Stow your sling and hide the fleshlight because it’s holiday time and the relatives are on their way! Here are some great entertainment ideas that the whole family can enjoy, to keep them out of your house. You’re welcome.
Film
MILK
(check your local listings)
Gus VanSant’s biopic of gay rights activist and martyr Harvey Milk is not only an excellent film, but one of such great importance for everyone to see. Although the story takes place decades ago, its relevance is as timely as ever thanks to proposition 8 and the ugly cretins known as the Phelps followers who hate fags and anyone else who supports them. Sean Penn gives a phenomenal performance as Milk, which first appears to be almost cartoonish if not for the fact that in life, Milk was indeed a bit goofy looking and sounding. Hunky James Franco plays Milk’s significant other, Scott, with quiet compassion and sincerity. Josh Brolin demonstrates he’s come a long way since The Goonies, as Milk’s colleague and nemesis Dan White. The story is framed by an intimate kitchen confessional; Milk records his life story into a tape recorder in case the threats of assassination should come to fruition. We learn of his first meeting with Scott, their move to the Castro and opening a camera store, his numerous failed attempts at political office, the many colourful characters they meet along the way, and finally Milk’s successful campaign to become America’s first openly gay man elected to public office as a San Francisco city councilor. This is a movie that you must go see in the theatre and not only bring your family, but everyone else you know.
TWILIGHT
(check your local listings)
I hadn’t read the book so I can’t compare the two, but after sighing dreamily through Twilight, I will be picking up the series quicker than a vampire can scurry up a douglas fir. Bella (Kristen Stewart) is a sullen, pale teenager who moves in with her Sherriff Daddy (Billy Burke) in the cloudiest town in the Pacific Northwest. She soon meets a nice group of kids who welcome her into their clique including chipmunk cheery Jessica (Anna Kendrick), and total closet case Eric (Justin Chon). But it is the mysterious group of pale, beautiful teens who stick to themselves at the back of the cafeteria that captivate Bella, especially the brooding twink Edward (Robert Pattinson) the only member of the group who is conveniently not paired up. Jessica explains that the ivory snow brat pack are actually all adopted siblings of the town hunk Dr. Cullen and his entrancing wife Esme, and that they don’t socialize with the rest of the students. However, a near-death accident brings Edward and Bella together, causing worrying doubts about Edward’s rapid mood swings, changes in eye colour, or mysterious family hunting trips. Add into the mix hunky Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), Bella’s childhood friend from the Indian reserve who may or may not be a werewolf, and a trio of eurotrash, rogue vampires who are feeding off the locals and you’ve got yourself an entertaining gothic love story with subtle horror overtones that everyone can sink their teeth into.
REBECCA
(Plaza Theatre. 7pm. Wednesday, Dec. 17)
Alfred Hitchcock’s first American film won the Academy Award for Best Picture and deservedly so for this lavish gothic romance starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. Based on the novel by bisexual writer Daphne DuMaurier, the story centers around Fontaine’s character who is never mentioned by name but only as “I” or “The Second Mrs. DeWinter”. She meets handsome and wealthy Maxim DeWinter (Olivier) and after a whirlwind courtship, is married and whisked off to his sprawling estate Manderlay tucked away in the wilderness, perched atop a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean. It is at Manderlay that we learn of Rebecca, Maxim’s first wife who died of mysterious circumstances, but still seems to have a very live effect on the estate’s occupants - especially Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson) the house mistress. This recently restored classic has never looked lovelier in glorious black and white, and the shivery performance of Anderson as predatory lesbian Mrs. Danvers has never been more to fun to root for.
ART
Marilyn Mania has struck Calgary with a storm!
Rob Mabee continues to exhibit exciting works at his gallery, Axis Contemporary Art, located in Art Central. “An Evening with Marilyn” is a collection of photographs of Ms. Monroe by Douglas Kirkland taken in 1961, and this is the first time a Canadian gallery has ever hosted the exhibition. It runs from November 29th to January 5th, 2009.
And don’t forget to pop downstairs to see the latest work by Lisa Heinricks at her CreamyDreamy Gallery. Lisa is always creating gorgeous pieces and is a pleasure to converse with!
Just a hop, skip and a jump from Art Central you can continue your Marilyn obsession at the Glenbow Museum. Marilyn: Life As A Legend runs from now until mid-February and includes hundreds of works of art based on her image, and authentic costumes Monroe has worn in her films.
THEATRE
Jean Grand-Maitre (best name ever!) brings us Alberta Ballet’s The Nutcracker (December 11th – 14th in Edmonton/December 17th – 22nd in Calgary) choreographed by Edmund Stripe and conducted by Peter Dala at the Northern and Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditoriums.
Theatre Calgary hosts another yuletide round of A Christmas Carol starring Calgary thespian extraordinaire Stephen Hair in his fifteenth year as bitter, old queen Scrooge (November 21st - December 24th).
