Act of Valor is a new war film written by 300 screenplay writer Kurt Johnstad & directed by Mike McCoy & Scott Waugh from Bandito Brothers Productions. The film is about a Navy SEAL squad that goes on a covert operation to rescue a CIA Officer by the name of Morales (Roselyn Sánchez), who has been kidnapped by an international drug-dealer Christo (Alex Veadov), only to unravel a terrorist operation that aims to strike American citizens across the country.

Sounds like a pretty standard film, right? It’s standard up-to the point when you find out that the Navy SEAL’s in this movie are real. Yes, you heard it correctly. Act of Valor features real active-duty Navy SEAL’s as well as U.S. Navy Special Warfare Combatant Crewman (SWCC). In 2007, McCoy & Waugh had developed video footage for the SWCC & through their experiences did the inspiration for this movie come about. However, through production, they realized that no actor could emotionally & physically portray a Navy SEAL. That was when real Navy SEAL’s, those who were originally brought on as consultants, were cast in the film. That was probably the best decision McCoy & Waugh made.

Having active-duty Navy SEAL’s has given realism to this film in a way that has never been done before. You are immediately taken in by these young men who actually showcase a high level of respect and love for one another. What was most surprising were their performances; for individuals who don’t have any acting background, they performed brilliantly! You are not for one second wandering how hard the actor is working to accomplish his role or what he must have done to do what he did. These are individuals who, for a living, dive into the trenches of warfare to fight for our piece of mind, and that dedication to their job can be seen clearly on screen.

When a movie couldn’t get more epic, McCoy & Waugh went on and added live ammunition. Almost every scene you watch, real bullets are being used. That not only adds to each individual moment but makes the whole experience amazing. You don’t have to think “oh thats fake”. Its not. Its real bullets coming out of real guns fired by real Navy SEAL’s. You are just taken in by what you see on screen. Some of the action sequences are rather new to this genre of film. One quite amazing addition is the camera angle from the perspective of the soldier. Its the same experience you get when playing Battlefield 3, Call of Duty or any first-person shooter. You are put into a position where you are going to experience first-hand what the solider is going to experience and that adds a very refreshing dimension to the film.

The one thing that really stands out is the tone of the overall film. Usually, background music & cinematic effects would be used to enhance the feel in each scene. That is obviously present but not in an overwhelming way. This film allows the performances of each character to shine, truly bringing out that level of emotion you would expect from a war operation, rather than being covered over by some cheesy background music. This film truly does what it has set out to do: Honor soldiers and their sacrifices to their country.

This is by no means the best movie ever made. The story could have been more refined, some transitions between scenes were not particularly brilliantly and some sequences were either too long or too short. Of course, that’s just being nit-picky on the films various cinematic elements. What this film does properly is give you a movie experience unlike any other. You sit there watching not actors but actual soldiers do what they do and you cannot help but be taken into the story. What McCoy & Waugh have done is make a movie that gives you an opportunity to reflect on people that we just don’t pay enough attention to. This is a movie experience that you just have to watch to truly understand.

Act of Valor is distributed by Alliance Films and opens in theater’s across Canada on February 24th 2012.

Rest In Peace Ms. Houston. We will always love you and the amazing music you have given us!

The picture below was found being tweeted by individuals. It truly is an emotional photograph. It shows the beautiful Whitney Houston with another icon who revolutionized music forever: Michael Jackson. A picture that says way more than a 1000 words. Below are a few videos of some of Houston’s most iconic songs that truly defined who she was.

Michael Jackson & Whitney Houston

Yet again, the Toronto Centre for the Arts was buzzing with excitement. NYC’s Washington Heights officially landed in Toronto with the arrival of In The Heights. The brainchild of Puerto Rican-American composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, In The Heights explores the lives of a group of individuals living in New York City’s Dominican-American neighborhood of Washington Heights.

In The Heights began its journey in 2005 at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. It then spent 6 months off-Broadway at the 37 Arts Theater, where it won 2 of the 9 Drama Desk Awards it was nominated for. It then made the big leap to Broadway, officially opening at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on March 9th 2008. The production went on to become very successful, recouping its $10 million dollar investment in just 10 months and winning four Tony Awards – Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography & Best Orchestrations.

Now the sizzling hot musical has hit the streets of Toronto. The non-Equity tour – the second North American tour for the musical – opened its doors at the Toronto Centre for the Arts on February 7th with a dash of Dominican flare. Before the show begins, you are greeted by Anna Louizos’ visually stunning set, modified to be more tour friendly. After a nice little introduction by Aubrey Dan & the National Anthem by Matthew Brown, the show began. The stage was engulfed with lights & music and Louizos’ set becomes the colourful Dominican-American neighborhood of Washington Heights. Blending together both English & Spanish in both dialogue & music, you are truly brought into that Dominican-American atmosphere. You forget for a moment that your in Toronto!

We are greeted by Usnavi, a local bodega owner, who uses the art of rap to introduce the audience to his neighborhood folks. From his hilarious cousin Sonny (Robert Ramirez) to the towns artist Graffiti Pete (Roddy Kennedy), each character has something different to share with the audience. Even Usnavi’s secret love for Vanessa (Presilah Nunez), a manicurist at the salon next to his bodega, is neither cheesy nor overwhelmingly obvious. One element that stood out the most is the element of respect. Each character, irrelevant of social status, respects one another. There is a common respect for seniors in the community, whether they be parents or elderly citizens. It truly defines who the characters are and is a valuable take away from the show – a lesson for many.

This is obviously not the original production, where Lin-Manuel Miranda himself stared in the role of Usnavi. It neither is the cast that led the show to its four Tony Awards. As a result, having high expectations would be quite naive. However, with that said, the company has done a splendid job! The cast members put on fantastic performances truly shinning in their respective roles. From the company of 23, three individuals really stood out. Robert Ramirez provides a brilliant performance in the role of Sonny, bringing to the role a perfect balance of comedic elements and physical actions. Christina Aranda goes above and beyond in her role as Abuela Claudia, giving a truly riveting performance that keeps one truly engaged. Finally, there’s Tauren Hagan who portrays the “well-informed” salon owner Daniela. Her performance is genuinely captivating, with amazing vocals and attitude, bringing an exciting oomph to the show.

In The Heights combines lights, dance & a whole lot of character to showcase the Dominican-American culture. You get to tap into a community and the individuals within it to see their daily challenges, their personal values and their individual dreams. What Lin-Manuel Miranda has created is a show that will entertain you and make you feel good at the same time. Its a jam session you will not forget.

In The Heights plays the Toronto Centre for the Arts until February 19th 2012. Please visit www.DancapTickets.com for ticket and show information. Don’t forget to tweet your experiences on twitter with @Dancap in your tweet.

An amazing moment in the whole evening: Paula Brancati singing! Oh my, has she got a voice. See video below along with the photos from the evening.

Just as Theatre companies are posting up their new seasons, The National Ballet announced a very exciting season of their own! With amazing shows such as Sleeping Beauty and The Seagull in their current programme, things just got a lot more exciting with their upcoming season

• November 10-15 2012 – The season shall be kicked off with the production of ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND. The Lewis Carroll class shall be given the all out ballet experience by British choreographer Christopher Wheeldon.
• December 5-9 2012 – GISELLE, a romantic ballet, will be choreographed by Sir Peter Wright after Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot and Marius Petipa. It is based on a book by Vernoy de Saint-Georges, Gautier and Coralli and was produced as a memorial to the late William P. Walker. Tickets go on sales September 24th
• December 19 2012 – January 5 2013 – The return of the magical production of THE NUTCRACKER
• March 1-7 2013 – NIJINSKY - A new ballet by John Neumeier will grace the stage in March. Part memory-ballet and part biographical narrative, this shall be an experience to remember!
• March 12-13 2013 – Alexei Ratmansky’s smash hit ROMEO & JULIET returns to the National Ballet for March Break.
• March 20-24 2013 – James Kudelka’s choreography returns to the production of THE FOUR SEASONS & EMERGENCE, an classic that first played back in 1997.
• June 5-16 2013 – Davide Bombana returns with his 2006 one-act interpretation of the Carmen story, now a full length version with balletic intensity.
• June 19-23 2013 – A Mixed Programme featuring Jorma Elo’s PUR TI MIRO, Guillaume Coté’s NO. 24, James Kudelka’s THE MAN IN BLACK & George Balanchine’s THEME AND VARIATIONS. Check out details for this show HERE.

Tickets go on sale September 24th, 2012. Don’t miss out on any of these amazing productions!

• Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Production of THE WIZARD OF OZ will be coming to Toronto with a special surprise. The production will feature an all Canadian cast! It will also feature new additions by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice, last seen at the Toronto Premiere for Chess The Musical.
• Also coming to the stage will be the First National Tour launch of the Nine-Time Tony Award winning musical THE BOOK OF MORMON, created by Trey Parker & Matt Stone, the folks who brought you South Park.
• Coming from the West End will the be production of BACKBEAT – a play about the early days of The Beatles.
• Straight from Broadway will be the production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
• Also from Broadway will be arrival of SISTER ACT during their North American Tour!
• Finally, making its World Premiere at Mirvish prior to opening on Broadway is Jason Robert Brown’s HONEYMOON IN VEGAS starring the amazing Tony Danza!

BONUS SHOWS:

• Colm Wilkinson will make his  Directorial Debut with Theatre20′s BLOODLESS, THE TRIAL OF BURKE AND HARE
• FLASHDANCE will be the second bonus show for Mirvish, with the amazing Sergio Trujillo as part of the creative team. He is best known for his work on Broadway shows such as Memphis, Guys & Dolls & Next to Normal. Flashdance will play Toronto before heading to Broadway!

That someone else is Robert Battle. From Miami, Florida, Battle dabbled in the arts from a very young age. His academic journey took him from Miami’s New World School of the Arts to the dance program of The Juilliard School in NYC. He then danced for the Parsons Dance Company between 1994 and 2001, choreographing from 1998 onwards. He has been associated with the Ailey dance school for a very long time, being an artist in-residence since 1999 and choreographing many works. After his journey with Parson’s, he began his own company: Battleworks, which has performed all across the world, introducing his very unique style. Battle has truly left a mark as an artist. His coveted awards include the 2005 honor by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as one of the “Masters of African American Choreography” and the 2007 Statue Award by the Princess Grace Foundation-USA. In 2010 he was a guest speaker at the United Nations Leaders Programme in Turin, Italy.

During the tour stop in Toronto, I was able to have a short conversation with Robert Battle himself. A well-spoken gentleman, he shared with me his journey, the important people in his life and some very important advice to those wishing to pursue a career in the arts. Do see the interview below. Don’t forget to check back to see my interview with Yannick Lebrun, one of the dancers on the show.

Filed under: Interviews, Theatre Tagged: Interview, Robert Battle, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Tour ]]> http://theartsscene.ca/2012/02/04/inspirational-interview-with-robert-battle/feed/ 0 afem1010 Robert Battle http://theartsscene.ca/2012/01/30/moon-point-movie-review/ http://theartsscene.ca/2012/01/30/moon-point-movie-review/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:38:07 +0000 Adnan http://theartsscene.ca/?p=612 ]]> Rating: ★★★★ ½ (out of 5)

A childhood crush. We’ve all had one. That girl or boy who just made you smile. That very special person who you always wanted to spend time with. Puppy love or baby love as some call it.  Those are precious moments that many keep dear to their heart. Sounds cheesy but deep inside you know those times were special. Would you have ever thought that a movie would ever be made based on some guys grade-school crush? Well, it has now.

Moon Point, directed by Sean Cisterna and written by Robert Lazar, tells the story of a socially awkward kid named Darryl Strozka (Nick McKinlay) who could care less about life and seems destined to live at home with his mother. With his cousin Lars’ (James Hartnett) wedding coming up and everybody still thinking of him as the biggest loser to grace planet earth, Darryl sets off on a little adventure to a film-set in Moon Point to find his elementary school crush, now actress, Sarah Cherry (Kristen Gutoskie) and bring her back as his date to the wedding. Accompanying him on his journey is his best friend who is affectionately known as Femur (Kyle Mac). Together, with Femur’s electric wheelchair & wagon, they set out into the horizon to make the long journey to Moon Point. Of course, like all randomly planned adventures, things just don’t go according to plan. Even with the whole plan going down the drain, these determined boys end up with something worth all the effort.

Many films these days focus on the complexities of life and provide a stunning visual experience to understand it all. War, relationships, struggle, power – whatever it is, you are always given this grand movie-going experience that is unforgettable and rewarding too. However, the little things in life are never really talked about. Playing a soccer game with your sibling; watching a movie with your best friends; enjoying a lovely walk down a quiet street with someone you truly care about. A bit cheesy some might say. How would such simple things be made into a movie? What could you possibly put in to give it content worth watching? Sometimes the simplest things can be the easiest to create a story on.

What Cisterna and Lazar have done is make a down-to-earth, moving and truly wonderful film. You are introduced to these characters that live an ordinary life with everyday problems. Very much like the real world to be honest. Darryl is what society would see as the typical loser who hasn’t quite grown up. Yet, he still holds to heart something very dear to him, something worth making an effort to look for. We all have done it. We all have had that project, that family member or that special someone you would go that extra mile for. What is showcased with Moon Point is a story that we can all relate to, with a touch of randomness and a bit of humour – very much like life.

There are two beautiful things about this movie: the flow of the story and the performances by cast. The story is remarkably simple, yet powerful at the same time. A bit of weirdness here and a bit of quirkiness there, but one that lets the characters shine. The cast is absolutely brilliant. McKinlay not just acts Darryl, but becomes him. That over-smart attitude and ambition-less flare nails the character perfectly. Mac portays Femur with the level of internal struggle and pain that we would expect his character to feel. No one can understand how a cripple feels like unless they were or are one. With Mac’s performance, you can’t help but connect and feel a portion of his pain. Then of course there is Paula Brancati’s Kristin. Kristin joins the duo in the middle of their journey and the confidence that Brancati adds to her role is brilliant. Her character not only compliments McKinlay’s & Mac’s performances but adds a very unique flare to the whole story.

I could frankly go on until next week but no matter how many words are used, the comfort you get from watching this film is indescribable. This is not one of those movies you criticize and break down and be like “this element doesn’t work” and all that jazz.  What it does do is take you back down memory lane to a beautiful memory from way back when. Its a movie you experience than understand; feel rather than analyze. Its a brilliant film and definitely worth the watch.

Nice work Cisterna, nice work!

Moon Point has a limited run from February 3rd to February 10th at AMC Yonge & Dundas. There will be a special Q&A with the cast during the evening screenings on February 3rd and 4th. For ticket information CLICK HERE or visit www.amctheatres.com. Make sure to check out the trailer below and visit the official website at www.moonpointmovie.com

This past week, another Theatre production opened its creative doors to the people of Toronto. Cruel & Tender, a provocative new production by Canadian Stage, is written by British playwright Martin Crimp. Crimp’s story is based upon an ancient greek story by Sophocles called The Woman of Trachis. The original story told the tale of a hero named Heracles who captured a young princess and sent her home to his wife, while he plundered and destroyed local villages. Crimp has given it a modern day perspective. A General plays the role of the local hero, fighting a war on terror in Africa. The General (Daniel Kash) captures an African princess by the name of Laela (Abena Malik) and sends her home to his rather spoiled wife Amelia (Arsinée Khanjian). Little does Amelia expect her arrival and nor does she understand the atrocities her husband has committed upon this girl.

Cruel & Tender is directed by two time Academy Award nominated director, Atom Egoyan. Egoyan, born in Cairo and an alumni of the University of Toronto, has created some of the finest films in the industry. His last quite well known feature was the 2009 erotic thriller Chloe, which showcased the collaboration between some of the industries finest personalities including Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried & Julianne Moore. What Egoyan does very well is take uncomfortable subject matter which few want to talk about and then magnifies the details. His magic can clearly be seen in Cruel & Tender. You have a story that is set in a time of war but what the play really focuses on is the characters within that war. It focuses on the minds of different characters while dabbling with different elements such as politics, marriage, selfish-ness, anger and a whole lot more.

When the play begins and runs for a couple of minutes, you are lost. You are trying to find the purpose of the dialogue, the purpose of those on stage. You begin to question why everything is happening the way that it is. This will happen if you are thinking too much. What Egoyan does very well is set up the characters for who they are. You are introduced to Khanjian’s Amelia and Rachel the Housekeeper (Brenda Robin) and their particular characteristics. For much of the play you won’t receive a reward for being attentive, or exhilarated because frankly, that’s not the point. What this play focuses on is the individual characters. You are introduced to a world where different elements play a different role in how a character interacts, very much like the real world. You are give a moment to visualize the inner thinking of each character and understand how their role affects anothers.

Each of the cast add their own flare to their respective roles. From Jonathan (Nigel Shawn Williams) the rather self-centered political man to Richard (Thomas Hauff) the rather careful news reporter, you are gifted with a diversity of roles that provide a collection of interesting characters. Sometimes their actions are completely pointless like random acts of bad Karaoke. However, in those instances its very easy to ask this question: aren’t many moments of life completely random? What this play does is bring the stage performance closer to reality rather than being super-sophisticated and complicated.

This realism is enhanced by the very intriguing stage set, giving something visual to pair with the performances. The lighting and sounds give a sense of drama, a sense of activity that is refreshing during long periods of dialogue. Additional stage actions such as the shattering of glass and the use of close-up videography add that dramatic feel, that deeper look into character.

If you are going to watch this play to feel all excited and rewarded then you should think twice. This play showcases a detailed study on character and how the construction of character plays an important role in the evolution of a story. You will be intrigued by each of the characters and left interested in their means of doing things. You will leave the play thinking about how a chain of events affects a character and how their character evolves to do other things. This play will truly give you that amazing study on character. It is not a musical or a gut-wrenching play. It is thought provoking and insightful – something you are left to think about once you are out of the theatre. Patience is key when watching this production.

Hats off to Atom Egoyan, his wonderful wife Arsinée Khanjian & the amazing cast of this brave production for putting on a great performance. Of course, to Martin Crimp as well for truly putting together an amazing play.

Cruel & Tender plays at the Bluma Appel Theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts until February 18th 2012. For tickets, CLICK HERE

The Woman In Black is a new horror film based on the novel by the same name written by Susan Hill. Directed by Eden Lake director James Watkins and the writer of X-Men: First Class & Kick-Ass, Jane Goldman, The Woman In Black is a supernatural thriller that revolves around a widowed lawyer by the name of Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe). Struggling to manage work & take care of his sickly son due to the loss of his wife, Kipps is sent to a remote village to complete some legal work of a recently deceased woman. On his arrival he is suspicious that the town is hiding something from him. His curiosity in the matter reveals that the home of his deceased client is haunted by a woman, who has terrorized the town for years. Kipps, determined to find the cure to the problem, is faced with supernatural events that pose a danger to his own life and those around him.

Most horror films focus primarily on one thing: elements the scare the pants off you. As a result, they lack key elements such as a strong story or character definition that would make the film more sophisticated. The Woman In Black brings a new, refreshing take to the horror genre. Jane Goldman has written a story that is very simple but powerful. The key focus is on the relationships of the characters and how these relationships are vital in the succession of the story. This simple-to-follow story is given a mixture of horror elements inspired by many films including, as Daniel said himself, Spanish films. You of course get to see the obvious “Hammer Films” horror touches throughout the film. There are moments where a little patience is needed but overall, nothing is over done. When a scene is meant to be frightening, its properly frightening. When there is a moment where you want to understand the character better, that pause is provided. What this film does is balance all the relevant elements very nicely to give you a well-rounded horror experience.

The most positive thing about this film is the acting itself. Daniel Radcliffe goes above and beyond his style of acting we are familiar with, especially with the Harry Potter roles. Thinking deep & showing emotion is something we have seen over Radcliffe’s Potter career but in The Woman In Black, Radcliffe realistically portrays a deep character who possess maturity, yet is lost in his grief. Before and during the production of the film, Radcliffe went to professionals & friends to understand the physical and mental symptoms of depression & sadness, and his proactive attitude towards his character can clearly be seen on screen. Even during long scenes with no dialogue, facial expression & body posture enhances the feel one receives when watching the movie. You are not for one second questioning his performance. It is absolutely spot on. His co-stars, particularly Ciarán Hinds and Janet McTeer, give very realistic performances. Hinds & McTeer who portray Mr. & Mrs. Daily respectively, provide performances that really add value to the movie experience. Chemistry between co-actors is very important and this film showcases very strong on-screen chemistry.

Horror has never really been my cup of tea. However, with the brilliant performances by the cast and the truly riveting story, The Woman In Black has won me over. This film brings together the simplicity of a good fright and the complexity of a good story making it an absolutely brilliant film to watch.

CLICK HERE for the “Black Carpet” coverage from the Toronto Premiere of the movie, with Daniel Radcliffe in attendance!

The Woman In Black is co-produced by Alliance Films & Hammer Film Productions. The film releases in Canada on February 3rd 2012 at theaters everywhere. For more on the film, visit www.womaninblack.com