MODERN TIMES from BC2010 on Vimeo.

A dual US/Canadian citizen, his career goes back to before he had a role on the quintessential Canadian TV show, The King of Kensington (he missed The Beachcombers). 

Jiam Gomeshi of CBC Radio One’s Q interviewed him in February of this year.

Of course, even if his name means nothing to you, you’ll recognize him from the roles he’s had in movies like Dances with Wolves, Whale Music, Entrapment or The Sweet Hereafter.

I was pleased to hear him mention — along with Whale Music — one of my favourite films among his favourites, too: the Diane Keaton-directed Unstrung Heroes, starring Andie MacDowell, John Turturro, Michael Richards and Nathan Watt.

61 is awfully young.

[edited for formatting; added title & image]

(Via @johnsgunn.)

What are you people waiting for?!? It’s new, it’s only $1.99, and it’s by Joss Whedon! And don’t tell me you’ve already had your quota of sing-along super-villain internet serials for the summer, because I’ll suspect you’re lying.

There’s a Dr Horrible web site, too.

We saw it at the cinema in Amherst, Nova Scotia, which is part of the Empire Theatre chain, the same chain that runs all of the cinemas in Moncton (Trinity Drive) and Dieppe (Crystal Palace).

When we got there the box office was closed; instead, all customers were to line up at the junk food counter, even if they only wanted tickets.

There are a few ways to look at this:

1. maybe they’re having technical problems (debit system or cash register isn’t working at the box office); I’ve seen this at this theatre before, though, so this seems unlikely, plus there’s no “out of service” signs that I noticed.
2. maybe they want to save a bit on staff, so they don’t have anyone at the box office
3. maybe they’re hoping to make extra cash on sugar sales, since that’s where the real money is

Personally, I’m leaning towards a blend of #2 and #3.

While this wouldn’t be such a nuisance on a slow night, Wall•E was packed last night, and so the two lines were 6–8 people deep when we got there, and each of those people had a number of children with them. So, in addition to sorting out admission, everybody had to have popcorn/chocolate/candy/pop/nachos/seafoodplatters chosen and paid-for.

An example might help here. We arrived 10 minutes before showtime. Does that seem like enough? In May, 1999, when people were literally camped-out for days all over North America to be first in line to see Star Wars Episode I, we showed up at this theatre half an hour before it opened — on opening night — and were 4th in line.

Wall•E’s been out for weeks, and this was on a Monday night. If it hadn’t been for the commercials (not movie trailers; TV commercials) before the show, the kids with us would’ve missed the short before the movie. All so they can sell more popcorn.

Were I a parent bringing children to the movies, a parent who didn’t approve of the “food” they sell at the movies, I’d be pretty pissed that they were making me buy tickets at the “food” counter, and I am pissed that I spent nearly 20 minutes waiting and nearly missed the start of the movie (as many people behind us in line did), just so they can save a few pennies.

It’ll be a long time before we return.

‘Digital Manners Policies’ is a marketing term. Let’s call this what it really is: Selective Device Jamming. It’s not polite, it’s dangerous. It won’t make anyone more secure — or more polite”

Best argument for open-source software; now what about open-source hardware?

The idea that a company in the business of mainstream entertainment would make something as creative, substantial and cautionary as WALL-E has to raise your hopes for humanity.

—John Anderson, Washington Post

That’s a lot to pin on a movie. Can’t wait to see it. Hopefully Thomas Newman’s score is up to his usual standards.

(Via metacritic.com.)