This is what the much-lauded American meritocracy looks like: urban, moral, and spiritual decay; an existence battered by the cruelty of Lady Luck, who wields the Sword of Damocles—always one misstep away from the abyss of abject poverty. Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, who received the Pulitzer Prize for Rabbit Hole (2007),[Read More…]
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Could Be Good
COMEDY: Comedy in Biblical Proportions Comedian Robby Hoffman explores the world’s most popular book—The Bible—with a perspective that only a honed comedic edge can provide. Friday Nov. 23, 9:30 p.m., Theatre Ste. Catherine (264 St. Catherine East). Tickets $14. FILM FESTIVAL: Image+Nation LGBT Film Festival The oldest LGBT film festival in Canada[Read More…]
Twilight surpasses admittedly low expectations
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2, the conclusion to the popular vampire franchise, is a good movie. Not great—this is Twilight we’re talking about—but good. Yes, I’m just as surprised as you are. The final Twilight film, directed by Bill Condon, is by far the best of the series. It’s[Read More…]
Books on books: award-winning authors share their insights
In his youth, Julian Barnes’ bibliophilia took on near-pathological proportions. Much like the shoe-obsessed, 2011’s Man Booker prize winner would spend the vast share of his disposable income on books, driving from town to town in search of secondhand treasures. “I bought with a hunger which I recognize, looking back,[Read More…]
From protests to poutine, ABC:MTL introduces the city
There are the usual famous attractions—the view from Mount Royal, a stroll through Old Port, the obligatory late night poutine. Yet Montreal is a city of multiplicities that extend beyond its tourist tropes. The Canadian Centre for Architecture’s (CCA) newest project, ABC: MTL, offers an invitation to the deeper realities[Read More…]
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2 Official Soundtrack
The press release promised “an intriguing and irresistible line-up of artists” including Passion Pit, Ellie Goulding, and Feist. But the soundtrack to Twilight—Breaking Dawn Part 2 could leave even the ‘Twihards’ disappointed. The mood of the album is—for the most part—mellow: the majority of tracks are the sort of slow-building,[Read More…]
Iamsu!: Suzy 6 Speed
On his new release, Suzy 6 Speed, Bay area rapper and producer Iamsu! trades the bass-heavy beats and dreamy stoner synths of the critically acclaimed spring release Kilt for high BPMs and an endless supply of carefully programmed snare claps. Su’s smooth, sing-song flow contrasts with the mixtape’s high-energy production,[Read More…]
Chilly Gonzales: Solo Piano II
Canadian pianist and rapper Chilly Gonzales’ career has gone from strength to strength in the last few years. Since the release of his instrumental album, Solo Piano, Gonzales has collaborated with Feist and Peaches, performed with Drake, and released the electro-rap albums Ivory Tower and The Unspeakable Chilly Gonzales. His[Read More…]
Out of the cavern
Indie pop-rock band, Malajube—named after a mash-up of the words ‘maladie’ and ‘jujube’—has become somewhat of an icon in both their native Quebec and the rest of Canada for their musicality and ingenious approach to achieving fame. An undeniably catchy blend of riffs, synths, and vocals makes the perfect recipe[Read More…]
Nightmares may be evolutionary survival tool
Nightmares have always been a dreaded human experience. In certain cultures, they were thought to be premonitions of the future. It was this ominous notion that prompted indigenous cultures to construct dream catchers. When a bad dream entered the dreamer’s sleep, the webbing of the dream catcher supposedly trapped this[Read More…]
