10 Best Films of 2020

 

 The Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 rocked the movie industry to its core. Plenty of films slated to release this year, like the Bond picture No Time to Die, were delayed again and again. Cinemas were shut down, then revived, only to be shut down immediately after. Warner Brothers shocked everyone when they announced that the majority of their film slate were to debut digitally on HBO Max. 

The future looks uncertain; there is doubt that the theatre industry will survive much longer as online streaming (Disney+, Netflix) booms. Projects that were in the middle of production, especially those with limited budgets, may never see the light of day. Even if they do, they may not make the same money pre-pandemic. 

On the bright side, film festivals like Toronto Film Festival still ran albeit with a much smaller slate. Despite cinemas being closed, there were still plenty of digital releases that exceeded expectations. I'm hesitant to accept a purely digital film experience, but if digital releases look/feel/sound like the following top ten then I'll be hooked.

10.Weathering With You (Makoto Shinkai)

 
9. Vast of Night (Andrew Patterson)

8. Ammonite (Francis Lee) 

7.Get the Hell Out (I-Fan Wang) 

6.American Utopia (Spike Lee)

5. Shiva Baby (Emma Seligman) 

4. Shadow in the Cloud (Roseanne Liang)

3. One Night in Miami (Regina King) 

2. First Cow (Kelly Reichardt)

1. Nomadland (Chloe Zhao)

Merrily We Go To Hell (1932) Review

Title: Merrily We Go To Hell
Year: 1932
Director: Dorothy Arzner
Country: US
Language: English

Pre-code pictures of the early 1930's often had scandalous titles in order to boost sales at the box office. Merrily We Go To Hell's title was so sensational that theatres refused to screen the film, newspapers refused to publicize it, and church groups sought to boycott it. The papers that did review the title, namely The New York Times,  gave it a mixed reaction. Despite this, the film managed to do well at the box office. 

A drunken newspaperman named Jerry (Fredric March) is rescued from his alcoholic haze by an heiress Joan Prentice (Sylvia Sidney) whose love sobers him up and encourages him to write a play, but he lapses back into dipsomania.

Director Dorothy Arzner was one of the few female directors during the Golden Age of Hollywood. At Paramount Pictures she durected incredibly profitable box office hits as Fashions for Women (1927), Ten Modern Commandments (1927), Get Your Man (1927) and The Wild Party (1929). Her career peaked with with Merrily We Go to Hell, because she was unhampered by the rigidly enforced Hays Code that would be in place starting in 1934. The main reason she would have more difficulty is due to making pictures about women's issues. Adultery, sexism, patriarchy, and other social concerns that no male directors would touch.

During a period of Hollywood where drunks were the driving force of comedies, Merrily We Go to Hell displays a much darker side of drinking. March's character is seen as a destructive agent of chaos, wrecking every relationship in his path. Arzner's sympathies pull us toward Joan, who goes transforms from a naïve enabler into a woman of conviction.

Merrily We Go To Hell is a refreshing feminist change to the Hollywood formula that usually sided with the male, no matter how vile the character was. It was also quite remarkable to see a film of the 30's suggest an open marriage with both partners being bisexual. This is a fine picture that ought to be examined more closely. 

Geek 4 Podcast Review

Title: Geek 4
Year(s): 2020- ???
Host. Michael W. Boyce
Country: Canada
Language: English

Geek 4, click HERE for a link, is the latest venture by film professor and academic dean Michael W. Boyce (He has claimed the W is for Wind. I've heard it's William. It's a mystery.) Boyce interviews a caveat of intriguing integral intellectuals who all have one thing in common; they are Geeks 4 something. Geeks 4 Mystery Science Theatre 3000, James Bond, Star Wars, Football etc. There's a good chance you'll find something that fits your interests. 

Geek 4, at its present state, is a 20-40 minute weekly podcast that dives deep into pop culture, nostalgia and the state of general geekery. 

I must admit, this is probably far too early to review the podcast as it's in its beginning stages, but I feel like Boyce has already given us some quality interviews. Dr.Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) gave great energy to the show & emphasized the importance of asking more from our entertainment ("James Bond doesn't have to be sexist"). Tara Maslowsky (@TaraMaslowsky) explored grief & demonstrated how fanhood brings people together. DoubleEM Melissa Martin (@DoubleEmMartin) explained the importance of language and history in understanding society and culture. Geek 4 doesn't tread shallow water. 

Though I'd love these nuanced conversations to go longer & I suspect they will as Boyce become more comfortable (or less busy, because he is an academic dean irl) the 20-40 minute length of Geek 4 feels about right. It's about the length of a Twilight Zone episode. Long enough to keep you on your toes, and short enough to keep you coming back for more. 

I'm looking forward to future episodes of this engaging podcast that, at least presently, has a feminist edge to it. Too many podcasts are male guest heavy, I'm glad that Boyce is going in the opposite direction. Geek 4 is a show for those who reflect about & engage with the media they consume.

Get new episodes on apple, stitcher or the link above.

Follow @geek4 & @mwboyce on twitter & instagram.  

TIFF 2020 Review: Preparations to be Together for an Unknown Period of Time

Title: Preparations to be Together for an Unknown Period of Time
Year: 2020
Director: Lili Horvat
Country: Hungary
Language: Hungarian

Having seen Alain Resnais' Last Year at Marienbad (1961) earlier in the year, I can confidently say that I am no stranger to weird artsy fartsy European flicks where one person thinks they met, but the other is very confused about the whole ordeal. Directed by Lili Horvat, Preparations to be Together for an Unknown Period of Time is a weird wild film that will have you scratching your head thinking "what did I just see?" 

Márta (Natassa Stork), a 40-year-old neurosurgeon, falls in love. She leaves her shining American career behind and returns to Budapest to start a new life with the man (Viktor Bedo). But the love of her life claims that they have never met before.

Positioning the story in the same framework as Sylvia Plath's Mad Girl’s Love Song, Horvat's film has a well structured complex script that intelligently dissects themes of memory, temporal deconstruction, time and psychology. It's a fascinating puzzle of a film that drives on suspense & leaves the audience with a sense of awe and wonder. 

The broody exteriors of budapest are gorgeously shot by cinematographer Róbert Maly. The scenes around the city, mainly of Marta following her man, remind me of Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. Infact the atmosphere of engima entrapped within this picture will make one wonder if this is a similar feature about obsession. Horvat is careful to not reveal to much, and the actress (Stork) does a phenomenal job at making us wonder about if she's a reliable narrator. 

A film like Preparations to be Together for an Unknown Period of Time is bound to polarize viewers. At Venice the film received high praise; in Toronto not too many people are feeling it. A common criticism is that the ending is too neatly wrapped up, and doesn't satisfy, but I suspect there is more at play. Though I have not seen any other film of Lili Horvat's , based on this picture alone she seems to be a master film-maker. 

TIFF 2020 Review: Pieces of a Woman

Title: Pieces of a Woman
Year: 2020
Director: Kornel Mundruczo
Country: Canada
Language: English

My seventh feature at the Toronto International Film Festival, Pieces of a Woman is part of a trend of TIFF 2020 movies; the title card comes very late into the picture. We see the title immediately after an unbroken 23 minute sequence where Martha (Vanessa Kirby) writhes in pain as she is giving birth at home with her husband Scan (Shia LaBeouf) and midwife (Molly Parker) by her side. It's a distubring, gut-wrenching, heart breaking scene that would deserve an Oscar if it were a short film by itself. 

In this picture,a grieving woman (Vanessa Kirby) embarks on an emotional journey after the loss of her baby.

The first 23 minutes of Pieces of a Woman is phenomenal in regards to direction, camerawork, scripting and acting. Vanessa Kirby should win many awards for her sheer intensity & desire to get across the pain of childbirth. After this Oscar worthy scene, the film skips forwards in time, dropping in on the characters every couple of week. Our cast is always in turmoil, with emotions cranked up to 11. Many scenes come across as a Douglas Sirk  melodrama, bordering on camp. 

The emotions never have time to breathe, at times Pieces of a Woman has the frenetic pacing of an action movie & the fragmented sections always take us to odd locations. One moment we're at a funeral home discussing graves, the next we're at a courtroom setting complete with a last minute change of heart speech. You want to love this film, but you're constantly pushed away by the execution of the material. 

Pieces of a Woman was a worthwhile watch, and is enjoyable if viewed as an over-the-top camp melodrama like Magnificent Obsession & All that Heaven Allows. If viewed without any irony, this film falls quite short past the brilliant opening scene. 

TIFF 2020 Review: David Byrne's American Utopia

Title: American Utopia
Year: 2020
Director: David Byrne 
Country: US
Language: English

Spike Lee is one of my favourite directors and when I heard a film of his would debut at Toronto International Film Festival I jumped at the chance to see it. This will be my seventh feature, one of three in a single day (these festivals can be tiring). The film, hosted by former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, is an extravagant concert doc that is both much needed escapism and a reminder that we need to speed up progress on important things like climate change. 

Spike Lee documents the former Talking Heads frontman's brilliant, timely 2019 Broadway show, based on his recent album and tour of the same name.

"The pope don't mean shit to a doooog" Bryne sings more than halfway through the picture. I enjoy concert docs- and this may be my favourite. American Utopia a more scaled down intimate outing than his Stop Making Sense concert directed by Jonathon Demme. It is an incredible treat; eccentric acting, wacky dancing (choreographed by Annie B Parson) and both the host and supporting cast are full of charm and charisma. 

American Utopia is a wild ride that one can escape in, while also being full of messsages about voting (when you leave the broadway show you're given a voter id card) , climate change and the future of America. There is a tribute to the NFL star and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick, and Byrne also does a tremendous cover verson of Janelle Monáe’s Hell You Talmabout. The concert leaves you with plenty to think about, perhaps expanding your own political views. 

David Byrne's spectacle is a concert picture that demands not to be missed. I found myself tremendously enjoying the many hits Bryne sang, leaving a big smile on my face as the film ended. "Burning down the house". People talk about "They don't make pictures like those anymore!." well... they didn't make films like these 30 years ago! 

TIFF 2020 Review: New Order

Title: New Order 
Year: 2020
Director: Michel Franco
Country: Mexico
Language: Spanish

The 6th film I've seen digitally from Toronto International Film Festival, Michel Franco's New Order has been the only somewhat polarizing picture between my spouse and I, so far. They found it empty; a lot of flash & shock, but little substance. Whereas I disagreed with their view, but not dramatically. After seeing the heartwarming Summer of 85' and the deliberately paced Nomadland, it was nice (if that's an appropriate word to use)  to see a picture so chaotic. 

In Mexico city a wedding takes place among the wealthy, but stirring within the city is a military coupe that threatens everybody. 

New Order feels like Haneke's Funny Games meets The Purge meets Killing Fields. It's shocking and disturbing; carnage lurks around every corner. It's a thriller about civil disobedience & the rage of the underclass that assaults our psyche with an unpredictable story that never lets up. Playing better as pure horror, rather than drama, this film is fairly unnerving even for those who like this kinda stuff. 

Michel Franco has no problem graphically desplaying the worst of human violence which, admittedly, detracted from the pictures' main message. The mass murder and depravity, some of which I had to skip,  that take centre stage in the second half of the film almost feel like a gorification of violence rather than a condemnation of it. New Order is sometimes too chaotic for its own good & could do with more exposition. 

Though I ultimately did find some enjoyment within the frenzy, this will be my least favourite of TIFF 2020 because of its lack of humanity and compassion. Even the soldiers in Alfonso Cauron's Roma were more sympathetic than these faceless creatures.

TIFF 2020 Review: Summer of 85'

Title: Summer of 85'

Year: 2020

Director: Francois Ozon
Country: France

Language: French

I have seen a few of Francois Ozon's previous work (I have been meaning to see Frantz for quite some time) and while I've always been impressed, I never felt truly connected to his work. During the Toronto Film Festival of 2020 I decided "go to" a digital screening of Summer of 85 on a whim. Leading up to the screening I've heard mixed reviews, but my initial reaction is astonishment. This is fantastic cinema. I adore this film.


Two men, one named Alexis (Felix Lefebvre) & another named David (Benjamin Voisin) fall in love in a seaside resort in Normandy after Davis rescues Alexis from a capsized boat.


Based on the British 1982 YA novel Dance on My Grave by Aidan Chambers, Ozon transports the characters to Northern France. Ozon initially makes the picture seem like an obsessive pulp noir thriller, which may have also made a decent film, but I'm glad the picture is ultimately about intense love and intense grief. Summer of 85' is a tender story that tugs at one's heartstrings and gives us a wonderful piece of lgbttq art.


The cinematography, by Hichame Alaouie, is gorgeous. The mise en scene evoke the 80's and the choice of pastel colors remind me of french films before that period, like Jacques Demy's Young Girls of Rocheforte. The score is wonderful; albeit the soul of the picture is its use of Rod Stewart's Sailing which acts very much like Cat Stevens' music did in Harold and Maude, emphasizing a change in the main character.


Though several viewers have said the script can be frustrating and border on formulaic (too similar to Call Me By Your Name) I feel this is a great picture and spoke very deeply to me. Summer of 85 seems like a simple love story, but a great discussion about youth & grief is to be had within this picture. Breathtaking to say the least.

TIFF 2020 Review: One Night in Miami

Title: One Night in Miami 
Year: 2020
Director: Regina King
Country: US
Language: English

Of all the films at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival, One Night in Miami was the picture I was looking forward to the most. Four towering African American icons (Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Sam Cook & Jim Brown) at varying levels of their fame, in one night, in one room. Sounds like a screenwriters wet dream, but it did actually happen in real life. This is the fourth film I watched digitally from TIFF and perhaps the one I'll enjoy the most. 

Cassius Clay (Eli Goree) , Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir) , Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) gather to discuss their roles in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.

Like most films adapted from a play (Kemp Powers wrote the play) that is set in primarily one location,  dialogue and performances are the driving force. I was impressed by the casting; Kingsley does a remarkable job getting Malcolm X's mannerisms down, moreso than Denzel Washington did in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1993). Goree gives a physical precense to Ali that is more in-tune with the real man than Will Smith in Ali (2001). 

Though there is little "action", One Night in Miami has an intoxicating centerpiece discussion that drives the importance of African American people's roles in society. Thtough their discussion we understand the conflicts within the Civil Rights Movement and dive into a discourse of toxic masculinity. I appreciate the main internal struggle, which is "What is the obligation of an artist to his society?" 

One can see parallels to the current Black Lives Matter Movement in the struggles of our four main characters. As a white male, I found myself priveleged to be a fly-on-the-wall during these disucssions of great importance. I left the film asking myself many questions "what should I be doing to help black lives matter?" and I feel many audience members will come out feeling the same way. 

TIFF 2020 Review: Shadow in the Cloud

 Title: Shadow in the Cloud 
Year: 2020
Director: Roseanne Liang 
Country: New Zealand 
Language: English

My 3rd of 10 digital films at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the marketing for Roseanne Liang's Shadow in the Cloud initially made me assume this would be a retelling of the famous Twilight Zone story Terror at 20,000 Feet, however many people on twitter proved me wrong as they've claimed it's an "inventive exciting action/horror romp with awesome budget cgi" That was enough to get me hyped!

In this, a female WWII pilot (Chloe Grace Moretz)  traveling with top secret documents on a B-17 Flying Fortress encounters an evil presence on board the flight.

Holy hell! Shadow in the Cloud is a pulpy piece of B-movie gold that would have been a wild ride if it were screened live at Midnight Madness. It's more of a "wtf" did I just see flick than outright horror, with inventive surprises kept me on the edge of my sofa. The fairly short run-time (1hr 23min) ensures its familiar yet ludidrous concept never overstays its welcome. 

"Did she just do that!?" I asked my spouse in disbelief. Moretz unleashes an explosion of feminist fury that Hollywood wishes they could capture. Captain Marvel (2019) was never this badass, not even close. Though Shadow in the Cloud is dripping with gender politics (the #metoo movement could use Liang's storytelling abilities) the gonzo actions scenes, complete with 80's synth, keep it from being preachy. 

Roseanne Liang is a film-maker I definitley will check out again. I admire how crazed, creative and well made this picture is. Shadow in the Cloud is jaw dropping in how unrealistic it is; so fun and campy. I can't wait till more of my friends see it so I can say "DID YOU SEE HOW SHE KICKED SO MUCH ASS??" 

TIFF 2020 Review: Nomadland

Title: Nomadland
Year: 2020
Director: Chloe Zhao
Country: US
Language: English

Nomadland (2020) was, admittedly, not on my radar for the 2020 Toronto Film Festival. It was only until yesterday (09/11/2020) when the amazing reviews started pouring in that I purchased a ticket for the newest Golden Lion award winner of the Venice Film Festival. I found out the news of the win just hours before we were set to watch it.  This film is a critical hit; I wouldn't be surprised if it gets TIFF's People's Choice Award. 

The film follows Fern, a woman in her sixties (Frances McDormand) who, after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.

Chloe Zhao's Nomadland is a stunning, mesemerizing Dickensian film with a fine tuned screenplay that emphasizes character, and chooses interaction and happenstance over story. It's an elegant picture that explores different ways of living during the timultuous times of 21st Century America. Filled with grief, but never wallowing in misery, and often having moments of joy,  the picture is quite moving in the way it follows Fern as she carves out a place for herself in society. 

Joshua James Richards’s sweeping cinematography is sure to win many Awards come Award Season. We not only see gorgeous landscapes of the country, but his slowly glide of camera through van-dwellers can feel lmost lyrical. The remarkable compositions create a stunning visual language that is only improved by Ludovico Einaudi's breathtaking score. 

Nomadland is a masterwork that evokes many emotions and, as a film buff, reminds of so many great films of the past (Barbara Loden's Wanda, for instance). The only criticism I have is that the film may not be hard enough on the social forced that create Nomads like Fern, but ultimately the film is great despite this. 

Get the Hell Out (2020) Review

Title: Get the Gell Out
Year: 2020
Director: I.Fan Wang
Country: Taiwan
Language: Mandarin

Even though I have never been to Midnight Madness (I've been a terribly poor student in Manitoba), I am a huge fan of it due to the curator Peter Kuplowski. His choice of films, which I have watched much later in the year, are a combination of the bizarre, energetic, eerie and f***ed up. Get the Hell Out will be the first Madness film I watch as the festval is still going on! It will be my first of 10 films at that I watch throughout TIFF 2020. 

In Taiwanese Parliament, a zombie outbreak occurs and it turns local politicians into rabid zombies. 

It's too bad that we are in the middle of a pandemic ourselves, because Get the Hell Out is the perfect picture to screen as a Midnight Madness experience. I found myself literally rolling over laughing during a few scenes. Its frantic, full of energy and is full of the most absurd splatter and slapstick. This has Evil Dead levels of blood drenching the frame. Edgar Wright's Shaun of the Dead is a beloved zombie comedy, but I feel this is the more entertaining picture. 

As Kuplowski said on his pre-midnight madness live stream on twitter (@mmadnesstiff) , just google "Taiwanese parliamenr". The real thing is violent & weird, so making a brawling film about it is not that farfetched. It's a very campy, loud, in your face kinda film, but Get the Hell Out is a much needed escape (which is weird to say considering the film is about a virus that spreads through droplets) & will likely feel very missed once I've gone through 3 or 4 TIFF tearjerkers. 

Films like this allow me to fall in love with cinema again. There is fun and inventive art being made! There still are people taking chances and not playing by typical cinematic rules. Comical and outrageous, often switching styles and making bizarre references (I thought I'd never see a Simpsons Meme in a movie)  Get the Hell Out will drop your jaw & making you simultaneously say WOW & WTF. 

You Won't Believe It's Not Ableism!

I was born with a congenital heart defect called Transposition of the Great Arteries. Essentially my arteries were switched, my oxygen was mixed poorly & I would die before the age of 1 without surgery. Luckily, surgery was possible. I had a Senning operation which corrected the error, but made my right ventricle do twice the amount of work it normally does. Therefore I get tired quicker & need a longer time to recover. Also; I'm more immunocompromised than the average person & an infection could become endocarditis which is usually fatal. 

From an early age I experienced ableism; the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. I had to go on a seperate bus for disabled folk to school, even though my disability didn't affect the type of transportation I needed. I would sit in a small bus ("hey you go on the short bus hahaha") designed for people with wheelchairs. 

Several times it was mentioned that I should be taking class in the "care room" (a room where they held the intellectually disabled & wheelchair bound) even though I could walk the stairs & I didn't have an intellectual disability; I needed no assistance or accomodation and had A+ grades. 

In gym I was expected to do as much activity as the other children; if I didn't I would get lower marks "You need to keep up!" I'm trying! "You would probably be healthier if you tried harder" I would fail gym, but move on to the next grade. Grade 12 gym was a required pass in order to graduate...and I failed, but luckily I have a decent mom who was able to raise hell.

The gym teacher signed me up for a marathon which I refused to do, which is why I failed the class.

My dad however? Not supportive at all. During the summer I would spend days in the heat helping build the deck or garage or (insert super stressful thing to do). "Why do you need to stop? this is good for you!". When my parents split up he made me in charge of shovelling the snow. I live in Winnipeg, MB one of the COLDEST PLACES ON EARTH. It constantly snows in the winter. Sometimes he'd make me shovel WHILE IT WAS SNOWING OUTSIDE. Thankfully I was only there half a winter.

When I turned 18 I had to get a new doctor...who was not supportive of me. He told me, in front of my grandpa, that "You've just always been lazy". My grandpa quipped "So he was lazy the day he was born? because that's when the trouble started." The doctor was flustered & left without saying anything.

As I get older, I find it more "Places" than "People" that are ableist. For instance the place that I get my echocardiogram (sigh) it's UP an elevator, down a hallway, left, down another hallway, UP an elevator, down another hallway, right, down another hallway. WHO DESIGNED THIS PLACE!? Why does it take so long to get to the heart ward??

I had an exam at a local college and to get to this room I had to walk for TWENTY MINUTES. There were no signs, no benches to take a break, just a LONG hallway with classrooms on either side. "Room 200, so that's the second floor?" I ask the desk person "No, its the first floor" (*rage intensifies)

This is my brief rant about some notable moments/places that featured able-ism. Tune in for more.I'll try to do a more academic approach. 

The Chicks - Gaslighter (2020) Review

Band: The Chicks
Album: Gaslighter
Year: 2020
Label: Sony

If there's anything good that has come out of 2020, it's that The Chicks, who removed "Dixie" from their name due to ties to the South, have come out with their first album in over a decade Gaslighter. I've been a fan since the early 2000's, when they were banned by conservatives for saying they were "ashamed Bush is from Texas." In 2014 I watched them in Concert and was incredibly impressed; they were the best live performace I've been to. Loved shouting "Goodbye Eaaaaaaaarl!" with thousands of fellow fans. 

So hot that Natalie Maines ex husband, heroes actor Adrian Pasdor, sued to try to block its inevitable release, Gaslighter is a no-holding-anything-back album about Maine's & Pasdor's messy split.

Gaslighter, released on Youtube prior to the album's release,  is an explosive lead single that paves the way for a brutally honest, emotionally charged album that will leave you drained by the last song. Melding vengeance with vulnerability, Gaslighter nearly completely abandons The Chicks' former country style (who can blame them country allows songs about men loving their pickup trucks?) for a more contemporary pop appeal. Their music only improves because of it. 

Amid the wreckage of  catchy (I've listened to Gaslighter, the single,  over 20x) divorce anthems, we also get a solid Black Lives Matter song March March and a few numbers (Tights on My Boat) with some good wit peppered within them. My main criticism  of Gaslighter is that I feel like some tunes can be forgotten about the moment you hear them, unlike their post Bush album Taking the Long Way (2005)  This is a good album, but a bit too uneven to be considered "great". 

A liberative group of "Chicks", their new music has been stuck in my head for a while now. I can't wait to see them live once this pandemic is over & shout "GASLIGHTEEEEEEEEEER" among a sea of fans. I wish I could buy tickets now! 

CERB Saved Me During COVID-19

 

Pre Pandemic

I was born with congenital heart disease, more specifically Transposition of the Great Arteries. It's a rare defect where, when I was born, my arteries were reversed. This drastically changes the way blood is circulated around the body & leaves a great shortage of oxygen in  the blood. It's so bad the babies with TGA are born BLUE. 

This must be corrected within months of the child's life, or else it will die before the age of 1. Mine was "corrected" with a Senning Procedure; an Atrial switch operation  that diverts the oxygen-poor blood to the left ventricle and the pulmonary artery and the oxygen-rich blood to the right ventricle and the aorta. With this procedure the right ventricle must do a lot more work than a healthy person. 

As a result I get tired faster & it takes longer to recover, because it takes longer for oxygen to circulate throughout my body & through the lungs. More worrisome is that minor infections can easily become endocarditis, an infection that spreads to the heart (can cause sudden death). My weakened heart wouldn't be able to fight it. 

Covid-19 would be a HUGE problem for me. My lungs are already compromised and this is a virus that attacks them & makes even healthy people have to go on ventilators. Unless I am fortunate enough to be asymptomatic (VERY unlikely) this would easily put me in the hospital. 

Pandemic Times

In March my spouse and I were laid off from our jobs & even though we had saved a decent amount, it wouldn't have lasted long (we were already trying to catch up from being sick most of January). With EI  (55% of our income) we would have been able to pay our bills. Not struggling, but not much room for anything else. 

However since the beginning of March I had a sharp pain in my mouth, followed by daily migraines that made me unable to focus. I would sleep for the entire day when I didn't have work. I went to my regular  dentist & found out terrible news; 2 molars & 2 wisdom teeth would have to be removed, in addition to needing 2 fillings

Remember how I said infections can become endocarditis and thus fatal? I had TWO tooth infections & I've had them for well over a month. 

Everything Closes (March 20th) 

I had an appointment with my cardiologist in April, but they close & the soonest I can see my doctor is Sept. I'm not sure what I should be doing in regards to my health, I'm doing things blindly & hoping for the best.

Also: Motherf*#$@% The dentist closes & I can't get any work done unless it's a "you're going to die today" emergency. They offer me anti-biotics at $15/wk and it's supposed to last me until oh....

Dentist Opens (June 1st) 

At this point I'm in misery. The anti-biotics help, but I'm still in a great deal of pain. 
I think I've spent $100 in antibiotics since March

My wisdom teeth have become so impacted that I need to see a specialist. Due to the delay (because of covid) my bill becomes over THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS. 

Also: due to the risks involved with my heart condition I have to do each procedure sloooowly. Lots of indoor, away from people, recovery time. Don't want to get covid when I'm even more at risk!

Regular dentist
Visit 1: Examination & Xrays ($100) - refers to surgical dentist
Visit 2: Tooth Removal ($150) 
Recovery for a week (No work/activity) 

Specialist
Visit 3: Examination & Xrays ($100) - surgical dentist
Visit 4: Pre surgery cleaning ($125) 
Visit 5: Wisdom tooth removal ($1,000 + drug fees) 
Recovery for a week (No work/activity)
 
Visit 6: Removal of Stitches 
Visit 7: Wisdom Tooth removal ($700 + drug fees) 
Recovery for a week (No work/activity)

Visit 8: Removal of Stitches

Regular Dentist
Visit 9: Filling #1 & 2 ($500) 
Missing 3 Days of Work

Visit 10: Tooth removal ($700 + drug fees)
 
Recovery for a week (no work/activity)
Visit 11: Removal of Stitches 
*I'm also paying $220 for a taxi to/from to limit risk of covid 

Estimated total cost: $3,700

How Cerb saved me

CERB is Canada's emergency response to the massive drop in employment because of COVID. Individuals receive $2,000/mth for 6 months if their job/life has been affected by Covid

If my spouse and I had EI (55% of income) we would have made $2,000/mth. Our bills are...$2,100/mth. -$100/mth

Normally our food budget is $600/mth, but since April we've had to order online, which is more expensive. -$200/mth

We are now back to work at reduced hours, but I've had to take a LOT of time off this Summer. I've spent 4 non consecutive weeks recovering from surgery. Extra caution due to pandemic: -$2,000

In an ideal world, we would not be having a pandemic, I would not have to see a specialist (less $$$), I would not need as much time off & could go on a payment plan. Unfortunately 2020 sucks. 

 I'm glad CERB was here for me during the pandemic because without it I'd probably be dead. What could I do if I can't afford to pay $3,700 upfront for essential dentistry, but I also can't get a loan because all my potential co-signers (I needed a cosigner cause I was laid off)  are also laid off? 

We like to hear about people buying ridiculous things with their CERB money because it makes entertaining news (also makes people mad and tune into the news). 

I spent my CERB money

1) paying $3,700+ in urgent dentist bills (2/6 months)
2) making up for time off recovering from surgery (3/6months)  
3) paying bills when laid off for 2 months from March - May (5/6months) 

*have not accepted 6th month, seeing what cardiologist advises 

The Undesirable (1915) Review

Title: The Undesirable
Year: 1915
Director: Michael Curtiz
Country: Hungary
Language: N/A

Michael Curtiz was best known for being the director of classic studio films, like Casablanca (1942) & Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) during the "Golden Age of Hollywood". He was invited to Hollywood by Warner Bros in 1926 where he would serve a long career and win many awards, Many, at least nowadays,  are not aware about his life before Hollywood, where he was known in Hungary as Kertész Mihály and directed dozens of films. The Undesirable (1915) is one of his earliest successful ventures. 

Betty (Lili Berky, a young woman living in the country, is told by her dying father that he is really her uncle. Alone, she travels to the city where she finds employment, love, and hopefully her mothers' wherabouts. 

Previously thought lost due to time (it's thought 90% of silent films are lost) a print was found in New York City and the restored picture is available to the public. Due to being 105 years old, the acting in The Undesirable may come across as hammy and over-the-top. The stage veterans present in this picture were used to conveying their emotions in an extremely large venue & struggled to adapt their style. To fully enjoy the film, one has to take a step back & adjust their expectations. 

The Undesirable is a great blend of the comedic & dramatic in terms of story, in addition to the authentic and the aritficial in terms of production. We are treated to genuine Hungarian locations, extras, and costumes, but Curtiz does rely a bit to much on sets, that 100+ years later, look fairly cheap. The melodrama comes off strong, but it is fairly entertaining. 

During the production of this film Michael Curtiz & Mari Jászai found each other at odds, their feud making papers in Hungary. This publicity, in addition to it being a fun film at the time, helped The Undesirable become a hit. The picture is a worthwhile, albeit dated, viewing. 

Revolution of the Heart: The Dorothy Day Story (2020) Review

Title: Revolution of the Heart
Year: 2020
Director: Martin Doblmeir 
Country: US
Language: English

According to their website, St.Benedict's Table (Winnipeg, MB)  watched & discusssed Revolution of the Heart: The Dorothy Day Story on Zoom on May 12th, 2020 as part of their ongoing Theology in the Dark series. The film, aired by PBS on March 6th, 2020, is a fascinating dive into a radical catholic feminist Dorothy Day who championed the poor and, with her newspaper The Catholic Worker, provided hospitality for the chronically unwelcome. 

Revolution of the Heart  follows Dorothy Day's journey from young, communist journalist, to her awakening as co-founder of The Catholic Worker newspaper, to her later years & even touches upon the lives of people she influenced posthumously. 

Shedding light on a remarkable woman, who lived unlike most women in her time, Revolution of the Heart is a film filled with beautiful photos, archival footage, challenging narration and remarkable interviews (Cornel West is a recurring interview). Most impressive, is that we get Day's own interpretation of her past activities & personal views. It is an inspirational story that continued to impress me as the run-time went on. 

Though I don't entirely agree with her religious or economic views, as I'm not a conservative catholic, I must admit that I'm impressed by Dorothy Day & I certainly would have loved to have her as a dinner guest to discuss activism. Her campaign for womens & civil rights, combined with her ability to stir up trouble with authority, have me inspired to better my own life & stand up for others. 

I wish for all religious people to watch - or read about - Dorothy Day. She is a great example of what Chirstians should be; anti-authority, anti-capitalism and always available to lend a helping hand to those who are most of need. 

No Rating

Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love (2019) Review

Title: Words of Love (2019)
Year: 2019
Director: Nick Broomfeld
Country: US
Language: English

In high school I had a hippie English/Philosophy teacher named Barb Huband. She was in her 50's, usually had bare feet, and would constantly play folk music in the background of her classes. It was here I first heard of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. Infact, many English lectures consisted around dissecting the words to Cohen's music. Over the years I've developed a great admiration for his life and music; I wish I could write as poetically as he could. 

This documentary is an in-depth look at the relationship between the late musician Leonard Cohen and his Norwegian muse Marianne Ihlen.

The latest documentary by Nick Broomfeld, best known for Kurt & Courtney, Words of Love is a deep dive into the often forgotten muse of Cohen's life, Marianne. It is quite a revealing picture, digging up a tremendous amount of archive footage from the 60's & 70's, which creates an eye-opening vision of that era. In addition, the extensive interviews, many of which include Cohen & Marianne themselves bring great context to such a fascinating period. 

The inspiration for  "So Long, Marianne," "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye," "Bird on the Wire," and "Moving On", Marianne was certainly an extraordinary creative force, which leads to my negative criticism of this film; why didn't the filmmaker explore more of Marrianne's pre & post Cohen life? This film paints her as "Cohen's muse" when she was so much more. She had her own success. We also don't see much of how Cohen was a creative inspiration on HER work. 

Broomfeld's documentary doesn't shy away from exposing the negative side of Leonard Cohen. Dubbed "The Ladies Man" Cohen appears very self-destructive in his womanizing ways, dropping them before they can break his heart. I think the documentary can be too forgiving of Cohen; sometimes portraying him as a genius because he's troubled (and/or vice versa) but overall I enjoyed the film. The last 10 minutes were tear-jerking & bittersweet. 

Theology by the Glass Rebuttal - July 22nd

 "Why Being Spiritual is Never Enough” by Fleming Rutledge

[ Theology by the Glass is a gathering by St.Benedict's table where we read an article, have food, and discuss our thoughts on it. I did not know about the July 22nd meeting, therefore I'm writing my rebuttal on here. The most recent article they discussed was Why Spirituality is Never Enough by Fleming Rutledge https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/may-web-only/fleming-rutledge-why-being-spiritual-is-never-enough.html ]

I would not call myself religious, nor would I call myself spiritual...nor would I call myself an atheist or agnostic. I feel satisfied to not have a label, because any label IS religion. 

Atheism used to be just "I like sleeping in on Sundays", but it has slowly evolved to become religion; a religion revolving around the disbelief of God. They have their leader Richard Dawkins, they have their book The God Delusion and they even meet on certain days and locations to discuss their disbelief! 

I am also baffled by people who call themselves "spiritual, but not religious". Those who preach of Karma, crystal healing, "The Secret" etc. Rutletge mirrors my opinions on these people saying "These ideas about human self-creation are deeply religious notions. They are born out of illusion, wishful thinking, and a failure to look radical evil straight in the face." It's religion without any real commitment. 

I do agree with Rutledge that it is important to make a "sharp distinction between self-justification and the utterly gratuitous, prevenient action of God." Without this distinction, as a society, we start to view "crystal healers" (whom do not require any real commitment or education) as equal to ministers & nuns (whom spend their whole lives to get that position). They should not be equal; religion should be more important to our well-being than vague "spirituality". 

"The sermons we hear on Sunday seem to be based on a biblical text, but that is not what makes a sermon biblical"

Growing up, my mother would take me to church for special ocassions like Easter & Christmas. The minister, though our neighbour, was monotone & sleep-inducing. Even as a child I could see he was going through the motions, not really that interested in the subject matter. If he, a person of faith who SHOULD care about the bible, is bored by the subject, then why should I be interested?

"If the preacher is not personally invested in expounding the text, so that he or she seems to be risking something, it’s not biblical preaching."

One reason I like St.Benedict's Table (Winnipeg, MB) , and more specifically "The Rev" Rev. Rachel Twigg's sermons is because I truly believe she is committed to the words she preaches. It is HARD to become a minister when you're a female, especially if you grew up with an evangelical mennonite mindset (in my experience hardcore Mennonites believe women should essentially be subservient to their husbands). I imagine she does not take biblical scripture lightly, even during more challenging times in her life. 

"Therefore be bold, be unafraid, dear brothers and sisters in the Lord. We have a great gospel."

I also like The Rev's sermons because they are bold; they challenge the status quo & encourage us to think differently from what we've been programmed to believe by our patriarchal society. Rather than inciting anger or shame, she encourages us to use our free will to be more observant and become better people. The Rev makes the gospel great. 

(Note: Oh wow, Fleming Rutledge is a female minister too! No wonder I found this a great read!)

Election (1999) Review

Title: Election
Year: 1999
Director: Alexander Payne
Country: US
Language: English

Barack Obama twice named Election (1999) as his favourite policical film that he saw while in office. The film, inspired by the 1992 election in America, is a stinging satire of American politics. Reese Witherspoon's Tracy Flick character has lived on in pop culture, even in minds of those who have never seen the film, due to parodying the archetype of the Lisa Simpson-esque "know it all". She reminds people of Hilary Clinton so much, that even Clinton mentioned it when she met Witherspoon for  the first time. 

In this, a high school teacher's (Matthew Broderick) personal life becomes complicated as he works with students during the school elections, particularly with an obsessive overachiever  (Reese Witherspoon) determined to become student body president.

Ideas of destiny "You can’t interfere with destiny; that’s why it’s destiny,” free will and morality are all observed in Election, usually placed during weird conversations about sex and student council protocol. Mr.M (Broderick) seems to be constantly on the brink of a midlife crisis (he's a character that would fit well in a Coen Brothers movie) and his constant disruption of ethics make for a hilarious downfall for his character. 

Election is a smart movie with themes that dive quite deep, but its substance doesn't take away from the fi;m's immense catalogue of humor. There are some scenes that are so funny, Simpsons writers just had to steal them. Mr.Smither's "deathly allergy" to bees was directly inspired by Mr.M's allergic run-in. Ultimately, even though I enjoy their many other works, Election is both Broderick's and Witherspoon's greatest cinematic outing. 

The Academy Awards made Alexander Payne a household name with Sideways (2004), but he deserved the recognition a half a decade before when this film hit theatres. I appreciate the film's non-judgemental treatment of same-sex attraction, as films made during that time were often steeped with homophobia or misunderstanding (in American Beauty the gay guy happens to be the homophobe, oy) This picture is quite an achievement. 

First Cow (2020) Review

Title: First Cow
Year: 2020
Director: Kelly Reichardt
Country: US
Language: English

A great double feature with Meek's Cutoff (2010), Kelly Reichardt's First Cow comes off as an anti-masculine anti-western. Some reviewers, like Armond White at National Review, are horrified by this fact; "Reichardt’s woebegone heroes can only interest the pop generation that fully bought into the idea of American heterosexual wickedness". I however, have found myself a new role model in American Cinema. Reichardt is exceptional both professionally and personally. 

A skilled cook (John Magaro) has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon, though he only finds true connection with a Chinese immigrant (Orion Lee) also seeking his fortune. Soon the two collaborate on a successful business.

Exceptionally well written, First Cow reminds me of a great John Steinbeck (Grapes of Wrath) novel. Both Steinbeck & Reichardt have bittersweet works that focus on characters who strive for a better life during difficult times in American History. Cookie & the immigrant remind me of Lennie and George from Of Mice and Men. They are two more feminine male characters, who have to navigate the uneasy waters of a world steeped in toxic masculinity. 

Reichardt's cinematographer, Christopher Blauvelt, shoots mainly in natural light, capturing  the green, muddy, thriving, and idyllic surroundings with grace. Their shots hold longer than most film-makers would allow today, giving us a great sense of immersion into this Americana setting. Reichardt's pace may be too slow for some viewers, but I love her deliberate observing touch. We go slowly through each scene, absorbing its atmosphere. 

Deviating from traditional Western Tropes, First Cow examines the folly of a so-called "Manifest Destiny" and dissects the corruptive impulses of Mankind. Man (specifically white man) and not nature is the foreboding beast in this picture. I am quite impressed; give Reichardt all the awards already! 

Cats (2019) Review

Title: Cats

Year: 2019

Director: Tom Hooper

Country: UK

Language: English

I haven't always been a cat person, but since my spouse moved in with their ginger one (named Silver) in 2014 I absolutely fell in love with felines. A year after, in 2015, we got a tortoise colored kitty named Bonnie. With my newfound fondness for those pets, I decided to check out the long-running musical Cats (1980) and well...it was quite bizarre. I did like the music numbers, like Mr.Mistoffeles. In 2019, it was announced that a big screen adaptation directed by Tom Hooper would hit theatres and...WOW. 

A tribe of cats called the Jellicles must decide yearly which one will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new Jellicle life.

This movie MIGHT have worked in the 70's when people were stoned out of their minds, but Cats (2019) is THE fever dream of fever dreams. Such an iconic ensemble of actors (how do you make Taylor Swift, an iconic singer, look BAD in a musical!?) whose talents have been wasted at the hands of a director who has no business in Hollywood (I HATED Hooper's version of Les Miserables too!)

Where to begin? The choice of costuming is hideous. The cast of the broadway show used a realistic looking costuming and make-up, whereas this is filled to the brim with cheap CGI (why a human nose and no whiskers on a cat?) The set design makes my head hurt. The spatial relation & size of objects make very little sense. The singing is so laughably bad (*stares at Rum Tum Tugger) 

The broadway musical at least had a weird, but curious sexuality about it. This movie...well, it tries, but comes off as goofy and awkward. Hooper's complete misdirection is baffling; making Cats a critical and commercial failure that was only viewed by people desiring to laugh AT it. I must admit though; some of the dancing is decent, albeit the frantic cuts border on Moulin Rouge "ADHD child buzzed out on sugar" territory. 

Cats ultimately is worse than Moulin Rouge, because at least that film has a cool moment or two (cue Roxanne scene). Both films are absolutely dreadful though; Watch only if you want to laugh at the misfire. 

No Rating (ZERO)

Dirty Dancing (1987) Review

Title: Dirty Dancing

Year: 1987

Director: Emile Ardelino

Country: US

Language: English

The Rev (Rev. Rachel Twigg) wrote about her recent rewatch of Dirty Dancing (1987) in her latest blog post (click HERE to read the post) comparing Baby's uncertainty to being a minister during the pandemic. Upon deciding which film to review next my spouse realized, "Hey! You haven't reviewed Dirty Dancing yet!" So therefore this is my official review of the 80's classic. 

Spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances "Baby" Houseman (Jennifer Grey) falls in love with the camp's dance instructor, Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze)

The Rev begins her post by mentioning the taboo nature of the film; "we didn’t want anyone to know we were watching it." When I was an adolescent Dirty Dancing was forbidden to view in the house. The dirtiest VHS I could find was Titanic (1997) I had to wait until my late teens to watch it and, well, even though men aren't supposed to admit they liked this film (we are programmed to say "Footloose is better ya know!") I actually liked it a lot!  It's a marvelous blend of the, perhaps unintentionally, corny & the serious. 

"I've had the time of my liiiiife" Dirty Dancing, thanks to the remarkable casting of Grey and Swayze, oozes of charm & chemistry. I've had to fan myself down a few times. Phew! The soundtrack, which sold 32 million copies and is one of the best selling soundtracks of all time, contains both original music made for the film ("I've had the time of my life") & some previously composed ("Love is strange") It is a great mix of 60's rock & 80's ballads.  

Beautifully filmed and excellently choreographed, Dirty Dancing is an enjoyable film that men should appreciate more. Though some of the film is fairly dated in 2020 (I could do with better dialogue) & can come off as a little cheesy, it is hard to deny the cultural impact this film had on North American cinema. More musicals like this please! *glares at Cats (2019)