.....mmmmmmmm OR maybe some magnificent maple flavored smoked MEAT will cure my morning MUNCHIES

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yo yo yo anyone in the blogesphere reading this blurb going to the Radiohead concerts this August (Montreal/T.O./Vancouver)..whaaa you have seats but cant make it and would like to generously donate those tickets to moi…ThX Dude :D)

The above note was my subtle/shameless birthday gift hint for my REAL T.O. friends (I know you are reading this and I DONT care that everything is sold out… go try ebay or sleep with a scalper or something!!! :D

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Alrighty..back to the post now>

OH MONTREAL, I MISS THEE!!!!

It’s been a while since my last visit so I plan on heading down there with some friends this weekend for my birthday bash

Looking forward to our roadtrip to Quebec…
(NOTE to self: Do NOT try to ask for directions in ENGLISH :D)

Speaking of the FRENCH (Get it?! LOL), I was looking up a few local Montreal restaurants and came across a recent public survey @ the Mirror

Found this particular poll entry to be quite amusing…ENJOY!

>>What is the best THING from Montreal to give as a gift to a non-Montrealer?

1. Bagels
2. Anything Habs related
3. Poutine
4. Maple syrup
5. Smoked meat
6. Music from a local artist
7. A night on the town
8. A meal in a restaurant
9. Sex
10. Tour of the city
11. Two-cheek kiss
12. Beautiful Montreal girl
13. Weed
14. Local beer
15. Ticket to Montreal
16. French lessons
17. Joie de vivre
18. Snow
19. Cheese curds
20. Couch to sleep on

Also receiving votes….

Lap dance – Local fashion – Beaver tail (chill out PETA members..its a dessert/snack!!) – Advice on avoiding potholes – Bricks that fell off the Olympic Stadium – Fashion advice – Gift certificate for breakfast at a topless diner – Hangover – A stolen bicycle

You can find other surveys showcasing the best of
Montreal’s City Life, Music scene, Arts front, Nightlife and Restaurants HERE

Also, I Discovered an excellent BLOG recently dealing with all things Montreal

http://www.midnightpoutine.ca

Excellent staff posting on a wide array of topics .. I enjoy their personal insights covering the hoard of events happening around Habs town

Be sure to check out Jeremy’s weekly podcast showcasing local and touring bands AND Sarah’s overview of the active theater and music scene(Festival Gigs and Concert reviews anyone?!)

P.S. I may come across as just another sour Torontonian(I really like Vancouver and Montreal) but seeing Toronto snubbed in this recent Globe article 25 most livable cities… was simply LAUGHABLE!!

Have discovered a lot of interesting material of late and one of my favourite finds is an album from ‘07 by a Canadian band from the east coast…

Welcome To The Night Sky by Wintersleep

A great album from start to finish with 0 fillers (which is quite rare these day eh?!)

solid material and production … listen to some of their songs HERE

The boys bagged a Juno last month and recently got their album released in Japan. They are currently touring Europe (catch them live if you get the chance!!!)

I highly recommend that you pick up this fine album by Wintersleep

Also would like to share my picks of Top notch work by other Canuck bands/artists so here is my list of some the very best

Top 10 Candian Albums Of ‘07

http://www.listsofbests.com/list/51425

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Best Supporting Actor

Casey Affleck for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men (2007)
Philip Seymour Hoffman for Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)
Hal Holbrook for Into the Wild (2007)
Tom Wilkinson for Michael Clayton (2007)

Who should win: Javier Bardem
Who will win: Javier Bardem

No Contest. Javier Bardems performance was eerily haunting and the brilliant character should result in him taking the Oscar… Also take the time to check out some of his earlier films..fabulous!!!

Best Actor

George Clooney for Michael Clayton (2007)
Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood (2007)
Johnny Depp for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Tommy Lee Jones for In the Valley of Elah (2007)
Viggo Mortensen for Eastern Promises (2007)

Who should win: Daniel Day-Lewis
Who will win: Daniel Day-Lewis

One of the most memorable on screen performances of recent times… Guaranteed winner here as well

Best Supporting Actress

Cate Blanchett for I’m Not There. (2007)
Ruby Dee for American Gangster (2007)
Saoirse Ronan for Atonement (2007)
Amy Ryan for Gone Baby Gone (2007)
Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton (2007)

Who should win: Tilda Swinton
Who will win: Cate Blanchett

Tilda Swinton represented ‘EVIL’ brilliantly but Cate Blanchett also had a nice showing

Best Actress

Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
Julie Christie for Away from Her (2006)
Marion Cotillard for Môme, La (2007)
Laura Linney for The Savages (2007)
Ellen Page for Juno (2007)

Who should win: Marion Cotillard
Who will win: Julie Christie

Julie Christie seems to be the talk of the town in this category… personally I thought this film and her role were decent but nothing “Special!!!”

Best Foreign Language Film

Fälscher, Die (2007) (Austria)
Beaufort (2007) (Israel)
Mongol (2007) (Kazakhstan)
Katyn (2007) (Poland)
12 (2007) (Russia)

Who should win:?!?
Who will win:?!?

I’m a big foreign film buff but I had not even heard of any of these titles until their nominations were announced…. when were these released???

For one of the finest foreign films of 2007 see next category below

Best Adapted Screenplay

Atonement (2007): Christopher Hampton
Away from Her (2006): Sarah Polley
Scaphandre et le papillon, Le (2007): Ronald Harwood
No Country for Old Men (2007): Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
There Will Be Blood (2007): Paul Thomas Anderson

Who should win: Le Scaphandre et le papillon
(AKA The Diving Bell and the Butterfly)
Who will win: Le Scaphandre et le papillon

One of the most moving/inspirational projects that I can recall…..I did not see this in time for it to be included in MY TOP 10 FILMS OF 2007 but it definitely is one of the best from last year

Why was this brilliant film not included in the Best foreign/Best picture is beyond me. Go see this film ASAP

Best Original Screenplay

Juno (2007): Diablo Cody
Lars and the Real Girl (2007): Nancy Oliver
Michael Clayton (2007): Tony Gilroy
Ratatouille (2007): Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco
The Savages (2007): Tamara Jenkins

Who should win: Michael Clayton
Who will win: Juno

Michael Clayton was a bold and daring film
This brilliant screenplay needs to be rewarded but the conservative academy will not vote for this serious film

Best Film Score

Atonement (2007): Dario Marianelli
The Kite Runner (2007): Alberto Iglesias
Michael Clayton (2007): James Newton Howard
Ratatouille (2007): Michael Giacchino
3:10 to Yuma (2007): Marco Beltrami

Who should win: 3:10 to Yuma composed by Marco Beltrami
Who will win: Atonement composed by Dario Marianelli

See my Top 5 film Scores from 2007

Best Documentary

No End in Sight (2007): Charles Ferguson, Audrey
Marrs
Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime
Experience (2007): Richard Robbins
Sicko (2007): Michael Moore, Meghan O’Hara
Taxi to the Dark Side (2007): Alex Gibney, Eva Orner
War Dance (2007): Andrea Nix, Sean Fine

Who should win: Sicko
Who will win: Sicko

Excellent Doc by the infamous Michael Moore… more people need to see this..even if you aren’t a Moore fan, give this film a chance and be truly moved by the TRUTH

Best Animated Feature

Persepolis (2007): Vincent Paronnaud, Marjane Satrapi
Ratatouille (2007): Brad Bird
Surf’s Up (2007): Ash Brannon, Chris Buck

Who should win: Ratatouille
Who will win: Ratatouille

Ratatouille Was an utterly incredible cinematic experience(Yes, you truly missed out if you didn’t see it on the big screen!!) Truly a gem for the ages..This was the best animation project since Beauty & The Best... and those who appreciated that classic will love this as well …

The other 2 nominated titles we also good.. so check them out if you haven’t already. Oh and I highly recommend Brad Birds previous films

Best Director

Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood (2007)
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen for No Country for Old Men (2007)
Tony Gilroy for Michael Clayton (2007)
Jason Reitman for Juno (2007)
Julian Schnabel for Le Scaphandre et le papillon (2007)

Who should win: Tony Gilroy for Michael Clayton
Who will win: Julian Schnabel for Le scaphandre et le papillon

I really really hope that Butterfly comes through as the winner…

Best Picture

Atonement (2007): Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Paul Webster
Juno (2007): Lianne Halfon, Mason Novick, Russell Smith
Michael Clayton (2007): Sydney Pollack, Jennifer Fox, Kerry Orent
No Country for Old Men (2007): Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Scott Rudin
There Will Be Blood (2007): Paul Thomas Anderson, Daniel Lupi, JoAnne Sellar

Who should win: No Country for Old Men
Who will win: No Country for Old Men

Simply put NO COUNTRY is by far the best film of 07 deserves to win…and it should…unless The Violent nature of the film puts off a lot voters…But The Brilliant The Departed came through last year so there is hope..

My personal ratings for the nominated titles

No Country for Old Men 10/10

Michael Clayton 9.5/10

Atonement 9/10

There Will Be Blood 8/10

Juno 8/10

Thoughts??Comments??Predictions???