In the Land of Blood and Honey - Another Apocalyptic Tale for Our Times

This is an excellent, relentless tale of the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the early 1990's. Angelina Jolie has done a masterful (or is that mistressful) job of weaving the personal stories of her character against the backdrop of yet another senseless, internecine genocide. The people are three dimensional and complex, as is the explanation of the poltical and cultural histories that led to this war. The film has a strong "Schindler's List" feeling except that the villains are drawn with much more detail and sensibility. The critics should have been kinder to this film than they were. The acting, writing, directing and sets are terrific. I definitely recommend this film highly.

Yours for serious though provoking film making, Dame Velveeta Peron (DVP)

Haywire - Love Girl Power

I love to watch girls get away with murder. This is a great little action flick. Great cast with Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas and a very believable newcomer in the role of the killing machine girl. Just great fun. Sit back and enjoy.

Yours in mayhem, DVP

A Dangerous Method - Misnomer based on this Film

True confession : I go to all of Cronenberg's films and don't like his directing. This film is, however, fairly good. Unlike some of his earlier outings, he tells the story directly and simply, without (please excuse the pun) hysteria.

Keira Knightley does a creditable job as the young woman who goes to Jung for help and becomes his star psychoanalytical experiment. I love Viggo Mortenson being anybody and he is a good actor, which is a bonus. I enjoyed his turn as Freud. Michael Fassbender, who is starting to feel overexposed to me, is fine as Jung.

I would like to have understood better the specific reason for the break between Freud and Jung, but there was at least a sense that it had to do with Freud's determination that sex is at the root of all emotional abnormalities and Jung's desire to explore other possibilities.

Overall, this film did peak my interest to do more research about the roots of psychoanalysis and the theories of these two men. If this field interests you, you will enjoy this dip into that arena.

Yours in support of belief that crazy and sex are okay, DVP.,

Handel's Hercules

I have never been in the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning before Saturday night. This alone is worth getting a ticket for Hercules or anything else that is performed there. The venue is spectacular. Fortunately, Hercules was also a wonderful piece of Baroque choral music. The singing was of very high calibre and the ballet dancers did a lovely job. A most enjoyable, pleasant and relaxing evening. Definitely worth a look and a listen.

Yours in mixing it up, DVP

The Iron Lady- Maggie would have loved the portrayal

Meryl Streep is Maggie Thatcher in the biopic. Her performance is chillingly accurate. I confess that, although I didn't agree with Thatcher's policies, I always admired her courage. Working with that gaggle of stuffed male shirts must have been intolerable, yet she did it for eleven and a half gruelling years. I wish the film had lived up to Streep's performance. Thatcher had a big life and it was probably unwise to try to make reference to all of it in two hours. For those of us around during Maggie's "reign" we could fill in many of the gaps when there was just a brief reference to things she had done, eg the death of Bobby Sands and other IRA members in jail, the Falklands, the crisis when she cut budgets. Still, there was much missed and what was there was not well enough described. Too bad. I'd still go for Meryl Streep's performance alone. Read up in advance to catch the references.

Yours in admiration of strong women, DVP.

Pariah - Sensitive, Thought-Provoking, Novel Coming of Age Story

Just when I thought there couldn't be a new take on the coming of age theme, along comes Pariah. This is the story of middle class Black-African America and how it deals with homosexuality, and in this case lesbian issues. It is refreshing to meet black characters who are not ghettoized but in the mainstream of American culture - or are they? They seem to have only black friends and colleagues. Their daughters' friends are also black. Sadly, this slice of American culture and race is no more tolerant than white societyis of homosexuality. The older of the two daughters is a lesbian, forced to be closeted except with her lesbian girlfriends because of this stigma. Everyone seems to know her sexual preference, even her parents who, nonetheless remain in deep denial. The dialogue is realistic and the acting terrific. The direction is flawless. This film deserves to be seen by a wide audience and I hope it is, but my bet is that those who already know the lesson it teaches will be its audience. You are no doubt among them, but go anyhow, not only because it is a great film but also to improve the possibiltiy for films with controversial, thought-provoking themes to continue to be made.

Yours in diversity, DVP

The Golden Dragon

I wanted to like the latest theatrical offering at the Tarragon Theatre, called the Golden Dragon, but ultimately I just couldn't. It made me feel like I wanted to go home and shower. The characters were either unsavoury and unsympathetic or totally broken and vulnerable. There was not a ray of hope in the theme, or the story which is about the Asian immigrant experience in urban Canada, as far as I could tell. The only redeeming feature of the production for me was the acting of a young man named David Yee, who provided the only point of entry to the characters that gave me a feeling of sympathy and concern. Sadly, his acting is wasted in a boring play.

Yours in thespianism, DVP

I went to see this film with trepidation. Two hours of silence watching a screen- not so sure. In fact, it did take me a few minutes at the start to get in the groove but once I did I was completely mesmerized. This film is syrely a labour of love about the silent screen era. It explains the fascination people had with those early films. The acting and casting are amazing; the attention to detail , stunning. A must see. Perfect for the Holiday blues.

Yours in great cinema,

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

This traditional spy story was brilliantly directed and cast. Gary Oldham was perfect as Smiley and John Hird great as Control. All of the cast was the perfect shade of English spy grey. The beginning of the film was a bit hard to follow so watch carefully. It unravels nicely.Definitely worth a look.

Yours in Holiday Ignorance and Bliss,

Shame- A tedious day in the life of a sex addict

I saw this film several days ago but have held off a review because I was so conflicted about my opinion of its merit. In discussing it with a friend today, I was able to come to a conclusion.

This is the story of a week in the life of a sex addict. Addiction isn't generally very pretty and sex addiction is apparently no different.than the more commonly known food, drug and alcohol addictions. Sex, it turns out, is a lot of work and not much fun. This is not actually news to some of us but just in case you didn't get the memo..

The acting in this film is excellent. Michael Fassbender as our anti-hero and Carey Mulligan as his hapless sister are both believable as very damaged siblings, who play out their dysfunction in different, equally self destructive, ways.The story unfolds slowly, not quite real time but close.One does not envy, or even like, anyone in this story.

This is what bothered me at the time I saw it. I wanted to know the genesis of the main characters' dysfunctions so I could sympathize with them. I never found out. Now I realize that was a very courageous move by the director. He strictly relies on the acting and the moment to keep our attention. He did hold mine, in the way watching a train wreck take place mesmerizes me. You want to turn away but you can't.

Am I recommending this film ? Yes, if you want to watch the excellent dramatization of a difficult subject. No, if you need to understand the characters or care about them on some level. I leave that to you.

Yours in ambivalence,

When my girlfriend chose this event as our Holiday outing I thought, Oy veh bah humbug ( We half and halfers get to talk that way.) On further reflection I thought it would be a good anthropological exercise, if nothing else.

In fact it was a lovely evening in many ways. I did enjoy the music although I was disappointed in the Hallelujah Chorus which I had remembered as more rousing and inspirational.

Maybe I was just a bit tired. It didn't help that the young woman beside me had taken off her shoes and had the worst foot odour I have experienced in a long time. She was in her teens and obviously on a date so I didn't have the heart to complain and potentially change the entire history of her life going forward, but I definitely wanted to.

Overall, the voices were good and thank goodness the soprano and mezzo- soprano didn't look like they should be playing Brunhilde in a Wagnerian opera and were nicely dressed. Wish I could have seen the shoes- but I digress. In fact I digressed quite often during the programme but did not fall asleep at least.

Everyone else seemed to be in rapt enjoyment so as an anthropological study I would say the evening was success.

Yours in oy veh bah humbug,

Tomboy- Sensitive, Hopeful Film about Gender Identity and Coming of Age

I am still thinking about this beautifully directed, superbly acted coming of age film about a ten year old girl who looks and acts like a boy. The film is understated and never manipulative.

The girl who plays the ten year old is remarkable in her role and the other children in it are equally fine. The six year old sister is irresisitible. She loves her older sister, realizing that she is not like the other older sisters and proud of it. The dialogue is realistic. Many scenes are memorable as vignettes all on their own.I miss the children in it and wish I knew them.

This is a must-see little known French Holiday treasurer.

Yours for realistic stories about gender identity

Cafe de Flore aka They should have left it on the cutting room floor

Dear reader Why can't I warm to Canadian movies ? I guess this is a question for my shrink. I will explain to her that I find the plot development implausible at best; the endings a cop-out; the acting mediocre at best and that ultimate I just don't care. And I should be Blanche, I should. So unless you have to (a) see every Canadian movie ever made (b) see every French Canadian movie ever made (c) see every movie ever made with children with Down’s Syndrome (d) all of the above, forget this one.

Yours for less Canadian content, DVP

The Nutcracker - Let the Over-eating and Fake Fellowship Begin

Dance (The National Ballet of Canada at the Sony Centre,Toronto)  It doesn't matter what I write about this old chestnut- I mean timeless classic. Nostalgia and boredom will drive parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other sordid - I mean assorted- folks to take quickly bored children to see this ballet.

In fairness, I thought this production better than many I have seen. The costumes didn't feel so heavy - except the red and gold ones that always have too religious an air for me. The dancing was fine and thanks to Karen Kain and company for recognizing that black children can dance- imagine.

So loosen your belts for too much egg nog and turkey and let the festivities begin.

Yours in Holiday overindulgence, DVP

Mayans - Developed Language and Calendars- Who knew ?

The Mayan exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto is an excellent display of an ancient and interesting civilization. I recommend that for your first walk around you take a tour with one of the museum's docents and then just meander around the beautiful statues, clay pots and jewellery on show. It is a large exhibit so give yourself at least an hour and a half to get through it.

Yours in people's faces even older than mine, DVP

Louise Binder, seen Nov. 28, 2011, has had HIV since 1993. (Dave Thomas/Toronto Sun)

PositiveLite.Com says: we were delighted to see our Louise Binder made the Toronto Sun December 1, 2011, World AIDS Day, albeit surrounded by ads for Pizzaville (two medium pizzas, six toppings for $18.99?  Not bad!), The Sun story story goes on to take a lightning tour of a host of HIV-related issues, which will likely never be referred to again in the pages of the Sun, at least until World AIDS Day 2012.  Still, any coverage of these issues is good and kudos to the Toronto Sun for stepping up to the plate.  Louise does a grand job of highlighting some of the  inequities in treatment access which exist in Canada right now too.

We’ve also included readers’ comments, to illustrate the public perception of HIV in 2011.  Interesting!

Here is the article: .

By Kevin Connor ,Toronto Sun  December 01, 2011

TORONTO - Louise Binder has seen a lot of change since she was diagnosed with HIV in 1993, but as World AIDS Day arrives on Thursday wonders why even in Canada people aren’t being properly treated.

“One of the major issues is we still have marginalized people who aren’t getting access to treatment. There are the haves that get treated and the have-nots — like Aboriginal people — who aren’t getting treatment and they are dying,” said Binder, who is with the Canadian Treatment Action Council.

The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network says Aboriginals account for 8% of Canadians with HIV and make up 12.5% of all new infections.

One in four new HIV infections in Ontario is among marginalized women, a survey shows.

Even though there have been significant advances in HIV care, 25% of new HIV infections from 2006 to 2008 were in women, according to a health study by researchers from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and St. Michael’s Hospital.

“The epidemic has moved to the marginalized population with people who are already at risk, the people who have to put up with what is dished out to them. Housing is also a huge problem for HIV people because you need to be housed to remain on treatment,” Binder said.

“We don’t have a cure, but treatment can change your life.”

A new study for Casey House, which cares for people with HIV/AIDS, shows that nine out of 10 Ontarians believe that society has a “moral obligation” to provide compassionate care to people living with the disease.

“The good news is that HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence,” says Dr. Kevin Gough, director of infectious diseases at St. Michael’s Hospital, who co-authored the report.

“Today, if people have access to treatment, HIV/AIDS can be more like a chronic disease that waxes and wanes in severity throughout their lives. That’s terrific news. But we’re seeing that as people age with HIV/AIDS, their health-care needs frequently escalate and can become very disabling.”

Casey House has announced a new Day Health Program to help people age with the disease.

“The Day Health Program will be an innovative response to the expanding demand for chronic-care management in our province, which currently claims 55% of direct and indirect health-care costs in Ontario,” said Stephanie Karapita, CEO of Casey House and co-author of the report.

“Not only is this program a targeted means to address the expanding and deepening need for complex HIV/AIDS treatment in Toronto, but it’s also an effective way to reach out to marginalized populations who are not currently getting the range of health-care services that they need to stay healthy.”

Experts say that AIDS funding in Canada and internationally is nowhere near what it should be.

“At home, federal funding for HIV has been flat-lined since 2007 and it is unknown whether federal funding will be cut even further next year,” said Richard Elliott, executive director of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network. “Cuts and delays in funding would have serious implications for front-line community services that do HIV prevention and support services, and most importantly, the people who depend on those services.

“On the global front, just as we are seeing results from sustained global investments in HIV prevention and treatment, funding is stalling and governments are failing to support what is needed. In 2010, UNAIDS estimated a $10-billion shortfall for a comprehensive and effective global AIDS response.”

Binder says another concern is that legal action against people with the disease is becoming far too common.

There has been an increase in cases in which people with HIV have been charged with offences in the Criminal Code where there has been no significant risk of transmitting the disease — which simply criminalizes a person based on their HIV-positive status. “People who knowingly infect others are criminals. Most people are unlikely to transmit their disease, but the justice system in Canada is putting (HIV) people in jail at an alarming rate,” Binder said.

“HIV is easy to prevent but young people are still becoming infected. We need more public education.”

**************************************

And a selection of Sun reader’s comments  . . . 

"Non HIV people in Ontario are having as much of a hard time accessing health care with the usual problems so what's the difference for them?"

"Blame ROB FORD AND STEPEN HARPER FOR THIS"

“People who knowingly infect others are criminals. Most people are unlikely to transmit their disease, but the justice system in Canada is putting (HIV) people in jail at an alarming rate,” Binder said. AND dear Louise Binder - please prove this utterly stupid statement.  Like that our Aboriginals are the 'have nots' - certainly not ALL of them.  Their Chiefs and their families are doing quite well in their monster homes and hummers.Then she says HIV is easy to prevent but young people are still becoming infected...then they are stupid as EVERYONE knows the way to GET aids is IV drug use and being a fvck (sic) pig or both. Simple to figure out. So tell us Louise, how'd you get infected if it's so easily preventable? Information about this was WIDELY pushed in this country since the mid 80's."

"This will teach them, not to be careless in whom they have sex with".

"Sorry, but drug users who share needles, people who have unprotected sex with multiple partners I have NO sympathy for. On the other hand people who were infected by tainted blood, or by a parent during pregnancy I think should have priority in treatment as they had no choice in this matter. People who are infected and continue to have unprotected sex should be automticly (sic) charged with attempted murder and be done with it. The aboriginals have just as much chance for treatment as anybody else,,,,,just ask the elders who steal the money left right and center.How many billions of dollars are we supposed to keep giving if this disease is easily preventable.....you do everything you shouldn't be doing and contact HIV too bad, this is not like a cancer that can and does hit everybody and anybody you make your choices.".

I knew nothing about the premise of the Descendants when I went to see it. I went because It got good reviews and George Clooney is in it- not in priority order. It took me a few minutes to realize that it was meant to be humorous even though there was a person in a coma from the outset. Once I did, I just sat back and enjoyed the ride. This is not for those seeking intellectual nourishment or those who think there is nothing funny about death - and life. I do and so did the cast of perfectly likeable characters on the screen. It is predictable but I didn't mind that either.

Yours for anything with George Clooney in it!

J. Edgar- The dullest Gay Guy Ever

Even Leonardo DiCaprio couldn't make J.Edgar Hoover interesting , let alone likeable. He remained an enigma to me at the end of the film and mostly I just didn't care what made him tick.The film was so bland that I didn't even feel outraged by all of the dirty tricks he pulls- barely indignant.

Leonardo DiCaprio acted very well and the make up and wardrobe were great but I sure hope he loses all that weight he gained for the part post haste.I f you have to see every Leonardo DiCaprio movie made or every movie with a closeted gay character ever made, go ahead. Otherwise you can do much better.

Yours with no patience for dull films.

Margin Call - A cautionary tale of our Times

Margin call is a realistic depiction of what probably took 24 hours before the latest crash in a brokerage firm. It is filled with great actors like Jeremy Irons and Demi Moore working for peanuts to tell this tale. The entire film was made for $3, a pittance in movie terms. It is told in a manner that allows even those of us who know nothing of the markets to see what is going on, if not exactly why. The film"s style reminded me of Mamet's Glengarry Glenross, which I always would have been better as a play. This would have made a great play but then it would not have reached the wide audience it has. Definitely worth seeing.

Martha Marcie May Marlene -Brilliant, Mesmerizing Manson-inspired film chills to the Bone

This is one of the best films of its genre I have seen. It is the story of a girl drawn into a cult but starts as she is leaving the cult and trying to reintegrate into society.

She returns to her sister and her sister's husband without telling them where she has been for the past two years. Her behaviour is bizarre but not surprising to those of us in the know. The directing is wonderful, moving back and forth from her time in the cult to present day. Elizabeth Olsen is amazing as the cult survivor and the supporting actors especially the cult crew and their leader is chilling and believable. The plot quietly but surely builds suspenseful to an enigmatic but nonetheless satisfying ending in my view. A must see.

Yours in Getting Ascared.

The Skin I Live In- Retro Almodavar , But Why ?

I love Pedro Alomodavar's films but this one is like a slick, trite revisiting of gender identity themes of early Almodavar. Unless you must see every Allmodavar film or every gender identity film or every film with Antonio Banderas or every Spanish language film every made or are having trouble sleeping, skip this one.

Yours in insomnia.

50/50- Hilarious, Poignant, Realistic Tale of Fighting a Life-threatening Illness

This was a hilarious romp through the land of hospitals, doctors visits , tubes and pills and needles that make up the fight for survival against cancer. It is realistic, utterly believable and an ode to life. People with HIV, hepatitis or any other serious disease will recognize some aprts of their lives in this film. It was much better than I thought it would be. Don't miss this uplifting but not sappy film.The acting is very good too.

Yours in thumbing our noses at death,

The Guard- Outrageous Romp in Smalltown Ireland.

Do not miss this side-splitting Irish film about a policeman in a small town in Ireland who has to work with his opposite number from the U.S,. Don Cheadle, to intercept a big drug deal.The local characters are riotous and realistic. The dialogue is side splitting. A great movie for the Holidays. Don't miss it.

Hugo- An hommage to early films dressed up as a child's tale

Yours Feeling Bah-Humbug

Live Entertainment

Prince, the Artist Presently known as the King of Bling or Love your Hair ( and Butt) , Hope you Win

Prince is 53 but looks 23; he dances like its 1999 and does a 3 hour non stop show; he is so sexy he still doesn't put on underwear (my assessment) ; his voice is as strong and fluid as ever. One of the best live shows I have ever seen. Too bad if you missed it.

Yours gloating and fantasizing.

Chagall and Avant-Garde Russian Artists Exhibit - Art Gallery of Ontario - Great Scene

Grace Kelly Exhibit - Toronto International Film Festival Building

Clothes, jewels, her wedding dress - very nice little exhibit. The most amazing fact I learned was that Grace Kelly was one of those rare women in which the clothes did not make the woman but the woman made the clothes.Some of the outfits on display look like ugly housefrau dresses and beside them are pictures of her in those dresses and they come alive. How does she do this ? Oh yes, may it's that's thimble-like waist and spectacular beauty.

Yours in love her and hate her.

Red - A Play-Goers Play at Canstage

Plays rely on two things - great dialogue and great acting- okay three , minimalist sets. So sayeth the Dame. This play had exactly that chemistry. Written by Josh Logan and directed by Kim Collier, it was an absolute delight. It is ostensibly about Mark Rothko the abstract impressionist artist who was also treated as second fiddle to Jackson Pollock. In the dialogue between Rothko and his assistant we cover the gamit of the history and theories of art, the meaning of living in the here and now and an ode to change and the ability to know when pass te torch without feeling a failure, a has been. Somethings about which everyone thinks including the great dwone, if you see it that way, death,I strongly recommend if you like pure, unadorned, intelligent thetare.

Yours in haute culture

Dame Velveeta Peron