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Academy Awards 2021: Boseman Loss Shows Why We Still Do (and Don’t) Need the Oscars

April 26, 2021 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

It wasn’t supposed to go like that.

After unexpectedly re-arranging the schedule to push Best Picture up and let the acting categories shine, the Academy clearly wanted to send a message. With the foregone conclusion that Chadwick Boseman would posthumously take Best Actor for his work in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, it was going to definitively celebrate a young man who was taken from us far too soon after losing his battle with cancer last year. 

An African-American man. 

Black Panther.

The significance of the moment was going to be a victory to end that night that would be both emotional and satisfying. After all, at a moment when Black culture is looking for heroes, a Chadwick victory would have been a symbolic statement in honour of a young man who had become a beacon of hope for many, sending viewers home with a truly feel-good moment.

Well, we all know how that went.

After Phoenix announced Anthony Hopkins as Best Actor to close out the show, the shock was palpable. The room was fairly quiet. Phoenix had to fumble through an awkward acceptance on Hopkins behalf as he was the only nominee not available. Of course, Twitter erupted. (In some ways, you almost feel bad for Hopkins. At home in Wales, even HE didn’t think he was going to win. If I were him, I likely would have slept through the ceremony as well.)

In a moment that felt like the reverse of the La La Land/Moonlight fiasco of a few years ago, the ‘feel-good’ finale completely backfired.

Within seconds, people took to their social media and responded accordingly. Outrage! Fury! Cancel! The response was completely understandable—and expected. After all, around this time, it’s almost tradition for people to take to the inter-webs to complain about the Oscars and the choices that they proclaim are ‘Best’. People decry from the rooftops that the films the Academy selects show their irrelevancy (and, sometimes, that’s a totally fair complaint). Comments like ‘this is why I don’t care about the Oscars’ flood social media with tsunami-like force.

But the irony is that same blow-up on the Twitter-verse shows that people still do care.

While people may either be happy or furious, the fact that the reactions to these awards are so strong suggests that there’s still an interest in the results. For over 90 years, the Academy Awards have been the ‘standard’ by which success in the industry has been measured. To win an Oscar is considered one of the highest honours in the industry and, even though culture has changed a lot in recent years (and continues to do so), there remains a respect for that golden statue that continues to endure. To win an Oscar still says something. 

They matter because they matter to us.

The reason people were upset about Chadwick losing the award is not because Hopkins didn’t deserve it but rather that it meant something to them. Hopkins turned in the performance of the lifetime in the role but a Chadwick victory would have felt not only poignant but powerful. With his career still reaching his potential before his death, Chadwick still felt like someone that people could relate to, especially amongst the Black community. A win for him seemed like it would have felt like another win for them.

And it might have.

But, if the awards truly didn’t matter to anyone outside the industry, no one would have cared. There would have been no outcry or frustration. It would have simply passed on from the cultural zeitgeist and landed on the entertainment pages… not the front page… 

The problem may be that we’ve given too much credibility to the Academy. Though filled with over 1000 industry professionals, with this responsibility comes the expectation that it will represent the values of the people and the time. The truth is that they don’t always. Yes, they strive for representation and want to speak the voice of a culture. That’s why these films matter as much as Marvel films or alien invasions. They connect with a heartbeat that speaks the cries of our world.

But they don’t always speak for you and I. How could they?

With this in mind, the loss by Chadwick shows that, maybe, we don’t need the Oscars to play the same role in our culture. The truth is that, while considered the highest heights of the industry, the loss to Hopkins does not take away from his performance (or career) in any way. So many of history’s best films and performances were never recognized by the Academy. Citizen Kane, Raging Bull, Do The Right Thing, Pulp Fiction and innumerable others were robbed of ‘Oscar glory’ yet remain the most influential films of the last century. (And let’s not forget Delroy Lindo from the list of snubs this year…)

Regardless of who the Academy chooses to take home the gold, Chadwick Boseman will be remembered.

He matters. And he’s as important as he was yesterday.

I admit it. I love the Oscars. I love the pageantry, the music and the speeches. Unlike many, I love the fact that winners use the platform to speak their hearts about issues that matter to them. (I mean, they’ve been given a voice. They should use it.) I even love my Oscar pool with friends.

Ultimately though, they don’t determine which films or performances matter most. Only the ones that mattered to these people. That’s why it doesn’t really matter in the end if Boseman posthumously took home the gold. His performance in Ma Rainey’s was a thing of brilliance and it will be remembered. (In fact, it should be remembered.) This year’s Oscars may have been the most diverse in the Academy’s history. Chloe Zhao. Daniel Kaluuya. Yuh-Jung Yoon. H.E.R. Soul. Jon Batiste. All of these winners from last night show that things are changing. This was not #OscarsSoWhite, even if it did feel like #OscarsSoWrong.

The loss by Boseman doesn’t change any of this… but it’s all anyone’s talking about.

Yes, it would have made an amazing story to see him cap off his young but incredible career with a win. It would have been an emotional moment for us all. But there’s a reason that they announce the winner by saying ‘the Oscar goes to…’ They don’t want the other nominees to feel as though they are someone lesser than the others.

Because they aren’t. Not Riz Ahmed. Not Boseman. None of them, regardless of category. They all achieved something great with their cinematic achievements. And, like Chadwick’s performance, their work lives on. 

The Academy knows that. We may have forgotten it.

Message received.

Filed Under: Editorial, Featured, News, Oscar Spotlight Tagged With: Academy Awards, Anthony Hopkins, Black Lives Matter, Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, Chloe Zhao, Daniel Kaluuya, Joaquin Phoenix, Jon Batiste, Marvel, Oscars, racial injustice

O Canada! Telefilm Canada launches new site devoted to Canadian film

April 9, 2021 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Telefilm’s CANADA NOW (CNW Group/Telefilm Canada)

Whether you’re aware of it or not, Canadian film is alive and well.

The truth is that, while Canadian film continues to leave an impact on the industry, it is not very well known outside of our own borders. (Sometimes, not even within them!)

In order to help spread the word about some of Canada’s more notable projects, Telefilm Canada has launched CANADA NOW, a new site devoted to providing information about and stream Canadian content. Including films ranging from recent hits like My Salinger Year and Antigone to Oscar noms like the Barbarian Invasions or Monsieur Lahzar, CANADA NOW promises to continuously add new content each month to help spread the word about what’s happening in the industry north of the border.

The following is from the press release:

“This spring, Telefilm Canada is excited to embark on a brand new initiative promoting the discoverability of Canadian content to audiences across the United States. Through a new website – www.canadanow.us – audiences can easily find where to watch their favorite Canadian films and some series as well as explore new ones along the way. This site also connects users to virtual cinema and in-theater experiences. It builds upon the CANADA NOW network in the U.S. with a curated, customizable user-experience to discover the diversity of Canadian film and television series year-round. At the core of the initiative is the CANADA NOW microsite, developed in collaboration with Telescope, that features close to 5,000 available productions across over 150 VOD platforms. CANADA NOW, powered by Telefilm, is also in partnership with the Consulate General of Canada in New York and the National Film Board of Canada. 

“Beyond Arthouse cinemas and film festivals, it is often a challenge to locate and watch Canadian film and television projects here in the US. This difficulty was the catalyst for CANADA NOW to build something new and we couldn’t be more thrilled to support it and share!”
-Khawar Nasim, Acting Consul General, Consulate General of Canada in New York   

As evidenced most recently by the outpouring of love for Schitt’s Creek, there is clearly an enthusiastic audience for Canadian content in the US. We are delighted to collaborate with Telefilm Canada and the Consulate General of Canada in New York to raise the profile of Canadian films and series even further. – Justine Barda, Founder and CEO, Telescope 

For monthly updates on new content please sign up for the CANADA NOW newsletter here. 

To check out CANADA NOW’s microsite on Telescope and its vast database of the incredible content that can be viewed in the US, click here!” 

Filed Under: Featured, News, VOD Tagged With: Antigone, Barbarian Invasions, Canada Now, My Salinger Year, NFB, Telefilm Canada

Reporting from Slamdance – The Winners Are…

February 27, 2021 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

Now that the 2021 version of the Slamdance Film Festival is over, it is time to look back at some of the best films that played at the festival. The festival included 25 feature films and 107 shorts. Of course, the festival this year was almost completely virtual (the opening night and closing night films played at drive-ins), but the festival provided excellent Q&As with filmmakers to go along with the screenings. My thanks for the organizers and sponsors, and especially the filmmakers, for the wonderful experience of this year’s Slamdance.

Slamdance has several juries that gave out awards. There are also audience awards based on ratings made after viewing the films. And I’ll include my on top films as well. This year’s winners:

Jury Awards | Narrative Features

  • Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize: Taipei Suicide Story directed by KEFF (Taiwan)
  •  Honorable Mention: ​A Family directed by Jayden Stevens (Australia)

Jury Awards | Documentary Features

  • Documentary Feature Grand Jury Prize: CODE NAME: Nagasaki directed by Fredrik S. Hana (Austria)

Jury Awards | Breakout Features

  • Breakout Grand Jury Prize: No Trace directed by Simon Lavoie (Canada)
  • Honorable Mention: A Black Rift Begins to Yawn directed by Matthew Wade (USA)
     

Jury Awards | Documentary Shorts

  • Documentary Short Grand Jury Prize: Unforgivable directed by Marlén Viñayo (El Salvador)
  •  Honorable Mention: ​Ain’t No Time for Women directed by Sarra El Abed (Canada)
     

Jury Awards | Unstoppable Shorts presented by Hulu

  • Unstoppable Grand Jury Prize: The Bin directed by Jocelyn Tamayao (Philippines)
  • Honorable Mention: Feeling Through directed by Doug Roland (USA)
  • Honorable Mention: Full Picture directed by Jacob Reed (USA)
     

Jury Awards – Narrative Shorts

  • Narrative Shorts Grand Jury Prize: ​In France Michelle is a Man’s Name directed by Em Weinstein (USA)
  • Honorable Mention: ​MADA (Mother) directed by Joseph Douglas Elmhirst (USA)
  • Honorable Mention: Delimitation directed by Tereza Vejvodova (Czech Republic)
     

Jury Awards – Experimental Shorts

  • Grand Jury Prize: ​Passage directed by Ann Oren (Germany)
  • Honorable Mention: Mountain Lodge directed by Jordan Wong (USA)
     

Jury Awards – Animated Shorts

  • Grand Jury Prize: ​Return to the Peach Blossom Wonderland directed by Haomin Peng, Yue Huang, Yuchao Luo (China)
  •  Honorable Mention: ​Lizard Ladder directed by Ted Wiggin (USA)

Slamdance Acting Award

  • Tender Huang​ from the film Taipei Suicide Story​ (Taiwan)
  • Honorable mention: ​Michelle Uranowitz of the film The Ultimate (by Lou Fescano)(USA)

Audience Awards Winners:

  •  Best Narrative Feature: Taipei Suicide Story directed by KEFF (Taiwan)
  •  Documentary Feature: Holy Frit directed by Justin Monroe (USA)
  •  Episodic: The Little Broomstick Rider directed by Matteo Bernardini (Italy)

The AGBO Fellowship Award Winner, presented by Joe and Anthony Russo

  • Agnieszka Polska, director of Hurrah, We Are Still Alive! (Poland)

Slamdance Founder Award Winner

  • Award Winner: Tilane Jones, President of ARRAY (USA)

George Starks Spirit of Slamdance Award Winner

  • Award Winner: Chelsea Christer, director of Bleeding Audio (USA)
  •  Honorable Mention: Mohammad Mohammadian, director of LIFE (Iran) 

Creative Future Innovation Award Winner

  •  Opera by Erick Oh

My own favorites were Holy Frit, directed by Justin Monroe; Opera, directed by Erick Oh; Taipei Suicide Story, directed by KEFF; Feeling Through, directed by Doug Roland; and 18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium Story, directed by Stephen DeBro.

Filed Under: Film Festivals, News Tagged With: awards, Slamdance Film Festival

FREAKY Comes Home this February…

January 20, 2021 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

The most unlikely reboot of Freaky Friday that you could imagine is making it’s way onto Blu-ray and DVD on February 9th, 2021. You can get more information from the press release below.!

Universal City, California, January 19, 2021 – Prepare for a FREAKY take on the body-swap movie which only Blumhouse, makers of Happy Death Day & The Purge franchise, could bring: a teenage girl switches bodies with a relentless serial killer! From the deliciously debased mind of writer-director Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day, the Paranormal Activity franchise) and prolific horror producer Jason Blum (Halloween, The Purge franchise), comes a horror-comedy about a stalker, a high school senior, and the brutal truth about surviving high school available on Digital on January 26 and on Blu-ray™ and DVD on February 9. FREAKY is “the most purely enjoyable horror movie made in years” (David Sims, THE ATLANTIC). Hailed as “an absolute blast – fun, frantic, horror/comedy mash-up” (Drew Taylor, COLLIDER), the Killer Switch Edition continues the fun and scares with exclusive bonus content including deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film and a feature commentary with Co-writer/Director Christopher Landon. With an 83% “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes and critical praise for Vaughn and Newton as “the new killer comedy scream team” (Rachel Smith, CELEBRITY PAGE), Vaughn won a Critics Choice Super Award for Best Actor in a Horror Movie.
 
High school senior Millie (Kathryn Newton, Blockers, HBO’s “Big Little Lies”) is just trying to survive being the unpopular kid when she becomes The Butcher’s (Vince Vaughn, Wedding Crashers, Couples Retreat) next target. Their fateful encounter gets twisted and wake up in each other’s bodies. Now looking like a towering psychopath, Millie learns she only has 24 hours to reverse the curse and get her body back before the switch becomes permanent and she’s trapped in the form of a middle-aged maniac forever.  With some help from her friends—ultra-woke Nyla (Celeste O’Connor, Ghostbusters: Afterlife), ultra-fabulous Joshua (Misha Osherovich, The Goldfinch) and her crush Booker (Uriah Shelton, Enter the Warriors Gate)—Millie races against the clock to reverse the curse while The Butcher discovers that having a female teen body is the perfect cover for a little Homecoming killing spree.
BONUS FEATURES on BLU-RAYTM, DVD and Digital:
Deleted Scenes The Butcher Lends a HandCharlene Hears a RumorLate for the Party
Split Personalities: Millie vs. The Butcher – Two opposing characters. One killer chemistry! Go behind-the-scenes to see how Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton worked together to bring these two very different characters to life and how they created distinct personal traits for both. This piece will focus on the magnetism between Vaughn and Newton, and how that chemistry raised the stakes for two characters stuck in such a strange situation.
Crafting the Kills – This feature will take viewers into the “Wood Shop” set to see how all of the various elements and departments come together to create an extraordinary kill that fans will talk about for years to come. We will also discuss the inspiration behind this bilateral bisection, what makes it both fun and horrifying, and how it is different from anything else you have seen in other horror films.
Christopher Landon’s Brand of Horror – Blending horror and comedy is a difficult task that not many can achieve, but Christopher Landon has proven time and time again that he is uniquely skilled at it. FREAKY is no different. Learn how Christopher’s vision brought new energy to the concept and elevated the story, all while creating a fun and proficient working environment. This behind-the-scenes look at how he weaves humor and gore together will give fans an intimate understanding of why a Christopher Landon film is a genre of its own.
Final Girl Reframed – The concept of a “Final Girl” is nothing new in the horror genre. However, Millie isn’t your typical Final Girl. We take a closer look at all the ways FREAKY takes your genre expectations and smashes them.
Feature Commentary with Co-writer/Director Christopher Landon

FREAKY will be available on Blu-rayTM, DVD and Digital.Blu-rayTM unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Freaky, Kathryn Newton, Vince Vaughn

Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.: Saving the World Never Looked So Clean

November 24, 2020 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Sometimes, timing really is everything.

When Yorkdale Mall planned to bring in the world-renowned, interactive Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. exhibit to Toronto, there is simply no way that they could have ever accounted for a city-wide lockdown the day of its release. After all, to bring in such events takes months—even years—of preparation and the events surrounding the global pandemic would have been simply unfathomable at the time.

Even so, with much fanfare but little opportunity to impress at this moment, the Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. is officially open to the public. 

Filled with memorabilia and models from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, families can immerse themselves in the ultimate Avengers experience. The 25,000 sq/ft exhibit is based on the premise that you and your kids have been invited to participate in the Avengers training program, just in case Earth’s mightiest heroes need some extra help during the next attack. After being welcomed by a message from Agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), families are encouraged to interact with games and props that range from Thor’s Hammer to Captain America’s shield.

Now, before I go any further, I know what you’re thinking. 

The first question on everyone’s mind is (and should be) public safety during the time of COVID-19. At a time when daily cases continue to rise at an alarming rate, an interactive (and highly touchable) experience in a closed space seems like the last place that anyone would want to be. Somewhat amazingly though, Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. has managed to minimize risk across the board. Partnering with the city of Toronto, Marvel has managed to maintain the interactive component while making the entire exhibit touch-free. From my own experience at S.T.A.T.I.O.N., I was thoroughly impressed by their attention to safety protocols that seemed to go above and beyond the call of duty. Though I must admit that I did miss the opportunity to grab Mjolnir for myself, under the circumstances, the adaptations made by the Avengers crew were nothing short of remarkable. Aside from the normal (and hands-free) hand sanitizing stations and staff on hand ready to clean where necessary, some of their more impressive adaptations included:

  • re-usable styluses for every attendee in order to interact with exhibits, which are immediately sterilized after each use
  • double the ventilation required for the exhibits massive space in order to create better circulation
  • adapting exhibits (such as Captain America’s shield) so that photos can be taken without actually touching them
  • The exhibit only allows 10% of its normal capacity at any specific time slow to ensure guests have the opportunity for social distancing.
  • spraying the entire facility down every night with hospital grade sanitizer

Saving the world never looked so clean.

With that out of the way, guests are free to interact with the exhibits without fear. And, make no mistake, there is much to see within the S.T.A.T.I.O.N. itself. Multiple interactive games and stations line the area designed to bring reality to the whimsical world. (The touch-free game that suits you up like Iron Man as he battles Ultron’s robot warriors and interactive Incredible Hulk exhibit were among my favourites.) Behind glass, official costumes worn and props used within the Marvel films adorn the walls. (In fact, Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. even has special times to adjust their volume and lights for those who may be on the spectrum or hearing impaired.) 

What’s more, there is a remarkable level of detail to the exhibit for those who want to really explore. Wakandan language within the Black Panther exhibit is decipherable and elaborate. Digital ants greet you in front of the Ant Man costume. What’s more, around the exhibit, screens are filled with information that should provide any MCU fan ample opportunity to learn more about their favourite heroes.  Finally, as you leave the S.T.A.T.I.O.N., guest will be invited to play one final challenge to determine if their ready to join the team.

All in all, the place is an absolute blast for all ages.

Though I might argue that the price is a little steep at $40 given the changes that needed to be made to adapt the experience, Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. is still likely worth your time. At a time when we all need a little bit of fun, this is a truly immersive experience that wants to remind you of our need for heroes while inviting you to become one.

Perhaps most importantly though, they’re also concerned about keeping our world safe from disease as well.

Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. is currently closed for 28 days and plans on re-opening on December 21st, pending government restrictions. Tickets are available for purchase from December 21st onwards at https://www.avengersstationcanada.com

Filed Under: Featured, News Tagged With: Avengers, Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N., COVID-19, Marvel, Pandemic, Yorkdale Mall

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