TOM JONES
Praise and Blame
www.tomjones.com
Dist: Universal Music Canada


Jones has collaborated with producer Ethan Johns (Kings of Leon, Rufus Wainwright, Laura Marling) to release a captivating collection of songs drawn from the American spiritual, blues and contemporary repertoire. Praise & Blame is a stripped‐down, gritty, soul‐bearing album from an artist with a successful, multi‐genre recording career that spans five decades. Jones celebrated his 70th birthday on June 7 this year. One would never guess that he has reached such a milestone when hearing the power, restraint and clarity he presents in his renditions of songs by Susan Werner, Bob Dylan and John Lee Hooker. Traditional repertoire from the works of The Staple Singers, Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe are also given unique, fervent interpretations by a world‐renowned voice that is at the top of its game.TRACKLISTING:

Yesterday, I read in read in the Vulture that Jay Baruchel “broke ranks” with the “Apatow crew’s unofficial policy of avoiding well-paying blockbuster crap” to make The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, meaning that should he be smarting from the “commercial and critical drubbing” that movie’s received, he really brought it on himself. This article is merely a trifle, not meant to be taken über-seriously (we don’t even know that he is smarting), but it’s unfortunately exactly the type of trifle that puts a bee in my bonnet. To wit: is Jay Baruchel even that big a part of the house that Apatow built?

Yes, he starred in Undeclared, which the Vulture is correct in reminding you is “so, so good.” Bear in mind that Judd Apatow, for all we credit him for, has written and directed exactly three movies: The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Funny People. Of those, Baruchel has starred or co-starred in exactly zero. He’s a supporting player in Knocked Up. The article quotes Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill repeatedly. Rogen was a supporting player in Virgin, the star of Knocked Up, and the co-star of Funny People. Hill appeared in Knocked Up and Funny People and co-starred in the Apatow-produced Superbad and Get Him to the Greek. Of all the other Apatow-produced (and therefore, one assumes, approved) movies, Baruchel has appeared in none. Heck, his Undeclared love interest Carla Gallo has appeared in more Apatow movies.

In Canadian pop culture (particularly on the English-speaking side), we have this idea that you haven’t made it here until you’ve made if there (in the U.S.). Despite his comic talent and not inconsiderable charm, Baruchel hasn’t made it there in the way that fellow Canadian and ur-Apatow-ian Rogen or even Hill has. Instead, he’s carved out his own path in Canadian fare like Just Buried, The Trotsky, and the upcoming Good Neighbours. Not exactly the stuff of Apatow. This is not to say that he won’t in the future, just that for whatever reason he hasn’t played as big a role as the Vulture’s headline would have you believe. At the end of the article they offer up the “unlikely possibility” that Baruchel “genuinely thought The Sorcerer’s Apprentice would be good,” but that would have been my first guess. Who doesn’t want to make a movie with Nicholas Cage? If I got a call right now to appear in Ghost Rider 2, I’d be there.

The exciting indie short film MOVE is seeking volunteers to join a team of 30 people for summer production. We are seeking additional set builders, animators, film crew, and editors.

MOVE is an artistic short film that will feature a young man who unexpectedly recovers from a coma, and how his interior life magically guides him to consciousness. MOVE is a hybrid project with surreal stop-motion animation scenes filmed in elaborate miniature sets. The dream scenes will be complemented by subdued live-action scenes with actors in real world settings. The live-action scenes are without dialogue and play very important role in emotionally contextualizing the story.

MOVE is a non-commercial, non-paying and non-union collaborative art project. All MOVE participants including the director, animators, set builders, actors, cinematographers, crew and actors are all volunteering their time. We are gladly able to offer screen credits and copies of the DVD of the completed project!
The stop-motion animation studio is located in Chelsea, Quebec. Car-pooling arrangement can be made. Please contact John Graham for further information.
soulblue2006@yahoo.ca or call 819-827-1230

There aren't many new movies at the multiplex this weekend, which is just as well as I can't imagine exactly what could slow Inception down. Consensus seems to be that it's a stunning visual masterwork possibly lacking in the corresponding emotional majesty. If you can't get a ticket to whatever showing you attempt, you could do worse than The Sorcerer's Apprentice, which is frothy summer fun at its best and merely shallow at its worst.

Cyrus, a comedy about a recently divorced man (John C. Reilly) who is stymied in his relationship with a new woman (Marisa Tomei) by her creepy relationship with her adult son (Jonah Hill), has also made it to Ottawa, specifically at the World Exchange Centre.

Over at the Bytowne, it's another Stieg Larsson ruled weekend, with The Girl Who Played with Fire sharing billing with Exit Through the Gift Shop, a documentary about a man who tried to make a documentary about Banksy only to end to with the camera turned on him when he decided to try his hand at graffiti art himself. 

Predators is coming out! Predators is coming out! Wait, you're not as excited about that as I am, are you? Okay, go read this interview and then dare tell me that you are not excited to see Predators. Adrien Brody is Danny Trejo's hog, man. Also, Topher Grace is still making movies (yay!).

If you don't want to see aliens kill a bunch of apparently dangerous humans (plus Topher Grace), I'm sure you could do worse than Despicable Me, a cartoon about a villain (v. Steve Carrell) who plans to steal the moon until three little orphan girls decide to adopt him as their dad instead.

At Coliseum Ottawa, which apparently is where all the Bollywood movies go, you can check out I Hate Luv Storys, starring Sonam Kapoor and Imran Khan.

In what sounds like yet another made-up-by-the-media trend, all of one teen is claiming to be involved in biting and blood exchanges to demonstrate romantic passion and intimate friendship. While the doc quoted has legit concerns about infections, let me tell you why this is preposterous:

• This is the exact kind of shit that freaks teens out, which is why vampires work so well as a metaphor for sex.
• Vamps and their human lovers don't bite each other in Twilight. Humans aren't physically able to break through vampire skin. Vamp bites mean death or vampirism. Which brings us back to human-on-human action, and that is strictly prohibited in Twilight.
• The Vampire Diaries and True Blood do feature blood exchanges, but it's really only kinky sex stuff in True Blood. And while teens no doubt watch True Blood, they, too, would be freaked out by the INSANE sex scenes. Which means that they wouldn't want to do that kind of stuff because it is too freaky.

Ergo, the entire thing is too freaky, even for freaky teens. One high school does not a trend make.

Fourth of July means no True Blood recap, but thankfully there's other crazy vampire news: the Vulture is reporting that Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner will receive an obscene $25 million for Breaking Dawn and Breaking Dawn 2: Demon Baby Boogaloo against a 7.5% cut of theatrical gross.

Remember when Jim Carrey earned a then-unheard of $20 million for The Cable Guy (a notorious flop deserving of a cult revival)? Nowadays, you'd be hard pressed to think of a recent worthwhile Carrey vehicle (that will likely change if I Love You Philip Morris ever gets a release date in Canada and the U.S.), and you could be forgiven if your mind temporarily fritzed at the mention of his name. I can't decide what's more bizarre: how little obscene paychecks have gone up in the last 14 years or the possibility that one of these three is the next Jim Carrey. One of them is the way to making The Truman Show, another to The Number 23. Quick! Guess which is which!

Are you a fan of Jackson Rathbone?

Who?

The Independent Filmmakers Co-operative of Ottawa Inc. (IFCO) is a charitable, media artist-run-centre dedicated to independent filmmaking, located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. For eighteen years, the organization and its members have shared a deep commitment to artistic excellence and innovation in independent filmmaking.

JOB DESCRIPTION & SKILLS REQUIRED

The successful candidate will have training and experience in all technical aspects of Super-8/16mm/35mm film production, including the maintenance of film production and post-production equipment; an open, friendly and helpful attitude; the ability to advise and assist members with varying levels of expertise; good written and verbal communication skills, the ability to work well under pressure, and as a team member with IFCO’s other staff members, the Board of Directors and the membership at large. The successful candidate must also have experience in working with digital post-production software like Final Cut Pro and Protools. Bilingualism is an asset!

GREEN ZONE

DIRECTOR: PAUL GREENGRASS

Starring: Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Amy Ryan, Brendan Gleeson

Academy Award® nominees Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum) reteam in this action-packed thriller. Damon stars as Roy Miller, a rogue U.S. Army officer who must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on foreign soil before war escalates in an unstable region. Also starring Academy Award® nominees Greg Kinnear and Amy Ryan, GREEN ZONE is “one hell of a thriller” (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times).

GENRE: ACTION
FORMAT: DVD & BLU-RAY
RUNTIME: 115 MINS
RATED: R

Okay, are you ready for it? Pixar's big movie of the summer is here, so you can assume that it's pretty much the only game in town. Toy Story 3 is no doubt as charming, funny, and moving as every Pixar movie in creation, so the fact that you are sitting here reading this suggests some deficiency on your part.

Alternatively we have Jonah Hex, yet another in a long line of less-than-known comic book adaptations that are really starting to confuse viewers with their very existence, and . . .  that's pretty much it for wide releases. 

Even though Fridays make everyone happy because it's finally the end of the week, they can also be totally depressing because 1) you still have to make 'til the end of the work day and 2) it's the end of the week. That's okay, friends. I have two pieces of news that ought to bring you cheer.

1. Sticky
   There is a Canadian goose evading the capture attempts of park authorities in Prospect Park, NYC. Why are they trying to capture Sticky? Because he's got an arrow through his neck. He has had for three weeks now. Apparently an arrow through the neck is no big deal to Sticky, who keeps on running, flying, and swimming away. That's some serious badassery, Sticky. No wonder we love those geese.
2. Tim Riggins and Eric Northman, Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together
   Yes, there is going to be a movie based on Battleship, the board game, and that's a real shame. But it stars Taylor Kitsch (a.k.a Tim Riggins) and Alexander Skarsgård (a.k.a. Eric Northman), so how bad could it be, really? Just so you understand, we're talking about these guys:
   

The exciting indie short film MOVE is seeking volunteers to join a team of 30 people in the Ottawa/Gatineau region for a summer production. Help needed includes:

•       assistant production manager
•       assistant co-ordinator for donations + funding support
•       volunteer creatives (set builders, animators, film crew, editors)

MOVE is an artistic short film that will feature a young man who unexpectedly recovers from a coma, and how his interior life magically guides him to consciousness. MOVE is a hybrid project with surreal stop-motion animation scenes filmed in elaborate miniature sets. The dream scenes will be complemented by subdued live-action scenes with actors in real world settings. The live-action scenes are without dialogue and play very important role in emotionally contextualizing the story.

THE BOOK OF ELI

DIRECTOR: THE HUGHES BROTHERS

Starring: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Tom Waits

Eli walks alone in post-apocalyptic America. He heads west along the Highway of Death on a mission he doesn’t fully understand but knows he must complete. In his backpack is the last copy of a book that could become the wellspring of a revived society. Or in the wrong hands, the hammer of a despot. Denzel Washington is Eli, who keeps his blade sharp and his survival instincts sharper as his quest thrusts him into a savage wasteland…and into explosive conflict with a resourceful warlord (Gary Oldman) set on possessing the book. “We walk by faith, not by sight”, quotes Eli. Under the taut direction of the Hughes Brothers (Menace II Society), those words hit home with unexpected meaning and power.

GENRE: ACTION
FORMAT: DVD & BLU-RAY
RUNTIME: 118 MINS
RATED: R

Hey, have you been decrying the lack of 80s nostalgia at the movie theatre lately? Hollywood is bound and determined to put an end to that by releasing both The Karate Kid and The A-Team this weekend. You may wonder which to choose, so let me break it down.

Choose The Karate Kid if you think 1) all martial arts are the same (as they are surely and explicitly practicing kung fu in this remake, and karate practitioners are likely to be appalled) and 2) it's great when kids beat the snot out of each other. Do yourself a favour and rent the original The Karate Kid where actual karate is practiced, the kid in question is 15, and Pat Morita is rad from start to finish.

Choose The A-Team if you think adding explosions to a mediocre '80s show will make it better. Actually, if you ask me, a bunch of explosions plus Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, and Sharlto Copley does make things better. Sorry, Rampage: you're only excluded because I don't follow UFC.

CLINT EASTWOOD: 35 FILMS 35 YEARS AT WARNER BROS

DIRECTOR: VARIOUS

Starring: Clint Eastwood

Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood has touched generations of filmgoers for over half a century. The five-time Academy Award winner has made an indelible mark as one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors and insightful directors. In honor of Eastwood’s long standing 35 year relationship with Warner Bros. through Malpaso Productions, this definitive collection celebrates Eastwood’s entire filmography at the studio from Where Eagles Dare (1968) through Gran Torino (2008) all packaged in an elegant giftset. Also included is an all-new documentary about Eastwood’s life and career produced by esteemed film critic and historian Richard Schickel, featuring in-depth interviews and revealing, intimate footage never-before-seen plus rare photos and letters.

Films included:

GENRE: VARIOUS
FORMAT: DVD & ASSORTED SINGLE BLU-RAY’S

Just like you always knew it would. Yes, one of the most important props in the history of television, Supernatural's third main character, saved the world in "Swan Song." It's about time that car got its props instead of a girly dreamcatcher in the trunk and Sam sticking a knife in her upholstery two weeks ago. 'Bout time she got some respect.

And that's about all that happened last Thursday. I know 'cause I watched the episode twice. Now, I feel kind of bad for beating up on the show, especially since a) I heard this was how the show's finale was supposed to go down, sixth season renewal be damned, b) endings are indeed difficult, and c) they have a lot of live up to, finale-wise. I mean, CRASH!, Sam dies/Dean sells his soul, Dean goes to Hell, Sam unleashes Lucifer? This show never pulls its punches in a finale. The latter no doubt plays a role in why this finale was such a let down. That, and it was boring as fuck.

I love the Ackles, I love Padalecki, I love the Ackles and Padalecki together (dirty!). But let me tell you something: I would not have built a finale around 18 million conversations between the two of them, punctuated by Padalecki making faces at himself in the mirror. That's just not the way I would have gone. 

An incredible opportunity for bilingual filmmakers!
The Burundi Film Center, a not-for-profit media development organization, is looking for Canadian filmmakers to teach (in French) this summer in Bujumbura, Burundi.
For 2 to 4 weeks in July, you’ll help train youth (aged 18-25) the basics of film theory and production, then help them bring their visions to life. Films from the first training session in 2007 played in over 50 international film festivals and received media coverage around the world.
All volunteers will have their accommodations taken care of while in Bujumbura, and a cook will be hired to cover most meals. The only major expense for filmmakers is airfare (approx. $2.000). A field trip to the Rwanda Film Festival in Kigali is also planned.
If this sounds like an adventure that appeals to you, or you want to learn more, visit www.burundifilmcenter.org or contact:
Christopher Redmond
Co-Founder / Project Manager
Burundi Film Center

"Holy Shit!" was pretty much the theme of last night The Vampire Diaries episode "Founder's Day" (also, thank goodness that stupid Founder's gimmick is over. At least I hope it is). Notably, Katherine has finally returned, as we've been waiting for her since we found out she was never in the tomb. Also, I heard that two characters were going to die, but it's worse: three characters die plus a boatload of extras, two lives hang in the balance, and Katherine's back. Oh, did I mention that? Just wanted to make sure you knew.

Death, Death, Death

The tomb refugees that weren't already staked have chosen the Founder's Day festivities for their little founding families massacre. They're even smart enough to know not to try to feed (in case of vervain), just kill. John gets wind of this plan, so he decides to follow through with Original Recipe Jonathan's plan: use the device to expose the vampires, round them up, and burn the lot. In fact, John decides that his brother's empty medical practice is the perfect location for the bonfire. Exactly when the tomb refugees plan to attack, John sets off the device: essentially, it's like the headache inducer we've seen Grams and Bonnie use against Damon and Stefan, respectively, only much more powerful and with a far wider reach. Anna tries to warn Damon, who tries to warn Stefan, but they all go down anyway. The way Damon grabbed Elena's hand, who never let go of Stefan's hand, so they were all walking along hand-in-hand, was really sweet, though (pictured). Anna falls in the Grill's Ladies' Room while trying to warn Jeremy about the impending death to founders and gets carted off by some deputies, despite Jeremy's screaming and fighting. Stefan falls while he and Elena are trying to get away, but Alaric convinces the deputy that he's got this one before the deputy can pump Stefan with vervain. Poor Damon falls with no one to protect him, so off he goes.

UNDER RICH EARTH

THIS THURSDAY at the OTTAWA HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FILM FESTIVAL

"Urgent and vital filmmaking in the spirit of Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance and Manufactured Landscapes."
 - Jesse Wente, CBC

Followed by a Q&A with director Malcolm Rogge
Date: Thursday, May 13th, 2010
Time: 7:30
Where: The ByTowne Cinema, 325 Rideau Street, Ottawa
Tickets: $15

In a remote mountain valley in Ecuador, coffee and sugarcane farmers face the dismal prospect of being forced off their land to make way for a mining project. Unprotected by the police and ignored by their government, they prepare to face down the 'invaders' on their own. Their resistance leads to a remarkable and dangerous stand off between farmers and a band of mysterious armed men high in the cloud forest. In a world dominated by news of massacres and terrorism, Under Rich Earth is a surprising and poignant tale of hope and determination.
* Winner: Humanitarian Award - Tiburón International Film Festival
* Winner: Global Conscience Award - Mexico City Documentary Film Festival
* Top Ten Most Popular Canadian Films: Vancouver International Film Festival
* Nominated for Coral Award - Best Documentary - Havana Film Festival
* Official Selection: Toronto International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Victoria Film Festival, Sudbury International Film Festival, Watch Docs Warsaw, Sao Paulo International Film Festival, Encuentros del Otro Cine - Quito, Boulder International Film Festival and many more...
Ottawa Human Rights Watch Film Festival
http://www.hrw.org/en/iff/ottawa/2010
Under Rich Earth
http://www.underrichearth.com
DVDs AVAILABLE
The Limited Edition Director's Cut DVD of Under Rich Earth will be available for purchase: $25.00
"Gripping and disturbing..."
**** Eye Weekly
"Graceful and Uplifting"
Critic's Pick NNNN
- NOW Magazine
"A remarkably prescient cautionary tale..."
- Matthew Hays, Montréal Mirror