Okay, so apparently last July it was announced that Roeper and Ebert's contract for At the Movies was not renewed.

How did this not make bigger waves? How did I not hear about this until now? My internet skills have failed me!!!!

Ebert has been off the show for a few years now, due to health concerns, and Richard "Thumbs Down for LOTR" Roeper has always been largely irrelevant. All the same, it is sad to see Ebert's involvement, even behind the scenes, come to an end.

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.

Friday

Dale Smith Gallery is pleased to present "Travelling Light," a joint exhibition of recent work by photographer Joy Kardish (Ottawa) and painter Angela Petardi (Toronto). Joy Kardish's luminous photo-based works capture the magical elegance of Paris, while Angela Petardi's vibrantly colourful oil paintings transport us to the exotic streets and markets of Morocco. Join us on Friday, July 31 from 7-10 PM to meet the artists and toast the exhibition. The exhibition continues until August 18. 

Karsh-Masson Gallery (136 St. Patrick Street )at Sussex) presents Amy Schissel's "Prolix X" (pictured) and Steven Stewart's "Missing Persons" from July 31 to September 20, 2009. 

Friday

Byward Market: July at Canteen (238 Dalhousie)! Gallery will feature the works of Sergey Haletski, Justin "Scrappers" Morrison, and Cat Lauigan. Opening: Friday, July 3rd, 2009 // 6pm to 9pm

We may have missed the openings on some of these, but there is much art to be had around town these days.

Marc Adornato's "La Kapitale" is back by popular demand at the Starbucks at 362 Elgin (that's the one by the Jack Purcell Community Centre). Show runs 'til the end of the month. 

Apparently Sunday March 22 was "International Talk Like William Shatner Day". 

 How can something as important as this come and go without me noticing?  I am forever shamed, and will go out of my way to talk like William Shatner extra hard next year.

(Note: This is likely the first of many Trek posts that will appear between now and May 8.  Sure, you don't care now, but when you are transformed into a Trekker by Mr. Abrams in t-minus two months, your gonna look back and regret missing Talk Like Shatner day too.)