Had a great time at Nuit Blanche this year. I only wish I could have been more places at once. That shot was taken inside the tent beside the alien crash at U of T.
Cinematheque Ontario (AGO’s Jackman Hall) is showing the silent film serial Les Vampires by Louis Feuillade during Nuit Blanche. At 400 minutes total you might not want to watch the whole thing - because there will be so much to see at Nuit Blanche - but you might want to stop in and have a look at this on the big screen.
Hollywood often mines the literary world for its stories. Here are some books you might want to read before they hit the big screen:
Into the Wild
by Jon Krakauer
This one looks really good. Krakauer is a good story teller so it will be interesting to see what Sean Penn does with this. See www.intothewild.com/ for more info. Stars: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, Kristen Stewart, Hal Holbrook and is directed by Sean Penn.
Love in the Time of Cholera
by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A lush epic love story set in early 20th century South America. Another must read by this Nobel Prize winning author. For movie info click here.
The Jane Austen Book Club: A Novel
by Karen Joy Fowler
Five women and one man meet periodically to discuss the work of Jane Austen and realize their lives mirror the stories they read. Stars: Maria Bello, Emily Blunt, Kathy Baker, Amy Brenneman, Maggie Grace, Jimmy Smits.
I am Legend
by Richard Matheson
Awesome book which I hear the film veers away from. No surprises there, so I am not expecting this adaptation to be good. Stars: Will Smith.
Silk
by Alessandro Baricco
A steamy historical romance starring Keira Knightley, Alfred Molina, Michael Pitt and Koji Yakusho.
The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger
An unconventional love story between a man who has a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel and his artist wife who must deal with this. The book is a must read, by the way. The film will be directed by Robert Schwentke and stars Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams.
Other good books being turned into movies include:
Into the Wildby Jon Krakauer
This one looks really good. Krakauer is a good story teller so it will be interesting to see what Sean Penn does with this. See www.intothewild.com/ for more info. Stars: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, Kristen Stewart, Hal Holbrook and is directed by Sean Penn.
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A lush epic love story set in early 20th century South America. Another must read by this Nobel Prize winning author. For movie info click here.
The Jane Austen Book Club: A Novelby Karen Joy Fowler
Five women and one man meet periodically to discuss the work of Jane Austen and realize their lives mirror the stories they read. Stars: Maria Bello, Emily Blunt, Kathy Baker, Amy Brenneman, Maggie Grace, Jimmy Smits.
I am Legend
by Richard Matheson
Awesome book which I hear the film veers away from. No surprises there, so I am not expecting this adaptation to be good. Stars: Will Smith.
Silkby Alessandro Baricco
A steamy historical romance starring Keira Knightley, Alfred Molina, Michael Pitt and Koji Yakusho.
The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger
An unconventional love story between a man who has a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel and his artist wife who must deal with this. The book is a must read, by the way. The film will be directed by Robert Schwentke and stars Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams.
Other good books being turned into movies include:
- The Republic of Love by Carol Shields
- the Coen brothers direct No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini - about an Afghan boy and his friendship with a servant's son
- Iron Man - the highly-anticipated comic book adaptation, starring Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, and Samuel L. Jackson. Not out till May 08 - watch the trailer
- The epic anglo-saxon poem, Beowulf, movie screenplay by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary (out Nov 16)- watch the trailer
Went to see Grizzly Bear play last night at the Mod Club. The band was OK, but unfortunately it was an early show and they had to clear out of there so no encore. Thanks a lot Mod Club. The show was short but the crowd loved every minute of it. Personally felt like it would have been nice to see them let loose a little more, but perhaps they felt rushed.
They have such a lush, orchestrated sound now that is quite different than the soft intimate tone on Horn of Plenty. Very much looking forward to hearing more from this band. They seem like they would feel equally at home in being lost in the woods or at a cheesy burlesque lounge with aging dancers.
Sorry for the blurry cell phone photo. Someone at the Mod Club takes their lighting seriously, and it would have been a good chance for some great photos but my camera is busted so that all I could muster.
Grizzly Bears play the awesome LOLA Festival next and you can check out myspace.com/grizzlybear for more info on upcoming shows.
(click on the image to view vid of bears)Great Lake Swimmers
Great Lake Swimmers are on tour and will be playing Toronto on Sept 29. They are offering a free download of an their EP, Great Lake Swimmers: Live From the Church of the Redeemer - you gotta love that. Click here to download EP.
Grizzly Bears
The Grizzly Bears - a band I am very much into right now - play an early show at the Mod Club tomorrow. Should be good. I like this discription by Matt Murphy of Pitchfork: "The gentlemen of Grizzly Bear paw around in wholly distinct regions of gentle, nocturnal psych-folk, conjuring visions of an imagined bedroom collaboration between the Doug Yule-era Velvet Underground, Nick Drake, and a pajama-clad Pooh with his head jammed in a honey jar."
Sex Pistols Reunite?
Yes it's true. A one time deal to mark the 30th anniversary of their only album, "Never Mind the Bollocks" at London's Brixton Academy on Nov 8. Read the full story here.
Who's playing at Nuit Blanche?
This is from stillepost: 7pm to Sunrise - Beginning with a dj set by John Caffery and projections by Roxanne Luchak at 7pm and followed by a full show by KIDS ON TV. The night also features HOLY FUCK, WYRD VISIONS, POLMO POLPO, & NADJA. @ 1116 King St W. Solid Waste Management Warehouse. Read it on stillepost.
Just wanted to let you all know about the Brunswick Theatre which is located at 296 Brunswick Avenue (2nd Floor). They are screening some hot topic documentaries and a lot of the films even include guest speakers. Here are some of the titles they have for September:
THE GOD DELUSION, Jesus Camp, Black Gold: A Look at Fair Trade Coffee, Scientology vs. BBC, End of Suburbia, Shake Hands with the Devil, Escape from Suburbia, OCCUPATION 101, 9/11 Mysteries, Uganda Rising, Mad Cowboy, Manufacturing Dissent, Trading Women.
Being socially minded, some of the films are free but as it says on their website:
Their goal is to provide free films through membership support. If you're interested in supporting them memberships cost $25 for a single month, or $20 per month for long-term support (6 months or more). Memberships give you a free pass to screenings and reserved seating for events that are likely to sell out.Admission to our programming is by donation, of which we suggest $10 towards our overhead costs. Nobody will be refused for lack of funds. We want people to see these films, reflect on them, and take action within their own lives. All points of view are welcomed and encouraged. After each film we host a facilitated discussion where our patrons can carry out a dialogue on the subject of the film, and respond to the thoughts and ideas of others.
Check www.brunswicktheatre.ca for schedules and more info.
Earlier this month I went to Ray Robertson's book launch for his new book What Happened Later. It was part of TINAR (This Is Not A Reading) Series and they have a pretty good line up for the rest of the month - notably William Gibson on Friday:
JONATHAN GARFINKEL—Ambivalence: Crossing The Israel/Palestine Divide
Gladstone Hotel Ballroom, 1214 Queen St. W., Toronto
Tues, Sept 18; 7:30 pm (doors 7pm), free
JEFF WARREN—Head Trip: Adventures In Human Consciousness
Gladstone Hotel Ballroom, 1214 Queen St. W., Toronto
Thurs, Sept 20; 9pm (doors 8pm), free
WILLIAM GIBSON—Spook Country
Bloor St. United Church, 300 Bloor St. W., Toronto
Fri, Sept 21; 7:30PM (doors 7pm) - Tickets $5
JESSICA WESTHEAD—Pulpy and Midge
Gladstone Hotel Ballroom, 1214 Queen St. W., Toronto
Tues, Sept 25; 7:30PM (Doors 7pm), free
Link: TINAR
Some really great photos of Bjork, Interpol, M.I.A, and Princess Superstar:
formertransformer.com
I've been looking for photos of v-fest since I did not attend and most of the ones I found were far away blurry shots. These really capture the stage presence of the performers. I'm always impressed by good photography so thanks to David Waldman for putting these up.
Canada's favorite pornographer is in the process of completing a zombie film titled "Otto; or, Up with Dead People." Knowing Bruce la Bruce we can expect tons of blood, but will it be pornographic? I guess we'll have to wait to find out. This is what he had to say about it on brucelabruce.com:
Hey Kids: if this blog seems a little dead, it's probably because I've been working on a new dead movie - er, undead - called "Otto; or, Up with Dead People." It's in the can, mostly, and I'm just about to go back to Berlin to edit and do post-production. If you want to keep track of the progress of the project, just go to www.Ottothezombie.de. Be sure to check out the blog for lots of production stills and behind-the-scenes photos. You can also keep track of everything by going to my myspace page, www.myspace.com/brucelabruce, or Otto's myspace page, which is www.myspace.com/ottothezombie. And remember, zombies are people to. Dead people, okay, but still people. Sort of.
X AVANT new music festival
This year it features Wooden Stars, Akufen, Pauline Oliveros, and Picastro. Picastro is having their CD release for Whore Luck on Sunday @ 9 and will be joined by Owen Pallet. Click here for full schedule
Queen West Art Crawl
- the Outdoor Art Show & Sale in TRINITY BELLWOODS PARK (Queen/Strachan), September 15 - 16, 11am - 6pm
- ART THAT BINDS performance art series: choral group of lesbian troubadours, all ages games (including zombie tag), Miss Canadiana and much more
- Afro-Caribbean drummers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) 1001 Queen St. W Saturday, September 15, 10am-4pm
- Salvation Army Thrift Store (1447 Queen Street West) illuminated by black lights Saturday Only between 9-6pm
- Tailgatecrasher Party in the Parking Lot Beside Rhino (1249 Queen Street West) Saturday, Sept. 15 only 9-11pm Bands, beer, pickup trucks, and performance mayhem
Good Catch Dear Diary Craft Fair (1556 Queen Street West) 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Erics Trip play Lees Palace and there is a TiFF Afterparty at Gallery 636 2am.
Here it is folks, the second post in our weirdest albums series - where each month I ask someone (they usually work in a record store) to compile a list of the strangest albums they have ever come across. This months list is brought to you by Stevie Nixx:
Everyone has strange albums which for one reason or another have fond feelings for or are just too stupid to forget. So, here are a few that I can remember.
Links:
myspace.com/nixxstevie
The Weird List #1 by Bartley
Everyone has strange albums which for one reason or another have fond feelings for or are just too stupid to forget. So, here are a few that I can remember.
Billy Idol - Cyberpunk
Originally Released: 1995
Label: Chyrisalis
This album is the audio equivalent of being on cheap drugs while reading William Gibson in a smalltown S&M bar. All of the songs are forgettable except, the beyond horrible cover of Heroin by the Velvet underground. What makes this memorable, is the in between song banter which are bad snipits of riots, explosions, Billy pleading for someone to hold him including his father then in utter desperation God. Before the Herion cover is a sample of someone saying "inject" and what sounds like some kind of machine injects Billy, where after he groans, and so do you for having to hear this album.
AC - 40 More Reasons to Hate Us
Originally Released: 1996
Label: Earache
A friend of mine found this for two dollars at a Cash Converters. The full name of the band is Anal Cunt. How could one refuse? The real highlight on this is the cover of the Three's Company theme. For some reason the Grindcore scene has a real love for Alan Thicke, who co-worte the song. Napalm Death also features a drawing of Alan Thicke on one of there early album covers. I guess, they were all watching a lot of television while living in Mom's basement. Well, basically they growl, scream, and vomit vocals over songs which barely clock over a minute, with titles such as Big Pants, Bigger Loser. and one maned simply "Tom Arnold".
Deep, profound and moving.
Snagga Puss - Reggae Funky
Originally Released: 1995
Label: VP
Awww, yeah. Ever wanted to hear that pink cartoon character Snaggle Puss lisp his way though some really awful casio driven riddims? Well, you can't, but the next best thing is Snagga Puss. Snagga urges you to be "healty" and not wear extensions, as sung in "No False Hair" every song sounds the same, and he keeps talking about health. I think perhaps,, this was a vanity project for Snagga, who is likly a Personal Fitness instructor for Shabba Ranks and a nutritionist for Red Rat.
Black Oak Arkansas- X-Rated
Originally Released: 1975
Label: MCA
Getting away from the 90's for a second, we have Black Oak Arkansas. I found this cassette on a picnic table outside an Allman Brothers concert, no shit. Not ever having heard this I had to wait until after the concert to hear this album. Real Dirty South. Titles like "Fightin' Cock" and "Too rough to be Gentle" The back cover of the album shows the slut on the cover lying in hay while the singer,, who sounds like a cross of Capt. Beefheart and Axl Rose doing up his pants as his band mates wait for their turn. Dirty.
Allman and Woman - Two the hard Way
Originally Released: 1986,
Label: Warner Bros.
Brother Gregg Allman and Cher, his new and soon to ex-wife sing some classic blues. I wonder what Cher's currennt audience thinks of Brother Gregg? probably secrectly lust after him or want to be him, back in the early seventies, of course.
Nasty Joe - Hit 'Em with your Thing
Originally Released: 1990
Label: Les Disques Star Records
Hit 'em with what? this looked so Quebec. I had to buy it, a dude in a leather vest, white t-shirt tucked into skintight baby blue jeans with no belt. Awesome. the music sounds like he's doing kareoke over old Paula Abdul songs. So closeted it's great.
Biscuit - Biscuit's Back
Originally Released: ??
Label: AVC
The music is not a big deal here, it sound like some demo's Sir-Mix-a-Lot left in his rubbish. Biscuit's claim to fame is he was the New Kids on the Block's bodyguard. I don't even know if this is true or not. This fascinating tidbit of info was provided by a stoned teenager wearing excessive blue eyeshadow.
The Great Kat - William Tell Overture
Originally Released: 2000
Label: TPR
Clocking in at a total time of just over six minutes, this thrash queen rips through tasteful classics such as "Sodomize' and " Castration" she loves men, loves them, that and shredding... on the guitar of course. (check this for more on her: http://www.geocities.com/guitarlords/kat.html)
Bobby Mcferrin - Simple Pleasures
Originally Released: 1988
Label: EMI
Everyone knows "Don't Worry Be Happy" from this. But have you heard Bobby throat Drive My Car or Sunshine of your Love? Well, I had a friend who worked in a record shop in a shopping mall who I convinced should play this album at full volume. Very quicky, the security came and warned us to turn it down. "No excuse for that shit bein' played that loud." Amazing.
Artist Unknown - Iron Maiden Covers
Originally Released: ??
Label: none
This is one of the best things I have ever found. Someone had a box of tapes sitting at the curb. This one had a bunch of guys playing Iron Maiden songs badly, arguing with each other and boating that "anyone who doesn't think this is hard, well, fuck you" Brilliant, gritty, real.
Links:
myspace.com/nixxstevie
The Weird List #1 by Bartley
Toronto International Film Festival Kicks Off
Lots of Film Fest news for you. TIFF is in full swing and the city has come alive with parties, celebrity sightings and films. As Colin Geddes says in his blog about the premiere of Dario Argento's Mother of Tears:
The night kicked off with a launch party for the film where basically everyone you'd ever want to meet showed up. Naturally, Dario and Asia Argento stole the night away, but that only scratches the surface. Also on hand to revel in the rapturous gore that was Mother of Tears were Land of the Dead director George A. Romero and a surprise appearance by Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright.
Damn, wish I was there. But I won't be missing Romero on Saturday so check back here for reviews of that and other films. Head over to http://www.tiff07.ca/ for schedules and info.
Toronto After Dark Film Festival
Now, if you like horror films, then you won't want to miss the Toronto After Dark Film Festival , which descends upon us Oct19-25. Zombie fans take note: if you show up at zombie movie premieres dressed as a zombie you get a $2 discount. Here's the latest news from the fest:
Toronto After Dark Film Festival is delighted to announce half its lineup of electrifying new horror and fantasy feature films which premiere this October 19-25 at the Bloor Cinema, in Toronto, Canada. The first 7 of 14 Toronto and Canadian feature premieres unveiled are: David Arquette’s star-studded horror film debut as writer-director (THE TRIPPER), the highly anticipated new zombie musical from Troma Films’ Lloyd Kaufman (POULTRYGEIST: NIGHT OF THE CHICKEN DEAD), the most expensive Russian fantasy film ever made (THE WOLFHOUND), a groundbreaking new sci-fi animation from Korea (AACHI & SSIPAK), two critically acclaimed new zombie outbreak films (MULBERRY STREET and AUTOMATON TRANSFUSION) and a hilarious and award-winning documentary about one priest’s disastrous attempt to shoot a Christian version of Star Wars (AUDIENCE OF ONE). Fans can now watch all the trailers to the announced films, and pre-order their Festival Passes at a special early bird rate at the official Toronto After Dark Film Festival website here: http://torontoafterdark.com/
There's lots to check out over at the website, including trailers. The movies look top-notch and there are three zombie film premieres at the fest. Can't wait. Like I said before, Toronto is becoming the unofficial zombie mecca.
Went to the book launch for Ray Robertson's new book What Happened Later. It was a part of This Is Not A Reading Series and it was a double book launch with Ray Robertson and David Creighton, commemorating the 50th anniversary of On the Road. Ray's new book is about the impact of On The Road, on himself and Kerouac. This is from rayrobertson.com:
Taking its title from Kerouac himself—"What Happened Later" was the title of his proposed sequel to On The Road—this novel tells the story of what happened after the fame generated by Kerouac's famous book and what happened next in the life of a young man infatuated with the legendary author. Interweaving the story of one author's slow decline with one boy's literary coming of age, "What Happened Later" explores the ever-shifting dualities of myth and reality, loss and hope, innocence and experience, endings and beginnings.
I haven't read it yet but look forward to it. It has been getting a lot of good reviews and Ray's other book Moody Food has received the Gold Award for Best Regional Fiction in Canada.
While at the launch I noticed some flyers with interesting authors coming soon in This Is Not A Reading Series - such as William Gibson on Sept 21 - but am unable to find any info online. Will keep you posted.
Links:www.rayrobertson.com
This Is Not A Reading Series
My thoughts on the anniversary of On The Road
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