Star Pick with Joe Gatto
I was fortunate enough to get a quick interview with Joe Gatto after his first ever comedy show in Ottawa on March 3rd, 2023. For those of you who have somehow missed him over the years, Gatto has brought joy and hilarity to the world with buddies Sal, Q, and Murr on the comedy series Impractical Jokers. After nearly a decade on television (creating worldwide catchphrases like: “Scoopski potahtos”, “Larry!”, “Up your ass and to the left”, “Who vants to paint!”, as well as so many others), Joe parted ways with the Jokers after nine seasons to focus more on family. Despite this, you’ve had ample chances to stumble upon him – sometimes with his buds as the Jokers go viral on Youtube, or by way of his very active social media accounts... and, of course, on his comedy tours. His first time in Canada, he regaled the audience with a fantastic combination of outright jokes, venue improv, past stories, and his own unique brand of physical comedy. After nearly a two hour show (which included his friend and opener Jiggy – who has also made some appearances on Impractical Jokers), the audience left with a number of jokes and stories that could make anyone laugh, as well as several local gags that only those attending would get (who knew Canadian royalty was sitting in the theatre box).
Spiels, Fabels, and Other Stories
Like a reflective revery, Steven Spielberg looks back at his own life with the 2022 Academy Award nominated (seven selections, including Best Picture) feature film The Fabelmans. Co-written (along with Tony Kushner) and directed by Spielberg, he creates a throwback style picture, something along the lines of the moving I Remember Mama (1948)... a sweeping retrospective of love and death, bullying and forgiveness, familial unity and division, over several decades. The Spielberg name becomes Fabelman, with Sammy replacing the name Steven (Gabriel LaBelle; as a younger child, Mateo Zoryan). We open with his parents, the weak tech genius Burt (Paul Dano) and artsy centre of attention Mitzi (Michelle Williams – in an Oscar nominated role) taking him to his first movie – 1952's The Greatest Show on Earth.
Meta Mega Mecca
If there ever was an Academy Award Best Picture nominee that throws everything at you but the kitchen sink, 2022's Everything Everywhere All at Once, written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, would be it. A philosophical thinking piece woven within an Asian infused Marvel-style multiverse of madness – which incorporates kung-fu action, quirky comedy, marital stress and romance, familial drama, and plenty of adventure, the narrative follows the Wang family: mother Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh), father Waymond (Ke Huy Quan), daughter Joy (Stephanie Hsu), and visiting grandfather Gong Gong (James Hong).
Wails of a Waning Friendship
Coming off like a fatalistic fairytale, Martin McDonagh’s fourth feature film, The Banshees of Inisherin (2022), has been deemed a pitch black tragicomedy, whereas his other films (In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) would more simply be described as dark comedies, or dramedies. Subtly drawing symbolic ties to the Irish Civil War of 1922-23 (it is set in 1923), as well as the long lasting strife known as The Troubles (which took place between the 1960s to 90s), this divide is shown by way of muses Pádraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson).
Fright Night Interviews with William Ragsdale and Amanda Bearse
As a special treat for Halloween, I’ve got two interviews for you. At this year’s CAPE (Cornwall & Area Pop Event), which was held on the weekend of April 23-24, 2022, I was fortunate enough to spend quite some time with William Ragsdale and Amanda Bearse, the two leading teens of the iconic 1985 horror cult classic Fright Night, written and directed by Tom Holland (no, not of Spider-Man fame – he wasn’t born yet). I hope you enjoy these inside looks into this quirky horror movie this Halloween, and keep an eye out for upcoming Star Pick interviews with both, which will reveal their favourite movies.
Swiss Myst
Transporting the viewer down the proverbial rabbit hole, 2016's A Cure for Wellness, co-written and directed by Gore Verbinski, is a fantastical fairy tale, but maybe not in the way you might be thinking. Rooted in the original Grimm versions of the stories that might come to mind, this narrative is horror tinged, to be sure. Full of juxtaposition and symmetry, we follow a newly promoted cutthroat executive, boy-faced Lockhart (Dane DeHaan), who is being tasked with retrieving their CEO emeritus of sorts, Pembroke (Harry Groener) – a beast of a businessman, who, after taking two weeks off in the Swiss Alps, has decided to call it quits and focus more on his health and wellness (a complete role reversal by the businessman).