Between the Oscars and closing NOW’s Hot Docs issue, things have been a little busy here — not only did I miss out on last Friday’s post, I didn’t even put anything up yesterday. So, my apologies, but in my defense you do get all this sweet. sweet content.
So let’s start with this week’s episode of Someone Else’s Movie, in which Violation co-writer/director Dusty Mancinelli celebrates Back to the Future Part II, which is not exactly the movie I would have expected him to choose — his partner Madeleine Sims-Fewer went with Possession, after all — but you know what, it’s nice when people surprise you.
So go listen to that at all the usual spots — you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and Stitcher to get the episode instantly, or download it directly from the web — and then maybe travel back to 2015 for Matt Austin Sadowski’s episode on the original Back to the Future, just to hear what the show sounded like when my guests and I were in the same room. Seriously, those were the days.
Also! There are two episodes of NOW What for you, both of which are really Rad episodes: Last Friday, he assembled a panel of experts to discuss the affordability crisis facing Toronto real estate, and just yesterday we released his conversation with Tanya Talaga and Elle-Maija Tailfeathers about the projects they’re bringing to Hot Docs on Thursday, which offer different perspectives on the same awful story. Give ’em a listen, you’ll learn something.
And elsewhere on the NOW site, there’s last Friday’s What to Watch column, my analysis of this year’s odd, frustrating Academy Awards ceremony and a 40 at 40 conversation with Ron Mann, whose career has gone in some fairly unexpected directions after Poetry in Motion put him on the cover in 1982.
Also, my review of The Mitchells vs. The Machines went up yesterday. It’s so good, you guys. Clear some time on Friday.
UPDATE: Wait, I forgot! I’m also on this week’s episode of Jeremy Lalonde’s Black Hole Films podcast, talking about Walter Hill’s 48 HRS. with Jeremy, Ian MacIntyre, Ken Cuperus and Rob Scarborough.
Yes, of course I turned it into an advocacy podcast for Streets of Fire. And yes, we’ve already recorded that episode. Stay tuned.
Do you think anyone has explained to Ford (et al) how bad the optics are of seeing news footage of (often) middle aged and senior white people getting their jabs at pharmacies with appointments and then showing egregiously long lineups of (mostly) BIPOC Torontonians lining up for hours at pop-up clinics only to not receive their vaccination. It’s not 100% in either case, and social and financial class definitely comes into it, but that’s definitely the overall impression left by the news footage. (Essential worker daughter still not eligible…I am beyond frustrated!)
And saving the world also depended on that most Canadian of tools…the Robertson screwdriver.
Such a fun movie! And the phrase “Dog…pig…dog…pig…loaf of bread” is now stuck in my head.