It's a shame that I've never gotten around to seeing Wall Street (in part because I've quasi-given up watching Oliver Stone's movies) because Linda Holmes just pointed me in the direction of a scene that would have fit in perfectly with "Our Hero Will Return to Save the Day in Just Two Minutes", my own paeon to gratuitous sex scenes in 80s movies that could have gone without. To wit:

It's not clear why anyone felt that the character played by Daryl Hannah, a decorator who is so sophisticated and upscale that she covers Bud's walls in what appears to be rubberized brick facade (!), even needed to be in the movie. Perhaps the need for a sex scene performed in silhouette as gauzy blue curtains billow in the background was deemed particularly acute. Hannah does nothing, seems totally confused, and doesn't seem to know whether her character actually cares about Bud or not. 

I mean, silhouette and blue? Damn it, Stone, and your crappy overblown movies that keep me away. If I had known that would happen, I would have at least considered watching Wall Street.

In case you haven't already checked them out, this week's YouTube picks are now up.There's four (4!), which should provide you with four perfect, if short, escapes from your workday. Plus, hotties! You're welcome.

Okay, they're from Ocean's Eleven and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. But check them out!

Whoo! Long weekend. But after last week's bounty, does Ottawa have anything left to watch?

Hurrah! (500) Days of Summer, which Dana Stevens called an "almost a classic romantic comedy," is finally here.  I've only been telling you about it since forever (or since earlier this month or, um, March). As you already know, I think break-up movies make for the best romantic comedies. Add in Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and you know you are going to get my butt in a seat this weekend.

Funny People, which you already know all about due to its omnipresent adverting, also opens everywhere under heaven today. I had been excited about this one until I read some middling reviews this week. A flawed, deeply personal film seems to be the consensus. Ah, I'll probably see it anyway. Eric Bana looks great in it, and we share a birth date. Surely that bond is worth my ten dollars. 

After last night's True Blood, in which Sarah and Jason go at it in the balcony of the sanctuary at the Fellowship of the Light while Sookie and Hugo are locked up downstairs (and Godric's apparently rattling around down there somewhere) and Lorena prevents Bill from saving Sookie at Eric's behest and Daphne betrays Sam to Maryann so she can cut out his heart, I had a heart attack. At the second season's mid point, Alan Ball et al had ratcheted up so much tension that I cannot possibly watch an episode without a lot of yelling. Then, this happened:

Could it be? Are there movies worth seeing playing again in Ottawa? Saints be praised!

The Hurt Locker is playing in Ottawa! I repeat, critically-acclaimed, award-winning, best-damn-Iraq-war-movie-yet The Hurt Locker is finally here!  Consider the question of what to do this rainy Friday night resolved. You're spending it with Jeremy Renner and Kathryn Bigelow. You're welcome! The plot revolves around an expolsives ordinance disposal unit, and, uh, yeah. That's what you're getting.

The Brothers Bloom, Rian Johnson's sophmore feature, is finally here as well.  We dig our Rian Johnson at (Cult)ure, so we'll be checking this one out even if the critical reception has been less than warm. It's an one last heist movie, but it involves Rachel Weisz as a recluse that collects hobbies and the only good part of Babel, Rinko Kikuchi.

The Erotic Anguish of Don Juan, puppet-style, has been nominated for 7 Betty Mitchell Awards, the most of any production this year. Check out Chrissy Sudjana's review!

So, um, the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest started a few days ago... It is sort of a big deal in Ottawa. We probably should have mentioned it earlier than this, eh? (Who is the music editor of this here magazine anyway?? Oh wait, forget it...)

Below you will find tonight's Bluesfest line-up. (Don't forget to check out our interview with Jesse Cook, before he performs tomorrow night on the Hard Rock Cafe stage!)

Friday, July 10:

If you don't know what A Glass and a Half Full Productions are, that's really a shame for you. Fortunately, you can head on over to check out this week's YouTube picks, which feature nothing but. I defy you to not see the genius in that advertizing campaign.

Hollywood Reporter reported (heh) this morning that Taylor Kitsch has been cast as the lead in John Carter of Mars, an adaptation Edgar Rice Burroughs book series, which Disney hopes has franchise potential. I'm all about a) Taylor Kitsch and b) fame coming his way (and not just because he's in my fantasy studio), but do me a favour and click on the HR link. Because what is that? Is that a bad photo of Taylor Kitsch? I did not know such a thing was possible! He looks a bit like Hugh Jackman (never good), and I don't know, exactly. Tired and a little ruddy. I didn't know there was a lighting/clothing/make up situation in which he could look like anything less than an Adonis, so I'm a little confused by the very existence of the image.

June continues to be some sort of cinematic wasteland (what is this, March?), but we will solider on.  I can't imagine why anyone would go see the Tony Scott remake of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3* or Imagine That, so we'll just have to go looking for our movie kicks somewhere else. 

Easy Virtue opens this weekend at World Exchange Centre (or WEX, as we call it), and, while I have not read a single review, much less a single positive review, I have utter confidence in Colin Firth (who is surely dying in that movie, as he looks like he's on death's door in every ad) and Kristin Scott Thomas, as they both kick so much ass. 

You've got Tyson and Little Ashes at the Bytowne. I don't know if you could tell from "The Crazy Index," but Robert Pattinson, just in and of himself, is hilarious to me, so I'll be there giggling madly. 

Check out the trailers for the two most bananas movies I have seen (recently, anyway), plus a bonus absurdist bit from an animated short.

I'm sure boatloads of you will go see Up, this weekend's big movie, as people just love their Pixar. I've got nothing against Pixar, but it's just not for me. If you feel the same way,  Anvil! The Story of Anvil, a strange rock doc that feels like Spinal Tap except that it's true, opens this weekend at the Mayfair. Tomorrow night will be your last chance to catch Nightwatching at the Bytowne, the story of how Rembrandt wove clues to the dasteredly deeds of a militia/gentleman's club into one of his famous works. But forget all that because I'm going to see Drag Me to Hell, Sam Raimi's return to horror, which has already scored a truly impressive 82 on Metacritic, and yet is somehow only rated 14A.

If there's a recurring feature from any other mag that I love, it's the A.V. Club's New Cult Canon. I've linked to it many times in the past, and I'm sure I will again in the future. Naturally, when I see a movie that I love and champion make the cut, it's makes the read a little more gratifying that usual.*So you can imagine how exciting it was to read last week's entry on Brick, which is probably among my top movies. 

 Since we're here, let's watch the trailer:

 [video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cVzHeJ0Z3I 425x344]

Hi Everyone,

This Wednesday (Cult)ure will be showcasing an interview with Russell Peters. For those who have been living under a rock and have no clue who he is, Russell Peters is a comedian from Brampton, Ontario best known for his work with Comedy Now, as well as his DVDs "Outsourced" and "Red, White and Brown." 

In June 2007, Russell became the first comedian to sell-out Toronto's Air Canada Centre - performing for over 30,000 fans over two nights. As one of only a handful of comedians to ever headline and sell-out the world famous Madison Square Garden, Russell Peters is going on tour this year to celebrate his 20th anniversary.

 

Have you registered for this year's Jane's Walk yet? This walk encourages dialogue and helps participants see their city and their neighbourhoods in a different light. The walks occur in the first weekend of May. For those living in Ottawa the event starts on May 2nd, 2009. Click here to get involved!

Also if you haven't already read it here's an article written by Sabrina Bowman about the annual Jane's walk.

Make sure you visit (Cult)ure's cinema section Monday to Thursday this week for our four-part series, The Hollywood Fantasty Draft.  It was fun to put together, and I think it makes for a great read, especially for cinema lovers and pop culture junkies.  We'd love to hear thoughts from our readers, so make sure you post comments and let us know who your picks would have been!

If you're subscriber, you may not realize that there are a couple of things that go on here at (Cult)ure on Mondays. First, the editors take turns posting their fave YouTube picks. This week I've got my Nostalgia-themed videos up. Secondly, our dear Miss Smartypants, she of the wise wisdomosity, posts her advice every Monday. You can reach her at advice@culturemagazine.ca.

Make sure you check out the latest (Cult)ure YouTube Pick. This week we're showcasing a video produced by photojournalist Adeel Halim. It takes you into a new world of sport where colourful kites soar high in the sky. You can also find more of Halim's spectacular photos in the art section.

Welcome to the (Cult)ure Magazine blog!

As you can see, (Cult)ure is going through some major changes.

There will probably be some growing pains along the way, but stick with us, because the new website is going to be bigger, better, and more interactive than ever before!