Arts 177 results

Reviews of fine art, classical and opera music, and all things cultured

4Score

Moonage Daydream conjures David Bowie’s creative spirit via cinematic spell

Movie review: Moonage Daydream Stripping away the sycophantic commentary that often accompanies biographical exercises, Brett Morgen's Moonage Daydream quietly  opens the portal to David Bowie's central creative vessel: Himself.
3.5/5, 4/5Score

Two new docs offer deep dive on African-American dance icons

Movie review: Ailey and Can You Bring It - Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters Alvin Ailey and Bill T. Jones redefined modern dance for their generation, but while Ailey's company became the de facto representative of the African-American experience on the legitimate stage, Bill T. Jones lingered in the shadows long enough to truly know himself, and the emotional purpose behind each move.  

Launching a Rocket in the Living Room

DIY Column: The Apollo XIII Project A New Year’s resolution to reuse, recycle or purge was already in progress, then the pandemic happened, and what started as a creative bid to turn garbage into art suddenly morphed into a personal Apollo XIII mission: Without access to Home Depot, can you find a way to repurpose what you already have?    

Tell the Ones You Love, now more than ever

Column: The Balm of Poetry Part 6 - Dennis Lee’s Tell the Ones You Love Tell the Ones You Love - A short, sweet poem about love. As we struggle to cope with the terrible sweep of this unforgiving virus, Rod Mickleburgh says he finds it particularly apt.    

We can read what we want to read, Coronavirus doesn’t care

Column: The Balm of Poetry Part 2 - Ken Dryden on Covid-19 A celebrated Canadian sports figure and latter-day politician takes on a new foe without a stick or gloves, just team spirit and pragmatism.    
2Score

Movie review: The Jesus Rolls is a sad spin-off

In this remake of a French movie, John Turturro revisits his Big Lebowski character, but can't find any of the originality or charm    

Jay Stone’s Top 10 movies of 2019

(Along with one honourable mention and one movie that every one else loved conspicuous by its absence) By Jay Stone   Here are my favourite movies of 2019, in alphabetical order:   Honeyland: An amazing documentary, filmed in Macedonia, about a female beekeeper who lives with her ailing mother in rocky isolation, and harvests honey in a way compatible with her deep understanding of the life of bees. This hard-scrabble harmony is disrupted by a family of raucous nomads who move next door. The result is a galvanizing drama about society, greed, culture and, well, bees.   Gloria Bell: Sebastián Lelio’s remake of his own 2013 Spanish-language movie Gloria stars Julianne Moore as a divorcee who assuages her loneliness at dance clubs, and John Turturro as the constricted man who falls for her. The final scene, with the magnificent Moore dancing to the titular disco hit, is one of the great cinematic shouts of joy of the year.   Jojo Rabbit: New ...
4Score

Movie review: Uncut Gems is a boisterous jewel

Adam Sandler stars as a hyperkinetic gambler in this New York City drama about gambling that perfectly captures the anxiety of the city  
4Score

Movie review: MARGARET ATWOOD A Word after a Word after a Word is Power

This documentary examines how a Canadian literary icon went from being a much-heralded writer to becoming the prophet of dystopia in a post-Trump world

Movie review: Honeyland is a parable of capitalism

Documentary about a beekeeper in Macedonia takes an intimate look at what happens when neighbours move in and see the profits that can be made