Separated at birth?

Were 'Paycheck' (2003) and 'Source Code' (2011) separated at birth? Maybe just the posters? I'm just sayin'...

Thanks for checking in.

Starry, starry nights

SCREEN WRITER
This short article by Janet Uren featured in a recent edition of Ottawa Magazine cites decor rescued from Gatineau's long-gone 1200-seat movie house, the Laurier Theatre (1920-1963).

http://www.ottawamagazine.com/homes-gardens/2011/02/11/from-the-print-edition-a-little-theatre-history-finds-a-home-in-new-edinburgh/#more-7327


You can find a little more info about the Laurier Theatre (aka Cinéma Laurier), in french, at this page from the Société d'histoire de l'Outaouais' Patrimoine de l'Outaouais site (via the Library and Archives Canada portal):

http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/patrimoi/laurier.htm


CINÉ MONDE
Speaking of french cinemas (loosely), this April the Canadian Film Institute transforms its Library and Archives Canada digs on Wellington Street into one for the 9th DiverCiné: A World View of La Francophonie, "a film festival organized jointly by the Embassy of France in Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage. This festival is a unique opportunity for Canadians to discover the works of filmmakers from various countries of La Francophonie." Admission is $6 per film, per person.

http://www.cfi-icf.ca/index.php?option=com_cfi&task=showevent&id=66


SCREEN SHOT - cinemamuetquebec.ca
Continuing the theme (slightly), SILENT CINEMA IN QUEBEC 1896-1930 is an impressive educational site that takes you on a visual tour of Québec's silent film era. "Let us tell you the history of the beginning of cinema in Quebec. You will learn all about its pioneers and craftsmen and will live the experience of going to the movies during the silent era."

http://www.cinemamuetquebec.ca/


STARRY NIGHT IN OTTAWA
So the 31st Genie Awards have come and gone, but you still have a chance to see or revisit the hour-long show hosted at the NAC, courtesy of the CBC website:

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/More_Shows/Genie_Awards/1578406536/ID=1837907039


You can also check out some pics shot at the Genies' Fan Zone, available at both the moviequips.ca flickr gallery and the moviequips.ca facebook album.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moviequips/sets/72157626142312063/

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=174694&id=7211861866

Thanks for checking in.

O-town moviepalooza

Looking at the social calendar for these next few days, Ottawa's definitely the place to be for movie fans and cinephiles alike. It's an absolutely crazy awesome O-town Moviepalooza, so let's get started.

 THURSDAY, MARCH 10   31st Annual Genie Awards: National Arts Centre

Call it the Etrogs, the Canadian Film Awards or The Genies, this Thursday's NAC showcase of the best of Canada's movies from the past year (or so) is steadily looking like something worth braving the weather for. Unlike in 2009 when I plus four other people stargazed and froze outside the Aviation Museum when the Genies came to town, this year's event offers an actual Fans Zone at the NAC's red carpet for people wanting to check out this event's attending celebs. Here's the NAC's page:

http://www.nac-cna.ca/en/whatson/event.cfm?ID=6563

 FRIDAY, MARCH 11   Outaouais Film Festival: Various Gatineau Cinemas

Gaining ground and attention annually since its humble beginnings, the Outaouais Film Festival kicks off eight days of film appreciation starting this friday. Check out the site, and be sure to look through the PDF program of impressive screenings found there:

http://www.offestival.com/

 SATURDAY, MARCH 12   IFCO Annual Gala Screening: Library and Archives Canada

The Independent Filmmakers Co-operative of Ottawa Inc. (IFCO) turns 19 this year and invites you to check out their evening celebration of hometown flicks this saturday. Check out the IFCO site for details, and plan to screen and mingle:

http://www.ifco.ca/events/gala.html

This highlighted trio is just a taste of local movie events happening in and around the city in the coming days and weeks. Check out the calendar here for more movie fun.

Thanks for checking in.

2011 nom names 101

So, the Genie Awards are less than a week away.

Do you know who the nominees are this year? Here's the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's 31st annual Genie Awards nominees for Best Leading Actor and Actress:

Genie Nominees, Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Robert Naylor, 10 1/2

Other Films:
Victor Gazon (2008), Immortals (2011)

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2316151

Northern Stars:
http://northernstars.ca/actorsmno/naylor_robert.html

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Naylor_(actor)

Misc:
Born July 6, 1996 in Montreal, Canada.

Paul Giamatti, Barney's Version

Other Films:
Deconstructing Harry (1997), Sideways (2004), Lady in the Water (2006)

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0316079/

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Giamatti

Notable Awards:
Academy Awards (2006 Nomination, Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Cinderella Man (2005)); Golden Globes (2011 Win, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: Barney's Version (2010), 2009 Win, Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television: John Adams (2008), 2006 Nomination, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Cinderella Man (2005), 2005 Nomination, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: Sideways (2004)); Screen Actors Guild Awards (2009 Win, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: John Adams (2008), 2006 Win, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Cinderella Man (2005), 2005 Win (Shared) Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Sideways (2004), 2005 Nomination, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Sideways (2004)), Toronto Film Critics Association Awards (2005 Win, Best Supporting Male Performance: Cinderella Man (2005), 2004 Win, Best Male Performance: Sideways (2004)), Emmy Awards (2008 Win, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: John Adams (2008)).

Misc:
Born June 6, 1967 in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Timothy Olyphant, High Life

Other Films:
Scream 2 (1997), Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000), Live Free or Die Hard (2007)

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0648249/

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Olyphant

Notable Awards:
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2007 Nomination (Shared), Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: Deadwood (2004)).

Misc:
Born May 20, 1968 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.


François Papineau, Route 132

Other Films:
Post Mortem (1998), Le génie du crime (2006), L'enfant prodige (2010)

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0660480/

Northern Stars:
http://northernstars.ca/actorspqr/papineau_francois.html

Wikipedia:
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/François_Papineau

Notable Awards:
Jutra Awards (2001 Nomination, Best Actor: La bouteille (2000)).

Misc:
Born 1966 in Laval, Québec, Canada.

Jay Baruchel, The Trotsky

Other Films:
Almost Famous (2000), Million Dollar Baby (2004), The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0059431/

Northern Stars:
http://northernstars.ca/actorsabc/baruchel_jay.html

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Baruchel

Misc:
Born April 9, 1982 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.


Genie Nominees, Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Rosamund Pike, Barney's Version

Other Films:
Die Another Day (2002), Pride & Prejudice (2005), An Education (2009)

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0683253/

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosamund_Pike

Notable Awards:
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2010 Nomination (Shared), Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: An Education (2009)); British Independent Film Awards (2010 Nomination, Best Supporting Actress: Made in Dagenham (2010), 2009 Nomination, Best Supporting Actress: An Education (2009), 2005 Win, Best Supporting Actress/Actor: The Libertine (2004); MTV Movie Awards (2003 Nomination, Best Trans-Atlantic Breakthrough Performer).

Misc:
Born January 28, 1979 in London, England, UK.

Tatiana Maslany, Grown Up Movie Star

Other Films:
Ginger Snaps: Unleashed (2004), Eastern Promises (2007), Defendor (2009)

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1137209/

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatiana_Maslany

Notable Awards:
Gemini Awards (2009 Win, Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series: Flashpoint (2008), 2005 Nomination, Best Performance in a Childrens' or Youth Program or Series: Renegadepress.com (2004)).

Misc:
Born September 22, 1985 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.


Lubna Azabal, Incendies

Other Films:
Aram (2002), Paradise Now (2005), Body of Lies (2008)

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0044073/

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lubna_Azabal

Misc:
Born in Brussels, Belgium.


Molly Parker, Trigger

Other Films:
Hard Core Logo (1996), Men With Brooms (2002), Hollywoodland (2006)

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0662504/

Northern Stars:
http://www.northernstars.ca/actorspqr/parker_molly.html

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Parker

Notable Awards:
Genie Awards (2008 Nomination, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Who Loves the Sun (2006), 2004 Nomination, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Marion Bridge (2002), 2003 Nomination, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Men with Brooms (2002), 2002 Win, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Last Wedding (2001), Nomination, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: The War Bride (2001), 1997 Win, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Kissed (1996)); Gemini Awards (1996 Nomination, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series: Paris or Somewhere (1994)); Screen Actors Guild Awards (2007 Nomination (Shared), Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: Deadwood (2004)).

Misc:
Born June 14, 1972 in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada.


Tracy Wright, Trigger

Other Films:
Highway 61 (1991), My Summer Vacation (1996), Childstar (2004)

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0942897/

Northern Stars:
http://northernstars.ca/actorsvz/wright_tracy.html

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Wright

Misc:
Born December 7, 1959 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Died June 22, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.


Thanks for checking in.

Genies Pic Picks

Love 'em or hate 'em, the annual Oscar overload and other big foreign flick awards shows South of the border are mercifully done. The BAFTAs are put to bed, too. So now we can finally focus on the more important movie celebration: The Genie Awards.

This year brings twenty awards nomination categories for Canadian-made film from 2010, including Best Motion Picture, Best Performances by Actors and Actresses in Leading and in Supporting Roles, Best Direction, Best Original and Adapted Screenplays, Best Cinematography, Best Song, and (of course) Best Documentary. You can find the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's complete list at http://www.genieawards.ca/genie31/main.cfm

And so, in an attempt to help everyone - including me - get on the same page about the 31st annual Genies, I've put together a detailed list of the five Best Motion Picture nominees in no particular order, with links and poster art from the usual suspects*. Most of these movies are still playing on the big screen or are already available on DVD (or Video on Demand). Check it out:

The 2011 Genie Awards, Best Motion Picture nominations

10 1/2 (2010)
117 minutes, Rated 18A (www.ofrb.gov.on.ca)

8 NOMINATIONS:
Best Motion Picture (Pierre Gendron), Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design (Gilles Aird), Achievement in Cinematography (Bernard Couture), Achievement in Direction (Podz), Achievement in Editing (Valérie Héroux), Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Robert Naylor), Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Martin Dubreuil), Original Screenplay (Claude Lalonde)

SYNOPSIS:
"Tommy, dix ans et demi, est trouvé inconscient et battu dans un terrain vague. Il s'agit d'un enfant bien connu des services sociaux qui ont tenté, sans succès, de comprendre et corriger son comportement agressif et violent. Dans le nouveau centre où il est envoyé, Le Tremplin, la plupart des éducateurs semblent dépassés par cet enfant sauvage, rebelle à l'autorité comme à l'affection."

WEBSITE:
http://www.10etdemi-lefilm.com/

TRAILER:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFCdVaoq6is

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1591622/

WIKIPEDIA:
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_%BD

FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/10etdemi

Les amours imaginaires/Heartbeats (2010)
95 minutes, Rated 14A (www.ofrb.gov.on.ca)

4 NOMINATIONS:
Best Motion Picture (Xavier Dolan, Carole Mondello, Daniel Morin), Achievement in Cinematography (Stéphanie Weber-Biron), Achievement in Direction (Xavier Dolan), Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Anne-Elizabeth Bossé)

SYNOPSIS:
"L'histoire de Francis et Marie, deux amis qui, épris de la même personne, se livrent à un duel malsain pour la conquérir. De rendez-vous en rendez-vous, la tension monte et, bientôt, chacun interprète de manière obsessionnelle les comportements ambigus et destructeurs de l'objet de leur désir."

WEBSITE:
http://www.lesamoursimaginaires.com/

TRAILER:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gCPIof4kNQ

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1600524/

WIKIPEDIA:
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Amours_imaginaires

FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/LesAmoursImaginaires

Barney's Version (2010)
132 minutes, Rated 14A (www.ofrb.gov.on.ca)

11 NOMINATIONS:
Best Motion Picture (Robert Lantos), Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design (Claude Paré, Elise de Blois), Achievement in Make-Up (Adrien Morot, Réjean Goderre, Valli O'Reilly, Micheline Trépanier), Achievement in Costume Design (Nicoletta Massone), Achievement in Direction (Richard J. Lewis), Achievement in Music - Original Score (Pasquale Catalano), Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Giamatti), Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Dustin Hoffman), Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Rosamund Pike), Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Minnie Driver), Adapted Screenplay (Michael Konyves)

SYNOPSIS:
"Based on Mordecai Richler's prize-winning comic novel - his last and, arguably, best - BARNEY'S VERSION is the warm, wise and witty story of Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti), a seemingly ordinary man who lives an extraordinary life. A candid confessional, told (as the title implies), entirely from Barney's point of view, the film spans four decades and two continents, taking us through the many highs, and a few too many lows, or our hero's long and colorful life."

WEBSITE:
http://www.barneysversionthemovie.com/

TRAILER:
http://www.youtube.com/user/moviequips#p/f/0/1Z52vBL3zlc

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1423894/

WIKIPEDIA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney's_Version_(film)

FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/barneysversion

Incendies (2010)
130 minutes, Rated 14A (www.ofrb.gov.on.ca)

10 NOMINATIONS:
Best Motion Picture (Luc Déry, Kim McCraw), Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design (André Line Beauparlant), Achievement in Make-Up (Katryn Casault, André Duval), Achievement in Cinematography (André Turpin), Achievement in Direction (Denis Villeneuve), Achievement in Editing (Monique Dartonne), Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Lubna Azabal), Achievement in Overall Sound (Jean Umansky, Jocelyn Caron, Jean-Pierre Laforce, Benoit Leduc), Achievement in Sound Editing (Sylvain Bellemare, Simon Meilleur, Claire Pochon), Adapted Screenplay (Denis Villeneuve)

SYNOPSIS:
"Lorsque le notaire Lebel (Rémy Girard) fait à Jeanne (Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin) et Simon Marwan (Maxim Gaudette) la lecture du testament de leur mère Nawal (Lubna Azabal), les jumeaux sont sidérés de se voir remettre deux enveloppes, l'une destinée à un père qu’ils croyaient mort et l’autre à un frère dont ils ignoraient l’existence. Jeanne voit dans cet énigmatique legs la clé du silence de Nawal, enfermée dans un mutisme inexpliqué lors des dernières semaines avant sa mort. Elle décide immédiatement de partir au Moyen Orient exhumer le passé de cette famille dont elle ne sait presque rien..."

WEBSITE:
http://www.incendies-lefilm.com/

TRAILER:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpEy5FdadDY

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1255953/

WIKIPEDIA:
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incendies

FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/IncendiesLeFilm

Splice (2009)
104 minutes, Rated 18A (www.ofrb.gov.on.ca)

4 NOMINATIONS:
Best Motion Picture (Steven Hoban), Achievement in Direction (Vincenzo Natali), Achievement in Editing (Michele Conroy), Achievement in Sound Editing (Dave Rose, Rod Deogrades, David McCallum, John Sievert)

SYNOPSIS:
"Superstar genetic engineers Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) specialize in splicing together DNA from different animals to create incredible new hybrids. Now they want to use human DNA in a hybrid that could revolutionize science and medicine. But when the pharmaceutical company that funds their research forbids it, Clive and Elsa secretly conduct their own experiments."

WEBSITE:
http://www.splicethefilm.com/

TRAILER:
http://www.youtube.com/splicethefilm

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1017460/

WIKIPEDIA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splice_(film)

FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Splice-Movie/103910776306692

*Sources: moviequips.ca, genieawards.ca, youtube.com, imdb.com, wikipedia.org, facebook.com and impawards.com

Thanks for checking in.