Goodbye Louis B.

As most people know, there is a department in the federal government called the Canadian Radio and Television Commission whose mandate is to ensure that there is enough Canadian content on the airwaves (ironically only tv and radio; not cinema). It has made some controversial decisions including, as an example, declaring that a Bryan Adam's cd did not have enough "Canadian content" to be given more airplay because a number of the musicians et al on the cd were British and not Canadian.

But what about Provincial content? In the Calgary Herald's Entertainment section, we have Nick Lewis and Heath McCoy as well as Bob Clarke and Eugene (?). These gentlemen do not review movies. For that the Herald has Roger Ebert (rarely, but I like Ebert) who hails from Chicago, Ill., Katherine Monk (who writes for the Vancouver Sun) and Jay Stone (who writes for the Ottawa Citizen). Needless to say, none of these people are from Alberta.

One of the few redeeming qualities of the Calgary Sun had was that it had Louis B. Hobson as their main movie reviewer. Fact, Louis lives in Calgary. Another fact, I have met Mr. Hobson and he was very genuine and down to earth. Fact #3, Louis promoted Alberta movies - in fact, he told me that he was surprised that Brokeback Mountain did not win the 2006 Academy Award for Best Picture. I didn't always agree with Louis's reviews but I don't always agree with any reviewer.

Unfortunately due to financial problems with the Toronto Sun, the Sun's mother newspaper, Louis was, or will shortly be, laid off. Apparently, the employees of the Toronto Sun are unionized so we in Calgary must pay for Toronto's money problems. It stinks. We are losing our Alberta voice. Pretty soon we will get all our movies reviews from Toronto. What the Calgary Herald should do, if it wants a great marketing idea, is hire Louis Hobson to be its own movie critic.

I just wanted to write this blog to mourn the disappearance of another voice in Alberta newspapers and to thank Louis B. for all of his great reviews and interviews. We have so many talented writers right here in Calgary, we need to read more of them.

The Proposition

I like Westerns. I love how John Ford (Director) could frame a shot using the mountains in the background and the lone countryside down below. While not responsible for the success of actors such as John Wayne, Henry Fonda and James Stewart, Ford certainly enhanced their careers and made them better actors.

John Ford has been dead for over 30 years now and the only person who seems to have followed in his footsteps is Clint Eastwood.

That has changed with a film from Australia from Director, John Hillcoat, and writer, Nick Cave, called the Proposition. The western has evolved over the years. The hero is not always a hero and he certainly doesn't look like he just had a bath and his clothes are clean and freshly pressed. In fact the cinematography for the Proposition is so phenomenal that you as the audience want to swat the flies away from your face. The countryside is stark and dry; you can feel the heat permeate from the screen.

In the Proposition, Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) is forced to choose between his older brother, Arthur (Danny Houston), and his younger brother, Mikey (Richard Wilson) by the local law and order Captain Stanley (Ray Winstone).

Go see the Proposition (except for Lulu because it will be too violent for you). It is a really good film (very violent and gory at times but come on it's a Western). It has a superb cast including the above names as well as Emily Watson and John Hurt. Ray Winstone is a very underrated actor and without him the film would not have the same punch - because you sympathize as much for his character as you do Guy Pearce's character. As I said the cinematography is divine and the script is just the right length.

Keep supporting independent movies... or soon we will only have the Supermans, the Devil Wears Prada, or the DaVinci Code and no other choices.