October 10: Tosca!

Out @ The Movies is hosting a special event on October 10th: an outing to see some opera!

Read on for the details...

WHAT?

A live production of Puccini's Tosca by the Metropolitan Opera.

The opera tells the story of three people—a famous opera singer, a free-thinking painter, and a sadistic chief of police—caught in a net of love and politics. Soprano Karita Mattila, sings the title role for the first time outside her native Finland. Luc Bondy, acclaimed for his imaginative theater and opera productions, directs. The cast also includes Marcelo Álvarez as Cavaradossi and Juha Uusitalo as Scarpia.

WHO?

The Out @ the Movies crew and me and you! Got friends who might be interested? Send them to the blog or facebook event (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=164928651420).

WHEN?

Saturday, October 10th; the performance begins at 2 p.m. Approximate Running Time: 3 hours, 30 minutes - includes 2 intermissions. The O@M crew will meet at 1:00 beforehand by the arcade.

WHERE?

Empire 8 Park Lane (5657 Spring Garden Rd)

WHY?

A whole bunch of reasons:

• Everyone should go to the opera at least once in their life. Plus, you can wear jeans!
• “Tosca combines Puccini’s glorious musical inspiration with the melodramatic vitality of one of the great Hitchcock films,” says Met Music Director James Levine, who conducts this new production.
• It's sub-titled so you can follow along (but no singing along, please).
• The opening night gala had an audience of 3,800 who gave a standing ovation to the primary performers. ...That's almost four thousand people!
• Have you noticed how cold it's getting outside!?

HOW (much)?

Tickets are $21.95+tax for adults ($18.95 for seniors, $12.95 for children). Tickets can be purchased at the box office or at http://www.empiretheatres.com/met.

See you at the theatre!

-Kirk F

Reviews of Whiteout

What did people think of sub-zero suspense movie? Let's find out!

• Kept me guessing. Exciting! - Mimi
• On the edge of my seat throughout, though the ending came too quickly. -Kim
• I was fairly disappointed. I [mistakenly] thought this was going to be a monster flick. Not a slasher. Overall a bit short, good storyline. But was waiting for a huge monster. - Luke
• I'd read the original graphic novel so already had an idea what to expect. The movie's story differs but it's still very suspenseful. Normal people doing bad things often make for some of the greatest mysteries in my opinion. -Kirk
• An interesting thriller with an ending that leaves you in some kind of suspense. Kate Beckinsdale once again hides her British accent as a U.S. Marshall trying to solve a string of bizarre murders on the end of winter rotation. Supported by Gabriel Macht (The Spirit), the film does become a 'page turner' - leaving you to wonder how it's going to end. Certainly not a Janet Jackson video ([director] Dominic Sena's major claim to fame) but certainly a visual feast. If you liked Kalifornia (David Duchovny, Michelle Forbes, Juliet Lewis and Brad Pitt), you will enjoy this! - Mark

And there you have it!

Thanks again to everyone who came out!

Kirk

Out @ Whiteout

THE RESULTS:

So... we got off a bit of a rocky start. Apparently (for the first time) the winner of our poll isn't playing at Park Lane. 9 won with 43% of the vote but we're going for our runner-up: Whiteout!

Why did 38% of your votes go to this Antarctica action flick?

• Kate Beckinsdale - She's smokin' hot!
• Great source material - I've read the original graphic novel. It's a riveting tale of murder and mystery at one of the most remote places on Earth.
• A little bit of Canadiana - the entire movie was filmed on locations across Canada!
• The trailer (see below)

THE MOVIE:

Whiteout

http://www.whiteoutmovie.com/

The story: Carrie Stetko, the lone U.S. Marshal assigned to Antarctica, investigates the continent's first murder, which draws her into a shocking mystery. Now, with only three days until winter, Carrie must solve the crime before Antarctica is plunged into darkness and she is stranded with the killer.

The trailer:

THE PLAN:

The movie is on Tuesday, September 15th at 7:19 at Park Lane. Tickets are $8.99 (pre-order). We will meet starting at 6:30 by the arcade. If this is your first time attending, look for the guy in the glasses and orange baseball cap (That's me, Kirk, the organizer).

After the whodunit that is Whiteout, we'll head down the street to the Second Cup. You'll have the chance to discuss the movie, meet the other moviegoers and share your review.

Hey! Are you on facebook? Why not RSVP to the event - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=136797175740?

See you at the theatres!

Kirk F

Tyler Perry's 9-Row Whiteout

What box office blockbusters are available for our September 15th movie outing?

Read on!

9 (September 9th)

http://www.9themovie.com/

The story: The time is the too-near future. Powered and enabled by the invention known as the Great Machine, the world's machines have turned on mankind and sparked social unrest, decimating the human population before being largely shut down. But, as our world fell to pieces, a mission began to salvage the legacy of civilization; a group of small creations was given the spark of life by a scientist in the final days of humanity, and they continue to exist post-apocalypse. Another of their own, #9, emerges and displays leadership qualities that may help them survive and possibly even thrive.

Why you want to see it: Because it looks awesome!

The Trailer:

Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself (September 11th)

http://www.icandobadmovie.com/

The story: When Madea, America's favorite pistol-packing grandma, catches sixteen-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides to take matters into her own hands and delivers the young delinquents to the only relative they have: their aunt April. A heavy-drinking nightclub singer who lives off of Raymond, her married boyfriend, April wants nothing to do with the kids. But her attitude begins to change when Sandino, a handsome Mexican immigrant looking for work, moves into April's basement room. Making amends for his own troubled past, Sandino challenges April to open her heart. And April soon realizes she must make the biggest choice of her life: between her old ways with Raymond and the new possibilities of family, faith -- and even true love.

Why you want to see it: Because it looks powerful!

The Trailer:

Sorority Row (September 11th)

http://thetapi-ordie.com/

The story: When five sorority girls inadvertently cause the murder of one of their sisters in a prank gone wrong, they agree to keep the matter to themselves and never speak of it again, so they can get on with their lives. This proves easier said than done, when after graduation a mysterious killer goes after the five of them and anyone who knows their secret.

Why you want to see it: Because it looks scary!

The Trailer:

Whiteout (September 11th)

http://www.whiteoutmovie.com/

The story: Carrie Stetko, the lone U.S. Marshal assigned to Antarctica, investigates the continent's first murder, which draws her into a shocking mystery. Now, with only three days until winter, Carrie must solve the crime before Antarctica is plunged into darkness and she is stranded with the killer.

Why you want to see it: Because it looks intense!

The Trailer:

Cast your vote now!

Can't see the poll? Go to http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/1949107/

Atlantic Film Festival - That's So Gay!

The Atlantic Film Festival kicks off on September 17th and runs until September 26th. As part of their programming, they offer That's So Gay - a selection of movies of interest to our community. Given the number of movies, there will be no official Out @ the Movies event but I do encourage you to go as many as you can! Show the AFFA that there is interest!

Look below to find out the movies and their screenings.

Tickets are $11.30. You can purchase tickets online at http://atlantic.bside.com/2009/films.

Friday, September 18th @ 9:35 PM @ Park Lane - 3

J’ai tué ma mère (I Killed My Mother)

97 min.

ATTENTION: Cette film est présenté en Français seulement (this film will be presented in French only)

Hubert Minel n’aime pas sa mère. Du haut de ses 17 ans, il la jauge avec mépris, ne voit que ses pulls ringards, sa décoration kitsch et les miettes de pain qui se logent à la commissure de ses lèvres quand elle mange bruyamment. Au-delà des irritantes surfaces, il y a aussi la manipulation et la culpabilisation, mécanismes chers à sa génitrice. Confus par cette relation amour/haine qui l’obsède un peu plus chaque jour, Hubert vague dans les arcanes d’une adolescence à la fois marginale et typique - découvertes artistiques, ouverture à l’amitié, ostracisme, sexe - rongé par la hargne qu’il éprouve à l’égard d’une femme qu’il aimait pourtant jadis.

Saturday, September 19th @ 7:15 PM @ Park Lane - 3

Drool

85 min.

http://www.uploadfilms.com/drool/

Anora Fleece has got it rotten. Her husband is abusive, her children are disrespectful and she lives in the middle of nowhere, feeling like a nobody. Then Imogene Cochran moves into the neighbourhood. Imogene sells Kathy K. Kosmetics makeup for the cocoa-skinned woman. The neighbours don’t like cocoa-skinned anything but that doesn’t stop Imogene and Anora from becoming friends and, well, more than friends. When Anora’s husband Cheb finds them, all hell breaks loose but the tables are turned when Anora accidentally shoots Cheb dead. Anora and Imogene then pile the kids in the Kathy K. car, throw the corpse in the trunk and ride off on a family road trip to bury Daddy.

Sunday, September 20th @ 9:35 PM @ Park Lane - 3

Shank

89 min.

http://www.shank-movie.co.uk/

Teenage gang member Cal, hides his sexuality from the his fellow happy slapping gang members despite their often futile and violent dislike of anyone that isn't the same as them be they unsuspecting shoppers, foreign students, gays etc. Hooking up with a random stranger (Scott), Cal is unaware that this chance meeting will eventually provide him with choices and routes of escape from the tedium of his unambitious and depraved life. When his world collides with Olivier, a student he rescues from a pointless beating, he encounters a lifestyle that presents as many new experiences as it does obstacles.

Monday, September 21st @ 9:25 PM @ Park Lane - 7

Men For Sale

145 min.

http://films.nfb.ca/men-for-sale/

New Brunswick filmmaker Rodrigue Jean filmed male prostitutes in Montreal over the span of a year to create this vastly unconventional but startlingly illuminating documentary. Between the candid conversations are cool, nighttime urban compositions that blend austerity with a rigorous formalism; Jean’s origins as an experimental filmmaker are clearly on display as he gently explores the sex workers’ stark—and sometimes darkly humorous—confessions.

Tuesday, September 22nd @ 9:35 PM @ Park Lane - 3

Pornography

113 min.

http://www.pornographythemovie.com/

A journalist named Michael moves into a too-good-to-be-true Manhattan apartment with his partner and begins to notice strange details about the space. As he investigates the situation, Michael uncovers mysterious activity surrounding the haunting disappearance of an adult film star and an engrossing darker conspiracy. As he closes in on the truth, the lines of reality start to blur and the increasingly surreal twists of this bold, psychological thriller prompt echoes of David Lynch's work.

Wednesday, September 23rd @ 9:35 PM @ Park Lane - 3

Fig Trees

104 min.

http://www.yorku.ca/greyzone/figtrees/

Winner of the Teddy Award for Best Documentary at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival, multitalented and versatile director John Greyson (The Law of Enclosures, Proteus) delivers a poignant message about HIV with this beautiful collision of music, art and film. A visually stunning experimental documentary opera about pills, Gertrude Stein and AIDS activism. Possibly one of the most important and creative statements this year from a Canadian artist and filmmaker.

Thursday, September 24th @ 7:15 PM @ Park Lane - 3

It Came From Kuchar

86 min.

http://kucharfilm.com/

Before John Waters, there were the Kuchars. Early pioneers of the low-fi, camp aesthetic, the Kuchars became unlikely heroes of the New York underground film scene of the 1960s. Inspired by the Hollywood movies of their youth, these filmmaking twins began making their own homespun melodramas using just an 8mm camera, friends, family and their love of movies.

Combining interviews with the Kuchars and their famous admirerers (including John Waters and Guy Madden) and a hit parade of Kuchar movie clips, director Jennifer M. Kroot pieces together an inspiring portrait that should be required watching for all aspiring filmmakers.

Friday, September 25th @ 9:35 PM @ Park Lane - 3

Pop Star On Ice

85 min.

http://www.popstaronice.com/

Olympic skater and three-time National Champion Johnny Weir taught Kathy Griffin to skate, modelled for Heatherette and rocked the skating world with his irreverent public remarks. This playful documentary reveals how a young Russophile and Chihuahua lover from rural Pennsylvania rose to pop stardom.