Category: Entertainment

“Steve Jobs”: One of the best films of the year

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment

The just-opened Steve Jobs film, written by the incomparable Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, The Social Network) and directed by Danny Boyle of Slumdog Millionaire fame is clearly one of the best, written, directed and acted films this year.

The film stars Michael Fassbender, who, it’s true, does not superficially resemble Steve Jobs, per se.

However, over the course of the film, Fassbender embodies the essence of the Apple co-founder: His visionary brilliance, his creative, strategic and tactical genius, and his obsessive/compulsive laser-like focus.

But he also portrays Jobs’ near pathological indifference and cold-hearted insensitivity to his friends, his colleagues and most dramatically, his own family, including the mother of his daughter Lisa, who is Jobs’ “Rosebud” in this gripping Citizen Kane-like story.

Fassbender as Jobs is ably supported by his smart, long-suffering marketing executive, closest colleague, “work wife” and conscience, Joanna Hoffman, played marvelously by Kate Winslet, who is totally unrecognizable in the role.

Other excellent supporting actors are Seth Rogan as Steve Wozniak, Jobs’ Apple co-founder; the technical brains behind Apple, “Woz” is clearly too sweetly loyal and good-natured for the “kill or be killed” tech environment. Jeff Daniels plays John Sculley, who initially played father figure to Jobs in Apple — then fired Jobs from his own company and was vilified the rest of his life for that decision.

But the film really belongs to Fassbender and the brilliant writer Aaron Sorkin.

This is not your normal linear, chronological biopic.

Instead, it is a brilliantly filmed play in three acts. The dialogue snaps, crackles and pops. The pace is fast and loose and frenetic. Think of Sorkin’s The West Wing, but faster and more dramatic, with greater and emotional mood swings.

This film focuses on three “launch” events: the iconic debut of the original Macintosh computer; Jobs’ unveiling of Black Cube at his post-Apple company; and Jobs’ triumphant return to Apple with the invention of the iMac.

Before each launch, Jobs — always accompanied by his loyal marketing exec, Hoffman — is visited by the same four characters: the mother of his child, pleading for money and recognition of their child; Woz, whose star has been clearly eclipsed by Jobs in the public eye; and Sculley, both commanding and classy, but ultimately a pathetic tragic figure.

For me, the core of the film is Jobs’ interaction with his daughter, Lisa, whom, in the first act, he cruelly rejects as his daughter, even scoffing at the notion that the early Apple “Lisa” computer was named after her.

However, Jobs gradually comes to see his better self in his daughter. She embodies his brilliance, but also his goodness, which has been buried beneath a lot of bad emotional baggage and a history of neglect and abandonment.

As the proud father of a daughter, the heart-wrenching scenes between Jobs and Lisa left me teary-eyed.

Jobs’ treatment of his chief engineer Hertzfeld and of Woz verges on the pathologically cruel. But in Sorkin’s expert hands, we at least understand what drives Jobs to be the person he is. We may not like him, but we understand him and still revere his incredible marketing acumen and his world-shaking technological achievements — he was “ the brilliant conductor who leads the orchestra.”

Sorkin has done it again. I urge you to see this film at least once. And perhaps twice or three times, in order to catch and appreciate the brilliance of the dialogue and understand what demons drove Jobs to the incredible achievements that impacted us all.

Mitch Wolfe: Merchant Banker/Consultant/Writer- Getting Down+Busy with the Drizzy at Bloke on King

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment, Lifestyle, Relationships

alex+morgan

What am I doing with very attractive, ambitious, young career-oriented business women outside the Ritz Bar?

Would you believe this is a business meeting and I have been retained to provide some experienced business advice.

Well, that is my story. And I am sticking to it.

But first I must provide a little back story.

I describe myself, as above, as a merchant banker/consultant/writer.

As a merchant banker, I am basically an intermediary, between financial institutions or private finance companies that want to lend and private companies that want to borrow funds to expand their business, buy equipment or buy other companies. I also act as an intermediary between American and Canadian private equity groups that wish to buy Canadian companies and private Canadian companies that are looking for investors and/or ultimate exit strategies.

As a consultant, I focus on small business owners who are looking to expand or sell their business. And entrepreneurs who retain me to assist them in buying businesses or starting businesses from scratch.

The latter situation applies to Morgan on the left and Alex on the right. See photo.

These two women are successful marketing, sales and communications types, employed in current companies.

But they have dreams. And together they are exploring owning and running their own online business.

What I love about being a consultant is every client and every file is different. And the hours are not limited to 9am to 5pm. In fact, since my clients have other jobs, my biz meetings are often in the after hours.

And occasionally, 9pm to 5 am. Say what?

In the case of Morgan and Alex, they are considering going after the 20-40 year old downtown urban market: in terms of lifestyles of the ambitious, young and professional- the fashions, the foods, the restos, bars, the fitness clubs, and the dance clubs.

Whereas in real estate, the mantra is, “location, location, location’.

My advice to young and budding entrepreneurs, thinking of investing in or starting a new business, is “research, research, research”.

And there is no substitute to getting your hands dirty and actually going out into the field. Or in this case, getting down low and dancing to Drizzy in the “6”.

So Morgan, Alex and me- Ubered, Mohammed, a local driver. And we hit some local hot spots in the “6” (Toronto) ie Eveleigh, Brassaii and The Citizen.

Mohammed turned out to be a very funny and charming fellow. And a real good sport in chauffeuring us around from club to club, as if we were major ballers. It was so sick.

(Note to self, possible lifestyle show starring the same Mohammed, “Rolling with Mohammed”, the story of a hustling Muslim Uber driver and his wacky fares. Jamie B. of Frantic Films, is sure to pull the trigger on a 13 webisode secretly sponsored by Uber- Ka-Ching ).

Fast forward to the highlight of the evening. Actually the early morning.

So after hanging out at the above three clubs, Mohammed pulled up to our last stop, The Bloke on King.

The crowd at Bloke- not exactly regulars at the very Waspy White Rosedale Toronto Lawn tennis club.

First Morgan and Alex were carded by a mean black burly tackle for the Hamilton Tigercats.

Since we were the only white folks in the line, we were clearly a very visible minority. And the carding- racial profiling- Obvi.

Also these very clean cut, sweet young women from the burbs looked like they just came from their high school prom.

The black bouncer as a joke asked for my ID together with passport and my Old Age pension. The guy was clearly-jokes.

You know that this was not the Ritz, as two other bouncers proceeded to pat us down for hidden knives, shivs, and automatic AK47 shotguns.

Fortunately, that night, I was not packing.

Once inside Bloke, as suspected, the crowd consisted of predominantly sidewalk hostesses, accompanied by their doting personal managers.

Whatever. We were there to dance to Drizzy ( Drake).

Inevitably in these situations, two good-looking white women and an older white man attract some unwanted attention.

Several black men challenged me as to my raison d’etre. “Why are you, here, White Boy?”

The two women, Morgan and Alex suggested that since I was clearly an older white dude, I should pretend that I was one of the owners of the building.

Morgan suggested to some inquiring black folk, that I was Drake’s white producer.

All of a sudden I was surrounded by many tough-looking black Super dads. Looking for that special Drake magic.

I simply stated to the growing thong of ballers,  that I was neither an owner nor a producer, but I was just some average joe, who had come to dance hip hop.

That response, for some reason, met with increasing hilarity, apparently at my expense.

Collectively, the crowd, questioned my manhood and my ability to dance.

“Hey, white boy, get off the dance floor. You can’t dance”!

Instead, I pulled Morgan and Alex on the on the dance floor and we proceeded to bust some moves. R+B, Stevie Wonder circa 1970. As a perfect threesome.

The black chicks were clearly aghast to see some white dude, moving in perfect harmony. Getting busy with the Drizzy.

Next I was joined by some twerking triplets and we grinded in rhythm , Dirty Dancing, Swayze style.

By this time, I had made my bones and bona fides.

Common consensus among the male and female bangers, that I was pretty fly for a white guy.

I am not sure what Morgan and Alex learned from this experience. It was strictly- ghetto.

But I learned that Morgan and Alex clearly had drive and commitment, to humor me til 4 am.

And that the Drake has a massive influence. All the participants, last night, knew all the words to all of Drake’s lyrics and quoted Drake like he was a modern day Shakespeare.

I believed Drake was the key to unlock what these young men and women needed, wanted and desired.

To be continued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Toronah”: A funny indie film about Toronto – with a cameo by Rob Ford

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment

Post-TIFF, the major movie buzz in TO is about Toronah, a improvisational comedy set in Toronto.

A rough cut has been circulating in the downtown film world. It’s appeared out of nowhere.

Not just the cast, but the director and producer are all unknowns.

I have been told by inside sources that, from pre production to post-, Toronah was made in a mere three months. That’s unheard of in the Canadian or American film industry.

Rumours abound about its origins.

One source told me the film is the brainchild of three recent film school grads nicknamed “The Three Amigos.”

In the guerrilla filmmaking tradition, they shoot film first and ask for permission later.

Toronah is about funny, tragi-comic losers.

There is Mickey, a middle-aged dude from Chicago, financially down on his luck, in constant fights with his angry and disappointed wife. Basically, he’s a pathetic schmuck, an everyman.

Also, Mickey may or may not be in very deep doo doo with the mob, over some unpaid debts.

(Rumour has it that Toronah features cameos by real Toronto “wise guys”, playing themselves.)

Mickey is forced to come to Toronto to get some much needed cash from his wealthier cousin, Ricky.

There is Johnny K, a portly Asian fellow who’s awkward and a little clueless – who suddenly comes into possession of a black bag containing $100,000.

And the keys to a cool Yorkville condo. And one sweet set of wheels.

Toronah plays homage to Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, with Johnny K mistaken for the much wealthier Ricky, who is flying to Chicago to save Mickey — just as Mickey is flying to Toronto.

Johnny K, in a hilariously deadpan manner, has a series of sexual flings with drop dead gorgeous women/escorts/sidewalk hostesses/wannabe actresses, who all absurdly mistake him for Mickey.

There are other crazy characters who all cracked me up:

Boss Hogg — a profanity-spewing mountain of a man, all dressed in white — stole every scene.

Then there’s Billy: Respectable leasing agent by day, bisexual male whore by night.

Plus there’s a whole slew of salacious, man-eating women who may or may not be the long lost daughters of Mickey’s many previous liaisons.

But the straightest, most conservative, most compelling, most natural and clearly the most sober character in this whole film is the former Mayor Rob Ford, who appears briefly in the opening scene. This guy has natural stage presence. The camera loves Rob. And he nails his lines.

This film is crude, rude, lewd and many female characters are nude.

But what a fun-filled ride in a souped up Trans-Am it is!

Toronah: It’s my kind of film! (Bro.)

Canadian TIFF Actors’ Ridiculous Tommie Manifesto

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment, Media

Canadian celebrities at TIFF 2015, notably actors Rachel McAdams, Ellen Page and the curmudgeonly, ugly and mean Donald Sutherland, bombed badly in supporting publicly the appallingly stupid, Naomi Klein-penned, “Leap Manifesto”, aka the “Tommie Manifesto” ( named cleverly by us conservative wags after the horrified NDP, (supposedly centrist) leader Thomas Mulcair, who wants no part of that pseudo-Communist revolutionary shite show).

The public reputations of McAdams, Page and Sutherland are not the only ones that have been hurt by association with this manifestly moronic manifesto. Add to the list, such notables or forgettables as Pam Anderson whose best screen work ever was CPRing Tommie Lee’s manhood, together with multi-millionaire wheezebag and gas-guzzling hypocrite extraordinaire- Neil Young.  And the usual looney left suspects, such as Stephen Lewis, Suzuki, Barlow and anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian trade unionist Sid Ryan, to name a representative few.

I am a big Rachel McAdams ( “Mean Girls”, “ The Notebook”, “ True Detective”)  and Ellen Page (“Juno”, “Smart People”, “Freeheld”), fan.Donald Sutherland, on the other hand, was great in the 70s in “M*A*S*H.”, “Klute” and “Don’t Look Now”. Since then his ongoing scene-chewing evil role in “The Hunger Games”, is, to use a highly technical cinematic term-  pure crap.

We admire McAdams and Page for their acting talent and their ability through their craft to touch us and move us emotionally. But let’s face it. They are reading other people’s lines and expressing other people’s ideas.

Their fame and high profile are based upon their cinematic success and Hollywood promotion.

Where these actors fall miserably on their TIFF-ready faces, is they arrogantly believe that their artificially-created Hollywood fame- confers upon them influence and wisdom.

So that we, their audience, will actually care and believe what they have to say in real life, off screen. And that we poor huddled masses who shell out our paltry $10 bucks to see them on the screen, will actually be influenced by what they have to say and the causes they support.

Clueless, ignorant, self-satisfied, self-entitled, jet-setting, island hopping Canadian stars

So let me put this in terms- these clueless, ignorant, self-satisfied, self-entitled, jet-setting, island hopping Canadian stars and celebrities- understand.

Your public support of The Tommie Manifesto- “TWO THUMBS DOWN”.

Your first week-end box office numbers- bit the big one.

You and the Manifesto have bombed badly. A Heaven’s Gate bomb of historic proportions.

The studio is pulling out and cancelling all further marketing and disavowing all knowledge of this stinkeroo.

You have laid a big fat egg. Capiche!

In the time remaining, let me fill in the blanks.

The Manifesto’s solution is revolution. To blow up Canada’s economy. That is, its oil and gas economy

Simply, this ridiculous and irrational manifesto describes horrible ills that don’t exist in Canada- widespread extreme poverty, unsustainable inequality,  the horrible genocidal attack on the very existence of Canada’s native people. And to top it all off, Canada’s climate change policy is a crime against humanity- an ongoing relentless war crime.

The Manifesto’s solution is revolution. To blow up Canada’s economy. That is, its oil and gas economy.  Figuratively and literally, if need be.

And essentially, go back to earth. An utopian pre-industrial Walden-like existence. Where every one of us,  all 35 million of us Canadians, live off the land and tend to our garden and our cattle in our cute little farms.

And only sustained by utopian clean, renewable energy, pursuant to strict NIMBYism principles,  “ if you wouldn’t want it in your backyard, then it doesn’t belong in anyone’s backyard.”

Which means no fracking renewal energy, of any sort-wind farm or solar- you frackingly stupid Hollywood nimrods!

Even the left of centre, Globe and Mail, corroborated my analysis of this lefty lunatic panacea.

The Globe’s editorial states:

“The manifesto calls for immediate social revolution in response to the threat of climate change. Its “demands” include “innovative ownership structures” as an alternative to “the profit-gouging of private companies,” and a “new iron law of energy development” that, if taken seriously, would pretty much put an end to every project ever – pipelines, windmills and solar-panel farms included. This iron law states, “If you wouldn’t want it in your backyard, then it doesn’t belong in anyone’s backyard.”

If these Canadian movie stars and rock stars had expected that their natural audience, the leftist NDP party and its supporters would be influenced and jazzed by these suggestions, they were seriously misled. Or they have been powdering their noses, with “questionable” products.

Because this manifesto sank faster than Adam Sandler’s once buoyant career.

Response from NDP leader Mulcair and his NDP party- zip, nada, zero- crickets.

And for good reason, as the Globe’s editorial concludes:

“We don’t think Mr. Mulcair endorses the manifesto’s madness. He is far more moderate than that. He is also a politician, and he wants to govern a country that is by its nature suspicious of radical social upheaval, especially when promulgated by rock stars.

I love you, Rachel McAdams.  Because of your film work, you are the archetypal sweet Canadian “girl next door”.

But by signing your name to this crazy manifesto, while probably being chauffeured around in a very large gas-guzzling limo, from movie premiere to movie premiere and from private VIP party to private VIP party- you have transformed yourself into the ditzy, brain-dead lefty goof next door. Not a pretty picture, Rachel, my dear.

#TIFF and the #Tommunist Manifesto: Canadian actors shouldn’t be seen or heard off screen

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment

Canadian celebrities at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2015 — notably actors Rachel McAdams, Ellen Page and the curmudgeonly, decrepit Donald Sutherland — bombed badly this week.

Not onscreen, but off, by supporting the appallingly stupid, Naomi Klein-penned Leap Manifesto.

(Nicknamed the “TommunistManifesto” by conservative wags in “honour” of supposedly centrist NDP leader Thomas Mulcair.)

The reputations of McAdams, Page and Sutherland weren’t the only ones hurt by association with this manifestly moronic manifesto.

Add to the list such notables (or forgettables) as Pam Anderson (whose best screen work was CPRing Tommie Lee’s manhood); multi-millionaire wheezebag and gas-guzzling hypocrite extraordinaire Neil Young; and the usual looney left suspects:  Stephen Lewis, David Suzuki, Maude Barlow and Sid Ryan, to name a representative few.

I am a big Rachel McAdams (True Detective) and Ellen Page (Juno) fan.

Donald Sutherland, on the other hand, was great in the 1970s (in M*A*S*H, Klute and Don’t Look Now) but since then his ongoing scene-chewing evil role in The Hunger Games, is, to use a highly technical cinematic term, pure crap.

We admire McAdams and Page for their acting talent and their ability to touch us and move us emotionally. But let’s face it: When they do so, they are reading other people’s lines and ideas.

Their fame and high profile are based upon their cinematic success and Hollywood promotion.

Where these actors fall miserably on their TIFF-ready faces is in their arrogant belief that their artificially-created Hollywood fame confers upon them influence and wisdom, so that we, their audience, will actually care and believe what they have to say in real life.

So let me put this in terms these clueless, ignorant,  self-satisfied, self-entitled, jet-setting, island hopping Canadian stars and celebrities understand.

Your public support of the Leap Manifesto? Two thumbs down.

You and the Manifesto were a bomb of Heaven’s Gate proportions.

Simply, this ridiculous and irrational manifesto proposes to fix problems that don’t actually exist in Canada: widespread extreme poverty, unsustainable inequality, the genocide of our native people.

And to top it all off, they think Canada’s climate change policy is a crime against humanity.

The Manifesto’s solution is revolution. To blow up Canada’s economy – specifically, its oil and gas sector.

And essentially, go back to a pre-industrial Walden-like existence, where all 35 million Canadians will tend to our garden and our cattle on our little cute farms.

All this would be sustained by clean, renewable  energy, pursuant to strict NIMBYism principles; In their own words – they call it a “new iron law” — “If you wouldn’t want it in your backyard, then it doesn’t belong in anyone’s backyard.”

Which, taken to its logical conclusion, means no renewal energy of any sort — wind farm or solar — you Hollywood nimrods! (Or, come to think of it, any more iron, either…)

Even the left of center Globe and Mail agrees:

The manifesto calls for immediate social revolution in response to the threat of climate change. Its “demands” include “innovative ownership structures” as an alternative to “the profit-gouging of private companies,” and a “new iron law of energy development” that, if taken seriously, would pretty much put an end to every project ever – pipelines, windmills and solar-panel farms included. This iron law states, “If you wouldn’t want it in your backyard, then it doesn’t belong in anyone’s backyard.

If these Canadian celebrities expected their natural audience — leftist NDP members and supporters — would be jazzed by these suggestions, they were misled. Or they have been powering their noses with “questionable” products.

Because the Leap Manifesto sank faster than Adam Sandler’s once buoyant career.

The response so far from Mulcair and his party? Zip, nada, zero. Crickets.

And for good reason, as the Globe’s editorial concludes:

We don’t think Mr. Mulcair endorses the manifesto’s madness. He is far more moderate than that. He is also a politician, and he wants to govern a country that is by its nature suspicious of radical social upheaval, especially when promulgated by rock stars.

Saddling him now, barely a month before the election, with the task of answering questions about a revolutionary utopian manifesto seems like an obvious case of failing to look before you… Well, you know the rest.

I love you, Rachel McAdams. Because of your film work, you are the archetypal sweet Canadian “girl next door”.
But by signing your name to this crazy manifesto, while probably being chauffeured around in a very large gas-guzzling limo, from movie premiere to movie premiere, and from private VIP party to private VIP party, you have transformed yourself into the ditsy, brain-dead lefty goof next door.

Not a pretty picture, Rachel, my dear.

Helene Rousse Casts Her Formidable Net at TIFF 2015

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment, Lifestyle

Through mere happenstance, in various TIFF events, I kept running into the very successful casting head, Helene Rousse, senior managing partner of the Montreal-based The Helene Rousse Total Casting Agency. After attending numerous TIFF films and their parties, Helene, (who reminds me of the also multi-talented French actress, Julie Delpy), was just ready to let her hair down and tell us her story of her successful ascension to one of the top casting people in the business. So I met with Helene over coffee on the second floor of the very light and airy TIFF Lighthouse coffee shop/bar.

Helene has operated her company for over fifteen years. Her company has provided casting services to some of the most well-known and successful Canadian and American producers and directors of feature films, animation films, documentaries, television series, made for tv movies, video games, music videos- Together with print, voice, reality-tv and variety entertainment.

Apparently, her business is also taking off in this fair city of Toronto-the undisputed Canadian capital of entertainment.

http://www.totalcasting.ca/home.html

I have personally urged Helene (the face that launched a thousand film clips) to look westward, young woman and establish a beachhead, here in the true Hollywood North.

Carpe Diem! Helene. Profitez de la Vie! ( Doesn’t it sound so much sexier in French?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Klubbing with Kylie Kardashian Jenner in Toronto’s Yorkville’s “70 Down” During TIFF

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment, Lifestyle

Hey, a few nights ago, I was klubbing with Kylie Friggin Jenner kutting a rug on the dance floor at a little known Middle Eastern-themed sheesha (hookah) lounge “70 Down”. Kylie was surrounded by her peeps and numerous heavyset black bodyguards, (see photo of Kylie and boyfriend Tyga).

Truth be told, my friend had initially spotted Kylie emerging from the kan, apparently “powdering” her nose. (triple entendre, intended). Kylie greeted her with, “Hi, girl, how is it going”? Before my friend could suggest they do some Tequila shots together, Kylie was surrounded by a big muscular dude, presumably one of her personal bodyguards. Further discussion with the Kylie was not encouraged.

(I was hoping to learn if the Kylie was going to dump her then boyfriend, the rapper, Michael Ray Stevenson, aka, “Tyga”.)

Drat! So instead of an up close and personal pic of Kylie, (I feel we are already on a first name basis)-Here is a pic of me at the klub, (total fish out water) at the bar with my new best friend, Amir, a well-known real estate broker from Thornhill. Or a very successful Middle Eastern arms dealer, or both.

Kylie and Tygamlw@ 70 down
mlw+70 down 2

Ashley Callingbull’s anti-Harper diatribe reveals the CBC’s hopeless bias, once again

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment

The CBC, by airing a highly biased diatribe by Ashley Callingbull, 2015’s Mrs. Universe and an aboriginal woman, once again demonstrates why the majority of Canadians have stopped watching or listening to CBC as a legitimate broadcaster of news or opinion.

As usual, CBC host Rosemary Barton ignores and fails to mention the many and varied internal structural and cultural causes of aboriginal problems. Because that would be politically incorrect, and God forbid, balanced and impartial political reporting and commentary. It would also undermine the Liberal Trudeau and NDP Mulcair narrative that the plight of the native Indians is all Harper’s fault and the lack of billions of billions of more taxpayer dollars.

Because according to this recently crowned beauty crown – and now newly crowned CBC political pundit – it is all the fault of Stephen Harper. In other words, aboriginal problems will be improved with a new government – and, by the way, an injection of billions and billions of more Canadian dollars into the pockets of native Indian chiefs which should not be accounted for. Because native Indians are owed more of Canadians’ hard-earned money, but asking for a financial accounting is disrespectful.

Numerous objective RCMP and police studies indicate that over 70% of murders of aboriginal women are carried out by aboriginal men. Should not First Nations people take responsibility for what is going on in their own communities? Why should the Canadian people support another study costing millions and millions of taxpayer money, when the primary fault for the death and disappearance of aboriginal women is aboriginal men?

This native Indian beauty queen confessed to being sexually abused from an early age, presumably by a native Indian family member or aboriginal man or men in her community. Obviously this predates Harper’s administration, but of course this is Harper’s fault, not the individual or individuals who did these terrible things, or her own family and community which permitted this sexual abuse.

Also what is wrong with First Nation bands accounting for how Canadian taxpayers funds are used? Is it right that some band chiefs earn hundreds of thousands of dollars, a year (one chief earned over a million dollars a year, without the knowledge of the people on his reserve,) well in excess of what is reasonable for any responsible  political leader in Canada?

No amount of money will solve housing, water, health and educational issues on reserves in certain isolated areas. You can dump another $6 billion dollars in these reserves and the problems will persist. It is not a lack of funds, but there are other more fundamental causes at play here, which are obvious to most Canadians.

The majority of Canadians are not stupid. The majority of Canadians believe that the problems of First Nations did not start with Stephen Harper and will not end or even be improved or changed with a new NDP or Liberal government.

And the CBC, in uncritically providing a forum for Ashley Callingbull, demonstrates once again why it has lost the respect and support of the majority of Canadians as a legitimate and objective broadcaster. Like our natives, the CBC suffers from serious structural and internal cultural matters, endemic to its organization. An injection of millions of dollars of Canadians’ hard-earned money will not revive a dying institution nor encourage Canadians to come back and tune in to this failed institution.

A Brilliant Outdoor Romeo and Juliet in Scarborough’s Unique Greek Stage in Guild Park

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment

Over the years I have attended many performances of Shakespeare’s romantic classic, “Romeo +Juliet”- in London, New York and of course, more locally in Ontario’s own Stratford Festival, in the bucolic Ontario town of Stratford.

And who can forget the many film versions of ”Romeo and Juliet”- the 1968 Franco Zeffirelli version starring Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, and the more contemporary 1996 American version directed by Baz Luhrmann starring a very young pre Homeland Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio.

But brace yourselves, theatre-goers and Bard Buffs, the most believably romantic and hence tragic love story of “Romeo + Juliet” is being performed outdoors this summer in the beautiful Greek Stage in Scarborough’s Guild Park.

The setting is naturally magical and unique.

The open-air theatre, situated among 88 acres of forest, gardens, lawns and woodland trails ( the Guild Inn) is modeled after the Ancient Greeks- with its awe-inspiring eight columns and Corinthian capitals, with soaring arches joining the columns.

But as Shakespeare’s Hamlet once noted,” I’ll have grounds-More relative than this—the play’s the thing.”

Notwithstanding the beautiful setting, we come for the play. And more specifically, the relationship between Romeo and Juliet.

If there is no chemistry between the two leads, no amount of stagecraft, will redeem this classic play.

Fortunately, Jovan Kocic as Romeo and Lindsey Middleton as Juliet are marvelous as the star-crossed lovers, set in a contemporary modern England.

Their chemistry is so natural, heartfelt and palpable. Their youthful passion and love infuse the whole production.

My favourite scene is the famous balcony scene between the two young lovers. First love is so unique, memorable, awkward, funny and a bit scary. The two lovers brilliantly portray all these emotions in this pivotal scene.

You can tell many members of the audience, myself included, identified with the feelings of their first love, bursting and blossoming forth, as we were also briefly transported back to our own first never to forgotten first experiences.

It seems that Kocic and Middleton, both graduates of the University of Toronto/Sheridan theatre program, knew each other as students and were close friends as well.

The warmth of their friendship is evident in every scene and hence the tragedy of their love, that much more poignant.

In an interview, Jovan Kocic based his portrayal of Romeo on his own concept of loyalty. Romeo’s loyalty to his family and of course his conflicting loyalty to his lover, Juliet. This conflict drives the play. (see photo with Romeo himself).

On the other hand, Lindsey Middleton’s Juliet succeeds because Ms. Middleton, a very strong and self-assured person, possesses the strength of character to portray Juliet as honest, open, innocent and vulnerable. A very difficult theatrical feat.

The director, Jamie Robinson, wisely sets this play in contemporary England. His direction and his theatrical choices are bang on.

The genius of Shakespeare is that his language and romantic themes strangely resonate with Romeo’s contemporary “English lad chic” and the charming, funny Montaigne boys.

The whole cast is uniformly excellent. As is the whole production- from costumes to lighting design.

There are only four performances left!!! This Friday evening, Saturday evening and two performances, this Sunday.

This play is well worth the trip to Scarborough’s lovely Guild Park.

Greek Theatreromeo + juliet1romeo and mlw

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Magic Mike XXL could teach Patrick Brown’s Ontario PCs a thing or two

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment

(MATURE CONTENT WARNING) What better way is there to spend Canada Day than with a hundred screaming women (ages 20 to 70) in a suburban theatre watching the Channing Tatum sequel to the very successful Magic Mike?

We are in an exciting and interesting time here in Ontario. The Ontario Progressive party under its new young and vigorous leader, Patrick Brown, is trying to evolve and grow from its deep rural roots and become more progressive, more suburban, more urbane, and apparently more tolerant and inclusive. And definitely more LGBTQ.

Hence the very successful, loud, proud Conservative contingent of 60+ strong, led by Brown and his feisty colleague Ontario PC MPP Lisa MacLeod, in the recent Toronto Pride Parade.

And so it also just seems fitting to review a strangely compelling male stripper flick here in the deeply blue conservative, but highly iconoclastic pages of the Rebel.

Magic Mike XXL is clearly superior to the original Magic Mike. Okay, it is no Godfather II. But then againGodfather III was no Godfather II.

Magic Mike, in addition to starring Channing Tatum as Magic Mike – handyman by day and male stripper by night – also starred suddenly hot-again Mathew McConaughey as Dallas, the sleazy strip club owner and manager of the male stripping troupe, the “Kings of Tampa.”

This film was part female fantasy (half-naked, hard-bodied male strippers,) part romantic comedy as (Magic Mike trying to woo Brooke, his stripper buddy’s sister) and part moralistic drama, as one Mike’s young stripper protégés becomes too heavily involved in drugs and the stripper lifestyle, with its (apparently!) attendant violence.

Though directed by indie great Steven Soderbergh, the film did not hang together and was mostly forgettable. Magic XXL, on the hand, is more focused, with a simpler but more interesting and meaningful  storyline.

Gone is the sleazy, over the top acting of McConaughey.

In this film, the boys are back, with the “Kings of Tampa” taking centre stage – both literally and figuratively. The male strippers from Magic Mike – now self-identified as male entertainers -include aptly named Big Dick Richie (Joe Manganiello,) Tarzan (Kevin Nash,) Tito (Adam Rodriquez) and Ken (Matt Bomer.)

The story focuses on a male strippers’ convention at Myrtle Beach, which may be the Kings of Tampa’s last show together: Some of these guys are getting a little long in the tooth -Tarzan, though still a strapping example of manhood, appears to be suffering from arthritic knees  whenever he deep bends and painfully whips off his tearaway pants to expose his skimpy Speedos.

Others have outside business interests which demand their full attention – Magic Mike’s growing custom furniture business, Ken’s acting career and Tito’s start-up mobile frozen yogurt operation. Sensing that this may be their last hurrah – and the last time they each experience  hundreds of  screaming women sticking sweaty dollars bills in their jockeys – the boys embark on one last road trip from Tampa to Myrtle Beach.

The high point of the film, at least for me, is when these guys are cracking wise, bonding, kibitzing on and off the bus, and coming clean to each other and to us, the audience. We learn that Tarzan is a painter, a Marine and Desert Storm veteran, and Ken is a sensitive, struggling actor trying to increase his online presence. (I can certainly relate to that.)

Big Dick Richie reveals to his buddies that, though he’s a great-looking guy with tons of female admirers, he has not had sex in six months because he possesses a tragic flaw – an unusually ginormous member that apparently intimidates and repels all potential female partners.

Magic Mike also reveals that though he owns a home, a dog and a thriving furniture business, he cannot find his one true love with whom to settle down and produce award-winning underwear models, Brooke having exited stage left along with Dallas since the original film.

During this memorable road trip, the boys are invited back to a fancy southern plantation where they entertain 40-something, sexually frustrated southern belles led by Nancy (the still beautiful and radiant Andie MacDowell,) providing life affirming and empowering advice and pleasure, while gyrating and singing boy band covers.

Big Dick Richie and Nancy hook up, as Richie has finally found his opposite number, that one elusive woman who fits the proverbial glass slipper. Her yin to his wang, so to speak.

As in all great cinematic cheerleader competitions (Bring it On) or a cappella sing-offs, (Pitch Perfect 1 and 2) the boys realized that they must re-invent themselves and their numbers. Take risks. Throw out their tired old routines and create entirely new ones that truly reflect their passions and their identities for a broader audience.

In much the same way, Brown’s new and invigorated Ontario PC Party, after four consecutive and devastating electoral defeats, have had to throw out the old routines, the old advisers and the old way of doing politics and looking at politics. Electoral success has not been won in the past and will not be won in the future by merely energizing your hard core but declining conservative rural base.

As a straight heterosexual male, I was not moved by the male entertainers’ onstage performances per se, but I can see this film’s overall and broad appeal to both women and the LGBTQ community, and the subversive charm of these guys who simply want to bring fun and joy to their female customers’ lives – and also to their core gay viewing public.

But I did enjoy the male bonding, joking and camaraderie among the bros and the very funny and strong cameo appearances by such strong actresses as MacDowell, Jada Pinkett Smith and Elizabeth Banks. Not only does the film sequel hit a home run with its core gay and female audience, I believe it will successfully resonate with straight dudes, young and not so young as well, for the above reasons.

The lesson of Magic Mike XXL for Brown’s Ontario PC Party is to still appeal to the base, but also to take risks, be innovative, be different and go after those outside the base, for greater political appeal, support and ultimate political success. Also, a stuffed tube sock down the y-fronts might help; we can’t all be Big Dick Richie, after all.