NOW_2014-01-02

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january 2-8, 2014 • issue 1667 vol. 33 nO. 18 more Online DAILY @ nowtoronto.com 32 independent years

ice storm 2013

“Yes, there are a few people who have been inconvenienced.

That’s Mother Nature for you.”

Rob Ford

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JAN02_mat_NOW.indd 1 JANUARY 2-8 2014 NOW

2013-12-30 3:48 PM

FEEL THE DIFFERENCE SPEED MAKES ROGERS LTE – UP TO 2X FASTER THAN THE OTHER GUYS

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CANADA’S FASTEST LTE NETWORK CALL 1 888 ROGERS1 CLICK rogers.com/LTE VISIT Your local Rogers store today *BASED ON NATIONAL AVERAGE DOWNLOAD SPEEDS *Based on tests comparing download speeds on average across Canada against other national wireless service providers within all Rogers LTE coverage areas. LTE device, LTE SIM card required. Actual experienced speeds may vary based on device, topography and environmental conditions, network congestion and other factors. Visit Rogers.com/LTE for coverage. ©2013 Rogers Communications.

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12/23/13 NOW january 2-8 1:57 2014PM3

CONTENTS

GREAT SHOWS FOR 2014!

RON WHITE

BUDDY GUY

ARETHA FRANKLIN

25 BEST

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE: JOEL SARTORE, PHOTOGRAPHER

TORONTO

LYLE LOVETT & JOHN HIATT

MOVIES

EVER

CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE: THE BEATLES, ABBEY ROAD

Ron White Thu Jan 16 8pm MH Craig Ferguson Thu Jan 23 7pm MH Classic Albums Live: The Beatles, Abbey Road Fri Jan 31 8pm RTH An Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt Sat Feb 1 8pm

MH

National Geographic Live: Joel Sartore, Photographer Grizzlies, Piranhas & Man-Eating Pigs Mon Feb 24 & Tue Feb 25 8pm RTH

The Spring Quartet: Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, Esperanza Spalding & Leo Genovese Thu Feb 27 8pm MH Matt Andersen Sat Mar 1 8pm MH Estrella Morente Tue Mar 11 8pm MH

24 TOP 25 TORONTO MOVIES

24 Toronto on film We pick the flicks, talk to some of the directors who made them and round up a bunch of movies where T.O. stands in for somewhere else

10 NEWS

10 Ice storm 2013 Five questions answered 12 Emergency 101 A crisis how-to Twitter outrage #DarkTO in 10 tweets 13 Freeze frame The blackout by the numbers 14 Sex trade Prostitution win worries sex workers 16 Good Shepherd A Boxing Day feast in pictures

Keb’ Mo’ Fri Mar 14 8pm MH Randy Bachman’s Vinyl Tap: Every Song Tells a Story Sat Mar 15 8pm MH Pat Metheny Unity Group Tue Mar 18 8pm MH

18 FOOD&DRINK

Buddy Guy and Jonny Lang Fri Apr 4 8pm MH Classic Albums Live: The Eagles, Hotel California Sat Apr 12 8pm MH

Contact NOW

Aretha Franklin Fri Apr 25 8pm RTH

WGT = WINTER GARDEN THEATRE

Supported in part by

CALL 416-872-4255 masseyhall.com I roythomson.com

4

JANUARY 2-8 2014 NOW

SoundboardTO SOUNDBOARD.CA

189 Church Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1Y7, tel 416-364-1300.

EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Brad Mehldau Trio Sat Apr 26 8pm MH RTH = ROY THOMSON HALL

18 Resto forecast The Drake spins off, airport action and more 20 Drinks forecast Cider and rum will be big G

Amanda Martinez Sat Apr 5 8pm WGT

MH = MASSEY HALL

17 DAILY EVENTS

SoundboardTO

EDITOR/CEO

GENERAL MANAGER

Michael Hollett

Alice Klein

Pam Stephen

Editorial

Entertainment Administrator Desiree D’Lima

Marketing/Advertising Sales

Art

Phone 416-364-1300 X381 or email advertising@nowtoronto.com Director, Display Advertising Sales Gary Olesinski Research Analyst/Sales Operations Manager Rhonda Loubert Senior Marketing Executives Bill Malcolm, Janice Copeland, Barbara Hefler, Jennifer Hudson Marketing Representatives Meaghan Brophy, Bonte Minnema, Briony Douglas, David Kennedy Marketing Coordinators Joanne Begg, Stacy Reardon, Jane Stockwell

Senior News Editor Ellie Kirzner Senior Entertainment Editor Susan G. Cole Associate Entertainment Editor/Stage & Film Glenn Sumi Associate News Editor Enzo DiMatteo Food Editor Steven Davey Music Editor Julia LeConte Fashion and Design Writer Sabrina Maddeaux Senior Writers Jon Kaplan (Theatre), Norman Wilner (Film) On-line News Writer Ben Spurr Staff News Writer Jonathan Goldsbie Entertainment/Music Contributer Carla Gillis Contributors Elizabeth Bromstein, Andrew Dowler, Sarah Parniak, David Jager, Robert Priest, Wayne Roberts, Adria Vasil Copy Editing/Proofreading Francie Wyland, Fran Schechter, Julia Hoecke, Katarina Ristic, Lesley McAllister

VP, Creative Director Troy Beyer Art Director Stephen Chester Graphic/Web Designer Michelle Wong Photo Coordinator Jeanette Forsythe

Production Director Of Production/IT Greg Lockhart Production Supervisor Sharon Arnott Assistant Production Supervisor Jay Dart Designers Ted Smith, Donna Parrish (Editorial), Clayton Hanmer, Monica Miller Publishing Systems Manager Rudi Garcia Publishing Technology Jason Bartlett

nowtoronto.com Online Editor John Semley Interactive Producer Leah Herrera Web/Mobile Developer Adner Francisco

Classifieds Sales Phone 416-364-3444 or email classifieds@nowtoronto.com

Adult Classifieds Sales Phone 416-364-1500

JANUARY 2–8

ONLINE This week’s top five most-read posts on nowtoronto.com

22 LIFE&STYLE

31 Forecast Looking ahead to 2014 34 Club & concert listings

1. Say what? 2013’s 50 most outlandish Rob Ford quotes. (It was hard to narrow it down.)

2. Have an ice day Five unanswered questions about the recent Toronto ice storm.

3. Eating out Steven Davey’s guide to Toronto’s best restaurants in 2013.

4. Fear And Loathing In Toronto? A look behind the scenes of last week’s Ralph Steadman/Rob Ford cover.

5. All apologies Why the Star’s Daniel Dale should have gone through with his lawsuit against Mayor Ford.

G

31 MUSIC

G

22 Fashion forecast Earn your stripes Astrology 23 Ecoholic Detox details and more

Coming this week

2013 rear view Head to nowtoronto. com for a look at some of our mostread stories of 2013.

37 STAGE

37 Comedy interview Stand-up John Hastings; Comedy listings 38 Theatre interview Flesh And Other Fragments Of Love’s Maria del Mar Theatre listings 39 Next Stage Festival Six artists to watch 40 Dance listings

G

THE WEEK IN TWEETS Imagine Seinfeld set in Toronto – that’s just what Twitter did this week for some reason.

“Jerry convinces Kramer to try open mic @comedybar. Kramer goes off on bizarre rant. Twitter lynch mob strikes back”.

40 ART

Must-see galleries and museums

@TOSEINFELD aka “The Master”

Readings

“.@TOSeinfeld Jerry goes to King Street. Then he goes to Queen Street. Then he goes to College Street. Then he goes to the Danforth.

Then he”

40 BOOKS

41 MOVIES

@JGOLDSBIE with a very funny premise indeed!

41 Playing this week 46 Film times 48 Indie & rep listings Plus American Promise at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

FOLLOW NOW ON TWITTER @NOWTORONTO

49 CLASSIFIED 49 49 50

Crossword Employment Rentals/real estate

51 63

NOW ON THE MOVE

Get NOW Magazine on your... iPad Get NOW delivered straight to

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your iPad with our slick app. Download free from iTunes! eReader Flip through NOW Magazine on your favourite tablet with our ePub edition.

This edition of NOW is printed on recycled paper using vegetable oil based inks.

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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.

*PMB SPRING 2013

Promotions and Communications Manager Jules Hollett Promotions Administrator Mary-Margaret Love

Circulation Supervisor Jill Mather Circulation Assistant Tim Vesely Drivers Ron Duffy, Jennifer Gillmor, Conny Nowe, Dean Crawford, Paul Dakota, Roger Singh, Patrick Slimmon, Chris Malcolm, Jason Paris Hoppers Rachel Melas, Lucas Martin, Steve Godbout, Jason Gallop, Ernesto Savini, Scott Bradshaw

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Executive Assistant To Editor/CEO And General Manager Scott Nisbet Assistant To Editor/Publisher Bryan Almas

NOW is Toronto’s weekly news and entertainment voice, published every Thursday. Entire contents are © 2013 by NOW Communications Inc. NOW and NOW Magazine and the NOW design are protected through trademark registration.

NOW is available free of charge in the city of Toronto and selected locations throughout the GTA, limited to one copy per reader. NOW may be distributed only by NOW Communications’ authorized distributors or news agents.

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NOW JANUARY 2-8 2014

5

January 2–16 Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

2

3

FIRST THURSDAYs The AGO

teams up with the Long Winter crew for an artist bazaar, artist interviews, sets by DJ Stelmanis, Snowblink and more. 7 pm, $12-$15. ago.net. +john hastings The Ottawaborn, UK-based comic begins a headlining week at Yuk Yuk’s Downtown. To Jan 5. 8 pm. $13-$22. 416-967-6425.

Neil Young plays Massey Hall, Jan 12

5

the musical of musicals, the musical! The musical told in the individual styles of five well-known ­composers closes at the Panasonic. 2 and 7 pm. $19-$79. 416-872-1212.

Toronto Does Toronto 3

Ryan Driver, Lisa Bozikovic, ­Simone Schmidt, Thom Gill and Chris Cummings play this pwyc event. Holy Oak. 9 pm.

647-838-2580.

12

neil young, diana krall An

absolute legend (Young) and one in the making (Krall) share a bill at – where else? – Massey Hall. 8 pm. $55-$250. RTH, TM. the invisible woman It’s opening weekend for the film about Charles Dickens’s (Ralph Fiennes) relationship with the much younger Nelly Ternan (Felicity Jones).

Book yourself to see We’re In The Library at the Koffler Gallery, Jan 9

David Cronenberg talks, Jan 13

6

7

8

ning music series rings in the new year with hot up-andcomers Hiawatha, Luka, Our Founders, Donlands & ­Mortimer and Tasseo. Drake Underground. Doors 9 pm.

Free. 416-531-5042.

See early 20th century art from the NYC gallery’s permanent collection – Kandinsky, Chagall, Duchamp and more – to Mar 2. $16.50-$25. 416-9796648, ago.net.

Elvis Monday The long-run-

GUGGENHEIM MASTERPIECes

+NEXT STAGE THEATRE FESTIVAL he 10-play, 12-day fest of T

i­ndie theatre kicks off tonight at the Factory Theatre. $10$15. 416-966-1062.

Joe Sealy Trio The jazz pianist performs W ­ inter Reflections at the Four Seasons ­Centre. 5:30 pm. Free. coc.ca.

9

We’re In The Library Savvy

group show celebrates school libraries, at the Koffler Gallery, to Jan 19. Free. 647-925-0643.

This Mess The local SST-style punk rock band plays the Silver Dollar with Tight Nuns and Practice Wife. 9 pm. $5.

canadian cocktail party

Enjoy beats, eats and drinks and mingle with Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival filmmakers. 7 pm. $20. TIFF Bell Lightbox. tiff. net/canadacocktailparty.

13

in conversation with viggo mortensen and david cronenberg Director Cronen-

berg and his muse, Mortensen, talk (7 pm) before a screening (9 pm, $12) of their film A ­History Of Violence at the Lightbox. 416-599-TIFF.

14

15

duo (brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence) bring one of 2013’s best albums (Settle) to the Danforth Music Hall. Doors 7 pm. $46.25-$53.50. TM. jake bugg One of the best artists to emerge from the UK last year, the teenage singer/songwriter is playing the Sound Academy already. Doors 7 pm, all ages. $29.50. LN, RT, SS.

(sans Kim Deal) bring their new EP (EP1) to Massey Hall. 7 pm, all ages. $44.50-$79.50. LN, RTH, TM. the ugly one Theatre Smash’s acclaimed production of Marius von Mayenburg’s play about consumerist culture r­ eturns to the Tarragon Extra Space. To Feb 16. 8 pm. $21$53. 416-531-1827.

disclosure The British house

Pixies The Boston alt-rockers

sketchersons 10TH anniversary weekend Alumni and

present cast members of the sketch troupe perform all weekend at the Comedy Bar. 8 pm. $2-$10. comedybar.ca.

Torro Torro The contemporary party music duo plays the Hoxton. Doors 10 pm. $15. TW.

motorcycle supershow

Sport, custom and vintage bikes. Vroom. Vroom. To Jan 5 at the International Centre in Mississauga. $20. ­motorcyclesupershow.ca.

10

skratch bastid Toronto’s awesomest hip-hop DJ spins at what’s quickly becoming our premier DJ venue, the Hoxton.

10 pm. $15. TW. Long winter volume three

The Jan edition of the Nov-Mar series features one of the most stellar lineups to date: Rae Spoon, Weaves, D-Sisive, ­Bizzarh and many more warm up the Great Hall. Pwyc. ­torontolongwinter.com.

16

4

THE NUTCRACKER Enjoy a mati-

nee on the last day of the National Ballet of Canada’s sumptuous prod­uction of the seasonal classic. 1 and 5:30 pm. $25-$165. Four Seasons ­Centre. 416-345-9595.

TORONTO GAYMERS JANUARY SOCIAL Video, board and tabletop games. 1-9 pm. Free. ­Marquis of Granby. facebook/­ torontogaymers.

11

Wavelength & NeXT Present: The Class Of 2014 Del Bel, Fresh Snow, MASS, Anamai and DJ Debt Load receive top honours at the Silver Dollar.

Doors 9 pm. $6. ­wavelengthtoronto.com.

More tips

Trombone shorty & ­ rleans avenue Troy o

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

Andrews­brings his brass ­brilliance (he plays the trumpet, too) to the Phoenix for a night of jazz-funk-hip-hop fusion. 8 pm. $45.65. RT, SS, TM. this is it Sasha Singer-Wilson’s play about a couple’s examination of their marriage opens tonight at the lemonTree Studio. 8 pm. To Jan 25. Pwyc-$20. bloodprojects.com.

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

Saturday

34 35 41 38 37 40 40 40 17

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email letters@nowtoronto.com Ralph Steadman renders Rob Ford

Thanks so much for Ralph Steadman’s wonderful Christmas present of truth in satire (NOW, December 26, 2013-January 1, 2014). His cover captures Rob Ford – the real Ford we know – without the jokes that have been made about his profound beastliness and without the faux and facile confidence he exudes to fool Ford Nation.

Not exactly a happy Xmas present, but a necessary one. Steadman has done for us what he did for England under Margaret Thatcher.

I, for one, am truly grateful.

Brian Young From nowtoronto.com

@nowtoronto 8

JANUARY 2-8 2014 NOW

Exercising extreme caution tape

Maybe there should be some automatic ways of designating a state of emergency. I like the idea of using how much police caution tape is un-

Coming to terms with mayoral scandal

Taking an outrageous mayor to task

I just wanted to say thank you to Michael Hollett and NOW Magazine for having the courage to print such a great cover of Rob Ford on your Year In Review issue.

I cannot believe everyone else is being so wimpy. We have an outrageous mayor, and nobody else is taking him to task!

Anyway, happy holidays.

Cheers.

Anita Kunz Toronto

Ford gets rock star treatment

Ralph Steadman did a great job with his Rob Ford piece. But it once again is a reminder of what a terrible job NOW does representing the great wealth of illustration talent in this city. Toronto is home to numerous legends of its own, as well as countless talented and hungry OCAD and Sheridan grads looking to get their break.

NOW should make it a new year’s resolution to do better. Falling head over heels for an established illustration rock star is not nearly enough.

Corey Pierce Toronto

Ice storm’s useless emergency

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apartment buildings to see how cold people really are. I think he did that for one day only.

What is it going to take for people to wake up and realize that as a mayor, when a real emergency hits, he’s useless.

Kass Middleton Toronto

How many people are going to have to die trying to keep warm before this so-called mayor considers this an emergency (NOW December 23)? Toronto Hydro has called it a catastrophe. I suspect that as long as his ass is warm and he can afford to go to a hotel, he could care less about others who can’t afford even a bus to a warming centre, not to mention food to replace what has spoiled.

The only thing he’s done is hold press conferences and walk around

the whole country. They are elected in one riding like every other member and do not represent the entire country or province.

So if the upper two levels of our governments in Canada do not have a separately elected head of state, why does a municipality like Toronto?

In our case, the system has produced a situation where a bad mayor cannot be removed because he will not follow advice to step down.

I propose we change our municipal governance to follow the Westminster model, just as we have at the federal and provincial levels, so that there will be no separate mayoral elections.

In fact we have now been pushed into that form, given that Councillor Norm Kelly was only elected by his Scarborough Agincourt riding but has been elevated to function as the mayor until the next municipal election.

Murray Lumley Toronto

“ Ralph Steadman’s NOW cover has done for Toronto what he did for England under Margaret Thatcher. ” spooled in one day as a measure. If it’s more than a kilometre, then we’re probably in an emergency. My neighbourhood alone is covered with the stuff.

Dave McKay Toronto

Down with the king of Toronto

Why is a separate municipal mayoral election necessary? It may be an archaic form of municipal government that is similar to having a king and a separate elected legislature by regions within the city called wards.

Both our federal and provincial governments do not have a separately elected head of state. A party system is employed whereby party leaders are chosen by the respective parties but not elected by a popular vote of

I agree with the views expressed by ex-councillor Howard Levine (NOW, November 14-20, 2013) that “the implosion of Mayor Rob Ford is the ultimate manifestation of the utter failure of Toronto’s amalgamation.”

During Ford’s campaign, entire term and recent scandal, many have felt his incompatibility with the needs of the old city of Toronto and have generally not been shocked by his behaviour. For me, his behaviour seemed to fit my initial instinct about the type of person he is.

Perhaps the only shock is the extent of his public blundering and lack of finesse. In this respect he is truly charming.

He speaks for people who would happily look no further than their own backyard fence, basic needs and pay the minimum. It’s a type of settlement mentality.

The difficult truth is that Ford is the elected mayor, and barring conviction, we as a society need to come to terms with the failures he represents about our current megacity.

The scandal needs to be rewritten as an opportunity for a deeper change toward de-amalgamation.

Andrew Rucklidge Toronto

Missing from R.I.P. list

Missing from your R.I.P. list (NOW December 26, 2013-January 1, 2014) for 2013: A.S.A. Harrison, novelist, compiler of 70s cult favourite Orgasms; Richard Truhlar, poet, publisher, music producer; Nic Gotham, composer, saxophonist; and James Gray, keyboardist, busker. All the best to you.

Charlie Huisken 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.

UNIVERSIT Y OF TORONTO SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES

Engage more.

Dustin Cohen Student, Business & Professional Studies, is E.A. to a Member of Ontario’s Provincial Parliament.

“ Each week, I catch up on the latest social media trends directly from expert instructors. I enjoy learning to engage with these trends in a more informed and strategic way.”

From Business to Arts, Creative Writing to Languages, we offer boundless opportunity to enhance your skills and enrich your life.

Classes are available in-class at U of T St. George, U of T Mississauga, and U of T Scarborough and online. For easy registration or a course catalogue, call 416-978-2400 or visit us at:

learn.utoronto.ca

U OF T ST. GEORGE

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U OF T SCARBOROUGH

NOW january 2-8 2014

9

ice

storm

Eight days and counting, AND nearly A million people affected: t.O.’s blackout CHRISTmas WAs a ­tragically fitting end to a dark year under ford By enzo dimatteo

Jim Rankin/getstock

2013

five Questions answered 1 | Should the mayor have ­declared a state of ­emergency?

Randy Risling/Getstock

It’s the question that’s burning up a certain hashtag (#darkTO) on Twitter. The answer is yes. When folks are drag­ging barbecues into their homes to keep warm and Toronto Hydro and the fire department are handling 300 times the normal volume of calls for days on end….

About 300,000 customers and an estimated 1 million people were affected by the power outage. That’s 10 times more than the number displaced earlier this year by the floods in Calgary, where an emergency was declared.

Five days in, some 50,000 T.O. households were still without power or heat.

Certainly the cops treated the situation like an emergency from early on, opening up 13 police stations as warming centres early in the week when it became obvious that the dozen or so run by the city wouldn’t be able to handle the growing number of folks shivering in the cold with no place to go.

Emergency evacuation measures

10

january 2-8 2014 NOW

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tography kit by Cameron that is essentially a miniature tabletop photo studio. It’s a 16”-tall box with a seamless background (it comes with a choice of colours) and translucent side panels that gently diffuse any light before it enters. Simply point your camera through the small hole in the front and fill your memory USE BRIGHT, DIFFUSED card with professional-looking shots.

LIGHTING WITH A BACKGROUND FREE OF CLUTTER. Get Close: If your products have small details that deserve to be admired, here’s Good quality product photography can help where your simple point and shoot camera your products fly off the virtual shelves. The actually becomes an advantage. Compact world’s best product photographers are paid cameras, with their small sensors, generally handsomely to make everything from food outperform their bigger cousins when it to cars to jewelry look irresistible, but with a comes to closeup photography. While a DSLR bit of practice and a few of the right tools you requires a specialized lens for macro work, can approximate that magic at home. you can get great results from only a couple of centimeters away by simply engaging the Light it up: To make your products shine, closeup mode, just look for the flower button. literally and figuratively, you’ll need lots of Consider using a small tripod and your light. The pros usually create it with huge camera’s self timer function to reduce shake, strobes and softboxes, but a large window and get close to the features you want your will often be just as useful. Avoid using customers to see. your camera’s flash: harsh, direct light is generally as unflattering for products as it is Tweak it: Capturing the photo is just the for people, and it will create ugly reflections beginning. If you really want to showcase on any metallic surfaces. Soft, diffused light your products, open the images in a photo is always better. editor like Adobe Photoshop Elements and spend a few minutes adjusting the colour and Think Inside the Box: The best way to make your products stand out is to get rid of contrast to taste. Use the clone or healing any distracting background elements. Hen- tool to remove any dust or smudges on metallic surfaces. These finishing touches will ry’s sells a simple, collapsable product pho-

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were taken beginning on Christmas Day, when police announced their canvass of neighbourhoods in the northeast end. They went door-todoor in six apartment buildings still without power in the Don Mills and Sheppard area to evacuate some 50 seniors and other vulnerable adults and take them to warming centres.

Police continued evacuations Thursday, saying those efforts were being coordinated with the city’s Emergency Operations Centre, Toronto Community Housing, Toronto Hydro and the TTC to identify other apartment buildings still without power.

2 | Was the mayor ­playing politics in an emergency?

As soon as the storm hit, Rob Ford was making his own political calculations.

Senior bureaucrats reportedly urged the mayor to declare an emergency, but publicly they backed him up, saying it wouldn’t have made a difference.

Ford didn’t want to be sidelined, of course. He likes to be seen as running the show, and declaring a state of emergency would have meant handing author­ity to his deputy, Norm Kelly, as mandated by council when it stripped Ford of most of his powers.

His stated reasons for not declaring an emergency shifted as the black­out dragged on. First he argued that it wasn’t needed. Then, when it

became clear that tens of thousands of people would still be without power during an extreme cold alert on Christmas Eve, he said declaring an emergency would cause “panic.”

The experience elsewhere demonstrates that the me­dia and public often view the declaration of an emergency as a decisive action addressing a crisis. That’s why a number of councillors urged the mayor to do so.

Ford now seems to have changed his tune, calling for an emergency meeting of council on January 10 to request relief cash from the province.

3| Would declaring an ­emergency have made a ­difference on the ground?

Such situations usually take days to assess. But the city knew within eight hours of the storm’s arrival that there would be power outages affecting tens of thousands of residents for at least three days.

In hindsight, declaring an emergency from the get-go would have helped mobilize more person power and better coordinate efforts.

And we have to ask why Ford didn’t lean on his fishing buddy in Ottawa? Manitoba and Alberta both received federal assistance continued on page 12 œ

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11

From outage to outrage

Ulrik Westergaard @ulrikwest Just spoke to @TorontoHydro on phone. Took 6 days to get through.

Must be getting cold in hell. Still #darkTO in #guildwood Rob Johnston @Robbie_J Standing outside listening to the ice covered tree branches sway in the wind is a very unsettling feeling.

Christopher Walder @WalderSports I can probably take a course on how to be an electrician and restore power to my street myself before actual help arrives.

Lyssa Neel @lyssaneel @TorontoHydro says “To report an outage: 416-542-8000.” But where do I call to report an outrage?

Amanda @amandacdickson Fucking piss off: everyone on our street has power but us! Because hydro hasn’t come back to hook up our wire #fuckthis Miroslav Glavic @MiroslavGlavic I have 16 ppl sleeping in my basement, living room, office room & TV room. Sleeping bags and couches being used.

Jen @jenisrunning On the plus side we are saving $ on our @TorontoHydro bill #6days #icestorm2013 Kevin Wilson @kvonbling If Kathleen Wynne had declared SOE in Toronto, how long before the Ford Nationalists began screaming ‘Coup d’etat’?

Rob Ford @SlobFord Think of how many more people would be out of power if I weren’t mayor?

Christian Fletcher @Darth_Pingu New Rob Ford campaign slogan for 2014: “Let’s play it by ear” #eyeroll

12

JANUARY 2-8 2014 NOW

CARLOS OSORIO/GETTY IMAGES

The ice storm in 10 tweets

ice

STORM

2013 œcontinued from page 11

after flooding in the last year. So far the only word from the PM on the ice storm has been a tweet (“Thoughts are with those without power due to the ice storm – please stay safe”) while the ravages of this storm system have been felt as far east as New Brunswick.

Declaring an emergency would also have given the mayor extraordinary powers to contract goods and ser vices. In that case, Toronto Hydro crews could have been augmented with private contractors to help hook up those still in the dark.

But containing the cost of the cleanup effort seemed to be on the mayor’s mind as the days passed. He refused to get into dollars and cents at the December 26 press conference.

4 | Has the city’s handling of the storm taught us any lessons?

The mayor says no. Crisis? What crisis? That’s his mantra in times like these. Easy when you can afford a hotel room.

Could Hydro crews have been moved into position earlier? We knew days in advance that the storm was coming. Scores of cities had been affected in Michigan. Could Toronto have requested outside help sooner than the 48 hours it took? More importantly, is there a long-term plan to bury hydro lines, for example, to protect us from the effects of future storms?

Toronto Hydro has acknowledged communications problems after customers were literally in the dark for days about what was happening and when they could expect relief.

The sad truth is that we seem to have learned little about emergency preparedness and the importance of prevention since the ice

The power outage may have been a minor inconvenience for Mayor Rob Ford but for residents at 400 McCowan it was touch and go for days.

Emergency Management And Civil Protection Act 101 Who can declare a state of emergency The head of council of a municipality or his or her designate; the premier.

How an emergency is defined A situation, or impending situation, caused by the forces of nature, an accident, an intentional act or otherwise, that constitutes a danger of major proportions to life or property.

Criteria used when considering whether to declare an emergency The act sets out a number of criteria which can be boiled down to this: when the situation poses a major danger to life or property or a threat to the provision of essential services (energy, potable water, sewage treatment, supply of goods or medical care).

Other circumstances to consider The declaration of an emergency gives the mayor special powers to purchase goods and services.

Role of the federal government The Emergency Ontario handbook says: “Statutorily, only the Province of Ontario may request Federal Government assistance and municipalities may not apply directly for Federal assistance.”

Online Exclusive

Deb O’Rourke on points of light in the darkness nowtoronto.com

storm of 1998 and the July 2013 deluge.

Governments have done a cost-benefit analysis and are more willing to chance what used to be called once-in-100-years weather events and whatever damage they might bring than to spend money to guard against disasters.

5| Will fallout from the storm hurt Ford politically?

The mayor was mostly present, at least at press conferences and the odd photo op, but not always accounted for throughout the power outage. It hasn’t exactly been a Giuliani moment.

The frustration level among affected residents, especially one of his supposed bases in Toronto Community Housing, has been rising. It reached boiling point on Boxing Day when one of his aides handed out Rob Ford fridge magnets to a group confronting him about being without power.

At press conferences every day since December 22, the mayor essentially offered cold comfort: everything that can be done is being done to rectify the situation.

He’s in a tough spot. Had he declared an emergency and turned over authority to Kelly, he would have missed his chance to pose as a strong leader in a crisis. But having taken the politically expedient route, he hasn’t come off as a father figure.

His heart may have bled for those without power, but he seems to have miscalculated, terming the outage an “inconvenience” at one point, perhaps thinking the situation would be rectified more quickly and now finding himself wearing the growing fallout.

We can’t blame the mayor for the ice storm that knocked out the grid, of course. But the prolonged darkness seems a tragically fitting end to a year under Ford.

3 enzom@nowtoronto.com | @enzodimatteo

Power failure The blackout by the numbers

300,000

Approximate number of ­Toronto Hydro customers without power during and soon after the ice storm.

That’s more than 1 million people affected, almost half of the 719,000 ­residential, commercial and industrial sites served by the utility.

128,000

Calls Toronto Hydro received at the height of the storm Sunday (December 22), com­ pared to 3,000 nor­ mally received.

PRESENTS

The world-renowned director of The Fly,, Dead Ringers, and A History of Violence

“Most Most ambitious, and certainly most grotesque.” — TORONTO LIFE

12 to 16 hours

Time Toronto Hydro esti­mated it would take to restore power when the storm hit Saturday night (December 21). By 7:56 am ­Sunday, that esti­ mate had been upped to three days.

“Homegrown Homegrown director gets a bloody good tribute.” — NOW MAGAZINE

DAVID CRONENBERG BERG

$1 million

200

Number of Hydro bucket trucks dispatched to make re­ pairs, most accom­ panied by city Forestry trucks.

Estimated cost per day to reconnect customers affected by the storm. That figure, however, does not include the cost of damage to property and infrastructure. July’s flash flood, for example, cost the city more than $65 million, though it knocked out power to less than a third as many ­customers as the ice storm. There, in­ surance costs totalled more than $850 million.

20%

Proportion of the tree canopy ­destroyed by the storm.

One year

Estimated time it will take to clear tree debris from streets, parks and ravines.

3 litres Amount of bottled water per

person per day Toronto Hydro says residents should have in an emergency kit at home in case of a power outage. Your emergency kit should also contain cash, canned food (and a manual can opener), battery-operated radio, car charger or backup battery for cellphones.

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58% Torontonians who said they do not have an emergency kit in a recent Toronto Hydro survey.

18% Toronto Hydro power outages caused by weather.

40% Proportion of outages caused by aging equipment.

48% Toronto Hydro infrastructure past or nearing the end of its life.

What hasn’t been talked about much so far in the storm’s aftermath is the fact that much of our electrical distribution system is decades old, built between 1940 and 1970.

Need some advice?

Find out what’s written in the stars, page 22.

Rob Brezsny’s Free Will

Astrology NOW january 2-8 2014

13

SEX INDUSTRY

HARPER Sex workers worry that feds’ response to further underground By SAIRA PEESKER

T

hree days before the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the country’s prostitution laws, a group of Toronto sex workers gathered in a meeting room at the 519 Church Community Centre as part of an annual commemoration of sex workers who have been killed or have gone missing on the streets.

They were mourning the loss of friends and colleagues to work-related violence and the harsh realities of a job that society continues to sweep under the rug.

The meeting was preceded by a private sharing session for sex workers only. There were a lot of te a r - st a i n e d faces when they opened the doors to the larger group waiting outside.

“It was raw, it was emotional and it was much-needed,” said one woman who participated in the closed session. “There are so many people dealing with this grief and

most are not comfortable coming to something like this and admitting they are a sex worker.”

The vigil afterwards drew about 100 people. It was December 17, International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers. And the message was straightforward: without legal ways to protect themselves, people in the sex trade will continue to be in danger, denied access to justice like second-class citizens.

The Supreme Court seems to agree.

On December 20, it unanimously struck down laws forbidding communicating in public for the purpose of selling sexual services (aka screening one’s clients), keeping a common

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Supreme Court decision will drive trade The idea was, if we legally allow sex work, we can’t make it more dangerous through other existing laws.

The court gave the federal government a year to fix the current laws before they’re struck off the books.

Chanelle Gallant, a spokesperson for Maggie’s Sex Workers Action Project, says the general suspicion in the community is that Harper isn’t on board with the spirit of decision.

“We’re elated but nervous about the future, specifically about the introduction of the new legislation,” she says, noting that the feds seem keen on the Nordic model, which criminalizes clients as opposed to workers.

That’s something one hears often

Fox’s family continues to fight to get Toronto police to properly investigate her death, which – based on the account of the client she was with – is being treated like a suicide. The family is currently in the courts trying to have the case changed to a homicide. (Toronto Police Services did not respond to a request for comment.)

Audrey Huntley, an organizer with No More Silence, which keeps a community-led database of murdered aboriginal women, says police took the word of the john despite witnesses’ testimony that Fox was dangling before she fell.

Many sex workers’ murders and disappearances go unsolved, which

Globe and Mail

ToronTo sTar

naTional PosT

do this work – you deserve .’ But we need laws that ce and dignity of the sex worker.” in discussions about sex work.

It’s hard to remove the stigma around the job, yet sex workers can’t work in the open, so that stigma persists.

“We must move past the notion that marginalization is an inherent part of sex work,” says Gallant.

Everyone seems keen to make laws to protect sex workers, but no one wants to ask sex workers how they can best be protected.

How are sex workers safer if clients are criminalized?

They’re not. As Gallant points out, that would drive the trade further underground, leaving fewer clients and more competition for them, so sex workers would take more risks.

It’s a valid point. If johns are targeted, they’re not likely to want to be anywhere near the public eye, driving prostitution away from safe spaces and into hidden corners.

Current screening techniques, which include observing clients’ behaviour while still in public or comparing their vehicle to a list of known threats, will become more difficult.

Gallant disputes the court’s assertion that sex work is “inherently risky,” a feeling echoed by multiple speakers at the vigil.

If sex workers felt they could go to the cops when they were in trouble – and if police treated violence against sex workers like they do attacks on any other citizens – then the people who prey on prostitutes would actually get caught and everyone would be safer.

The point is highlighted by the case of Cheyenne Fox, a 20-year-old sex worker who died last spring after plummeting from a Don Mills condo.

means their killers are still out there.

A big part of the problem is that police often ignore sex workers’ reports of abuse/missing women, or actually commit violence themselves.

At the commemoration, Monica Forrester read a long list of names of missing women. The faces around the already tense room became longer as the list seemed to go on and on.

While there’s no definitive count, the Native Women’s Association of Canada says that more than 582 aboriginal women alone have died or gone missing, many of them working on the streets.

Visiting speaker Elene Lam of Hong Kong sex worker rights org Zi Teng says the situation is even worse in many Asian countries. There, she said, sex workers are routinely raped by police and abused after being arrested. She said they are hoping Canada’s Supreme Court decision will provides some direction to the rest of the world.

“People say, ‘You choose to do this work – you deserve what comes to you.’ But we need laws that recognize the choice and dignity of the sex worker,” says Lam. “It is very sad to have to have the International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers.

I hope one day we can have the InterCheck out our online national Day Of Partying Sex Workers instead.”

Toronto’s sex workers got a taste of that party on December 20, celebrating the Supreme Court decision with a rally in Allan Gardens. Whether the next step is a tighter clampdown remains to be seen.

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JANUARY 2-8 2014 NOW

BOXING DAY FEAST OF FRIENDS

Thursday, December 26, noon to 2:30 pm, at the Good Shepherd Centre, 412 Queen East. Eighty volunteers served 1,600 roast beef lunches with all the trimmings. The centre, marking its 50th year of good works, says it gave out 1,361 meals a day on average in the first 11 months of 2013. That’s a 14 per cent increase over last year. goodshepherd.ca. Slide show at nowtoronto.com.

daily events meetings • benefits

listings index

Live music Comedy Theatre

34 37 38

Dance Art galleries Readings

40 40 40

Movie reviews Movie times Rep cinemas

41 46 48

festivals • expos • sports etc.

Isla Craig pops up at the AGO, January 2.

How to find a listing

Daily events appear by date, then alphabetically by the name of the event.

F indicates festive events r indicates kid-friendly events indicates queer-friendly events

5

How to place a listing

All listings are free. Send to: listings@nowtoronto.com, fax to 416-​364-​1166 or mail to Daily Events, NOW Magazine, 189 Church, Toronto M5B 1Y7. Include a brief description of the event, including participants, time, price, venue, address and contact phone number (or e-mail or website if no phone available). Listings may be edited for length. Deadline is the Thursday before publication at 5 pm.

Thursday, January 2

Events

AGO First Thursdays: Long Winter Takeover Art conversation with Shary Boyle, Petra

Collins, Vanessa Dunn and Aminah Sheikh, pop-up performances by Isla Craig and Henri Fabergé plus music by Snowblink, Doom­squad and DJ Stelmanis. 7 pm. $15, adv $12. Art Gal-

lery of Ontario, 317 Dundas W. ­ago.net.

FrAllan Gardens Christmas Flower Show Open to the public to Jan 12, daily 10

am-5 pm. Free. Allan Gardens Conservatory, Sherbourne and Gerrard. 416-392-7288.

FrHigh Park Winter Holiday Camp

Wintertime games, crafts and adventure for kids six to 10. Today and tomorrow 9 am-3 pm. $45/day. High Park Nature Centre, 440 Parkside. Pre-register highparknaturecentre.com.

FrROM For The Holidays Holiday-themed family activities include games and toys. To Jan 5, 11 am-4 pm. Free w/ admission. Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park. 416-5868000.

Friday, January 3 Canada’s Bridal Show Dresses, flowers,

destinations and more. Today 5-10 pm; tomorrow 10 am-9 pm; Jan 5, 10 am-6 pm. $20. Metro Convention Centre, 255 Front W. ­canadasbridalshow.com.

Motorcycle Supershow Sport, custom and vintage bikes, autographs, a marketplace and more. Today and tomorrow 10 am-10 pm; Jan 5, 10 am-6 pm. $20, youth $5, under 6 free.

International Centre, 6900 Airport (Mississauga). ­motorcyclesupershow.ca.

Saturday, January 4 rAnimal Tracking Hike Guided walk

through the winter landscape to look for signs of animals. 11:30 am & 1 pm. Free w/ admission. Kortright Centre for Conservation, Pine Valley and Major Mackenzie (Kleinburg). 905-832-2289.

Archetype Sustainable House Tour Guided tour of a sustainable home. 2:30 pm.

Kort­right Centre for Conservation, Pine Valley and Major Mackenzie (Kleinburg). Preregister 905-832-2289.

DJ Skate Nights: feliz ano nuevo Outdoor skating party with live music by Uma Nota.

8 pm. Free. Harbourfront Centre Ice Rink, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000.

Reiki Healing Class on reiki and how it works. 1-2:30 pm. Free. World’s Biggest Bookstore, 20 Edward. ­thehealingteam.org. rResearch Live! Kids three to six help researchers learn how children think about the world and learn from each other. 1-4 pm. Free w/ admission. Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills. 416-696-1000.

5Toronto Gaymers January Social Meet fellow gamers and play video, board and tabletop games. 1-9 pm. Free. Marquis of

Granby, 418 Church. facebook.com/­ torontogaymers.

Tuesday, January 7

CITY BUILDING: THE GREAT PARADIGM SHIFT

rLearn To Skate Outdoor skating classes for all ages run through Mar 2014. Various times and prices. Harbourfront Centre Rink, 235 Queens Quay W. Pre-register 416-973-4093, ­harbourfrontcentre.com/learntoskate.

Twelfth Night On The Twelfth Night

Wednesday, January 8

Sunday, January 5 Urban designer Ken Greenberg speaks.

10:10-10:50 am. Free. St. Clement’s Church, 70 St Clements. 416-483-6664.

Read a part in Shakespeare’s classic comedy.

7 pm. Free. Du Cafe, 885 O’Connor. ­eastendarts.ca.

Monday, January 6 Act II Studio Information Day Learn about the courses and activities offered by the theatre school for older adults. 10:30 am-1 pm. Free. Ryerson University, 297 Victoria, 7th floor. 416-979-5000 ext 6297, ­act2studio.ca.

Chanting Join in chanting for peace, happiness and spiritual growth. 7 pm. Free. Tao Sangha­Toronto Healing Centre, 375 Jane.

416-925-7575.

TRAMPOLINE HALL Mini-lectures curated by Jordan Tannahill and hosted by Misha Glouberman. 8 pm. $5-$6. Garrison, 1197 Dundas W. trampolinehall.net.

Canada Cocktail Party Enjoy beats, eats

and drinks, and mingle with Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival filmmakers. 7 pm. $20. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King W, 3rd fl Blue Room. tiff. net/­canadacocktailparty.

Factory Farms: Behind The Scenes Talk on why we should be concerned about factory farming. 6:30 pm. Free. Brentwood Library, 36 Brentwood N. torontopubliclibrary.ca.

upcoming Thursday, January 9 Yiddish Vinkl Dine Magazine editor-in-chief Sara Waxman speaks in Yiddish about Jewish traditions and food. Noon. $18 (includes buffet lunch). Free Times Café, 320 College. ­yiddishvinkl.com.

3 NOW January 2-8 2014

17

food&drink

fore cast

DAVID LAURENCE

2014

Chew on this

By Steven Steven Davey Davey Some tasty trends you’ll be talking about in 2014 By

Thai Pai

According to the experts on the Food Network, opening a restaurant is a foolproof way to become rich and famous at the same time. Just ask Gordon Ramsay!

Here’s the latest batch of hopefuls looking to hit it big in the coming year.

18

January 2-8 2014 NOW

As if they haven’t got enough on their plate with Sabai Sabai and their two Sukhothai l­ ocations, Jeff and Nuit Regular are finally set to soft-launch their long-mooted Pai in the former Golden Griddle at Duncan and Adelaide later this month. Chef Nuit promises a card of familiar dishes – street-style pad thai, her signature khao soi noodles – as well as a slew of new northern Thai dishes served family-style.

Sky high Known for its offbeat roster of sandwiches named after songs written by Chicago alt-rockers Wilco, the Annex’s Sky Blue Sky is opening a second student-friendly café later this month in what’s left of the Sun Media building on King East just down from George Brown College.

Look for an identical set list as well as a few new numbers in the repertoire.

And the name?

Ñ

Sabai Sabai’s Nuit and Jeff Regular are offering you a piece of the Pai this year.

“We were thinking Blue Sky Blue but decided to stick with Sky Blue Sky,” says SBS kingpin Chad Comfort.

Porky pies Pizzeria Libretto’s Max Rimaldi and Porchetta’s Nick auf der Mauer have announced that they’ll launch new restaurants next door to each other later this year on the King West club strip west of Spadina. Porchetta will have counter seating like the original on Dundas West, though greatly expand­ed, and a first-time liquor licence.

“I can’t talk too much about it yet,” says auf der Mauer. “We’re opening side by side, but they’re two separate spaces and businesses.”

Porchetta owner/ chef Nick auf der Mauer is hush-hush about his new King West spot.

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General idea Though Victor Barry and Carlo Catallo have amicably split their resto empire in two – the former keeps Splendido on Harbord while the latter gets the County General on Queen West – n ­ either is resting on his considerable reputation. Barry plans to take the expense-account Splendido even further upmarket, while Catallo will spin off the General – with ex-Canoe sous Danai Hongwanishkul replacing Barry in the kitchen – into two additional new restos, one in Riverside on Queen East at Boulton in the old Canadian Pie Company, the second on Bloor just west of Dovercourt in the long-shuttered Beirut Palace.

Air fare The rollout of new chef-helmed restos in Terminals 1 and 3 at Pearson International continues apace. Following hot on the successful heels of Rocco Agostino of Enoteca Sociale’s Corso, Mark McEwan of Bymark’s Fetta and Nobel, and Devin Connell of Delica’s two Heirloom bakery cafés, recent ­arrivals include Guy Rubino of Strada 241 and Rain fame with Acer (weird sushi), and the Amaya chain’s Hemant Bhagwani with Marathi (Indo fusion). TV chefs Lynn Craw-

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With seafood restaurants about to become as endangered a species as the unsustainable fish they serve, food i­ ndustry visionaries are already predicting that bugs are the next big protein. You’ll already find crickets on the menu at Atlantic and Ursa, proof that people will eat anything if it’s deep-fried.

3 stevend@nowtoronto.com | @stevendaveynow

R E V O E K A T R E T R A A Z N A B I T I S S NO W !

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More sunny days are ahead for Sky Blue Sky owner Chad ­Comfort.

ford, Roger Mooking, Zane Caplansky and Susur Lee have also signed up to come on board in the coming year.

But surely Canada’s most celebrated toque can think up a better name for his airport debut than Asian Kitchen.

Come Fly With Lee has a nice ring to it.

to open its doors sometime last year, the Drake Hotel’s hotly anticipated Drake Devonshire in the Prince Edward County lakeside hamlet of Wellington should be up and running for the summer season. Pitched as the “next-generation getaway for the metropolitan cottage crowd,” the retrofitted historic inn features 11 suites decorated by ex-3rd Uncle John Tong in “a roughluxe design palette complete with a cheeky nod to rustic Canadiana” – translation: reclaimed barnboard and rusty old tractor parts – and a stand-alone restaurant committed to “lake-to-table dining.” This last shouldn’t be too diffi­cult, seeing as it’s a distance of about 8 feet.

13-12-17 9:44 PM NOW January 2-8 2014 19

drinkup fore cast

By SARAH PARNIAK drinks@nowtoronto.com | @s_parns

Some like it sour

Craft cider

2014

The drinks scene never stands still. Here’s what’s set to trend in 2014.

Rum and fun

Local spirits

Custom drinks

More bars will sidestep cocktail lists for tête-àtêtes with guests. The emphasis will be on tailoring drinks to individual tastes, even if it’s as simple as tweaking the garnish on a gin and tonic to complement the base brand. Options will be more elastic, creative individuation will bloom, and memorable exper­iences will be sought and delivered.

Home bars

Fresh is best

Pac-Manning pork belly and gallons of beer is phasing out, surrendering to the reality bomb of health freakdom.

This year will see more fresh and health-conscious ingredients: juice bars offering coldpressed fruit and veggies, healthier sweeteners and more cocktail mixers made inhouse.

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january 2-8 2014 NOW

Sour beers, which pricked our palates and piqued our interest last summer, are gaining momentum.

Citrusy cocktails like margaritas and sours will tease our sweet teeth, and more bartenders will tinker with citric acid and shrubs in cocktails to add pucker and punch.

Craft cider’s on the upswing thanks to an abundance of good Ontario apples and a growing number of small local cideries. Rustic, dry styles like Spirit Tree and West Avenue will be increasingly popular as zesty, gluten-free alter­natives to beer, while sweeter styles will please the crowds.

Indie distilleries like Forty Creek, Still Waters and now Dillon’s have devel­oped cult followings and proved there’s good stuff close to home. This year will see the emergence of inde­pen­dent and micro-distilleries dedicated to distinctly Cana­dian styles – like 66 Gilead’s Canadian Pine Vodka (750 ml/$38.95, LCBO 288464) and ­Ontario Organic Wheat Spirit (375 ml/$39.50, LCBO 365528) from Toronto Distillery Co.

Thanks to our unslakeable thirst for whisk(e)y, the gates to the brown ­spirits funfair have been flung open, and rum’s the next main attraction. Whether we’re lapping up tiki drinks like zombies and mai tais, sipping Cuba Libres or learning to appreciate aged rum neat, lighthearted and delicious sugar cane spirits will make their mark in 2014.

Ice

Nice ice – from Kold Draft to spheres – made a statement in our glasses last year. Our obsession with the deepfreeze will continue into 2014 with slushy cocktails and blended drinks, swizzles, flavoured cubes and handcarved ice.

If the past few years have seen the rise of the bartender, 2014 might usher in the age of the domestic barkeep and cocktail enthusiast. More Torontonians will stock their bars with cocktail books, nice glassware, proper tools and an assortment of bottles to keep their guests happy.

Fortified wine and quinquina

Vermouth, sherry, Lillet and Dubonnet – perceived as the sips of octogenarians and European traditionalists before they got traction as modifiers via the classic cocktail craze – will make more assertive appearances as cocktail bases and aperitifs, bolstering the low-alcohol trend.

Alternatives

The 2014 stream will feed a sea of options, options, options. No two people need drink alike. Think gluten-free beer that’s actually potable, low-cal drinks that aren’t (completely) obnoxious, a growing interest in biodynamic wines, and moderate cocktails that won’t leave you face-down in the gutter after a few.

style

FORE CAST

2014

STYLE FORECAST 2014 PINK TARTAN

MILEY CYRUS, BARE BELLIES AND LASER FACIALS? DON’T FEAR, WE’RE HERE TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT THE STYLE SCENE HAS IN STORE FOR THE NEW YEAR. By SABRINA MADDEAUX

ALL-WHITE EVERYTHING

Yahoo!, searches for the phrase “pixie haircut” are 511 times higher than what they were this time last year. Expect to see a lot of cropped cuts this spring in shades ranging from beach blond to the whitest of whites. If you’re thinking of going short, see a hairstylist you trust – this is no job for an inexperienced haircutter.

Great for super-slim models but bad for anyone in a committed relationship with red wine, chocolate or cheese puffs, head-to-toe white is what designers want to make stick in 2014. Brave enough to give it a try? Shop the spring collections of Canadian brands Beaufille, Pink Tartan and Travis Taddeo. Avoid looking like a hackneyed relic from the disco era by playing with textures and showing some skin to break up your look.

BELLY-BARING STYLES This is probably the last thing you want to hear after a month of holiday parties and turkey binges, but crop tops are here to stay. Not quite ready to channel your inner Britney? Play it safe and pair one with a high-waisted skirt to show only a sliver of skin.

PEROXIDE PIXIE CUTS Love her or hate her, Miley Cyrus was right about this one. Once Jennifer Lawrence and Pamela Anderson jumped on board, there was no turning back. According to new statistics from

METALLIC MANIA MILEY CYRUS

Because who doesn’t like shiny things?

Iridescent space-age fabrics and mirror-

like finishes are the new neon for those who want to stand out at a party. Pick up the trend and support Canadian designers by shopping Greta Constantine’s stunning spring/summer 2014 collection or Ela’s holiday handbag collection.

recently set up shop in Toronto, and Glow Medi Spa’s (129 Yorkville, 416920-9998, glowmedispa.ca) new OxyGeneo skin treatment is one of the most buzzed-about beauty services in town. Expect more places focused on medical-grade facials to open in 2014.

SUPERFACIALS

GOLD TRIMMINGS

The days are numbered for spa facials aimed chiefly at relaxation with little evidence to back up their skin care claims. With little time and money to spare, consumers are hungry for technologically advanced treatments that actually deliver on what they promise. W SkinCare (67 Portland, 416599-2711, wskincare.ca) and the Freeze Clinic (808 Danforth, 647-7005880, thefreezeclinic.ca), both of which specialize in low-level laser therapy combined with microdermabrasion,

We’ll never be royals, but we can add a splash of luxe gold to our home decor schemes. Expect gold hardware to grace cabinets, dressers and drawers and gold detailing on items like pillows and drapes. If you want to dabble in the gilded life without going full-on Liberace, stop by the Interior Design Show January 23 to 26 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (255 Front West, interiordesignshow.com) to get ideas on how to go golden gracefully. continued on page 22 œ

NOW JANUARY 2-8 2014

21

STYLE FORECAST 2014

œcontinued from page 21

GRETA CONSTANTINE

astrology freewill

01 | 02

2014

by Rob Brezsny

ARIES Mar 21 | Apr 19 Deep bronz-

es and smoky cinnamons and dark chocolates will be your lucky colours in 2014. Mellow mahoganies and resonant russets will work well for you, too. They will all be part of life’s conspiracy to get you to slow down, deepen your perspective and slip into the sweetest groove ever. In this spirit, I urge you to nestle and cuddle and caress more than usual in the coming months. If you aren’t totally clear on where home is, either in the external world or inside your heart, devote yourself to finding it. Hone your emotional intelligence. Explore your roots.

On a regular basis, remember your reasons for loving life. Stay in close touch with the sources that feed your wild soul.

TAURUS Apr 20 | May 20 For years, French painter Édouard Manet and French poet Stéphane Mallarmé hung out with each other every day. Mallarmé referred to their relationship as “the most complete friendship.” They influenced each other to become better artists and human beings.

I’m guessing that in the coming months, Taurus, you’ll thrive on that kind of stimulating companionship. Having such regular contact with a like-minded ally might even be an important factor in ripening your intelligence. At the 22

JANUARY 2-8 2014 NOW

very least, I predict that soulful friendship will be a crucial theme in 2014. You will attract blessings and generate luck for yourself by deepening your ability to cultivate synergistic bonds.

and narrower for a while. But I expect that in 2014, you will be moving more rapidly than usual.

You will be travelling a more direct route, and you will be both wide and deep.

GEMINI May 21 | Jun 20 St. Peter’s

LEO Jul 23 | Aug 22 “In games

Basilica is a very old church in Vatican City. It contains a life-size bronze statue of St. Peter that is at least 700 years old. Over the centuries, countless visitors have paid their respects by kissing and touching the feet of the idol. The metal composing the right foot has been so thoroughly worn down by these gestures that the individual toes have disappeared, leaving a smooth surface. You will have a similar kind of power in 2014, Gemini. Little by little, with your steady affection and relentless devotion, you can transform what’s rigid and hard.

CANCER Jun 21 | Jul 22 Big rivers don’t travel in straight lines. Their paths are curvy and complicated, with periodic turns and bends. In some places they flow faster and in others they’re slower. Their depth and width may vary along the way, too. Your own destiny is like one of those big rivers, Cancerian. In some years, it meanders for long stretches, slowing down as it wanders along a crooked course. It may even get shallower

there are rules,” writes science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson, “but in life the rules keep changing.” This is always true, of course, but I think it will be an especially poignant truth for you between now and your next birthday. During the coming months, you may sometimes feel as if every last law and formula and corollary is mutating. In some cases, the new rules coming into play will be so different from the old rules you’ve been used to, they may at first be hard to figure out.

But now here’s the happy ending: it may take a while, but you will eventually see that these new rules have an unexpected logic and beauty that will serve your future well.

VIRGO Aug 23 | Sep 22 I predict

that you will commit no major acts of self-sabotage in 2014. Congrats! I also foresee that you will be exceptionally careful not to hurt or damage yourself. Hooray!

More good news: you won’t be as critical of yourself as you have sometimes been in the past. The

judgmental little voice in the back of your head won’t be nearly as active. Yay! Even your negative emotions will diminish in frequency and intensity. Hallelujah! Whoopee! Abracadabra!

LIBRA Sep 23 | Oct 22 The citizens of Iceland love literature, but many are not content to simply read. One out of every 10 Icelanders writes and publishes a book at sometime in his or her life. I know it’s unrealistic, but I would love to see at least one in 10 of all my Libra readers do the same in 2014. I think you’re ready to make a big statement – to express yourself in a more complete and dramatic way than ever before. If you’re not ready to write a book, I hope you will attempt an equivalent accomplishment.

SCORPIO Oct 23 | Nov 21 I’m

hoping you will find a new teacher or two in 2014, maybe even a mentor. Not a guru who tells you what to do. Not an exploitative “expert” who claims to know what’s right for you or a charismatic narcissist who collects adoration. What I wish for you, Scorpio, is that you will connect with wise and humble sources of inspiration... with life-long learners who listen well and stimulate you to ask good questions... with curious guides who open your eyes to resources you don’t realize you need. In the coming months, you are primed to launch a quest that will keep you busy and excited for years; I’d love to see you get excellent help in framing that quest.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 | Dec 21 In

2014, it’s possible you will be given a cabbage farm or a petting zoo or some bequest that’s not exactly in close alignment with your life’s purpose. But it’s more likely that the legacies and dispensations you receive will be quite useful. The general trend is that allies will make available to you a steady flow of useful things. Your ability to attract what you need will be high. In the coming months, I may even have good reason to name you an honorary Scorpio. You might match those Great Manipulators’ proficiency at extracting the essence of what you want from every situation.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 | Jan 19

Would you be interested in a motto that will help set the tone for you in 2014? I’ve got a suggestion that’s in alignment with the astrological omens. It’s from a poem by Margaret Atwood. Try saying this and see if it works for you: “Last year I abstained / this year I devour / without guilt / which is also an art.” If you choose to make this affirmation your own, be sure you don’t forget about the fact that devouring without guilt is an art – a skill that requires craft and sensitivity. You can’t afford to get blindly instinctual and greedy in 2014; you shouldn’t compulsively overcompensate for 2013’s deprivations. Be cagey and discerning as you satisfy your voracious hunger.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 | Feb 18 The

coming months will be a good time to meditate on the concepts

of happy accidents and benevolent trouble. Go ahead and throw constructive mischief into the mix, too, and maybe even a dose of graceful chaos. Are you game for playing around with so much paradox? Are you willing to entertain the possibility that fate has generous plans for you that are too unexpected to anticipate?

There’s only one requirement that you have to meet in order to receive your odd gifts in the spirit in which they’ll be offered: you’ve got to be open-minded, eager to learn and flexible.

PISCES Feb 19 | Mar 20 I think we

humans need some new emotions. It’s true that old standards like sadness, anger, jealousy and fear are as popular as ever. But I would personally love to be able to choose from a greater variety, especially if at least 51 per cent of the new crop of emotions were positive or inspiring. Now it so happens that in 2014 you Pisceans will be primed to be pioneers.

Your emotional intelligence should be operating at peak levels. Your imagination will be even more fertile than usual. So how about it? Are you ready to generate revolutionary innovations in the art of feeling unique and interesting feelings? To get started, consider these: 1. amused reverence; 2. poignant excitement; 3. tricky sincerity; 4. boisterous empathy.

Homework: To hear Part One of my threepart audio forecasts about your destiny in 2014, go to bit.ly/BigPicture2014.

ecoholic

When you’re addicted to the planet By ADRIA VASIL

RANKING DETOX STRATEGIES The authors of Slow Death By Rubber Duck, Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, are at it again, this time with Toxin Toxout, a guide to getting harmful chems out of our bodies. Here’s a taste of what they found: IONIC FOOT BATHS A perfect example of “wacky quick-fix detoxes” on Smith and Lourie’s “avoid” list. These foot baths claim their positive ions draw out negatively charged toxins (you should see the brown gunk companies insist these baths pull from your feet!), but clinical studies have found that zero, count ’em, zero toxins are actually released.

SCORE: N

VITAMINS There’s evidence that certain supplements (like vitamin A, C, D, E and K) may boost the body’s natural detoxification process, but it’s limited and most claims haven’t been confirmed in the scientific literature – especially for detox diet kits. Loading up on vitamin- and antioxidant-rich fresh fruits and veggies that help our bodies bust up celldamaging free radicals is probably your wisest strategy.

SCORE: NNN

SAUNA THERAPY/ EXERCISE Turns out a good sweat really does release toxins (which is why it’s so vital not to clog your pores with antiperspirants).

Lourie undertook weeks of rigorous infrared sauna therapy, collected jars of sweat and expelled a surprising amount of BPA (the hormone disruptor in tin can linings) and phthalates (from scented products). He also blacked out in the process, hence why this treatment requires medical supervision.

Daily exercise is a gentler way of excreting toxins.

SCORE: NNNN

TE ST L

AB

GREEN BODY CARE

ORGANIC PRODUCE

If you want to clean up your insides, make sure the products you slather on your outsides are pure, too. Urine testing done on Ray Civello (owner of Avedaconcept salons) and green makeup artist Jessa Blades proved hormone-disrupting phthalate and paraben levels “spiked dramatically” when they spritzed and smeared on conventional personal care products. Levels dropped when they used cleaner, greener, all natural and fragrance-free options.

SCORE: NNNNN

Don’t believe the hype around organics? Well, Smith and Lourie recruited families eating conventional diets to switch to 100 per cent organic for five days, collecting their urine before and after the pesticide purge. Turns out eating organic really does slash your body’s pesticide levels – a big deal since those pesticides are linked to a host of health woes. Can’t afford all organic? Prioritize the dirty dozen list with the most residues (like apples, cherry tomatoes and potatoes – see foodnews.org for complete list).

SCORE: NNNNN

ecoholic pick

CLEANING UP OUR ACT Q&A with Bruce Lourie and Rick Smith, authors of Toxin Toxout: Getting Harmful Chemicals Out Of Our Bodies And Our World A few years back, reading Slow Death By Rubber Duck: How The Toxic Chemistry Of Everyday Life Affects Our Health, I couldn’t believe that the authors – two affable, dapperly dressed enviro activists I often sat on panels with – were crazy enough to turn themselves into lab rats.

Amongst their many experiments, Bruce Lourie and Rick Smith sat in an apartment eating one mercurylaced tuna meal after another while the room was being sprayed with stain-proofing chems, and then had their blood and urine tested for skyrocketing pollutants.

All I could think was, “How the hell are they going to get these persistent chemicals out of their system?”

Their latest book, Toxin Toxout, gets to the bottom of that very question. The toxifying experiments continue. Smith, for instance, sat in a hot Chevy Tahoe for eight hours, then discovered his levels of harmful volatile organic compounds had jumped through the roof.

But this time around they also delve into the sometimes flakey world of detoxing. Lourie downed potions, slept in an electromagnetic-frequency-proof “cage” and got intravenous chelation therapy to reverse the mercury contamination he took in with all those tuna sandwiches.

The result is a distressing and amusing adventure on the road to detoxing individuals and the planet.

Ecoholic chats with the authors about their latest experiments.

What were the biggest toxic shockers for you in writing the book?

LOURIE I was blown away by the magnitude of garbage we create and how much worse it has gotten in the past 10 years. If we keep this up we are literally going to choke to death on our own plastic refuse.

SMITH The fact that, on average, eating organic food lowers your body levels of cancer-causing pesticides by a factor of three. An incredibly quick and dramatic decrease!

Did you scare yourselves out of any bad habits?

LOURIE I am now convinced that we need to adopt a “detox lifestyle.” We can’t rely on oneoff diet fads. That means lots of

organic veggies, less meat, drinking more water and exercising.

SMITH As I explain in the book, I was always skeptical of green deodorants and antiperspirants.

Now I’m a believer! You don’t need to wear heavy-duty, paraben-laden antiperspirant every day to function in the world. The newer non-toxic products ain’t half bad.

The quest to find out what happens to tossed Teflon pans led to some pretty big epiphanies on the global waste system, chemistry and economic reform. Can you give us the rundown?

LOURIE What I discovered was incredibly depressing. If you thought garbage recycling was saving the day, think again. Millions of tonnes of garbage are sent to China and elsewhere to be recycled, only to end up bulldozed into rivers or burned in incinerators. Corporations need to be held responsible for the things they produce throughout their full life cycle. The system we have now is severely broken, and there is no excuse for it other than the ease with which companies can pass on the costs to poorer nations and to governments unwilling to protect public health.

How do we detox Canada’s economy?

SMITH We’ve got to get more demanding with our govern-

ments. Though there are some improvements to point to over the past few years – like the elimination of BPA in baby bottles – Canadians are still put at risk on a daily basis by our crummy, outdated pollution laws.

How does our federal government justify the fact that Europeans and Americans are now better protected than Canadians from things like cancercausing pesticides, stray antibiotics in drinking water and various weird chemicals in personal care products?

A greener, less toxic, more efficient economy is necessary and possible, but we need leadership and vision. Detoxing the economy requires a greening of the chemical industry, and that means moving away from petroleum-based chemicals to ones based on water.

Now that you’ve proved that sweating is an effective pollutant detoxer, is opening a hot yoga chain next on your CV? SMITH We both look supergood in yoga pants, so that’s not a bad idea!

Get your copy of Adria Vasil’s latest book, Ecoholic Body: Your Ultimate Earth-Friendly Guide To Living Healthy And Looking Good – in bookstores everywhere!

nature notes NYC BANS PLASTIC FOAM Don’t pack up the New Year’s bubbly just yet; we’ve some more celebrating to do. I’d like to make a toast to New York City council for unanimously voting to ban single-use polystyrene food containers. There is an escape clause, though: the ban can be overturned if industry proves that the foam can be successfully recycled.

I guess it depends what you mean by successful. The foam’s certainly been a headache to blue bins here in Toronto, where polystyrene (PS) recycling facilities have come and gone, though T.O. reps now say 62 tonnes of PS is “re-processed” locally, then shipped off to China to be made into dead-end products like picture frames and decorative moulding. Enviros here would call that downcycling, not recycling.

Fingers crossed NYC agrees.

STAND BEHIND FIRST NATIONS Okay, so 2013 didn’t end on a green high note in every jurisdiction. The National Energy Board’s Joint Review Panel disappointed a lot of Canadians when it greenlit approval of the Northern Gateway Pipeline and its hauling of corrosive tar sands bitumen across BC’s rugged coast. Sure, there are over 200 enviro, safety and financial conditions that are supposed to be met first, but this is the same NEB that worked with CSIS and RCMP to spy on oil sands opponents. Enviros are reminding the public that it’s not too late to take action to protect our coast, and that the best way to do that is to throw your support behind the aboriginal communities leading the fight, including the Yinka Dene Alliance, a coalition of six BC First Nations that have banned Enbridge from their turf. Pledge your support for the Dene at holdthewall.ca.

NOW JANUARY 2-8 2014

23

Though ­Toronto has long been “Hollywood North,” tax incentives and its sense of placelessness allowing it to pass as one or another substitute city, it’s just as long struggled to define ­itself on screen. While we host one of the biggest film fests in the world and produce most of the country’s film and TV, we don’t like to toot our car – or bicycle – horns.

1

LA (Don

This may be a banner year for Toronto onscreen: forthcoming features like Denis Villeneuve’s E ­ nemy and Mike D ­ owse’s The F Word take for granted the idea that Toronto is a totally reasonable place to set a film.

the everett collection/the canadian press

To mark this, we put together a list of films that use Toronto to say something about Toronto. Coming up with it has been almost as hard as defining the city itself. We chose and ranked them based on quality, use of local talent and familiar landmarks and, well, some mysterious Hogtown quality. Here’s the best of Toronto playing itself.

top 25 toronto fiLms N SUMI,

By NORMAN WILNER, GLEN MLEY SUSAN G. COLE and JOHN SE

24

january 2-8 2014 NOW

Once upon a time, someone posted this question to the NOW website: “What is the quintessential Toronto movie?”

We thought about it. A lot. And ultimately we decided that while there were a number of solid contenders, the quintessential Toronto movie has to be Last Night, McKellar’s 1998 comedy-​drama that takes place over the last six hours of human existence.

Initially conceived as part of a millennial series of one-​hour films produced under the umbrella 2000 Seen By – Hal Hartley’s The Book Of Life was another – Last Night is a modest, thoughtful end-​of-​the-​world movie.

An unspecified apocalypse – something to do with the sun – is going to wipe out all life on Earth at precisely midnight local time, and the citizens of Toronto are dealing with it as best they can. Some people are rioting, others are partying, but mostly they’re coping with a minimum of drama, because that’s how we are.

Our hero, the understandably depressed Patrick Wheeler (McKellar), suffers through a final family dinner with his parents (Robin Gammell, Roberta Maxwell) and his sister Jennifer (Sarah Polley), complete with Christmas presents – even though it’s not actually Christmas.

Meanwhile, Sandra (Sandra Oh)

AST NIGHT n McKellar, 1998)

making the scene

Don McKellar on Last Night katheryn gaitens

goes out to grab some wine for a final dinner and a small mob trashes her car while she’s shopping, forcing her to find her own way home. (In a distinctly Torontonian touch, no one appears to enjoy vandalizing the vehicle; it’s just something they’ve seen people do on television.)

Patrick and Sandra are just part of a wide ensemble cast.

In addition to Jennifer, who sets out for her own celebration with her boyfriend (Trent McMullen), Last Night concerns itself with Duncan and Donna, a pair of middle managers at the gas company who’ve decided to work through to the end, assuring their customers that service will continue as long as possible. As played by David Cronenberg and Tracy Wright, they’re wonderfully human characters whose subplot could have made for a lovely short film. Instead, they’re a rich addition to the master narrative.

There are plenty of films that treat cities as characters, but McKellar doesn’t do that. Last Night isn’t about Toronto, but the people who live here. The city is just there, represented without camouflage or redressing; the movie could almost be a documentary, if it weren’t for the sci-​fi elements.

McKellar has created a love song to Torontonians as an idiosyncratic but ultimately compassionate people willing to comfort one another in the darkest of hours. The film’s final message is one of connection and community: the world may be ending, but it doesn’t have to end badly.

Incidentally, it’s ludicrous that there’s yet to be a decent DVD release of this film. If anyone’s looking to start a Canadian version of the Criterion Collection, a properly mastered Blu-​ray of Last Night should be your first release. Seriously, launch your Kickstarter, we’re in.

If Toronto had a cinematic ambassador, it would have to be Don McKellar.

McKellar appears in quite a few of the movies on our list, popping up in Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (which he also co-wrote), Monkey Warfare, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World and Trigger. And of course he wrote and starred in Bruce McDonald’s landmark TV ­series Twitch City, which would top any list of Toronto television series.

(It’d be a short list, but still.)

But it’s McKellar’s first feature as a writer/ director, Last Night, which best encapsulates the mood and character of our city. It just takes an apocalypse to bring it out.

“People make fun of Torontonians for being passive and too polite and things like that,” McKellar says as we

catch up 15 years after the film’s release.

“I sort of made fun of that, but a sense of civic responsibility and decency is something I wanted to emphasize, too.”

Although it deals with the end of all human life, Last Night has very little rage to it: everyone’s just sort of glum. Even the mob that destroys Sandra Oh’s car at the beginning of the film doesn’t really seem all that angry.

“Yeah, no,” he laughs. “They’re kind of aimless. I sometimes feel that in mass group situations here in Toronto – like the [G20]. People at the protests weren’t exactly angry or focused; it was more of a novelty, and people were just sort of feeling their way through it. ‘What am I supposed to be doing here?’”

McKellar wanted Last Night to capture the city in which he lives. But doing that accurately was a little tricky.

“Toronto is actually a tough city to represent visually, because it’s so varied,” he says. “It doesn’t have an overriding distinctive look like Montreal does, and a lot of cities do. And of course that’s been good for foreign films shooting here, wanting it to be Hanoi or whatever they want it to be. But it’s hard sometimes to find the Toronto character.”

McKellar decided to concentrate on what he calls “the modernist Toronto – as represented by the Macdonald Block where Cronenberg works, and those apartment towers from the 60s by Uno Prii. You know, the one that Callum [Keith Rennie]’s character lives in was actually the first apartment building in North America to have central air conditioning.

“I wanted this feeling of dashed aspirations of 20th century optimism that you can find in a certain kind of Toronto [architecture],” he explains. “And also, I didn’t want to go with the lush, green Toronto, because I wanted to suggest that there’s something wrong with the world, and it has to do with the sun. So I tried to avoid greenery – which is a very, very difficult thing to do in Toronto, if you think about it. I had one little tree on fire, things like that… There had to be some tangible evidence that people could see something was wrong.”

McKellar’s quest to avoid foliage didn’t lead him to the ends of the earth, but it was close.

“I ended up shooting a lot around Weston and Weston Road,” he says. “That’s why a lot of the street scenes have a kind of grey, slightly empty feel to them. I needed controllable streets, too, of course, because I was trying to empty them of people and normal traffic, and that wasn’t easy. And I used Victoria Street because it has those office towers and the streetcar [tracks]. I had to have a streetcar.”

You’d think there’s nothing more Toronto-specific than a streetcar, right?

Well, you’d be wrong.

“The poster we had in Canada had the image of Sandra walking away from the streetcar,” McKellar remembers, “which was a great image, I thought. But when the film was released in France, they said, ‘Ah, we don’t know about the poster… It looks like Poland, and we want it to look like North America, to sell it as an American film.’

“I said, ‘Poland? That’s a streetcar!

That’s Toronto!’ They said, ‘No, no, it doesn’t look like North America to us.’

Can’t win.”

Norman Wilner NOW january 2-8 2014

25

TOP 25 TORONTO FILMS MAKING THE SCENE

Daniel Cockburn on You Are Here

2

Daniel Cockburn didn’t set out to make a grand statement about Toronto in You Are Here. In fact, he was trying to make the city as anonymous as possible, scrambling the geography to the point of creating intersections of streets that don’t actually meet.

“It was part of the concept of the movie that the audience isn’t supposed to know when or where it’s taking place,” he says. “So had we been shooting in New York or Istanbul or Reykjavik, I still would have been working to make sure we were dealing with nonexistent intersections.”

But somehow, Cockburn made a movie about a specific sort of alienation that exists here, where a person can lose herself amidst the underground walkways and office towers of a modern metropolis.

“I think it worked out well that I was shooting this in Toronto,” he says. “Had I been shooting in New York City, we would have been at every corner trying to run away from landmarks that would de-anonymize it, you know? I don’t want to say that Toronto is devoid of globally recognizable cultural and architectural landmarks. But if you want to make a movie that’s spatially anonymous, it’ll work for you.”

With its sense that its dislocated characters are drifting further and further away from themselves, is You Are Here a metaphor for Toronto’s endless struggle to define itself on the world stage?

“I can’t take credit for consciously asking that question in my movie,” Cockburn says, “but the fact that [after] living here for most of my adult life I ended up using the city in a culturally and spatially anonymous way maybe means that I’m asking these questions subconsciously – or that the movie is asking these questions subconsciously.”

NORMAN WILNER

YOU ARE HERE (Daniel Cockburn, 2010)

Cockburn’s structurally challenging, intellectually compelling exploration of identity and self-awareness is set in a Toronto that’s about 10 degrees removed from the city we know.

We recognize the locations, but the things happening there are utterly alien: an office of scientists calls strangers and instructs them to find intersections of streets that shouldn’t meet; downtowners flock as a crowd with a single name (Alan) and an unknown purpose; and an archivist (Tracy Wright, in one of her last roles) fears she’s losing touch with the world even as she gathers more and more of its artifacts.

Playful and unapologetically weird, You Are Here wields its title as a challenge. Where is here, exactly? And who is it that you think you are?

Those are questions Torontonians ask themselves on a regular basis, and they lie at the core of our current municipal spasms. By engaging with that unspoken reality of Hogtown life, Cockburn has made a great Toronto movie. You Are Here challenges us to consider the city all over again, as if for the first time.

4

3

GOIN’ DOWN THE ROAD (Donald Shebib, 1970)

Like the Love Story-ish hockey romance Face Off, Shebib’s documentary realist classic was paid the ultimate compliment a Canadian film of its era could receive: an SCTV parody. John Candy and Joe Flaherty’s hootin’ and hollerin’ East Coast good ol’ boys headed to Toronto in a beat-up Impala on the promise of “doctorin’ and lawyerin’ jobs.”

The dreams of Shebib’s Everyman heroes, Doug McGrath’s Pete and Paul Bradley’s Joey, are simpler. For them, Toronto represents promise – of better work, more money and cosmopolitan living. By

26

JANUARY 2-8 2014 NOW

the end of the film, that promise has been turned inside out. The city has revealed itself as cold and unforgiving, and the film’s heroes have been undermined – knocking over a Loblaws together, Joey ditching his pregnant wife (Jayne Eastwood).

Goin’ Down The Road is a classic Toronto film for the way it manages to put across how the city means so many things to the different people who wind up here. A study of the city, its people and the seismic shifts affecting it in the early 70s, it’s our Grapes Of Wrath.

Let’s just never speak of the sequel. Ever.

VIDEODROME (David Cronenberg, 1983)

Videodrome was the only Cronenberg film programmed by Cinematheque Ontario in its 2009 Toronto On Film series, and that makes sense: though the vast majority of Cronenberg’s films were shot here, only Videodrome and Crash really use the city as a stage for their action.

But where Crash necessarily reduces Toronto to a series of asphalt highways and concrete overpasses, Videodrome engages with the city, capturing a snapshot of a Toronto on the precipice of social upheaval thanks to a scurrilous UHF station that’s planning to introduce pornographic imagery to the airwaves.

It’s called CIVIC-TV in the film, but the narrative’s debt to the real-life furor over Moses Znaimer’s Citytv is left entirely undisguised – Znaimer even has a cameo as a member of the CIVIC board.

And the plot plays as though Cronenberg built a worst- case scenario out of the controversy that erupted over the station’s Baby Blue Movies in the late 1970s. Where in the real world Torontonians were mildly scandalized by the softest of soft- core images airing late at night, Videodrome envisions the movies as a carrier wave for a full- on assault on our eyeballs – a terrorist act that gives birth to the New Flesh. And possibly the internet, too, since those pirate video stations are basically YouTube channels.

For NOW’s original reviews and expanded coverage of the Top 25, see nowtoronto.com/movies

7 5

I’VE HEARD THE MERMAIDS SINGING (Patricia Rozema, 1987)

empz 4 life (Allan King, 2006)

Just as powerful and timely as when it premiered at TIFF and played on TVO, King’s riveting documentary takes an uncompromising look at the lives of several at-risk young men who are in danger of slipping through the cracks in the Empringham neighbourhood in east Scarborough.

Amidst drive-by shootings, countless instances of DWB (driving while black) and the notable absence of fathers, mentor (and ex-con) Brian Henry tirelessly shepherds the kids to math classes by local playwright/mathematician John Mighton, who discovers previously unrecognized talent and serious self-confidence issues.

There are no easy answers to these systemic

problems. When aspiring rapper Chris Ellis complains about racial profiling, Henry bites back savagely and asks if he and his friends have done anything to change their image. But in the explosive conclusion, Henry – fed up with bureaucratic red tape – comes up against the same roadblocks as his young charges.

Look for consulting director Joseph Jomo Pierre, now a well-known playwright, whose statement to a cop who’s pulled him over – “You gotta let people feel like they can live” – is just one of the painful truths given voice.

Postscript: Keyon Campbell, one of the kids in the film, was killed the year after the film came out.

Rozema’s debut film about organizationally challenged temp worker Polly (Sheila McCarthy), who has artistic aspirations as a photographer, caused a sensation in Cannes, where it won the Prix de Jeunesse and launched Rozema’s career.

Proudly flaunting Toronto’s prime signifiers of the time, like the CN and TD Bank towers, Rozema also creates a character in Polly that’s almost a stand-in for the city itself – quiet, insecure, funny. (See sidebar, below).

Mermaids features an array of To-

ronto actors, including Ann-Marie MacDonald – before she broke out as a playwright and novelist – and Richard Monette, but this movie belongs to McCarthy, whose performance still stands out as one of her best.

It’s also one of the few indie movies of its era that made back the money invested in it by Telefilm and the Ontario Film Development Corporation – many times over. Pretty decent for a small, lesbian-tinged debut feature.

making the scene

Patricia Rozema on I’ve Heard The Mermaids Singing

6

THIRTY-TWO SHORT FILMS ABOUT GLENN GOULD (François Girard, 1993)

Pianist Gould is, of course, a Toronto icon. He would have been even without Girard’s multiple Genie Award-winning film, which features fewer Toronto scenes than you might expect for someone who spent most of his later life holed up in his St. Clair West apartment.

But the film, its title a nod to Gould’s legendary 1955 recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, has a chilly elegance to it, capturing the native Toronto feeling of isolation amidst the cacophony of the city.

Colm Feore mimics Gould’s distinct vocal rhythms expertly, but there are loads of other T.O. actors involved: Kate Hennig as a Hamburg chambermaid, Carlo Rota and Peter Millard as recording engineers, Allegra Fulton as a restaurant server, Gale Garnett as an obnoxious journalist. The biggest in-joke of all is having David Young play a writer. (Young, of course, wrote a play about Gould called simply Glenn, being remounted next season by Soulpepper.)

In one of the best sequences, about Gould’s final live concert, given in L.A., Don McKellar plays a concert promoter, and the hall itself is none other than Massey Hall (pictured).

When Patricia Rozema conceived of her comedy about a lonely temp worker, she knew she wanted it to be a Toronto film.

“I very deliberately put the CN Tower in several shots. I used other landmarks, too, because I wanted to record the place,” she says on the phone during a break from writing in her studio.

“I learned from making shorts that you film stuff and then it goes away – people take down buildings all the time. So as a filmmaker, you’re not just a storyteller, you’re recording a place.”

The most memorable sequence in Mermaids features Sheila McCarthy as Polly climbing the Royal Bank Plaza using suction cups.

“The only place we could get a POV shot from that high up was for Doug (cinematographer Douglas Koch) and me to go to the edge of the roof of City Hall and hang over. We went in and asked if we can get a quick shot and were surprised they said yes – no permissions on paper, no insurance. We couldn’t do that now.”

Rozema says that the fact that Polly bikes all over town wearing a toque is emblematic of Toronto.

But it’s Polly herself who best represents T.O. “She’s quiet, very funny, insecure and visionary, which is how I saw our city at the time.”

SUSAN G. COLE NOW january 2-8 2014

27

the everett collection/the canadian press

top 25 toronto fiLms

8 SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD (Edgar Wright, 2010) With scenes in the Annex set against the old mural of Lee’s Palace, the original marquee of the Bloor Cinema and the first location of Sonic Boom, Wright’s ebullient adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel cycle already feels like a time capsule of “not long ago, in the mysterious city of Toronto, Canada.”

But Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World also captures the energy of the city in a way no other film has, as a playground for the young and ambitious, with Michael Cera’s Scott courting Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Ramona Flowers – and battling those seven evil exes – in a colourful, vibrant world of clubs, concerts and late-​night Pizza Pizza power-​ ups populated almost exclusively by people in their 20s.

(There are a handful of older characters in the film, most notably Toronto cinema signifier Don McKellar, who pops up shooting a Hollywood action movie at Casa Loma.)

Scored with tracks by Metric and Broken Social Scene – Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew even wrote the songs performed in the movie by snot-​rockers Crash and the Boys – Scott Pilgrim is as much a fantasy of Toronto as Sarah Polley’s Take This Waltz, but one that functions very differently.

(Dammit, now we want to see Take This Waltz with an anime battle between Luke Kirby and Seth Rogen and a chiptune version of Closing Time over the end credits.)

9

crash (David Cronenberg, 1996)

Released to considerable controversy, streaming constantly on late-night Canadian cable channels pouring dim blue light into GTA suburban basements, talked about on playgrounds in hushed tones as “that car fucking movie,” Crash is like a visual earworm, a movie whose images burrow into your subconscious and stick there, resistant to any attempts to shake them loose.

Part of what makes Cronenberg’s unlikely adaptation of J.G. Ballard’s novel such a definitive Toronto movie is how un-Toronto it feels. So many films set here (Exotica, Winter Kept Us Warm, Last Night) nobly attempt to thaw the psychic chill that keeps us at arm’s length from one

10 trigger (Bruce McDonald, 2010) You can watch Trigger without knowing any of its history, and it plays like a solid character study about aging rockers edging toward reconciliation as they catch up before an awards ceremony. It’s maybe a little theatrical in its structure, but it’s a fun, bouncy ramble through a certain subset of the Toronto music scene that we rarely see dramatized, driven by two great performances by Tracy Wright and Molly Parker (pictured here at the Mod Club).

But if you know the story behind the movie, it becomes a much richer experience.

Director McDonald and screenwriter Daniel MacIvor had been developing the film for a while. It began as a reunion project for Hard Core Logo stars Hugh Dillon and Callum Keith Rennie, then morphed into a story of two women, one of whom would be played by Wright. When

28

january 2-8 2014 NOW

another. Not Crash.

Cronenberg crosses the wires of violence and eroticism. What’s ostensibly a film about car crash fetishists becomes a story of modern alienation, a place well past saving, all hard-ons pointing toward death like grisly divining rods. Here, sexuality is as porous as human flesh, standards of acceptability and desire as brittle as a bent-up fender.

Crash blasts through the cold glass and concrete of Toronto’s topography, crumpling it into a mangled heap of blood, cum, tears and twisted metal.

Wright was diagnosed with aggressive pancreatic cancer, the production timeline was stepped up so she could shoot the movie while she was still healthy. (She died in the spring of 2010, a few months before the film’s TIFF premiere.)

“Everyone’s made movies where you pull favours,” MacIvor told NOW when he and McDonald brought the film to TIFF. “This was not that feeling. They weren’t paying a debt; everyone really wanted to be part of this thing.”

You can feel that generosity of spirit throughout the movie. It’s not just a fantastic showcase for Wright’s electric talent, it’s an outpouring of love from the city’s film community. Watch Trigger again, and you can see that love in every frame.

For NOW’s original reviews and expanded coverage of the Top 25, see nowtoronto.com/movies MAKING THE SCENE

Sarah Polley on Take This Waltz 11| MONKEY WARFARE

(Regin-

14| TOWER

(Kazik Radwanski,

ald Harkema, 2006)

2012)

Harkema’s study of a Parkdale couple (real-life partners Don McKellar and Tracy Wright) with a radical past whose lives intersect with an aspiring revolutionary (Nadia Litz) leans a little too heavily on Godard’s La Chinoise, but its a look at a certain local lifestyle – aging radicals living hand-to-mouth on the fringes of the city – feels distressingly authentic.

It’s hard to get a real sense of the city in Tower, the young Toronto filmmaker’s debut feature, almost entirely shot in wobbly, claustrophobic close-up. But its quiet character study of Derek (Derek Brogart), a man determined to make excuses for his delayed entry into adulthood, reflects something of a city that seems perpetually, and nervously, on the cusp of greatness.

Sarah Polley’s first film, Away From Her, takes place in quiet rooms and hallways.

Her second feature, the romantic drama Take This Waltz, is as much a love letter to Toronto as it is a character study, following Michelle Williams and Luke Kirby as they flirt their way from the Lakeview Restaurant (at Dundas and Ossington) to Kew Beach.

“I wanted to make the most romantic sort of version of Toronto I could possibly think of,” Polley says, “which meant playing with reality a little bit, right? Toronto’s not a perfect city, and it’s not always a beautiful city. There’s huge problems with it – and a lot of that is omitted from the film, for better or for worse. I wanted to fantasize about what the most idyllic Toronto would be, and represent how Toronto actually feels to me.”

So if the city’s geography is compromised in the name of art, well, that’s as good a reason as any.

Polley admits her romanticized T.O. “may be a bit of an illusion. It would be great to be able to run from Trinity Bellwoods Park to the waterfront. That’s just not real, but Michelle Williams gets to do it! I just wanted to put everything that I loved in this city in one film, and make those things accessible and close, and kind of dreamlike.”

And when you can reshape a city to your will, it’s no big deal to have the movie’s characters catch a revival of Claude Jutra’s Quebec classic Mon Oncle Antoine at the Royal. Turns out that’s a dream shared by more than one local filmmaker.

“When we were shooting that scene, Atom Egoyan didn’t see the film crew and came up and tried to buy a ticket,” says Polley. “He was so excited Mon Oncle was at the Royal – he’d called Arsinée to have a date.”

NORMAN WILNER

12| TAXI!

(Barry Greenwald, 1982)

15| THE SILENT PARTNER

This memorable NFB doc captures early 80s Toronto at street level, through the eyes of cabbies shuttling passengers across town, weathering their stories and their abuse. Taxi is as much a portrait of a profession as of the people who flock to it – insomniacs, eccentrics, recent immigrants looking to make a buck.

(Daryl Duke, 1978)

13| TAKE THIS WALTZ

16| THE KIDS IN THE HALL: BRAIN CANDY (Kelly Makin,

THE EVERETT COLLECTION/THE CANADIAN PRESS

A high watermark of Canadian cinema’s oft-maligned tax shelter era, this taut thriller casts Elliott Gould as a Cabbagetown-dwelling banker squaring off against a psychotic thief played by Christopher Plummer. Its idea that modern Toronto’s skyscrapers are built over putrid corpses proves an unforgettable, T.S. Eliot-ish touch. (Also: Gould goes on a date to Captain John’s. Delicious!)

Her theme may be universal, but there’s no question that Polley’s soulful tale of intimacy lost and found is rooted in Toronto – even if there’s never a condo in sight. Margot (Michelle Williams) bikes to the Royal cinema, drifts through Kensington Market, takes the ferry (pictured), has a meltdown on the Centre Island Scrambler and pauses by the lake.

Plus, Damien Atkins plays a demanding aquafit instructor!

1996) The compromised first (and so far only) feature film by the Kids in the Hall very deliberately plays Toronto as a glassy, dreary any-metropolis where chronic depression is bound to take root. It’s not necessarily Toronto, but not not-Toronto either.

KATHRYN GAITENS

(Sarah

Polley, 2011)

NOW JANUARY 2-8 2014

29

top 25 toronto fiLms the everett collection/ the canadian press

Identity crisis

17| WINTER KEPT US WARM

20| OWNING MAHOWNY

23| OUTRAGEOUS!

(David Secter, 1965)

(Richard Kwietniowski, 2003)

Benner, 1977)

The first English-Canadian feature screened at Cannes, this tiny-budgeted black-and-white movie is also one of the country’s earliest gay films.

Hard to believe audiences at the time didn’t see the queer subtext in the friendship between a shy student (Henry Tarvainen) and the big man on campus (John Labow) – there’s even a shower scene with back scrubbing!

U of T hasn’t changed much, and look for the scene outside the O’Keefe Centre. Appearances by future novelist Joy Fielding (née Tepperman) and theatre veteran Janet Amos, then students, make this a hidden gem.

Based on the true story of a Toronto bank clerk who skimmed $10 million from CIBC to fund his gambling habit, Owning Mahowny has Philip Seymour Hoffman’s desperate addict slugging through the snowy streets of the financial district, throwing rocks at Rexdale Bowlerama and confabbing with his bookie (Maury Chaykin) at Varsity Arena. It’s a nice (read totally depressing) look at the hopelessness coursing through many in Toronto’s ­financial sector.

A drag queen (Craig Russell) reconnects with a high school friend (Hollis McLaren) when she escapes from a psychiatric facility and moves into his apartment. Benner offers an unblinking view of the city’s underside and the experience of two outsiders who can’t figure out where they fit in. Russell gives the film its soul in what was a star-making turn – he performs as ­B arbra Streisand, Carol Channing and Peggy Lee, among others. Outrageous! played Toronto’s Festival of Festivals and the Berlin Film Festival, where Russell took the Silver Bear as best actor.

18| RUDE (Clement Virgo, 1995)

21| SABAH

Three very different Torontonians (played by Richard Chevolleau, Rachael Crawford and Maurice Dean Wint) grapple with sexuality, morality and the lure of the streets in Virgo’s debut feature, set in and around ­Regent Park – a part of our city still woefully underrepresented on the screen, despite the fact that there are apparently lions ambling through its alleyways.

In an early scene in Sabah, a group of Muslim women return home, then fling off the hijabs and modest attire that conceal vibrant coloured dresses and start to dance. That’s one of the many ways Nadda’s story about a Muslim woman (Arsinée Khanjian) who falls in love with a non-Muslim man (Shawn Doyle) evokes the complexity of immigrant life. It also gives Khanjian a chance to lighten up in ways we seldom see. Oh, and by the way, that’s NOW Magazine Doyle’s reading when he meets Khanjian in a coffee shop.

(Ruba Nadda, 2005)

(Richard

24| HEAVEN ON EARTH (Deepa Mehta, 2008) Mehta’s story of Chand (Bollywood star Preity Zinta), who moves to Canada from India for an arranged marriage to a brutal man, is set in Brampton. The details, however, reflect the reality of immigrant life all over the GTA: the extended family crammed into a small home, the need to rent out the house during the day. And the soul-crushing winter ride from the airport to Chand’s new residence is emblematic of the uncertainty new residents face when they arrive.

Maybe the reason it’s taken Toronto so long to express itself on film is ­because its spent so long passing itself off as elsewhere.

Attractive tax credits, a depressed Canadian dollar and the building of new mega-studios have proved draws for American producers looking to bring projects in under cost. But familiar architecture, landmarks and “Licensed Under LLBO” signage always give Toronto away, like clues left behind by a crook who subconsciously wants to get caught.

Here are some of the more conspicuous examples.

...as New York City: HALF BAKED (Tamra Davis, 1998) Maybe I’m betraying my adolescent stoner pedigree here, but after countless re-watches of the Dave Chappelle stoner classic as a kid, I ­noticed that it wasn’t shot in New York City at all! The Pizza Pizza, the Sam the Record Man sign… holy shit! Ever noticed Toronto pretending to be New York… on weeeeed, man?

CINDERELLA MAN (Ron Howard, 2005) If you lived or worked in the downtown core in 2004 you probably recall Richmond being blocked off from Bay to Yonge to mimic the exterior of ­Depression-era Madison Square Garden. The fighting itself in this Russell Crowe boxing pic happened a few blocks north inside a pre-Loblaws Maple Leaf Gardens, with other scenes happening in the era-appropriate Distillery District before it became commercialized.

COSMOPOLIS (David Cronenberg, 2012) Cronenberg’s lame attempt to pass off Toronto as downtown Manhattan is pretty laughable. But isn’t that the point? Isn’t the movie about how space itself is ersatz and how images are always substitutions and ­mediations, mirages with no index? No idea. Robert Pattinson goes to the ­Lakeview, though.

...as Chicago: CHICAGO (Rob Marshall, 2002) The best-picture Oscar winner named after the Windy City was actually filmed entirely in Hogtown. That’s Old City Hall where Roxie (Renée ­Zellwegger, before she did Cinderella Man) holds her press conference, and those elaborate musical sequences were filmed at the Elgin Theatre and Danforth Music Hall. Even a little store along pawn shop row south of the NOW office got its own scene.

...as something futuristic:

19| THE ADVENTURES OF BOB AND DOUG MCKENZIE: STRANGE BREW (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, 1983) For the first and only Bob and Doug movie, Moranis and Thomas turned their beloved SCTV characters into Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in a Canadian riff on Hamlet. (Elsinore Brewery, guys. Think about it.) Three decades on, their movie plays like a time capsule of Hoser Toronto – a world of basements and beer stores, of stubbies and toques… and far too much denim. Ford Nation still lives there.

30

january 2-8 2014 NOW

22| I LOVE A MAN IN UNIFORM (David Wellington, 1993) A bank teller (Tom McCamus) is cast as a cop in a cheap TV show and winds up taking the gig way too seriously in Wellington’s slippery psychological thriller, which uses Toronto’s institutional blandness as a visual signifier, letting the city grow richer and darker as its hero’s state of mind deteriorates.

25| CHLOE ( Atom Egoyan, 2009) The story of a wife (Julianne Moore) who hires a high-end sex worker to spy on her husband (Liam Neeson), Chloe is definitely not Egoyan’s best movie, but it uses its Toronto locations to brilliant effect. Café Diplomatico positively vibrates while the couple have a key confrontation. And Koerner Hall’s ribbons-of-wood-andglass atrium looks spectacular during concert sequences.

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (Alexander Witt, 2004) Say what you will about the Resident Evil films (though if you say they’re anything other than excellent, you’d be categorically incorrect), but some of them are certainly set in Toronto. The second in the series has Milla Jovovich escaping from a zombie-infected Raccoon City that’s actually just Toronto and surrounding burbs. (Get it?!

Raccoon City!) In the film’s most memorable action sequence, Jovovich’s Alice somehow runs down the side of City Hall’s west tower.

Total Recall (Len Wiseman, 2012) Toronto’s ability to play New York, Chicago, Minneapolis or wherever was one-upped by the arrival of the Pinewood mega-studio in the port lands. Now, lousy-ass blockbusters like this remake of the Paul Verhoeven/Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi actioner can make Toronto look like a futuristic ­Australian slum continent.

JOHN SEMLEY and GLENN SUMI

music

fore cast

2014

RHYE

Pup

Rich Kidd

Back to the future Forecast 2014

By Julia LeConte

That’s a wrap. Fantastic as it was, the year 2013 is behind us. And as sure as there will be a long winter and broken resolutions, 2014 is guaranteed to bring us another breakout star like Lorde, another YouTube record-smasher like Miley Cyrus, another Toronto band that breaks in the States like DIANA. The wonderful part, though, is that we don’t know who or how or where.

We can hypothesize that Toronto will continue churning out talent. Local acts like Ryan Hemsworth and Jessy Lanza got big international ink this year with their debut albums.

And now that City Hall has solidified a partnership with Austin, making official what we already knew – that Toronto is a world-class destination for music – we’re poised for an even bigger 2014. continued on page 32 œ

Run The Jewels

St. Vincent NOW January 2-8 2014

31

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR

Music Forecast 2014 What exactly will Toronto Music City mean? More funding? More festivals? More support for budding artists?

Our existing DIY music incubators like Wavelength and Long Winter already have big plans for the first quarter. The former has seven shows scheduled through the end of February, the latter kicks off 2014 with its slickest incarnation yet – at the AGO. And already, NXNE looks bigger and more relevant than ever, with St. Vincent, Run the Jewels, Danny Brown and Rhye set for major headlining gigs on the fest’s 20th anniversary.

Some other things we’d like to see happen: local emcee/producer Rich Kidd – who produced the just-dropped

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œcontinued from page 31

single What’s Real for Talib Kweli – finally releasing a solo studio LP; Tasha the Amazon, after unanimous praise for her debut mixtape, Fidiyootdem, becoming the next fierce face of Toronto hip-hop.

We can’t wait to see what one of ­Toronto’s best live bands – the punkrocking quartet Pup – does now that they’ve been signed with an American label; and what, after last year’s Godspeed You! Black Emperor controversy, the Polaris Prize jurors will choose as Canada’s best 10 albums of the year.

And what’s the new year if not a time to dream big? Very big. Tops on our wish list of whispered-about but as yet unscheduled releases? New albums

from Metallica, Adele, Kanye West and Jay Z (Watch The Throne Part Deux), Lamb of God, Dr. Dre and last but definitely not least, OutKast. If they can follow up Speakerboxxx/The Love Below with something half as good, it will be among the year’s best.

Until then, we have some very real dates to look forward to. Bruce Springsteen drops his 18th studio album January 14. Future’s long-awaited follow-up to Pluto is coming any minute now (he promises), and a whole album of unreleased Johnny Cash material has surfaced, landing March 24.

This year’s gonna be good. Listen up.

3 julial@nowtoronto.com | @julialeconte

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friday

saturday

wed

the sketCh sludgehammer sludgehammer mcson mcson

$ $

jan jan 03 03

$7.00 $ 7.00 @Door @Door

jan jan 18 18 power party

miCronite FiLterS Filters MiCrOnite the crux thE CRUx 5.00 5.00 Black stone @Door @Door will hunter Band wiLL

jan jan 02 02 fri fri

jan jan 17 17

sat sat

thurs thurs

monday • no cover

sat sat

thurs thurs

fri tues

$7.00 $ 7.00 @Door @Door

$ $

$ $11.50 11.50 adv adv

no no cover cover

NO COVER

with StUDENt i.D.

jan jan 06 06

garrett gaRREtt olson OlSON the shelters

urban jiVE jive URbaN disclaimers DiSClaimERS 7.00 7.00 blue mazE maze blUE @Door @Door punkaBillie Blue

jan jan 16 16

$6.00 $ 6.00 @Door @Door

BB guns gunS • honey hOney runners runnerS two tiMeS times • pinS pins & needLeS needles twO

@Door @Door

jan jan 09 09

thurs thurs

fri fri

no no cover cover

jan jan 04 04

detroit r&B soul legend

$10.00 $ 10.00 adv adv

$5.00 $ 5.00

$ $6.00 6.00

sold out! listen to indie 88.1 to win tickets!

no no cover cover

mon mon

mon mon

@Door @Door

skye wallace oxford OxfORD blue low animal jan lavender orange jan 08 08 hey lucy band cops on horses jan jan 07 07

jan jan 11 11

wed wed

thurs thurs

jan jan 09 09

sat sat tues tues

jan jan 13 13

psyche tongue wicked witches rival Boys love Banshee

jan jan 17 17 $13.50 $ 13.50

adv adv

rodan Band diCk rOdan when earth sleeps

jan jan 14 14

the millwiNDERS millwinders thE dany laj & thE the looks DaNy lOOkS

trevor james & the dgb perfect gentlemen hairy holler SpireS spires + BeLieFS BelieFs south of bloor dmdp bonwit teller brothers of north ivory hours gladheart the baxters patriCk grant & kaliegh mason & Flesh vignetteS vignettes shaky knees outlaw project Band FLeSh fri fri

sat fri

$7.00 $ 7.00

$8.00 $ 8.00 @Door @Door

jan jan 18 18

jan jan 10 10

@Door @Door

wed wed

jan jan 08 08

$ $5.00 5.00 @Door @Door

Adv Tickets @ TickeTfly.com • Ticketmaster.ca • Rotate This • Soundscapes • H-Shoe front Bar saturday

february 1 fEbRUaRy mod club $ 17.50

adv • 7:00pm

feb 11 @ opera house tues fEb $22.50 adv • all-ages • doors 6:00pm

february sat fEbRUaRy 22 $ lee’s palace • $26.50 advance

march thurs maRCh 27 $

DiSappEaRS disappears

black DElta delta big blaCk REmaiNS roman ROmaN remains

the phoenix • $ 29.50 adv

february 11 @the phoenix • $ 27.50 advance tues fEbRUaRy tuesday

fEbsound 18

like moths to flames

academy all-ages

stray from the path & more!

february 24 monday fEbRUaRy mod club • $20.50 advance

february 28 fri fEbRUaRy phoenix • $24.50 advance

march 30 @kool haus • $ 26.50 advance sunday maRCh

june 14 @echo beach saturday jUNE $ 37.50 advance • all-ages • 3pm doors

all-ages • doors 6:30pm

april 7 @opera house mon apRil $19.50 advance • all-ages

pianos BeCOMe BeCome the teeth + ManSiOnS mansions pianOS

february 15 • $ 15.00 adv

hidden cameras february 21 • $ 16.50 adv

forgotten rebels

deafheaven DEafhEaVEN

intronaut + the kindrid

tues may 13 danforth mh $ $ $ 25.50 - $ 29.50

saturday

february 1 fEbRUaRy

january 21 • $ 12.50 advance jaNUaRy

lee’s palace $ 10.50

advance

fri fEbRUaRy february 14 lee’s palace • $ 18.00 adv

january 15 wed jaNUaRy drake hotel • $ 12.00 adv drake hotel • 12.00 adv

march 4 • $ 21.50 adv

north mississippi allstars

adv

cate lebon february 9 • $ 11.50 advance fEbRUaRy

january friday jaNUaRy 10 $ hard luck • $ 13.50 adv • all-ages

maria death BeFore taylor dishonor betrayal + SEEkER seeker bEtRayal february 1 • $ 12.50 advance fEbRUaRy

jan 16 @hard luck • $ 13.50 adv • all-ages jaN

april 5 • $ 20.00 advance

lanterns on the lakE lake ON thE fEbRUaRy 19 february fEbRUaRy 19 • $ 13.50 adv

january 17 friday jaNUaRy garrison • $ 15.00 advance

saturday may 3 $ the great hall • 18.50 adv

joe pug february 27 • $ 13.50 adv fEbRUaRy

april 22 • $ 16.50 advance

we are scientists

february 6 @horseshoe • $ 12.50 advance thursday fEbRUaRy

january 21 • $ 10.50 advance jaNUaRy

weekend

drake hotel • $ 13.50 adv

box tigER tiger with bOx january 14 tuesday jaNUaRy drake hotel • $ 15.50 adv

casket girls lost in the trees

• horseshoe tavern •

noBunny

march 8 • $15.00 advance

february 2 • $12.00 adv

february 10 • $15.50 adv

jonathan

wilson nick

bathurst • $18.50 adv sat feb 15 @ 794 Bathurst

march 19 • $10.00 adv

houndmouth march 27 • $13.50 adv

february 22 • $13.50 adv

waterhouse waterhOuSe march 3 • $15.50 advance

february 22 • $ 10.00 adv fEbRUaRy february 23 • $ 13.50 adv fEbRUaRy

with elsa

january 11 saturday jaNUaRy

• horseshoe tavern •

april 14 • $16.50 advance

april 23 • $12.50 advance

white denim holly go lightly march 6 • $13.50 advance

• horseshoe tavern •

• horseshoe tavern •

NOW january 2-8 2014

33

clubs&concerts hot

FIRST THURSDAYS: LONG WINTER TAKEOVER w/ Snowblink, Doomsquad, Isla Craig, Henri Fabergé, DJ Stelmanis Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas West), tonight (Thursday, January 2) Monthly music extravaganzas collide.

TORRO TORRO, COLECO The Hoxton (69 Bathurst), Friday (January 3) Local moombahton DJ duo.

ALEX CALDER, BLONDE ELVIS, WISH, PET SUNS Silver Dollar (486 Spadina), Friday (January 3) Indie pop and garage rock.

FEAST IN THE EAST 33 w/ Mimico, Bella Akira, New Fries

Gerrard Art Space (1390 Gerrard East), Saturday (January 4) Music, food and art for east-enders.

FEVERS, MALADIES OF ADAM STOKES, THE BOX TIGER, BARBUDOS Horseshoe (370 Queen West), Saturday (January 4) Electro-rock and folk rock.

ELVIS MONDAY w/ Tasseo, Donlands & Mortimer, Hiawatha, Our Founders, Luka Drake Underground (1150 Queen West), Monday (January 6) Weekly up-and-comers showcase.

THE ST. ROYALS Drake Hotel (1150 Queen West), Monday (January 6) Toronto soul scenesters.

tickets

COVERS

NIC POULIOT

TORONTO DOES TORONTO 3

No one’s more capable of doing justice to the work of a Toronto artist than a fellow Toronto artist. (Trust us – over the past year we’ve recruited 50 local acts to cover our city’s top 50 albums of all time at nowtoronto.com/5050.) But Toronto Does Toronto knows something about honouring local music, too. The third instalment of the covers show has scored some mega-talent for its first 2014 edition. Simone Schmidt will play tunes by artists who inspire her most.

Last year was huge for the Highest Order and One Hundred Dollars member, whose compelling solo album under her Fiver moniker landed on oodles of year-end top-10 lists (including ours). Joining her are singer/songwriters Ryan Driver, Chris Cummings and Lisa Bozikovic, as well as Thom Gill (of Bernice and April Snow) and Alex Lukashevksy (formerly of Deep Dark United). Collectively, that’s a helluva lot of cred. So whatever your musical tastes, they’ve got you, uh, covered.

Sunday (January 5), 9 pm, at Holy Oak Café (1241 Bloor West). Pwyc.

Just announced RAE SPOON, ISLA CRAIG, BA JOHNSTON, PRINCESS CENTURY, DOUG TIELLI, WEAVES, DEREK WAS DSISIVE, ABSOLUT, SYDANIE, BIZZARH, RONLEY TEPER & THE LIPLINERS, NEW ZEBRA KID, BESPOKEN Long Winter Volume Three The Great Hall. January 10.

GINO WASHINGTON, THE BB GUNS, THE HONEYRUNNERS, THE TWO TIMES, PINS & NEEDLES Horseshoe

doors 8 pm, $10. HS, RT, SS, TF. January 11.

FRENEMY, OOH BABY GIMME MORES, KIZ & LEGIN, ARCANA CD

release Lee’s Palace $10. January 11.

DMDP, IVORY HOURS, THE BAXTERS, KALIEGH MASON OUTLAW PROJECT

Horseshoe 9 pm, $5. January 15.

PSYCHE TONGUES, WICKED WITCHES, RIVAL BOYS, LOVE BANSHEE

Horseshoe 9 pm, $6. January 16.

BLACKENED BLUES, PROSIMI, YEAST LORDS, WOMB Handlebar 9 pm. January 16.

BROTHERS OF NORTH, SOUTH OF BLOOR, TREVOR JAMES, PATRICK GRANT & THE FLESH VIGNETTE Two Way Monologues Presents Horseshoe 9:30

34

JANUARY 2-8 2014 NOW

pm, $8. January 18.

STARS, JULY TALK Indie 88 Power Party Lee’s Palace. January 18.

SLEEPY MEAN, PIERRE, VORASEK

Lee’s Palace $6. January 23.

BATTLECROSS El Mocambo 7:30 pm, all ages, $12.50. TF. January 24.

JAY HOLY, SEXY MERLIN, ICE CREAM, JICS, DJ GARBAGE BODY Wavelength 585 Handlebar 9 pm, $5/pwyc. wavelengthtoronto.com. January 25.

YUNA Tattoo Rock Parlour doors 8 pm, $17.

INK, PDR, RT, SS, TM. January 30.

NATURALLY BORN STRANGERS (RICH KIDD, TONA, ADAM BOMB), DJS NANA, SOUNDBWOY AND WRISTPECT The Legends League Pop-Up

Shop + Concert Virgin Mobile Mod Club doors 9 pm, $10. January 31.

MARILYN LERNER, MATT BRUBECK, NICK FRASER Ugly Beauties CD release Gallery 345 8 pm, $10-$20. February 1.

THE NYX STRING QUARTET The Three

B’s: Beethoven, Brahms & Bartok Gallery 345 3 pm, $10-$20. facebook.com/nyxquartet.

February 2.

DAVE HAUSE, NORTHCOTE Horseshoe doors 8:30 pm, $12.50. HS, RT, SS, TF. February 6.

THE WILD FEATHERS, SAINTS OF VALORY, JAMESTOWN REVIVAL HORSESHOE. FEBRUARY 12.

AER 794 Bathurst 6:30 pm, $18.50 adv.

TF. February 15.

THIN EDGE NEW MUSIC COLLECTIVE

Through Closed Doors Gallery 345 8 pm, $10$20. February 21.

THE SUMMER SET Hard Luck Bar doors 7 pm, all ages, $25. RT, SS, TF. March 5.

MATT WEBB, MARIANAS TRENCH, FAKE SHARK, REAL ZOMBIE & JESSICA LEE Adelaide Hall doors 6 pm, all ages, $17.50. RT, SS, TF. March 7.

MEMPHIS MAY FIRE, THE WORD ALIVE, A SKYLIT DRIVE, HANDS LIKE HOUSES, BEARTOOTH Opera House doors 5:30 pm, all ages, $20. RT, SS, TF. March 10.

SLAUGHTERHOUSE Tattoo Rock Parlour 8 pm, $35.75.

INK, PDR, RT, SS, TM. March 24.

DAVE GUNNING & ALLIE BENNETT

Hugh’s Room 8:30 pm, $25, adv $22.50. April 24.

ARETHA FRANKLIN Roy Thomson

Hall 8 pm, $59.50$199.50. RTH. April 25.

THE OSSINGTON

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 the Venue Index, online at nowtoronto.com, for addresses and phone numbers. = Critics’ pick (highly recommended) ñ 5= Queer night

How to place a listing

All listings are free. Send to: music@nowtoronto.com. 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, January 2 Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop/Soul

Alleycatz Daniella Walters.

Art Gallery of Ontario First Thurs-

days: Long Winter Takeover Snowblink, ñ Doomsquad, Isla Craig, Henri Fabergé, DJ

Stelmanis 7 pm.

Drake Hotel The Digs (funk/R&B/soul) doors 11 pm.

Horseshoe Micronite Filters, the Crux, Black Stone, Will Hunter Band 9 pm.

Mélange Open Stage Lee Van Leer 9 pm.

Pauper’s Pub Mike Barnes (rock) 10 pm.

Rivoli The Box Jellys, Chris Godfrey, Slacker, Midway After Dark doors 8 pm.

Southside Johnny’s Skip Tracer (rock/top 40) 9:30 pm.

Wise Guys Open Jam Jon Long 10 pm.

Folk/Blues/Country/World

Cameron House Harlan Pepper 10 pm,

Corin Raymond 6 pm. ñ Cavern Bar & Bistro Open Mic 9 pm.

Holy Oak Cafe Dana Sipos (folk) 10 pm.

The Local Ken Yoshioka (blues).

Lou Dawg’s North Of Nashville Ty Owens (country).

Monarchs Pub Jerome Godboo, Kevin Vienneau, Eric Schenkman, Gary Craig 9 pm.

Relish Bar & Grill Tracey Gallant (70s/80s

rock/pop).

Reposado The Reposadist Quartet (gypsy bop).

Silver Dollar Human Honey, the Corner,

Friday, January 3

Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop/Soul

Alleycatz Ascencion (R&B/soul/funk).

Castro’s Lounge The Untameable Ronnie

Hayward (rockabilly) 5 to 7 pm.

Dakota Tavern New Years Hangover Show Freeman Dre & the Kitchen Party 10 pm.

Gallery 345 Nicole Byblow (singer/songwriter piano-based pop) 8 pm.

Horseshoe Labcats, the Commoners, Broken Arrows, Maps, Barbarosa 9 pm.

Lee’s Palace The Bloody Five, King Beez, Fermented Oranges, the Red Sands 9:30 pm.

Rivoli Japé official release party for ‘Vertigo’ Elcee, Scott Free, Tremayne, DJ Julian Tulino doors 8:30 pm.

Seven44 Tres Hombres (ZZ Top tribute).

Silver Dollar Alex Calder, Blonde Elvis, Wish, Pet Suns 9 pm.

ñ

THU 2 COOL SPINNINGS Our best DJs spin their own favourite tracks... special guests included...

FRI 3 SWEAT PANTS w/DJ Coolin… Hip hop, soul, RnB, dancehall, reggae & deep, deep grooves...

SAT 4 LUCKY BITCHES Getting lucky & bitchy 2014 style... all-out, glam-positive, dance party blowout...

SUN 5 THE LOW DOWN Drink specials, cool tunes, pastimes & diversions throughout the eve...

MON 6 COMEDY AT OSS Open mic night... sign up & kill ‘em...

TUE 7 TERRIFIC WOMEN Everyone’s favourite live 70’s cable access serial drama...

tHe piSton preSentS

tix $20 at theDakotatavern.com

Wed Jan 1 Closed HAPPY NEW YEAR! Fri Jan 3 Freeman Dre Sat Jan 4

& the kitChen partY neW!

10-2pm

10pm

Sun Jan 5

BlueGraSS BrunCh

DODGe FiaSCO

Beau’S presents Sundays 10-2pm

thu Jan 2

Fri Jan 3

BlueGraSS BrunCh

Thu Jan 9 10pm BillarD BlOSSOm Fri Jan 10 10pm GinGer

dJ S. cool BuS mc pyramid ScHeme Building BlockS dJs general eclectic + gueStS dance party HitS Rock Funk PoP R&B HiP HoP

WitH it

hOt rOCkS

10pm members of the Beauties, Flash lighnin’ & Blue rodeo doing Stones & CCr

Sat Jan 4

dance party

dJs nico & dave BarneS Mod Soul Ska indie

St. JameS

mon Jan 6

10pm

Serving great Food • 5:30 - 10:30pm!

416.532.3989 • 937 Bloor Street West www.thepiston.ca

NYE TUESDAY DECEMBER 31

THUR JAN 2 | DRS 8PM | $5

Sat Jan 11

Happy New year!

aliStair ChriStl

tue Jan 7

Wed Jan 8

tBa

Folk/Blues/Country/World

Cameron House Kayla Howran 10 pm, ­Patrick Brealey 8 pm, David Celia 6 pm.

Lou Dawg’s Acoustic Blues Mike Costantini, Pat Wright (blues/funk/rock/soul).

Lula Lounge Cafe Cubano (salsa) 10:30 pm.

Relish Bar & Grill The Danger Bees 9:30 pm.

Reposado The Reposadists Quartet (gypsy bop).

The Rex The Jivebombers (blues combo) 6:30 pm.

3 Windows Open Jam Dano & Miss Jaye 9 pm.

Tranzac Southern Cross Julian Ander-

FRI JAN 3 | DRS 8:30PM | $10

son-Bowes 10 pm, Mark Godfrey, Nick ñ Fraser, Jim Lewis 7:30 pm, the Foolish Things (folk) 5 pm.

Jazz/Classical/Experimental

Gate 403 Tevlin Swing Band 9 pm, Roberta

Hunt Jazz & Blues Band 5 to 8 pm.

Lula Lounge Eliana Cuevas Trio (jazz) 8 pm.

Old Mill Inn Home Smith Bar Solo Piano Masters Star Joe Sealy (jazz) 7:30 to 10:30 pm.

The Rex CD release Alexander Brown 9:45 pm, Hogtown Syncopators 4 pm.

Dance Music/DJ/Lounge

Cabin Nightclub The Legendary Groove

F­ ridays Spence Diamonds & Mista Jiggz (R&B/funk/soul/hip-hop/house).

continued on page 36 œ

THE BOX JELLYS

W/ SLACKER, MIDWAY AFTER DARK, CHRIS GODFREY

SATURDAY JANUARY 4

OUT FOR A RIP

JAPÉ OFFICIAL RELEASE PARTY

FOR VERTIGO w/ ELCEE, SCOTT FREE, TREMAYNE & DJ JULIAN TULINO

CANVAS PAINTING BY JUMP FALL • BODY PAINTER MAGIC FINGA WONG • CLOTHES BY DESIGNER TORIN OF F.O.U.R. CLOTHING SAT JAN 4 | DRS 8:30PM | $10

SUNDAY JANUARY 5

PHILIPPINE TALENT EVENT THURSDAY JANUARY 16 & FRIDAY JANUARY 17 Presented by LIVE NATION

CODY SIMPSON

EVIL ELVIS ADAPTIVE REACTION JAMSQUID • NORWAY SUN JAN 5 | DRS 7PM | $10

MATTE BLACK’S

WEBSITE LAUNCH PARTY

w/ TERRANCE CROSS, TIFFANY JORDAN ELYSE SIMPSON, NIKOLE GABRIEL DJ NATHANIEL (NATHAN FERARRO) MON JAN 6 | DRS 8:30PM | $5

MC ALEX PAVONE DEBRA DIGIOVANNI, DAVE MERHEJE, JOHN HASTINGS, GARRETT JAMIESON, CHRIS GORDON, TODD VAN ALLEN, PAT BURTSCHER AND MORE!

swing) 9 pm.

Gate 403 Mélanie Brûlée’s Band 9 pm, Gabe Girard Jazz Band 5 to 8 pm. ñ Heliconian Hall A New Year’s Day Concert:

Party DJ Lady Luck 8 pm.

Rivoli DJ Bunitall (R&B/hip-hop).

Troika Vodka Boutique Magik Thursdays DJ Magik Mike 10 pm.

WAYLA Bar Random Play DJ Dwayne Minard (70s/80s) 10 pm.

the rOYal CrOWnS

249 OssingtOn Ave (just north of Dundas) 416-850-4579 · thedakotatavern.com

The Central Michael Kleniec (jazz guitar) 9 pm.

Emmet Ray Bar John Wayne Swingtet (Gypsy

Goodhandy’s T-Girl Party DJ Todd Klinck.5 Midpoint Nintendo Thursdays (80s Vs 90s).

The Painted Lady Customer Appreciation

neW Year’S eVe with

10pm

WED 8 WHERE THE VILE THINGS ARE w/ DJ Doubleyou... musical & mixological explorations...serial drama...

61 OSSINGTON AVE | 416•850•0161 | theossington.com

Jazz/Classical/Experimental

Dance Music/DJ/Lounge

Tues Dec 31

ñ

Watershed Hour, Stellarize (folk-punk jams/ twisted soul rock) doors 8:30 pm.

Tranzac Southern Cross Songs We Write, Covers We Love 10 pm, Bluegrass Thursdays Houndstooth (bluegrass/old-time) 7:30 pm.

French Baroque Cantatas & Sonatas The Musicians in Ordinary, Hallie Fishel, John Edwards 8 pm.

The Rex Resolutions Quartet 9:30 pm, Kevin Quain 6:30 pm.

Rooster Coffee House Sam Dickinson, Rob Christian, Gram Whitty, Lee Clarke (jazz) 5 to 7 pm, Ewen Farncombe Trio (jazz) 3 to 5 pm.

THE DAKOTA TAVERN

WWW.ALTDOTCOMEDYLOUNGE.COM TUE JAN 7 | DRS 8:30PM | $5 WITH GUESTS:

ALBERT HAMMOND JR. AND

THE SKINS

722 COLLEGE STREET

themodclub.com

JANUARY 14 SOUND ACADEMY

MON JAN 20 • LEE’S PALACE

BUCKCHERRY

w/ Bleeker Ridge, 3 Pill Morning FRI FEB 7 • PHOENIX All dates, acts and ticket prices subject to change without notice. Ticket prices subject to applicable fees.

WWW.ALTDOTCOMEDYLOUNGE.COM WED JAN 8 | DRS 8PM | $10

REVEAL ME,us BURLESQUE Follow on

Follow u Twitter N

MC DAYTONA BITCH! KITTEN: REGINA DENTATA WITH PRO PEELERS: CHARLIE QUINN, SHANNYFANNY SWEETPEA, KITTY KEROSENE, SCARLET BLACK VIRGIN VIXENS: BOMBYX MORI, SANDY W (FLAPPER), PEARL PETITFOUR, VICKI LAUFER (SINGER) THU JAN 9 | DRS 9:30PM | $10

Twitter NOW

DOORS 7PM / SHOW 8PM / ALL AGES TICKETS ALSO AT ROTATE THIS, SOUNDSCAPES.

THE STRYPES

OPEN MIC NIGHT MC DARRYL ORR HEADLINER: JULIA HLADKOWICZ 12 SPOTS AVAILABLE

@ nowtoronto

Follow us on Twitter NOW

@nowtoronto

DAVID NEWBERRY RACHAEL CARDIELLO AND THE WARM ELECTRIC WINTER • THE MARWILLS

Follow us on Twitter NOW @nowtoronto

332 QUEEN ST. W. | 416.596.1908 | rivoli.ca

NOW January 2-8 2014

35

Michael Hollett ........................................................................@m_ Alice Klein ....................................................................................@alic

clubs&concerts œcontinued from page 35

Castro’s Lounge Record Party DJ ‘I Hate You

Rob’ (soul/funk/R&B/punk rock/rockabilly/ power pop) 10 pm.

Drake Hotel Underground Elementary Rynecologist & Meech doors 10 pm.

Emmet Ray Bar DJ Pie & Mash (reggae/ska) 10 pm.

Fly Pop Fridays DJ Sumation doors 10 pm.5 Handlebar SoulSkank (soul/funk/dancehall/ska).

Holy Oak Cafe Rave Coolio (rock/pop) 10 pm.

The Hoxton Torro Torro, ColeCo doors 10 pm.

OhSo Nightclub Faded Fridays DJ Wikked & DJ Cirius (hip-hop/R&B/reggae).

The Painted Lady DJ Frank Phantastik Johnson 10 pm.

The Piston Building Blocks (funk/soul/hiphop) 10 pm.

Rivoli DJ Stu (rock & roll).

ñ

Saturday, January 4 Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop/Soul

Alleycatz Ascencion (R&B/soul/funk).

Gerrard Art Space Feast In The East 33

­Mimico, Bella Akira, New Fries 8 pm, all ñ ages.

Global Village Backpackers aBabe Satur-

days Tundra Fun, Black Rhino Riot, Red Falcon/White Lightning doors 9:30 pm.

Horseshoe Fevers, Maladies of Adam Stokes, the Box Tiger, Barbudos 9 pm.

Lee’s Palace Old James, One Divided, Xephyr, Superquest 9:30 pm.

The Rex Danny Marks (pop) noon.

Rivoli Evil Elvis, Adaptive Reaction, Jamsquid, Norway doors 8:30 pm.

Seven44 Floyd Factor (Pink Floyd tribute).

Silver Dollar Liam Mackenzie, Navy Skies, the Sidewinders, the Great Machine doors 9 pm.

Six Degrees Cell Check Get App’Up Soca Sweetness, Dr Jay, White Bwoy, Lindo P, Jean Paul, MarxMan and others.

ñ

Southside Johnny’s The Bear Band (rock/ blues) 4 to 8 pm.

Folk/Blues/Country/World

Blue Goose Tavern Danny B’s House Party

The Danny B Band (blues harp) 3 to 6 pm.

Cameron House Rob Foreman 10 pm, Rattlesnake Choir 6 pm.

Castro’s Lounge Big Rude Jake (blues shouter) 4:30 pm.

C’est What The Boxcar Boys (old-time/folk) doors 2 pm.

Dakota Tavern Bluegrass Brunch 10 am to 2 pm.

Full of Beans Coffee Rebas Open Mic Erika Werry (singer/songwriter) 1-4 pm.

Gate 403 Bill Heffernan 5 to 8 pm.

ñ Hugh’s Room Connie Kaldor 8:30 pm. ñ Kehillat Eytz Chaim Azalea (alt country)

10:30 am, all ages.

The Local Rebecca Everett, Deciduous (indie folk).

Lou Dawg’s Jeff Eager (acoustic blues/funk/ rock/soul).

Lula Lounge Ricky Franco (salsa) 10:30 pm.

Portobello Saturdays At Portobello: Words & Music Michael Cavanaugh & Bob Cohen 1:30 to 4:30 pm.

Relish Bar & Grill The Marwills.

Tranzac Southern Cross The Silver Hearts 10 pm, Abigail Lapell 7:30 pm, Jamzac 3 pm.

Jazz/Classical/Experimental

Chalkers Pub Brian Chahley Quartet 6 to 9 pm.

Gate 403 Melissa Boyce Jazz & Blues Band 9 pm.

Grossman’s The Happy Pals (trad jazz) 4:30 to 8 pm.

Old Mill Inn Home Smith Bar Solo Piano

Masters Star John Sherwood 7:30 to 10:30 pm.

The Rex Project Rex Steve Koven 9:45 pm, Bacchus Collective 7:30 pm, Tonight @ Noon Alex Coleman Big Band 3:30 pm Seven44 Climax Jazz Band (traditional jazz) 4 to 7 pm.

ñ

Dance Music/DJ/Lounge

Clinton’s Shake, Rattle, Roll (60s rock/pop/

soul) doors 10 pm.

Drake Hotel Underground Never Forgive

Action DJ Agile, DJ Numeric & DJ Dalia (classic hip-hop/R&B) doors 10 pm.

Emmet Ray Bar DJ Sawtay (soul/hip-hop) 10 pm.

Fly DJ Kitty Glitter doors 10 pm.5 Harbourfront Centre DJ Skate Night Feliz

Ano Novo with Uma Nota 8 to 11 pm.

The Hoxton Hoxton House Party 10 pm.

The Painted Lady Music By Salazar 10 pm.

The Piston With It (mod dance party) 10 pm.

Revival Roxy Blu Tribute Party Alvaro G, Kevin Jazzy J, Groove Institute, Junior Palmer, Angel & Cullen, DJ Dirty Dale, Gadjet, Kaje, Joe Rizla.

Rivoli DJ Plan B (hip-hop/rap/club).

Sneaky Dee’s Shake A Tail (60s pop/soul) 11 pm.

ñ

Sunday, January 5 Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop/Soul

Paradise Bar & Billiards Terry Logan Trio 4

to 7:30 pm.

The Rex Lester McLean Trio (funk/soul/R&B) 7 pm.

Rivoli Matte Black’s Website Launch Party ­Terrence Cross, Tiffany Jordan, Elyse Simpson, Nikole Gabriel, DJ Nathaniel doors 7 pm.

Folk/Blues/Country/World

Rose & Crown Music City North Open Mic 9 pm.

Sotto Voce Wine Bar Sunday Music Session

Tranzac Southern Cross Open Mic Mondays

Southside Johnny’s Open Jam Rebecca

Gate 403 Richard Whiteman Jazz Band w/ Terra

Open Mic.

Matiesen & Phoenix 9:30 pm.

Tranzac Southern Cross The Wood-

choppers Association 10:30 pm, Zebrina ñ 7:30 pm, Monk’s Music 5 pm.

Jazz/Classical/Experimental

Aspetta Caffe Luke Vajsar (solo bass) 4 pm.

Chalkers Pub Harry Vetro Quartet 7 to 10 pm.

Gate 403 Ed Sweetman Jazz Quartet 9 pm,

Marie Fatima Rudolf Jazz Band 5 to 8 pm.

Morgans on the Danforth Jazzy Sundays!

Thyron Lee Whyte, David Restivo, Robert Whyte 2 to 5 pm.

The Rex Nick Scott (jazz) 9:30 pm, Club Django 3:30 pm, Excelsior Dixieland Jazz noon.

Dance Music/DJ/Lounge

Bovine Sex Club Metal Health 9 pm.

Handlebar Nite Comfort 9 pm.

The Painted Lady DJ Industry Night 10 pm.

The Red Light 80s Dance Party At The Red Light 9 pm.

Black Bear Pub Jam SNAFU 3:30 to 7:30 pm.

Cadillac Lounge The Danny B Blues Band

Monday, January 6

Cameron House The Double Cuts (Western

Castro’s Lounge Rockabilly Mondays The

7:30 pm.

swing) 10 pm.

Caven’s Alley Bar The Pepper Shakers (coun-

try twang) 8 pm.

C’est What Mark Ripp (singer/songwriter) 3 pm.

Dakota Tavern Bluegrass Brunch 10 am to 2 pm.

Emmet Ray Bar Graham Playford (folk) 9 pm.

Full of Beans Coffee Rebas Sundays David Story (singer/songwriter) 2 to 4 pm.

Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar Acoustic Family Brunch (bluegrass) 11 am to 2 pm.

Grossman’s The National Blues Jam Brian Cober (double slide guitar) 10 pm.

Holy Oak Cafe Toronto Does Toronto 3 Ryan Driver, Simone Schmidt, Chris Cummings, Thom Gill, Lisa Bozikovic (country/ pop/folk) 9 pm.

Lula Lounge Jorge Maza Group (Cuban music) 1 pm.

Relish Bar & Grill Stir It Up Sundays Open Mic 9 pm.

ñ

Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop/Soul Cosmotones 9 pm.

Drake Hotel Lounge The St Royals (soul/Motown/R&B) doors 10 pm.

Drake Hotel Underground Elvis ­Monday Tasseo, Donlands & Mortimer, Our Founders, Hiawatha, Luka doors 9 pm.

Horseshoe Shoeless Monday Garrett Olson, the Shelters 9:15 pm.

ñ ñ

Folk/Blues/Country/World

Cameron House Pat Maloney (singer/songwriter) 6 pm.

The Local Evans & Dennett (old-time/bluegrass).

Lou Dawg’s Ryerson Open Mic Don Campbell.

Magic Oven Queen E Magic Mondays Open Jam Shahi (soul/R&B/jazz/funk) 9 pm to midnight.

The Painted Lady Open Mic Mondays 10 pm.

Relish Bar & Grill Bentroots (New Orleans blues) 8 pm.

9 pm.

Jazz/Classical/Experimental

Hazelton 9 pm, Mike Daley Jazz Trio 5 to 8 pm.

Kitch Luke Vajsar (solo bass).

The Rex Matt Woroshyl 9:30 pm, U of T

­Student Jazz Ensembles 6:30 pm.

Seven44 Advocats Big Band (bop/swing/ swoon) 7:30 pm.

Dance Music/DJ/Lounge

The Piston Junkshop (indie/electro/new wave) 10 pm.

Reposado Mezcal Mondays DJ Ellis Dean.

Tuesday, January 7 Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop/Soul

Cameron House Run With the Kittens (rock-

abilly eclectic punk/surf psychedelic folk punk) 10 pm, Sarah Jane Scouten 6 pm.

C’est What Thunderfunk (funk) doors 8:30 pm.

Horseshoe Indie 88 Presents Dave Bookman’s Nu Music Tuesdays Skye Wallace, Oxford Blue, Low Animal 9 pm.

The Painted Lady Animalia, Suzana d’Amour, Kendal Thompson, Sarah Burton 9 pm.

Tranzac Southern Cross Collette Savard (indie pop) 7:30 pm.

Folk/Blues/Country/World

Drake Hotel Lounge Memphis Tuesdays Young Running (country) doors 10 pm.

Gate 403 Blues Night Danny Marks & Alec Fraser 9 pm, Howard Willett Blues Duo 5 to 8 pm.

Lou Dawg’s Tangled Up In The Blues Chris Caddell, Cassius Pereira & Kenny Neal Jr. The Piston Leh Lo’s Acoustic Jam 9 pm.

Relish Bar & Grill Music of the Mediterranean Stars.

Jazz/Classical/Experimental

Alleycatz Carlo Berardinucci Band (swing/ jazz) 8:30 pm.

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre

Passion Play Mehdi Ghazi (piano) noon to 1 pm.

The Rex Classic Rex Jazz Jam 9:30 pm, Christian Overton 6:30 pm.

Tranzac Southern Cross Peripheral Vision (jazz ) 10 pm.

Dance Music/DJ/Lounge

Bloke & 4th Swank Tuesdays.

Goodhandy’s T-Girl Strippers DJ Todd

Klinck.5

Monarch Tavern BYO Vinyl Nite (pop/rock/ hip-hop/soul) 9 pm.

Reposado Alien Radio DJ Gord C. Toby’s Famous All Dressed Tuesdays DJ Caff (funk/soul/new Jack swing/rock/reggae) 10 pm.

Wednesday, January 8 Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop/Soul

Curzon Tony Carpino.

Horseshoe Lavender Orange, Hey Lucy Band,

Cops on Horses 9 pm.

The Loaded Dog Tommy Rocker (classic rock) 9 pm.

Magpie Taproom Trace Minerals 10:30 pm.

The Painted Lady Saidah Baba Talibah (alternative) 10 pm.

Rivoli Reveal Me Burlesque Viki Laufer and others doors 8 pm.

ñ

Folk/Blues/Country/World

Annie’s Bar & Grill 3 Windows J & D’s Open

Jam Jaye Smith-Baxter & Dano Murray.

C’est What Kat Goldman, Sara Kamin doors 8:30 pm.

On Cue Brian Cober (double slide guitar) 8 pm.

Tranzac Southern Cross Ronley Teper’s Lipliners 10 pm, Bryan Qu 7:30 pm.

Tranzac Tiki Room Comhaltas Irish Slow ­Session 6 pm.

ñ ñ

Jazz/Classical/Experimental

Chalkers Pub Lisa Particelli’s GNOJAZZ Jam

Session 8 pm.

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre

Winter Reflections Joe Sealy Trio (jazz) 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

Gate 403 Claire Lee Jazz Band 9 pm, Jeffrey Hewer Jazz Band 5 to 8 pm.

The Rex Jim Hillman’s Teresina Quartet 9:30 pm, the Cookers 6:30 pm.

Dance Music/DJ/Lounge

Crocodile Rock 911 Wednesdays DJ Perry (top 40/dance) 9 pm.

Handlebar Greasy Listening Sonic Boom DJs. Reposado Spy Vs Sly Vs Spy (live guitar soundtracks).

3

36

January 2-8 2014 NOW

stage

more online nowtoronto.com/stage Audio clips from interviews with comic JOHN HASTINGS and actor MARIA DEL MAR • review of THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS, THE MUSICAL! • and more Fully searchable listings with venue maps nowtoronto.com/stage/listings

comedy PREVIEW

Laughs from abroad After surviving drunks and hecklers, stand-up returns to polite T.O.

By GLENN SUMI

John Hastings no longer has to wait for that comic in Kitchener to get sick.

JOHN HASTINGS headlining at Yuk Yuk’s Downtown (224 Richmond West), from tonight to Sunday (Thursday, January 2 to January 5), 8 pm, plus late shows FridaySaturday 10:30 pm. $13-$22. 416-9676425, yukyuks.com.

John Hastings knows how to deal with hecklers – even before they begin heckling.

LISTINGS How to find a listing

Comedy listings appear chronologically, and alphabetically by title or venue.

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, NOW Magazine, 189 Church, Toronto M5B 1Y7. Include title, producer, comics, brief synopsis, days and times, range of ticket prices, venue name and address and box office/ info phone number/website. Listings may be edited for space. Deadline is the Thursday before publication at 5 pm.

Thursday, January 2 ABSOLUTE COMEDY presents headliner Chris

Gordon and host Dan Bingham. To Jan 5, Thu 8:30 pm, Fri 9 pm, Sat 8 & 10:45 pm, Sun 8 pm. $10-$15. 2335 Yonge. 416-486-7700, absolutecomedy.ca.

BELLEVILLE-VILLE: ENTER 1975 The Joy of Camping presents an improv soap opera about small-town Canada in the 70s w/ Don Berns, Becky Belton, Adam Bailey and others. 8:30 pm. $10. Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton. facebook.com/TheJoyOfCamping.

DOING IT! Moniquea Marion presents a new monthly one-woman comedy show with im-

Ñ

= Critics’ Pick

At Yuk Yuk’s Downtown this time last year, a group of young guys had gathered in one area, and you could feel their energy change the room as they got increasingly liquored up.

Hastings calmly included them in a couple of jokes and managed to diffuse the situation without seeming like a jerk.

“I remember that night,” he says, talking quickly and effortlessly at

the NOW offices a few weeks before he returns to Yuk’s for another headlining week. He’s also taping a CD this month with his pal Dylan Gott.

“I had a new bit and thought I’d use it and deal with the guys at the same time, so if it didn’t work I could mask it and get laughs,” he says.

“That’s my England training.”

For the past year and a half he’s

prov, standup, stories and more. 8 pm. $8.

Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. comedybar.ca.

at the door. 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, comedybar.ca.

WE CAN BE HEROES See Thu 2.

YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN See Thu 2.

ñTHE SKETCHERSONS 10-YEAR ANNIVER-

SARY WEEKEND Comedy Bar presents the best sketches and alumni from 2004-2006, plus a new content mashup. 8 pm. $2 adv, $10 at the door. 945 Bloor W. comedybar.ca.

WE CAN BE HEROES Second City’s latest revue – inspired by the idea that our society’s quickly going to hell – is one of its sharpest in a while. Newcomer Connor Thompson scores big laughs playing everything from a literal bat man to a blind lifeguard, while Craig Brown channels his inner Chaplin as a balding man having a terrible day.

Meanwhile, Jan Caruana proves she’s got great range in two scenes involving a precocious girl. Even the less successful sketches are sharply directed, and the set and musical design help enhance the scenes. Not to be missed. To Feb 1, Tue-Thu 8 pm, Fri and Sun 7:30 pm, Sat 7:30 & 10 pm. $24-$29, stu $15.

51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

NNNN (GS) YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN presents John Hastings (see story, this page). To Jan 5, Thu-Sun 8 pm (and Fri-Sat 10:30 pm). $13$22. 224 Richmond W. yukyuks.com.

ñ

Saturday, January 4

lived in London, where talking back to the comic is an art form, as is getting sloshed.

“Heckling’s a blood sport there,” says Hastings. “When I first moved there I was booed 30 seconds into an act. Once in Edinburgh a guy heckled me for 15 straight minutes, but I talked back to him. By the end, the entire audience was chanting the C word at him until he left. It was insane.”

Hastings, who was born in Ottawa and raised in Montreal, had been doing comedy for five years before he took the plunge and crossed the Atlantic.

“After five years I had the same credits as everyone else here,” he says. “There are 10 things you can do here. I wanted a change – and a challenge.”

Working in Britain has also given him access to other markets.

“In the last year I’ve performed in Iceland, Sweden, Switzerland, Estonia and Finland,” he says. “You send your tape to a booker, same as here. But instead of Moose Jaw or Belleville, it’s Estonia. I went to an Icelandic fishing village of 200 people, and 35 came. They know about comedy because of the internet. They asked me if I knew Louis C.K.” Living abroad has forced Hastings to adjust some of his material. He’s had to give up a few sure-fire Canadian jokes, like ones concerning the CN Tower and the hockey playoffs. These days, though, all he has to say is the name of our mayor and people know where he’s from.

“Ford’s given us an identity internationally for the first time ever, but

at what cost, Glenn?” he says with mock seriousness.

What makes Hastings’s act so watchable is his firm, confident delivery and the polished nature of his jokes.

Chalk that up to theatre school training at Concordia.

“I’ll pick apart a sentence to make it funnier,” he says. “I’ll delete a preposition. Every ‘fuck’ I use in a joke is put there intentionally.”

He tends to draw on his own life for jokes. Some of his new material – which he’s fine-tuning for an hour at this summer’s Edinburgh Festival – takes on his history of panic attacks. He’s also dealing with the fact that he’s been single for longer than ever before. Previous bits have dealt with his authoritarian father (who’s since mellowed out), who worked for the Liberal party in the 1980s and later in print media.

“I like comedy that’s about the person I’m watching,” he says.

“That’s the great thing about my generation of Toronto comics. You know Alex Pavone’s dad’s name, or Dave Merheje’s four last girlfriends.”

One of the biggest differences between Canadian and British comics is that many UK performers make a decent living, even without TV or radio exposure.

“Things are changing here, though,” he says. “There was a time when you’d be praying that somebody would get sick so you could go to Kitchener and headline.”

3

ish Anwar presents headliner Mike Rita, Brian Ward, Jess Beaulieu and others. 9:30 pm. $15. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. torontocomedyallstars.com.

WE CAN BE HEROES See Thu 2.

YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN See Thu 2.

HAPPY HOUR COMEDY: GIVE ME MY SPOT CONTEST Ein-Stein presents host Julia Bruce and 5

ABSOLUTE COMEDY See Thu 2.

THE SKETCHERSONS 10YEAR ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND Comedy Bar presents

the best sketches and alumni from 2010-2012, plus a new content mashup.

8 pm. $2 adv, $10 at the door.

945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, comedybar.ca.

TORONTO COMEDY ALL STARS Dan-

Sunday, January 5 ABSOLUTE COMEDY See Thu 2.

COMEDY AT THE VICTORY CAFE pre-

sents a weekly show w/ host Vanessa Dangerstorm. 9 pm. Free.

Victory Café, 581 Markham. 416516-5787, victorycafe.ca.

Look for Sketchersons co-founder Gary Rideout Jr to fete the troupe’s 10th anniversary all week.

contestants competing for a spot in the Feb 9 finals. 8 pm. Free. 229 College. ein-stein.ca.

THE SKETCHERSONS 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

WEEKEND/SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE Comedy Bar presents the best sketches and alumni from the past year with the current cast and special guests. 9 pm. $2 adv, $10 at the door. 945 Bloor W. 416-551-6540, comedybar.ca.

STEAMY CREAMY COMEDY S.O.M.N. presents a weekly show. 6:30 pm. Free. Cafe Pamenar, 303 Augusta. facebook.com/steamycreamy.

WE CAN BE HEROES See Thu 2.

YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN See Thu 2.

Monday, January 6 ALTDOT COMEDY LOUNGE Rivoli presents Debra DiGiovanni, Dave Merheje, John ñ Hastings, Garrett Jamieson, Todd Van Allen,

ALTDOT COMEDY LOUNGE Rivoli presents an open-mic night w/ headliner Julia Hladkowicz and MC Darryl Orr. 9 pm. $5. 332 Queen W. altdotcomedylounge.com.

FOUNTAIN ABBEY The Fountain presents

ABSOLUTE COMEDY See Thu 2.

THE SKETCHERSONS 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND Comedy Bar presents the

ñ

best sketches and alumni from 2007-2009, plus a new content mashup. 8 pm. $2 adv, $10

NNN = Coupla guffaws

Interview clips at nowtoronto.com

Tuesday, January 7

Friday, January 3

NNNN = Major snortage

MORE ONLINE

Chris Gordon, MC Alex Pavone & others. 9 pm. $5. 332 Queen W. altdotcomedylounge.com.

CHEAP LAUGHS MONDAY PJ O’Briens Irish Pub presents an open mic w/ Russell Roy & guests.

9:30 pm. Free. 39 Colborne. 416-815-7562.

ñ

NNNNN = You’ll pee your pants

glenns@nowtoronto.com | @glennsumi

continued on page 38 œ

NN = More tequila, please

N = Was that a pin dropping?

NOW JANUARY 2-8 2014

37

THEATRE PREVIEW

COMEDY LISTINGS

Flesh for fantasy

œcontinued from page 37

stand-up w/ hosts Diana Love and Julia Hladkowicz. 8 pm. Free. 1261 Dundas W. juliacomedy.com.

THE SKIN OF MY NUTS presents a weekly open mic w/ host Vandad Kardar. 9:30 pm. Free. Sonic Espresso Bar, 60 Cecil. facebook.com/skinofmynuts.

TERRIFIC WOMEN The Ossington presents comedy in the style of a 70s cable access show w/ Lianne Mauladin, Nick Flanagan, Rebecca Kohler, Amanda Lara, David Dineen-Porter and hosts Sara Hennessey & Steph Kaliner. 9 pm. Pwyc.

61 Ossington. theossington.com.

WE CAN BE HEROES See Thu 2.

YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN presents the Humber School of Comedy at 7:30 pm, Launching Pad for new stand-ups at 9:30 pm, every week. $4/show. 224 Richmond W. yukyuks.com.

TV and film actor makes her stage debut in poetic new play By JON KAPLAN FLESH AND OTHER FRAGMENTS OF LOVE

by Evelyne de la Chenelière, translated by Linda Gaboriau, directed by Richard Rose, with Maria del Mar, Nicole Underhay and Blair Williams (Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman). Previews from Tuesday (January 7), opens January 15 and runs to February 16, Tuesday-Saturday 8 pm, matinees Sunday and January 18, 25 and February 1 at 2:30 pm. $21-$53, Friday and Sunday rush $13, Jan 7 pwyc. 416-531-1827.

When the dead return to life, the result isn’t necessarily a traditional ghost story.

In Evelyne de la Chenelière’s Flesh And Other Fragments Of Love, married couple Pierre and Simone, holidaying on the coast of Ireland, come upon the body of Mary, a woman with a checkered past. As they uncover and sometimes invent her history, they examine their relationship and the problems that have crept into it.

“When I first read the script, inspired by a novel

by French writer Marie Cardinal, I was surprised how poetic its prose is,” says Maria del Mar, who plays Simone in the Tarragon production. “Simone jumped off the page for me; I felt empathy and respect for this woman who’s so full of life.”

Simone organized this vacation, trying to get something more from a

Wednesday, January 8 ABSOLUTE COMEDY presents Pro-Am

night w/ headliner Andy Hendrickson, Bruce Wrighte, Dylan Beeson, Luke Gordon Field, Phil Luzi, Peter Aterman and host Matt Davis. 8:30 pm. $6. 2335 Yonge. 416-486-7700, absolutecomedy.ca.

HOLODECK FOLLIES The Dandies present a sci fi-inspired improv comedy variety show w/ High Heels Lo Fi, Fratwurst, Alan Leightizer and others.

8 pm. $7. Black Swan Comedy, 154 Danforth, 2nd floor. improvdandies. wordpress.com.

NICK FLANAGAN LIVE TAPING Drake Hotel presents a comedy album recording show w/ Flanagan, Andrew Johnston, Sara Hennessey and Tim Gilbert. Doors 8 pm. Free w/ donation of non-perishable food or clothing. 1150 Queen W, Underground. facebook. com/events/1447886472099813.

SIREN’S COMEDY Celt’s Pub presents open-mic stand-up w/ host Merv Hartlen and headliner Archi Zuber.

8:30 pm. Free. 2872 Dundas W. 416767-3339.

SUNDOWN Bad Dog Theatre and Sex T-Rex present unscripted shows in the style of gritty western films. To Jan 29, 9:30 pm. $12, stu $10. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. 416-5516540, baddogtheatre.com.

WE CAN BE HEROES See Thu 2.

YUK YUK’S DOWNTOWN presents Keith Pedro. To Jan 11, Maria del Mar says in theatre Wed-Sat 8 pm (and Fri-Sat there’s no second take to 10:30 pm). $13-$22. 224 Richmake things right. mond W. 416-967-6425, yukyuks.com.

3

ñ

THe WeDDinG SinGer Music by Matthew Sklar Lyrics by Chad Beguelin Book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy Directed by Luke Brown

Jan. 10–25, 2014

MuSical

www.harthousetheatre.ca 38

JANUARY 2-8 2014 NOW

husband who’s been known to stray and been, as del Mar puts it, “a little less than noble at times.

“She’s so in love with Pierre, so adores him, that she wants him in her life regardless of the past. She’ll forgive him anything as long as he loves her.

“The problem is that he can’t offer enough love for her. At the beginning of the play, her appetite is insatiable.

But Simone goes through a beautiful metamorphosis both in her understanding of her husband and her philosophy of love.”

Mary is the catalyst for the change.

Initially a waterlogged body partly eaten away by the elements and sea creatures, she comes to life in the minds and words of the couple. The poetic allusiveness of de la Chenelière’s writing creates a character both fantastical and commonplace.

“I see her as a version of Simone’s id, possibly her alter ego and a repository of her fears,” smiles del Mar, whose dynamic personality fills the room as we talk. “Through Mary, the playwright looks at ideas of feminism and the evolution of women in society and in relationships. I can see her representing the kind of woman Simone wishes she’d been.”

The actor finds that the script, translated by Linda Gaboriau, peels away layers of the characters as one would an onion.

jonkap@nowtoronto.com

MORE ONLINE

Interview clips at nowtoronto.com

theatre listings 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

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

All listings are free. Send to: stage@nowtoronto.com, fax to 416-364-1166 or mail to Theatre, NOW Magazine, 189 Church, Toronto M5B 1Y7. Include title, author, producer, brief synopsis, times, range of ticket prices (include stu/srs discounts and PWYC days), venue name and address and box office/info phone number. Listings may be edited for space. Deadline is the Thursday before publication at 5 pm.

Opening SeaSon SponSorS:

“At the bottom, in Simone’s case, is an incredible burning fire that wants to explore everything. There’s nothing monotone about her, nothing simply black or white. She’s lively and witty, but also jealous, self-involved and possessive.”

While Simone is passionately poetic and considers herself a tragic figure, Mary is “a cool, level-headed modern woman, totally unromantic. She’d view herself as a more evolved female than Simone, in control and practical.”

You probably know del Mar from her TV and film work, including Street Legal. She’s making her stage debut in this production.

“When you are in front of the camera, lifting a corner of the mouth or the slightest sigh, barely audible, can make an impression,” she reflects.

“Those sorts of things have been in my acting toolbox for years, but a stage performance requires a different kind of discipline, commitment and dedication to give a character authenticity.

“In the theatre every word has to make sense, every thought has to be clear and decided upon for its relevance. There’s no second take, no next episode to make things right.”

3

KILLER BUSINESS – THE MUSICAL by Rob Torr, Ken MacDougall and Saul Segal (Torrent Productions/Next Stage Theatre Festival). The production of a run-of-the-mill musical gets a jolt when a dead body turns up on stage.

Opens Jan 8 and runs to Jan 19, see website for schedule. $15, passes $48-$88. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst, Mainspace. 416-9661062, fringetoronto.com.

POLAR OPPOSITES by Nicole Ratjen (TiltHAUS/ Next Stage Theatre Festival). This play about two polar bears trapped on a melting iceberg features comedy, tragedy, table tennis and mask theatre. Opens Jan 8 and runs to Jan 19, see website for schedule. $10, passes $48$88. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst, Antechamber. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.

RELEASE THE STARS: THE BALLAD OF RANDY AND EVI QUAID by Amanda Barker and Daniel

Krolik (God is in the Dairy/Next Stage Theatre Festival). A celebrity couple flee from the U.S. media and stage an artsy cabaret in Canada.

Opens Jan 8 and runs to Jan 19, see website for schedule. $15, passes $48-$88. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst, Studio. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.

RIFLES by Nicolas Billon (Praxis Theatre/Next Stage Theatre Festival). Not wishing to suffer more loss, a Spanish Civil War widow tries to keep her sons out of the conflict. Opens Jan 8 and runs to Jan 19, see website for schedule. $15, passes $48-$88. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst, Mainspace. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.

SEVEN DAYS by Ron Rutberg (TEATRON Theatre). A family reunion at the matriarch’s death reveals the story of a couple who fought for the establishment of Israel, then moved to the United States. Previews Jan 8 at 1 pm ($19). Opens Jan 8 and runs to Jan 19, Tue-Thu and Sat-Sun 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm. $26-$48. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge, Studio Theatre. 1-855-985-2787, teatrontheatre.com.

STENCILBOY AND OTHER PORTRAITS by Susanna Fournier (Paradigm Productions/Next Stage Theatre Festival). Desperate to be immortalized in art, a woman is caught between a graffiti artist and a once-famous painter. Opens

continued on page 40 œ

Tanja Tiziana Burdi

Lindsey Clark

Brenley Charkow

Sam S. Mullins

festival preview

A spotlight on artists to watch at the Next Stage Fest By JON KAPLAN and GLENN SUMI

Jack Grinhaus

WHAT: Director of Release The Stars: The Ballad Of Randy And Evi Quaid, about the ups and downs of the Hollywood couple who fled the U.S. to seek a safer, quieter life in Canada.

WHY: After spending a year as apprentice associate artistic director at London’s Grand Theatre, Grinhaus, co-artistic director of Bound to Create Theatre, returned to Toronto to helm a powerful production of dirty butterfly, a co-pro with Obsidian Theatre. Let’s

onstage for the first time. A treat. ­

What’s Next for them?

This year’s Next Stage Festival, the seventh annual fest to bring the Fringe into the winter cold, features a strong list of artists in 10 shows at Factory Theatre. And it’s not only the shows that are (mostly) new – Factory itself has had a makeover, both inside and out, giving the heated beer tent a raised position on the new patio.

Here are some of the people generating artistic heat at Next Stage. We’ll follow up in the next few weeks with more coverage, including reviews of all the shows at the festival. See Openings, page 38, and fringetoronto.com/next-stage­festival.

Stephanie Jung

see how he tweaks this remount of Release, after the Quaids themselves attended the final 2012 Fringe performance and gave their blessing to the show.

Trish Lindström

WHAT: Performer in A Misfortune, a bittersweet musical, adapted from a Chekhov short story, about a married woman involved more than she should be with a lawyer.

WHY: One of Canada’s musical theatre talents, Lindström is a founding ­member of Theatre 20 and has thrilled audiences in such shows as Cabaret, Bloodless and Assassins. She’s an equally fine straight actor, too, as she’s shown in The Miracle Worker and The Tempest. In A Misfortune, we get to see her in an intimate show as the troubled wife caught between guilt and desire; she’s sure to touch us with the character’s explosive emotions.

Stephanie Jung

WHAT: Performer in Polar Opposites, about two polar bears caught on a melting icecap.

WHY: Whether she’s an ensemble player or a solo character, Jung brings lively energy and emotional truth to the productions in which she’s ap-

peared, which include Hiding Words (for you), Tout Comme Elle, If We Were Birds, The Madness Of The Square and Tough! Here, playing ­opposite writer Nicole Ratjen in a mask piece that relies as much on movement as on text, Jung gets to e ­ xplore the comedy and existential angst of her inner bear.

Sam S. Mullins

WHAT: Writer/performer, Fatherly, about fathers, sons, mortality and baseball.

WHY: Like TJ Dawe before him, Fringe mainstay Mullins (Tinfoil Dinosaur, Weaksauce) knows how to mine his life for stories that are both heartfelt and funny. His latest work sounds like a departure. Although it’s loosely inspired by a conversation he had with his father, it’s less personal and more like the kind of journalism you’d find on a radio show like This American Life.

And while the affable Mullins is used to developing a piece during the summer Fringe circuit, Fatherly will give T.O. audiences an opportunity to see it

Lindsey Clark

WHAT: Performer in Scheherazade, a revisionist version of the tale of the brave storyteller who stops her king’s murderous habit – marrying and decapitating virgins – by enticing him with a never-ending story whose next chapter he can’t wait to hear.

WHY: Clark’s made a name for herself in the indie scene, performing in Post Eden, Lear (as Cordelia) and The Charge Of The Expormidable Moose.

She can project innocence and seduction simultaneously, something she’ll be able to use in this sensual, satiric take on a classic narrative, where wedding rules and contemporary rulers put a new stamp on the Arabian­ Nights.

Jack Grinhaus

sion of Mo And Jess Kill Susie. She directed both, as she does World, providing audiences a view of a littleknown community whose members found themselves strangers in what for them was a very strange land ­indeed.

3 stage@nowtoronto.com

Brenley Charkow

WHAT: Writer/director of On The Other Side Of The World, about a Jewish family in 1930s Europe that looks to Shanghai as a refuge from the threatened devastation of Hitler’s regime. It’s been adapted from the memoirs of those who lived in the Chinese ghettos.

WHY: Charkow’s had two Fringe hits thus far, the first a striking adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s The Waves and last year, a sitespecific ver-

Trish Lindström

NOW January 2-8 2014

39

theatre listings œcontinued from page 38

Jan 8 and runs to Jan 19, see website for schedule. $15, passes $48-$88. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst, Studio. 416-966-1062, fringetoronto.com.

Previewing

FLESH AND OTHER FRAGMENTS OF LOVE by

Evelyne de la Chenelière (Tarragon Theatre).

The discovery of a drowned body off the Irish coast leads a vacationing couple to examine their marriage (see story, page 38). Previews Jan 7-14. Opens Jan 15 and runs to Feb 16, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sun (and some Sat) 2:30 pm. $48-$53, stu/srs $27-$45, previews $21$25, rush $13. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

NIGHTMARE DREAM by Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu and Motion (IFT Theatre/Newface Entertainment/Obsidian Theatre). Preparing to return for his father’s funeral, an African immigrant in Canada is haunted by his disconnection to his traditional culture. Previews Jan 7-8. Opens Jan 9 and runs to Jan 26, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $18-$35. Campbell House Museum, 160 Queen W. nightmare-dream.com.

THE UGLY ONE by Marius von Mayenburg (Theatre Smash/Tarragon Theatre). A man enjoys his new beauty until his plastic surgeon offers his face to others in this black comedy. Previews Jan 8-12. Opens Jan 14 and runs to Feb 16, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $48$53, stu/srs $27-$45, previews $21-$25, rush $13. 30 Bridgman, Extra Space. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

One-Nighters

REVEAL ME BURLESQUE (Red Herring Burlesque). Virgin vixens and professional peelers put on a show. Jan 8, doors 8 pm. $10. Rivoli, 332 Queen W. aprofessionaldistraction.com.

SING FOR YOUR SUPPER 3.0 (Red One Theatre Collective/Brouhaha Labs). Playwrights and actors share ideas and workshop scripts in front of an audience in this monthly cold reading series. Jan 6 at 9 pm. Free. The Storefront Theatre, 955 Bloor W. redonetheatre.com.

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this adult musical puppet play. Runs to Feb 23, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 4 pm (no shows Jan 2 and Feb 1-13). $49-$59. 100A Ossington. lowerossingtontheatre.com.

COOL YULE (Famous People Players). The black-light dinner theatre company presents a multifaith celebration of the holidays. Runs to Jan 4, call/see website for times. $40-$62.

343 Evans. 416-532-1137, fpp.org. #DICKWITFORMAYOR! (AND HIS CAT) by Rosemary Doyle and Jane Shields (Pink Kitty Co-op).

A boy, a cat, a rat king and others feature in this musical pantomime. Runs to Jan 4, ThuSun 7 pm, mat Sat 3 pm. $25, stu/srs $20, kids $15. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, redsandcastletheatre.com.

EVIL DEAD – THE MUSICAL by Christopher Bond, George Reinblatt, Frank Cipolla and Melissa Morris (Starvox Entertainment/Jeffrey Latimer Entertainment). The homegrown musical based on the splatterific cult horror films gets a 10th anniversary production that’s chock full of intentional stupidity and silliness. Excessive mugging mars the first act, but there are lots of surprises (and better songs) in act two. Ryan Ward reprises his role as the stiff, chainsaw-wielding Ash. And the directors have found some inventive ways to illustrate fake stage blood. Runs to Jan 5, TueThu 8 pm, Fri-Sat 7 and 10:30 pm, Sun 3 pm. $19.99-$79.99. Randolph Theatre, 736 Bathurst. evildeadthemusical.com. NNN (GS)

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT by Andrew Lloyd Webber and

Tim Rice (Lower Ossington Theatre). This family-friendly musical reinvents the Biblical story of Joseph and his brothers. Runs to Jan 5, see website for schedule. $19.50-$60. Al Green Theatre, 750 Spadina. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

THE LAND OF SMILES by Franz Lehár (Toronto Operetta Theatre). A Chinese prince falls in love with a Viennese woman in this operetta about love and duty. Runs to Jan 5, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $72-$145. Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-366-7723, stlc.com.

LES MISERABLES by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg (Cameron Mackintosh/Mirvish). This 25th-anniversary production of the popular musical is dominated by Ramin Karimloo, whose ex-con Jean Valjean grows in complexity and depth and delivers some transcendent moments, even if he’s too young to pull off the final scenes. He’s surrounded by lots of talent and a handsome production that’s majestic yet intimate, with

ALADDIN by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman,

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Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin (Disney Theatrical Productions/Mirvish). This Broadway-bound adaptation of the 1992 animated movie about the resourceful street urchin who falls for a disguised princess suffers from generic new songs, an awkward structural device involving three narrators and leads who lack chemistry. But it’s worth waiting an hour for James Monroe Iglehart’s Genie, who adds a bit of stage magic to the dull proceedings.

Runs to Jan 5, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun and Wed 1:30 pm (see website for more shows). $35-$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com. NN (GS) AVENUE Q by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx (Lower Ossington Theatre). A college grad moves to NYC and transitions to adulthood in

onto

THE LITTLE MERMAID: ONTARIO’S O-FISHAL FAMILY MUSICAL by Reid Janisse (Ross ñ Petty Productions). Janisse’s panto take on

the Little Mermaid is a socially aware yet light-hearted look at what’s happening down at Toronto’s waterfront, all seen from the novel perspective of its underwater creatures.

The plot is swift, the topical jokes very funny and the songs beautifully performed by a talented cast that includes Stratford’s Chilina Kennedy, the always amusing Edie Glen and Dan Chameroy and musical comedy powerhouse Lana Carillo. Runs to Jan 4, see website for schedule. $27-$85. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge. 1-855-599-9090, rosspetty.com.

NNNN (GS) LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Lower Ossington Theatre).

A flower shop clerk raises a plant that feeds on human blood in this musical. Runs to Jan 12, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 4 pm (no show Jan 2). $59. 100A Ossington. 416-9156747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

ñTHE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS, THE MUSICAL!

by Joanne Bogart and Eric Rockwell (Mirvish). The same story – ingenue can’t pay the mortgage – is told through the musical styles of Sondheim, Rogers & Hammerstein, Jerry Herman, Kandor & Ebb and Andrew Lloyd Webber in these loving and very funny send-ups sure to please fans of the genre. The cast is excellent: villain Mark Cassius oozes creepiness, ingenue Dana Jean Phoenix relishes clichés and Adrian Marchuk conveys the earnestness required of his cut-out character.

Biggest fun is Paula Wolfson, whose impressive vocal range conveys the ego of Herman’s divas and the ennui of Sondheim’s worldweary women. Too bad the space is so big – this cabaret-style piece needs more intimacy.

Runs to Jan 5, see website for times. $19-$79.

Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com. NNNN (Susan G Cole) ONCE by Enda Walsh, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (Mirvish). This adaptation of John Carney’s indie hit movie about two Dubliners – one a busker, the other a Czech emigré – who make beautiful music together yet can’t be a couple throbs with honest emotion. The staging is simple yet effective, with evocative choreography and music (the actors are all musicians) that can swell to huge climaxes or descend to moments of heartbreaking poetry. It’s a shame leads Stuart Ward and Dani De Waal lack chemistry.

Runs to Jan 5, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm (see website for more dates). $35-$130. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com. NNNN (GS) 3

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@ nowtoronto ñ

onContinuing OW

stirring new orchestrations that add extra fire to this dramatic musical. Runs to Feb 2, TueSat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun and Wed 1:30 pm (see website for exceptions/extra shows). $35-$130. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. mirvish.com. NNNN (GS)

ñ

dance listings

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JANUARY 2-8 2014 NOW

Ñ

= Critics’ Pick

Julia LeConte ................................................@julialeconte Steven Davey ...............................@stevendaveynow Life & Style.......................................................@nowlifestyle John Semley .................................@johnsemley3000 Ben Spurr ..................................................................@benspurr Jonathan Goldsbie ..........................................@goldsbie

NNNNN = Standing ovation

ia Photography Prize, to Jan 5. Sara Angelucci, Spring Hurlbut and Marla Hlady, artist talk 7-8:30 pm Jan 8 ($8-$12). The Great Upheaval: Modern Masterpieces From The Guggenheim, to Mar 2 ($25, stu $16.50). Brian Jungen and Duane Linklater, to Jun 15. $19.50, srs $16, stu $11, free Wed 6-8:30 pm (special exhibits excluded). 317 Dundas W. 416-979-6648.

DESIGN EXCHANGE Playing Favourites II: Geometry (Textures), to Jan 3. 100% TobeUs: 100 Cars, to Feb 9 (free, todesignoffsite.com). $10, stu/srs $8. 234 Bay. 416-363-6121.

DORIS McCARTHY GALLERY You Cannot Kill What Is Already Dead, to Jan 25. 1265 Military Trail. 416-287-7007.

GARDINER MUSEUM Nurielle Stern; Faience, to Jan 5. Animal Stories, to Jan 12. $12, stu $6, srs $8; Fri 4-9 pm half-price, 30 and under free. 111 Queen’s Park. 416-586-8080.

McMICHAEL CANADIAN Kim Dorland, to Jan 5.

Karine Giboulo, to Jan 26. $15, stu/srs $12.

10365 Islington (Kleinburg). 905-893-1121.

OAKVILLE GALLERIES Sonny Assu (Centennial, 120 Navy); A Noble Line (Gairloch, 1306 Lakeshore E), to Feb 16. (Oakville). 905-844-4402.

POWER PLANT More Than Two; Micah Lexier, to Jan 5. 231 Queens Quay W. ñ 416-973-4949.

ROM Mesopotamia, to Jan 5 ($27, srs/stu $24.50; Fri after 4:30 pm $23, srs/stu $20).

Raja Deen Dayal, to Jan 12. BIG, to Jan 26. Carbon 14: Climate Is Culture, to Feb 2. Wildlife Photographer Of The Year, to Mar 23. $15, stu/srs $13.50; Fri 4:30-8:30 pm $9, stu/srs $8.

100 Queen’s Park. 416-586-8000.

TEXTILE MUSEUM Maya Textiles From Guatemala, to Jan 12. Heather Goodchild and Jérôme Havre; Telling Stories, to Apr 13. $15, srs $10, stu $6; pwyc Wed 5-8 pm. 55 Centre.

416-599-5321.

U OF T ART CENTRE Framing Narratives: Renaissance To Modernism, to Mar 8. 15 King’s College Circle. 416-978-1838.

VARLEY ART GALLERY Moving Side And Forward: A Journey Through The Collection of York U; Excavations, to Jan 12. $5, stu/srs $4.

216 Main (Unionville). 905-477-9511.

MORE ONLINE

Complete art listings at nowtoronto.com/art/listings

MUST-SEE SHOWS BIRCH CONTEMPORARY Painting: Martin

NNNN = Sustained applause

Bennett and Jaan Poldaas, to Jan 18. 129 Tecumseth. 416-365-3003.

DANIEL FARIA GALLERY Photos: Chris Curreri, to Jan 18. 188 St Helens. 416-538-1880.

GALLERYWEST Michael Farnan, to Jan 28.

1172 Queen W. 416-913-7116.

GLADSTONE HOTEL Photos: Ali J Eisner, Jan 2-19. Lisa Brown, to Jan 5. 1214 Queen W. 416-531-4635.

HASHTAG GALLERY Painting/collage: Ben Sellick, Jan 4-19. 801 Dundas W. 416-8611866.

JAPAN FOUNDATION Yokohama Noh Theatre Photography, to Jan 31. 131 Bloor W. 416966-1600, jftor.org.

KOFFLER GALLERY We’re In The Library group show, to Jan 19. Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw. 647-925-0643.

LOOP GALLERY Mary Catherine Newcomb and Sheryl Dudley, Jan 4-26, reception 2-5 pm Jan 4. 1273 Dundas W. 416-516-2581.

MERCER UNION Photos: Geoffrey Farmer, to Jan 14. 1286 Bloor W. 416536-1519.

OLGA KORPER Painting: Ron Shuebrook, to Jan 18. 17 Morrow. 416-538-8220.

OZ STUDIOS Photos: Michelle Louise Wilson and Lindsey King, to Jan 7. 134 Ossington.

416-792-5511.

PROPELLER CENTRE FOR THE VISUAL ARTS Salon 8 Exhibition, Jan 2-26, reception 6:309:30 pm Jan 2. 984 Queen W. 416-504-7142.

RED HEAD GALLERY Installation: Zev Farber, Jan 8-Feb 1. 401 Richmond W #115. 416504-5654.

ñ

Come face to face with Chris Curreri’s Medusa at the Daniel Faria Gallery.

ñ

SUSAN HOBBS Sculpture: Didier Courbot, to Jan 18. 137 Tecumseth. 416-504-3699.

TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX David Cronenberg: Evolution, to Jan 19 ($15, stu $12, Tue $5). 350 King W. 416-599-8433.

TORONTO IMAGE WORKS Photos: Surendra Lawoti, to Jan 31. 80 Spadina. 416-7031999.

ñ

books

ada presents the traditional holiday ballet.

Runs to Jan 4, see website for schedule. $25$165. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-345-9595, national.ballet.ca.

3

40

THIS WEEK IN THE MUSEUMS

AGO 1st Thursdays, 7 pm Jan 2 ($12-$15). Aim-

@nowtoronto

Michael Hollett ........................................................................@m_hollett Alice Klein ....................................................................................@aliceklein Susan G. Cole ..........................................................................@susangcole Enzo DiMatteo ............................................................. @enzodimatteo Neema .....................................................................@wilnervision Norm Wilner Bickersteth Glenn Sumi @glennsumi lights............................................................................... up Nightmare Julia LeConte .......................................................................@julialeconte Dream.

Steven Davey ......................................................@stevendaveynow Life & Style..............................................................................@nowlifestyle John Semley ........................................................@johnsemley3000 Ben Spurr .........................................................................................@benspurr Continuing Jonathan Goldsbie .................................................................@goldsbie THE NUTCRACKER The National BalletAdria of Can- Vasil .................................................................... @ecoholicnation

Michael Hollett .................................................@m_hollett Alice Klein .............................................................@aliceklein Susan G. Cole ...................................................@susangcole Enzo DiMatteo ...................................... @enzodimatteo Norm Wilner .............................................. @wilnervision Glenn Sumi ........................................................ @glennsumi

art

READINGS THIS WEEK

Richmond. chapters.indigo.ca.

Saturday, January 4 SUSAN HELWIG/CAROL MALYON/CATHERINE SWORD/JACOB McARTHUR MOONEY Reading.

1:30-4:30 pm. Free. Portobello, 995 Bay. 416-926-1800.

Sunday, January 5 MATTHEW HUSSEY The relationship expert signs copies of his book Get The Guy. 12:30 pm. Free. Chapters, Chapters, 142 John, at

NNN = Recommended, memorable scenes

Monday, January 6 CHRIS POWELL The fitness trainer signs copies

of his book Choose To Lose. 7 pm. Free. Indigo Yorkdale, 3401 Dufferin. chapters.indigo.ca.

JANE SILCOTT Reading from her essay collection Everything Rustles. 7 pm. Free. Measure, 296 Brunswick. rowerspubreadingseries.com. books@nowtoronto.com

NN = Seriously flawed

N = Get out the hook

Playing this week How to find a listing

deadlines, only and Jan. 1.

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), John Semley (JS) and Radheyan Simonpillai (RS) unless otherwise specified.

The rating system is as follows: movies/listings NNNNN Top 10 of the year

NNNN Honourable mention r the NNNmost Entertaining

Due to holiday deadlines, our film times only include Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Please go to

nowtoronto.com/ movies/listings

(or call theatres) for the most updated times.

NN Mediocre N Bomb

Jonah Hill (left) and Leonardo DiCaprio discuss whether Scorsese’s The Wolf Of Wall Street is bull or bear.

Ñ= Critics’ pick (highly recommended)

Movie theatres are listed at the end and can be cross-referenced to our film times on page 46.

ALL IS LOST (J.C. Chandor) may not

ñ

break new cinematic ground for the survival thriller in the way Gravity does, but it doesn’t have to; it’s just one hell of a Everything Toronto good movie, starring Robert Redford as a sailor trying to steer his damaged boat to rescue. Chandor’s intimate, immediate direction puts us right there with him for every second of it. 106 min. NNNN (NW) Interchange 30

AMERICAN HUSTLE (David O. Russell) is nominally a story about the barely remembered 1978 Abscam sting, in which the FBI used a small-time con artist to snare politicians on bribery and corruption charges. But the plot is incidental to the shouting. Director/co-writer Russell has fully embraced the notion that drama only exists when characters are yelling at one another in mid-shots. Everybody races around shouting about their ambitions and desires, and whoever shouts the loudest is the person with whom we’re supposed to sympathize. Some people love this strategy; I find it exhausting and pointless – especially in the second half, when scenes seem to exist because Russell had noticed Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence’s characters hadn’t yelled at each other in a while. American Hustle is being compared to Goodfellas (because crime) and Boogie Nights (because sideboob, I guess). Let’s throttle back on that and see it as what it is: an incoherent, overacted mess. 138 min. NN (NW) Beach Cinemas, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Humber Cinemas, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, Varsity, Yonge & Dundas 24 AMERICAN PROMISE (Joe Brewster, Mi-

chèle Stephenson) 135 min. See review, page 48. NN (RS) Opens Jan 4 at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES

(Adam McKay) is beset by its own selfconsciously epic quality. McKay and Will Ferrell’s script unfolds like a remix of the original. The recycling of old gags and ceaseless string of cameos (Drake, Kanye, Jim Carrey, Tina Fey, Liam Neeson, a minotaur, Will Smith, etc) strain, coming across as desperate to please. That there’s (plenty) more of the same isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially for Anchorman diehards. Like its predecessor, Anchorman 2 is

Everything Toronto

most itself when its stars goof around with one another. It’s a shame the film expends so much energy and calls in so many favours trying to imitate the original – a film that at its best seemed to be making it up as it went along. 118 min. NNN (JS) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Carlton Cinema, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Humber Cinemas, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24

THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY (Malcolm D. Lee) is like the Christmas dinner that starts off with laughs and high spirits but keeps dragging along until you can’t hold down the eggnog. This sequel to 1999’s The Best Man is an overstuffed turkey. The itinerary for this holiday weekend includes the typical sex, secrets and scandals, followed by a rah-rah football game, a shamelessly dour cameo by the Grim Reaper and a climactic visit from the stork. There’s enough material to last until Easter. The schmaltzy, contrived sub-dramas clamour for attention, but none warrant a kleenex despite the best efforts of a mostly fine ensemble cast. They do much better with the gags and camaraderie in the early goings. Terrence Howard is the gift that keeps on giving as the chronic bachelor who drops the best zingers, including one that could describe the whole movie: “That was some melodramatic shit.” 120 min. NN (RS) Interchange 30 BLACKFISH (Gabriela Cowper-

ñ

thwaite) looks at the case of Tilikum, a 550-kilo bull orca who attacked a SeaWorld trainer in 2010. The film offers a psychological profile of Tilikum and, in turn, of the humans who want to keep animals in captivity, then widens to an investigation of the labour economy of whale-hunting and capture, the spectacle of training them for slack-jawed tourists and SeaWorld’s move into globalization by selling whales to poorly equipped parks across the globe. 83 min. NNNN (JS) Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

BLUE JASMINE (Woody Allen) stars

ñ

Cate Blanchett as the emotionally unhinged wife of a corporate sleazebag (Alec Baldwin) who moves to San Francisco to live with her sister (Sally Hawkins)

when he’s busted. Expect Oscar to come calling on the amazing Blanchett. 98 min.

NNNN (SGC) Mt Pleasant

stuff. The Phantom Menace still has its defenders, too. Some subtitles. 109 min.

NN (NW) Interchange 30

THE BOOK THIEF (Brian Percival) reframes the Second World War as a coming-of-age story about a young German girl (Monsieur Lazhar’s Sophie Nélisse). Director Percival has helmed a lot of Downton Abbey episodes, and it shows in film’s odd propriety. A movie about the Holocaust can’t be afraid of confronting its own message. 131 min. NN (NW) Canada Square, Kingsway Theatre, SilverCity Mississauga

ENDER’S GAME (Gavin Hood) is Harry Potter And The Starship Troopers, a very expensive, very elaborately designed attempt to build a new super-franchise out of Orson Scott Card’s 1985 sci-fi novel about a gifted young boy (played here by Asa Butterfield) chosen to save the world from an alien threat. 113 min. NN (NW) Interchange 30

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (Paul Greengrass) stars

Tom Hanks in a fantastic performance as the eponymous skipper of a commercial vessel hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009.

The rest of the film is far more problematic, with director Greengrass applying the tense, jangled docudrama aesthetic of United 93 to another true-life hostage crisis. Some subtitles. 134 min. NNN (NW) Carlton Cinema, Interchange 30

ñDALLAS BUYERS CLUB

(Jean-Marc Vallée) stars Matthew McConaughey as Ron Woodroof, a hard-living, womanizing Texas electrician who became an unlikely AIDS activist in the mid1980s after being diagnosed with HIV. McConaughey shed 47 pounds for the role and is almost unrecognizable, but his charm and passion shine through, and he gets strong support from Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner. Expect major acting nominations come awards season. 117 min.

NNNN (GS) Canada Square, Carlton Cinema, Kingsway Theatre, SilverCity Mississauga, Yonge & Dundas 24

EXPEDITION TO THE END OF THE WORLD

(Daniel Dencik) feels like a northern cousin to Werner Herzog’s Antarctic documentary Encounters At The End Of The World.

It takes an impressionistic look at a 2011 journey to the fjords of northeast Greenland. Isolated by ice for millennia but now accessible by sea for a few weeks every year thanks to rising water temperatures, the area is finally open to human exploration, so a boatload of Danish scientists and artists venture out to investigate the terrain, catalogue new species and maybe see a polar bear. They also debate key questions of human existence, as artists are wont to do, which makes for some in-

teresting and unapologetically existential conversation. It’s a little more precious than Herzog would allow, with a rushed ending that manufactures an unnecessary crisis for cheap tension, but when Dencik concentrates on the awe-inspiring beauty of the landscape – and his subjects’ contemplations of it – it’s a wonder to behold.

Some subtitles. 90 min. NNN (NW) Opens Dec 27 at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

THE FAMILY (Luc Besson) is a forgettable

and not very funny comedy carried by the charm of its stars and by director Luc Besson’s skills with camera and editor’s scissors. Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro, with Dianna Agron and John D’Leo as teen daughter and son, play the titular family, living under the witness protection program but still carrying on with crime.

Some subtitles. 110 min. NN (AD) Interchange 30

47 RONIN (Carl Rinsch) is a great big stupid epic set in a fantastical Japan populated by monsters and witches. Keanu Reeves stars as an orphaned warrior who joins a band of masterless samurai on a mission of vengeance. Somehow, it’s staggeringly

continued on page 43 œ

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NOW picks your kind of movie FAMILY

DRAMA

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ACTION

DRAMEDY

DELIVERY MAN (Ken Scott) finds Quebec

writer/director Scott remaking his 2011 comedy Starbuck for the American market, with Vince Vaughn replacing Patrick Huard and the action moved from Montreal to Brooklyn. It’s exactly the same movie, but it holds up okay. 105 min. NNN (NW) Interchange 30, SilverCity Mississauga

DESERT RUNNERS (Jennifer Steinman) is a documentary about non-pro runners trying to complete a marathon in Chile’s Atacama Desert. 99 min.

Opens Jan 3 at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema ELYSIUM (Neill Blomkamp) is virtually identical, plot-wise, to the director’s wildly overrated 2009 debut, and fans of District 9’s spectacular carnage and garbled political posturing will doubtless find this one even more meaningful and relevant and

Kristen Bell and Broadway belters Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad lend their voices to this entertaining Disney musical loosely inspired by the Snow Queen fairy tale.

THE HUNGER GAMES: The Coen brothers’ CATCHING FIRE moving film – which won the Toronto Film Critics’ top award – looks at a talented folksinger (Oscar Isaac) in Greenwich Village in the 60s.

The second book in Suzanne Collins’s dystopic trilogy about class and exploitation comes to thrilling life, with Jennifer Lawrence burning up the screen again as Katniss.

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY

Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig and Sean Penn star in this ambitious update of James Thurber’s novel about a perpetual dreamer who wakes up to reality.

NOW JANUARY 2-8 2014

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january 2-8 2014 NOW

œcontinued from page 41

Due to holiday deadlines, our film times only include Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Please go to

nowtoronto.com/ movies/listings

(or call theatres) for the most updated times.

Everything Toronto

dull. It’s impossible to tell what director Rinsch’s original conception might have been; the movie’s been overhauled in post-production, its opening movement chopped up and voiced over by an anonymous British actor, the better to­ ­explain what we’re about to see. Even the action sequences have the dreary feel of obligation. Best to seek out Kenji Mizoguchi’s or Hiroshi Inagaki’s adaptation of the story; they may not have swirling smoke dragons or bird-headed monks, but they work their own magic. 118 min. N (NW) 401 & Morningside, Carlton Cinema, ­Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale

Free Birds (Jimmy Hayward) finally

brings audiences the inevitable talkingturkey CGI Thanksgiving comedy. Thankfully, it’s actually decent. Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson lend their voices to a pair of turkeys who travel back in time to the first Thanksgiving to take their ancestors off the menu. Pixar veteran Hayward and long-time Kevin Smith collaborator Scott Mosier deliver a surprisingly clever script packed with just enough silly slapstick for kids and pop culture references for parents to turn the dull concept into an amusing comedy. It’s ultimately just family fluff, but at least it’s fun family fluff, and that’s really all you can ask from a talking-turkey picture. 91 min. NNN (Phil Brown) Interchange 30

Frozen (Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee) feels like a throwback to the classic golden period of Disney animated musicals, and while it doesn’t reach the heights of a Lion King or Beauty And The Beast, it’s entertaining enough, despite a lopsided narrative and the lack of a compelling villain. Orphaned princesses Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) have grown up apart (but in the same castle) since childhood, ever since Elsa’s power to turn everything to ice nearly got Anna killed.

But when Elsa ascends the throne, her gift reveals itself, and she flees to icy isolation in the mountains, followed by Anna, loner outdoorsman Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and happy-go-lucky snowman Olaf (Josh Gad). It’s basically The Snow Queen mixed with Wicked, but the creators were smart enough to cast one of the latter’s stars (Menzel) and a host of other Broadway belters. The songs are derivative but ­effective, but only Olaf’s hilarious ditty about wanting to experience summer is destined for classic status. And Gad’s Olaf is the most entertaining sidekick since ­Timon and Pumbaa. 102 min. NNN (GS) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas,

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­ ineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum C Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough,­ Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Humber Cinemas, Queens­way, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24

ñGravity

(Alfonso Cuarón) plays as both an immediate, nail-biting thriller and a stunning technological accomplishment, following two astronauts (Sandra Bullock, George Clooney) stranded in orbit and cut off from mission control. It’s not science fiction – it’s set firmly in the present day, and the stakes are as intimate as they come. Cuarón’s screenplay, cowritten with his son Jonás, is a triumph of psychological realism and narrative efficiency; there isn’t a wasted shot or an extraneous line of dialogue. There are things here you’ve never seen before; this is a great, unprecedented picture. One word of warning, though: even if you don’t have vertigo, the IMAX 3D version may well leave you with it. 91 min. NNNNN (NW) Carlton Cinema, Colossus, Yonge & Dundas 24

Grudge Match (Peter Segal) pits Sylves-

ter Stallone against Robert De Niro in a Rocky vs. Raging Bull scenario no one thought they’d care to see. Old boxing foes Razor Sharp and Kid McDonnen have some saggy personal drama between them, which despite the latter’s efforts never really feels convincing. With enough provocation, they’re coerced back into the ring to settle the score with fists that have calcified for 30 years. While Stallone and De Niro still have no difficulty mustering a decent right hook, it’s the punchlines they have some trouble landing – though the Rocky riffs should amuse. That leaves Alan Arkin’s trainer and Kevin Hart’s promoter to do most of the comedic heavy lifting.

But given how familiar their gimmicks are, most of the jokes are as old as a jab thrown in 1983. 113 min. NN (RS) 401 & Morningside, Carlton Cinema, ­Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Mississauga, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale

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ñHer

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

(Peter Jackson) is another two hours and 40 minutes of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and his dwarf allies encountering giant spiders and orcs and elves and more orcs (or possibly the same orcs again) and a soupçon of political treachery on the way to the mountain where the dragon

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(Spike Jonze) is set in the very near future, in a Los Angeles where emotionally withdrawn Theodore Twombley (Joaquin Phoenix) installs an operating system on his PC that’s basically an artificial intelligence – and winds up falling in love with it. Of course he’s drawn to it, or her (as voiced with perfect, perky opacity

by Scarlett Johansson). Why wouldn’t he be? She’s perfect for him. She just doesn’t, you know, exist in the physical realm. Her is as wide-open and genuine as writer-­ director Jonze’s adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are, though not as emotionally raw. It’s a movie where people process their feelings rather than release them, essentially about how technology can facilitate a relationship over impossible distances and what happens when one partner evolves more quickly than the other. In the end, it’s a movie as beholden to Annie Hall as it is to 2001, and don’t think that isn’t the strangest sentence I’ve written this year. 125 min. NNNN (NW) Queensway, Varsity

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continued on page 44 œ

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

NOW january 2-8 2014

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œcontinued from page 43

Due to holiday deadlines, our film times only include Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Please go to

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tions of traditional folk songs that somehow manage to reflect precisely what his character, itinerant troubadour Llewyn Davis, is feeling in the moment. Beautifully realized and packed with delightful incidents – the recording of Please Mr. Kennedy is probably the most satisfying three minutes you’ll spend in a movie theatre this year – Inside Llewyn Davis understands its characters in a way few movies do, giving Isaac and co-stars Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Adam Driver and F. Murray Abraham room to detail their performances into something much more than folk scene clichés. 105 min.

NNNN (NW) Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Queens­ way, TIFF Bell Lightbox, Varsity

Judi Dench and Steve Coogan make a terrific odd couple in the moving Philomena.

Justin Bieber’s Believe (Jon M. Chu) is a

Everything Toronto

Smaug lies sleeping in his plundered gold.

You may ask yourself why this isn’t the end of it. There isn’t enough story for three Hobbit movies, so Jackson’s had to invent new characters and new subplots – fan service to Tolkien diehards who need to actually see the rise of Sauron (also ­irrelevant to the story of The Hobbit), or to Jackson himself, whose swooping camera movements and elaborate single-take ­action sequences are starting to feel a ­little creaky and self-indulgent. Of course, making a nine-hour movie out of a short novel is pretty self-indulgent in itself.

Some subtitles. 161 min. NN (NW) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Carlton Cinema, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Humber Cinemas, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale

ñThe Hunger Games: Catching Fire

(Francis Lawrence) proves the Oscar curse can be beaten. Best-actress winner Jennifer Lawrence is a knockout in this second instalment of the franchise, which, unlike many actors’ releases following Oscar wins, is not total crap. It’s much better than Part 1: the script doesn’t need much set-up, there’s more focus on the relationship between Katniss (Lawrence) and Gale (which means more charismatic Liam Hemsworth), and director Lawrence keeps the violence offscreen instead of sanitizing it. Katniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) are having trouble faking the love relationship that made them co-winners of the 74th Hunger Games, the arena spectacle in which a male and female from 12 districts fight to the death until there’s one person standing. But they’re sparking revolution against the wealthy 1 per cent, so baddie President Snow dreams up a new tourney in which the winners of the previous 24 games have to go into the ring. Who cares about plot holes in a ­fantasy? This is highly entertaining, and Lawrence is red hot in all ways. 145 min.

NNNN (SGC) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Canada Square, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Humber Cinemas, Queensway, Rainbow Promenade, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale

ñInside Llewyn Davis

(Joel Coen, Ethan Coen) plays as comedy, musical and drama all at once, with the tone steered by Oscar Isaac’s soulful interpreta-

44

january 2-8 2014 NOW

sequel of sorts to Never Say Never, which chronicled the Stratford, Ontario, musician’s rise to fame using lots of home movie footage, his fateful YouTube videos and candid interviews with his family and friends. Now, at 18, the Biebs is bigger than ever (literally – he’s shot up and bulked up), his guard is up in interviews, and there’s little at stake. Apart from a watchable section about his Believe tour’s dancer auditions and a frightening bit about fans swarming his limo, this feels like a 90-minute promotional video about the concert. Yeah, I believe... I just wasted my time. 92 min. N (GS) 401 & Morningside, Canada Square, Coliseum Mississauga, Colossus, Eglinton Town Centre, Yonge & Dundas 24

Last Vegas (Jon Turteltaub) stars veterans Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, ­Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline in a bachelor party comedy that sets up gags as familiar as the routine in a seniors home. Even the jokes have bunions. Yet the four Oscar winners are so good at playing against each other, you can’t help wondering why they finally decided to do so now n a comedy that pays out as rarely as a slot machine. 110 min. NN (RS) Interchange 30, SilverCity Mississauga Lee Daniels’ The Butler (Lee Daniels) is

one big black history lesson featuring great performances by Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo and especially Forest Whit­aker as a White House butler. But don’t expect anything like the director’s disturbing Precious or The Paperboy. ­Daniels is decidedly domesticated here, aiming to teach and please. 132 min. NNN (SGC) Mt Pleasant

Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion

(Yukihiro Miyamoto, Akiyuki Shinbo) is an animé feature about the fate of a group of magical girls. 123 min.

Yonge & Dundas 24

ñMaidentrip

(Jillian Schlesinger) is a documentary about Holland’s Laura Dekker, who at 14 decided to take two years off to sail around the world alone, attempting to become the youngest ­person ever to do so. When she set out in August 2010, there was no follow boat or support team. Her only companion was a video camera, whose footage director Schlesinger has edited effectively. She also uses graphics, old family photos (for backstory) and scenes where Dekker disembarked to visit countries and make friends with strangers. It all adds up to a remarkable story about an independent, resourceful young woman whose psychological motivations aren’t as important as her spirit and fearlessness. Along with the great footage of vast oceans (there’s some rough weather), it’s fascinating to see not just Dekker’s physical transformation but also her evolving ideas of home and ­nationality. Some subtitles. 82 min. NNNN (GS) Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

(­ Justin Chadwick) features a knockout performance by Idris Elba, who skilfully portrays Nelson Mandela’s transformation from arrogant barrister without a cause to inspiring leader willing to sacrifice everything in his quest for his people’s freedom. The film leaves out Mandela’s childhood entirely and ends when he’s ­released after 27 years in prison. But streamlining all these events forces the writer into clichés, and telling the story in chronological order strikes me as lazy. The politics are confusing: you’re never sure who’s fighting whom or why, especially when the conflict is between blacks. And the context of activist wife Winnie’s promotion of violence against black collaborators is never made clear, even though the political tension between the rage-driven Winnie and the reconciliation-oriented Nelson is a focal point. The script does pay attention to Mandela’s reputation as a young womanizer and gives credence to the idea that the sainted Madiba knocked his first wife around. Long Walk To Freedom can’t be called pure hagiography. But Elba’s the essential element. 141 min. NNN (SGC) Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Varsity, Yonge & Dundas 24

MORE THAN HONEY (Markus Imhoof) is a documentary about honeybee colonies in California, Switzerland, China and Australia. 95 min.

Opens Jan 3 at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

ñMuscle Shoals

(Greg Camalier) is about the musically inclined backwater town in Alabama that has seen everyone from Aretha Franklin to the Rolling Stones come through to produce hits.

They’re among the many who speak ­affectionately here about their time wi­th Rick Hall, of FAME Studios, arguably the backbone of the Muscle Shoals music industry. The interviews are woven together like music, composing a film with storytelling rhythms that strikes emotional chords. Soul aficionados will savour every beat. 111 min. NNNN (RS) Kingsway Theatre, Regent Theatre

Nebraska (Alexander Payne) is a black-

and-white road movie about a Montana speaker salesman (Will Forte) who gets to know his remote, alcoholic father (Bruce Dern) as the pair drive to Lincoln to cure the older man’s obsession with a sweepstakes. It lacks the highs and lows of The Descendants and Sideways, feeling much more like director Payne’s 2002 drama About Schmidt: a slow, deliberate roll through a series of modest incidents that inform our understanding of its central character. Problem is, Nebraska never surprises. Road movies are by definition formulaic, but there’s a predictability to the way Bob Nelson’s screenplay trickles out details and shading that feel more calculated than they should. This isn’t to say

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that Nebraska is bad, but it’s awfully safe and contrived – not what we’ve come to expect from Payne. 115 min. NNN (NW) Canada Square, Carlton Cinema, Kingsway Theatre

Nicky’s Family (Matej Minac) covers the

heroics of Sir Nicholas Winton, dubbed “Britain’s Schindler,” who masterminded the evacuation of almost 700 Jewish ­children from German-occupied Czechoslovakia before the Holocaust. However, instead of the Spielberg treatment, this doc gives Winton something more akin to a Heritage Minute, complete with kitschy re-enactments. Better ignore those utterly unnecessary segments and just listen to the heartfelt memories of Winton and his rescued children (now seniors). Together they chronicle how they found refuge among welcoming homes in Britain after being torn from their own families, who eventually experienced the worst of ­Hitler. This stagey doc seems to do everything in its power to dull the affect, but the story – complete with a sexy Nazi spy, a few thrills and gut-wrenching tragedy – is still inspiring. 97 min. NNN (RS) Kingsway Theatre

Night Train to Lisbon (Bille August) is a dreary Euro-pudding that wastes several very talented actors in two stories separated by four decades. Jeremy Irons has a few nice scenes with Martina Gedeck as an optometrist with whom his character becomes friendly, but that’s hardly a reason to endure the rest of it. 111 min. NN (NW) Kingsway Theatre, Regent Theatre PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE MARKED ONES (Christopher Landon) is the latest in

the series of horror films that use home and surveillance video cameras. Screened after press time – see review January 3 at nowtoronto.com/movies. 84 min.

Opens Jan 3 at Coliseum Mississauga, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Queensway, Yonge & Dundas 24

ñPhilomena

(Stephen Frears) tells the true story of journalist Martin Sixsmith’s attempt to help an Irish wo­ man, Philomena Lee, track down the son she was forced to give up five decades earlier. It’s an odd but effective combination of investigative drama and buddy ­picture, as the devout, working-class Lee (Judi Dench) and the privileged, cynical Sixsmith (Steve Coogan, who also cowrote and co-produced the film) find common ground in the search for her son.

Director Frears lays it on a little thick in the glimpses of the young Philomena at a home for wayward mothers, but the rest of the story is handled far more elegantly, framing the historical blemish of baby trafficking through an immediate, personal lens. It’s a tribute to both actors that Dench’s performance doesn’t feel like a naked Oscar bid, nor does she totally obliterate Coogan’s fine supporting turn. 98

min. NNNN (NW) Canada Square, Eglinton Town Centre, Interchange 30, Kingsway Theatre, Queens­ way, Varsity, Yonge & Dundas 24

Prisoners (Denis Villeneuve) stars Hugh Jackman as a Pennsylvania contractor who reacts to his daughter’s abduction by grabbing the most likely suspect (Paul Dano) and trying to beat the truth out of him. Jackman’s entirely convincing as a righteous hothead, but Villeneuve’s unable to keep Prisoners from collapsing into overwrought, mildly preposterous contrivance. And there’s simply no reason this movie needed to be two and a half hours long. 153 min. NNN (NW) Interchange 30

ñRush

(Ron Howard) chronicles the ongoing rivalry in the mid-70s ­between two wildly different Formula One racers: the cold, cerebral Austrian Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) and the wildly charismatic English playboy James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth). Director Howard and superb screenwriter Peter Morgan contrast their stories effectively, getting even non-fans intrigued by the politics of commercial ­endorsements and the psychology of competition. 123 min. NNNN (GS) Kingsway Theatre

Saving Mr. Banks (John Lee Hancock) covers the last several months of the 20plus years that Walt Disney (Tom Hanks, who’s terrific) spent convincing author P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) to sell him the rights to Mary Poppins. Charming Walt gets the prickly author in a room with composers Robert and Richard Sherman (B.J. Novak and Jason Schwartzman), who try to win her over with their cheery tunes, but unfortunately, she has daddy issues. The narrative moves between 1961 L.A. and Travers’s childhood in Australia where the alcoholic father she loves (Colin Farrell) dies. The older Travers is portrayed as an old lonely prune who only lightens up after she’s been in Disney’s orbit. I don’t expect a Disney pic to highlight Travers’s lesbian love life or her very serious spiritual pursuits, but this rendering is insulting. It’s is all about burnishing Disney’s personal reputation. 125 min. NN (SGC) 401 & Morningside, Canada Square, ­Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, SilverCity Mississauga, ­Varsity, Yonge & Dundas 24 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) finds the director/star trying for something a little more substantial than he has in movies like Zoolander and Tropic Thunder, using James Thurber’s short story about a daydreamer to explore loneliness and the need for human connection in the increasingly disconnected digital age. Stiller’s Mitty is a photo archivist at

continued on page 46 œ

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

WHAT’S ON

THIS WEEK

Best Independent Cinema

JAN 3–9, 2014 506 Bloor St. W. @ Bathurst, Toronto

“Engrossing.” – Variety

“Spectacularly beautiful.” – The New York Times

DESERT RUNNERS

MORE THAN HONEY

Filled with excitement, passion, heartbreak and triumph, Desert Runners follows a remarkable group of adventurers on their year-long ultra-marathon journey, racing to the four corners of the Earth. Director Skype Q&As—Friday, January 3 & 4.

Discover how the honey bee is essential to man’s survival, in this visually-stunning film about a vital species facing worldwide extinction. In German, English, Swiss German and Mandarin, with English subtitles.

FRI, JAN 3–7, select times

FRI, JAN 3–9, select dates and times

Winner—Special Jury Prize, Sundance 2013

AMERICAN PROMISE

A FRAGILE TRUST

This Sundance award-winner provides a rare look into the lives of two African-American middle-class families, exploring complicated truths about education in America. Director Skype Q&As—Saturday, January 4 & 5.

The shocking story of Jayson Blair, the most infamous serial plagiarist of our time, and how he unleashed a massive scandal that rocked The New York Times. Director Q&As at all screenings.

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WED, JAN 8 & 9, select times

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movie reviews œcontinued from page 44

Life Magazine who after decades of simple competence launches himself on a global adventure in search of a missing image for the final issue. The movie disappears into Walter’s imagination for a series of clever set pieces, but the real world is always more important, Stuart Dryburgh’s cinematography growing more and more beautiful as the film progresses. The narrative’s a little bumpy – the story basically stops and backs up over itself so it can have a third act – but Stiller’s ambition and low-key charisma will hold you. He’s picking at something really meaningful here, and even if his movie doesn’t totally get there, the journey is the thing. 114 min. NNN (NW) 401 & Morningside, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24

on the emotional suds (up to a point) and looks to have a jolly old time. He throws his vulgar mammy Madea into the Alabama backwoods for the Christmas holiday, which turns out to be ripe new scenery for her to chew on with her rambling, freestyle gags. She’s visiting her niece (Tika Sumpter), who is living on a farm and secretly married to a local (read: white guy), which causes a whole lot of mishap between the chocolate and vanilla in-laws and leaves Madea winningly playing referee. 105 min. NNN (RS) 401 & Morningside, Coliseum Mississauga, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24

WADJDA (Haifaa Al-Mansour) tracks

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Online expanded Film Times

Aurora Cinemas • Cine Starz • Elgin Mills 10 • First Markham Place SilverCity Newmarket • SilverCity Richmond Hill • Interchange 30 5 Drive-In Oakville • SilverCity Oakville • Winston Churchill 24

nowtoronto.com/movies

Due to holiday deadlines, our film times only include Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Due to holiday deadlines, our film times only include Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Please go to

Please to (Barry Cook, WALKINGgo WITH DINOSAURS

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

nowtoronto.com/ movies/listings

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

Neil Nightingale) is a lesson on the late nowtoronto.com/movies/listings Cretaceous period for the iCarly genera-

lines like “You are about to getfor the most (or out call theatres) served.” Co-directors Nightingale (BBC Cretton) is a powerful, deeply felt ñ Earth) and Cook (Disney) collaborate on character study of a young therapist (Brie updated times. this peppy adventure for kids that has the Larson) at a California facility for distion, in which prehistoric creatures dish

SHORT TERM 12 (Destin Daniel

turbed children whose own issues come rushing to the surface when she meets a particularly troubled new intake (Kaitlyn Dever). Writer-director Cretton creates a dramatic environment that’s fraught with emotional tension but doesn’t milk it; the explosions of feeling seem natural rather than calculated, the result of totally believable interactions between the adults and the kids. And he has an amazing eye for casting: Scott Pilgrim’s Larson and Justified’s Dever are both riveting, and supporting players John Gallagher Jr., Rami Malek, Stephanie Beatriz and Keith Stanfield are all terrific too. 96 min. NNNN (NW) Regent Theatre

THOR: THE DARK WORLD (Alan Taylor) is a very silly movie for all its self-seriousness, which is why it works.

Once again, Tom Hiddleston steals the picture as the unpredictable Loki, though Kat Dennings comes awfully close to stealing it herself as Jane Foster’s scrappy sidekick.

Some subtitles. 112 min. NNNN (NW) Carlton Cinema, Scotiabank Theatre

ñ

12 YEARS A SLAVE (Steve McQueen)

ñ

finds McQueen rebounding from the uneven Shame with this stunning adaptation of the memoir by Solomon Northup, a free American sold into slavery in 1841 and forced to spend more than a decade concealing his identity on a series of Southern plantations before he could contact his friends in the North. Chiwetel Ejiofor is a revelation as a man forced to conceal his intelligence and compassion – his very essence – in order to survive, and Benedict Cumberbatch and McQueen regular Michael Fassbender offer diametrically opposed performances as Northup’s masters over the years. Alfre Woodard, Sarah Paulson and Michael Kenneth Williams make effective appearances, and producer Brad Pitt turns up as a good-natured Canadian. McQueen directs with a total lack of sentiment, crafting each sequence with a merciless forward momentum that compensates for the episodic nature of the narrative. One of the best films of the year. 133 min. NNNNN (NW) Carlton Cinema, Interchange 30, SilverCity Mississauga, Yonge & Dundas 24

TYLER PERRY’S A MADEA CHRISTMAS

(Tyler Perry) is easily the most enjoyable Perry movie in years. Granted that’s not saying a whole lot since Perry’s brand of comic soap opera is as repellent to critics as it is welcome to its target “urban” audiences. This time around Perry holds back

46

JANUARY 2-8 2014 NOW

accuracy of a nature doc. Justin Long gives a broad reading as the voice of young Patchasomething who must endure the winter migration while staying clear of deadly mini-T-Rexes called gorgonzolas or something – the lesson didn’t stick. These dinos may not be familiar to the average Jurassic Park fan, but everything else about the movie certainly is. The educational mandate doesn’t get much of an assist from the attempts at thrills, gags and romance, which are so old and decayed they’re fossilized. 87 min. NN (RS) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Canada Square, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Mississauga, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24

WHEN JEWS WERE FUNNY (Alan Zweig) is

a survey of North American Jewish comics with an elusive theme and a lack of female subjects. But it’s very entertaining – it took Best Canadian Feature honours at TIFF 2013 – and interviews with the likes of old pros Norm Crosby, Jack Carter and Shelley Berman are fascinating. 90 min.

NNN (SGC) Kingsway Theatre

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (Martin Scor-

sese) is another sprawling look at the inner workings of a massive criminal enterprise, like Goodfellas and Casino; here, it’s the stock frauds and swindles of rich prick Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio). Scorsese’s prior kicks at this particular can are shot through with real consequence, but the worst thing that can happen to Belfort is that he might face a little jail time for the his white-collar crimes, which are so complex that the movie can’t even engage with them. Since the stakes are so low – and since Belfort is so unlikeable – Scorsese plays the story as a cartoon, treating the ludicrous corporate culture of Belfort’s company, Stratton Oakmont, like a bacchanal and rushing alongside him through the increasingly Dionysian universe he creates around himself. But the movie doesn’t know when to quit, and three hours of spectacular excess proves exhausting. 180 min. NN (NW) 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Courtney Park 16, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande - Steeles, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Varsity 3

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506 BLOOR ST. W., 416-637-3123

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

47 RONIN (PG) Tue-Wed 1:15, 3:55, 6:45, 9:20 ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES (PG) Tue-Wed Everything Toronto 1:35, 4:10, 6:55, 9:25 CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (14A) Tue-Wed 3:50, 9:10 DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (18A) Tue-Wed 1:40, 4:10, 6:50, 9:20 GRAVITY (PG) Tue-Wed 9:35 GRUDGE MATCH (14A) Tue-Wed 1:45, 4:15, 7:00, 9:30 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (PG) Tue-Wed 1:30, 4:50, 8:10 NEBRASKA (PG) Tue-Wed 1:25, 4:05, 6:55, 9:25 SECRET OF THE WINGS Tue-Wed 1:20, 3:50, 6:35, 9:15 THOR: THE DARK WORLD (PG) Tue-Wed 1:20, 6:40 12 YEARS A SLAVE (14A) Tue-Wed 1:15, 4:00, 6:45

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

AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) Tue-Wed 12:50, 3:55, 6:50, 9:35 ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES (PG) Tue-Wed 1:00, 3:40, 6:55, 9:25 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (PG) Tue-Wed 12:35, 3:50, 7:15 SAVING MR. BANKS (PG) Tue-Wed 12:40, 3:35, 6:35, 9:35 THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (PG) Tue-Wed 1:05, 3:50, 6:40, 9:15 THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (18A) Tue-Wed 12:45, 4:30, 8:15

SCOTIABANK THEATRE (CE) 259 RICHMOND ST W, 416-368-5600

47 RONIN (PG) Tue-Wed 11:15, 2:15 47 RONIN 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 10:55, 1:45, 4:40, 5:10, 7:40, 8:05, 10:45, 11:10 GRUDGE MATCH (14A) Tue-Wed 11:05, 1:00, 2:00, 3:50, 4:55, 7:00, 7:50, 9:50, 10:30 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG 3D (PG) TueWed 11:55, 12:35, 3:35, 4:20, 7:15, 8:35, 11:00 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG: AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE (PG) Tue-Wed 11:30, 2:55, 6:20, 10:00 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (PG) Tue-Wed 1:30, 5:35, 9:20 THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (PG) Tue-Wed 12:05, 12:50, 3:20, 4:10, 6:50, 7:30, 10:15, 10:55 THOR: THE DARK WORLD (PG) Tue-Wed 11:40, 2:30 THOR: THE DARK WORLD 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 5:20, 8:20, 11:10 THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (18A) Tue-Wed 10:50, 12:20, 1:15, 2:40, 4:30, 5:45, 6:40, 8:50, 9:40, 10:40

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

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (14A) Tue-Wed 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 6:30, 7:30, 9:00, 10:00

VARSITY (CE)

55 BLOOR ST W, 416-961-6304 AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) Tue-Wed 12:25, 3:45, 7:05, 10:25 HER (14A) Tue-Wed 1:05, 4:15, 7:20, 10:30 INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (14A) Tue-Wed 1:20, 2:00, 4:00, 4:45, 6:50, 7:30, 9:40, 10:10 MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM (14A) Tue-Wed 12:00, 3:25, 6:55, 10:20 PHILOMENA (PG) Tue-Wed 12:20, 2:45, 5:20, 7:55, 10:30 SAVING MR. BANKS (PG) Tue-Wed 11:55, 4:20, 7:15, 10:30

MUSCLE SHOALS (PG) Tue-Wed 7:00 NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON (14A) Wed 4:30 SHORT TERM 12 (14A) Tue 4:30

SILVERCITY YONGE (CE) 47 RONIN 3D (PG) Tue 11:10, 3:10, 7:10, 10:05 Wed 11:10, 2:10, 5:05, 8:00, 10:55 AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) Tue 12:10, 3:25, 6:45, 9:55 Wed 12:10, 3:20, 6:50, 10:05 ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES (PG) Tue 11:20, 3:00, 7:00, 10:00 Wed 11:05, 2:00, 4:55, 7:50, 10:45 FROZEN (G) Tue 11:50 Wed 11:45 FROZEN 3D (G) Tue 2:45, 6:30 Wed 2:30, 5:30, 8:20 GRUDGE MATCH (14A) Tue 11:00, 1:45, 4:30, 7:20, 10:05 Wed 11:00, 1:45, 4:35, 7:30, 10:25 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG 3D (PG) Tue 1:15, 5:00, 8:45 Wed 12:00, 3:30, 7:10, 10:50 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (PG) Tue 12:00, 3:40, 7:30 Wed 11:20, 2:55, 6:30, 10:15 THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (PG) Tue 9:25 Wed 11:00 THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (PG) Tue 11:30, 2:30, 6:20, 9:15 Wed 11:30, 2:20, 5:15, 8:10, 11:00 THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (18A) Tue 12:20, 4:20, 8:30 Wed 10:55, 2:45, 6:40, 10:35

Metro

BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA (I) BLACKFISH (PG) Wed 4:15 EXPEDITION TO THE END OF THE WORLD (PG) Tue 5:45 Wed 8:45 MAIDENTRIP (G) Tue 3:30 Wed 6:30

551 MT PLEASANT RD, 416-480-9884

2300 YONGE ST, 416-544-1236

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

10-year-old schoolgirl Wadjda (Waad Mohammed), who enters a Koran study contest so she can buy a bicycle with the winnings. The premise is sly enough – females aren’t allowed to drive in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia – and Mohammed is appealing as the young heroine, but Al-Mansour’s depiction of everyday Saudi life is what counts here.

Subtitled. 97 min. NNNN (SGC) Interchange 30, Kingsway Theatre

REGENT THEATRE (I)

Everything Toronto

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (18A) Tue-Wed 12:30, 2:50, 6:40, 10:10

VIP SCREENINGS

AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) Tue-Wed 12:15, 3:15, 6:35, 9:35 HER (14A) Tue-Wed 1:00, 3:55, 6:50, 10:05 INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (14A) Tue-Wed 12:05, 3:35, 6:25, 9:55 THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (18A) Tue-Wed 11:55, 2:35, 6:15, 9:00

YONGE & DUNDAS 24 (CE) 10 DUNDAS ST E, 416-335-5323

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER Tue 4:00, 7:00 AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) Tue-Wed 12:45, 3:00, 4:00, 6:45, 7:30, 10:15, 11:15 ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES (PG) Tue-Wed 12:30, 1:15, 2:00, 3:25, 4:15, 5:00, 6:30, 7:15, 8:00, 9:15, 10:10, 11:00 DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (18A) Tue-Wed 12:20, 3:10, 6:10, 9:30 DHOOM: 3 THE IMAX EXPERIENCE (PG) Tue-Wed 2:30, 6:15, 10:15 DIE HARD (14A) Wed 4:30 DIE HARD 2 Wed 7:15 FROZEN (G) Tue-Wed 12:00 FROZEN 3D (G) Tue-Wed 2:35, 5:05, 7:40, 10:20 GRAVITY 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 1:50, 4:05, 6:20, 8:35, 10:50 JUSTIN BIEBER’S BELIEVE (PG) Tue-Wed 12:40, 3:15, 5:55, 8:30, 11:05 LOVE ACTUALLY (14A) Wed 1:45 MADOKA MAGICA THE MOVIE: REBELLION (PG) Tue 1:30, 9:50 Wed 9:55 MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM (14A) Tue-Wed 12:05, 3:35, 7:00, 10:25 PERSONAL TAILOR (PG) Tue-Wed 12:55, 3:55, 7:05, 10:05 PHILOMENA (PG) Tue-Wed 12:15 SAVING MR. BANKS (PG) Tue-Wed 12:45, 4:20, 7:25, 10:30 THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (PG) Tue-Wed 12:50, 1:55, 3:50, 4:55, 6:55, 7:55, 9:50, 10:55 12 YEARS A SLAVE (14A) Tue-Wed 12:35, 3:40, 6:40, 9:55 TYLER PERRY’S A MADEA CHRISTMAS (14A) Tue-Wed 10:35 WALKING WITH DINOSAURS (PG) Tue-Wed 12:10 WALKING WITH DINOSAURS 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 2:45, 5:20, 7:50

Midtown CANADA SQUARE (CE) 2200 YONGE ST, 416-646-0444

THE BOOK THIEF (PG) Tue-Wed 12:40, 3:30, 6:20, 9:10 DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (18A) Tue-Wed 1:40, 4:20, 7:10, 9:50 THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (PG) Tue-Wed 2:00, 5:20, 8:30 JUSTIN BIEBER’S BELIEVE (PG) Tue-Wed 2:10, 4:30, 6:50, 9:20 NEBRASKA (PG) Tue-Wed 1:10, 3:50, 6:30, 9:15 PHILOMENA (PG) Tue-Wed 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45 SAVING MR. BANKS (PG) Tue-Wed 1:20, 4:10, 7:00, 9:50 WALKING WITH DINOSAURS (PG) Tue-Wed 12:20, 2:40 WALKING WITH DINOSAURS 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 5:00, 7:20, 9:30

MT PLEASANT (I)

675 MT PLEASANT RD, 416-489-8484 BLUE JASMINE (14A) Tue 7:00 Wed 4:30 LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER (14A) Tue 4:10 Wed 7:00

West End HUMBER CINEMAS (I) 2442 BLOOR ST. WEST, 416-769-2442

AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) Tue-Wed 12:30, 3:30, 6:45, 9:40 ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES (PG) Tue-Wed 12:45, 3:45, 7:00, 9:50 FROZEN (G) Tue-Wed 1:00, 4:00, 7:10 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (PG) Tue-Wed 12:00, 3:10, 6:30, 10:00 THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (PG) Tue-Wed 9:30

KINGSWAY THEATRE (I) 3030 BLOOR ST W, 416-232-1939

THE BOOK THIEF (PG) Tue 3:40 DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (18A) Tue-Wed 9:30 MUSCLE SHOALS (PG) Tue-Wed 11:25, 9:30 NEBRASKA (PG) Tue-Wed 5:55 NICKY’S FAMILY (PG) Tue-Wed 1:20, 7:35 NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON (14A) Wed 3:40 PHILOMENA (PG) Tue-Wed 12:00, 7:55 RUSH (14A) Tue-Wed 1:35 WADJDA (PG) Tue-Wed 4:20 WHEN JEWS WERE FUNNY (14A) Tue-Wed 2:50, 6:00

QUEENSWAY (CE)

1025 THE QUEENSWAY, QEW & ISLINGTON, 416-503-0424 47 RONIN 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 11:15, 2:00, 5:10, 8:10, 11:15 AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER Tue 4:00 AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) Tue-Wed 12:20, 3:50, 7:10, 10:30 ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES (PG) Tue-Wed 10:50, 1:45, 4:50, 7:50, 10:50 FROZEN (G) Tue-Wed 11:30 FROZEN 3D (G) Tue 2:10, 4:55, 7:55, 10:35 Wed 2:10, 5:00, 7:55, 10:35 GRUDGE MATCH (14A) Tue-Wed 11:05, 1:55, 4:40, 7:30, 10:25 HER (14A) Tue 12:50, 4:10, 7:45, 10:45 Wed 10:45, 1:45, 4:45, 7:45, 10:45 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG 3D (PG) TueWed 11:55, 3:40, 7:20, 11:10 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (PG) Tue-Wed 11:10, 2:50, 6:30, 10:15 THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (PG) Tue 12:40, 7:40, 11:05 Wed 12:40, 4:10, 7:40, 11:05 INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (14A) Tue-Wed 11:00, 1:30, 4:20, 7:00, 9:50 PHILOMENA (PG) Tue 10:55, 1:20, 3:55, 6:50, 9:30 Wed 10:55, 1:20, 4:00, 6:50, 9:30 SAVING MR. BANKS (PG) Tue-Wed 10:50, 1:50, 4:55, 8:00, 11:00 THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (PG) Tue-Wed 11:20, 2:20, 5:20, 8:20, 11:15 WALKING WITH DINOSAURS (PG) Tue-Wed 10:45, 1:05 WALKING WITH DINOSAURS 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 3:30, 6:05, 8:30 THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (18A) Tue-Wed 10:45, 2:40, 6:40, 10:40

RAINBOW WOODBINE (I)

WOODBINE CENTRE, 500 REXDALE BLVD, 416-213-1998 AMERICAN HUSTLE (14A) Tue 12:50, 3:45, 6:40 Wed 12:50, 3:45, 6:40, 9:35 ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES (PG) Tue 1:20, 3:55, 6:45 Wed 1:20, 3:55, 6:45, 9:30 FROZEN (G) Tue-Wed 1:15, 4:15, 7:00 GRUDGE MATCH (14A) Tue 1:00, 4:05, 6:55 Wed 1:00, 4:05, 6:55, 9:45

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG) Tue-Wed 12:45, 4:00, 7:15 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) Tue 1:10, 4:10, 6:50 Wed 1:10, 4:10, 6:50, 9:20 Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (14A) Wed 9:25 Walking With Dinosaurs (PG) Tue 12:55, 2:55, 5:00, 7:05 Wed 12:55, 2:55, 5:00, 7:05, 9:10

East End Beach Cinemas (AA) 1651 Queen St E, 416-699-1327

American Hustle (14A) Tue-Wed 12:45, 4:00, 7:15, 10:15 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG) Tue-Wed 1:30, 4:30, 7:40, 10:40 Frozen (G) Tue-Wed 12:30 Frozen 3D (G) Tue-Wed 3:45, 6:45 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) TueWed 12:00, 3:30, 7:00, 10:30 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Tue-Wed 9:30 Walking With Dinosaurs (PG) Tue-Wed 12:15 Walking With Dinosaurs 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 2:35, 5:00, 7:25, 9:45 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Tue-Wed 12:45, 4:45, 8:40

North York Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk (CE) 5095 Yonge St., 416-847-0087

American Hustle (14A) Tue-Wed 12:20, 3:40, 7:00, 10:20 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG) Tue-Wed 2:00, 5:00, 7:50, 10:45 Frozen (G) Tue-Wed 11:00 Frozen 3D (G) Tue-Wed 1:50, 4:50, 7:40 Grudge Match (14A) Tue-Wed 1:20, 4:10, 7:25, 10:15 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: An IMAX 3D Experience (PG) Tue-Wed 12:00, 3:30, 7:10, 10:50 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Tue-Wed 10:25 Inside Llewyn Davis (14A) Tue-Wed 12:00, 2:40, 5:20, 8:00, 10:40 Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (14A) Tue-Wed 11:45, 3:20, 6:55, 10:30 Saving Mr. Banks (PG) Tue-Wed 12:45, 3:50, 6:50, 10:00 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) Tue-Wed 1:30, 4:20, 7:20, 10:15 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Tue-Wed 1:40, 5:40, 9:40

SilverCity Fairview (CE)

Fairview Mall, 1800 Sheppard Ave E, 416-644-7746 47 Ronin 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 11:00, 2:00, 4:55, 7:55, 10:50 American Hustle (14A) Tue-Wed 1:00, 4:10, 7:20, 10:30 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG) Tue-Wed 11:15, 2:15, 5:05, 8:05, 11:00 Frozen (G) Tue-Wed 11:50 Frozen 3D (G) Tue-Wed 2:35, 5:25, 8:10 Grudge Match (14A) Tue-Wed 2:30, 5:20, 8:00, 10:45 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) TueWed 12:15, 3:40, 7:10, 10:40 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Tue-Wed 10:55 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) Tue-Wed 11:25, 2:10, 5:00, 7:45, 10:30 Walking With Dinosaurs (PG) Tue-Wed 12:05 Walking With Dinosaurs 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 12:40, 3:05, 5:30, 7:50 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Tue-Wed 11:10, 3:00, 6:50, 10:35

SilverCity Yorkdale (CE) 3401 Dufferin St, 416-787-2052

47 Ronin 3D (PG) Tue 1:50, 4:50, 7:50, 10:40 Wed 10:55, 1:50, 4:50, 7:50, 10:50 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG) Tue 1:40, 4:35, 7:35, 10:35 Wed 10:45, 1:40, 4:35, 7:35, 10:35 Frozen (G) Tue-Wed 11:00 Frozen 3D (G) Tue-Wed 1:45, 4:35, 7:25 Grudge Match (14A) Tue 11:10, 2:00, 4:55, 7:55, 10:45 Wed 11:10, 2:00, 4:55, 7:55, 10:55 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) Tue 11:55, 3:35, 7:15, 10:45 Wed 11:55, 3:35, 7:15, 10:55 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG) Tue-Wed 11:20, 2:55, 6:35, 10:15 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Tue-Wed 12:10, 3:30, 6:55, 10:20 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) Tue 11:05, 1:55, 4:50, 7:45, 10:35 Wed 11:05, 1:55, 4:50, 7:45, 10:45 Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (14A) Tue-Wed 10:15 Walking With Dinosaurs (PG) Tue-Wed 12:00 Walking With Dinosaurs 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 2:30, 5:00, 7:30 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Tue-Wed 10:45, 2:40, 6:40, 10:40

Saving Mr. Banks (PG) Tue-Wed 12:30, 3:45, 6:50, 9:45 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) Tue-Wed 2:15, 5:10, 7:50, 10:35 Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (14A) Tue-Wed 9:30 Walking With Dinosaurs (PG) Tue-Wed 12:10, 2:30 Walking With Dinosaurs 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 4:50, 7:10 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Tue-Wed 12:45, 4:40, 8:45

Coliseum Scarborough (CE) Scarborough Town Centre, 416-290-5217

47 Ronin 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 11:15, 2:05, 4:55, 7:45, 10:35 American Hustle (14A) Tue-Wed 12:50, 4:00, 7:15, 10:30 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG) Tue-Wed 11:25, 2:15, 5:05, 7:55, 10:45 Frozen (G) Tue-Wed 12:00 Frozen 3D (G) Tue-Wed 2:40, 5:20, 8:00 Grudge Match (14A) Tue-Wed 11:15, 2:00, 4:50, 7:35, 10:25 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) TueWed 12:15, 3:45, 7:20, 10:55 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG) Tue-Wed 11:40, 3:10, 6:40, 10:15 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Tue-Wed 1:00, 4:20, 7:40, 11:00 Saving Mr. Banks (PG) Tue-Wed 11:00, 1:50, 4:40, 7:30, 10:20 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) Tue-Wed 11:45, 2:30, 5:25, 8:10, 11:00 Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (14A) Tue-Wed 10:35 Walking With Dinosaurs (PG) Tue-Wed 11:00 Walking With Dinosaurs 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 1:20, 3:40, 6:05, 8:30 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Tue-Wed 11:10, 3:00, 6:50, 10:40

Eglinton Town Centre (CE) 1901 Eglinton Ave E, 416-752-4494

47 Ronin 3D (PG) Tue 1:30, 4:30, 7:40, 10:35 Wed 11:00, 1:50, 4:45, 7:45, 10:40 An Affair to Remember Tue 4:00 American Hustle (14A) Tue 12:30, 3:50, 7:05, 10:25 Wed 12:30, 3:50, 7:05, 10:30 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG) Tue 1:00, 1:10, 4:20, 7:30, 8:05, 10:35 Wed 11:20, 1:10, 2:15, 4:05, 5:10, 7:00, 8:05, 10:10, 11:10 Dhoom 3 (PG) Tue 11:05, 2:50, 6:35, 10:20 Wed 11:05, 2:50, 6:45, 10:45 Frozen (G) Tue 11:20 Wed 11:05, 12:00 Frozen 3D (G) Tue 2:00, 4:40, 7:20 Wed 2:40, 5:20, 8:00 Grudge Match (14A) Tue 1:05, 4:10, 7:00, 9:50 Wed 11:15, 2:00, 4:50, 7:40, 10:35 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) Tue 11:55, 3:30, 7:10, 10:45 Wed 12:10, 3:45, 7:25, 11:05 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG) Tue 11:30, 4:05, 6:35, 10:15 Wed 11:30, 2:55, 6:35, 10:15 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Tue 2:55, 6:20, 9:45 Wed 4:10, 7:35, 11:00 Justin Bieber’s Believe (PG) Tue 11:50, 2:20, 5:10, 8:00, 10:30 Wed 12:05, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (14A) Tue-Wed 11:15, 2:45, 6:30, 10:05 Philomena (PG) Tue 12:25 Wed 1:40 Saving Mr. Banks (PG) Tue 11:00, 1:50, 4:50, 7:50, 10:45 Wed 11:00, 1:55, 4:55, 7:55, 10:55 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) Tue 11:30, 2:10, 5:10, 8:00, 10:50 Wed 11:40, 2:30, 5:20, 8:10, 11:05 Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (14A) Tue 9:55 Wed 10:50 Walking With Dinosaurs (PG) Tue-Wed 11:00, 1:20 Walking With Dinosaurs 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 3:45, 6:15, 8:40 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Tue 11:10, 3:00, 6:50, 10:40 Wed 11:10, 3:00, 6:55, 10:50

Woodside Cinemas (I) 1571 Sandhurst Circle, 416-299-3456

Biriyani Tue-Wed 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 10:30 Dhoom 3 (PG) Tue-Wed 12:00, 3:15, 6:30, 9:45 Endrendrum Punnagai Tue-Wed 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 10:15

GTA Regions Mississauga

Coliseum Mississauga (CE) Square One, 309 Rathburn Rd W, 905-275-3456

47 Ronin 3D (PG) Tue 12:40, 3:50, 7:20, 10:15 Wed 12:40, 4:10, 7:25, 10:30 An Affair to Remember Tue 4:00 American Hustle (14A) Tue 11:30, 2:55, 6:25, 9:45 Wed 12:30, 3:55, 7:20, 10:45 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG) Tue 11:40,

12:50, 3:00, 6:20, 6:55, 9:20, 10:00 Wed 12:50, 1:40, 3:50, 4:45, 6:55, 7:50, 10:00, 10:55 Frozen (G) Tue 1:00 Wed 1:10 Frozen 3D (G) Tue 4:15, 7:10, 10:05 Wed 4:30, 7:30, 10:20 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) Tue 1:20, 5:00, 9:00 Wed 1:00, 5:00, 9:00 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: An IMAX 3D Experience (PG) Tue 12:00, 3:25, 6:50, 10:15 Wed 12:00, 3:30, 7:10, 10:50 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG) Tue 12:30, 4:05, 8:00 Wed 11:30, 3:00, 6:40, 10:25 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Tue 11:50, 3:15, 6:45, 10:10 Wed 11:50, 3:15, 7:05, 10:40 Justin Bieber’s Believe (PG) Tue 1:30, 4:30, 7:15, 9:50 Wed 11:40, 2:25, 5:15, 8:10, 11:00 Saving Mr. Banks (PG) Tue 12:20, 3:35, 6:40, 9:55 Wed 12:20, 3:35, 6:45, 10:10 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) Tue 12:10, 3:20, 6:30, 9:30 Wed 12:10, 3:20, 6:30, 9:50 Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (14A) Tue 1:10, 4:20, 7:00, 9:40 Wed 1:20, 4:20, 7:00, 9:40

Courtney Park 16 (CE)

110 Courtney Park E at Hurontario, 416-335-5323 47 Ronin 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 12:50, 3:45, 6:45, 9:35 American Hustle (14A) Tue-Wed 1:05, 4:10, 7:15, 10:20 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG) Tue-Wed 12:10, 1:00, 2:00, 3:50, 4:50, 6:40, 7:45, 9:30, 10:35 Dhoom 3 (PG) Tue-Wed 2:25, 6:05, 9:45, 10:00 Dhoom: 3 The IMAX Experience (PG) Tue-Wed 12:00, 3:35, 7:10, 10:45 Frozen (G) Tue-Wed 12:00 Frozen 3D (G) Tue-Wed 2:35, 5:10, 7:50 Grudge Match (14A) Tue-Wed 2:05, 4:45, 7:20, 10:05 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) TueWed 12:00, 3:30, 7:00, 10:30 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG) Tue-Wed 12:30, 4:00, 7:30, 11:00 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Tue-Wed 12:10, 3:40, 6:55, 10:10 Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (14A) Tue-Wed 12:20, 3:55, 7:25, 10:50 Saving Mr. Banks (PG) Tue-Wed 12:15, 3:20, 6:30, 9:25 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) Tue-Wed 1:35, 4:20, 7:05, 9:50 Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (14A) Tue-Wed 10:25 Walking With Dinosaurs (PG) Tue-Wed 12:05, 12:35 Walking With Dinosaurs 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 2:55, 5:15, 7:35 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Tue-Wed 3:00, 6:50, 10:40

SilverCity Mississauga (CE) Hwy 5, east of Hwy 403, 905-569-3373

The Book Thief (PG) Tue-Wed 12:55, 7:10 Dallas Buyers Club (18A) Tue-Wed 1:05, 3:55, 6:55, 10:00 Delivery Man (PG) Tue-Wed 12:00, 2:40, 5:10, 7:45, 10:20 Grudge Match (14A) Tue-Wed 1:00, 2:00, 3:45, 4:50, 6:50, 7:40, 9:50, 10:30 Last Vegas (PG) Tue-Wed 4:10, 10:10 Saving Mr. Banks (PG) Tue-Wed 12:30, 1:30, 3:30, 4:30, 6:40, 7:30, 9:40, 10:25 12 Years a Slave (14A) Tue-Wed 12:45, 4:05, 7:05, 10:05 Walking With Dinosaurs (PG) Tue-Wed 1:15, 4:00, 6:35, 9:15 Walking With Dinosaurs 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 12:15, 2:35, 5:00, 7:25, 9:45

North Colossus (CE) Hwy 400 & 7, 905-851-1001

47 Ronin 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 11:25, 2:15, 5:05, 7:55, 11:10 American Hustle (14A) Tue-Wed 12:50, 4:00, 7:15, 10:30 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG) Tue-Wed 11:05, 11:50, 1:55, 2:45, 4:45, 5:35, 7:35, 8:25, 10:25, 11:30 Frozen (G) Tue-Wed 11:00, 12:00 Frozen 3D (G) Tue-Wed 2:40, 5:25, 8:00, 10:35 Gravity 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 11:10, 1:30, 3:50, 6:15, 8:40, 11:00 Grudge Match (14A) Tue-Wed 11:30, 2:20, 5:20, 8:05, 11:15 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) TueWed 12:15, 3:45, 7:20, 11:00 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: An IMAX 3D Experience (PG) Tue-Wed 11:40, 3:10, 6:40, 10:15 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG) Tue-Wed 1:45, 5:15, 8:40 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Tue-Wed 1:00, 4:15, 7:40, 11:15 Justin Bieber’s Believe (PG) Tue-Wed 12:30, 2:55, 5:25, 7:50, 10:20 Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (14A) Tue-Wed 11:20, 2:50, 6:30, 10:00 Saving Mr. Banks (PG) Tue-Wed 11:10, 2:00, 4:50, 7:45, 10:55 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) Tue-Wed 11:45,

2:30, 5:30, 8:15, 11:25 Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (14A) Tue-Wed 12:40, 3:15, 5:45, 8:10, 11:05 Walking With Dinosaurs (PG) Tue-Wed 11:00 Walking With Dinosaurs 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 1:20, 3:40, 6:05, 8:30 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Tue-Wed 11:15, 12:20, 3:00, 4:20, 6:50, 8:20, 10:40

Interchange 30 (AMC)

30 Interchange Way, Hwy 400 & Hwy 7, 416-335-5323 All Is Lost (PG) Tue 2:30, 5:00, 7:30 Wed 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 The Best Man Holiday (14A) Tue 2:15, 4:50, 7:20 Wed 2:15, 4:50, 7:20, 9:55 Captain Phillips (14A) Tue 4:30, 7:15 Wed 4:30, 7:15, 10:00 Delivery Man (PG) Tue 2:00, 4:30 Wed 2:00, 4:30, 9:55 Dhoom 3 (PG) Tue 2:00, 6:30 Wed 2:00, 5:30, 9:00 Elysium (14A) Tue 2:30, 5:05, 7:45 Wed 2:30, 5:05, 7:40, 9:50 Ender’s Game (PG) Tue 2:15, 4:45, 7:15 Wed 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:50 The Family (14A) Tue 2:00, 4:35, 7:10 Wed 2:00, 4:35, 7:10, 9:50 Free Birds (G) Tue 3:10, 5:15, 7:35 Wed 2:20, 4:50, 7:00, 9:30 Last Vegas (PG) Tue 2:25, 4:55, 7:25 Wed 2:05, 4:30, 7:05, 9:35 Philomena (PG) Tue 2:55, 5:00, 7:25 Wed 2:55, 5:00, 7:25, 9:45 Prisoners (14A) Tue 3:15, 6:25 Wed 3:15, 6:25, 9:25 12 Years a Slave (14A) Tue-Wed 7:00 Wadjda (PG) Tue 3:00, 5:10, 7:30 Wed 3:00, 5:10, 7:30, 9:40

6:55, 9:30 Frozen (G) Tue-Wed 1:20, 4:05, 7:00 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG) Tue 1:00, 4:30 Wed 1:00, 4:30, 8:00 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Tue-Wed 9:25 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) Tue 1:05, 4:00, 7:05 Wed 1:05, 4:00, 7:05, 9:40 Walking With Dinosaurs (PG) Tue 1:30, 4:10, 7:10 Wed 1:30, 4:10, 7:10, 9:15 The Wolf of Wall Street (18A) Tue 12:45, 4:20 Wed 12:45, 4:20, 8:00

West Grande - Steeles (CE) Hwy 410 & Steeles, 905-455-1590

47 Ronin 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 1:35, 4:25, 7:15, 10:05 American Hustle (14A) Tue-Wed 12:20, 3:40, 6:55, 10:15 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG) Tue 1:00, 3:55, 7:00, 9:55 Wed 1:45, 4:35, 7:30, 10:20 Frozen (G) Tue-Wed 12:00 Frozen 3D (G) Tue-Wed 2:35, 5:05, 7:40 Grudge Match (14A) Tue 1:45, 4:30, 7:20, 10:10 Wed 11:55, 4:30, 7:20, 10:10 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) Tue 12:40, 4:15, 7:50 Wed 12:00, 3:30, 7:00, 10:30 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Tue 10:15 Wed 10:20 Saving Mr. Banks (PG) Tue-Wed 1:20, 4:10, 7:05, 10:00 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) Tue 2:15, 4:55, 7:35, 10:15 Wed 2:15, 4:55, 7:45, 10:30 Walking With Dinosaurs (PG) Tue-Wed 12:15 Walking With Dinosaurs 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 2:35, 5:00, 7:25 The Wolf13-12-10 of Wall Street12:39 (18A) TuePM 12:45, Page 4:45, 8:451 RCM_NOW_contests_1-5bw_MBA_Jan2__V Promenade Mall, Hwy 7 & Bathurst, 416-494-9371 Wed 12:30, 2:40, 6:30, 10:25 3 Anchorman 2 (PG) Tue 1:10, 3:55, 6:55 Wed 1:10, 3:55,

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47 Ronin 3D (PG) Tue-Wed 1:40, 4:30, 7:40, 10:30 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG) Tue-Wed 1:30, 4:20, 7:30, 10:15 Frozen (G) Tue-Wed 12:15 Frozen 3D (G) Tue-Wed 2:45, 5:20, 8:00 Grudge Match (14A) Tue-Wed 1:10, 4:10, 7:20, 10:00 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (PG) TueWed 12:00, 3:30, 7:00, 10:25 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG) Tue-Wed 1:20, 5:00, 8:30 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG) Tue-Wed 10:35 Justin Bieber’s Believe (PG) Tue-Wed 12:55, 3:10, 5:30, 8:10, 10:30

NOW january 2-8 2014

47

indie&rep film complete festivals, independent and

repertory schedules

How to find a listing

Unkept Promise

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

ñ= Critics’ pick (highly recommended)

AMERICAN PROMISE (Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson) Rating: NN Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson are parents and directors, and American Promise often blurs the line ­between their two roles.

The documentary tracks their son, Idris, and (less frequently) his friend Seun from age five to 18. They’re among the few black kids at Dalton, a Manhattan private school. The film hopes to capture the exper­ience of African Americans in an elite educational system that presumably caters to white kids.

Like the student who doesn’t reach his potential, the doc begins with plenty of promise but never achieves its goal. Setting an agenda is the initial problem, since we’re constantly looking at the growing pains of a child through the filter of race. Whether Idris is being selected for special attention or accused of slacking, his parents immediately consider whether skin has something to do with it.

Issues of race and class are unfortunately expected to arise, but in this case they’re also vague in their occurrences. If Idris is different because he’s African American, he stands out even more because he has a camera crew following him to class.

The intended point gets muddled by the unpredictability of real life. If American Promise is watchable, it’s because it manages to provide an intimate and periodically moving look at living with misguided parents.

Opens Saturday (January 4) at the Bloor Hot Docs RADHEYAN SIMONPILLAI Cinema.

How to place a listing

All listings are free. Send to: movies@nowtoronto.com, fax to 416-3641166 or mail to Rep Cinemas, NOW Magazine, 189 Church, Toronto M5B 1Y7. Include film title, year of release, names of director(s), language and subtitle info, venue, address, time, cost and advance ticket sales if any, phone number for reservations/info or website address. Deadline is the Thursday before publication at 5 pm.

Cinemas big picture cinema gerrard 1035 gerrard e. bigpicturecinema.com

thu 2 – Muscle Shoals (2013) D: Greg “­Freddy” Camalier. 3:30 pm. A Touch ñ Of Sin (2013) D: Zhangke Jia. 7 pm. fri 3 -wed 8 – Check website for schedule.

BLOOR hot docs Cinema

506 Bloor W. 416-637-3123. bloorcinema.com

Thu 2 – The Expedition To The End Of The

World (2013) D: Daniel Dencik. 4 pm. 2013 Cannes Lions Awards: The World’s Best Commercials. 6:30 pm. The Act Of Killing (2012) D: Joshua Oppenheimer. 9:15 pm. fri 3 – More Than Honey (2012) D: Markus Imhoof. 3:45 & 6:30 pm. Desert Runners (2013) D: Jennifer Steinman. 9 pm. sat 4 – American Promise (2013) D: Joe Brewster and Michele Stephenson. 12:30 pm. More Than Honey. 3:30 & 8:45 pm. Desert Runners. 6 pm. sun 5 – More Than Honey. 12:30 & 6 pm.

American Promise. 2:45 pm. Desert Runners. 8:30 pm. mon 6 – American Promise. 6:15 pm. Desert Runners. 9:15 pm.

Tue 7 – Desert Runners. 3:45 pm. More Than Honey. 6:30 pm. American Promise. 9 pm.

Wed 8 – More Than Honey. 3:30 pm. Hot Docs Doc Soup presents A Fragile Trust (2013) D: Samantha Grant. 6:30 & 9:15 pm. $15. h ­ otdocs.ca.

Camera Bar

1028 Queen W. 416-530-0011. camerabar.ca

sat 4 – Our Street Was Paved With Gold

(1973) D: Albert Kish, and Weekend At Bernie’s (1989) D: Ted Kotcheff. 3 pm.

cinematheque tiff bell ­lightbox

American Promise tracks the lives of Idris ­Brewster (left) and Seun ­Summers from age five to 18.

3D. 2 pm. About Time. 4 & 7 pm. Gravity 3D. 9:30 pm. sat 4-sun 5 – Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 3D. 2 pm. Gravity 3D. 4 & 9:30 pm. About Time. 7 pm. mon 6-wed 8 – Check website for schedule.

GRAHAM SPRY THEATRE

CBC Museum, CBC Broadcast Centre, 250 Front W, 416-205-5574. cbc.ca

thu 2-wed 8 – Continuous screenings ­Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Free.

thu 2-wed 8 – Holiday season and winter preview.

ontario science centre

770 Don Mills. 416-696-3127. ontariosciencecentre.ca

thu 2-fri 3 – Great White Shark. 11 am, 1 & 3 pm. Under The Sea. Noon & 4 pm. Flight Of The Butterflies. 2 pm.

Sat 4-sun 5 – Great White Shark. 11 am, 1 & 3 pm. Under The Sea. Noon & 4 pm. Flight Of The Butterflies. 2 pm. mon 6 -wed 8 – Check website for schedule.

reg hartt’s cineforum 463 Bathurst. 416-603-6643.

thu 2 – Alice In The Wall: Alice In Wonder-

land (1933) D: Norman Z McLeod, with a soundtrack from Pink Floyd’s The Wall. 7 pm. Darkside Of Oz: The Wizard Of Oz (1939) D: Victor Fleming, with a soundtrack from Pink Floyd’s Darkside Of The Moon. 9 pm. sat 4 – The Best Of The Sex & Violence Car-

reitman square, 350 king w. 416-599-8433, tiff.net

thu 2 – Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki X 2: My Neighbor Totoro (1988). 1 & ñ 6 pm; Castle In The Sky (1986). 3:15 pm. Only

2 3D (2013) D: Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn.

2 pm. About Time (2013) D: Richard Curtis. 4 & 7 pm. Gravity 3D (2013) D: Alfonso Cuarón. 9:30 pm. fri 3 – Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2

48

January 2-8 2014 NOW

400 Roncesvalles. 416-531-9959. revuecinema.ca

Thu 2-fri 3 – Cloudy With A Chance Of

Meatballs 2 3D (2013) D: Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn. 2 pm. About Time (2013) D: Ri-

608 College. 416-466-4400. theroyal.to

Thu 2 – Blue Jasmine (2013) D: Woody Allen. 7 pm. The Broken Circle Breakñ down (2012) D: Felix Van Groeningen. 9 pm. fri 3 – The Broken Circle Breakdown. 7 pm. Blue Is The Warmest Color (2013) ñ D: Abdellatif Kechiche. 9 pm. sat 4 – Babe (1995) D: Chris Noonan. 2 pm.

The Broken Circle Breakdown. 7 pm. Blue Is The Warmest Color. 9 pm. sun 5 – Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 3D (2013) D: Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn.

2 pm. The Broken Circle Breakdown. 7 pm.

Blue Is The Warmest Color. 9 pm. mon 6-tue 7 – The Broken Circle Breakdown. 7 pm. Blue Is The Warmest Color.

9 pm. wed 8 – Check website for schedule.

thu 2-wed 8 – The CN Tower presents

Legends Of Flight 3D. Continuous screenings daily 9 am-10 pm. 301 Front W. 416868-6937, ­cntower.ca.

Casa Loma presents The P­ ellatt Newsreel (2006) D: Barbra Cooper, a film and permanent exhibit on the history of Casa Loma and Henry Pellatt. Daily screenings 10 am4:30 pm. Included w/ admission. 1 ­Austin Terrace. 416-923-1171, ­casaloma.org.

The Hockey Hall of Fame presents Stanley’s Game Seven 3D, a film of Stanley Cup history. Plays daily at the top of and half past each hour. Mon-Sat 9:30 am-6 pm, Sun 10 am-6 pm. Included w/ admission. Brookfield Place, 30 Yonge. h ­ hof.com.

3

ñ

Thu 2 – Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs

revue cinema

the royal

other films

ñ

2236 Queen E. 416-691-7330. foxtheatre.ca

ñ

chard Curtis. 4 & 7 pm. Gravity 3D (2013) D: Alfonso Cuarón. 9:30 pm. sat 4 -sun 5– Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 3D. 2 pm. Gravity 3D. 4 & 9:30 pm. About Time. 7 pm. mon 6 -wed 8 – Check website for schedule.

ñ

Yesterday (1991) D: Isao Takahata. 8:15 pm.

The Brood (1979) D: David Cronenberg. 9 pm. fri 3 – Studio Ghibli: Princess Mononoke (1997) D: Hayao Miyazaki. 1 pm. The Dead Zone (1983) D: David Cronenberg. 9 pm. sat 4 – Crash (1996) D: David Cronenberg. 6:30 pm. sun 5 – Reel Talk: Sneak preview. 10 am. ­Spider (2002) D: David Cronenberg. 6:30 pm. mon 6-tue 7 – Check website for schedule. wed 8 – A History Of Violence (2006) D: David Cronenberg. 9:30 pm.

Fox Theatre

toon Festival. 7 pm. sun 5 – Jane Jacobs: Urban Wisdom (2007) D: Don Alexander. 6 pm. Kid Dracula: Nosferatu (1922) D: FW Murnau, with the soundtrack of Radiohead’s Kid. 7 pm.

Mon 6 – Frankenstein (1931) D: James Whale. 7 pm. The House By The Cemetery (1981) D: Lucio Fulci. 8:30 pm. tue 7 – Heaven’s Gate (1980) D: Michael Cimino. 7 pm. wed 8 – Hell’s Hinges (1916) D: Charles Swickard. 7 pm. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966) D: Sergio Leone. 8:30 pm.

The terrific Broken Circle Breakdown, starring Veerle Baetens and Johan Heldenbergh, screens this week at the Royal.

Ñ

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

Classifieds 416 364 3444 CONTACTS > classifieds@nowtoronto.com 416 364 3444 fax 416 364 1433 189 Church, Toronto, ON M5B 1Y7 DEADLINES > Tuesday at 6pm Adult Classifieds ~ Monday at 6pm

{

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3 Game that’s sort of an ancestor of Jenga 4 Court order 5 Sinatra ex Gardner 6 GOP’s opposition 7 Like tabloid headlines 8 Needle ___ haystack 9 What to try if things aren’t working 10 Halloween vandal’s projectiles 11 Change of address, to a realtor 12 Forbidden fruit locale 16 “Sweet Love” singer Baker 19 Place to buy a few compacts 21 Old knockout fumes 25 Carrier’s org.

27 To the back of a boat 29 Foot curve 31 Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” and Hall & Oates’s “She’s Gone,” for two 32 “Allure” shelfmate 33 Eye problem 34 Royal Norwegian name 35 ___ mater (brain 26 Roll with the punches 61 Confound ACROSS covering) 1 NASDAQ purchase 28 Aries, astrologically 63 Wild West “justice” 37 Rice from Louisiana 4 Thanksgiving turkey 30 Unreliable people 64 Person who believes Haile 40 Reality check carver, maybe 34 Garfield’s foil Selassie was the Messiah 43 ___ Lodge 7 ___-M-Aid (candy 36 College town north of San 67 Org. where Edward 46 “___ you for real?” renamed Fun Dip) Francisco Snowden once did 47 Hole-poking tool 10 Before 38 Computer key contracting 50 Singles, RBI and triple13 “Tic ___ Dough” (game 39 “Filthy” dough 68 Stranded, in a way doubles show) 41 Jailbird 69 “Bill ___, the Science 52 Bruce who keeps up with 14 Last-minute shopper’s day 42 Hockey great Cam Guy” the Kardashians 15 Let loose 44 Subject of Indiana Jones’s 70 Chick 54 Keep away from 17 “The greatest” boxer quest 71 Jamaican music 56 Piece of Bacon?

18 Cinematographer’s 45 Big guy in Molokai 72 Spider-Man creator Stan 57 Navy commandos concern 48 First Nations tribe 73 Home of Kraftwerk and 58 States of anger 20 “The Twelve Days of 49 Seven Sisters college bratwurst: abbr.

59 Did well at Battleship Christmas” musician 51 Major stress factor, it’s 74 Part of PBS 60 Massive landmass 22 Enjoy Mt. Hood, say said DOWN 62 “PED ___” (street sign) 23 Animal on Wyoming’s 53 Send a short message 1 Bacterial infection, for 65 Charge card charge flag 55 Opticians’ products short 66 “All in favor” word 24 Get a move on 58 “I, Robot” author Asimov 2 “Rocky” actress Shire solution in next week’s classifieds

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Attract the

help wanted

By Matt Jones ©2014 Jonesin’ Crosswords editor@jonesincrosswords.com

+

Source: PMB Fall 2013, National 18+

Employment

Crossword Puzzle

Classified

}

386,000 Print Readers Weekly.

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Or visit: mannaresearch.com NOW JANUARY 2-8 2014

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for rent - 1 bdrm Bathurst/Queen Lrg. Bsmt. apt., living, dinning, open concept, eat-in kitch., 4 piece washroom., lndry at back & prk incl., $980 incl. 416-519-9796 or 416-577-1480

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Savage Love

By Dan Savage

Big fears I’m a 34-year-old straight female. I

m morbidly obese and have been for a most of my life. I have never dated. I’ve been on a couple of dates, and only when I asked the guy out. From reading your columns and books, I am aware that some men are attracted to fat women.

But since I never received any real sexual attention as a teen/20-something, I don’t know how to deal with men in a sexual way or in a way that would develop into a relationship. I also think my (lack of) experience has caused me to become bitter toward men. How do I stop being bitter and learn how to develop a romantic relationship?

Fat And Bitter

Romantic and/or sexual relationships are something you learn by doing, FAB, so you’ll have to start doing them – you’ll have to start doing men – to learn how they’re done. There are men out there who are into BBW, aka big beautiful women, but folks on Twitter recommended staying away from BBW-focused w ­ ebsites (which tend to be overrun by fetishists) and go with mainstream sites like ­OKCupid instead.

But maybe dating sites aren’t the place to start.

“More important than worrying about finding people to date who love your size is making sure you love your size,” says Jolene Parton, a fat dancer, sex worker and activist. “Self-love can be the hardest thing in the world for a fat woman, but it’s the best way to inspire others to love you and your body, FAB. Getting plugged into a fat-positive community might help you find friends and lovers who love the whole you. NAAFA.org and Nolose.org are both great places to start.”

So let’s say you’ve learned to love your body and you’re ready to date. What to do about the bitterness? Let it go. Resolve not to punish a man who expresses an interest in you now for failing to kick down your door a decade ago. And, yes, men suck, we really do. But you know what? Women can be sucky and shallow and judge people on appearances alone, too. (Ask any short guy.)

But it might help you keep things in perspective – and let go of the bitterness – if you bear this in mind: we all have to make ourselves vulnerable to people we’re attracted to, and sometimes those people respond by shitting all over us.

Straight women shit on straight men, straight men shit on straight women, gay men shit on each other, lesbians shit on each other, bisexuals shit on everybody. All of us have had our hearts broken or, even worse, ­ignored, and every last one of us has cause to walk around feeling bitter about men, women or both. Most people let it go, FAB, and you can, too.

One other bit of advice: be open about being inexperienced. That will attract some guys and scare some others off.

Good riddance to the ones it scares off, FAB, but don’t assume that guys who are interested are necessarily nice guys. Some will be, of course, but some might be manipulators who want to take advantage of your inexperience or your perceived desperation. To help you sort the good ones from the bad ones, FAB, convene a small panel of friends to serve as your bullshit detectors. Your own bullshit detectors aren’t gonna be good – they also don’t develop until you start dating – so ask

your panel to point out any red flags that you’ve missed. Good luck!

Ab confab I’m a 30-ish woman in a lovely GGG

relationship with a man about my age.

I’m submissive and masochistic; he’s dominant and willing to inflict some pain. Neither of us has tons of BDSM experience, but we’re enjoying each other.

My question: my boyfriend is into belly punching. I’m happy to indulge him and have started to enjoy it. He likes it when I relax my abdominal muscles. Is this safe? What precautions should we take?

Does the fact that I have an IUD factor in? And if I ever get pregnant, should we stop for the duration?

Belly Erects Long Lovely Youknowwhat “There certainly are consensual boundaries that only the person and his or her partner can know how to navigate,” says Dr. Leah Torres, an obstetrician/gynecologist with a special focus on family planning, “but I encourage safety first always.”

And Dr. Torres sees danger in what you’re doing, BELLY. “Abdominal muscles protect and hold our intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas, etc, in place, and there can be risk involved in blunt trauma such as punches in the abdomen, especially if the muscles are ‘relaxed’ and therefore not protective,” says Dr. Torres. “For example, if someone has an infection like cytomegalovirus (mono), the spleen can be more susceptible to injury. Blunt trauma could cause splenic rupture and

internal bleeding that could be lifethreatening. While that is uncommon, it is an example of how something that appears ‘not dangerous’ could become so given the right circumstances.”

One precaution you could take? Stop relaxing your abdominal muscles and use them – use your tensed, flexed abdominal muscles – to protect your internal organs. “There is no risk to the IUD, as it is inside a very small uterus that is in the lower pelvis,” says Dr. Torres. “But when someone is pregnant (!), I would recommend no belly punching – not under any circumstances!”

Passive resistance I’m a gay man of about 30, in a

relationship with a great guy. But he seems to be “feminizing” me, and I hate it! I’ve spent the last decade in grad school. I stayed in shape – above average! – but there was no time for significant exercise. I’ve started working out hard, but the going is slow. I weigh about 20 pounds less than my boyfriend. I find that I simply can’t match his level of aggression in bed. He has even joked a couple times about me being more “the woman” in our ­relationship – and I don’t like that. However, quite frankly, it’s not like I can toss him into bed and have my way with him.

I want him to see me as another man in bed. It’ll be another year or two before I really reach his level of athleticism. Any ideas in the meantime?

Not One To Feel Entirely Masculine

Follow us on Twitter NOW @nowtoronto Michael Hollett .............................................. @m_hollett

Just one, NOTFEM: get over yourself.

Watching a man wring his hands about his fragile manliness – watching a man dissolve into a puddle of insecurity – hardly makes him seem more masculine.

(And it doesn’t make him seem more feminine. It just makes him look ridiculous.) And 20 pounds of muscle do not “make the man,” any more than being the tosser as opposed to the tossee does.

Being comfortable in your own skin makes you a man. No, scratch that. Being comfortable in your own skin makes you a person – a decent, tolerable, secure and attractive person. (And a man who’s passive in bed is still a man! Christ!)

If your boyfriend says something that annoys you (“You’re the woman!”), tell him to knock it off. But your boyfriend could be “joking” about you being the passive one because he prefers it that way. If he would rather be the tosser, NOTFEM, you’ll need to either find a different boyfriend or stop grounding your sense of masculinity in something so arbitrary as a game of who-tossed-whofarther and who-can-bench-press-what.

J olene Parton burns up Twitter @jolenestarshine. Dr. Leah Torres regularly posts about women’s health issues and smacks down anti-choice trolls on Twitter @ LeahNTorres and blogs at Leahtorres.com.

Find the Savage Lovecast (my weekly podcast) every Tuesday at savagelovecast.com. mail@savagelove.net

@fakedansavage on Twitter

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