Findcate

Toronto’s film festival was founded in 1976 and given the name Festival of Festivals. When it had grown to become one of the world’s leading festivals the title seemed to be somewhat immodest. However, the choice of names was very Canadian. The organizers assumed that they wouldn’t be able to get many premieres and that most films would have already been seen at other festivals. American studios were invited to the 1976 festival but stayed home because they didn’t support festivals that promoted films within its “domestic” market, which included Canada.

The following year, according to the Globe and Mail, the biggest star was Happy Days’ Henry Winkler. Times have changed. Visitors to Toronto during this year’s festival will inevitably read or hear the term “star-studded” hundreds of times. Journalists have been invited to attend press conferences given by Brad Pitt, George Clooney and dozens of other studly stars.

As a result, it is easy to forget that the festival has a parallel universe, one that includes films whose stars are household names in countries most North Americans could probably not find on a map. That universe also includes Canadian films whose directors and stars are as obscure to most Canadians as those of the international films.

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Local school officials deserve praise for banding together to figure out how to provide the region’s youth with a quality education while dealing with increasing costs and stagnant state aid. Their efforts might have a better chance of success, however, if they focused more on the local spending.

Representatives from school districts in Beverly, Danvers, Ipswich, Marblehead, Swampscott, Hamilton-Wenham, Manchester Essex, Gloucester, Rockport and Chelmsford have begun to compare notes and share stories. The discussions have only reinforced the fact many districts are facing similar problems.

“There’s something wrong when a community that has double the income and property value as Swampscott gets more funding than Swampscott,” said David Whelan, that town’s School Committee chairman.

The Beverly state representative, who was at the group’s first meeting, noted the state doesn’t have extra money to pass on to local school districts. With the economy remaining stagnant and support for the income tax-eliminating Question 1 continuing to grow, there’s little chance of that changing anytime soon.

School districts could find power in numbers, however, by regionalizing some services and pooling resources wherever possible, saving money while preserving or even expanding educational opportunities for their students.

One school district, for example, may not be able to support a Russian language program on its own. With students from other districts, such a program may thrive. Schools such as Hamilton-Wenham, Rockport and Ipswich already share some sports programs.

A regional coalition could also allow for group purchases of utilities and supplies, and less expensive bus service in some communities.

There is still much work to be done to move past the discussion stage and into action. Any movement in that direction should be welcomed by educators and taxpayers alike.

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Let’s pause for a minute amidst the scatty cacophony to John Edwards’ affair with his flighty “videographer,” who no reasonable person would pay to film paint dry.

No, it’s the fact that the down-home son of a millworker with his lazy Carolinian drawl (and lily-white skin) was supposed to be the safe bet for the Democrats. Jaded liberals squawked that America would never go for the ballsy chick or the black dude, so you’ll vote for Edwards and you’ll like it.

That’s the best we can hope for. America’s just not ready and all that.

Of course, folks in Iowa didn’t listen to the conventional wisdom and the rest is history. But even after Barack Obama secured the nomination, a pundit here or there would sourly mumble that he was floundering because of that black thing, needling that John Edwards would be blowing John McCain out of the water.

Which amounts to a nice theory for political science students to contemplate in between Jager bombs at the bar. Those of us in the real world rejected the Plastic One because we didn’t know who he was (even after being a few thousand votes in Ohio away from the vice presidency in ‘04) and didn’t trust him.

After observing and interviewing Edwards at political events since 2003, I can say that he was heavy on sheen and light on substance. He said all the right things, repeating Democratic talking points in his artful, aw-shucks way. The father of three was great at kissing babies.

But there was no way His Contrivance seemed ready to take that 3 a.m. phone call. (Although I would vote for him to play the president on tee-vee. His coif is killer).

So maybe that’s why few of us were shocked at his revelations that yes, he actually did dally with Rielle Hunter, who still sports ’80s Madonna hair as a nod to her days as a coked-out New York clubhopper.

To think that Elizabeth Edwards (who Rielle sniffed “didn’t give off good energy”) will have to spend her last years shuddering from this humiliation is just vile. Monsieur Edwards claims he told his family, which presumably includes his eldest daughter, Cate, a Harvard law student. Maybe his other two kids, 8 and 10, can find out as a Christmas present later after Mommy’s passed away.

Edwards, who nailed himself in an ABC interview as a narcissist, has cringingly insisted there’s nothing more for anyone to say as “I’ve stripped myself bare.” Well, there are questions of the paternity of Hunter’s daughter and if this was the first time the senator strayed.

But that’s just a measure on the hypocrisy scale. It’s the political implications that I’m interested in.

Just think for a moment if he were the nominee. This would be game-over for the Dems. You can argue that McCain dumping his disfigured wife for an Anheuser heiress 18 years his junior would become an issue. Perhaps. But that was almost 30 years ago and all we see now is silver-maned Cindy, doting mother of seven.

We can have a robust debate whether extramarital affairs should have any place in political discourse. I vote no, but I’m a journalistic curmudgeon, in spite of my Gen X birthday and the fact that I’m paid to blog. But Edwards’ tryst is out there (and how). Given the appalling scenario with his wife’s metastatic cancer, I don’t really feel like doing him any favors by ignoring the political fallout.

The reality is that this kind of salacious scandal is ruinous for politicians, especially when it reinforces the very doubts people had about the candidate in the first place. Edwards knows this, having watched Bill Clinton implode (and castigating him for it).

Which is another crisis likely averted by not picking Hillary as the nominee, besides the fact that she could unite the right in a way McCain never will. Who knows when Bill’s next bimbo eruption would strike, not to mention his less sexy, but far more troubling dealings in Dubai. That’s the real reason Clinton’s not on Obama’s veep short list, not bad blood after a bruising primary.

When it comes to arrogant politicians’ penchant for extracurricular activities, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

And so a skinny black guy with big ears, a funny name (and the magazine-cover perfect family) is not only the voters’ choice, but has turned out to be the Dems’ safest bet for presidency.

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Yards and lots throughout Springdale are looking more like hayfields than lawns, but mowing the yards could take more effort than baling hay.

A change in state law added days, weeks and sometimes months to the time needed for the city to legally mow property the owner let return to a natural state. The state legislature, according to Ernest Cate, assistant city attorney, changed the notification requirements in 2007 for cities that want to clean up private property deemed unsafe or unsanitary.

Before doing any work, the law states, the city must notify any lienholder, such as a mortgage bank, before starting work.

“Before the law changed, code enforcement would post a notice on the property,” Cate said. “After seven business days, you could start mowing. The attorney’s office wasn’t involved.”

“People are frustrated,” said Sgt. Billy Turnbough, who heads the police department’s Springdale Nuisance Abatement Partnership. “I’m frustrated. This is hurting people’s quality of life and their property values.”

The problems range from affordable housing to much more expensive neighborhoods.

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IT COULD be called the Cate manoeuvre. Just as the Sydney Theatre Company added theglamour factor with the appointment of Cate Blanchett asa co-artistic director, the Sydney Dance Company has brought its own star on board.

Bussell’s presence on the board will be a publicity magnet and a fresh opportunity to find new corporate sponsors. VIP guests at next Tuesday’s premiere at CarriageWorks will include Bussell and her banker husband, Angus Forbes, who live in Vaucluse with their two young daughters. After two decades as Britain’s best known ballet dancer, Bussell, 39, retired from the Royal Ballet last year and moved to Sydney in January. It is understood she is writing a children’s book.

The dance world has been waiting to see whether Bussell would join in the life of the Australian performing arts. Some will be surprised she has been snapped up by the Sydney Dance Company rather than the national company, The Australian Ballet.

In a statement yesterday Bussell said she was best known for her classical ballet roles, but “I have also had the pleasure of roles being created on me in many new works commissioned by the Royal Ballet. I understand the importance of creating new dance both for dancers and audiences. It is this that excites me about Sydney Dance Company, and it’s why I have decided to join their board.”

At the Sydney Dance Company Bussell will be involved in selecting an artistic director, after the departure last year of Graeme Murphy. His successor, Tanja Liedtke, had not yet taken up the job when she was killed in a road accident in August.

The company’s executive director, Noel Staunton, said a shortlist for the position was expected to be finalised by the end of next month. He made the initial approach to Bussell, although the formal invitation came from the company’s chairman, Julian Knights, a managing partner of Ironbridge Capital. Mr Knights and the Sydney Dance Company director Tony Bancroft, a partner in the law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques, have helped fund 360°.

Bookings for the three-week season are at 35 per cent of box office capacity, “the standard before an opening night”, MrStaunton said. “When the reviews come out we see a lift, except with Meryl we didn’t get a lift”, he said, referring to Meryl Tankard, who choreographed the company’s first season this year. The company began the year with “zero deficit. The responsibility is on our shoulders.”

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Three o’clock Sunday morning, chilly and wet underfoot, with a watery moon overhead. Most of the estimated 150,000 pilgrims contentedly crammed into the newly declared Southern Cross Sanctuary are trying to sleep. But it is not easy.

Generators throb. Every now and then, emergency vehicles go wah wahing off into the night. Piercing floodlights and big screens turn a night that earlier twinkled softly with candlelight into premature day.

And everywhere, bobbing across a vast sea of sleeping bags, tents, cardboard shelters and multiple occupancy accommodations made out of commandeered crash barriers and tarpaulins, pilgrims are moving.

Or merely roaming restlessly, making friends, giving and receiving hugs, joining conversations, making confessions.

By morning, Father Joseph Kodiyan, from Kerala, in southern India, one of several priests sitting on white plastic chairs, or in the dewy dirt, outside the Missionaries of Charity marquee, has heard dozens, from east and west.

Human nature, he says, is similar the world over. “There are always issues with money and women sexy.” But like many Westerners, he suggests, most Sydneysiders are not God-fearing.

“They think creature comforts will give them joy. It is an illusion,” he says taking his interviewer’s hand. “This is why so many of them come to India, looking for the meaning their lives at home are lacking.”

Several hundred metres away, almost lost in the maze of race railings, sand breaks and crash barriers, Iraqi Catholics are patiently posing for pictures taken in front of a bloody cross, by a stream of fellow pilgrims.

Michael Butres and Lara Kiryakos, who now live in Sydney, explain that since the fall of Saddam Hussein, Catholics, who are mainly from northern Iraq, near Ninevah, have been increasingly persecuted.

He has spent his savings to come to Sydney. He has probably lost his job. He has walked with thousands of others across the Harbour Bridge from North Sydney, near the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel. He has seen, on several occasions, the Pope, who despite his monotonic, Teutonic drawl, and sometimes highly technical message, proves again at Saturday night’s vigil to be the only person who can reduce the masses to silence.

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Although Sharon Knecht’s book “Oblate Sisters of Providence A Pictorial History” has been in print for some time, the event held by the Friends of the Arbutus Library in late April was the first opportunity that many have had to hear about the process that went into the creation of the book.

It was also a chance to meet Sister Lorraine George and Sister Constance Fenwick, who are actively involved in the administration of the order on Gun Road.

Knecht became involved with the Oblate Sisters while attending the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s historical studies program.

During her work to obtain her master’s degree in the subject, she was presented with the opportunity of an internship with the Oblates’ archivist, Sister Reginald Gerdes.

Finding in the Oblates’ archive a treasure trove of historical photos, Knecht, with the support of the sisters, sought and obtained a grant to write a book about the history of the order.

Founded in 1828 under the direction of Father James Joubert, the order has traditionally been involved in providing for the educational needs of the African-American community.

In the early years of the order, those served were typically the children of free blacks of West Indian descent, who emigrated to Baltimore from Caribbean countries to escape political turmoil.

As the order expanded, its mission encompassed the care and education of orphaned girls of color.

Many area residents have seen the Oblate Sisters in the community but may not realize how long they have actually been here.

After moving within Baltimore several times, the order acquired the former Manning estate on Gun Road in 1938.

A devastating fire in 1945 caused a suspension of plans for expansion and it was not until 1952 that construction planning was again underway. Ten years and many fundraisers later, the blessing of the Mt. Providence Convent and Motherhouse took place on May 17, 1962.

As part of the expansion, the Mt. Providence Junior College was established to provide a community-college level of education to young women.

Unfortunately, this was also the time when Catonsville Community College, now a campus of the Community College of Baltimore County, on Rolling Road, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, just off Rolling Road, were also developing.

In 1972, the Oblates decided to close the college and refocus their mission on early childhood education. Its Child Development Center was opened to offer services for ages 3 through kindergarten and the Math and Reading Center offers tutoring to both children and adults in improving comprehension and math skills. Those services are offered to the present day.

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The Dutchman had a contract until 2010 but he follows in the footsteps of Avram Grant, who was dismissed last weekend.

A statement on Chelsea’s confirmed ten Cate’s exit following a meeting this morning.

“As a result of the team management changes at Chelsea FC, and in the light of any forthcoming appointment, it was clear this was the correct decision for all parties, ” it said.

“Everybody at Chelsea would like to thank Henk for his contribution since coming to the club last year.”

Earlier this week, ten Cate dismissed fears that he would be leaving Chelsea.

“He informed me that the departure of Grant will not affect me. I’d rather go on that than all those newspaper reports.”

However, the club’s Champions League final defeat in Roman Abramovich’s home city has clearly left a mark on Chelsea’s owner.

Ten Cate joined Chelsea from Ajax in October last year when he was released by mutual consent.

The Dutchman’s sacking now raises questions as to the future of Steve Clarke, Chelsea’s former player and current assistant coach.

Grant was dismissed just three days after the Champions League final defeat to Manchester United and reports soon after suggested whether Ten Cate and fellow assistant Clarke would survive a summer of change at Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, the contenders to replace Grant continues with Luiz Felipe Scolari heading a long list in the race to take over at Stamford Bridge.

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Whether together with her partner Brad Pitt looking radiant in a flowing green Max Azria gown on the glamorous Palais steps, or talking up her three movies with her usual aplomb, Angelina Jolie is the most wanted woman in Cannes. However, she gives very few interviews at the festival and as I wait expectantly for the heavily pregnant actress to enter the room at the end of a gruelling day, I wonder if she will have any energy left, let alone be up to discussing the details of her highly scrutinised life.

Sauntering into the room in a floor-length black dress with a revealing V-neckline that shows her bulging cleavage which she pushes together with her arms when she talks excitedly, I can’t help but feel that the male population of most planets wouldn’t mind being in the room with me right now.

During the festival a helicopter has been on standby to ferry Jolie to a hospital should her babies arrive early. When the time comes Pitt, of course, will be by her side. As yet she hasn’t decided if the birth will take place in France, she says. They have been staying at a Riviera villa owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen during the festival and, given that they have another Riviera abode on hand, it seems likely rumours that she will give birth in the south of France are correct. In any case, this is possibly the last we will see of the actress for a while: “I plan to disappear for at least a month or two afterwards.”

It’s not about some contract binding us to have to be dedicated to each other, but that we were going to start building this family and be close just because we are. So we don’t need to do it but one day we will. Maybe if the kids start asking - they’ll probably be the ones to make the decision.”

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Indy’s back after a 19 year break and not much has changed. Indiana Jones first came to the screen in 1981 with Raiders of the Lost Ark and then returned in 1984 for The Temple of Doom, and finally The Last Crusade in 1989. Last time Indy was on the screen, he was in the 1930’s and they have kept time and date by replacing the 30’s setting with a 50’s setting on this fourth Indiana Jones installment.

Harrison Ford returns as Indy. He’s a little bit older, but still the same old Indy and Ford delivers. Much was discussed about his age, but he fits right back into the role beautifully. Karen Allen, who played Marion Ravenwood in Raiders is back as a former love of Indy who now has a son, Mutt Williams, played by Shia LeBeouf. Many were concerned with the casting of Shia, but he holds his own sharing screen time with the legend Harrison Ford. Adding to newcomer Shia, is the main villain played by Cate Blanchett. Cate is an excellent actress and plays a Russian villain extremely well. Overall, wonderful new casting adds to the already solid original cast that returned.

The fourth Indy flick involves the Russian KGB kidnapping Jones to enlist his services in finding a cargo crate with mysterious contents. Indy eventually escapes only to get tangled back up with the Russians later on, when it is revealed that Indy’s old friend has been captured by them over a powerful artifact, the Crystal Skull. Indy sets out to free his friend and reveal the mystery of the Crystal Skull.

To avoid spoilers on the movie, I’ve been and will be relatively vague in this review. One of the main plot points that isn’t really a secret is that Mutt(LeBeouf) is actually Indy’s son. This particular plot elements really brings the movie up as Shia and Harrison have a on screen chemistry reminiscent of the chemistry between Harrison and Sean Connery who played his father in The Last Crusade. I always enjoyed the emotional and funny connections made between father and son in the Last Crusade and it is a welcome addition to the new flick.

The only thing better would have been to have Sean Connery in there as well, but Mr. Connery turned down the opportunity to reprise his role as he doesn’t want to come out of retirement. Luckily, they brought back Karen Allen who is absolutely marvelous reprising the role of Marion Ravenwood. From the moment she is introduced, the movie feels complete. Indy and Marion back on screen together is magic in itself, especially if you are a fan of the first Indy flick, which is the best one.

Overall, the story is great. It feels like it could have been better, but they did such a great job making the script play older to fit in with the previous Indiana Jones movies, while also updating enough to play to modern audiences that a few dragging points and interesting story choices don’t ruin it for me. Coupled with a great story and wonderful actors/actresses, the only thing left is a great director and who better than Steven Spielburg. Spielburg did such a great job with the first three Indiana Jones movies that I’m so glad that he choose to return for the 4th. It wouldn’t quite be Indiana Jones without the trademarked Spielburg directing style and flare. He really shows his knack for action and adventure thrills in this flick. From exciting chases, gun play, and killer ants, Spielburg films them all with the utmost care to detail and thrills.

There are so many wonderful action sequences and thrills that Indy keeps your attention on the screen. The movie is literally jam packed with great moments, lines, and nostalgia. If you have watched any of the previous Indiana Jones movies and liked/loved them, you’ll most likely like/love this new flick. If you didn’t like the original films, then we don’t talk to you. If you haven’t seen the originals, don’t cheat yourself! Go watch the originals in the order they were released and then go see Crystal Skull. I don’t remember what Indiana Jones film I saw first. I remember in my later years that I watched the whole trilogy at once, but I’m sure I had seen some of not all of them before that.

Either way, my favorite of the series, including the Crystal Skull, is the classic first one, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Coming in second is The Last Crusade, with Crystal Skull popping in right underneath the Last Crusade, almost tying it. The Temple of Doom comes in just slightly underneath them all. I stick Crystal Skull so close to The Last Crusade because it’s hard for me to choose which one I like better. There is a definite first place and last place winner, but the two other flicks just float in between. Now to say that The Temple of Doom is my least favorite of the Jones Trilogy is still quite a compliment. I rate the Jones Trilogy pretty high and that includes the extremely good Temple of Doom. It’s just when you have four excellent films fighting for your favorite spot, one has to come last even if it is a marvelous film.

The new installment of Indiana Jones is a don’t miss event. This is a great film throughout and is well worth the price of admission. This is a wonderful new film and it’s a grand experience hanging out with some old friends and seeing what they have been up to over the past 19 years, only to find out, they are still doing what they love and causing trouble.

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