Jam DJ Serious, Kaewonder, DJ Starting From Scratch, Muziklee Inzane, Big Jacks, Mensa, DJ Ariel and others 10 pm. axis gastroPUb Soirée: Ambiance Your Life DJ Frenzy (pop/electro/89s/90s) 6-10 pm. Crawford Drink & Destroy (punk rock). goodHandy’s Ladyplus T-Girl Lust DJ Todd Klinck doors 8 pm.5 insomnia Soulful Tuesdays D-Jay. rePosado Alien Radio DJ Gord C.

Wednesday, December 21 pop/roCk/Hip-Hop/soul

FaUgUsta HoUse The Cypher Holiday Edition Fresh Kils, MC Relic, Sy-Fi (lyricist competition). FboVine sex ClUb Krissy’s 2nd Annual Christmas Charity Show Cactus, Glenn Brody, Chuck Coles, Brooklyn Fletcher, Andrew Ryan Fox. CadillaC loUnge The Neil Young’uns 9 pm. dakota taVern Lily Frost, the Debonairs, By Divine Right, Mike Johnson doors 9 pm. drake Hotel UndergroUnd Ash Koley, Andrew Cole doors 8 pm. gladstone Hotel ballroom Not So Soft: Unplugged & Interactive 4 Homos & Friends Vag Halen, Maggie MacDonald, Vivek Shraya, Awna Teixeira, Lisa Bozikovic doors 9 pm.5 Fgladstone Hotel melody bar The Horables Hanukkah Party The Horables & Gypsy Jive 9 pm. FtHe great Hall Benefit Concert for COUNTERfit’s Drug Users Memorial Project & The Barriere Lake Legal Defense Fund Sloan, Ohbijou, Bonjay doors 7 pm. FHorsesHoe Xmas Show Polarity, Become the Sun, Lake of the Woods, Quietus 9:10 pm. HUgH’s room Arrogant Worms (musical comedy). tHe loCal Dodge Fiasco (rock). tHe Painted lady Ronnie Hayward & Trio w/ Cleave Anderson 7 pm. tHe Port Oscar Tango (power pop/rock) 10 pm. riVoli Jerry Leger, Lady Hayes, Dear Sister doors 8:30 pm. FsUPermarket Wednesdays Go Pop! Holiday Jam: War Child Benefit. tranzaC soUtHern Cross AVH (indie rock) 10 pm, Poplar Pines, Nick Everett & Sean Donald 7:30 pm. VogUe sUPPer ClUb Ayi Jihu (R&B) 9:30 pm.

ñ ñ

Folk/Blues/Country/World

aqUila UPstairs Nicole Coward (acoustic folk). FCameron HoUse People Still Gots Ta Eat:

Thu dec 15

Tickets $45, Student $30 prices do not include service charge & HST

Fri dec 16 Sat dec 17 Sun dec 18 Mon dec 19 Tues dec 20 Wed dec 21

★ 8pm JAY AYMAR’S CHRISTMAS CARAVAN with Roots Music Canada MCing + special guests all night! $10 ★ 10pm DJ NV SPINNIN’ DEEP GROOVES w/HONEY B HIND BuRlESquE ★ 10pm MuSIC BY SAlAZAR w/ANASTASIA BuRlESquE ★ 9pm COMBO ROYAlE Ska, Bluegrass, Gypsy, Old Jazz ★ 9pm OPEN MIC MONDAYS Got talent? Bring it on! ★ 10pm PICTuRESOuND groovy, trippy Madchester/Brit Rock! ★ 7pm Rockabilly Hall of Famer RONNIE HAYWARD + His Trio

TaSTy MeaLS Served nightly Open 5pm daily

Photo: Brian Naimer. Public Support:

December 15-21 2011 NOW

concert for the children of Sistema Toronto Music Program Dr Draw (classical/funk/pop) 7:30 pm. Fmezzetta Hanukah And Christmas Celebration Roland Hunter Trio 9 & 10:15 pm. nawlins Jazz bar Jim Heineman Trio (jazz) 7 to 11 pm. FPeaCe tHeatre The Longest Night: Winster Solstice Concert And Celebration Mark Battenberg, Debbie Danbrook, Mark Korven doors 6:30 pm. rex Griffith/Hiltz Trio 6:30 pm. Frex Ho Ho N.O.J.O. Neufeld Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra 9:30 pm. Froy tHomson Hall Christmas With The Canadian Brass Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Brass, Etobicoke School of the Arts Chorus 2 & 8 pm.

Froyal ConserVatory of mUsiC koerner Hall Orpheus Choir, Adrianne Pieczonka (soprano) 7:30 pm.

somewHere tHere stUdio Cheryl O (cello) 8 pm. trane stUdio The Brazilian Project Part Three

Luanda Jones, Bruno Capinan & Jerusa Leo (Brazilian fusion) 8 pm.

danCe musiC/dJ/lounge

brassaii Les Nuits DJ Undercover (house/hiphop/club anthems).

goodHandy’s Amplify Wednesdays DJs Pray-

ing Mantis, Jeff Breen, Baghead doors 10 pm.5

Hot box Cafe Hump Day Uncut The Man! (old

school/R&B/hip-hop/dancepop/electro house) 7 pm. insomnia DJ Sweet Jelly Roller. tHe ossington HumbleMania XXXI. rePosado Sol Wednesdays Spy vs Sly vs Spy.

THE OSSINGTON Thu 15 The RecepTion ... Everything you love to hate & hate to love... Fri 16 The Fiyah Ball ... Pirates Blend & The Blk Btlz & guests bring the heat...

SaT 17 all Souled ouT ...

EXTRAVAGANZA

Sun 18 BRaSS FacTS TRivia

D ec 22 ★ 9pm ★ $ 15 cover tix available @ ticketscene.ca/thepaintedlady

Mary Margaret O’Hara Rusty Mccarthy Big Rude Jake Pierson Ross Spookey Ruben Mia Sheard Kyree Vibrant Gene Hardy Friskey Brown Melleny Melody Bruce Hunter, Jesus Priced

Donne Roberts Andy Decampos + more! All backed by the Best Damned Band In The Land: Great Bob Scott (drums) Chris Gartner (bass) Sir Robert Scot (keys) & hosted by the lovely Puffy Codpiece/ Jef Vegas

218 Ossington Ave. (647) 213-LADY ★ Non-perishable food bank items accepted here all Holiday week! ★ thepaintedlady.ca

dominion on qUeen Corktown Ukulele Jam 8 pm. gate 403 Jeff La Rochelle Quartet 5 to 8 pm. Holy oak Cafe John Russon Quartet (jazz) 10 pm. FlUla loUnge Playing To Potential: Benefit

3rd ANNuAl, IRREFUTABLY

INCREDIBLE, XMAS

Resident Artist Program:

Jazz/ClassiCal/experimental

T★h★e P★a★i★n★T★e★d L★a★d★y

gospel masterpieces. Musical direction by Andrew Craig.

Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale

Benefit for the Daily Bread Food Bank Hotcha!, Rob Szabo, Jon Brooks, Jory Nash, Nancy Dutra, Mr Rick, Heather Morgan, the Wanted, David Newland and others 8:30 pm. Castro’s loUnge Smokey Folk (bluegrass) 9 pm. Cloak & dagger PUb Steve Gleason (folk) 10 pm. daVe’s... on st Clair Elijah Ocean (country/ folk) 9:30 pm. emmet ray bar Ken Yoshioka (blues) 9 pm. gate 403 Fraser Melvin Blues Band (blues) 9 pm. graffiti’s Kitgut Oldtime Stringband 7 pm. grossman’s Rockin’ Blues Jam Ernest Lee & Cotton Traffic 9 pm. FtHe HideoUt Bluegrass Xmas Bash The Unseen Strangers, the Free Whiskey String Band 9:30 pm. HigHway 61 soUtHern barbeqUe Sean Pinchin (folk) 7 pm. FHirUt fine etHioPian CUisine Gary 17s Open Stage Christmas/Solstice Party 8:30 pm. lola Open Stage Johnny Bootz 8 pm. Frebas Café Winter Solstice & Holiday Celebration Steven Slutsky 6 to 9 pm. silVer dollar High Lonesome Wednesdays Crazy Strings (bluegrass jam) 9 pm.

w/ DJ Big Jimmy Mills...

Holiday edition w/ Kirk & Marty, followed by:

unlimiTed Sunday Hajah

Bug, Mantis, 2 turntables & special guests...

Mon 19 ice & yo ... tales from the neighbourhood...

TueS 20 comedy aT oSS ... by: Please, don’t get bored & leave Productions...

Wed 21 BRighT lighTS, Big ciTy... w/ the truly great DJ Wes Allen... 61 OSSINGTON AVE | 416•850•0161 | theossington.com

THE GARRISON; 5.5417 in; 510233; 1cols w/DJ Cactus

5)6 %&$

TRIPLE GANGERS

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w/HUT, MOVES

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w/TEENAGE X, THE WARD w/DJ Sir Ian Blurton

BLACKIE JACKETT JR.

486 SPADINA AVE. @ COLLEGE WWW.SILVERDOLLARROOM.COM

w/JACQUES AND THE VALDANES, JAMSQUID w/DJ Candy-O

46/ %&$

SCHOOL FOR BAND AIDS

THE RHYTHM METHOD

.0/ %&$

BOVINE

Dress Rehearsal

CHRISTMAS PARTY w/THE WILD TURKEY'S

Julian Hacquebard

56& %&$ The Pink & Black Attack Presents

THE SCREENING OF "EARGOGGLES VOL. w/ENDPROGRAM & SOFISTIFUCKS

TESS PARKS

Krissy's 2nd Annual

8&% %&$

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + THU DEC 15 Canadian Fem-Rap Trio + + + + + + + + + + + + + w/ + + + + + + + + + + + + Plus! @ 9pm + + + + NYC New Wave Legend FRI DEC 16 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Tickets @ Rotate This, Soundscapes + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + SAT DEC 17 8:00PM + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + )*() -0/&40.& 8&%/&4%": r 1. + + + + + + BIG CITY BLUEGRASS + + + FEATURING MEMBERS OF + + + + THE FOGGY HOGTOWN BOYS + + & THE CREAKING TREE + + STRING QUARTET + + + THU DEC 22 Party Wallet Xmas Bash + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + THU DEC 29 Roadhouse Garage Rock + + + + + + + + + + and @ 9:30pm + + + + + FRI + + + + DEC 30 + + + + with + + + + and + + + + SAT DEC 31 + + + + Live Blitz-Rock New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve Bash + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + w/ + + + + TICKETS on sale @ Rotate This, Soundscapes + + + + + + SAT + + JAN 7 + + + + + + + + + + + + + Indie Love Radio Show + + + THU JAN 15 + + + with + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

CHRISTMAS CHARITY SHOW! w/CACTUS,

JAMES CHANCE

GLENN BRODY, CHUCK COLES, BROOKLYN FLETCHER, & ANDREW RYAN FOX 2VFFO 4U 8 r CPWJOFTFYDMVC DPN r CPWJOFCPPLJOH!HNBJM DPN

w/ Ell V Gore

SLIM TWIG

Grand Trine, Soup Cans

THURSDAY DECEMBER 15

XMESS

A VICE LAUNCH PARTY FRIDAY DECEMBER 16

PARKDALE FESTIVUS DJ VANESKA & FRIENDS

ALL PROCEEDS TO INTERVAL HOUSE

TWIN SHADOW DJ SET MAIN FLOOR @ MIDNIGHT - NO COVER SATURDAY DECEMBER 17

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THE PARKDALEjkspknkjpk*_ki THE FLATLINERS SOUL REVIEW DJs MARK PESCI & KRISTAL KENT Â¬Â¸! Â¨Â´Â³Â¹ÂªÂ¸Â¹Â¸ Â¦Â³Â© Â²Â´ Â·Âª THURSDAY DECEMBER 15

Â·ÂªÂ»Â®ÂªÂ¼Â¸! Â±Â®Â¸Â¹Â®Â³JUNIOR BATTLES STAX/VOLT/HI/CHESS/MOTOWN & MORE THURSDAY DECEMBER 22

BANGERS & THRASH DJs SCOEB CITY & CHRIS WOODFORD

PERMANENT BASTARDS FRIDAY DECEMBER 16

SONGS: A DANCE PARTY

w/ RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE DJ SET jkspknkjpk*_ki

METAL & PUNK - NO COVER

CLAUDIA TAVERNESE GOING AWAY PARTY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 23

STD: OMNI-GENRE PARTY DJs ISOSCELES & STEW INNES COMING SOON:

FRI DEC 30 HOTKID,

SPITFIST, HATE GANG, GREYS SAT DEC 31 WHITE GIRL NEW YEARS EVE

$10 ALL NIGHT - HIP HOP + DJ SCOTT WADE (SMITHFITS) MAIN FLOOR

WWW.PARTSANDLABOUR.CA

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#SHAKE TAIL Â¸! POP &A Â®ÂªÂ¼60â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Â·ÂªÂ» SOUL SUNDAY DECEMBER Â±Â®Â¸Â¹Â®Â³Â¬Â¸! 18 NEW STEMS Â¹Â¸ Â¨Â´Â³Â¹ÂªÂ¸ POTPOURRI THE AVENGERS THE JOHNSTONE BROTHERS Â¦Â³Â© Â²Â´ Â·Âª FUN FACT EVERY MONDAY

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DEC 31 .'0: 13&4&/54 BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR

CRAZY STRINGS

THE LOST BABIES B17, Queen Licorice,

DRUNK WOMAN

STRANGERS, Non-Stop Girls

Streetcats

MOVES

MEEKO CHEECH

Trematron, Juiceboxx THE CHARMING RUINS

INDIAN HANDCRAFTS TEENAGE KICKS topanga, greys

SOMETIMES WHY

Built It To Break It, Scotty Mack

David McFarlane, Rachael Kennedy

THE ELWINS

Jadie Kelly, Jacelyn Holmes

DAKOTA TAVERN, THE; THE DAKOTA TAVERN 3.6389 in; 509072; Fri1cols Dec 16 7-9pm DANIEL ROMANO 10pm

NQ ARBUCKLE CHRISTMAS SHOW

ALISTAIR CHRISTL

Sat Dec 17

10pm

Sun Dec 18

11-3pm BLUEGRASS

10pm

BRUNCH

THE BEAUTIES

6-10pm MILL STREET PRESENTS Mon Dec 19 MARIACHI MONDAYS

MARIACHI FUEGO THE SURE THINGS

with 10pm

Tue Dec 20

JASON COLLETTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BASEMENT REVUE 9pm LILY & JOSE

10pm

Wed Dec 21

BY DIVINE RIGHT + LILY FROST & THE SWINGING DICKS 249 OSSINGTON AVE (just north of Dundas) 416-850-4579 Â· thedakotatavern.com RIVOLI THE; 7.4444 in; 506267; 1cols

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BROKEN ENGLISH

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NOW december 15-21 2011

example, burst through your speakers with double-kick-drum fury, while Pedal To The Metal is the kind of classic fistpumper Judas Priest wish they could still write. Top track: Pedal To The Metal JASON KELLER

disc of the week TITAN ñYAMANTAKA//SONICNNNN

YT//ST (Psychic Handshake) Rating: Style-bending has practically become the norm, but a few groups still approach classification as a direct challenge. Yamantaka//Sonic Titan use confusion as their launch point, blending their fractured AngloAsian diaspora identity (of the core duo, one is Japanese-Scottish, the other Chinese-Irish), multimedia aesthetic and split Toronto-Montreal residency into a made-up genre they call “Noh-Wave.” This debut album, a seven-song cycle that will be later repurposed into a full-blown rock opera called Star, is all over the map, equally embracing sweet Jpop vocals, pummelling stoner metal riffs, swirling carnival synths and a healthy wallop of 70s-style prog rock. That’s a lot of territory to cover in just over half an hour, and yet it’s weirdly cohesive – emphasis on the “weird.” It’s intentionally confounding and endlessly ambitious, but also eminently listenable. Hopefully it’s a tasty morsel of bigger things to come. Top track: Hoshi Neko Yamantaka//Sonic Titan play the Garrison January 28. RICHARD TRAPUNSKI

Pop/Rock

THE BARMITZVAH BROTHERS Growing

Branches (Label Fantastic!) Rating: NNN It’s been 10 years since the Barmitzvah Brothers, still in high school in Guelph at the time, put out their debut album. Since then, Geordie Gordon has gone on to play in the Magic, and Jenny Mitchell performs solo as Jenny Omnichord. But when Mitchell was pregnant with her second child, a daughter named Arrow, she brought the group back together to record an indie rock family album for her, with a cameo by her son, Otis. Though they still play quirky thriftstore instruments, including a melodica, the band’s arrangements have become more sophisticated. The Fun Of Two is a slow polka that goes a little soul and a little Latin, and Lovely Lines is wide open and nearly new wave. There’s also a faithful rendition of a Harry Nilsson song – Me And My Arrow, of course. Top track: Little Sister SARAH GREENE

smooth jazz and soft rock references, but those are no longer seen as liabilities in indie music. Too bad Dann has relocated to the UK to finish her master’s degree. We’ll have to wait to catch Bernice performing any hometown gigs. Top track: Body Motivation BENJAMIN BOLES

HONHEEHONEE Shouts (independent)

Rating: NNN Honheehonhee’s name and album title alone give you a good idea of what to expect from the Montreal five-piece. Youthful exuberance. Sonic indie pop silliness. Gang vocals. An all-pistons-firing live show, sweaty and raucous. Aside from the sweatiness, the band’s eight-song debut album offers all of that and more. Songs borrow a little too much from Arcade Fire, namely their penchant for marching rhythms and fervent anthemic earnestness, but are balanced with in-your-face melodies and jerky hollered vocals – backed by “oohs” – with often indecipherable or cryptic lyrics. Messy but enthusiastic execution trumps pristine polish, and high energy trumps focused songwriting. Jumpstart My Heart is one of many fun, driving aural blasts, while Intro: My Lips, Your Voice, with its girl/boy harmonies and lulling guitar-picking, stands out as a quiet exception, at least until it kicks in. Top track: We Only Go Honheehonee play their album release at the El Mocambo Friday (December 16). CARLA GILLIS

Children’s

Metal

VENOM Fallen Angels (Spinefarm/Uni-

ñBERNICE

What Was That (independent) Rating: NNNN Bernice’s core members, Robin Dann and Thom Gill, have been kicking around the Toronto scene for a while, the latter best known for playing with Owen Pallett and the former for her quirky solo work. This collaboration really showcases their talents, blending ambient electronic pop textures with jazz influences to create a sound that’s accessible without sacrificing their experimental impulses. The arrangements focus on Dann’s silky voice, but it’s the deft interplay of synthetic and acoustic instrumentation that pushes the songs far beyond your average jazz-folk ballads. A few years ago we might have bristled at some of the

versal) Rating: NNN There’s a legendary bootleg of Venom playing a New Jersey nightclub in the mid80s where, among many quotable between-song-banter moments, frontman Cronos addresses rumours that his pioneering metal trio is packing it in – finished. His hell-fury screaming response? “Well, we’re recording a fucking new album now!” Nearly 25 years later you could be forgiven for assuming that Venom, which formed in 79, had packed it in. But once again Cronos would roar the contrary, all while thrusting a copy of their newest disc, Fallen Angels, at you. The pre-Slayer British band’s use of satanic imagery was far ahead of the game, and they’ve stayed true to those themes. Damnation Of Souls and Sin, for

R&B

THE INTERNET Purple Naked Ladies (Odd Future) Rating: NNN Cocaine, a single by Odd Future-affiliated R&B duo the Internet, is one of those rare pop songs that treats a druggy subject with objective detachment. A sweet but bleary-sounding Syd the Kyd alluringly induces a lovely young lady to “ignore the consequence,” hinting that something unseemly is in store despite musical partner Matt Martians’s lush, lulling atmospherics. That underlying foreboding runs through Purple Naked Ladies, an album that essentially sounds like so-called 90s “neo-soul” music after a few hits of its titular acid. A mix of extended jazzy jams and short, pointed love songs, it’s a soothing sonic world that mirrors altered mindstates, and the enjoyable lightness of touch should shake the crass and crude baggage that comes with being an Odd Future-affiliated act. Syd’s voice resembles her appearance: waifish, slight, quick to blend in. She mostly drifts through the music, and is more compelling when getting into trouble – as on Cocaine and Fastlane – rather than lamenting love lost. Top track: Cocaine KEVIN RITCHIE

Hip-hop

A$AP ROCKY LiveLoveA$AP (RCA/Polo

Grounds) Rating: NNN Much like his recent tourmate Drake, New York rapper A$AP Rocky creates a musical universe all his own, irrespective of sonic expectations about hip-hop’s regionalism. His debut mixtape, LiveLoveA$AP, introduces the 23-year-old as a cavalier charmer and stoner high on the concision of his flow and nasty punchlines. What separates him from other hype acts is his music – as confident and fully realized as his boyish braggadocio. While his self-admiration can feel a bit

DECEMBER 15-21 2011 NOW

one-note, his melodies, charisma and stylistic promiscuity wins out. You can practically see the glint in his eye when his rhymes really connect with a tripped-out beat, as on the dreamy, hooky Peso, the twangy Trilla, the noirish Keep It G and the fun, Bone Thuggish Purple Swag. More about lyrical swagger than emotional substance, LiveLoveA$AP is a solid intro to someone who could be an enduring figure in the years ahead. Top track: Purple Swag KR

COMMON The Dreamer/The Believer

(Warner) Rating: NNN If you hated Common’s last album, Universal Mind Control, you’ll be happy to hear that he’s ditched that failed attempt at modernity and returns to his 90s backpacker roots in The Dreamer/The Believer. This of course means loops cribbed from old soul tunes, dusty boom-bap beats, cameos by Maya Angelou and Nas and lyrics full of vague notions of positivity. He’s back to working within his comfort zone, which makes for a more consistent album, but in the year 2011 it’s hard to get excited about a retread of the 90s. Common can still craft some clever verses, but all that time he took off to focus on his acting career seems to have taken a toll. For every great line, there’s a clunker of a bad pun around the corner. If hip-hop in the new millennium leaves you cold, you’ll love this slab of retro nostalgia. But compared to his earlier work, it’s just decent. Top track: Celebrate BB

Electronic NNNN ñSEPALCURE

(Hotflush) Rating: Three EPs heightened anticipation for a full-length project from Sepalcure, the cerebral rave piece from Machinedrum’s Travis Stewart and Praveen Sharma of Braille. Warm 90s house, quick-tempo Chicago juke, drummy, soca-inspired UK funky and dubstep esoterica coalesce on the self-titled record. Songs, though distinct, spill into each other, with heady euphoria tying it all together. But the confluence of specific reference points isn’t just an exercise in gratuitous obscurity. The rhythmic switch-ups, varying bass notes and patterns, synth and percussive ephemera and clipped, airy vocal samples establish texture and nuance, slightly elevating Sepalcure above pure, straightforward floor-filling. For all its noisier moments, like the dubby bounce of Yuh Nuh See and chanting, clanking build of Carrot Man, the album feels calibrated for multiple worlds: droning ambiently in the background or spilling out, shiny and loud, from club speakers. Top track: Pencil Pimp Sepalcure play the Drake on December 27. ANUPA MISTRY

= Critics’ Pick NNNNN = Stratospheric NNNN = Sizzling NNN = Swell NN = Slack N = Sucks

art

THIS WEEK IN THE MUSEUMS ART GALLERY OF MISSISSAUGA Eat Drink Man

MIXED MEDIA GROUP SHOW

No time like Now Shows straddles theft and parody By DAVID JAGER THAT WAS NOW at the Drake Hotel

(1150 Queen West), to February 6. 416-531-5042. Rating: NNNN

appropriation is the theme of That Was Now, the stellar show curated by Mia Nielsen. Eight artists from around the globe, working in different media, take their cues from previous artists’ work. Chad Wys delicately erases sections of classical British and French symbolist paintings, leaving limbs and faces partially missing or excised completely. The empty spaces in these images heighten our uneasiness with moments in cultural history we no longer fully understand. His erasures make those gaps both haunting and visible. Diana Thorneycroft is funnier. Her

childlike dioramas in the series Group Of Seven’s Awkward Moments are created with backdrops and toy figurines. In one image, a lumberjack and some feral beavers zero in on one of Emily Carr’s beloved Haida totem poles. In another, a meditative Tom Thomson pees into a lake from his iconic canoe. The same playfulness marks Lizabeth Eva Rossof’s Chinese terracotta warriors. Custom-ordered from the Chinese factory that reproduces them, they sport the heads of Shrek, Ronald McDonald, Spider-Man and Batman. Expect to see them on front lawns soon. Some artists find a middle ground between the restrained and the antic. Francesco Rugi and Silvia Quintanilla of the Milan design firm Car novsky contribute their

Scientiﬁc drawings become psychedelia in Carnovsky’s Animalia, at the Drake.

RGB wallpaper, a multi-layered collage of superimposed 19th-century naturalistic engravings (in this case nautical creatures) whose images shimmer and shift when seen under red, green or blue light. In this way, scientific engravings lend themselves to psychedelic formalism. Amanda Clyne painstakingly paints composite images in thin vertical strips. Her Margarita Teresa of Spain, based on a painting by Velázquez, is still readable through the prismatic distortions. Yuval Pudic’s two large, ferocious-

ly disciplined pencil drawings assemble disparate elements into a grotesque whole. His Queen Victoria, borrowing from the collage style of early surrealists, bears forearm tattoos and has a horse charging down her neck. It’s visually violent surrealism made plausible by an extreme precision and fidelity to detail. Everything in this very strong show successfully treads the thin line between theft and parody, resulting in work that is often strikingly original. 3 art@nowtoronto.com

MUST-SEE SHOWS ANGELL Painting/multimedia: Steve Driscoll

and Michael Adamson, to Jan 14. 12 Ossington. 416-530-0444.

CANADIAN LESBIAN AND GAY ARCHIVES

Drawing/painting: Humboldt Magnussen, to Dec 22. 34 Isabella. 416-777-2755. CLINT ROENISCH Painting: Dorian FitzGerald, to Jan 3. 944 Queen W. 416516-8593. EDWARD DAY GALLERY Painting: Carole Freeman, to Jan 8. 952 Queen W. 416-921-6540. G GALLERY Architecture: Adrian Blackwell and Jane Hutton, to Dec 31 (Fri-Sun). 134 Ossington. 647-340-3998, sidecentre.com. GENERAL HARDWARE CONTEMPORARY Painting: Nicole Collins, to Jan 21. 1520 Queen W. 416-516-6876. HARBOURFRONT CENTRE Suzanne Nacha, Clare Samuel and Astrid Ho and others, to Dec 31. 235 Queens

Quay W. 416-973-4000.

FJESSICA BRADLEY ART + PROJECTS Sculpture/

works on paper: Derek Sullivan, to Dec 23, holiday party w/ drawings by Jason McLean 10 am-6 pm Dec 17. 1450 Dundas W. 416-5373125. KWT CONTEMPORARY Geography Of Anonymity group show; paint/sculpture Alex D’Arcy and Lauren Nurse, to Jan 7. 624 Richmond W. 416-646-2706. FMERCER UNION Posters/prints: Pin Up, Dec 15-17. 1286 Bloor W. 416-536-1519. MILES NADAL JCC Textiles: Sheree Rasmussen, to Jan 2. 750 Spadina. 416-924-6211. OLGA KORPER Photos: Barbara Steinman, to Jan 21. 17 Morrow. 416-538-8220. STEPHEN BULGER Photos: Alex Webb, to Jan 14. 1026 Queen W. 416-504-0575. SUSAN HOBBS Multimedia: Laurie Walker, to Jan 21. 137 Tecumseth. 416-504-3699.

books IMMIGRATION STORY

Soviet savvy THE FREE WORLD by David Bezmozgis (HarperCollins), 368 pages, $19.99 paper. Rating: NNN

you’ve never read a story like The Free World, which is why this novel matters deeply – and, presumably, why it landed on this year’s Giller short list. The Krasnanskys are a Soviet family immigrating in 1978 from Latvia to... they’re not sure where. They’re stuck in Rome waiting to learn their next destination. Their original sponsors in America have backed

out. They might be accepted in Canada, but family patriarch Samuil’s health problems may get in the way. Israel will welcome them with open arms, but Samuil’s a staunch anti-Zionist, and his less ideological sons, womanizing Alec and budding gangster Karl, aren’t into orthodoxies, let alone those of the so-called Promised Land. Bezmozgis’s brilliance lies in his ability to convey the very complex politics behind the Soviet Jewish experience. I got a taste of his grasp of these nuances at an Authors Festival panel in October where, early on, he

Woman, to Dec 22. 300 City Centre (Mississauga). 905-896-5088. ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO Chagall And The Russian Avant-Garde, to Jan 15 ($25, stu $16.50). General Idea, to Jan 1. Constructing Utopia: Books And Posters From Revolutionary Russia, to Jan 15. Lucy Tasseor Tutsweetok, to Apr 1. Songs Of The Future: Canadian Industrial Photographs, to Apr 29. Jack Chambers, to May 13. $19.50, srs $16, stu $11, free Wed 6-8:30 pm. 317 Dundas W. 416979-6648. BLACKWOOD GALLERY Karen Kraven and John Marriott, to Dec 18 (attractorofexperiences@ gmail.com). U of T Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga N (Mississauga). 905-828-3789. DESIGN EXCHANGE Designers In The Classroom, to Jan 17 (pwyc). Design Exchange Awards, to Feb 26. $10, stu/srs $8. 234 Bay. 416-363-6121. DORIS McCARTHY GALLERY Beatriz Olano and Magdalena Fernández, to Jan 28. 1265 Military Trail. 416-287-7007. GARDINER MUSEUM OF CERAMIC ART The Tsar’s Cabinet: 200 Years Of Russian Decorative Arts, to Jan 8. $12, stu $6, srs $8; Fri 4-9 pm halfprice, 30 and under free. 111 Queen’s Park. 416-586-8080. McMICHAEL CANADIAN ART COLLECTION In Lomen Brothers, to Jan 8. Jack Chambers, to Jan 15. Norval Morrisseau and others, to Jan 31. $15, stu/srs $12, free Oct 1-2. 10365 Islington (Kleinburg). 905-893-1121. MOCCA Ineffable Plasticity: The Experience Of Being Human; Human/Nature, to Dec 31. 952 Queen W. 416-395-0067. OAKVILLE GALLERIES Hyper Spaces, to Mar 4 (Centennial Square, 120 Navy). Chris Kline, to Feb 19 (Gairloch Gardens 1306 Lakeshore E). 905-844-4402. POWER PLANT Martha Rosler, artist’s talk 7 pm Dec 15 ($12, Studio Theatre). Coming After; Stan Douglas, to Mar 4. $6, stu/srs $3, free Wed 5-8 pm. 231 Queens Quay W. 416-9734949. ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM ICC: David Hockney, to Jan 1. Judith Snow, to Jan 20. The Kingston Prize, to Jan 29. The Archaeology Of Godin Tepe, Iran, to Jan 31. Maya: Secrets Of Their Ancient World, to Apr 9 ($25, stu/srs $22.50, Fri after 4:30 pm $19, stu/srs $17). $15, stu/srs $13.50; Fri 4:30-8:30 pm $9, stu/srs $8. 100 Queen’s Park. 416-586-8000. TEXTILE MUSEUM OF CANADA GRAFT: Linking Textiles, Art And Science, to Jan 22. Andrew McPhail, Grace Ndiritu and Tazeen Qayyum, to Feb 12. $15, srs $10, stu $6; pwyc Wed 5-8 pm. 55 Centre. 416-599-5321. VARLEY ART GALLERY Deconstructed: From The Permanent Collection, to May 12. $5, stu/srs $4. 216 Main (Unionville). 905-477-9511. 3

Alex D’Arcy’s Nocturne (detail) hangs at KWT Contemporary.

WELLINGTON STREET ART GALLERY Painting:

Gloria Green, to Dec 23, reception 7-9 pm Dec 15. 270 Wellington W #104. 647-352-3463. WYNICK/TUCK Transitional Movement group

cautioned the other speakers not suggest that the Soviet Union is the same as Nazi Germany. Later, he remarked that this wave of Soviet immigration to North America was the first to find success in the West without having to wait a generation. Why? Because, he said, they were educated in the Soviet Union. His novel, too, refuses to conform to expectations or whitewash realities. Samuil, whose family was slaughtered by White Russians, is still a true socialist believer. While Alec disdains the Soviet bureaucracy, he had no problem exploiting it. Meanwhile, in Rome, nothing’s free in the free world. But the family relishes the wide variety of foods and the vibrant colours of the clothing in

= Critics’ Pick NNNNN = Can’t live without it NNNN = Riveting NNN = Worthy NN = Remainder bin here we come

show; installation: Janice Gurney, to Dec 17. 401 Richmond W, #128. 416-504-8716. XPACE Zine Fair, noon-6 pm Dec 17. 58 Ossington. 416-849-2864.

the shops, all of which Bezmozgis describes in poignant, sometimes comic and richly detailed scenes. If there’s a problem with the novel, it’s that it lacks a strong emotional core. All the characters are deeply flawed – especially the protagonist, Alec – giving us no one to sympathize with. But Bezmozgis throws open a window on a world we know little about, which makes this a fascinating read. SUSAN G. COLE Write Books at susanc@nowtoronto.com

MORE ONLINE

Complete art listings at nowtoronto.com/art/listings

READINGS THIS WEEK Sunday, December 18 DAVID CLINK/KATE MARSHALL FLAHERTY/SACHIKO MURAKAMI/CATHY PETCH/JACOB SCHEIER Poetry and an

open mic. 6 pm. Free. Pauper’s Pub, 539 Bloor W. pauperspub.com. SHELLEY HORNSTEIN Launching her book Losing Site: Architecture, Memory And Place. 6 pm. Free. Gladstone Hotel Gallery, 1214 Queen W. yorku.ca/ city/?p=1310.

BUY BOOKS

Normally, this spot carries the headline Buy The Book, but this week we offer a message that’s even more basic. Get out and buy some books. There are thousands out there, and at least one of them is ideal for even the most idiosyncratic personality on your list. I’m not necessarily privileging the printed page – e-readers rock, too. The digital age absolutely does not have to send literature into oblivion. Need ideas? Check out my SGC Top 10 Of 2011 list in next week’s issue.

N = Doorstop material

NOW DECEMBER 15-21 2011

stage

more online nowtoronto.com/stage Reviews of HAIR and THE STORY • Scenes on QED THEATRE’S PROOF, JOSEPH JOMO PIERRE’S SHAKESPEARE’S NIGGA, OTHER SEASONAL SHOWS • and more Fully searchable listings with venue maps nowtoronto.com/stage/listings

theatre listings

Parfumerie’s excellent Patricia Fagan and Oliver Dennis might make you swoon.

How to find a listing

Theatre listings are comprehensive and appear alphabetically by title. Opening plays begin this week, Previewing shows preview this week, One-Nighters are one-offs, and Continuing shows have already opened. 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 F = Festive/seasonal 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.

THEATRE REVIEWS

Opening FBED & BREAKFAST by Ann Powell and David Powell (Puppetmongers Theatre). ñ The Princess And The Pea gets a retelling in

Holiday show stoppers Take in a live play or musical this season – there’s something for everyone

Heaven scent PARFUMERIE by Miklós László

(Soulpepper). At the Young Centre for the Performing Arts (55 Mill). To December 31. $28-$65, 416-866-8666. See Continuing, page 66. Rating: NNNN

If you want some alternative Christmas theatre fare, check out Soulpepper’s delightful revival of Parfumerie, a heart-warming Old World romantic comedy set in a cosmetics boutique in 1930s Budapest during the holiday rush. The affectionate love story, written by Hungarian Miklós László in 1937

MUSICAL REVIEW

Moving music MEMPHIS by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan (Dancap). At the Toronto Centre for the Arts (5040 Yonge). To December 24. $51-$180. 416-644-3665, dancaptickets.com. See Continuing, page 66. Rating: NNN Memphis is rarely better than middling. David Bryan and Joe DiPietro’s musical has some toe-tapping period numbers, but don’t look for any insights here. Central character Huey (Bryan Fenkart) is a white guy in 1950s Memphis turned on by black rhythm

DECEMBER 15-21 2011 NOW

and adapted here by Brenda Robins and Adam Pettle, focuses on a number of strained relationships between the stressed-out employees. The aging boss, Mr. Hammerschmidt (Joseph Ziegler), believes one of his salesmen is having an affair with his wife. At the same time, staff members George (Oliver Dennis) and Rosie (Patricia Fagan) just can’t get along, despite the fact that they’ve unknowingly fallen in love via a series of anonymous letters. If this plot sounds familiar, it’s because László’s play served as the basis for the Broadway musical She Loves Me and the Tom Hanks vehicle You’ve Got Mail.

Reprising its 2010 Dora Awardwinning production, Soulpepper again does right by this Christmas chestnut. The cast is solid all around, and director Morris Panych creates a nostalgic air of old-time hustle and bustle with mobs of shoppers and workers racing back and forth, all accompanied by rings from an antique cash register. Ken MacDonald’s realistic set is centred around the shop’s (working) revolving door, which Panych uses for some great comic moments. While the action generally stays within the shop walls, the snowy, lamp-lit street is visible through the shop windows – a JORDAN BIMM lovely touch.

and blues and black singer Felicia (Crystal Joy, subbing for Felicia Boswell), who works in her brother Delray’s (Quentin Earl Darrington) club. You know that romance and radio success are coming up, though each will have its rocky moments. When Huey, Felicia and the rest of the characters end up on television, you’ll be reminded of Hairspray, but Memphis takes place several years earlier. Hairspray made the same points about rock and integration in a more entertaining fashion. Racial tensions and the appropriation of black music are buried themes here, presented briefly and then pretty much left behind. Even Felicia’s drive for success isn’t fully explored. So what succeeds? Bryan’s music, all

original, suggests the styles of period greats like James Brown, Chubby Checker, Chuck Berry and others, and much of it is full of energy. The cast is strong, especially Fenkart’s winning Huey. Darrington gives She’s My Sister more weight than the lyrics deserve, while Will Mann’s initially shy Bobby learns how to belt a song at just the right moment in front of the TV camera. Julie Johnson as Huey’s mother has a second-act gospel number that she sells with power to spare. Best of all is Sergio Trujillo’s choreography, a survey of period dance styles performed by the entire company with joyous energy. If you could go out whistling dance steps, you would.

= Critics’ Pick

NNNNN = Standing ovation

this family-friendly puppet play. Dec 17-18 at 2:30 pm (continues Dec 26-Jan 1, 2012, daily at 2 pm, Dec 29-30 at 4:30 pm). To Jan 1, 2012. $25, srs/stu $20; New Year’s Day show + gala $40. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman, Extra Space. 416-531-1827, puppetmongers.com. FA CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MUSICAL by Lynn Ahrens, Mike Okrent and Alan Menken (Rose Theatre). Charles Dickens’s seasonal story is adapted to the stage. Dec 15-18, Thu-Sun 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $27-$47, child $20. 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton. rosetheatre.ca. MATT & BEN by Brenda Withers and Mindy Kaling (Hot Cousin Productions). Matt Damon and Ben Affleck struggle to find success as screenwriters in this satire. Dec 17-18 at 2 and 8 pm. $15. Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkeley. mattandben.eventbrite.com. MONSIEUR D’EON IS A WOMAN by Mark Brownell (Toronto Film School). At the peak of his political career, an 18th-century aristocrat transforms himself into a woman. Dec 16-17, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. Free (ticket required, RSVP online). Pia Bouman Theatre, 6 Noble. tfsmonsieurdeon.eventbrite.com. MY NARRATOR by Norm Foster (MAYA Co-op).

Kensington Market’s Winter Solstice heats up on December 21. Inner voices lead to love and awkwardness in this romantic comedy. Opens Dec 15 and runs to Dec 17, Thu-Fri 7 pm, mats Thu-Sat 2 pm. $25-$50. Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-366-7723, stlc.com. PINKALICIOUS, THE MUSICAL by Elizabeth Kann, Victoria Kann and John Gregor (Vital Theatre). A girl turns pink after eating too many cupcakes in this family show. Opens Dec 17 and runs to Jan 8, 2012, Sat-Sun 1 & 3 pm (no shows Dec 25, Jan 1), additional shows Dec 27-30 and Jan 3-6 at 1 pm. $30, child $25. City Playhouse Theatre, 1000 New Westminster, Vaughan. 905-882-7469. QUIDAM (Cirque du Soleil). A young girl escapes boredom through a world of imagination in this circus show featuring aerial arts, dance, music and more. Opens Dec 20 and runs to Dec 30, Mon-Fri 7:30 pm, mats Dec 23, 29, 30 at 3:30 pm. $50-$100, stu/srs/child/ military $40-$85.50. Ricoh Coliseum, 100 Princes’ Blvd. 416-870-8000, cirquedusoleil. com/quidam. SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN by Betty Comden and Adolph Green (CATS Mainstage Theatre Co). This musical comedy about love and ambition in 1920s Hollywood is based on the 1952 film. Dec 15-18, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1:30 pm. $30, stu $15. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, catsmainstage.com. FTHE STORY by Martha Ross (Theatre Columbus). The ensemble performs an unconventional telling of the Nativity in an outdoor walk-about show. Previews to Dec 15. Opens

continued on page 66 œ

Bryan Fenkart (centre) and some impressive dance make Memphis a worthwhile destination.

JON KAPLAN

NNNN = Sustained applause

NNN = Recommended, memorable scenes

NN = Seriously ﬂawed

N = Get out the hook

F O 1 N I W S

GIFT GUIDE

Stage presents

IR 5FPTA ICKETS

For the show lover on your list By JON KAPLAN and GLENN SUMI For the young actor or look at the leg(215 Spadina, suite 210), 416-408-4556 theatre student acies of Reid For the thorough theatregoer In Break A Leg! An Actor’s Guide To Anderson and

Theatrical Practices, Phrases And Superstitions (J. Gordon Shillingford, $16.95), Pea Green Theatre’s Mark Brownell and Sue Miner have assembled a book of all things theatrical, from phrases such as “curtain call” (the actors’ bow at the end of the show) and “reprise” (the repeat of a song that’s already been sung) to types of clowns and bits of dramatic history. The most fun parts, though, are the superstitions that have sprung up over the centuries. Just remember not to name or quote anything from the Scottish play (it’s a famous Shakespeare tragedy) if you’re in a theatre; there are two pages on the bad luck that’ll rain down on you. At Theatrebooks (11 St. Thomas), 416922-7175, theatrebooks.com

For anyone wanting to start a theatre company

The New Indie Theatre Producer’s Guide (Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts, $25) surveys all the things you should think about if you want to be the new indie company on the block and get noticed by arts councils, press and audiences. Edited by Sandra Lefrançois, it covers everything from fundraising to contracts, from financial management to co-productions, from publicity to marketing. It also offers advice from the most knowledgeable Toronto theatre people, among them Nina Lee Aquino, Naomi Campbell, Derrick Chua, Sue Edworthy, Marilo Nuñez and Jacob Zimmer. A must-have if you’re considering getting into the biz. At Theatrebooks and Theatre Ontario

In Tonight At The Tarragon: A Critic’s Anthology (Playwrights Canada Press, $29.95), former Globe and Mail reviewer Kamal Al-Solaylee presents six scripts that had their premiere or English-language debut at the Tarragon, a hotbed of new Canadian work for the past 40 years. This is a chance to visit (or revisit) some lesserknown works by fine playwrights (Michael Healey’s Rune Arlidge and Morwyn Brebner’s The Optimists) and some other hits at the theatre, among them John Mighton’s Half Life, Jason Sherman’s It’s All True and Kristen Thomson’s I, Claudia. Al-Solaylee’s thoughtful introductions put each work in context. At Theatrebooks and the Tarragon (30 Bridgman), 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com

For the balletomane

The National Ballet of Canada just launched its 60th season, and James Neufeld Neufeld’s Passion To Dance: The National Ballet Of Canada (Dundurn, $50) marks the occasion with this informative and lavishly illustrated book about the company’s history – an update of his 1996 volume Power To Rise. Everything you want to know is here: the NBC’s modest beginnings, its big talents and personalities like Celia Franca, and the artists who contributed to its reputation, like Rudolf Nureyev, Erik Bruhn and current artistic director Karen Kain. Neufeld includes a candid look at the awkward departure of ballerina Kimberly Glasco, a clear-eyed

Visit Toronto’s official discount ticket booth

Toronto’s One-Stop Ticket Shop

Buy your discount tickets to theatre, dance, opera, comedy … and more! T.O.TIX In-person at Yonge-Dundas Square Tues-Sat, 12 - 6:30pm Online anytime at totix.ca

OM O ORONTO.C T W O N T A

James Kudelka and a not too gushing look at the current state of the company. Included as an appendix is an invaluable list of every performance and program in the company’s history. At Theatrebooks and the National Ballet of Canada (470 Queens Quay West), national.ballet.ca

ABLE ON RULES AVAIL

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For comedy fans

Yuk Yuk’s comedy guru Mark Breslin follows up his excellent 2009 CD set The Yuk Yuk’s Guide To Canadian Stand-Up with Road Warriors And Rarities (HarperAudioCanada, $34.99), another rich collection of the lesserknown acts he calls road warriors, working comics who aren’t superstars – yet. There’s lots of gold here, both in the comics’ material and in Breslin’s smart introductions. In the “rarities” selection he includes audio by the likes of broadcaster Ralph Benmergui, occasional NOW contributor Sheila Gostick, raunchy sketch troupe Shy One Horse and the late comics Marjorie Gross (who would go on to write for Seinfeld) and gay dentist Ed Pollak. Another disc devoted to better-known comics like DiGiovanni Sandra Shamas, Debra DiGiovanni, Tim Steeves and Sam Kinison is a gem, and there’s a bonus disc of highlights from his annual Great Canadian Laugh-Off, which has brought out some of the best material by comics like Trevor Boris and Jeff McEnery. This set will distract you with hours of fun while your family drives you nuts over the holidays. At Indigo (220 Yonge), 416-591-3622, and others

U IE M IC H A

GE BY MAR B ER T LE PA A N D RO BY L AT I O N S N A R T ENGLISH EN ZI E M IC H A EL

M ACK

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– FEB 19 ON STAGE JAN 10 TH E AT RE RA RO YA L A LEK IXN GASND T R EE T W ES T 26 0

416 -872-1212 Perfor med predo

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THEATRE COLUMBUS PRESENTS

OUTDOOR WINTER THEATRE EVERGREEN BRICK WORKS Now playing to December 30th

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$40 Prix Fix 3-Course Meal for groups of 4 or more at Cafe Belong located at the Evergreen Brick Works. Call for details!

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Arts Box Office 416.504.7529 www.artsboxoffice.ca www.theatrecolumbus.ca

T.O.TIX is also a TicketKing & Ticketmaster outlet

NOW DECEMBER 15-21 2011

theatre listings œcontinued from page 64

Dec 16 and runs to Dec 30, Tue-Sun 7:30 pm (no show Dec 24, 25, 26) mats Dec 21, 23, 28 at 4:30 pm. $25, stu/srs $20, child/previews $10. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview. 416504-7529, theatrecolumbus.ca. 2000 CANdLES (The Arts Engine). This musical theatre show features vignettes of Christmas celebrations and traditions. Opens Dec 20 and runs to Dec 23, Tue-Fri 8 pm. $16.50-$28. Walmer Centre Theatre, 188 Lowther. 2000candles.com.

One-Nighters

FCAt BENt’S 2Nd ANNUAL ChRiStMAS CABAREt (Cat Bent). This show features music,

comedy and dance. Dec 15 at 8 pm. Free. Imperial Pub, 54 Dundas E. catbent.com. FA ChRiStMAS CARoL by Charles Dickens (Humber River Shakespeare Co). Five actors perform the timeless tale of greed, ghosts, salvation and hope. Dec 15 at 7 pm. $15, child $10. Sheridan Park Alliance Church, 2440 Fifth Line W, Mississauga. 416-209-2026, humberrivershakespeare.ca.

FKENSiNgtoN MARKEt WiNtER SoLStiCE (Red Pepper Spectacle Arts). Artists

and performers participate in this annual outdoor solstice celebration and parade. Dec 21 at 6:30 pm. Free. Kensington Market, corner of Oxford and Augusta. 416-598-3729, redpepperspectaclearts.org. FWiNtER SoLStiCE CoNCERt & CELEBRAtioN (Children’s Peace Theatre). This family-friendly celebration features an outdoor lantern parade, a peace flag ceremony and more. Dec 21 at 6:30 pm. Free. 305 Dawes. 416-752-1550, peacetheatre.org.

Continuing thE ChiLdREN’S REPUBLiC by Hannah Mosco-

vitch (Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company). Moscovitch’s latest play deals with a doctor and champion of children’s rights, Janusz Korczak, who runs a Warsaw orphanage in the Warsaw Ghetto. Though the first act contains more setup than drama, the second act, with the help of a strong cast, involves us emotionally in the lives of the doctor and his charges. Runs to Dec 18, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $38-$47, srs $33-$45, stu $20-$24. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, hgjewishtheatre.com. N NN (JK) FthE ChRiStMAS StoRY (Church of the Holy Trinity). Professional musicians and a volunteer cast present a nativity pageant. Runs to Dec 24, Fri-Sat (and Dec 22) 7:30 pm, mat SatSun 4:30 pm. $20, child $5 (suggested donation). 10 Trinity Square. 416-598-8979, holytrinitytoronto.org. dYiNg CitY by Christopher Shinn (surface/underground theatre). A therapist’s relationship with twin brothers in two time periods offers a look at the fragile nature of love and commitment. Under director Peter Pasyk, actors Lesley Faulkner and Sergio Di Zio (he plays both brothers) involve viewers in this

theatre review

Melissa D’Agostino’s Lupe delivers a unique take on the holidays.

Liking Lupe A VERY LUPE XMAS by Melissa D’Agostino (Fault Line). At Gallery 918 (918 Bathurst). To December 17. $20$25. 416-538-0868, totix.com. See Continuing, this page. Rating: NNN

Ever participated in a posada? Well, sensual South American Guadalupe Maria Milagrosa Josefina Paz Dominguez (Melissa D’Agostino) is here to guide you through the holidays in her typical authoritarian style. The result is a funny, satiric nativity pageant with tinsel made of razor wire. Lupe’s Three Wise Men are an Arab (Sam Kalilieh), a Jew (Adam Lazarus) and an energetic gay hairdresser (Phil Luzi) who won’t stay on book, much to Lupe’s mounting irritation. After his particularly disquieting version of Got To Be Real, she ejects him from the production, and subsequently finds fault with all the cast-mates. The second act brings her back a changed woman, and she spends the remainder of the show sourcing her new Wise Men from the audience via contests, including a high-stakes taco-stuffing competition. intimate production by giving nuance to the lives of this troubled threesome. Runs to Dec 17, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $20-$25. Toronto Free Gallery, 1277 Bloor W. dyingcity.com. N NNN (JK) hAiR by Gerome Ragni, James Rado and Galt MacDermot (Mirvish). Young bohemian pacifists explore free love, drugs and 60s culture as the Vietnam War draft looms in this musical. Runs to Dec 31, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat 2 pm (no eve show Dec 24); see website for additional days and times. $35-$130. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-8721212, mirvish.com. FhoLLY JoLLY ChRiStMAS (Studio 60 Theatre). This musical revue features songs, dance and sketches with a seasonal theme. Runs to Dec 18, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mats Dec 7 and 18 at 2 pm. $20. 60 Six Point. 416-354-2479, studio60theatreboxoffice.com.

JoSEPh ANd thE AMAziNg tEChNiCoLoR dREAMCoAt by Andrew Lloyd Webber and

Tim Rice (Lower Ossington Theatre). This musical reinvents the Biblical story of Joseph and his brothers. Runs to Dec 30, Tue-Sat 8 pm (no show Dec 24), mats Dec 18 at 4 pm, Dec 20-21 & 27-28 at 1 pm. $45-$60, stu $20.

D’Agostino brings lots of energy to the Gloria Estefan-loving Lupe, flirting and flouncing her way through the audience, and Khalileh, Lazarus and Luzi throw themselves into Monica Dottor’s wonderfully silly choreography. But it’s not all fun: together with co-creator and director Lazarus, D’Agostino makes a strong point about the way stereotypes persist in holiday shows. The scene where Khalileh drops

his Middle Eastern accent to call out Lupe on her hypocrisy is particularly resonant. The second act might be a bit longer than necessary, but that’s Lupe’s style – to draw things out a little past the point of comfort. The show is a charming, comic take on the stuff we love/hate to put up with every holiday season. And if it comes with a silent lackey (Hart Massey) serving Timbits on a machete, NAoMi SKWARNA who’s complaining?

100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

Players). The blacklight theatre company presents a holiday musical about kindness, peace and love. Runs to Dec 30, Tue-Sat noon and 6:45 pm. $62, srs $56, child $40 (includes meal). 343 Evans. 416-532-1137, fpp.org. MARY PoPPiNS by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman (Mirvish/Disney Theatrical Productions/Cameron Mackintosh). A breathtaking spectacle, this big-budget Disney musical brings to life all the songs and magic of the original film. Picture-perfect as the mysterious nanny, Rachel Wallace impresses by singing, dancing and... um, believably flying. Runs to Jan 8, 2012, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm (no eve show Dec 24; see website for other dates). $38-$185. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416872-1212, mirvish.com. N NNN (Jordan Bimm) MEMPhiS by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan (Dancap Productions). A white DJ falls in love with a black rock-and-roll singer in the 50s in this musical (see review, page 64). Runs to Dec 24, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2 pm (see website for more performances). $51-$180. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 416644-3665, dancaptickets.com. N NN (JK)

thE LifE ANd tiMES of MACKENziE KiNg: thE hiStoRY of thE ViLLAgE of thE ñ SMALL hUtS, 1918-1939 by Michael Hollings-

worth (VideoCabaret). This instalment of Video Cabaret’s long-running Canadian history series follows Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King from the Roaring Twenties through the Great Depression to the beginnings of World War II. Highly stylized sets and props, as well as attention to all levels of society makes this hilarious take on history both engaging and comprehensive. Runs to Dec 18, Fri and Sun 2:30 pm, Sat 1 pm. $20$40. Cameron House, 408 Queen W. 416-7031725, videocab.com. N NNN (Jordan Bimm) LiKE AN oLd tALE (Jumblies Theatre). Audience members participate in this multicultural retelling of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale with dance, opera, puppets, projections and more. Runs to Dec 18, Wed-Sat (and Dec 11) 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2 pm. $30, stu/srs $20; Dec 16 gala $50. Commercial Studios Ltd, 793 Pharmacy. jumbliestheatre.org. FA MAgiCAL tiME of YEAR (Famous People

“the writing is both poetic and muscular, the images are vivid, breathtaking and heartsqueezing… pulsing with life and emotions.” —lynn Slotkin, Here and Now, cBc radio

WInnEr of thE 2011 GovErnor GEnEral’S lItErary aWard for drama playWrIGhtScanada.com avaIlaBlE at thEatrEBookS december 15-21 2011 NOW

= Critics’ Pick

MY MothER’S itALiAN, MY fAthER’S JEWiSh & i’M iN thERAPY by Steve Solomon (Philip Roger

Roy/Dana Matthow/Bud Martin). Solomon performs his solo show about growing up in a wacky, bi-ethnic family. Runs to Jan 29, 2012, Wed 7 pm, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 5:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $51.50-$56. Bathurst Street Theatre, 736 Bathurst. 1-855-985-2787, italianjewish.ca. FPARfUMERiE by Miklós László (Soulpepper). Shop clerks who don’t get along at work exchange anonymous love letters as pen pals (see review, page 64). Runs to Dec 31, see website for schedule. $45-$65, stu $28. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca. N NNN (Jordan Bimm) PiNKALiCioUS, thE MUSiCAL by Elizabeth Kann, Victoria Kann and John Gregor (Vital Theatre). A girl turns pink after eating too many cupcakes in this family show. Runs to Jan 29, 2012, Sun 1 pm. $20. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. 416-642-8973, vitaltheatre.ca. PRoof by David Auburn (QED Theatre Co-op). The death of a mathematician reunites his estranged daughters and a former student as they seek the line between genius and madness. Runs to Dec 18, Tue-Sun 8 pm. $15-$20. The Branding Factory, 136 Geary, unit 215. secureaseat.com. REd by John Logan (Canadian Stage/Vancouver Playhouse/Citadel Theatre). Logan’s twohander pairs abstract expressionist master Mark Rothko (Jim Mezon) with an eager new assistant (David Coomber) as the former begins a lucrative commission. There’s some vivid imagery in the script, and Mezon exudes narcissism and alpha-male aggression as the painter, but Kim Collier’s fussy direction distracts from the uneven piece. Runs to Dec 17, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $22-$99. Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com. N NN (GS) SEUSSiCAL by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Young People’s Theatre). Based on several Dr. Seuss works, including Horton Hears A Who and Horton Hatches An Egg, this lively musical is great family entertainment, despite a dip in energy near the end. Director Alan MacInnis’s production features some first-rate performers, including George Masswohl as Horton and Damien Atkins as a charming Cat in the Hat. Runs to Dec 30, SatSun 2 pm, see website for other dates and times. $15-$20. 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, youngpeoplestheatre.ca. N NNN (JK) 2 PiANoS 4 hANdS by Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt (Mirvish). Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt’s cozy, clever 2P4H still has the thing that endeared itself to audiences fifteen years ago: the charming writer/ performers making it all look easy, even when it isn’t Runs to Jan 5, 2012: Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm to Dec 18; no shows Dec 19-26; Dec 27Jan 5 Mon-Fri 8 pm, mat Wed 2 pm. $49-$69. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com. N NNN (Naomi Skwarna) UNChARtEd zoNES by DJ Sylvis (Monkeyman Productions). Travelling through space and time, this sequence of four episodes explores the borders between human experience and the unknown. Runs to Dec 17, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm. $15-$20. Palmerston Library Theatre, 560 Palmerston. monkeymanproductions.com. FA VERY LUPE XMAS by Melissa D’Agostino (Fault Line Theatre). A feisty South American immigrant hosts a Christmas party in this solo comedy (see review, this page). Runs to Dec 17, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $20-$25 (food bank donations appreciated). Gallery 918, 918 Bathurst. totix.com. N NN (Naomi Skwarna) FWhitE ChRiStMAS by Irving Berlin (Civic Light Opera Company). This holiday musical is based on the 1954 film with Bing Crosby. Runs to Dec 17, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $28. Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview Mall. 416-755-1717, civiclightoperacompany.com.

If We Were Birds by Erin Shields

MURdER At tWiLight by Brian Caws and Barb Scheffler (Mysteriously Yours... Dinner Theatre). Modern-day vampires, old-school monsters and humans try to coexist in this murder mystery. Runs to Dec 23, Fri-Sat 6:30 pm (see website for other dates). $79-$85. 2026 Yonge. 416-486-7469, mysteriouslyyours.com.

NNNNN = Standing ovation

NNNN = Sustained applause

NNN = Recommended, memorable scenes

thE WizARd of oz: thE WiCKEdLY WACKY

fAMiLY MUSiCAL adapted by Lorna Wright and Nicholas Hune-Brown (Ross Petty). When a snowstorm carries the Toronto-dwelling Dorothy (Elicia Mackenzie) away in a blue bin, her destination isn’t so much over the rainbow as overseas – down under Australia. While no musical number is a real standout in this holiday panto, the wild variety and funky footwork on the Yellow Brick Road makes it lots of fun. Runs to Jan 6, 2012, TueSat 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm (see website for other dates and holiday exceptions). $27-$85. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge. 416-872-5555, rosspetty.com. NNN (Naomi Skwarna) 3 NN = Seriously flawed

N = Get out the hook

weekly show w/ host Jillian Thomas. 7 pm. $5. 191A Baldwin. hotboxcafe.ca. THE TASTY SHOW presents weekly stand-up w/ host Jeffrey Danson. 10 pm. Free. La Revolucion, 2848 Dundas W. 416-766-0746. YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN presents Peter Anthony. To Dec 18, Wed-Sun 8 pm, plus Fri-Sat late show 10:30 pm. $12-$20. 224 Richmond W. 416-967-6425, yukyuks.com.

ComicFraserYoung helpsraisemoney forthehomelessat TinyMiracles, December19.

Friday, December 16 ABSOLUTE COMEDY See Thu 15. BLACK SWAN COMEDY presents Danforth

Confidential: An Improvised Soap, part three of a three-part series. 8 pm. Pwyc. Black Swan, 154 Danforth, 2nd floor. 416-903-5388, blackswancomedy.com. COMEDY ON THE DANFORTH Timothy’s World News Café presents improv with Dan’s Mix ‘95 (Dan Hershfield and others). 9 pm. Pwyc. 320 Danforth. comedyonthedanforth.com.

YOUNG CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS DISTILLERY HISTORIC DISTRICT



“PERFECTLY PERFORMED... SEE IT YOU MUST” –  

DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE! (AND OTHER LIES) See Thu 15. THE FULL BAWDY COMEDY SHOW Under-

ground Comedy Club presents comedy, burlesque and music w/ Shelley Marshall, Sandra Battaglini, Ginger St James, Sarah Donaldson and others. Doors 8 pm. $15. 670 Queen E. 416-732-7761, fullbawdycomedy.com. LAUNCHPAD COMEDY White Swan presents a weekly open mic w/ host Earl the Sqrl. 8:30 pm. Free. 836 Danforth. 416-463-8089.

THE SECOND CITY’S DYSFUNCTIONAL HOLIDAY REVUE See Thu 15. FSMASHED FOR THE HOLIDAYS Opening

comedy listings How to find a listing

Comedy listings appear chronologically, and alphabetically by title or venue. F = Festive/seasonal event

ñ= Critics’ pick (highly recommended) How to place a listing

All listings are free. Send to: stage@nowtoronto.com, fax 416-364-1166 or mail to Comedy,NOWMagazine,189Church, TorontoM5B1Y7. Include title, producer, comics (host/headliner/sketch troupe members), 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, December 15 ABSOLUTE COMEDY presents Paul Morrissey,

DJ Demers and host Ryan Maglunob. To Dec 18, Thu 8:30 pm, Fri 9 pm, Sat 8 & 10:30 pm, Sun 8 pm. $tba. 2335 Yonge. 416-486-7700, absolutecomedy.ca. COMEDY THURSDAYS The Starving Artist presents a weekly showcase w/ host Natasha Henderson. 9 pm. Free. 584 Lansdowne. 647342-5058, starvingartistbar.com.

REALLY DO COME TRUE! (AND OTHER LIES) Second City presents its ñDREAMS

latest revue, a high-energy, tons-of-laughs show that gets a big jolt of energy from four new writer/performers, a bold set and an amplified sound system. The writing is solid, but the performers sharpen each scene with their physicality, especially newcomer Alastair Forbes, a tall, lanky clown who’s unafraid of looking silly. A couple of political sketches hit their targets, and some very long sequences pay off nicely. But the funniest scenes involve a tech-challenged mom bribing her son and a surreal baseball sketch that defies time and place. Wed-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sat 8 & 10:30 pm, Sun 7 pm. $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416343-0011, secondcity.com. NNNN (GS) THE IMPROV SHOW Comedy Bar presents Lauren Ash, Rob Baker, Jan Caruana, Kerry Griffin, Kayla Lorette, Carmine Lucarelli, Jerry Schaefer and Leslie Seiler. 8:30 pm. $5. 945 Bloor W. comedybar.ca.

SECOND CITY’S DYSFUNCTIONAL HOLIDAY REVUE Second City presents a ñ holiday-themed show of scenes and songs. FTHE

Mon 8 pm, Wed-Fri 2 pm to Dec 21, see website for schedule between Dec 22-Jan 2, 2012. $15-$22. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com. THE SOAPS The National Theatre of the World presents a weekly improvised soap opera. 8 pm. Pwyc. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. thenationaltheatreoftheworld.com. STONER COMEDY Hot Box Cafe presents a

Night Theatre presents an improvised and musical comedy extravaganza. 8 pm. $10. Augusta House, 152 Augusta. openingnighttheatre.com. YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN See Thu 15.

Saturday, December 17 ABSOLUTE COMEDY See Thu 15. DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE! (AND OTHER LIES) See Thu 15. FTHE MIRACLE ON MERCER STREET

Second City presents all-ages seasonal comedy mixing live-action sketches with puppetry and songs. To Dec 17, Saturdays at noon (and Dec 21-23 & Dec 26-Jan 1, 2012 at noon). $12, family 4-pack $40. 51 Mercer. 416-3430011, secondcity.com. FTOUCH MY STEREOTYPE Comedy Bar presents a festive edition of sketches, improv and songs w/ the Regulars and British Teeth. 9 pm. $12. 945 Bloor W. touchmystereotype.com. YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN See Thu 15.

OLIVER DENNIS PATRICIA FAGAN

PARFUMERIE MIKLÓS LÁSZLÓ

ADAPTED BY ADAM PETTLE & BRENDA ROBINS

ES M O S

S WS

UT! O D

DORA AWARD FOR BEST PRODUCTION

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:   

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Sunday, December 18 ABSOLUTE COMEDY See Thu 15. COMEDY AT 51 Kyra Williams presents a late-

night comedy cabaret w/ Veronika Swartz, Christine Cleary, Julie Kim, Ladystache, Kris Siddiqi and Jim Kim. 10 pm. Pwyc. Second City, 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011.

DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE! (AND OTHER LIES) See Thu 15. LAUGH SABBATH presents Evening Jim Jam

continued on page 68 œ

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comedy listings

now TUBE

œcontinued from page 67

FanExpo

w/ Adam Christie, Bob Kerr and others. Doors 8:30 pm. $5. Rivoli, 332 Queen W. laughsabbath.com. NICK REYNOLDSON Comedy Records presents stand-up w/ Tim Nasiopoulos, Monty Scott, K Trevor Wilson, Matt O’Brien, Rick & Chuck, Barry Taylor and host Reynoldson. 8:30 pm. $5. Clinton’s, 693 Bloor W. comedyrecords.ca. SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE The Sketchersons present weekly sketch w/ guest hosts and musical acts. 9:30 pm. $8. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. thesketchersons.com. FTHE 2011 HOLIDAY HO-DOWN Kiss the Dog presents comedy w/ sketch group Hello Little Boy, stand-ups Nigel Grinstead and Amber Harper-Young and music by Madette. 8 pm. $5 at the door. John Candy Box Theatre, 70 Peter. YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN See Thu 15.

Jim Cuddy

ñ Devo/NXNE

Gilles Peterson

Chad Kroeger/Stephen Harper

Monday, December 19 raveonettes

The Sheepdogs

Woody Harrelson

Hollerado

Pharcyde

Bonnaroo Festival

ALTDOT COMEDY LOUNGE Rivoli presents Keith Pedro, Jy Harris, Steph Tolev, Julie Kim, Anita Drieseberg, Christophe Davidson, Jessica Salomon and MC John Hastings. 9 pm. Pwyc. 332 Queen W. altdotcomedylounge.com. BLACK SWAN VARIETY SHOW presents Almost Blind, Hot Garbage, Zabrina Chevannes, Amy Zuch, Ramin Bass and the Black Swan Players. 8 pm. Pwyc. Black Swan, 154 Danforth, 2nd floor. 416-903-5388, blackswancomedy.com. CHEAP LAUGHS MONDAY PJ O’Briens Irish Pub presents a show w/ Russell Roy and guests. 9 pm. Free. 39 Colborne. 416-815-7562. HARD TIMES COMEDY LOUNGE Impulsive Entertainment presents a comedy mashup w/ Smells Like the 80’s, Good Game, PartTime Demi Gods, Peter Aterman and host Matt O’Brien. 9 pm. $5. Hard Luck Bar,

Nuit Blanche

Canada Day Concert

772a Dundas W. impulsiveent.com. LAUGH YOUR NADS OFF Blair Streeter presents weekly open-mic stand-up comedy. 9 pm. Free. Naughty Nadz, 1590 Dundas E, Mississauga. 905-232-5577. LAUGHABLE AT UNLOVABLE presents Tim Nasiopolous, Eddie Della Siepe, Greg Cochrane, Rob Bebenek, Jillian Thomas, Steph Tolev and host Nick Flanagan. 9 pm. Pwyc. Unlovable, 1415-B Dundas W. 416-532-6669.

FLAUGHING LIKE CRAZY HOLIDAY SIDESPLITTER Supermarket presents members of the

Laughing Like Crazy Grad Comedy Troupe and hosts Michael Cole and Emma Ardal. 7:30 pm. Pwyc. 268 Augusta. 416-840-0501.

THE SECOND CITY’S DYSFUNCTIONAL HOLIDAY REVUE See Thu 15. FTINY MIRACLES Pat Thornton and Sara

Hennessey present an old-timey radio show to raise funds to make care packages for the homeless, w/ Mark Forward, Sal & Sandy, Fraser Young, Sarah Hillier and others. 8 pm. $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. comedybar.ca.

Tuesday, December 20 FTHE COMEDY JUNGLE HOLIDAY SHOW Super market presents an open-mic w/ hosts Trevor and Jay. 8 pm. $5. 268 Augusta. 416-840-0501. THE JOKEBOX Impulsive Entertainment presents Georgea Brooks-Hancock, Chris Locke, Ron Sparks and host Mike Rita, plus post-show karaoke w/ Jason Rolland. 8 pm. $5. Hard Luck Bar, 772a Dundas W. impulsiveent.com. OPEN MIC COMEDY AT THE PORT Jon Hyatt presents a weekly open-mic comedy show with musical guests. 9 pm. Free. The Port, 1179 Dundas W. 416-516-1270. THE SECOND CITY’S IMPROV ALL-STARS Second City presents a fast-paced, comñ pletely improvised show. 8 pm. $20, stu $15.

51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com. SKETCHCOMEDYLOUNGE Rivoli presents The Headliner Series w/ the Boom, John Hastings,

dance listings

Fred Penner

F= Festive/seasonal event

Quebec, Lismer Hall. 416-532-8705, piaboumanschool.org.

Strauss, William Yong, Andrea Nann, Kate Hilliard and others. Dec 16-18, Fri-Sun 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $22. Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester. 416-696-7466, turningpointe.ca. FA LEAHY FAMILY CHRISTMAS Sony Centre for the Performing Arts presents step dancing, fiddle playing and Celtic tunes and carols. Dec 17 at 7 pm. $35-$45. 1 Front E. 416-872-2262, sonycentre.ca. FTHE NUTCRACKER Pia Bouman School for Ballet and Creative Movement presents an interactive version of the holiday classic. Dec 15-18, Thu-Fri 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $15$40. Humberside Collegiate Institute, 280

Nova Bhattacharya, performed by Robert Abubo, Amanda Acorn, Kate Holden, Simon

Opening Continuing CONVERGENCE Pivotal Motion Dance JACOB AND NOVA MIXED BILL Dancemakers Theatre presents Turning Pointe Acadñ presents two new works by Jacob Zimmer and emy youth performing choreography by Heidi Sandra Shamas

Bonjay

Urban Trash Art

News flashes, hot shows, essential events – NOW Tube was there. 100s of videos at your fingertips.

Wednesday, December 21 ABSOLUTE COMEDY presents Pro-Am Night w/ Abraham Sualim, Diana Love, Jon Hyatt, Jon Schabl, Matt Lyons and host Herb Irving. 8:30 pm. $tba. 2335 Yonge. 416-486-7700, absolutecomedy.ca. CHUCKLE CO. PRESENTS Comedy Bar presents weekly stand-up. 9 pm. $5. 945 Bloor W. comedybar.ca.

DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE! (AND OTHER LIES) See Thu 15. THE MIRACLE ON MERCER STREET See Thu 15. THE SECOND CITY’S DYSFUNCTIONAL HOLIDAY REVUE See Thu 15. FSPIRITS COMEDY CHRISTMAS SHOW

presents Kenny Robinson, Mike Wilmot, ñ Kate Davis, Mark Walker, Chuck Byrn, Debra

DiGiovanni, Dave Martin, Ted Morris, Cleve Jones, Cal Post and Boyd Banks. 9 pm. Free. Spirits Bar & Grill, 642 Church. 416-9670001. THE WIN-JESTER BUCKET OF COMEDY Winches ter Kitchen & Bar presents a weekly open mic w/ host Michael McLean. 9 pm. Free. 51A Winchester. winchesterkitchen.com. YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN presents Paul Wildbaum. To Dec 23, Wed-Fri 8 pm, plus Fri late show 10:30 pm. $12-$20. 224 Richmond W. 416-967-6425, yukyuks.com. 3 Renaud and guest artist Pierre-Marc Ouellette. Runs to Dec 18, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm. $20-$25. Dancemakers Centre for Creation, 55 Mill, bldg 58, studio 313. 416-367-1800, dancemakers.org. FTHE NUTCRACKER The National Ballet of Canada presents James Kudelka’s 1995 version of this evergreen seasonal classic. Runs to Jan 3, 2012, Wed-Sat 7 pm, mats Sat 2 pm, Sun 1 and 5:30 pm till Dec 18; Dec 21-23 at 7 pm (see website for more dates and times). $38$133.50. Four Seasons Centre for the Per forming Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-345-9595, thenutcracker.ca. 3

Sonia Rodriguez and Piotr Stanczyk get festive in National Ballet’s Nutcracker.

PEGGY BAKER DANCE PROJECTS presents

January 20 -22 & 25 -29, 2012

E gr D ARL ea IS Y t h CO BI ol UN RD id T ay gi ft!

nowtoronto.com

Joshua Elijah, Helder Brum, Newsdesk, MC Rhiannon Archer and others. 9 pm. Pwyc. 332 Queen W. sketchcomedylounge.com. STANDING ON THE DANFORTH Eton House presents Ryan Belleville, Jessica Solomon, Anita Drieseberg, Hoodo Hersi, Ron Sparks, Rene Payes, Bruce Wrighte, Erik Bamburg, Lance Byrd and host Jo-Anna Downey. 9 pm. Free. 710 Danforth. 416-466-6161. YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN presents the Humber School of Comedy at 7:30 pm, and stand-up Amateur Night at 9:30 pm. $4. 224 Richmond W. 416-967-6425, yukyuks.com.

Peggy Baker piano Andrew Burashko

choreography by Canadian dance icon

dancers Peggy

Baker, Ric Brown, Benjamin Kamino, Sean Ling, Sahara Morimoto and Andrea Nann marimba Beverley Johnston 8:30 pm / 4pm Sun Tickets: $28, $22* PWYC Jan 25

Betty Oliphant Theatre, 404 Jarvis Street

www.peggybakerdance.com

1 888 222-6608

*Service charges may apply

december 15-21 2011 NOW

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT

Book by Dec 24 with the code EARLY20 for $20 tickets to shows on Jan 20, 21 & 22

Looking for a party to crash this New Year’s Eve? Check out NOW’s comprehensive listings in our New Year’s Eve Guide coming out Dec 22.

Email: music@nowtoronto.com, Fax : Attn: NYE Listings, 416-364-1166 Mail/drop off: 189 Church Toronto, M5B 1Y7 Fiercely independent Deadline for listings is Dec 15 at 5 pm. since 1981

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HOLIDAY MOVIE GUIDE REVIEW

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (Guy Ritchie) Rating: NNN

Robert Downey Jr. (left) and Jude Law ham it up again in Sherlock sequel.

Getting Downey and dirty

Robert Downey Jr. gets manic about drag, daddyhood and the mystery of doing sequels By NORMAN WILNER SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS directed by Guy Ritchie, written by

los angeles – robert downey jr. has a scene in the new Sherlock Holmes movie where he dresses in drag. This shouldn’t be a big deal – his Sherlock Holmes is, after all, a master of disguise, and dressing up as a woman would be a pretty good way of sneaking past a horde of enemy gunmen to save his friend and sidekick, Dr. Watson. However, this isn’t just Sherlock Holmes in drag. It’s Robert Downey Jr. playing Sherlock Holmes in drag, and that means it’s vaguely ridiculous and pleasantly silly, and it’s all the journalists want to talk about at the press conference for Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows. “Okay, so I guess we’re not talking about this as being one of the most important films of the year?” Downey answers, enjoying the moment. “Uh, I put on some makeup.” Downey’s enjoying a lot of mo-

DECEMBER 15-21 2011 NOW

MICHAEL MULLER/Contour by Getty Images

Michele Mulroney and Keiran Mulroney based on the characters created by Arthur Conan Doyle, with Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace and Jared Harris. A Warner Bros. release. 129 minutes. Opens Friday (December 16). For venues and times, see Movies, page 76.

INTERVIEW

ROBERT DOWNEY JR. ments these days, and he’s earned it. Having spent most of the 1990s alternating stints in rehab with exceptional work in films as diverse as Chaplin, Heart And Souls, Two Girls And A Guy and Wonder Boys, he emerged triumphant in the mid-00s with an electrifying turn in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang opposite Val Kilmer. That led directly to the role of Tony Stark in the 2008 blockbuster Iron Man – the film that launched the Marvel renaissance that culminates next summer in The Avengers – and

the high-wire act that was Tropic Thunder, playing an Australian method actor playing a black American GI. That led to an Oscar nomination and then to Guy Ritchie’s Victorian action hit Sherlock Holmes, which has spawned a sequel of its own. Which brings us back to this Beverly Hills hotel, where Downey, chewing what seems to be nicotine gum with such force that you can see the muscles in his temples pulse with each bite, is batting the press around like a cat with a new toy. This is not new behaviour, by the way; Downey was just as wry and quick-witted when I first met him in December of 1995 during promotion for Restoration. He joked then about the challenge of staying drug-free on the set of Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers. Someone asks him about the baby he and his wife, Susan – who co-produced A Game Of Shadows and works closely with him on all of his films – are expecting in the new year. “Can’t wait,” he says. “Very excited. More questions for me, please.” Back to the question of Sherlock Holmes. Me, I find it bizarre that anyone would think to cast Downey as Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous sleuth. The Holmes of the books is a reedy,

withdrawn sort who spends all his time in his head, while Downey’s persona tends toward the manic. He’s a wild card, a rake, a guy who can’t keep still – an extrovert playing an introvert. And he seems to know it. “Well, you just keep Doyle in mind, because I just respect the guy more and more,” he says about building his take on Holmes. “And the other thing is, you just have to let go. You have to let go of the things that are darling to you; you have to take the focus off yourself and put it on the shape of the scene and the intention of what everyone else needs. You have to give people something to actually write music to, so you’re not just running your mouth all the time.” Audiences are responding. Sherlock Holmes grossed half a billion dollars globally, and expectations are high for the sequel. Downey says he’s as surprised to learn that as anyone. “After the first film worked out pretty good,” he recalls, “we were doing the press tour, talking about things we would like to improve, other directions we could go, blah blah blah. [But] then there’s the reality of doing it. I mean, anybody who’s ever been involved in making the second part to a first that worked – there should be a whole online support team for this. I think the

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows improves on Guy Ritchie’s previous Sherlock picture by abandoning any pretense that it’s based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s text. This time around, Robert Downey Jr.’s Holmes is just an action figure racing around 1891 Europe trying to prevent the eeeevil Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris) from triggering a world war. The sequel follows the bigger-andlouder formula devised by producer Joel Silver for his Lethal Weapon and Die Hard sequels: shit constantly blows up or catches fire, and the story rarely pauses for breath. Downey’s still miscast as Holmes, but it’s less bothersome this time around because we already know what we’re in for. Jude Law remains an excellent Watson, Harris makes a decent Moriarty, and a delightful Stephen Fry steals the picture as Holmes’s brother, Mycroft, though that might just be the effect of his only appearing in scenes where nothing explodes. I’m still not sure what Noomi Rapace’s character brings to the story, other than giving Downey’s Holmes a more openly hostile co-star than NW Rachel McAdams’s Irene Adler.

greatest disguise is just disguising ourselves as consummate, by-thenumbers professionals when in fact we’re all kind of incredibly eccentric – and Warner Bros. has given us the opportunity to try to do something that’s complicated.” There’s also the fact that Downey isn’t the only actor playing Holmes these days. Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat cast Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as a modernized Holmes and Watson in an acclaimed BBC series that’s just entering its second season, and of course Hugh Laurie’s been playing a variation of Conan Doyle’s irascible sleuth on House for the last eight years. Asked whether he’s familiar with the dozens of actors who’ve played Holmes, Downey comes up with an answer that might read as politically prudent but sounds completely honest in the moment. “I kinda like everybody,” he says. “Whenever I watch someone doing something, even if it doesn’t turn out so great, I at least admire their intentions and stuff. I know some kind of quintessential performances have happened out there. I’ve heard more about the [Moffat] series than I’ve seen, but I’m intrigued by it. I think it’s important that we’re all part of the same collective honouring this great writer and his stories.” 3 normw@nowtoronto.com

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= Critic’s Pick NNNNN = Top ten of the year NNNN = Honourable mention NNN = Entertaining NN = Mediocre N = Bomb

Patrick Wilson and Charlize Theron provide lots of great Adult entertainment.

David Dencik (left) and Gary Oldman keep us guessing in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

REVIEW

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (Tomas Alfredson) / Rating: NNNN

Considerably streamlined from John le Carré’s novel – and the 1979 miniseries adaptation starring Alec Guinness – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a sleek and expertly acted period thriller about a retired British intelligence operative quietly brought back into the fold to expose a Soviet mole who’s infiltrated the organization. The hunter is George Smiley (Gary Oldman), a lifer turfed along with his boss (John Hurt) after an operation went badly wrong. Ferreting out the mole could restore his standing, but it also allows him to grill everyone who failed to stand up for him – a psychological edge downplayed in the previous version but brought to the fore in Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan’s screenplay and through Oldman’s subtly snippy performance. Tomas Alfredson, director of 2008’s impressive Let The Right One In, understands that this is largely much ado about nothing. For all their posturing and self-importance, the British are basically middlemen in the larger battle between the Americans and the Soviets. But he’s assembled a remarkable cast to play it out – Oldman, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Tom Hardy and the invaluable Benedict Cumberbatch – and given them the challenge of never quite revealing the raging NW emotions hidden just behind their eyes.

By George, he’s good

Gary Oldman plays George Smiley in solid le Carré adaptation By NORMAN WILNER Oscar Odds It’s a quiet, subtle film, but Gary Oldman could score his first-ever best actor nod, and, in a competitive category, Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan might squeak through with an adapted screenplay nomination.

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

directed by Tomas Alfredson, written by Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan from the novel by John le Carré, with Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong and Benedict Cumberbatch. An eOne Films release. 127 minutes. Opens Friday (December 16). For venues and times, see Movies, page 76.

the last time i spoke to gary Oldman, he was patiently explaining to a roomful of journalists that Heath Ledger hadn’t been “killed by the Joker,” as some idiot had put it. “I remember that,” he says over the phone three and a half years later. “It was weird, just this story that people wanted to run with. He was a gifted individual and a very, very sweet man. It was and remains a tragedy.” What I remember most about that moment is the sorrowful authority with which Oldman spoke; it was the same quiet moral strength you can see in the Batman movies’ Jim Gordon, and there’s a variation of it in George Smiley, the forcibly retired British intelligence agent he plays in Tomas Alfredson’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. “If there’s a similarity between them,” he says, “[it’s that] there’s no narcissism. They act out of a moral certainty. And because of the very ugly side to what he does, to that world, George is better at navigating the bureaucracy than Gordon.” Oldman doesn’t mention that

INTERVIEW

GARY OLDMAN both men carry the same weight of hard-earned wisdom, though I get the feeling that comes from the actor, not his characters. “I’m now of an age, you know,” he says with a smile in his voice, recalling the wild-man performances – in Sid And Nancy, JFK, True Romance and The Professional – that made him such an electrifying actor in his youth. Oldman’s still got that energy, but now that he’s in his 50s he chooses where and when to unleash it. Taking on the role of the preternaturally composed Smiley in a new adaptation of Tinker Tailor was a different sort of challenge. The character had been brought to the screen by the legendary Alec Guinness in an acclaimed 1979 miniseries for British television, and Oldman was well

aware of the shoes into which he was stepping. “The glasses were a slight nod, an homage, to Mr. Guinness, yeah,” he says. “And maybe there are little characteristics, [but] you get a different interpretation. I mean, Guinness was nearly 70 when he played him. And because Tomas cast the movie younger across the board, my Smiley is not ready for retirement.” Oldman uses music as a metaphor. “You’ll hear pianists – they play the same music; Horowitz will play one way, [but] Rubinstein will see something else in the piece. It’s the same note, the same chords, but seen through a filter, through the prism of the individual. I felt there was a slightly crueller, harder edge to George in the book, for me. Maybe it was a side of him that Guinness decided to kind of put the damper pedal on. He [was] a bit more huggable.” 3 normw@nowtoronto.com

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DARK COMEDY

Cody cuts it

Young Adult script has edge and soul By SUSAN G. COLE YOUNG ADULT directed by Jason

Reitman, written by Diablo Cody, with Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt and Patrick Wilson. A Paramount release. 94 minutes. Opens Friday (December 16). For venues and times, see Movies page 76. Rating: NNNN

screenwriter diablo cody may have started out as a charming wise-ass with Juno, but she’s getting kinda nasty. Using her trademark flair for real talk and tapping the competitive vibe of Jennifer’s Body, she’s created the ultimate mean girl in Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron), the main character in Young Adult. Mavis has come back from Minneapolis to her hometown of Mercury, Minnesota, determined to snag her high school boyfriend Buddy (Patrick Wilson), who’s now happily married with a new baby. That’s not stopping the obviously deluded Mavis from believing that Buddy’s unhappy and needs to be rescued and that they’ll be setting off into the sunset together very soon. Cody’s come up with a fascinating character, at once repulsive and appealing. Mavis, who lives on her own with a perpetually empty fridge in an awful high-rise, ghostwrites a series of young adult books. (Cody herself is working on the screenplay for a film based on the Sweet Valley High series.) Despite the fact that she’s on the brink of failure – she’s on the last volume of her meal ticket book series – Mavis feels superior to everyone in Mercury. And when she’s talking trash, she’s vicious – and hilarious. Theron inhabits the role fearlessly in a performance that rivals her Oscar-winning turn as Aileen Wuornos in Monster. And this time

she doesn’t have a makeup artist to co-credit. She’s at once beautiful and hard to look at, especially when drunk or half-nude (imagine that), cruel and vulnerable, a grown-up with the emotional intelligence of an 18-year-old. A young adult, actually. Patton Oswalt is almost as good as Matt, the chubby guy whose school locker was next to Mavis’s; she doesn’t remember, of course. He’s on a crutch, the result of a high school beating that’s left him with a limp and a damaged sex life. Mavis considers him unworthy of her time, of course, until she starts getting lonely in her hometown. These deep characters are matched by pointed social satire. Buddy’s wife’s all-girl grunge band is gloriously awful. And Cody takes on media obsessions, too: reporters gave Matt’s teenage trauma huge attention when they thought he was gay-bashed but instantaneously lost interest when they found out he wasn’t queer. The big-box stores and strip malls that dominate Mercury’s landscape highlight the limitations of small-town life. Cody’s got her knives out, and they’re sharp. Look for her name and Theron’s on this year’s list of Oscar nominations. 3 susanc@nowtoronto.com

Oscar Odds Oscar doesn’t usually acknowledge comedies, but it has shown love for the previous efforts of director Jason Reitman, screenwriter Diablo Cody and star Charlize Theron. It’d be great to see comic Patton Oswalt acknowledged as best supporting actor for his breakthrough dramatic performance. NOW DECEMBER 15-21 2011

HOLIDAY MOVIE GUIDE Rooney Mara is fearless as Lisbeth Salander.

Tintin (left), Haddock and Snowy deliver some jaw-dropping Adventures.

REVIEW

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN (Steven Spielberg) / Rating: NNNN

Steven Spielberg’s debut animated feature, The Adventures Of Tintin, is the first “performance capture” movie that doesn’t look like it’s populated by walleyed zombies. More importantly, it’s a ripping adventure that introduces French cartoonist Hergé’s boy journalist, his faithful terrier, Snowy, and the boozy but noble Captain Haddock to a new generation of viewers. Based primarily on the adventure titled The Secret Of The Unicorn, the movie shows us how Tintin (played by Billy Elliot’s Jamie Bell) first meets Haddock (Andy Serkis, who pioneered performance capture as Gollum in The Lord Of The Rings) while chasing a story involving model ships, a shady fellow (Daniel Craig, whose character resembles a crankier than usual Kelsey Grammer) and pirate gold. Really, though, the mystery is just an excuse for Spielberg to craft a series of amazingly ambitious action sequences, one of which is as complex as the great truck chase in Raiders Of The Lost Ark, but without the restrictions (and safety concerns) of a physical shoot. Which means the “camera” can spin above, below and all around the chase as it plays out, with John Williams’s rousing score and some impressive 3-D effects adding extra punch. It’s thrilling – and, incidentally, a much more satisfying follow-up to Spielberg’s original Indiana Jones trilogy than that NW thing with the crystal skulls. Opens Wednesday (December 21).

6 QUESTIONS

JAMIE BELL / Actor, The Adventures Of Tintin Given that Steven Spielberg’s CG epic The Adventures Of Tintin was realized through digital performance capture, it’s okay if you don’t recognize Jamie Bell as the movie’s star. But that is indeed the former Billy Elliot under Tintin’s skin, all grown up and battling his way across a virtual Europe. In Toronto for a Tintin preview screening, Bell – still carrying himself with a dancer’s precision – sat down to chat about getting to know his fictional character and working with an imaginary co-star, among other things. You’re playing an internationally beloved adventure hero and you can’t use your own face. What was the performance-capture experience like? First, you put enormous trust in the people who are at the helm of everything, and that can be a very comforting thing. These are pioneers in their

DECEMBER 15-21 2011 NOW

Oscar Odds It’s a shoo-in for a best animated feature nod, but an adapted screenplay nomination for Steven Moffat (Doctor Who), Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World) and Joe Cornish (Attack the Block) for their translation of the books by Hergé would have every film nerd on the planet tuning in on Oscar night. field of technology, so even though you may feel ridiculous and look stupid, you trust that eventually it’s all going to come together and be fine. But you’re using your body constantly – you don’t stop. There are no breaks in performance capture; it’s not like you have to reset cameras or bring in new sets or anything like that. You’re never pressed for time; the sun is never going down. And you got to work with Andy Serkis, who pioneered performance capture as Gollum in the Lord Of The Rings films and became the goto actor for the process. You guys are both in King Kong as humans, but he also played the ape. Yeah, he’s the Gandalf of motion capture, for sure. [And] when you’re working with a master, you don’t ask him questions – you watch and listen and just kind of try to keep up with him as best you can. Every scene I did with Andy was a lot of fun – just to get the chance to watch him completely immerse himself in these characters was wild. Steven loved when Andy would do his big “Blistering barnacles!” stuff.

And at the opposite end of things, there’s Tintin’s dog, Snowy, who only exists in the CG realm. Basically, we had this wire-frame dog with a stick up its bum that our prop guy, Brad, ran around with. I think he lost, like, 20 pounds making the movie. Steven and Peter [Jackson] would constantly give Snowy things to do in a scene. Because he doesn’t exist in the real world, he could easily have been forgotten, and I think he brings so much lightness and charm to the film. Did the role require any research on your part? I was a huge Tintin fan as a kid, so I knew the sensibility of the book. I knew who he was, and I especially knew the relationship between him and Haddock was a very specific one – parent-child, just in reverse. And all these other very specific things about the Tintin universe that you know if you’re a fan. I came fully armed with that stuff, but I just curious as to, like, who is he? And what was the answer? You can ask Tintin fans around the world, and people go, “I don’t actually know anything about him at all!” That was an issue for me; it’s hard to get into a character when there’s nothing to know about him. Our writing team was like, “We need to present him as the character in the books. That’s what we need to do.” So what did they decide? I mean, how old is he supposed to be? Hergé said he was, like 16, but I mean, for me he’s ageless. He doesn’t have an NORMAN WILNER age.

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MYSTERY/THRILLER

Girl, interrupted This Dragon Tattoo lacks intensity By SUSAN G. COLE THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO directed by David Fincher, written by Steven Zaillian from the book by Stieg Larsson, with Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara and Stellan Skarsgård. A Sony Pictures release. 157 minutes. Opens Tuesday (December 20). For venues and times, see Movies, page 76. Rating: NNN

usually, there’s no need for Hollywood to remake good movies made in another language, and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is no exception. It’s a still a taut thriller, sure, and Daniel Craig’s disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist, who’s trying to find out what happened to the niece of Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), a wealthy industrialist, has more charisma than Swedish counterpart Michael Nyqvist’s. But when David Fincher’s at the helm, you expect a little more style and a lot more inventiveness, especially when it comes to the bulk of the investigative work, which in Stieg Larsson’s source material takes place at a computer or in a library. Blomkvist clicks endlessly on his laptop, and Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), the ingenious computer hacker and researcher he enlists to assist in the investigation, busily flips through the pages of archived newspapers. Didn’t we see that kind of filmmaking over 30 years ago when those All The President’s Men reporters spent days in the Library of Congress? It’s especially disappointing given the hyper-intense opening credit sequence, featuring Trent Reznor’s ferocious metal screaming on the soundtrack. Nothing that follows in the actual movie matches that intensity. In fact, the

Oscar Odds Expect best picture, director (David Fincher) and adapted screenplay nods for this American take on the Stieg Larsson novel. A strong year for actors may mean never-nominated leads Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara get squeezed out, but Stellan Skarsgård could be recognized in the supporting category. And don’t count out the score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who won the award last year for Fincher’s The Social Network. rest of Reznor’s work pales compared to Jacob Groth’s music in the Swedish version, which helps imbue the original with its powerful sense of dread. That’s what’s missing in the English-language adaptation: mood. Weird, given what Fincher achieved with Seven. There, every time investigators walk into a room you know something awful awaits them. But where the Swedish Tattoo, aided by Groth’s eerie music, makes sure the tension levels rise every time Blomqvist crosses the bridge into the Vanger family’s island compound, Fincher uses the bridge sequences purely to establish location. Mara, as the titular troubled Tattoo girl, gives the movie great energy. She’s got just the right quality of feral fearlessness and, even though Craig has more screen time, she takes over the film in a way that justifies the title. And the story is gripping. If you’ve seen the Swedish adaptation, this one’s superfluous. But if you’re like the majority of North Americans and have a hate-on for subtitles – Hollywood firmly believes that means most of you – go for it. 3 susanc@nowtoronto.com

= Critic’s Pick NNNNN = Top ten of the year NNNN = Honourable mention NNN = Entertaining NN = Mediocre N = Bomb

Thomas Horn (left) and Tom Hanks play son and father in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.

John C. Reilly (left), Jodie Foster, Christoph Waltz and Kate Winslet dig deep in nasty Carnage.

Interviewing an icon

Talking to the guy who played chess with Death is kinda scary By NORMAN WILNER EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE directed by Stephen Daldry, written by Eric Roth from the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, with Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn and Max von Sydow. A Warner Bros. release. 129 minutes. Opens December 25.

i was supposed to interview max von Sydow in person in New York City, but media junket schedules being what they are, we’ve ended up speaking on the telephone. In an odd way, this feels better; having met the Swedish actor briefly at the press conference for Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, I was worried I’d be speechless in his presence. This is the man who played chess with Death in Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, one of the greatest films ever made. Other people would think of him first as Christ in The Greatest Story Ever Told, or as Father Merrin in The Exorcist – all iconic performances. Throw in the fact that he’s a very tall and imposing figure, and… well, I’m happy with the phone call. Besides, there’s something great about von Sydow discussing his role in Extremely Loud with only his voice, since his character in that film – identified only as the Renter – communicates exclusively through written notes. “He speaks,” von Sydow says, “but he speaks through his texts.” The Renter’s silence stems from his surviving the bombing of Dres-

INTERVIEW

MAX VON SYDOW den as a child – a trauma that helps him understand what young Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) is experiencing after losing his father in the World Trade Center on 9/11. The Renter ends up assisting Oskar in his journey through New York’s five boroughs as he tries to solve a mystery he believes his father has left behind for him. Von Sydow’s mournful, stoic performance becomes an anchor for the audience. “It is a balancing act, in a way, between what the Renter feels and what he dares to show,” von Sydow says. “It’s not he who goes looking for the boy; it’s the boy who looks him up. But the Renter tries, tenderly, to help the boy. “I think it’s a wonderful form of therapy that the boy chooses,” he continues, “in deciding to find some-

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Oscar Odds I’d be shocked if Max von Sydow doesn’t land a best supporting actor nomination. Also possible: adapted screenplay (Eric Roth has three nominations and a win for Forrest Gump) and supporting nods for Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. If the movie gains best-picture momentum, a dark-horse best actor nod for 14-year-old Thomas Horn would blow our minds. thing, some kind of message from his father, because his father gave him so much inspiration to do interesting things. It’s not just a film about 9/11; it’s a film about hope. Hope and love, also.” I ask where he sees the role of the Renter fitting into his filmography, but von Sydow says he doesn’t arrange his work in a continuum, preferring to do as many different things as possible. “When you have a certain success with a certain type of character, [you’re] frequently asked to do it again, with some other name, some other surroundings, et cetera,” he says. “But that is very boring for an actor. I want to fight it, because that’s not my thing.” 3 normw@nowtoronto.com

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DOMESTIC DRAMA

Carnage kills CARNAGE (Roman Polanski). 79 minutes. Opens December 23. Rating: NNNN

Roman Polanski’s Carnage may not be something you’d call a holiday delight, but it’s a damn fine little picture. Based on Yasmina Reza’s play, it chronicles one very long afternoon in the Brooklyn home of Penelope (Jodie Foster) and Michael (John C. Reilly), who’ve invited over another couple, Nancy (Kate Winslet) and Alan (Christoph Waltz). See, Nancy and Alan’s son hit Penelope and Michael’s son with a tree branch. The parents have gathered to write a letter for the school’s disciplinary committee. It doesn’t go well. Conciliation turns to friction, friction to aggression, and aggression explodes into rage – though not before Nancy has already exploded in her own fashion, barfing up some cobbler that Penelope had served. Allegiances shift and mutate, and supportive marriages fracture as the argument reconfigures along gender lines. Polanski is a master at shooting this sort of thing. Anyone who’s seen his nimble adaptation of Death And The Maiden knows he can turn a static drama into a pulsing, unnerving endurance test. Here, he does it with smart casting and one brilliant visual conceit. Working with American accents, Winslet and Waltz instantly seem just a hair more composed than Foster and Reilly, which subtly reinforces

Oscar Odds If the Academy’s in the mood for intensity, twotime winner Jodie Foster could land a best actress nomination, and Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz could come away with supporting nods. Roman Polanski can’t be counted out for best director – many believe he was unjustly overlooked for The Ghost Writer last year – and an adapted screenplay nomination seems likely given the picture’s literary pedigree. the class difference between the two couples – and initially puts us on Penelope and Michael’s side. That shifts as the characters reveal themselves, and Polanski exploits our initial response to the fullest, placing the actors in an arena of constant tension, a wall mirror within the frame giving us the sense that the characters are stalking each other – or themselves – through the apartment. Polanski knows when to nudge, push or shove. When the movie switches from deliberate, locked-down shots to hand-held close-ups, the audience at my screening flinched like they’d been slapped. Foster and Waltz deliver the most compelling performances – Foster whipping herself into a righteous fury at any provocation, and Waltz cheerfully doing most of the provoking – though Winslet has her moments as well. And while Reilly’s natural affability works against him in a couple of key scenes, he’s by no means a weak link. NORMAN WILNER

NOW PLAYING NOW DECEMBER 15-21 2011

HOLIDAY MOVIE GUIDE Jeremy Irvine hugs it out with his best friend in War Horse.

Horse sense

Newcomer rides high in epic flick By GLENN SUMI WAR HORSE directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis from the book by Michael Morpurgo, with Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, Peter Mullan, Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch. A DreamWorks film. 146 minutes. Opens December 25.

although jeremy irvine had no film or TV experience before starring in War Horse, in some ways he was destined to play the part. When his great-grandfather fought in the First World War, he rode a horse that looks remarkably like Joey, the lead “character” in Steven Spielberg’s new epic. “I’ve got photos: four white socks and a white cross across the nose,” says Irvine, who plays Albert, a country boy who raises Joey, loses him when he’s sold to the British cavalry and then tries to find him by enlisting in the army. “What’s even more incredible is that at the end of the war, when the horses were auctioned off, mostly for meat, my great-grandfather bought the horse back, just as Albert tries to do. I’ve even got the receipt, and it’s nearly the same amount that Albert offers.” None of this is a spoiler, of course. War Horse is a family-friendly story based on Michael Morpurgo’s book, and while North American theatre audiences might know it through the inventive stage play currently on Broadway and arriving in Toronto in February, in the UK it’s a cultural touchstone. “I’d had the book read to me by my parents when I was eight or nine, like most kids, and I remember it having a big impact on me,” says Irvine. “There’s something we can all relate to in the story. We’ve all had that childhood best friend – be it a sister, brother or animal. And we can all imagine what it’s like to have that taken away.” Unlike his ancestor, Irvine had little contact with horses before the film and had never once got in the saddle. But between auditions, he hung out at stables and consulted his younger brother, who’s training to be

DECEMBER 15-21 2011 NOW

INTERVIEW

JEREMY IRVINE a vet, and studied how he related to animals. The horses – several were used to play Joey – were real pros, too. “It really did feel like you were acting with them,” says Irvine, who says he only got stepped on once, during the audition process. “I remember putting my foot in the wrong place and the horse stamped on it. I was desperately trying to portray myself as this master horseman. The tears were real in that scene.” You’re going to be seeing a lot of Irvine in the near future. He’s currently taping a new BBC version of Great Expectations, opposite Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter, and in 2012 begins filming the war drama The Railway Man with Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz. He credits Spielberg with helping him feel comfortable in front of the camera. “He’s incredibly paternal,” says Irvine. “On the back of his chair, instead of saying ‘Director,’ it said ‘Dad.’ And you really felt that sort of genuine care. One of his greatest skills is his ability to put you at ease. The set was massive – trailers, big pieces of machinery – but at the end of the day you got in front of the camera and it was just you, another actor or a horse, and Steven Spielberg.” 3 glenns@nowtoronto.com

See review of War Horse December 22 at nowtoronto.com/movies. Oscar Odds With its epic scale, heartrending story and nonpartisan look at the effects of war, War Horse should easily score major nominations for best picture, director (Steven Spielberg) and all the design categories. And if Spielberg wins for this and his Tintin picks up best animated feature, he will go down in Oscar history.

Pina Bausch’s dancers will drench you with emotion.

Oscar Odds Wim Wenders’s homage to dance great Pina Bausch is Germany’s entry for best foreign language film and has also made the long list for best documentary.

REVIEW

PINA (Wim Wenders) / Rating: NNNN Wim Wenders’s magnificent homage to dance great Pina Bausch doesn’t reveal a lot about the woman – she died right before shooting was set to begin – but it does capture the essence of her art through excerpts from suggestive, richly dramatic works like The Rite Of Spring and Café Müller. Wenders uses 3-D technology effectively, allowing the viewer to practically feel the heat emanating from the dancers’ bodies and get up close to complex configurations that defy description. The range of settings includes traditional stages as well as parks and rivers outside Bausch’s Tanztheater Wuppertal. The performers, interviewed in unconventional ways – we see them, but hear them on a separate track – recall Bausch with affection and intelligence. GS Of course, they communicate best through dance.

Let’s dance

Wim Wenders waited decades for Pina By GLENN SUMI PINA written and directed by Wim Wenders. 110 minutes. Subtitled. A Mongrel Media release. Opens December 23.

wim wenders waited 20 years to make a documentary about dance great Pina Bausch, only to have his subject pass away two days before shooting was to begin. “It was completely unforeseen,” says the Wings Of Desire director. “She was diagnosed with cancer and five days later she was dead.” We’re sitting in a quiet hotel room on the first day of the Toronto Film Festival, and the elegant German auteur, his face dominated by a pair of rounded black-framed glasses, is telling me about the influence Bausch had on his life and work. He vividly recalls seeing her Café

INTERVIEW

WIM WENDERS Müller in Venice in 1985. “I’d never been interested in dance before,” he says, so softly I have to move closer to hear. “I’d seen some classical ballet and modern dance, but it didn’t touch me. When I saw

SQUEAKQUEL

Alvin annoys ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (Mike Mitchell). 87 minutes. Opens Friday (December 16). For venues and times, see Movies, page 76. Rating: N

The third entry in the irritating Alvin And The Chipmunks franchise ditches the Behind The Music rodent pop star scenario in favour of a castaway comedy premise. Jason Lee’s human guardian tries to take the Chipmunks and Chipettes on a cruise ship, but through a series of ridiculous scenarios they all fall into the sea and end up trapped on

Alvin (right) and his furry friends won’t float your boat.

a desert island with Jenny Slate (the former SNL cast member famous for her on-air F-bomb) as a treasureobsessed recluse and series villain David Cross, who for some reason wears a bird costume.

this, it moved me like nothing else. Pina’s use of dance as language, of bodies and movement, was on one hand very cinematic, and on the other went beyond anything I’d ever seen in movies.” He approached Bausch about making a film, and she gave her consent, but the director soon realized film couldn’t capture what he witnessed onstage. “When you see dance live, especially Pina’s work, it has a quality that doesn’t translate to the screen. I didn’t know what it was and racked my brain trying to find a solution.” Years passed. “And every time I saw Pina, she’d ask me, ‘Are you there?’ and I’d say, ‘Pina, not yet.’” Then came the idea to film in 3-D, long before James Cameron’s Avatar hit the screen and made it viable. “3-D enabled me to enter the kingdom of dance,” he says. “Which was space.” Bausch’s sudden death, however, ended the project. Wenders called off the film, believing it pointless. But her dancers, still shaken from their loss, convinced him to continue. “They were rehearsing four pieces that Pina had programmed, and said they didn’t know if they were ever going to dance these again,” he says. He came up with another concept, filming these four pieces, as well as dance segments in and around Bausch’s Wuppertal theatre. He also interviewed the dancers, although definitely not in a “talking heads” style. “I realized if I couldn’t do a film with Pina, I could do one for her,” he says. “I could make a film together with the dancers. Not so much with words, but with dance.” 3 glenns@nowtoronto.com

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The new setting means the Chipmunks do more slapstick than singing, while the three talented human actors are stuck looking befuddled or tripping over their CGI cast-mates. Only Cross is allowed to override the limp screenplay with a few smirk-inducing one-liners. Alas, the filmmakers make no effort to enhance the Chipmunks’ lacklustre characterization or animation. But with over $800 million in box office receipts so far, no one’s anxious to fix this franchise. Preschool viewers might enjoy the movie, since they seem immune to the Chipmunks’ high-pitched squeaks, but after 20 minutes, everyone else will want to cover their ears to PHIL BROWN make the pain go away.

= Critic’s Pick NNNNN = Top ten of the year NNNN = Honourable mention NNN = Entertaining NN = Mediocre N = Bomb

Matt Damon (right) and Colin Ford can’t sell their Zoo story.

dramedy

Don’t buy it We Bought A Zoo (Cameron Crowe). 124 minutes. Opens December 23. Rating: NN The family in We Bought A Zoo attempt to forge a new life after the death of their matriarch six months earlier. Similarly, the movie’s director,

Cameron Crowe, attempts to resuscitate his features career after the disastrous Elizabethtown nearly killed it six years ago. Matt Damon stars as Benjamin Mee, a thrill-seeking journalist with a troubled emo son and a precocious little girl who seems manufactured to giggle adorably – she does so at every opportunity.

The mourning Mee clan leave their troubles behind and embark on a mission to rehabilitate a broken-down zoo, which the characters themselves will practically tell you is an allegory for rehabilitating themselves. From taming a depressed grizzly bear to taming an emotionally torn pubescent, the unfocused movie finds whimsical solutions to the incredible challenges the Mee family faces, which makes it that much harder to believe it’s based on a true story. Call it a fluffy, family-friendly alternative to The Descendants, with Damon, George Clooney’s Ocean’s 11 pal, doing a whole lot of mugging to make the heavy-handed dramedy work. There’s an audience for such lazy sentimentality, which means Crowe’s half-hearted attempt to revive his career might actually succeed. rADheyAN simoNPillAi

“ONE OF THE BEST PERFORMANCES OF THE YEAR

IN ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF 2011.”

also opening winner Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille) makes his live-action debut, and he may inject some new life into the Tom Cruise series. Another good thing? The Hurt Locker’s Jeremy Renner plays one of Cruise’s IMF colleagues. A decent flick might not be such an impossible mission after all.

The Darkest Hour (D: Chris Gorak, 89 min) Clearly programmed to appeal to those uninterested in serious Oscar fare or dumb comedies, this alien movie stars Emile Hirsch as one of the few people left to battle energy-sucking aliens. Looks like fun.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (D: Brad Bird, 133 min) The most surprising thing about the new Mission: Impossible film is the choice of director. Two-time Oscar

M:I opens Friday (December 16). See review December 16 at nowtoronto. com/movies. Hour opens December 25. See review December 29.

“ONE OF THE YEAR’S BEST FILMS... OLDMAN GIVES A PERFORMANCE THAT IS FLAWLESS.”

“FASCINATINGLY GRIPPING...

A PLEASURABLY SLY AND INVOLVING PUZZLER.” Josh “Skreech” Sandoval pops a cold one in Dragonslayer.

doc

Tame Dragon DrAgoNslAyer (Tristan Patterson). 73

“

★★★★★”

“CHARLIZE

THERON IS A COMIC FORCE OF NATURE.”

“AN ENORMOUSLY IMPRESSIVE PIECE OF WORK...

THE GREAT SPY TALE OF OUR TIME.”

Mick LaSalle

Peter Travers

minutes. Opens Friday (December 16) at the Royal. See Indie & Rep Film, page 82. Rating: NNN

Tristan Patterson’s Hot Docs and SXSW Film Fest award-winning documentary, Dragonslayer, takes a complex, if somewhat too glossy, look at a skate punk celebrity afflicted by mounting personal and economic responsibilities. Professional skateboarder Josh “Skreech” Sandoval once had real talent and multiple sponsorships, but then he began skipping competitions and rarely showed up sober. His star somewhat faded, he travels the California suburbs with his younger girlfriend like a nomad, living out of tents and RVs, searching for little more than good times and abandoned pools. Expertly shot and edited but lacking the gritty realism the material deserves, the film is as hard to peg down as its subject. While Sandoval is unquestionably a dynamic character, Patterson’s use of multiple camera set-ups and a framing device intended to make the film feel like a lyric poem draws needless attention to style instead of substance. It looks almost too good to illustrate the modern skate punk scene. Then again, all that style might hint at Patterson’s greater thesis about punk going mainstream. ANDreW PArKer

“THE YEAR’S MOST

STYLISH AND SOPHISTICATED THRILLER! GARY OLDMAN IS SUPERB.” “A BEAUTIFULLY SHOT,

TIGHTLY PACED THRILLER! GARY OLDMAN DELIVERS A FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE!”

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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 79.

of TinTin ñThe AdvenTures nnnn

(Steven Spielberg) 108 min. See interview and review, page 72. (NW) Opens Dec 21 at 401 & Morningside, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Grande - Yonge, Queensway, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Mississauga, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24.

Alvin And The Chipmunks: ChipwreCked (Mike Mitchell) 87 min. See

review, page 74. n Opens Dec 16 at 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Carlton Cinema, Coliseum Mississauga, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Empire Theatres at Empress Walk, Grande - Steeles, Kennedy Commons 20, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Mississauga, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale.

Anonymous (Roland Emmerich) is a Da

Vinci Code wannabe that questions the authorship of Shakespeare’s plays to unspool a ridiculous plot about burned manuscripts, incest and royal bed-hopping. Disaster pic specialist Emmerich makes the most of his CGI-created Elizabethan setting and mob scenes, but the tone is wildly uneven and the performances stiff. 130 min. n (GS) Interchange 30, Regent Theatre, Yonge & Dundas 24

ñArThur ChrisTmAs

(Sarah Smith) is the best all-ages Christmas movie since Elf. It’s a giddy, computer-generated romp through the hierarchy of the North Pole, with Santa’s awkward younger son (voiced by James McAvoy) racing with his geriatric granddad (Bill Nighy) on an outmoded sleigh to bring an undelivered present to a child on Christmas morning. As they’ve done since the early days of Wallace & Gromit, Aardman’s animators lure us in with clever jokes and ingenious visuals, and then sucker-punch us by revealing unexpected emotional depths. And then there’s Bryony the wrapping elf, who deserves her own sequel. 97 min. nnnn (NW) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Canada Square, Carlton Cinema, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Grande Yonge, Queensway, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24

ñThe ArTisT

(Michel Hazanavicius) is a stylistic experiment pulled off with panache. In 1927 Hollywood, silent film star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) and fan

and aspiring star Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) meet cute, and soon her career is taking off (she’s dubbed the “it girl” of talkies) as his falls into decline. Filming in gorgeous black-and-white, director Hazanavicius lovingly embraces all the tropes of silent cinema (iris shots, titles), sharpening the familiar narrative with a slight edge that should satisfy contemporary tastes. John Goodman and James Cromwell fit beautifully into secondary roles, and Bejo is winning as the ambitious ingenue, but it’s Cannes best-actor winner Dujardin who shows the widest range as the glamorous matinee idol who’s not even upstaged by his acrobatic dog. 100 min. nnnn (GS) Grande - Yonge, Varsity

ñCAfé de flore

(Jean-Marc Vallée) finds writer/director Vallée returning to the fluid, intuitive filmmaking that made him a sensation with C.R.A.Z.Y. Café De Flore plays out a complex, time-jumping narrative involving a present-day Montreal father (Kevin Parent) in the throes of a midlife crisis and the mother (Vanessa Paradis) of a Down syndrome child in 1969 Paris. Parent’s character is a DJ, and that’s the role Vallée assumes as a filmmaker, tracking powerful emotional beats against themes sampled from Krzysztof Kieslowski, Nicolas Roeg and early Denis Villeneuve. Some people are going to hate it; I found it bracing, daring and entirely invigorating. A word of advice: when the credits start rolling, remain seated. Subtitled. 120 min. nnnnn (NW) Cumberland 4

ConTAgion (Steven Soderbergh) is a dis-

ease procedural about the Center for Disease Control’s response to the outbreak of an unknown virus with the potential to kill millions. Soderbergh keeps the action zipping along like a thriller with short, sharp scenes, purely visual storytelling and liberal use of pounding music. 105 min. nnn (AD) Yonge & Dundas 24

The debT (John Madden) has plot holes all over the place – no one notices spies smuggling a body into an apartment, for example – but it’s an effective nail-biter. Three Mossad agents return to Israel as heroes after they’ve tracked down and killed a Nazi war criminal. Or have they? The Debt features a fascinating moral dilemma, but that doesn’t surface till way late, so the film isn’t nearly as weighty as it wants to be. It’s really just a thriller with superb performances, especially by Helen Mirren as the agent whose daughter has written a book about the case, and Tom Wilkinson as the spymaster who fears for his reputation. Watch for the scene where one of the spies gets a gynecological exam. Totally terrifying. 112 min. nnn (SGC) Mt Pleasant

ñThe desCendAnTs

(Alexander Payne) stars George Clooney as a Hawaiian lawyer trying to cope with his wife’s impending death from a brain injury, figure out how to relate to his two young daughters (Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller) and digest the revelation that she was cheating on him before her accident. Payne’s first feature since Sideways treads the same prickly, seriocomic ground, focusing on a man who’s not quite as equipped to deal with himself as he believes himself to be. The subject matter plays more seriously, but Clooney’s textured performance pulls uneasy laughs out of the misery, and the kids are terrific at the complicated emotional turns. And as good as they all are, it’s Judy Greer who ends up stealing the picture with just three stunning scenes as a sympathetic spectator to the family drama. 115 min. nnnn (NW) Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Yonge, Kennedy Commons

Bérénice Bejo is picture perfect as a rising 1920s film star in The Artist.

20, Queensway, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Mississauga, Varsity

drAgonslAyer (Tristan Patterson) 75

min. See review, page 75. nnn Opens Dec 16 at the Royal. For times, see Indie & Rep Film, page 82.

ñdrive

(Nicolas Winding Refn) is a solid riff on stylish 80s brooders like Michael Mann’s Thief and William Friedkin’s To Live And Die In L.A. As a stunt driver who moonlights as a wheelman for hire, Ryan Gosling finds the middle ground between Steve McQueen and a Terminator, but Albert Brooks walks off with the picture as a gimlet-eyed heavy with a fondness for edged weapons. 100 min. nnnn (NW) Carlton Cinema, Interchange 30, Kingsway Theatre

eliTe squAd: The enemy wiThin (José Padilha) is a kinetic, blood-soaked action movie that plays like a jacked version of The Wire. Wagner Moura (with Mark Ruffalolike intensity) stars as Nascimento, the former head of an aggresive special ops unit (their nickname is the Skulls) who gets promoted to the political side of the war on drugs. From behind a desk, he proves especially effective in tooling up the Skulls with massive firepower and getting rid of the cartels, but that leaves a crime vacuum in the slums that corrupt cops are more than willing to fill. The plot’s riddled with as many contrivances as bullets, and the film’s moralizing, finger-wagging conclusion seems like a fairy tale, but the gritty aesthetic, intense violence, pulsating pace and gallery of rogue characters serve as enjoyable distractions from those flaws. Elite Squad is gruesome and entertaining but earnestly tries to be more. Subtitled. 116 min. nnn (RS) Carlton Cinema The eye of The sTorm (Fred Schepisi)

stars Charlotte Rampling, who’s been remarkably good at playing craggy old women lately (see Melancholia), as a bourgeois woman on her deathbed who’s anticipating the visit of her two estranged and needy adult children (Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis). She seems acutely aware of their selfish motives but still welcomes the chance to spit a bit more venom their way. Director Schepisi’s chamber piece is a perceptive and comic look at the fraught relationships, class barriers and sexual tensions within and around this damaged family, which includes the doting servants who can’t help but get mixed up in all the drama.

= Critics’ Pick nnnnn = Top ten of the year nnnn = Honourable mention nnn = Entertaining nn = Mediocre n = Bomb

401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Coliseum Scarborough, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Yonge, Interchange 30, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Mississauga, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Varsity

ñthe iDes oF March

(George Cloo ney) is a nimble adaptation of Beau Willimon’s stage play Farragut North, about the ideological deflowering of a campaign strategist (Ryan Gosling) as he ushers a hopeychangey Democratic governor (Clooney) through the Ohio presidential pri mary. The plot’s a Mamety mixture of be trayal, disillusionment and highstakes brinksmanship, but it’s performed by a cast working at peak efficiency. 100 min. NNNN (NW) Canada Square, Carlton Cinema, Kennedy Commons 20, Kingsway Theatre, Yonge & Dundas 24

iMMortals (Tarsem Singh) is the latest Greek mythology movie to follow 300’s lead by wallowing in carnage. Future Man of Steel Henry Cavill lets his pecs do the talking as Theseus, a peasant warrior who must protect the heavens and earth from Mickey Rourke’s would be conqueror. With characters as colourless and stiff as Greek statues, Immortals has a whole lot of tor ture and death, but not enough life. 111 min. NN (RS) 401 & Morningside, Carlton Cinema, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Humber Cinema, Queensway, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale Unfortunately, the film’s pace is as meand ering as the forgetful character at its centre, and Schepisi often gets carried away with visuals that feel more theatrical than inti mate. 114 min. NNN (RS) Cumberland 4

ñ50/50

(Jonathan Levine) is a shaggy and entertaining buddy movie that just happens to have lifeordeath stakes, based as it is on screenwriter Will Reiser’s own diagnosis with a rare spinal tumour. Joseph GordonLevitt is terrific, Anna Kendrick is great as his novice therapist and Seth Rogen – essentially playing himself – is rocksolid. 99 min. NNNN (NW) Canada Square, Carlton Cinema, Scotiabank Theatre

Footloose (Craig Brewer) is a slavish re

make of a movie that wasn’t all that good to begin with. Kenny Wormald steps into Kevin Bacon’s dancing shoes as Ren, a twin kletoed teen from Boston who moves to a Southern city where partying’s outlawed. Wormald (a charmless actor but a very ca pable dancer) sticks to Bacon’s old moves, which aren’t exactly a thrill in the age of Step Up and How She Move. 113 min. N (RS) Interchange 30

the Girl With the DraGoN tattoo

(David Fincher) 158 min. See review, page 72. NNN (SGC) Opens Dec 20 at 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Empire Theatres at Empress Walk, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Varsity.

ñthe GuarD

(John Michael McDon agh) is showy, smart and hysterically funny, which is no mean feat for a movie about a smalltown Garda sergeant (Bren dan Gleeson) and an FBI agent (Don Cheadle) on the trail of a drugsmuggling ring in rural Ireland. Damned if it isn’t one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. 96 min. NNNNN (NW) Canada Square, Carlton Cinema, Kingsway Theatre

ñhappy Feet tWo

(George Miller) continues the CGI saga of Mumble the tapdancing penguin – voiced again by Eli jah Wood – by giving him a son who doesn’t want to dance. But that becomes a second ary issue once a glacial catastrophe separ ates them from the rest of their Antarctic colony. Director and cowriter Miller brings

back most of your favourite characters (as well as the ones voiced by Robin Williams) and introduces a few intriguing new ones: a puffin named Sven (Hank Azaria, basically recycling Bartok the bat from Anastasia) who promises salvation through flight and a particularly ambitious krill (voiced with considerable good humour by Brad Pitt) whose existential crisis sends him on a quest for purpose under the ice shelf. It sounds crazy, and yet it all builds to a spec tacular and even moving payoff. It’s incred ible that a movie this objectively nuts can reach for that sort of profundity and achieve it. 100 min. NNNN (NW) 401 & Morningside, Canada Square, Coliseum Mississauga, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Empire Theatres at Empress Walk, Grande - Steeles, Kennedy Commons 20, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Mississauga, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24

the help (Tate Taylor) is a successful adap tation of Kathryn Stockett’s megaselling novel thanks to another powerful perform ance by Viola Davis (Doubt) as a maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who agrees to share her story with an upstart journalist. Too bad the junior league matrons exploit ing the help play their parts to stereotyp ically shrieking heights. 137 min. NNN (SGC) Interchange 30 huGo (Martin Scorsese) is the first Scor

sese picture that doesn’t feel like a Scorsese picture. It’s set in and around a Paris train station somewhere in the late 1920s, where the eponymous urchin (Asa Butterfield) spends his days hidden within the station walls, maintaining the building’s huge clocks. When Hugo pilfers toy parts from a crotchety shop owner (Ben Kingsley), it trig gers a series of discoveries which lead to... well, a heartfelt appeal for film preserva tion and a love song to pioneering film dir ector Georges Méliès. That’s because Hugo isn’t really the story of an urchin in a train station; that’s just its starting point. You can feel Scorsese growing less and less in terested in the emotional beats, because he’s itching to get to the set pieces, where he can resurrect the images and techniques of the early silents he so clearly loves. I don’t begrudge Scorsese for making this bauble; after decades of tireless advocacy for cinema history, it’s probably the best way to get his message out. I just don’t know whether it works as a movie. 126 min. NNN (NW)

SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Mississauga, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24

Carlton Cinema, Grande - Yonge, Kennedy Commons 20

le havre (Aki Kaurismäki) strains credulity,

koff) is a rerelease in 3D of the iconic ani mated film about a death, love and courage on the African veldt. 87 min. Interchange 30

but that’s the point. Goodhearted French bohemian Marcel (André Wilms) works shining shoes in the port city of Le Havre, and times are very tough. But he’s well loved by his friends, neighbours and espe cially his wife (Kati Outinen), who, unbe knownst to him, is gravely ill. When he de cides to help an illegal refugee (Blondin Miguel), he must figure out a way to elude a very dogged police inspector (JeanPierre Darroussin). This is an unabashed fairy tale that doesn’t ooze irony like Finnish director Kaurismäki’s other movies. But it expertly evokes its titular location and has many quiet pleasures, chief among them its deft performances. Wilms especially is a delight, the kind of sly fox you want to root for. Sub titled. 93 min. NNN (SGC) Mt Pleasant, TIFF Bell Lightbox

ñlike crazy

(Drake Doremus) tracks American Jacob (Anton Yelchin) and Brit Anna (Felicity Jones), who fall madly in love in college and then are separated. The spare, improvised script and deeply felt per formances by the appealing leads make this a real heartbreaker, the most affecting ro mance since John Carney’s Once. 84 min. NNNN (GS)

the lioN kiNG 3D (Roger Allers, Rob Min

MaGic to WiN (Wilson Yip) is a film about a college student who gains wizardly pow ers and ends up trying to save the universe. Subtitled. 100 min. Kennedy Commons 20 MarGiN call (J.C. Chandor) frames the first 48 hours of the 2008 finan cial meltdown like a moral horror story, as the traders at an overleveraged Wall Street firm debate whether they should save themselves at the expense of the global economy. Kevin Spacey is flatout brilliant as a company lifer who sees what’s coming but is powerless to stop it. 106 min. NNNN (NW) Empire Theatres at Empress Walk, Kennedy Commons 20, Yonge & Dundas 24

ñMelaNcholia

(Lars von Trier) gets under your skin, and a moody after taste sticks with you long after it’s over. Given its contemplative vision, the director is obviously invested in what’s onscreen. His atmospheric, operatic, endofthe continued on page 78 œ

iN tiMe (Andrew Niccol) posits a future where time is literally money: people stop aging when they turn 25, and they get one year of time to spend as they see fit. (When you go broke, you drop dead.) When a work ingclass guy (Justin Timberlake) lands in possession of an extra century, he goes on the run with a wealthy young woman (Amanda Seyfried) to beat the system. The first hour is vibrant allegorical SF; the second devolves into a lot of running and jumping, and the capitalism metaphor hits a conceptual dead end. 109 min. NN (NW) Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Interchange 30, Yonge & Dundas 24 iNto the abyss (Werner Herzog) was buzzed at TIFF as Herzog’s capitalpunish ment documentary, but it’s really just an examination of a Texas triple homicide in which one perpetrator received a death sentence while another got life in prison. Herzog structures the doc into chapters – looking at the crime, the perpetrators, the victims and the manner in which a Texas prisoner is put to death – but within those chapters, the footage has a rambling, disor ganized feel. Herzog expresses his con tempt for the death penalty the moment he meets condemned prisoner Michael Perry, but this isn’t a work of advocacy; it’s just a contemplation of the process leading up to an execution. 106 min. NNN (NW) TIFF Bell Lightbox J. eDGar (Clint Eastwood) is the latest in Eastwood’s lateperiod series of stately pa trician duds. Dustin Lance Black seems to be writing a Douglas Sirk melodrama playing out in the corridors of American power, but Eastwood dances around the sexually risky material without ever fully committing to it. It’s just one big missed opportunity. 135 min. NN (NW) Canada Square, Colossus, Grande - Steeles, Grande - Yonge, Humber Cinema, Kennedy Commons 20, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Scotiabank Theatre, Varsity Jack aND Jill (Dennis Dugan) is Adam

Sandler’s latest overextended sketch. He plays both a commercial director trying to land Al Pacino for an ad and his annoying twin sister, who inexplicably attracts the actor’s eye. The irritating onenote comedy is worth watching only to see Pacino delib erately ham his way into selfparody for once. 91 min. N (Phil Brown) 401 & Morningside, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande Steeles, Kennedy Commons 20, Queensway, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine,

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NOW

december 15-21 2011

401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Empire Theatres at Empress Walk, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale

œcontinued from page 77

our new heroes have convinced Kermit and company to save their theatre from an evil oilman, none of that matters. Co-written and co-produced with deep, abiding love by star Segel, The Muppets recaptures the unpredictable energy and genuine magic of Jim Henson’s beloved felt creations and releases that energy back into the wild. It reminds us how much we love Kermit, Fozzie, Piggy, Animal, the Swedish Chef and all the rest, and it lets a lot of famous people – among them Feist, Emily Blunt and Neil Patrick Harris – pop up to express their own affection. No, the new songs by Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie don’t have the scale or impact of The Rainbow Connection; THE METROPOLITAN what could? But when OPERA: DON GIOVANNI Camilla the chicken EXPANDED REVIEWS – ENCORE is the re-prescovers Cee Lo, all is nowtoronto.com entation in high-def of right with the world. 98 the live high-def broadmin. NNNN (NW) cast of the Met’s new production of the 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, ColiMozart opera. 240 min. seum Mississauga, Colossus, Courtney Park December 17, 12:55 pm, at Beach Cinemas, 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Empire Theatres at Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum ScarborEmpress Walk, Grande - Steeles, Kennedy ough, Grande - Yonge, Queensway, ScotiaCommons 20, Queensway, Rainbow Market bank Theatre, SilverCity Yonge Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (Woody Allen) casts Mississauga, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams as an Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24 engaged couple vacationing in Paris, where at midnight, a vintage cab picks up a wanMY WEEK WITH MARILYN (Simon Curtis) is dering Wilson and takes him back in time to as star-struck by its subject as its narrator meet the great artists of the 20s. It’s a is. The film is based on the memoirs of Colin pleasurable narrative hook, but the mesClark (Eddie Redmayne), who served as sage that life is best lived in the present third assistant director to Laurence Olivier tense is too banal to make us care. 94 min. (Kenneth Branagh) on the disastrous proNN (SGC) duction of The Prince And The Showgirl. A Carlton Cinema, Regent Theatre gofer on set, Colin must keep tabs on the world allegory feels a bit like two separate movies that never fully connect the way the planets do in its conclusion. The first chapter is a delightfully sinister comedy about a wedding, its resentful guests and a bride (Kirsten Dunst) who suffers from depression on her big day. In the second chapter, a waiting game for mysterious planet Melancholia’s collision with Earth, von Trier patiently ratchets up the anxiety only subtly felt in the earlier segment. It’s an insightful metaphor for people who, like the planets, are better left in their own space. 135 min. NNNN (RS) Carlton Cinema, Kingsway Theatre, TIFF Bell Lightbox

THE SKIN I LIVE IN (Pedro Almodóvar) fea-

tures all of Almodóvar’s trademark kitsch, melodrama and recurring questions about sexual identity and voyeurism. Antonio Banderas plays a mad scientist who experiments with engineered skin on a fetching lab rat he keeps locked in his home. The jaw-dropping revelations and startling twists from tragedy to dark comedy would normally be impossible to swallow, but with Almodóvar it’s a weird and delectable dish. Subtitled. 117 min. NNN (RS) Canada Square, Yonge & Dundas 24

SLEEPING BEAUTY (Julia Leigh) fancies itself a deep inquiry into the unknowable mysteries of desire, but it’s really just a stilted and dramatically inert tale of a lovely college student (Emily Browning) who joins an elite brothel where wealthy men play with her unconscious body. Writer/director Leigh references Buñuel, Kubrick and Breillat, but without any of their knowledge, invention or impact, and wastes a potentially intriguing performance from Browning along the way. Maybe that’s part of Leigh’s larger metaphor, but I really doubt it. 101 min. NN (NW) Canada Square, Cumberland 4

more online

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL

(Brad Bird) 133 min. See Also Opening, page 75. Opens Dec 16 at 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Carlton Cinema, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Grande - Yonge, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale.

MONEYBALL (Bennett Miller) makes an entertaining if undistinguished sports movie out of Michael Lewis’s book about GM Billy Beane’s revolutionary statistics-based redesign of the 2002 Oakland As. It’s charming enough, though the midsection sags and the ending goes on about three beats longer than it should. 126 min. NNN (NW) Canada Square, Interchange 30, Kennedy Commons 20, Kingsway Theatre, Yonge & Dundas 24

ñTHE MUPPETS

(James Bobin) shouldn’t work. The story is clichéd, the music isn’t great, and the focus shifts awkwardly between small-town brothers Gary (Jason Segel) and Walter (a Muppet voiced by Peter Linz) and the classic characters we know and love. But somehow, once

Dragonslayer

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DECEMBER 15-21 2011 NOW

high-maintenance Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams, excellent), a task that leaves him vulnerable to her charms. There’s a coming-of-age tale buried somewhere here, in which Colin learns to be a man at the feet of the sassiest of women. Unfortunately, he barely registers as a character in a film that’s as easily distracted as Monroe. The film fails to come into focus on her, acknowledging the void between Monroe’s public persona and private life while doing very little to fill it. 101 min. NN (RS) Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Grande - Yonge, Kennedy Commons 20, Queensway, SilverCity Mississauga, Varsity, Yonge & Dundas 24

NEW YEAR’S EVE (Garry Marshall) is strictly

by the numbers, a generic exercise in empty momentum that follows various slick hipsters, lovelorn singletons and overprotective parents around New York over the course of the eponymous holiday. There’s no wit or charm in Katherine Fugate’s schematic screenplay, and producer-director Marshall doesn’t ask anything of his cast beyond saying their lines while staying in focus. Sure, you can amuse yourself by counting the Oscars won elsewhere by the cast – Robert De Niro and Hilary Swank each have two, Halle Berry has one, Michelle Pfeiffer’s been nominated for three – but that’ll just depress you, as will the sight of Russell Peters reduced to a stereotypical sidekick. It’s all about pandering to the lowest common denominator, which also explains the blatant ads for Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows and the Valentine’s Day Blu-ray and DVD that elbow their way into the final moments. 117 min. N (NW) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Carlton Cinema, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Grande - Yonge, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Mississauga, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24

THE NUTCRACKER – BOLSHOI BALLET LIVE

is a broadcast of the seasonal Tchaikovsky ballet, from Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre. 135 min. December 18, 1 pm, December 19, 6:30 pm, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarbor-

Take Shelter’s Jessica Chastain, here with Tova Stewart, won best supporting actress honours from the Toronto Film Critics Association (see page 82). ough, Colossus, Grande - Yonge, Queensway, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Yonge

PUSS IN BOOTS (Chris Miller) is an enter-

taining prequel for kids and adults focusing on the feline outlaw (voiced by Antonio Banderas), who teams up with his former best friend, Humpy Dumpty (a great Zach Galifianakis), to steal the goose that lays the golden eggs. Top-notch animation and voice performances compensate for some pretty sizable plot holes. 90 min. NNN (Andrew Parker) 401 & Morningside, Coliseum Mississauga, Colossus, Eglinton Town Centre, Empire Theatres at Empress Walk, Grande - Steeles, Humber Cinema, Kennedy Commons 20, Queensway, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Mississauga, SilverCity Yonge

REAL STEEL (Shawn Levy) has surprising

heart and intelligence for a movie about a father and son who bond over outsized games of Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots. That’s largely due to Hugh Jackman’s performance as a boxer-turned-robot-promoter who grudgingly takes charge of the son he barely knows (Dakota Goyo). It’s utterly predictable, but Levy hits his marks with warmth and energy, letting Jackman sell us on the emotions and the effects. And the kid’s pretty good, too. 127 min. NNN (NW) Interchange 30

THE RUM DIARY (Bruce Robinson) brings

Hunter S. Thompson’s early novel about a rookie journalist (Johnny Depp) plunged into the political corruption and general debauchery of 1960 Puerto Rico to the screen with its semi-autobiographical nature front and centre. It doesn’t totally gel, but Aaron Eckhart and Amber Heard do some really interesting work in the margins. 119 min. NNN (NW) Yonge & Dundas 24

SHAME (Steve McQueen) is a study of a successful New York suit (Michael Fassbender) who’s a slave to his sexual compulsions. Fassbender lays himself bare in every way imaginable, but the forceful visual sensibility that worked so well in McQueen’s previous film, the abstract Hunger, isn’t suited to the more human-scale story here. Shame’s set pieces feel like showy flourishes rather than grace notes that clarify and amplify the drama. Other problems are the miscasting of Carey Mulligan in a key role – she’s just not credible as her character or as Fassbender’s sister – and a final reel that finds the perfect ending and shoots right on past it, the better to pile on two or three more big emotional moments. 99 min. NNN (NW) Scotiabank Theatre, Varsity

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (Guy Ritchie) 129 min. See interview

and review, page 70. NNN (NW) Opens Dec 16 at 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Coliseum Mississauga, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Cumberland 4, Eglinton Town Centre, Empire Theatres at Empress Walk, Grande - Steeles, Kennedy Commons 20, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale.

THE SITTER (David Gordon Green) is a mild-

ly okay comedy with a sharp story, decent acting and a zippy pace, but only scattered chuckles and a few laughs. Twentysomething layabout Noah gets roped into babysitting the kids next door (an anxiety-ridden 13-year-old, his princess-crazed little sister and their bomb-happy brother), then into scoring some coke for a girl. This launches him and the kids into numerous car thefts, small explosions, fights, jewellery store and bat mitzvah heists and a bit of obligatory learning and growing. 81 min. NN (AD)

SURVIVING PROGRESS (Mathieu Roy, Harold Crooks) adapts historian Ronald Wright’s book A Short History Of Progress to look at the ill-defined notion that all forms of human advancement are inherently positive. Wright and company (including Margaret Atwood and David Suzuki) examine the difference between good and bad progress and just how fuzzy the line between the two becomes when dealing with environmental, evolutionary and economic matters. The many topics would be better served by a miniseries or something longer than 86 minutes. But this is an admirable film that’s bound to spark necessary and passionate discussions. 86 min. NNN (Andrew Parker) Cumberland 4

ñTAKE SHELTER

(Jeff Nichols) reunites Shotgun Stories director Nichols with star Michael Shannon for a piercing character study of a husband and father who starts having apocalyptic dreams every night. Shannon’s wrenching performance is the film; he conveys the uncertain terror of a man who’d almost prefer to be losing his mind if it means the rest of the world keeps going. 121 min. NNNN (NW) Carlton Cinema

THE THREE MUSKETEERS (Paul W.S. Ander-

son) is a stupid movie that owns its baser instincts, doesn’t try to be anything but and reminds that there are still some modest pleasures to be had. Director Anderson takes a blunt blade to the Alexandre Dumas novel, turning it into a B-movie with injections of Bond, Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Caribbean. The movie is practically a spoof, without the condescending tone. 110 min. NNN (RS) Interchange 30

SOLDIER SPY ñTINKER TAILOR NNNN

(Tomas Alfredson) 127 min. See interview and review, page 71. (NW) Opens Dec 16 at Varsity.

ñTOMBOY

(Céline Sciamma) is a compelling trans drama with great performances. When preteen Laure (Zoé Héran, in a fearless performance) moves to a suburb outside Paris, she starts passing as Mikhael among the neighbourhood kids. As the first day of school draws near – when Mikhael will surely be outed – the tension deepens. Sciamma (Water Lilies) sets almost all the action among the preteens, vividly portraying kid culture. Laure’s parents, though loving, can’t handle their daughter’s gender issues, but younger sister Jeanne (the amazing Malonn Lévana) totally gets it. Despite what you’ve heard, this isn’t a lesbian coming-of-age story. Laure doesn’t want to be Mikhael because she’s a budding dyke hot for girls, but because she

= Critics’ Pick NNNNN = Top ten of the year NNNN = Honourable mention NNN = Entertaining NN = Mediocre N = Bomb

relates to being a boy. Forget the title. Tomboy is terrific. Subtitled. 84 min. NNNN (SGC) TIFF Bell Lightbox

TOWER HEIST (Brett Ratner) tracks the GM

at a chic Manhattan residence (Ben Stiller) as he plans rob the top resident (Alan Alda), who’s defrauded the building’s staff. Usually the heist is the most enjoyable thing about these movies, but here it drains away all the fun. Entertaining – up to a point. 104 min. NNN (RS) 401 & Morningside, Canada Square, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Empire Theatres at Empress Walk, Grande - Steeles, Interchange 30, Kennedy Commons 20, Queensway, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Yorkdale

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 (Bill Condon) picks up on the heels

of last year’s Eclipse, finding Bella and Edward embarking on their grand voyage into matrimony and finally consummating their love. Because author Stephenie Meyer is so terrified of sex that she wrote a four-book cycle about it, Bella gets knocked up with a parasitic monster fetus that puts her own life in danger, whereupon the movie embraces a pro-life allegory that’s doubly repugnant because it goes straight to the worstcase scenario: told she’ll die before she can carry her monster fetus to term, she refuses to hear any talk of aborting it. Kristen Stewart is content to play Bella as the same sullen mope she’s always been, and Taylor Lautner is wooden as usual as her wolfen pal Jacob; once again, Robert Pattinson is the only thing worth watching in this lopsided love triangle, delivering Edward’s halting dialogue with absolute professionalism. It doesn’t help him in the batshitcrazy climax, but by that point the movie’s so fully divorced from understandable emotional arcs or conventional plotting that it hardly matters. And there’s one more on the way. 117 min. NN (NW) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Canada Square, Carlton Cinema, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Empire Theatres at Empress Walk, Grande Steeles, Humber Cinema, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Varsity

VERY HAROLD & KUMAR 3D ñACHRISTMAS

(Todd Strauss-Schulson) picks up six years after the last movie, putting our slowly maturing heroes on an epic search for the perfect Christmas tree. Absurdity and raunch are plentiful (especially once evil Neil Patrick Harris turns up), but an underlying sweetness balances the crassness. Not exactly a new holiday classic, but it uses 3-D well. 90 min. NNNN (NW) 401 & Morningside, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Empire Theatres at Empress Walk, Kingsway Theatre, Queensway, Scotiabank Theatre

THE WAY (Emilio Estevez) follows California

ophthalmologist (Martin Sheen) as he flies to Europe to claim the body of his dead son and ends up impulsively completing a pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago. Sheen gives a finely modulated performance, and if writer-director Estevez’s spiritual points don’t quite crystallize into drama, his film does reach a gentle catharsis. 115 min. NNN (NW) Canada Square, Carlton Cinema, Grande Yonge, Kennedy Commons 20

THE WOMEN ON THE 6TH FLOOR (Philippe

Le Guay) tells the story of a stockbroker, husband and father who undergoes a life transformation when his new maid introduces him to the community of domestic servants living on the sixth floor of his apartment building. Unfortunately, as he starts falling for her, the film reveals itself to be smart about class but really dumb about sex. Subtitled. 104 min. NN (SGC) Carlton Cinema

Online expanded Film Times

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(CE)..............Cineplex Entertainment (ET).......................Empire Theatres (AA)......................Alliance Atlantis (AMC)..................... AMC Theatres (I)..............................Independent

6:50, 9:35 Wed 1:35, 4:10, 6:50, 9:35 THE MUPPETS (G) 1:30, 4:00, 6:55, 9:15 Fri-Sat 11:25 late NEW YEAR’S EVE (PG) Thu 1:00, 3:45, 7:00, 9:25 Fri-Wed 1:20, 3:50, 7:10, 9:30 SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG) Thu 10:00 Fri-Wed 1:15, 3:55, 7:05, 9:40 THE SITTER (14A) 1:05, 3:05, 5:05, 7:25, 9:20 Fri-Sat 11:20 late THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 (PG) Thu 1:15, 3:55, 7:05, 9:40

lndividual theatres may change showtimes after NOW’s press time. For updates, go online at www.nowtoronto.com or phone theatres.

SCOTIABANK THEATRE (CE)

Available for selected ﬁlms: RWC (Rear Window Captioning) and DVS (Descriptive Video Service)

Downtown CARLTON CINEMA (I) 20 CARLTON, 416-494-9371

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (G) Fri-Wed 2:00, 4:30, 7:10, 9:05 ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (G) Thu 1:35, 3:50, 6:40, 9:00 FriWed 1:55, 4:00, 6:40 DRIVE (18A) Thu 1:55, 4:25, 7:25, 9:35 Fri-Wed 4:20, 9:45 ELITE SQUAD: THE ENEMY WITHIN Fri-Wed 1:35, 7:15 50/50 (14A) Thu 1:50, 7:15 THE GUARD (14A) Thu 2:00 4:35 6:55 9:05 Fri-Wed 1:50, 4:35, 7:25, 9:30 THE IDES OF MARCH (14A) Thu 4:30, 9:40 IMMORTALS (18A) Thu 4:20, 9:45 Fri-Wed 9:00 LIKE CRAZY (14A) Fri-Wed 3:50, 9:25 MELANCHOLIA (PG) Thu 1:20, 4:05, 6:45, 9:30 Fri-Wed 3:55, 9:35 MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (PG) Thu 1:40, 7:10 Fri-Mon 1:45, 4:25, 7:05, 9:40 Tue 1:45, 4:25 MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE -- GHOST PROTOCOL (PG) Tue 7:05, 9:40 Wed 1:45, 4:25, 7:05, 9:40 NEW YEAR’S EVE (PG) 1:30, 4:10, 6:50, 9:20 TAKE SHELTER Thu 3:55, 9:15 Fri-Tue 1:20, 4:05, 6:45, 9:15 THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 (PG) FriWed 1:40, 6:55 THE WAY 1:25, 7:00 Thu 4:00 mat, 9:25 THE WOMEN ON THE 6TH FLOOR (PG) Thu 1:45, 7:05

CUMBERLAND 4 (AA) 159 CUMBERLAND AVE, 416-646-0444

CAFÉ DE FLORE (14A) Thu 1:30 4:15 7:00 9:50 Fri-Wed 1:30, 4:15, 7:10, 10:00 THE EYE OF THE STORM Thu 1:00 3:45 6:45 9:30 Fri-Wed 1:15, 3:45, 6:30, 9:30 SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG) Fri-Wed 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:50 SLEEPING BEAUTY (R) Thu 1:15, 4:00, 6:30, 9:00 SURVIVING PROGRESS (R) Thu 1:45 4:30 7:00 9:20 FriWed 1:45, 4:10, 6:45, 9:10

RAINBOW MARKET SQUARE (I) MARKET SQUARE, 80 FRONT ST E, 416-494-9371

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (G) 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, 9:00 Fri-Sat 11:00 late THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (18A) Wed 12:45, 3:45, 6:45, 9:45 HAPPY FEET TWO (PG) Thu 1:20, 3:30 HUGO (PG) Thu 4:10, 7:20, 9:45 Fri-Mon 1:35, 4:10, 7:20, 9:45 Tue 1:35, 4:10 J. EDGAR (PG) Thu 6:50 MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE -- GHOST PROTOCOL (PG) Tue

259 RICHMOND ST W, 416-368-5600

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (G) Fri-Tue 11:10, 1:40, 4:10, 6:50, 9:40 Wed 11:10, 1:45, 4:10, 6:50 THE DESCENDANTS (14A) Thu 1:05, 3:40, 6:20, 9:10 Fri-Tue 12:30, 3:20, 6:10, 9:10 Wed 12:20, 3:10, 6:00, 9:10 50/50 (14A) Thu 1:05, 3:35, 6:05, 8:50, 11:30 THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (18A) Tue 7:10, 9:00, 10:50 Wed 11:00, 11:45, 2:20, 3:30, 6:10, 7:10, 10:10, 10:50 HUGO (PG) Thu 1:50, 4:40, 7:40, 10:45 HUGO 3D (PG) Thu 1:10, 3:50, 6:40, 9:30 Fri-Sat, Tue 12:15, 3:30, 6:30, 9:50 Sun 11:05, 4:15, 7:15, 10:15 Mon 12:15, 3:30, 7:45, 9:50 Wed 11:10, 2:10, 5:10, 8:10, 11:05 IMMORTALS 3D (18A) Thu 1:20, 4:10, 6:50, 9:40 Fri-Sat 11:05, 1:50, 4:50, 7:50, 10:40 Sun 2:05, 4:50, 7:50, 10:40 Mon 11:05, 1:50, 4:50, 10:40 Tue 11:05, 1:50, 4:50 J. EDGAR (PG) Thu 3:45, 9:20 THE METROPOLITAN OPERA: DON GIOVANNI - ENCORE Sat 12:55 MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE -- GHOST PROTOCOL (PG) Tue 7:20, 9:20, 10:30 Wed 12:10, 1:00, 3:20, 4:10, 6:30, 7:20, 9:50, 10:30 MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE -- GHOST PROTOCOL: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE (PG) Thu 12:01 Fri-Wed 11:00, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00, 11:00 THE NUTCRACKER - BOLSHOI BALLET LIVE Sun 1:00 Mon 6:30 PUSS IN BOOTS: AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE (G) Thu 2:10 SHAME (18A) Thu 2:00, 4:30, 7:20, 9:50 Fri-Mon 11:30, 2:10, 4:40, 7:20, 10:20 Tue 11:30, 2:10, 4:40, 7:15, 10:20 Wed 12:30, 3:30, 10:45 SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG) Thu 10:00 Fri-Tue 11:45, 12:40, 1:20, 3:10, 3:50, 4:30, 6:20, 7:00, 7:40, 9:30, 10:10, 10:50 Wed 12:00, 12:40, 1:15, 3:00, 3:50, 4:30, 6:20, 7:00, 7:30, 9:30, 10:10, 10:40 THE SITTER (14A) Thu 1:00, 1:40, 3:10, 4:00, 5:20, 7:00, 7:40, 10:00 Fri 11:30, 2:30, 4:20, 5:10, 7:10, 8:10, 10:00, 10:45 Sat 11:30, 2:30, 5:10, 7:10, 8:10, 10:00, 10:45 Sun, Tue 11:30, 1:30, 2:30, 4:20, 5:10, 8:10, 10:45 Mon 11:30, 1:30, 2:20, 4:20, 4:45, 7:10, 9:30, 10:00 Wed 11:30, 2:30, 5:20, 7:50, 10:20 TOWER HEIST (PG) Thu 1:00, 3:30, 6:10, 8:40 Fri-Sat, Mon 12:50, 3:40, 6:40, 9:20 Sun 11:35, 2:15, 5:00, 6:40, 9:20 Tue 12:50, 3:40 THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 (PG) Thu 1:30, 3:00, 4:15, 7:10, 10:20 Fri-Mon 1:00, 4:00, 7:30, 10:30 Tue 1:00, 4:00, 7:30, 10:35 Wed 12:50, 3:40, 9:40 A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR 3D CHRISTMAS (18A) Thu 3:15, 5:30, 7:50, 10:10 Fri-Mon 12:00, 2:40, 5:20, 8:20, 11:00 Tue 11:20, 1:45, 4:15, 6:35 WWE TLC: TABLES, LADDERS & CHAIRS - 2011 Sun 8:00

TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX (I) 350 KING ST W, 416-599-8433

INTO THE ABYSS (PG) Thu-Sun, Tue-Wed 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 Mon 7:30, 10:00 LE HAVRE (PG) Thu 12:30, 9:30 MELANCHOLIA (PG) Thu 3:30, 6:45, 9:45 Fri-Sun, TueWed 2:45, 8:00 Mon 8:00 TOMBOY (PG) Thu 1:30, 4:00, 6:15, 8:30 Fri-Sun, Tue-Wed 12:30, 6:00 Mon 6:00 YOUNG ADULT (14A) Fri, Wed 12:15, 2:00, 3:15, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 Sat 12:15, 2:00, 4:30, 6:15, 7:00, 8:30, 9:30 Sun, Tue 12:15, 2:00, 3:15, 4:30, 6:15, 7:00, 8:30, 9:30 Mon 6:15, 7:00, 8:30, 9:30

VARSITY (CE)

Midtown

THE ARTIST (PG) Thu 12:00, 1:00, 2:35, 3:45, 5:15, 6:30, 7:55, 9:15, 10:30 Fri-Sun, Tue-Wed 12:35, 1:00, 3:20, 4:00, 6:30, 7:10, 9:10, 9:50 Mon 12:35, 1:00, 3:20, 4:00, 6:30, 9:10 THE DESCENDANTS (14A) Thu 12:50 3:50 6:40 9:40 FriWed 12:50, 3:40, 6:40, 9:40 THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (18A) Tue 7:30 Wed 1:00, 5:00, 8:40 HUGO 3D (PG) Thu 12:10, 3:20, 6:25, 9:35 Fri-Wed 12:45, 3:45, 6:45, 9:45 J. EDGAR (PG) Thu 12:30 MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (14A) Thu 12:20, 2:50, 5:20, 7:40, 10:10 Fri-Mon 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 10:00 Tue 1:20, 4:20 SHAME (18A) 1:10, 4:10, 6:50, 9:30 Thu 4:00 mat, 7:10, 10:00 TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (14A) Fri-Wed 12:40, 3:50, 7:00, 10:05 THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 (PG) Thu 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 10:20 YOUNG ADULT (14A) Fri-Wed 12:30, 2:50, 5:20, 7:50, 10:15

CANADA SQUARE (CE)

55 BLOOR ST W, 416-961-6304

VIP SCREENINGS

THE ARTIST (PG) Thu 12:15, 2:35, 4:55, 7:15, 9:35 Fri-Tue 12:55, 3:15, 5:25, 7:45, 9:55 Wed 12:55, 3:15, 9:55 THE DESCENDANTS (14A) Thu 12:25 2:45 5:05 7:45 10:15 Fri-Wed 12:35, 3:05, 5:35, 7:55, 10:15 THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (18A) Wed 12:25, 3:35, 6:55, 10:05 MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (14A) Thu 12:15, 2:25, 4:45, 7:05, 9:25 SHAME (18A) Thu 12:35 2:55 5:15 7:35 10:05 Fri-Wed 12:45, 2:55, 5:15, 7:35, 10:05 TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (14A) Fri-Wed 1:15, 4:05, 6:45, 9:35

2200 YONGE ST, 416-646-0444

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (G) Wed 4:05, 6:30 50/50 (14A) Thu 4:20, 6:40 THE GUARD (14A) 4:50, 7:30 Fri 9:50 Sat-Sun 2:00 mat, 9:50 HAPPY FEET TWO (PG) Wed 4:40, 7:20 THE IDES OF MARCH (14A) Thu 4:10, 6:50 Fri 4:10, 6:45, 9:30 Sat-Sun 1:40, 4:10, 6:50, 9:30 Mon-Tue 4:10, 6:45 Wed 4:05, 6:45 J. EDGAR (PG) 4:00, 7:00 Fri 9:55 Sat-Sun 1:05 mat, 9:55 MONEYBALL (PG) Thu, Mon-Tue 3:55, 6:50 Fri 3:55, 6:50, 9:40 Sat-Sun 1:00, 3:50, 6:45, 9:40 THE SKIN I LIVE IN (18A) Thu 4:30, 7:10 SLEEPING BEAUTY (R) 4:30, 7:35 Fri 10:00 Sat-Sun 1:20 mat, 10:00 TOWER HEIST (PG) Thu, Mon-Tue 4:05, 6:30 Fri 4:05, 6:30, 9:10 Sat-Sun 1:10, 3:45, 6:30, 9:10 THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 (PG) Wed 3:55, 6:50 THE WAY 4:40, 7:20 Fri 10:00 Sat-Sun 1:50 mat, 10:00 YOUNG ADULT (14A) 4:15, 7:10 Fri 9:25 Sat-Sun 1:35 mat, 9:25

MT PLEASANT (I)

675 MT PLEASANT RD, 416-489-8484 THE DEBT (14A) Fri-Sat 9:10 LE HAVRE (PG) 7:00 Sat-Sun 4:30

REGENT THEATRE (I)

YONGE & DUNDAS 24 (AMC)

551 MT PLEASANT RD, 416-480-9884

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN 3D (PG) Wed 11:15, 11:45, 2:00, 2:30, 4:45, 5:15, 7:30, 8:00, 10:15, 10:45 THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE (PG) Wed 1:00, 3:45, 6:30, 9:15 THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN (PG) Wed 10:45, 1:30, 4:15, 7:00, 8:45, 9:45 ANONYMOUS (PG) Thu 6:30, 9:25 Fri, Mon-Tue 3:35, 6:30, 9:25 Sat-Sun 12:35, 3:35, 6:30, 9:25 ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (G) 3:15, 5:45, 8:15, 10:45 Sat-Sun, Wed 10:35, 12:50 mat ARTHUR CHRISTMAS 3D (G) Thu 4:00, 6:45, 9:15 Fri, MonTue 2:05, 4:25, 6:55, 9:25 Sat-Sun, Wed 11:35, 2:05, 4:25, 6:55, 9:25 CONTAGION (PG) 3:25, 6:00 Sat-Sun 10:35, 1:00 mat DESI BOYZ (PG) 4:25, 7:20, 10:20 Sat-Sun, Wed 10:40, 1:35 mat THE DIRTY PICTURE (14A) 3:30, 6:55, 10:05 Sat-Sun 12:15 mat HAPPY FEET TWO (PG) Thu 4:00 HAPPY FEET TWO 3D (PG) 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 Sat-Sun, Wed 11:25 mat HAPPY FEET TWO: AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE (PG) 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 Sat-Sun 11:55 mat THE IDES OF MARCH (14A) 2:00, 4:20, 6:50, 9:30 Sat-Sun, Wed 11:20 mat IN TIME (PG) Fri 3:45, 6:25, 9:10 Sat-Sun, Wed 10:40, 3:45, 6:25, 9:10 JACK AND JILL (PG) Thu 2:10, 4:35, 6:55, 9:05 Fri, Mon-Tue 3:55, 6:10 Sat-Sun, Wed 11:10, 1:35, 3:55, 6:10 LADIES VS. RICKY BAHL (PG) 3:30, 6:40, 9:50 Sat-Sun, Wed 11:50 mat MARGIN CALL Thu-Fri, Mon-Tue 2:15, 4:55, 7:25, 8:45, 10:15 Sat-Sun 11:25, 2:15, 4:55, 7:25, 8:45, 10:15 Wed 11:25, 2:15, 4:55, 7:25, 10:15 MONEYBALL (PG) 3:40, 6:40, 9:55 Sat-Sun, Wed 12:45 mat THE MUPPETS (G) 2:30, 3:45, 4:30, 5:15, 6:30, 7:15, 8:00, 9:15, 10:00, 10:45 Sat-Sun, Wed 10:30, 11:00, 11:45, 1:05, 1:45 mat MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (14A) 2:05, 3:15, 4:30, 5:45, 7:00, 8:15, 9:30, 10:40 Sat-Sun, Wed 11:45, 12:45 mat NEW YEAR’S EVE (PG) 2:00, 2:30, 3:45, 4:45, 5:15, 6:30, 7:30, 8:00, 9:15, 10:15, 10:45 Sat-Sun, Wed 10:30, 11:15, 11:45, 1:00 mat THE RUM DIARY (14A) 4:25, 7:20, 10:30 Sat-Sun, Wed 10:35, 1:25 mat THE SKIN I LIVE IN (18A) Thu 2:00 4:45 7:30 10:15 Fri-Wed 2:15, 5:00, 7:30, 10:15 Sat-Sun, Wed 11:30 mat

SILVERCITY YONGE (CE)

10 DUNDAS ST E, 416-335-5323

ANONYMOUS (PG) Fri-Sat 8:55 Sun, Tue 7:00 MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (PG) Thu-Sat, Wed 7:00 Sun 4:30

2300 YONGE ST, 416-544-1236

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN 3D (PG) Wed 11:45, 2:15, 5:00, 7:30, 10:25 ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (G) Fri, Mon-Tue 1:20, 3:40, 6:30, 9:10 Sat 12:00, 2:15, 4:50, 7:20, 9:45 Sun 12:00, 2:15, 4:50, 7:20, 9:50 Wed 4:20, 7:20, 9:45 ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (G) Thu 1:40, 4:50, 7:20, 9:45 Fri 2:00, 4:45, 7:30, 9:55 Sat-Sun 12:10, 2:35, 5:00, 7:30, 9:55 Mon-Tue 2:00, 4:45, 7:25, 9:50 THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (18A) Tue 7:00, 10:30 Wed 11:30, 3:10, 6:50, 10:30 HAPPY FEET TWO (PG) Thu 2:00, 4:40, 7:15, 9:50 Fri, Mon 1:40, 4:20, 6:50, 9:20 Sat-Sun 12:20, 3:30, 6:30, 9:10 Tue 1:40, 4:20 HUGO 3D (PG) Thu 1:10, 4:00, 6:50, 9:40 Fri 1:10, 4:05, 7:10, 10:00 Sat-Sun 12:40, 3:40, 6:50, 10:00 Mon 1:10, 4:05, 7:05, 9:55 Tue 1:10, 4:25, 7:15, 10:05 Wed 12:20, 3:40, 6:30, 9:30 IMMORTALS 3D (18A) Thu 1:30, 4:30, 7:05 JACK AND JILL (PG) Thu 4:15, 9:10 THE METROPOLITAN OPERA: DON GIOVANNI - ENCORE Sat 12:55 MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE -- GHOST PROTOCOL (PG) Tue 7:10, 10:20 Wed 12:30, 3:30, 7:00, 10:20 THE MUPPETS (G) 1:30, 4:10, 6:45, 9:20 Thu 1:20 3:55 6:45 9:25 Fri only 1:30 4:10 6:45 9:30 Sat only 1:20 4:10 6:45 9:30 Sun only 1:20 4:10 6:45 9:20 Mon only 1:30 4:10 6:45 9:30 Tue only 1:35 4:10 6:45 9:30 NEW YEAR’S EVE (PG) Thu 1:25, 4:10, 7:00, 9:55 Fri, MonTue 1:05, 3:50, 6:40, 9:40 Sat 12:50, 3:50, 6:40, 9:40 Sun 12:50, 3:50, 6:40, 9:30 Wed 12:40, 3:50, 6:40, 9:40 THE NUTCRACKER - BOLSHOI BALLET LIVE Sun 1:00 Mon 6:30 PUSS IN BOOTS (G) Thu 1:50, 6:40 SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (PG) Thu 10:00 Fri-Sat 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:15 Sun-Mon 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 Tue 1:00, 4:00, 6:55, 10:10 Wed 4:00, 7:10, 10:10 THE SITTER (14A) Thu 2:20, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 Fri 2:10, 5:00, 7:40, 10:10 Sat 2:00, 4:30, 7:40, 10:10 Sun 2:00, 4:30, 7:40, 9:45 Mon-Tue 2:10, 5:00, 7:40, 9:45 Wed 12:10, 2:40, 4:50, 7:40, 10:00 THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 (PG) Thu continued on page 80 œ

ñYOUNG ADULT

(Jason Reitman) 94 min. See review, page 71. NNNN (SGC) Opens Dec 16 at Canada Square, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Yonge, Queensway, SilverCity Mississauga, TIFF Bell Lightbox, Varsity. 3 NOW

DECEMBER 15-21 2011

movie times œcontinued from page 79

1:00, 3:45, 6:30, 9:20 Fri 1:50, 4:35, 7:20, 10:05 Sat 7:10, 10:05 Sun 4:20, 7:05, 9:50 Mon 1:00, 3:45, 10:00 Tue 1:30, 4:15

Metro

West End HuMbEr CinEMa (i) 2442 bloor ST. WEST, 416-232-1939

Immortals (18A) 9:30 Thu 5:00 J. Edgar (PG) Fri-Tue 2:30, 7:10 Puss In Boots (G) Thu-Tue 12:45 thE twIlIght saga: BrEakIng dawn Part 1 (PG) Thu 2:30, 7:00 Fri-Tue 5:00

KingSWay THEaTrE (i) 3030 bloor ST W, 416-232-1939

drIvE (18A) Thu 9:20 thE guard (14A) Thu 12:45, 7:30 Fri-Wed 5:00 thE IdEs of march (14A) Fri-Wed 7:00 mElancholIa (PG) Thu 2:30 Fri-Wed 12:15 monEyBall (PG) Thu 5:00 Fri-Wed 2:30 a vEry harold & kumar chrIstmas (18A) Fri-Wed 9:00

QuEEnSWay (CE)

1025 THE QuEEnSWay, QEW & iSlingTon, 416-503-0424 thE advEnturEs of tIntIn 3d (PG) Wed 1:30, 4:15, 6:55, 9:35 alvIn and thE chIPmunks: chIPwrEckEd (G) Fri 1:10, 2:30, 3:30, 4:50, 5:50, 7:15, 8:15, 9:35, 10:35 Sat 12:10, 1:10, 2:30, 3:30, 4:50, 5:50, 7:15, 8:15, 9:35, 10:35 Sun 12:10, 1:10, 3:30, 4:50, 5:50, 7:15, 8:20, 9:35 Mon 1:10, 2:30, 3:30, 4:50, 7:15, 7:55, 9:20, 9:35 Tue-Wed 1:10, 2:30, 3:30, 4:50, 5:50, 7:15, 8:15, 9:35 arthur chrIstmas 3d (G) Thu 1:40, 4:20, 6:50, 9:20 Fri, Mon, Wed 2:20, 4:55, 7:30, 10:00 Sat-Sun 11:45, 2:20, 4:55, 7:30, 10:00 Tue 2:10, 4:45, 7:30, 10:00 thE dEscEndants (14A) Thu 1:10, 4:05, 6:55, 9:55 Fri 2:25, 5:15, 8:05, 10:55 Sat 11:35, 2:25, 5:15, 8:05, 10:55 Sun 12:35, 3:50, 6:40, 9:40 Mon-Wed 12:45, 3:50, 6:40, 9:45 thE gIrl wIth thE dragon tattoo (18A) Tue 7:00, 8:10, 10:35 Wed 11:45, 2:00, 3:15, 6:00, 6:45, 9:30, 10:15 haPPy fEEt two (PG) Thu 1:25 Wed 1:20, 4:00, 6:35, 9:20 haPPy fEEt two 3d (PG) Thu 1:05, 3:50, 6:25, 9:05 Fri 2:35, 5:05, 7:40, 10:15 Sat-Sun 12:00, 2:35, 5:05, 7:40, 10:15 Mon-Tue 1:30, 4:15, 6:50, 9:25 hugo (PG) Thu 2:05 hugo 3d (PG) Thu 1:20, 4:10, 7:00, 9:50 Fri-Wed 1:05, 4:05, 7:05, 10:10 Immortals (18A) Thu 2:00, 4:40, 7:20, 10:00 J. Edgar (PG) Thu 4:00, 7:05, 10:20 Jack and JIll (PG) Thu 1:15, 3:45, 6:20, 9:15, 11:40 Fri, Tue 1:50, 4:20, 7:25, 9:55 Sat 7:25, 9:55 Sun 4:20, 7:25 Mon 1:50, 4:20, 10:15 thE mEtroPolItan oPEra: don gIovannI - EncorE Sat 12:55 mIssIon: ImPossIBlE -- ghost Protocol (PG) Thu 9:00, 12:01 Fri 1:30, 4:30, 7:50, 11:00 Sat 11:00, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00, 11:00 Sun-Mon 1:00, 4:10, 7:20, 10:30 Tue 1:00, 4:10, 6:55, 7:35, 10:00, 10:40 Wed 12:00, 1:00, 3:10, 4:10, 6:20, 7:20, 9:40, 10:30 thE muPPEts (G) Thu 1:00, 1:50, 3:40, 4:30, 6:45, 7:10, 10:00 Fri-Wed 1:40, 4:30, 7:20, 10:05 my wEEk wIth marIlyn (14A) Thu 2:15, 4:50, 7:40, 10:10 Fri-Sun 1:20, 4:15, 7:10, 9:45 Mon 1:20, 3:55, 6:35, 9:30 Tue 1:20, 3:55 nEw yEar’s EvE (PG) Thu 12:55, 1:45, 3:35, 4:35, 6:15, 7:25, 9:35, 10:15 Fri 1:15, 2:10, 4:10, 5:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:55, 10:50 Sat 11:20, 1:15, 2:10, 4:10, 5:00, 7:00, 7:50, 9:55, 10:50 Sun 12:15, 1:10, 3:00, 4:00, 6:20, 7:00, 9:10, 9:55 Mon 12:50, 2:25, 3:45, 6:20, 7:00, 9:10, 9:55 Tue 12:50, 2:05, 3:45, 4:55, 7:00, 9:55 Wed 12:50, 3:45, 7:00, 9:55 thE nutcrackEr - BolshoI BallEt lIvE Sun 1:00 Mon 6:30 Puss In Boots (G) Fri-Sat 12:30, 2:55, 5:20, 7:55 Sun 12:30, 2:55 Mon 2:00, 4:25, 6:55 Tue 2:00, 4:25

Puss In Boots 3d (G) Thu 2:20, 4:55, 7:15, 9:40 shErlock holmEs: a gamE of shadows (PG) Thu 10:30 Fri-Sat 12:45, 1:45, 3:40, 4:45, 6:45, 7:45, 9:50, 10:50 Sun 12:20, 12:55, 3:20, 4:00, 6:50, 7:10, 9:50, 10:20 MonTue 12:55, 3:20, 4:00, 6:50, 7:10, 9:50, 10:20 Wed 12:20, 3:20, 3:55, 6:50, 7:10, 9:50, 10:20 thE sIttEr (14A) Thu 2:10, 5:15, 8:00, 10:25 Fri-Sat 1:25, 3:45, 6:00, 8:20, 10:35 Sun 1:25, 3:45, 6:00, 8:15, 10:30 Mon-Wed 2:45, 5:20, 7:50, 10:10 towEr hEIst (PG) Thu 1:35, 4:25, 7:00, 9:45 Fri-Sat 10:20 Sun 10:05 Mon 9:40 thE twIlIght saga: BrEakIng dawn Part 1 (PG) Thu 1:30, 3:00, 4:15, 6:30, 7:20, 10:05 Fri-Wed 1:35, 4:35, 7:35, 10:25 a vEry harold & kumar chrIstmas (18A) Thu 5:00, 7:30, 9:50 wwE tlc: taBlEs, laddErs & chaIrs - 2011 Sun 8:00 young adult (14A) Fri-Sat 12:40, 3:10, 5:40, 8:10, 10:40 Sun 12:05, 2:35, 5:05, 7:40, 10:15 Mon-Tue 2:35, 5:05, 7:40, 10:15 Wed 5:05, 7:40, 10:15

rainboW WoodbinE (i)

WoodbinE CEnTrE, 500 rExdalE blvd, 416-213-1998 thE advEnturEs of tIntIn (PG) Wed 1:00, 3:40, 7:00, 9:35 alvIn and thE chIPmunks: chIPwrEckEd (G) Fri-Wed 12:45, 2:55, 4:55, 7:05, 9:15 arthur chrIstmas (G) Thu 12:50, 3:00, 5:05, 7:15 FriWed 12:50, 3:00, 5:05, 7:15, 9:25 thE gIrl wIth thE dragon tattoo (18A) Wed 12:30, 3:40, 6:45, 9:50 haPPy fEEt two 3d (PG) Thu-Tue 1:00, 3:40, 7:00, 9:35 Jack and JIll (PG) Thu 1:25, 4:00 mIssIon: ImPossIBlE -- ghost Protocol (PG) Tue 6:55, 9:45 Wed 1:05, 4:05, 6:55, 9:45 thE muPPEts (G) Thu 1:20 3:50 6:50 9:15 Fri-Wed 1:20, 3:50, 6:50, 9:10 nEw yEar’s EvE (PG) Thu 1:15 3:55 6:50 9:25 Fri-Wed 1:15, 3:55, 6:50, 9:20 shErlock holmEs: a gamE of shadows (PG) Thu 10:00 Fri-Wed 1:10, 4:10, 6:45, 9:25 thE sIttEr (14A) 1:05, 3:05, 5:00, 7:10, 9:40 towEr hEIst (PG) Thu 7:05, 9:45 thE twIlIght saga: BrEakIng dawn Part 1 (PG) 1:30, 4:15, 6:55, 9:30 Tue no 6:55, 9:30

East End bEaCH CinEMaS (aa) 1651 QuEEn ST E, 416-699-5971

alvIn and thE chIPmunks: chIPwrEckEd (G) 7:30, 9:50 Fri 5:10 Sat-Sun 12:30, 2:50 mat, 5:10 arthur chrIstmas 3d (G) Thu 6:40, 9:10 Fri 4:10, 6:40 Sat-Sun 1:20, 4:10, 6:40 Mon 6:40 thE gIrl wIth thE dragon tattoo (18A) Tue-Wed 7:10, 10:30 hugo 3d (PG) Thu 7:20, 10:10 Fri 4:20, 7:20, 10:20 SatSun 1:30, 4:20, 7:20, 10:20 Mon-Wed 7:20, 10:20 thE mEtroPolItan oPEra: don gIovannI - EncorE Sat 12:55 mIssIon: ImPossIBlE -- ghost Protocol (PG) TueWed 7:00, 10:10 thE muPPEts (G) Thu 6:50, 9:30 Fri, Mon 9:10 Sat-Sun 1:10, 9:10 nEw yEar’s EvE (PG) Thu 7:00, 9:50 Fri-Sun 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 Mon-Wed 7:00, 10:00 shErlock holmEs: a gamE of shadows (PG) Thu 10:10 Fri 3:50, 6:50, 10:10 Sat-Sun 12:50, 3:50, 6:50, 10:10 Mon-Wed 6:50, 10:10 thE sIttEr (14A) 7:10, 9:20 Fri 4:50 Sun 1:50 mat, 4:50 thE twIlIght saga: BrEakIng dawn Part 1 (PG) Thu 7:30

north york EMpirE THEaTrES aT EMprESS WalK (ET) 5095 yongE ST, 416-223-9550

alvIn and thE chIPmunks: chIPwrEckEd (G) Fri, Mon 3:40, 4:30, 6:20, 7:15, 9:15, 9:45 Sat-Sun 1:25, 2:10, 3:40, 4:30, 6:20, 7:15, 9:15, 9:45 Tue 4:00, 4:40, 6:20, 7:10, 9:10, 10:00 Wed 3:50, 4:40, 6:20, 7:00, 8:40, 9:30 thE gIrl wIth thE dragon tattoo (18A) Tue 7:00, 8:30 Wed 3:00, 4:30, 6:30, 8:30, 10:00 haPPy fEEt two (PG) Sat 1:00 Sun 12:50 haPPy fEEt two 3d (PG) Thu 4:00, 6:30, 9:10 Fri-Mon 3:30, 6:10, 8:50 Tue 3:40, 6:10, 9:00 Wed 3:10, 6:00, 8:50 margIn call Thu 4:45, 7:30, 10:10 Fri, Sun-Mon 4:20, 7:25, 10:20 Sat 1:45, 4:20, 7:25, 10:20 Tue 4:20, 7:20, 10:15 Wed 4:00, 7:10, 9:35 thE muPPEts (G) Thu 4:20, 7:05, 9:45 Fri, Mon-Tue 3:50 Sat-Sun 1:15, 3:50 Puss In Boots (G) Thu 3:30

saadat aBad Thu 4:30, 6:45, 9:30 Fri, Mon-Tue 4:20, 6:40, 9:35 Sat-Sun 1:50, 6:40, 9:35 Wed 4:10, 6:40, 9:00 shErlock holmEs: a gamE of shadows (PG) Thu 10:00, 10:30 Fri, Mon 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 10:45 Sat 1:10, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 10:45 Sun 1:10, 2:00, 3:00, 4:10, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 10:45 Tue 3:30, 4:30, 4:50, 6:50, 7:40, 9:50, 10:30 Wed 3:30, 4:50, 6:50, 7:40, 9:50, 10:30 thE sIttEr (14A) Thu 3:35, 6:15, 8:50 Fri, Mon 4:10, 6:30, 9:25 Sat 1:35, 4:10, 6:30, 9:25 Sun 1:35, 4:00, 6:30, 9:25 Tue 4:10, 7:00, 9:20 Wed 3:40, 6:10, 9:10 towEr hEIst (PG) Thu 3:45, 6:20, 9:00 thE twIlIght saga: BrEakIng dawn Part 1 (PG) Thu 4:10, 6:00, 7:00, 8:40 Fri-Mon 6:50, 10:10 a vEry harold & kumar chrIstmas (18A) Thu 3:50, 6:05

grandE - yongE (CE) 4861 yongE ST, 416-590-9974

thE advEnturEs of tIntIn 3d (PG) Wed 4:10, 7:10, 10:00 arthur chrIstmas 3d (G) Thu-Fri 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 SatSun 1:20, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 Mon 4:30, 7:00, 9:20 Tue 4:25, 6:45, 9:25 Wed 4:30, 6:55, 9:30 thE artIst (PG) Thu-Fri, Mon-Tue 4:10, 6:50, 9:20 SatSun 1:30, 4:10, 6:50, 9:20 Wed 3:45, 6:50, 9:45 thE dEscEndants (14A) Thu-Fri, Mon 4:00, 7:10, 10:00 Sat-Sun 1:10, 4:00, 7:10, 10:00 Tue 4:00, 7:10, 10:05 Wed 3:40, 6:40, 10:05 hugo (PG) Thu 3:40, 6:30 hugo 3d (PG) Thu-Fri, Mon-Tue 3:50, 7:05, 9:40 Sat-Sun 1:00, 3:50, 7:05, 9:40 Wed 3:50, 7:05, 9:35 J. Edgar (PG) Thu, Mon 5:10, 8:20 Fri 3:30, 6:30, 9:45 Sat 6:30, 9:45 Sun 12:30, 3:30, 6:30, 9:45 Tue 4:10 lIkE crazy (14A) Thu 5:20, 7:30, 9:45 Fri, Sun 5:20, 7:40, 10:20 Sat 7:40, 10:20 Mon 5:00, 9:45 Tue 4:45 thE mEtroPolItan oPEra: don gIovannI - EncorE Sat 12:55 mIssIon: ImPossIBlE -- ghost Protocol (PG) Tue 7:00, 7:30, 9:50, 10:20 Wed 3:30, 4:00, 6:30, 7:00, 9:40, 10:10 my wEEk wIth marIlyn (14A) Thu 5:00, 7:20, 9:50 Fri 5:00, 7:15, 9:50 Sat-Sun 2:20, 5:00, 7:15, 9:50 Mon 4:10, 7:15, 9:30 Tue 4:15, 6:55, 9:30 Wed 5:10, 7:15, 9:55 nEw yEar’s EvE (PG) Thu 4:20, 7:10, 10:00 Fri 4:20, 7:30, 10:10 Sat 1:20, 3:55, 7:30, 10:10 Sun 1:50, 4:20, 7:30, 10:10 Mon 4:20, 7:15, 10:00 Tue 4:20, 7:15, 10:10 Wed 4:20, 7:25, 10:15 thE nutcrackEr - BolshoI BallEt lIvE Sun 1:00 Mon 6:30 Punch Thu, Mon-Tue 4:40, 7:25, 9:55 Fri 4:40, 7:25, 10:05 Sat-Sun 1:55, 4:40, 7:25, 10:05 thE way Thu 9:35 young adult (14A) Fri 4:50, 7:20, 10:15 Sat-Sun 12:00, 2:30, 4:50, 7:20, 10:15 Mon, Wed 4:50, 7:20, 9:50 Tue 4:50, 7:20, 10:00

SilvErCiTy FairviEW (CE)

FairviEW Mall, 1800 SHEppard avE E, 416-644-7746 thE advEnturEs of tIntIn 3d (PG) Wed 12:00, 2:35, 5:10, 7:45, 10:20 alvIn and thE chIPmunks: chIPwrEckEd (G) Fri 12:55, 3:10, 5:25, 7:40, 10:00 Sat 12:40, 3:00, 5:20, 7:40, 10:00 Sun 12:10, 2:45, 5:20, 7:45, 10:00 Mon-Tue 1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10:00 Wed 12:50, 3:10, 5:25, 7:40, 10:00 arthur chrIstmas 3d (G) Thu 1:35, 4:10, 7:10, 9:50 Fri 1:50, 4:30, 7:30, 10:05 Sat 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:05 Sun 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:35, 10:05 Mon-Tue 2:30, 5:00, 7:35, 10:05 thE gIrl wIth thE dragon tattoo (18A) Tue 7:00, 10:30 Wed 12:05, 3:25, 6:50, 10:15 haPPy fEEt two (PG) Thu 2:10 Fri 2:20 Sat 12:10 Sun, Wed 12:20 Mon-Tue 2:50 haPPy fEEt two 3d (PG) Thu 4:35, 7:15, 9:55 Fri 4:50, 7:25, 10:10 Sat 2:40, 5:10, 7:40, 10:05 Sun 2:50, 5:10, 7:40, 10:10 Mon-Tue 5:10, 7:40, 10:10 Wed 2:50, 5:20, 7:50, 10:25 hugo 3d (PG) Thu 1:30, 4:20, 7:25, 10:10 Fri-Sat 1:10, 4:20, 7:20, 10:15 Sun-Tue 1:10, 4:15, 7:05, 9:50 Wed 12:10, 3:00, 6:40, 9:50 Immortals (18A) Thu 2:05, 4:45, 7:40, 10:15 Jack and JIll (PG) Thu 9:45 mIssIon: ImPossIBlE -- ghost Protocol (PG) Tue 7:15, 10:20 Wed 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 10:10 thE muPPEts (G) Thu 1:50, 4:40, 7:30, 10:05 Fri 2:30, 5:10, 7:55, 10:30 Sat 11:55, 2:35, 5:15, 7:55, 10:30 Sun-Mon 1:30, 4:10, 7:10, 9:45 Tue 1:45, 4:20 nEw yEar’s EvE (PG) Thu 1:45, 4:30, 7:35, 10:15 Fri-Sat 2:00, 4:45, 7:35, 10:25 Sun-Mon 1:40, 4:30, 7:15, 9:55 Tue 1:40, 4:25, 7:10, 9:55 Wed 12:40, 3:40, 7:00, 9:55 Puss In Boots (G) Thu 1:55, 4:15, 7:00 shErlock holmEs: a gamE of shadows (PG) Fri-Sat 1:40, 4:40, 7:45, 10:40 Sun-Mon 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 10:15 Tue 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 10:25 Wed 4:30, 7:30, 10:30 thE sIttEr (14A) Thu 2:00, 4:50, 7:05, 9:40 Fri-Sat 1:20, 3:30, 5:50, 8:10, 10:20 Sun 12:30, 2:40, 4:50, 7:25, 9:40 Mon 1:15, 3:30, 5:40, 7:55, 10:00 Tue 1:20, 3:30, 5:40, 7:55, 10:15 Wed 3:20, 5:45, 7:55, 10:05

thE twIlIght saga: BrEakIng dawn Part 1 (PG) Thu 1:40, 4:25, 7:20, 10:00 Fri-Sat 2:10, 5:05, 7:50, 10:35 SunMon 1:50, 4:40, 7:30, 10:15 Tue 1:15, 4:10

SilvErCiTy yorKdalE (CE) 3401 duFFErin ST, 416-787-4432

thE advEnturEs of tIntIn 3d (PG) Wed 1:05, 4:10, 7:15, 10:20 alvIn and thE chIPmunks: chIPwrEckEd (G) Fri-Sun 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00, 10:30 Mon-Wed 2:45, 5:15, 7:45, 10:15 arthur chrIstmas (G) Thu 1:45, 4:15, 6:50, 9:30 Fri-Sun 11:30, 2:10, 4:50, 7:30 Mon-Wed 2:10, 4:50, 7:30 thE gIrl wIth thE dragon tattoo (18A) Tue 7:00, 10:30 Wed 2:30, 6:45, 10:25 haPPy fEEt two 3d (PG) Thu 2:00, 4:40, 7:20, 10:00 Fri-Sun 12:00, 2:45, 5:30, 8:15, 11:00 Mon-Wed 1:30, 4:20, 7:05, 9:50 hugo 3d (PG) Thu 1:10, 4:05, 7:00, 9:55 Fri-Sun 1:00, 4:10, 7:15, 10:20 Mon-Tue 1:05, 4:10, 7:15, 10:20 Immortals 3d (18A) Thu 1:30, 4:10 Jack and JIll (PG) Thu 2:05, 7:15 Fri-Wed 10:10 mIssIon: ImPossIBlE -- ghost Protocol (PG) Thu 9:00, 12:01 Fri-Sun 11:00, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00, 11:00 MonWed 1:00, 4:10, 7:20, 10:30 thE muPPEts (G) Thu 1:35, 4:20, 7:05, 9:50 Fri-Sun 11:15, 2:05, 4:55, 7:45, 10:35 Mon-Tue 1:35, 4:25, 7:15, 10:05 nEw yEar’s EvE (PG) Thu 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 10:20 Fri-Sun 1:30, 4:40, 7:40, 10:40 Mon-Wed 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 shErlock holmEs: a gamE of shadows (PG) Thu 10:30 Fri-Sun 1:20, 4:30, 7:40, 10:50 Mon-Wed 12:45, 3:55, 7:10, 10:20 thE sIttEr (14A) Thu 1:20, 3:30, 5:40, 7:50, 10:10 Fri-Mon 1:10, 3:30, 5:50, 8:10, 10:30 Tue 2:00, 4:30 Wed 12:45, 3:05, 5:25, 7:45, 10:05 towEr hEIst (PG) Thu 4:30, 9:45 thE twIlIght saga: BrEakIng dawn Part 1 (PG) Thu 1:00, 1:40, 3:45, 4:25, 6:30, 7:10, 9:15 Fri-Sun 1:50, 4:55, 7:50, 10:45 Mon-Wed 12:50, 3:55, 6:50, 9:55

Scarborough 401 & MorningSidE (CE) 785 MilnEr avE, SCarborougH, 416-281-2226

thE advEnturEs of tIntIn 3d (PG) Wed 4:30, 7:10, 9:55 alvIn and thE chIPmunks: chIPwrEckEd (G) Fri-Sat 1:10, 3:30, 5:45, 8:00, 10:15 Sun 1:10, 3:30, 5:45, 7:55, 10:10 Mon-Tue 4:00, 6:05, 8:20, 10:25 Wed 3:45, 6:00, 8:15, 10:20 arthur chrIstmas 3d (G) Thu 5:00, 7:25, 9:55 Fri-Sat 3:00, 5:30, 8:10, 10:35 Sun 3:00, 5:30, 7:50, 10:15 Mon 5:30, 8:00, 10:20 Tue 5:30, 8:10, 10:30 Wed 5:30, 8:00, 10:30 thE gIrl wIth thE dragon tattoo (18A) Tue 7:00, 10:25 Wed 3:20, 6:45, 10:00 haPPy fEEt two (PG) Fri-Sun 2:45 haPPy fEEt two 3d (PG) Thu 4:50, 7:20, 9:50 Fri-Sat 5:20, 7:50, 10:25 Sun 5:20, 8:00, 10:25 Mon 5:10, 7:50, 10:15 Tue 5:20, 7:50, 10:15 Wed 5:00, 7:50, 10:10 hugo 3d (PG) Thu 3:50, 6:50, 9:35 Fri-Sat 1:30, 4:15, 7:20, 10:10 Sun 1:30, 4:15, 7:20, 10:05 Mon-Tue 4:15, 7:20, 10:05 Immortals (18A) Thu 5:10, 7:40 Jack and JIll (PG) Thu 8:00 Fri-Sat 1:20, 3:40, 6:15, 8:30, 10:45 Sun 1:20, 3:40, 6:50, 9:40 Mon 4:20, 6:50, 9:40 Tue 4:20 mIssIon: ImPossIBlE -- ghost Protocol (PG) Tue 7:10, 8:00, 10:10 Wed 3:25, 4:15, 6:30, 7:20, 9:30, 10:15 thE muPPEts (G) Thu 4:40, 7:30, 10:05 Fri-Sat 2:30, 5:10, 8:15, 10:45 Sun 2:30, 5:10, 7:40, 10:15 Mon 5:10, 7:40, 10:10 Tue 5:10 nEw yEar’s EvE (PG) Thu 4:15, 7:10, 10:00 Fri-Sat 2:10, 4:50, 7:30, 10:20 Sun 2:10, 4:50, 7:25, 10:20 Mon 4:50, 7:25, 10:15 Tue 4:30, 7:30, 10:20 Wed 4:50, 7:30, 10:20 Puss In Boots (G) Thu 4:30, 6:40, 9:00 shErlock holmEs: a gamE of shadows (PG) Thu 10:10 Fri-Sat 1:00, 1:40, 4:00, 4:40, 7:00, 7:40, 10:00, 10:40 Sun 1:00, 1:40, 4:00, 4:40, 7:00, 7:35, 10:00, 10:30 Mon 4:05, 4:40, 7:00, 7:30, 9:55, 10:20 Tue 4:05, 4:30, 6:50, 7:40, 10:00, 10:30 Wed 4:00, 4:40, 7:00, 7:40, 9:45, 10:30 thE sIttEr (14A) Thu 3:45, 5:45, 7:50, 10:00 Fri-Sat 2:00, 4:10, 6:05, 8:20, 10:30 Sun 2:00, 4:20, 8:10, 10:30 Mon 4:10, 6:10, 8:20, 10:25 Tue 4:10, 6:10, 8:30, 10:30 Wed 3:35, 5:45, 8:30, 10:30 towEr hEIst (PG) Thu 5:15, 7:35, 10:05 thE twIlIght saga: BrEakIng dawn Part 1 (PG) Thu 4:00, 7:00, 9:40 Fri-Sun 1:50, 4:30, 7:10, 9:50 Mon 4:30, 7:10, 9:50 Tue 4:25 a vEry harold & kumar chrIstmas (18A) Thu 5:30, 10:10

ColiSEuM SCarborougH (CE) SCarborougH ToWn CEnTrE, 416-290-5217

thE advEnturEs of tIntIn 3d (PG) Wed 12:15, 2:50, 5:35, 8:15, 10:55

arthur chrIstmas 3d (G) Thu 1:00, 3:40, 6:40, 9:40 Fri-Sat 12:20, 2:50, 5:20, 7:55, 10:25 Sun-Tue 1:30, 4:15, 7:15, 9:50 Wed 12:50, 3:50, 6:50, 9:50 thE gIrl wIth thE dragon tattoo (18A) Tue 7:00, 7:20, 10:40, 11:00 Wed 12:10, 12:30, 3:40, 4:00, 7:10, 7:30, 10:35, 10:55 hugo 3d (PG) Thu 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 10:15 Fri-Sat 1:35, 4:30, 7:30, 10:25 Sun 12:50, 4:10, 7:10, 10:15 Mon-Wed 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 10:15 Immortals 3d (18A) Thu 1:05, 4:05, 7:05, 10:05 Fri 12:15, 3:00, 5:45, 8:25, 11:05 Sat 5:45, 8:25, 11:05 Sun 4:00, 6:55, 9:50 Mon 1:00, 4:00, 9:45 Tue 1:00, 4:00 Jack and JIll (PG) Thu, Mon 2:20, 5:00, 7:25, 9:55 Fri-Sat 12:30, 3:05, 5:30, 8:00, 10:55 Sun, Tue 2:20, 5:00 thE mEtroPolItan oPEra: don gIovannI - EncorE Sat 12:55 mIssIon: ImPossIBlE -- ghost Protocol (PG) Thu 9:00, 12:01 Fri-Sat 2:00, 5:00, 8:05, 11:10 Sun-Mon 1:15, 4:20, 7:25, 10:30 Tue 1:15, 4:20, 7:00, 7:25, 10:10, 10:30 Wed 12:20, 1:15, 3:35, 4:20, 6:40, 7:25, 9:40, 10:30 nEw yEar’s EvE (PG) Thu 1:00, 3:30, 4:00, 6:10, 7:00, 10:00, 10:15 Fri-Sat 1:00, 2:05, 4:00, 5:05, 7:00, 7:50, 10:00, 10:45 Sun 12:45, 1:35, 3:55, 4:35, 7:00, 7:35, 10:10, 10:20 Mon 1:05, 1:35, 3:55, 4:35, 7:00, 7:35, 10:10, 10:20 Tue 1:05, 1:35, 3:55, 4:35, 7:35, 10:35 Wed 1:35, 4:35, 7:35, 10:20 thE nutcrackEr - BolshoI BallEt lIvE Sun 1:00 Mon 6:30 thE sIttEr (14A) Thu 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 9:45 Fri 1:30, 3:45, 6:00, 8:15, 10:35 Sat 12:15, 3:00, 6:00, 8:15, 10:35 Sun 1:10, 4:10, 7:25, 9:45 Mon 1:25, 3:45, 6:55, 9:45 Tue 1:25, 4:25, 6:55, 9:30 Wed 1:30, 3:45, 6:00, 8:15, 10:40 towEr hEIst (PG) Thu 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 10:10 thE twIlIght saga: BrEakIng dawn Part 1 (PG) Thu 2:05, 3:20, 4:50, 6:20, 7:35, 9:10 Fri-Sat 1:20, 4:20, 7:10, 10:10 Sun-Tue 1:20, 4:30, 7:10, 10:00 Wed 1:20, 4:15, 7:15, 10:10 a vEry harold & kumar 3d chrIstmas (18A) Thu 1:25, 4:25, 6:55, 9:35 Fri-Sat 1:10, 3:35, 6:05, 8:30, 10:50 Sun-Tue 1:40, 3:55, 6:40, 9:20 wwE tlc: taBlEs, laddErs & chaIrs - 2011 Sun 8:00 young adult (14A) Fri-Sat 12:40, 3:10, 5:40, 8:10, 10:40 Sun-Tue 1:05, 4:05, 7:05, 10:05 Wed 12:40, 3:10, 5:40, 8:10, 10:50

EglinTon ToWn CEnTrE (CE) 1901 EglinTon avE E, 416-752-4494

thE advEnturEs of tIntIn 3d (PG) Wed 4:05, 6:40, 9:20 alvIn and thE chIPmunks: chIPwrEckEd (G) Fri 12:30, 1:10, 2:40, 3:30, 4:50, 5:50, 7:10, 8:15, 9:30, 10:35 Sat 12:10, 1:10, 2:30, 3:30, 4:50, 5:50, 7:10, 8:15, 9:30, 10:35 Sun 12:00, 1:00, 2:20, 3:20, 4:40, 5:40, 7:00, 8:00, 9:20, 10:15 Mon 3:40, 4:40, 5:50, 6:50, 8:00, 9:00, 10:10 TueWed 3:40, 4:40, 5:50, 8:00, 10:10 arthur chrIstmas 3d (G) Thu 4:50, 7:25, 9:50 Fri 2:00, 4:30, 7:05, 9:35 Sat-Sun 11:40, 2:00, 4:30, 7:05, 9:35 MonWed 4:25, 6:50, 9:15 thE dEscEndants (14A) Thu 4:35, 7:15, 10:05 Fri-Sat 2:35, 5:15, 8:00, 10:45 Sun 1:35, 4:15, 6:55, 9:45 Mon 4:50, 7:30, 10:10 Tue 4:45 thE gIrl wIth thE dragon tattoo (18A) Tue 7:00, 8:30, 10:30 Wed 3:30, 7:00, 8:10, 10:30 haPPy fEEt two (PG) Thu 3:50 Fri 12:35, 3:00, 5:20, 7:50, 10:20 Sat 12:30, 3:00, 5:20, 7:50, 10:20 Sun 2:10, 4:45, 7:15, 9:40 Mon-Wed 4:45, 7:15, 9:40 haPPy fEEt two 3d (PG) Thu 4:50, 7:25, 9:55 hugo (PG) Thu 5:00 hugo 3d (PG) Thu 4:00, 7:00, 9:45 Fri-Sat 1:40, 4:30, 7:20, 10:10 Sun 1:15, 4:00, 6:45, 9:30 Mon-Wed 4:00, 6:45, 9:30 Immortals (18A) Thu 4:10, 7:10, 9:50 Jack and JIll (PG) Thu 4:30, 7:05, 9:25 Fri-Sat 1:20, 3:40, 6:00, 8:20, 10:40 Sun 12:05, 2:35, 5:00, 7:20, 9:50 Mon 5:00, 7:20, 9:50 Tue 4:50 mIssIon: ImPossIBlE -- ghost Protocol (PG) Tue 7:05, 7:30, 10:05, 10:25 Wed 3:45, 4:10, 6:50, 7:15, 9:45, 10:20 thE muPPEts (G) Thu 3:45, 4:55, 6:30, 7:20, 9:10 Fri 2:10, 4:40, 7:20, 9:55 Sat 11:30, 2:10, 4:40, 7:20, 9:55 Sun 11:30, 2:10, 4:40, 7:15, 9:55 Mon-Tue 4:40, 7:15, 9:55 Wed 4:15, 6:45, 9:20 nEw yEar’s EvE (PG) Thu 4:20, 7:10, 10:05 Fri-Sat 1:50, 4:50, 7:40, 10:30 Sun 1:35, 4:20, 7:05, 9:45 Mon-Wed 4:20, 7:05, 9:45 Puss In Boots (G) Thu 3:35, 5:50, 7:55, 10:10 shErlock holmEs: a gamE of shadows (PG) Thu 10:15 Fri-Sat 12:50, 1:45, 3:50, 4:45, 6:50, 7:45, 10:00, 10:45 Sun 1:10, 2:20, 4:10, 5:20, 7:10, 8:20, 10:00 MonWed 4:30, 5:30, 7:20, 8:20, 10:15 thE sIttEr (14A) Thu 3:30, 5:40, 7:55, 10:10 Fri-Sat 1:30, 3:45, 6:00, 8:10, 10:30 Sun 1:30, 3:40, 5:50, 7:55, 10:05 Mon-Wed 3:45, 5:50, 7:55, 10:00 towEr hEIst (PG) Thu 4:15, 6:55, 9:30 Fri-Sat 12:35, 3:05, 5:35, 8:05, 10:35 Sun 1:45, 4:15 Mon 4:30, 7:00, 9:35 Tue 3:30, 5:55 thE twIlIght saga: BrEakIng dawn Part 1 (PG) Thu 4:20, 6:20, 7:05, 9:05, 10:00 Fri-Sat 2:05, 4:45, 7:30, 10:15 Sun 1:15, 4:00, 6:50, 9:40 Mon-Tue 4:15, 6:55, 9:35 a vEry harold & kumar chrIstmas (18A) Thu 7:50, 10:15 wwE tlc: taBlEs, laddErs & chaIrs - 2011 Sun 8:00 young adult (14A) Fri-Sat 12:40, 3:10, 5:40, 8:10, 10:40 Sun 12:20, 2:40, 5:10, 7:35, 10:05 Mon-Wed 5:10, 7:30, 9:50

KEnnEdy CoMMonS 20 (aMC) KEnnEdy rd & 401, 416-335-5323

7aum arIvu (14A) Thu 3:30, 6:45, 10:05 alvIn and thE chIPmunks: chIPwrEckEd (G) 1:40, 3:00, 4:00, 5:15, 6:15, 7:30, 8:30, 9:45 Fri-Sun 10:30, 11:30, 12:50 mat thE dEscEndants (14A) 2:15, 3:35, 5:05, 6:30, 7:50, 9:30, 10:30 Fri-Sun 11:15, 12:45 mat dEsI Boyz (PG) Thu 4:00, 7:05, 10:15 Fri-Sun 12:15, 7:10 Mon-Tue 7:10 thE dIrty PIcturE (14A) 3:40, 6:50, 10:20 Fri-Sun 12:30 mat haPPy fEEt two (PG) Thu 1:40 haPPy fEEt two 3d (PG) Thu 2:10, 3:00, 4:45, 5:45, 7:20,

december 15-21 2011 NOW

8:15, 10:00 Fri-Sun 10:45, 1:15, 3:45, 6:20 Mon-Wed 3:45, 6:20 The Ides of March (14A) Thu 2:45, 5:15, 7:50, 10:10 J. edgar (PG) Thu 1:35, 4:30, 7:25, 10:25 Fri-Sun 10:35, 1:30, 4:30, 7:25, 10:25 Mon-Wed 1:30, 4:30, 7:25, 10:25 Jack and JIll (PG) Wed 2:30, 5:10, 7:45, 10:15 ladIes vs. rIcky Bahl (PG) Thu 3:45, 7:05, 10:25 Fri-Sun 11:50, 3:40, 7:05, 10:25 Mon-Wed 3:40, 7:05, 10:25 lIke crazy (14A) Thu 2:30, 4:45, 7:25, 9:40 MagIc To WIn 1:30, 4:30, 7:15, 9:45 Fri-Sun 11:00 mat MaMBaTTIyan 3:30, 7:00, 10:30 Fri-Sun 11:40 mat MargIn call Thu 3:20, 6:15, 9:10 Fri-Sun 11:55, 2:20, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 Mon-Wed 2:20, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 MayakkaM enna (PG) Thu 3:30, 7:00, 10:30 Fri-Tue 3:30, 10:15 MoneyBall (PG) Thu 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 Fri-Wed 4:10, 7:10, 10:10 The MuppeTs (G) Thu 2:10, 3:15, 4:50, 5:50, 7:15, 8:20, 9:50 Fri-Sun 10:50, 12:20, 1:35, 3:15, 5:50, 8:20 Mon-Wed 1:35, 3:15, 5:50, 8:20 My Week WITh MarIlyn (14A) 1:35, 4:05, 6:35, 9:25 Fri-Sun 10:45 mat puss In BooTs (G) Thu 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 Fri-Sun 10:30, 12:45, 2:55 Mon-Wed 2:55 sherlock holMes: a gaMe of shadoWs (PG) 1:45, 2:15, 3:45, 4:30, 5:15, 6:30, 7:15, 8:30, 9:15, 10:00 Fri-Sun 11:00, 11:30, 12:30 mat ToWer heIsT (PG) 4:00, 6:40, 9:20 Fri-Sun 10:40, 1:20 mat The Way Thu 2:15, 5:00, 7:45, 10:20 Fri-Wed 5:05, 7:45, 10:20

WoodSide CineMaS (i) 1571 SandhurST CirCle, 416-299-3456

The dIrTy pIcTure (14A) Thu, Mon-Wed 6:45, 9:30 FriSun 4:00, 6:45, 9:45 ladIes vs. rIcky Bahl (PG) 6:30, 9:30 Fri-Sun 3:45 mat

GTA Regions Mississauga

ColiSeuM MiSSiSSauga (Ce) Square one, 309 raThburn rd W, 905-275-3456

alvIn and The chIpMunks: chIpWrecked (G) 11:00, 11:50, 1:20, 2:20, 3:50, 4:40, 6:10, 7:00, 8:40, 9:30 Sat 12:40 mat Sun 12:40, 4:00 mat Sun only 11:00 11:50 12:40 1:20 2:20 4:00 4:40 6:10 7:00 8:40 9:30 Tue only 11:00 11:50 1:20 2:20 3:50 4:40 6:10 7:20 8:40 9:40 The gIrl WITh The dragon TaTToo (18A) Tue 7:10, 9:20, 10:40 Wed 11:30, 12:00, 3:00, 3:40, 6:30, 7:10, 10:00, 10:40 happy feeT TWo (PG) Thu 3:10 Fri-Mon 11:40, 2:15 TueWed 11:45, 2:15 happy feeT TWo 3d (PG) Thu 6:00, 8:30 Fri-Wed 4:45, 7:15, 9:45 IMMorTals 3d (18A) Thu 2:20, 4:50, 7:30, 10:00 Fri-Mon 2:40, 5:30, 8:20, 10:50 Tue 12:00, 2:40 Jack and JIll (PG) Thu 2:00, 4:40, 7:20, 9:40 The MeTropolITan opera: don gIovannI - encore Sat 12:55 MIssIon: IMpossIBle -- ghosT proTocol (PG) Tue 6:00, 7:00, 9:00, 10:10 Wed 11:40, 12:30, 2:40, 4:00, 6:00, 7:00, 9:00, 10:10 MIssIon: IMpossIBle -- ghosT proTocol: The IMaX eXperIence (PG) Thu 9:00, 12:01 Fri-Wed 11:00, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00, 11:00 The MuppeTs (G) Thu 1:00, 1:40, 3:30, 4:10, 6:10, 6:50, 8:40, 9:20 Fri-Mon 11:15, 1:45, 4:20, 7:30, 10:10 Tue 11:15, 1:45, 4:20, 7:30, 10:20 Wed 11:00, 1:40, 4:20, 7:30, 10:20 The nuTcracker - BolshoI BalleT lIve Sun 1:00 Mon 6:30 puss In BooTs 3d (G) Thu 2:00, 4:20, 6:30, 8:50 Fri-Sat, Mon 11:30, 1:40, 4:10, 7:10, 9:40 Sun, Tue 11:30, 1:40 sherlock holMes: a gaMe of shadoWs (PG) Thu 10:00 Fri-Tue 11:20, 12:20, 2:10, 3:10, 5:10, 6:50, 8:10, 9:50, 11:00 Wed 12:20, 3:10, 5:10, 6:20, 8:10, 9:20, 11:00 The sITTer (14A) Thu 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:50, 10:10 Fri-Mon 3:20, 5:50, 8:30, 10:40 Tue-Wed 3:20, 5:50, 8:30, 10:50 ToWer heIsT (PG) Thu 1:20, 3:50, 6:40, 9:10 Fri 1:10, 4:00, 7:20, 10:00 Sat 7:20, 10:00 Sun 4:00, 7:20, 10:00 Mon 1:10, 4:00 Tue 1:10, 3:40 The TWIlIghT saga: BreakIng daWn parT 1 (PG) Thu 1:00, 1:50, 2:30, 3:40, 4:30, 5:10, 6:20, 7:10, 9:00, 9:50 FriTue 11:10, 1:50, 4:30, 7:10, 9:50 Wed 11:10, 1:50, 6:20, 9:10 a very harold & kuMar 3d chrIsTMas (18A) Thu 3:00, 5:20, 7:40, 9:55 Fri-Mon 2:30, 4:50, 7:40, 10:20 Tue 2:30, 4:50 WWe Tlc: TaBles, ladders & chaIrs - 2011 Sun 8:00

CourTney Park 16 (aMC)

110 CourTney Park e aT huronTario, 888-262-4386 The advenTures of TInTIn 3d (PG) Tue 12:01 Wed 2:00, 4:30, 7:15, 10:00

The advenTures of TInTIn: an IMaX 3d eXperIence 12:50, 4:00, 6:55, 9:45 (PG) Wed 2:30, 5:15 The descendanTs (14A) Thu 4:10, 7:10, 10:00 Fri-Mon alvIn and The chIpMunks: chIpWrecked (G) Fri-Sat 1:40, 4:25, 7:35, 10:20 Tue 1:40, 4:25 Wed 10:45 10:30, 12:45, 3:15, 5:30, 7:50 Sun-Mon, Wed 3:15, 5:30, The gIrl WITh The dragon TaTToo (18A) Tue 7:10, 7:50 Tue 3:15 8:30, 10:50 Wed 11:45, 2:30, 3:30, 6:30, 7:10, 10:10, 10:50 arThur chrIsTMas (G) Thu-Sun 2:15, 7:30 Mon2,000 2:15, happy feeT TWo (PG) Fri-Tue 11:15, 1:55 Wed 11:50, 2:25 neaRly RestauRants! 4:45, 7:30, 10:00 Tue 7:30 happy feeT TWo 3d (PG) Thu 3:30, 6:10, 8:50 Fri-Tue Search by rating, price, genre, arThur chrIsTMas 3d (G) Thu, Tue 4:45, 10:00 Fri-Sun 4:30, 7:05, 9:50 Wed 5:05, 7:40, 10:15 neighbourhood, review & 3d more! 11:45, 4:45, 10:00 IMMorTals (18A) Thu 4:40, 7:15, 10:10 Fri-Mon 1:45, The descendanTs (14A) Thu 1:50 5:20 8:00 10:35 Fri4:45, 7:50, 10:50 Tue 1:45, 4:45 Wed 1:50, 5:20, 7:55, 10:40 In TIMe (PG) Thu 3:55, 6:35, 9:45 The gIrl WITh The dragon TaTToo (18A) Tue 12:01 J. edgar (PG) Thu 4:05, 7:05, 10:05 Wed 1:50, 3:30, 5:20, 7:00, 8:50, 10:30 Jack and JIll (PG) Thu 4:35, 7:20, 9:35 Fri-Tue 1:00, 4:15, happy feeT TWo 3d (PG) Fri-Sun 11:00, 1:30, 4:10 Mon7:10, 10:15 Wed 11:15, 1:40, 4:30, 7:35, 10:15 Tue 1:30, 4:10 MIssIon: IMpossIBle -- ghosT proTocol (PG) Tue happy feeT TWo: an IMaX 3d eXperIence (PG) Thu 3:15 7:00, 7:30, 10:10, 10:40 Wed 12:20, 1:00, 3:30, 4:10, 6:40, hugo 3d (PG) Thu 1:45, 5:10, 8:10 Fri-Sun 10:50, 1:45, 7:20, 9:50, 10:30 4:40, 7:50, 10:40 Mon-Wed 1:45, 4:40, 7:50, 10:40 MIssIon: IMpossIBle -- ghosT proTocol: The IMaX IMMorTals 3d (18A) Thu 2:05, 4:50, 7:35, 10:05 eXperIence (PG) Thu 9:00, 12:01 Fri-Wed 11:00, 2:00, In TIMe (PG) Thu 2:20, 5:05, 7:55, 10:25 5:00, 8:00, 11:00 Jack and JIll (PG) Thu 2:10, 4:35, 7:20, 9:50 The MuppeTs (G) Thu 3:40, 6:45 Fri-Wed 11:20, 2:00, MIssIon: IMpossIBle -- ghosT proTocol (PG) Tue 4:40, 7:20, 9:55 6:00, 7:00, 9:00, 12:01 Wed 2:15, 3:45, 5:15, 7:00, 8:30, My Week WITh MarIlyn (14A) Thu 4:25, 7:25, 9:55 10:00 neW year’s eve (PG) Thu 3:50, 4:30, 6:50, 7:30, 9:50, MIssIon: IMpossIBle -- ghosT proTocol: The IMaX 10:15 Fri-Mon 12:40, 1:20, 3:45, 4:35, 7:00, 7:45, 10:05, eXperIence (PG) Thu 6:00, 9:00, 12:01 Fri-Sun 10:30, 10:45 Tue 12:40, 1:20, 3:45, 4:35, 7:00, 10:05 Wed 1:20, 1:30, 4:30, 7:45, 11:00 Mon-Tue 1:30, 4:30, 7:45, 11:00 4:15, 7:00, 10:05 Wed 7:45, 11:00 The nuTcracker - BolshoI BalleT lIve Sun 1:00 Mon The MuppeTs (G) Thu 2:30, 5:30, 8:20, 10:45 Fri-Sun 6:30 10:40, 2:25, 5:25, 8:05, 10:35 Mon-Wed 2:25, 5:25, 8:05, puss In BooTs 3d (G) Thu 4:20, 6:30, 9:15 Fri-Sat, Mon 10:35 11:30, 1:50, 4:10, 6:30, 8:50 Sun, Tue 11:30, 1:50, 4:10 My Week WITh MarIlyn (14A) Thu 3:30, 5:45, 8:15, sherlock holMes: a gaMe of shadoWs (PG) Thu 10:30 10:00 Fri-Mon, Wed 12:30, 1:10, 3:40, 4:20, 6:50, 7:30, neW year’s eve (PG) Thu 1:30, 2:00, 4:00, 5:00, 7:00, 10:00, 10:40 Tue 12:30, 1:10, 3:40, 4:15, 6:50, 7:30, 10:00, 10:00 Fri-Sun 10:35, 1:15, 4:00, 4:30, 7:00, 7:30, 10:00, 10:40 10:30 Mon 4:00, 4:30, 7:00, 7:30, 10:00, 10:30 Tue 4:30, The sITTer (14A) Thu 5:10, 7:45, 9:50 Fri-Sun, Tue 12:10, 7:30 Wed 4:30, 7:30, 10:30 2:30, 5:10, 7:40, 10:30 Mon 12:10, 2:30, 7:40, 10:30 Wed sherlock holMes: a gaMe of shadoWs (PG) Thu 12:10, 2:40, 5:30, 8:10 10:00 Fri-Sat 11:00, 11:30, 2:00, 2:30, 5:00, 5:30, 8:00, ToWer heIsT (PG) Thu 4:50, 7:40, 10:10 8:30, 11:00, 11:30 Sun 11:00, 11:30, 2:00, 2:30, 5:00, 5:30, The TWIlIghT saga: BreakIng daWn parT 1 (PG) Thu 8:00, 8:30, 11:00 Mon, Wed 2:00, 2:30, 5:00, 5:30, 8:00, 3:30, 4:00, 6:00, 6:40, 9:00, 9:40 Fri-Tue 12:20, 3:20, 8:30, 11:00 Tue 2:00, 2:30, 5:00, 5:30, 8:00, 8:30, 11:00, 6:40, 9:30 Wed 12:40, 3:45, 6:45, 9:35 11:30 a very harold & kuMar 3d chrIsTMas (18A) Thu The sITTer (14A) Thu 2:00, 2:45, 4:30, 5:15, 6:40, 7:20, 4:45, 7:15, 9:40 Fri-Sat, Tue 2:15, 5:20, 8:10, 10:25 Sun 8:45, 9:30, 10:50 Fri-Sun 11:30, 1:00, 2:00, 3:15, 5:35, 7:40, 5:20, 8:10, 10:25 Mon 2:15, 5:20, 10:25 10:00 Mon-Tue 2:00, 3:15, 5:35, 7:40, 10:00 Wed 3:15, WWe Tlc: TaBles, ladders & chaIrs - 2011 Sun 8:00 5:35, 7:40, 10:00 young adulT (14A) Fri-Tue 11:40, 2:10, 4:55, 7:25, 10:10 ToWer heIsT (PG) Thu 3:05, 5:40, 8:10, 10:40 Fri-Sun Wed 11:40, 2:10, 4:55, 7:25, 10:20 11:55, 3:05, 5:40, 8:05, 10:35 Mon 3:05, 5:40, 8:05, 10:35

nowtoronto.com/food

Online Restaurant Guide

Tue 3:05, 5:40, 8:05 The TWIlIghT saga: BreakIng daWn parT 1 (PG) Thu 1:40, 5:00, 8:00, 10:40 Fri-Sun 10:45, 1:40, 5:00, 8:10, 10:50 Mon-Wed 1:40, 5:00, 8:10, 10:50 a very harold & kuMar 3d chrIsTMas (18A) Thu 1:30, 4:00, 6:30, 8:45 Fri-Tue 7:10, 9:40 young adulT (14A) 3:15, 5:45, 8:15, 10:45 Fri-Sun 10:45, 1:00 mat

SilverCiTy MiSSiSSauga (Ce) hWy 5, eaST oF hWy 403, 905-569-3373

The advenTures of TInTIn 3d (PG) Wed 3:35, 6:20, 9:05 alvIn and The chIpMunks: chIpWrecked (G) Fri-Sun 12:30, 1:45, 2:50, 4:30, 5:15, 6:55, 7:40, 9:20, 10:00 MonWed 4:30, 4:50, 6:55, 7:25, 9:20, 9:40 The descendanTs (14A) Thu 4:05, 6:50, 9:35 Fri-Sun 1:05, 3:55, 7:00, 9:50 Mon-Wed 3:55, 7:00, 9:50 happy feeT TWo 3d (PG) Thu 3:55, 6:55, 9:25 Fri-Sun 1:15, 4:05, 6:45, 9:30 Mon-Wed 4:05, 6:45, 9:15 hugo 3d (PG) Thu 3:50, 6:45, 9:45 Fri-Sun 12:40, 3:45, 6:40, 9:40 Mon-Tue 3:45, 6:40, 9:30 Wed 3:50, 6:40, 9:30 Jack and JIll (PG) Thu 3:30, 7:15, 9:40 The MuppeTs (G) Thu 3:40, 4:25, 6:30, 7:10, 9:15, 9:50 Fri-Sun 1:25, 4:15, 7:05, 9:55 Mon-Wed 4:15, 7:05, 9:45 My Week WITh MarIlyn (14A) Thu 4:35, 7:25, 9:55 neW year’s eve (PG) Thu 3:35, 4:15, 6:40, 7:05, 9:30, 10:00 Fri-Sun 12:45, 1:35, 3:35, 4:25, 6:30, 7:15, 9:35, 10:10 Mon-Wed 3:40, 4:25, 6:30, 7:15, 9:25, 10:00 puss In BooTs 3d (G) Thu 4:00, 6:20, 9:10 Fri-Sun 12:55, 3:25, 6:20, 9:10 Mon-Tue 4:00, 6:20, 9:05 young adulT (14A) Fri-Sun 1:55, 4:40, 7:30, 10:15 MonWed 4:40, 7:30, 9:55

north ColoSSuS (Ce) hWy 400 & 7, 905-851-1001

The advenTures of TInTIn 3d (PG) Wed 11:30, 2:15, 5:10, 7:50, 10:25 alvIn and The chIpMunks: chIpWrecked (G) Fri-Tue 11:10, 12:00, 1:30, 2:20, 3:50, 4:50, 6:15, 7:15, 8:40, 9:40 Wed 11:10, 12:00, 1:30, 2:20, 3:55, 4:50, 6:15, 7:15, 8:40, 9:40 arThur chrIsTMas 3d (G) Thu 3:35, 6:00, 9:20 Fri-Wed

West grande - STeeleS (Ce) hWy 410 & STeeleS, 905-455-1590

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december 15-21 2011

indie&rep film complete festivals, independent and

repertory schedules

T.O. critics love The Tree Of Life In an awards season with no clear front-runner, the Toronto Film Critics Association embraced Terrence Malick’s cosmic meditation The Tree Of Life as the best film of 2011 in a live vote held earlier this week. Malick was also named best director by the TFCA. Jeff Nichols’s equally ambitious but far darker Take Shelter was also honoured with two awards: Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain took best actor and best supporting actress, respectively, for their performances as a husband and wife whose marriage is rocked by his apocalyptic visions.

Chastain was nominated in the same category for her role in The Tree Of Life – one of several instances of doubling in this year’s awards. British filmmaker Joe Cornish won the best first feature prize for his teens-andmonsters romp Attack The Block. Cornish and his executive producer, Edgar Wright, were among the screenwriters of Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures Of Tintin, which the TFCA named its best animated feature. Best documentary went to Patricio Guzmán’s Nostalgia For The Light, a look at contemporary Chile, while foreign language film honours went to

Mysteries Of Lisbon, directed by Guzmán’s late countryman Raúl Ruiz. And best screenplay went to Moneyball, adapted from the book by Michael Lewis by Stan Chervin, Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin; Sorkin won the prize last year for The Social Network. Michelle Williams was named best actress for her role as Marilyn Monroe in My Week With Marilyn; Christopher Plummer took best supporting actor for his performance as an elderly widower coming out of the closet in Beginners. The TFCA presents its awards at a

The Tree Of Life’s Jessica Chastain and Tye Sheridan impressed the TFCA.

gala dinner in January, where it will announce the winner of the Rogers Canadian Film Award. The nominees

for the 2011 prize are Café De Flore, A Dangerous Method and Monsieur Lazhar.

T o r o n T o F i l m C r i T i C s A s s o C i AT i o n ’ s B e s T o F 2 0 1 1

Best PiCture

The Tree Of Life (Runners-up: The Artist, The Descendants)

Best aCtor

Michael Shannon, Take Shelter (Runners-up: George Clooney, The Descendants; Michael Fassbender, Shame)

Best aCtress

Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn How to find a listing

Repertory cinema listings are comprehensive and appear alphabetically by venue, then by date. Other films are listed by date.

ñ F= festive/seasonal event

= Critics’ pick (highly recommended)

How to place a listing

All listings are free. Send to: movies@nowtoronto.com, fax to 416-364-1166 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.

Cinemas BLOOR Cinema

(Runners-up: Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene; Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady)

Best suPPortinG aCtor

Christopher Plummer, Beginners (Runners-up: Albert Brooks, Drive; Patton Oswalt, Young Adult)

Best suPPortinG aCtress

Jessica Chastain, Take Shelter (Runners-up: Jessica Chastain, The Tree Of Life; Shailene Woodley, The Descendants) 16 – Sing-Along Special: The Sound Of Music (1965) D: Robert Wise. ñ 7 pm. Ffri

Fsat 17 – How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) D: Ron Howard. 2 pm. High Noon (1952) D: Fred Zinnemann. 6:30 pm. Knife In The Water (1962) D: Roman Polanski. 9 pm. sun 18 – Chinatown (1974) D: Roman Polanski. 3 pm. Q&A w/ film critic Adam Nayman to follow film. Mogambo (1953) D: John Ford. 6:30 pm. Cul-de-sac (1966) D: Roman Polanski. 9 pm. Mon 19 – Lies My Father Told Me (1975) D: Ján Kadár. 6:30 pm. tue 20 – Fourteen Hours. 6:30 pm. Chinatown. 9 pm. Wed 21 – High Society (1956) D: Charles Walters. 6:30 pm. Repulsion (1965) D: Roman Polanski. 9 pm.

fOx theatRe

2236 Queen e. 416-691-7330. fOxtheatRe.Ca

thu 15 – Le Havre (2011) D: Aki Kaurismäki.

Best direCtor

Terrence Malick, The Tree Of Life (Runners-up: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist; Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive)

Best sCreenPLaY

Moneyball, written by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, story by Stan Chervin, based on the book by Michael Lewis (Runners-up: The Descendants, written by Alexander Payne; The Tree Of Life, written by Terrence Malick)

FMon 19-Wed 21 – Nativity.

natiOnaL fiLm BOaRd

150 JOhn. 416-973-3012. nfB.Ca/mediatheQue

thu 15-Wed 21 – More than 5,000 NFB films

available at digital viewing stations. TueWed noon-7 pm, Thu-Sat noon-10 pm, Sun noon-5 pm. Free. Fsat 17-sun 18 – The Mediatheque On Ice! Holiday screenings. 2 pm. Free. Wed 21 – Free Favourites At Four presents Qimmit: A Clash Of Two Truths (2010) D: Ole Gjerstad and Joelie Sanguya. 4 pm. Free.

OntaRiO PLaCe CinesPheRe 955 Lake shORe W. 416-314-9900. OntaRiOPLaCe.COm

Fsat 17 – The Polar Express (2004) D: Robert

thu 15 – Next Wave Public Event: Almost

gRaham sPRY theatRe

the PROJeCtiOn BOOth

Fsat 17 – How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) D: Chuck Jones & Ben Washam, and Miracle On 34th Street (1947) D: George Seaton. 3 pm. Free.

Reitman sQuaRe, 350 king W. 416-599-tiff (8433). tiff.net

Famous (2000) D: Cameron Crowe, followed by a live onstage interview with music journalists Sam Sutherland and Ashley Carter, and a short acoustic set by Casey Mecija of Ohbijou. 6:15 pm. Fourteen Hours (1951) D: Henry Hathaway. 6:30 pm.

december 15-21 2011 NOW

CBC museum, CBC BROadCast CentRe, 250 fROnt W, 416-205-5574. CBC.Ca

thu 15-Wed 21 – Continuous screenings

Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Free. Fthu 15-fri 16 – A Heartland Christmas.

Best foreiGn LanGuaGe fiLM Mysteries Of Lisbon

fri 16 – Le Havre. 5 pm. Cave Of Forgotten

Dreams (2010) D: Werner Herzog. 7 pm. Buck (2011) D: Cindy Meehl. 9 pm. Fsat 17 – Buck. 2 & 9 pm. Penny Serenade (1941) D: George Stevens. 4:30 pm. Cave Of Forgotten Dreams. 7 pm. Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (1964) D: Nicholas Webster. 11 pm. sun 18 – Buck. 4 pm. Mughal-E-Azam (1960) D: K Asif. 6 pm. Cave Of Forgotten Dreams. 9 pm. Mon 19 – Le Havre. 5 pm. Buck. 7 pm. Cave Of Forgotten Dreams. 9 pm. tue 20 – Le Havre. 5 pm. Cave Of Forgotten Dreams. 7 pm. Buck. 9 pm. FWed 21 – Le Havre. 5 pm. New Year (2011) D: Phil Borg. Director in attendance. 7 pm. Buck. 9 pm.

ñ ñ

OntaRiO sCienCe CentRe

1028 Queen W. 416-530-0011. CameRaBaR.Ca

The Adventures Of Tintin (Runners-up: Puss In Boots, Rango)

Fukasaku. 7 pm. sun 18 – Occupy Toronto: The Last Day In 3D (2011) D: Reg Hartt. 2 pm. Jane Jacobs: Urban Wisdom (2003) D: Don Alexander. 5 pm.

CinematheQue tiff BeLL LightBOx

CameRa BaR

Best aniMated feature

Reg haRtt’s CinefORum

am & 2 pm. Under The Sea. Noon. Tornado Alley. 1 pm. sat 17 – Rocky Mountain Express. 11 am, 1, 3 & 8 pm. Tornado Alley. Noon, 4 & 7 pm. Under The Sea. 2 pm. sun 18 – Rocky Mountain Express. 11 am, 1 & 3 pm. Tornado Alley. Noon & 4 pm. Under The Sea. 2 pm. Mon 19-Wed 21 – Rocky Mountain Express. 11 am & 2 pm. Under The Sea. Noon. Tornado Alley. 1 pm.

thu 15-Wed 21 – Closed for renovations.

Attack The Block, directed by Joe Cornish (Runners-up: Margin Call, directed by J.C. Chandor; Martha Marcy May Marlene, directed by Sean Durkin)

Zemeckis. 2 & 7 pm. Fsun 18 – The Polar Express. 2 pm. Wed 21 – Mysteries Of Fire & Ring Of Egypt. 10 am.

7 pm. Take Shelter (2011) D: Jeff Nichols. 9:15 pm. fri 16-sat 17 – The Way (2010) D: Emilio Estevez. 7 pm. The Skin I Live In (2011) D: Pedro Almodóvar. 9:15 pm. Fsun 18 – It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) D: Frank Capra. 1:30 pm. Free. The Way. 4:15 & 7 pm. The Skin I Live In. 9:15 pm. Mon 19 – The Way. 7 pm. The Skin I Live In. 9:15 pm. tue 20 – The Skin I Live In. 7 pm. The Way. 9:15 pm. Wed 21 – Drive (2011) : Nicholas Winding Refn. 7 pm. The Rum Diary (2011) D: Bruce Robinson. 9:15 pm.

506 BLOOR W. 416-516-2330. BLOORCinema.COm

Best first feature

770 dOn miLLs. 416-696-3127. OntaRiOsCienCeCentRe.Ca

thu 15-fri 16 – Rocky Mountain Express. 11

1035 geRRaRd e. 416-466-3636, PROJeCtiOnBOOth. mOOnfRuit.COm

thu 15– Le Havre (2011) D: Aki Kaurismäki. 7 pm. As A Young Girl Of Thirteen (2011) D: Elisabeth Coronel, Florence Gaillard and Arnaud de Mezamat. 9 pm.

463 BathuRst. 416-603-6643.

sat 17-Wed 21 – Battle Royale (2000) D: Kinji

Revue Cinema

400 ROnCesvaLLes. 416-531-9959. RevueCinema.Ca

thu 15 – Le Havre (2011) D: Aki Kaurismäki.

7 pm. Film School Confidential: Crimes Of Passion (1984) D: Ken Russell. 9 pm. fri 16 – The Way (2010) D: Emilio Estevez. 7 pm. Moneyball (2011) D: Bennett Miller. 9:30 pm. Fsat 17 – Ruffus The Dog’s Christmas Carol (2011) D: Robert Mills. 11:30 am. A Christmas Story (1983) D: Bob Clark. 2 pm. Free. Moneyball. 4:15 & 9:30 pm. The Way. 7 pm. Fsun 18 – Elf (2003) D: Jon Favreau. 2 pm. Free. Moneyball. 4:15 & 9:30 pm. The Way. 7 pm. Mon 19 – Under Fire (2011) D: Martyn Burke. 7 pm. The Rum Diary (2011) D: Bruce Robertson. 9:15 pm.

(Runners-up: Attenberg, Le Havre, A Separation)

aLLan KinG doCuMentarY aWard

Nostalgia For The Light (Runners-up: Into The Abyss, Project Nim)

roGers Canadian fiLM aWard finaLists

Café De Flore, A Dangerous Method, norMan WiLner Monsieur Lazhar

tue 20 – Under Fire. 7 pm. The Rum Diary. 9:15 pm. Wed 21 – Under Fire. 7 pm. Down The Road Again (2011) D: Donald Shebib. Director in attendance. 9:15 pm.

the ROYaL 608 COLLege. 416-534-5252. theROYaL.tO

fri 16-Wed 21 – Dragonslayer (2011) D: Tristan Patterson, a film about skateboarder Josh Sandoval. 7 pm. The Room (2003) D: Tommy Wiseau. 11:30 pm. sat 17-Wed 21 – Dragonslayer. 7 pm.

tOROntO undeRgROund Cinema

186 sPadina ave, Basement. 647-992-4335, tOROntOundeRgROundCinema.COm

thu 15 – Love, Actually (2003) D: Richard Curtis. 7 pm.

16 – It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) D: Frank Capra. 8 pm. ñ sat 17 – Slap Shot (1977) D: George Roy Hill. Ffri

10:30 pm. sun 18 – Event Horizon (1997) D: Paul WS Anderson. 7pm. Mon 19-Wed 21 – Check website for schedule.

OtheR fiLms thu 15-Wed 21 –

The CN Tower presents The Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D. Continuous screenings daily 10 am to 8 pm. 301 Front W. 416-868-6937, cntower.ca. thu 15-Wed 21 – Casa Loma presents The Pellatt Newsreel (2006) D: Barbra Cooper, a film and permanent exhibit on the history of Casa Loma and Henry Pellatt. Daily screenings 10 am to 4:30 pm. Included w/ admission. 1 Austin Terrace. 416-923-1171, casaloma.org. Mon 19 – The Cameron House Music Movie Mondays presents No Direction Home (2005) D: Martin Scorsese. 8 pm. $5. 408 Queen W. musicmoviemondays.wordpress.com. 3

blu-ray/dvd disc of the week Kung Fu Panda 2 (Dream-

Works, 2011) D: Jennifer Yuh, w/ voices of Jack Black, Gary Oldman. Rating: NNNN; Blu-ray package: NNNN Here’s a rarity: a sequel that’s better than the original. It has a more complex story and characters, more inventive sight gags and wittier verbal ones, plus more spectacular visuals. Kung Fu Panda 2 also has a better villain. Shen, the megalomaniac peacock, has a weapon that will destroy kung fu and let him conquer all China. Panda Po and martial arts masters the Furious Five (Jack Black, Angelina Jolie and the rest back in fine form) must stop him. Shen, drawn with an elegant curved body that’s undercut by an undersized, beaky head bobbing on top, is voiced by Gary Oldman with grand menace and a slight

Meet Me In St. Louis (WB,

1944) D: Vincente Minnelli, w/ Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien. Rating: NNNN; Blu-ray package: NNNN Two of Judy Garland’s best songs – The Trolley Song and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – plus Vincente Minnelli’s lavish visuals and assured camera style make this an immensely enjoyable movie whether or not you’re a fan of the star or genre. Nothing much happens during the year we follow the life of a comfortable middle-class family in 1903 St. Louis. They’re set to move to New York but would rather not go. The two eldest daughters, Garland and Lucille Bremer, develop romances, while the youngest,

tendency to squawk. His scenes with the fortune-telling goat (Michelle Yeoh) are priceless. Somewhere in the amusing, informative and generous extras, the producers talk about their pride in getting the martial arts right. Check out the panda’s moves in the climax and his as-

Margaret O’Brien, a scene-stealer at age seven, indulges her comic morbid streak. The commentary, stitched together from archival interviews with O’Brien, composer Hugh Martin and others, provides lots of production anecdotes. The MGM studio history is largely entertaining fluff, rich in period footage. EXTRAS Commentary, making-of doc, Liza Minnelli intro, radio version, Garland trailers doc, MGM history doc, four-song CD, booklet. English, French, Spanish audio and subtitles.

13 (V V S, 2010) D: Géla

Babluani, w/ Sam Riley, Jason Statham Rating: NNNN; Blu-ray package: NNN 13 belongs alongside the likes of Thief, The

ON DEMAND THIS WEEK

ON ROGERS

ON iTUNES

Cowboys & Aliens (2011) Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford join forces to battle aliens in the Old West.

Kiss Me Again (2006) A married couple hope the introduction of a young woman into their relationship will provide the spark they need.

ON BELL

ON NETFLIX

Fright Night (2011) A teen discovers that the new neighbour who’s making a play for his mother is really a vampire.

Gulliver’s Travels (2010) Jack Black stars as a storm-tossed sailor washed ashore in the land of the tiny Lilliputians.

We like

By ANDREW DOWLER

sociation with water and the yinyang symbol. That bear is doing tai chi. EXTRAS Audio commentary, picturein-picture commentary, two cartoon shorts, voice cast, locations and panda docs, more. English, French, Spanish audio. English SDA, French, Spanish subtitles.

Kung Fu Panda 2 is better than the original.

Driver and The Killing. It’s a tense, terse existential thriller with more on its mind than it lets on. Without any idea of what he’s getting into, a young electrician presents himself for what he thinks is a bigmoney job, only to be pushed into playing in a brutal underground competition for high-rolling gamblers. Director Géla Babluani ratchets up the tension in the simple game by counterpointing its rigid rituals and impassive spectators with the players’ abject terror. Sam Riley does a splendid job as the electrician who masters his terror enough to function. Mickey Rourke portrays a player who tries to scheme his way out with the help of his sympathetic handler (Curtis 50 Cent Jackson). Among the gamblers, the gentle philosophizing of Ben Gazzara’s character is especially chilling. Jason Statham plays against type as a degenerate gambler who uses his emotionally troubled brother (Ray

Winstone at his menacing best) as his player. They’ve done this before, and the brother is the odds-on favourite, but gradually his stoicism gives way to rage and the shakes. EXTRAS Making-of doc, interviews, on-set footage. English, French audio and subtitles.

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Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (Fox,

2011) D: Rupert Wyatt, w/ Andy Serkis, James Franco. Rating: NNN; DVD package: NN Rise doesn’t add much to the Planet Of The Apes saga, but it’s fun if you think of it as Frankenstein played backward. Caesar, the genetically altered chimpanzee, is the monster as hero, and the mad doctor is merely a sane and humanitarian researcher whose experimental Alzheimer’s drug accidentally jacks up Caesar’s IQ and launches the plague that will wipe out humanity. After a half-hour of domestic coziness while Caesar grows and learns, he gets busted for beating on a neighbour and sent to a primate facility. There, he gets his first exposure to other apes and human cruelty, becomes politically aware and launches a bid for freedom. Andy Serkis is the whole movie. He plays Caesar as a believable chimpanzee fuelled by an intriguing mix of affection, anger, thoughtfulness and dignity. The too-brief extras doc on his performance is largely interesting for what it reveals about advances in motion-capture technology. Rise ties well to Project Nim, a documentary about the fate of a signing chimpanzee, and Project X, a dandy ape escape movie, both currently out on DVD. EXTRAS Serkis performance doc, series appreciation doc. English, French, Spanish audio. English SDH, Spanish subtitles. 3 movies@nowtoronto.com

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RONLEY TEPER’S LIPLINERS Local alt.folk group perform songs on a streetcar ride west on Dundas. 3:16

CARLO MERIANO Former Andrew W.K. tourmate and local guitarist Meriano played the Painted Lady to release his new record. 2:30 AUSTRA Who wasn’t in awe of Austra at big homecoming gig? Watch the goth locals play to decide for yourself. 4:03

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THE DAKOTA TURNS FIVE Toronto’s favourite saloon celebrates with some foot-tapping twang from Serena Ryder and the Beauties. 3:13 OCCUPY TORONTO’S GENERAL ASSEMBLY Watch a

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a 1)(, +" $ a "%"'

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for rent - bach

for rent - 2 bdrm

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Derry/427

for rent - 1 bdrm

Mary Anne Runnalls

New main flr. bung., 3 bdrms., a/c, 5 appliances, draperies, prkg., Call 416-744-2222

Sales Representative

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2011 Dundas West. Call John 416-536-8824

for rent - general College / Spadina Daily, weekly, monthly (from $600) Pkg lndry SRs disc 416-921-2141

mrunnalls@trebnet.com www.homerunner.ca

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Dupont/Lansdowne One Bedroom - $950. 10'-14' ceilings. Fitness and recreation facilities, underground parking, air, 416-5161166 Rental Office Hours: MonThurs 8-7, Fri 8-5, Sat/Sun 12-4 www.standardlofts.com

C o n ta c t De a n

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tired of ordinary?

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Leslie/Sheppard

1 bdrm bsmt apt., lndry, close to Bathurst subway, $825 incl. Avail. immed. 416-538-9902

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for rent - 3 bdrm+

Bathurst / Bloor

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studio for rent

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offices Jane/Langstaff Office for rent. call 416-459-0007

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Queen Street West Prime professional office space for lease 1 block west of university ave. 4th floor with 11 offices avail. aranging from $750- $850 per office with elevator access call: 647-891-4224

Bachelors $835 Studios & Workrooms $900 One Bedroom $950 Two Bedroom $1,275

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astrology WORLD REKNOWNED ASTROLOGER

PANDIT SHANKAR

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commercial space

HE PROVIDES QUICK SOLUTIONS FOR BLACK MAGIC, JADOO, VOODOO, OBEAU, WITH 100% PROTECTION.

HAIR SALON FOR SALE

EXPERT GUIDENCE ON PROBLEMS LIKE JOB,

Lakeshore- Mimico. Call for further information. 416-399-1955

EXPERT GUIDENCE ON PROBLEMS LIKE FAMILY, MONEY, COURT, KIDS, SEXUAL PROBLEMS & SICKNESS. ALL RELIGIONS WELCOME

Retail Studio Space 2nd flr. for lease, street entr. Mt. pleasant/davisville, approx. 900 sq. ft. $900/month plus TMI. avail. Jan.1st Call peter 647-223-1499

416-669-5319 ALBION & ISLINGTON

storage

dance classes

OUTSIDE STORAGE

Flamenco!

massage therapy

movers

*** For non-sexual massage and health practitioners only.

! J.J. FLASH Hourly/flat rate *Local/long distance* short notice* (416)599-2728

pets

!A LAST MINUTE

Beagle Puppies

Move? Small to medium size moves.

vet checked, 1st. shots, dewormed. Asking $200. Call Joe 519-485-2604

Prof. Packing & decluttering Avail.

CARGOTAXI-SAME DAY DELIVERY Experienced and reliable 7days/wk.

LOVEBIRDS, M & F

Jeta Moving 416-410-5382

Wild West Moving

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workshops

SPIRITUAL CONSULTANT

OVERWEIGHT? Addicted to Food? Is your life OK but your eating out of control?

Do you feel lost? I can steer YOU on YOUR truthful journey. SPIRITUAL CLEANSING starting at $100

OHIP-covered workshop for women. No drugs, no fad diets. “Deal with the feelings and the pounds will melt away.” BEGINS JANUARY 8, 2012 RUNS FOR 20 WEEKS Marcia Sirota MD FRCP(C)

1 FREE Question included. Cleansings & Meditations Palm, Tarot, Shakra Balancing, Psychic Readings

By Janey 647-970-2276 janeysstudios@yahoo.ca

416-782-5452

pets SPACE PROVIDED BY

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+(-%*0)%)).*

health

healing

YOUR HEALTH

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psychics

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Dependable & Affordable Moving Solutions since 1987. 416-240-7241

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YORKIE CROSSED LHASA APSO PUPS

Winter term begins January 3 New courses for beginner adults Academy of Spanish Dance 401 Richmond St W Suite B104 Call 416-595-5753 academy@flamencos.net www.flamencos.net

X AVAILABLE AT W 211 Sterling Rd (Lansdowne/Dundas) ± for cars, trailers, boats, Rv’s etc. FROM $50.00 PER MONTH! Call 905-271-2001 or 416-878-4466

TOY RED POODLE Pups, 1 Female, 1 Male, CKC reg'd., 1st. shots, vet checked, par clear, 905-729-3028. Beeton, ask for Kay

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Place an ad in our Auto section for only

ANXIETY Anxiety is a natural human response that is necessary in some circumstances; however, it can become a disorder when it is excessive and negatively affects our quality of life. Currently, anxiety is one of the most common of all mental health disorders. Feeling anxious or distressed along with sleep disturbance and an inability to think clearly are common symptoms of anxiety. People often first notice physical symptoms, which are particularly common in panic attacks. Panic attacks are characterized by a short period of intense fear accompanied by chest pain, dizziness or shortness of breath. Anxious individuals often have a constant feeling that something bad is going to happen and therefore are always on edge. This inability to relax drastically reduces quality of life and may lead to difficulty in falling asleep and frequent waking through the night. The causes of anxiety are numerous. The symptoms are associated with imbalances in specific neurotransmitters that disrupt the normal functioning of our nervous system. Lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition, lack of exercise & social support or poor stress management skills can all be part of the cause. Although a genetic

predisposition to developing an anxiety disorder is likely, environmental stressors clearly play an important role. The natural approach to treating anxiety encompasses psychotherapy, improving stress management skills, healthy diet and regular exercise. Some people suffering from an anxiety disorder may also benefit from specific herbal medicines, nutritional supplements or acupuncture treatments. For severe anxiety, a combination of psychotherapy and prescription medication is often recommended. If you’re feeling anxious, a starting place is to avoid drinking alcohol and coffee since these cause further imbalances in the nervous system that worsen anxiety. It is also important to reduce your sugar intake, since a low-sugar diet promotes a calm mood. If you’re still having trouble with stress and anxiety, speak to your naturopathic doctor for more specific treatment recommendations. If you’re currently taking medication for anxiety, talk to your medical doctor before making any changes to your medication. Naturopathic medicine can provide additional support to enhance the therapeutic effect of medications and minimize the side-effects.

SOURCE: DR. AMANDA GUTHRIE, BSc, ND, Naturopathic Doctor 28 Park Road (Yonge & Bloor), Toronto, ON M4W 1M1 416.944.9186 WholeHealthToronto.com

Cars for Sale

NOW DECEMBER 15-21 2011

General announcements

SONNY’S

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

CHRISTMAS TREES FOR 17 YEARS, PROCEEDS TO

2010: $25,000+ Donated

ST.CLARE CHURCH

ST.CLARE SCHOOL

To date over $175,000 donated since 1994

MARKHAM ST.

EASTMINSTER UNITED CHURCH

KL& H=L=J K CHURCH

JACKMAN

NE W !

DANFORTH AVE.

DQ DANFORT

BLOOR ST. @GF=KL =< K

CEDARBRAE MALL

LAWRENCE AVE. E.

FULL SIZE & SELECTION! CALL 416-875-9491

Fraser, Concolor, Balsam, White Pine, Scot’s Pine, Blue Spruce & Douglas Trees/Wreaths Available

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pro services

Phoenix for the Holidays!

TOO MUCH DEBT?

When the only thing left in your piggy bank is the oink.

Phoenix The Life of Norman Bethune is a bold new biography of the most famous Canadian in history. Activist, humanitarian, pioneer of medicare and fighter for social justice, Dr. Norman Bethune is a man for our time. On Twitter @PhoenixNBethune, and visit our website at: www.phoenixthelifeofnorman bethune.ca

lost

Cyril Sapiro C.A. Trustee in Bankruptcy Yonge/Eglinton 416-486-9660 for info and a booklet

MISS CLEAN Residential cleaning 3 main packages- basic, basic + & super clean servicing the GTA and York region. misscleanforyou@gmail.com 416-206-5705

found

Lost glasses-Reward I left a pair of glasses in a cab Thursday morning. They are Cutler and Gross, large dark brown frames. These are prescription so I do really need them, not just fashion! Please return if you have found them and I will give a reward. Thank you!! 647-248-4214

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Hard Rock Drummer 70's/80's style all original hard rock band with pro CD needs long haired drummer for shows. 416-575-5477

QUEER-FRIENDLY MUSICIAN CONTEST Top musician wins $1000 cash & $500 Steve's Music voucher. straights welcome. visit queeridol.ca.

PAULA SHEAR. Train w/Pro Singer for Power/Range/Control. info@paulashear.com 416-835-6760

PRACTICE WHERE THE PROS DO! 416-366-1525 www.rehearsalfactory.com

SILVERBIRCH PRODUCTIONS

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CD Mastering, Recording/Mixing, CD & DVD Manufacturing 416-260-6688 www.silverbirchprod.com The ONE-STOP-SHOP for all of your music needs! Best quality short-run CD duplication! Ask about our on-line music store, posters, graphic design & our $295. website special!

40 450 hourly monthly rooms! rooms! 7 Locations Pro gear & Great rates!

NOW BOOKING FOR NEW MISSISSAUGA LOCATION!!

r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r Front & Sherbourne Richmond & Bathurst Dupont & Dufferin Lakeshore & Islington Mississauga Oshawa

MASTERING MIX/RECORD CD/DVDS DESIGN

ASK ABOUT OUR NEW IN-HOUSE

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Learn to Sing Like a Star! Professional & recreational training Adults of all ages & children 9 and up Reasonable rates 5 min. from College Subway Station Improve range, breathing ability, strength, control, tone, musical ear, confidence, expression and performance! I can help you prepare for shows, auditions, open mic nights or just for your own pleasure & fulfillment. 416 722 4131 annebonsignore.com

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▼ www.gentlevasectomy.com Clinics located in Scarborough and Peterborough.

DECEMBER 15-21 2011 NOW

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i’m A mAn who recently stArted seeing a wonderful woman. Like me, she’s divorced. My ex-wife left me for another man, and my girlfriend’s ex-husband was controlling and abusive. Our relationship is the opposite – emotionally, psychologically and sexually. Here’s the thing. His abusive behaviour is my kink: spanking. In all my past relationships, spanking was light, playful and consensual; with her ex, it was about pain and humiliation to the point of tears and bruising. She knows about my kink (as a Savage Love reader, I knew to bring it up after a couple of weeks) and understands that my motivations around spanking are completely different from her ex’s, but she has zero interest in anything approaching fetish play. That’s fine, because I feel so connected to her that I don’t need my kink indulged to feel fulfilled. But I find myself feeling guilty for having the kink in the first place. The thought of her enduring what she did brings me to tears. How do I get past this? Lacking A Clever Acronym

If your girlfriend’s ex-husband had manipulated or bullied her into vaginal intercourse – if he had repeatedly and brutally raped her vaginally during their terrible, awful, no good, very bad marriage – would you feel guilty about an interest in consensual, vanilla, missionary, penis-in-vagina intercourse? No. You would hopefully have reacted in a similarly compassionate manner, LACA, after learning about her sexual history. You would have been willing to stick to oral, mutual masturbation and whatever else your new girlfriend was comfortable exploring and capable of enjoying. And you would have looked forward to the day when she felt ready to enjoy sensuous, consensual and mutually pleasurable vaginal intercourse again. And if that day never arrived, well, then perhaps you would have been willing to forgo vaginal intercourse for the rest of your life to be with her. But you wouldn’t be sitting there feeling like some sort of monster for being aroused by – and for having enjoyed – consensual, vanilla,

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other ever knew. But sometimes we’re in bed and I’ll flash on something she wrote and the vivid mental images her letter cooked up in my head, and it sears me. Dealing with that pain out of the bedroom has been hard enough. It’s devastating that it’s now with me in the bedroom as well. How can I deal with this? Salve It, Please 1. LTRs are only possible if we’re willing to take yes for an answer. He says yes he loves you, and you will yourself to believe him; he says yes, he’s having sex with you because he’s attracted to you, and you will yourself to believe him; he says he strayed and is sorry and swears he won’t do it again… and you will yourself to believe him. And while the passage of time makes monsters of us all, SIP, it can strengthen a sexual connection even as sex itself becomes less important when weighed against everything else your LTR is or should be about. In the words of singer/songwriter Tim Minchin: “Love is made more powerful by the ongoing drama of shared experience and synergy and symbiotic empathy, or something like that.” 2. Angry cheated partner: “You did what with that person? I would’ve done that with you! And I have kinks and fantasies, too, you know!” Contrite cheating partner: “I was afraid to ask you to do that! I was afraid you would hate me. Wait, you have kinks and fantasies? What are they?” Conversations like that one are why affairs – if the relationship survives the betrayal – sometimes kick-start a couple’s sex life. With all the kink-and-whatever-else cards on the table, the couple starts going at it like they have nothing to lose – because in that moment when breaking up is on the table, they actually don’t have anything to lose. As for those troubling mental images, the passage of time is your body’s enemy on the physical-perfection front – and his, too – but it’s your best friend on the searing-mentalimages front, SIP. The more time you two spend doing, enjoying and perfecting X, Y and Z sex acts, the more X, Y and Z become about you two and your connection. As you take ownership over X, Y and Z, and over each other again, the mental images will come to you less often, they’ll be less vivid, and gradually they’ll cease. Give it time.

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december 15-21 2011 NOW

some ways, it’s a good thing. We’re having conversations we should have had a long time ago, he’s seeing a therapist to deal with his issues (his idea, not mine), and somehow I know more than ever that I want to be with him. (I’ve always been the one in every relationship with one foot out the door.) Two questions: 1. I recently hit the age where I’ve started to worry about looking older, and it’s been devastating to know that not only did he cheat on me, but that he did so with a much younger woman. He assures me he’s attracted to me, but how can I believe that now? 2. The younger woman sent me – and other people in our lives – an explicit, lengthy email detailing everything they did. (I hate to paint this as “bitchez be crazy,” but sometimes bitchez be crazy.) It’s not how I found out, but it certainly hasn’t helped. Ironically, our sex life has only gotten better since I found out exactly what they did. It turns out that we are both far more GGG than the

Send your sex related questions to sasha@nowtoronto.com

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my boyfriend of five yeArs hAd A onen ight stand with a much younger woman. In

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missionary, penis-in-vagina intercourse with other women. Your willingness to drop your harmless kink is evidence that your priorities are in order, LACA, your heart is in the right place, your cowboy hat is white, etc. Any time you start feeling bad about your kink, just remind yourself that consensual kink isn’t abuse for the same reason consensual vaginal intercourse isn’t rape: because it’s consensual. You can love this woman, LACA, and make this relatively small sacrifice for this woman (spanking ain’t vaginal), without having to shame yourself or retroactively define all your past spanking experiences as abusive.

www.nowtoronto.com/sex

into gay BDSM. You suggested some advice from a gay BDSM blogger – Ben In Leather Land (tinyurl.com/bensten) – and it was awesome. Do you have any suggestions of similar blogs for women into BDSM? Looking Lady Sex writer, blogger, thinker and haver Tristan Taormino, who is publishing a new book about BDSM and kinky sex (The Ultimate Guide To Kink: BDSM, Role Play And The Erotic Edge), recommends fetish icon Midori’s column in SexIs magazine (tinyurl.com/edenmidori) for women who are just beginning to explore kink.

HEY, EVERYBODY: We’re seeking sordid and tragic stories of holiday sex for an upcoming episode of the Savage Lovecast. Ever been caught having sex at Mom and Dad’s over the holidays? Ever put a “For Grandma, from Santa!” card on a wrapped box that contained a sex toy you bought for someone else? Did your older brothers stick your vibrator in the tree before a Christmas party, and you had to leave it there because reaching into the tree to remove it would only attract attention to it? Call and record your story at 206-201-2720! Please keep it under three minutes, if at all possible! Find the Savage Lovecast (my weekly podcast) every Tuesday at thestranger.com/savage. mail@savagelove.net @fakedansavage on Twitter

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