Saskatchewan Drama Festival

It's that time of year again, as high schools across Saskatchewan are preparing for their one act play festivals. I remember as a teenager looking forward to these weekends the whole year long. The weeks leading up to the festival, I could barely sleep from all the excitement. So it's funny that 12 years later, I am still looking forward to them, but from the other side of the stage. Instead of memorizing my lines, now I anxiously wait to find out which schools in my home province are producing my plays for the very festivals that inspired me to become a playwright in the first place.

This year I am very happy to be close enough to attend two of these performances. Maple Creek is producing High School for Dummies and Carlyle is set to perform Laughing Stock. Both plays are perfect for competitions and have done well in the past. However well they do, it's exciting to know how many students are spending sleepless nights learning words that I came up with many moons ago. Also of note, Yorkton Regional High School will be performing Imaginary Harry in Canora on March 26th as well. I can't make it to their show, but anyone in the vicinity should make the trip and cheer them on.

On March 8th, I will be in Maple Creek, speaking with the audience and students about the play. If you happen to be nearby, please stop in and say hello. Also, I will be in Carlyle on March 26th to support Gordon F. Kells and their cast. I only wish I could always meet the people involved in my plays. They always inspire me to keep writing, and if I listen closely enough to what the students have to say, the well of creativity never runs dry. Teenagers are ever growing creatures and it's my job to keep up with what matters to them most.

Imaginary Harry Video

Parkersburg High School in West Virginia took Imaginary Harry to the International Thespian Festival last year and did a fantastic job! Below is a video of the show, presented in its entirety. Enjoy!

Top 50 Films of the Decade (#10-#1)

10. Finding Nemo (2003)

Thanks to Ellen Degeneres and her wickedly funny performance as Dory, this comic showstopper never fails to delight.  With something to be enjoyed by viewers of all ages, this visual feast for the eyes will stick around for many generations to come.

9. The Station Agent (2003)

So little happens during the course of the film that it’s amazing how it has stuck so clearly in my memory and comfortably in my heart.  Three drifters with no direction find one another and connect on a level far deeper than those of us distracted by our ambitions.  It’s poignant, moving and tremendously funny all at the same time.

8. Once (2007)

This low budget comedy came out of nowhere and knocked the socks off everyone who saw it.  Every moment is genuine, which is rare in this era of big budget blockbusters and dramas grandstanding for awards.  Plus it has incredible music performed by two sincere actors.  When all is said and done it makes you happy to be alive!

7. Wonder Boys (2000)

Underappreciated gem that’s wise and witty in all the right places.  Michael Douglas tosses his vanity aside to show us a man in desperate need of a reason to get out of bed in the morning.  Its spirited style protects the movie from becoming too melancholy, and when all is said and done, it’s rather quite sweet.

6. WALL-E (2008)

It may be difficult to believe one of the greatest love stories of all time is about two robots, but that’s the case.  The film has layers upon layers of subtext, but it all boils down to one heart finding another and not letting go.  Timeless.

5. Far From Heaven (2002)

This Douglas Sirk inspired melodrama could have been a slight experiment in recreating a genre that has long been a relic, but instead it overflows with relevant themes to modern day audiences.  Julianne Moore not only carries the picture, she propels it into the stratosphere.

4. About Schmidt (2002)

Jack Nicholson gives the performance of his career in this stunning character piece, chock full of subtle humor and wry observations about growing older.  Every single detail, from his windswept comb-over to the linoleum tile, is meticulously thought out and pitch-perfect.

3. Best in Show (2000)

Christopher Guest and company set the bar high with this deliriously funny mockumentary that has the most laughs a minute since the glory days of screwball comedy.  It hardly seems possible to top the sheer lunacy found in every reel, making the title oh-so appropriate.

2. Up (2009)

As touching and inventive as any movie ever made; I can nary think of another that can make me laugh and cry at equal measure.  Certainly the best Pixar film to date and damn close to being one of the greatest of all time.

1. A Prairie Home Companion (2006)

Robert Altman’s final film also turned out to be his finest.  It’s a touching and poetic end to an illustrious career, brimming with glorious dialogue and spectacular performances.   A knockout on every level.

Top 50 Films of the Decade (#20-#11)

20. Frozen River (2008)

Winner of the Sundance film festival, this movie sneaks up and sticks with you forever.  Melissa Leo has been working for years, but her performance here finally garnered the kind of attention she has deserved all along.  It also has a brilliantly spare screenplay that never hits a false note because every moment is necessary.

19. Ratatouille (2007)

Pixar never shies away from a challenge, as is evidenced by this utterly original and gutsy tale of Remy, a rat chef in Paris.  When I first heard about the plot, I thought to myself they must be crazy.  Crazy, sure…and brilliant.  This goes to show audiences are eager to see new and fresh ideas.

18. Doubt (2008)

A virtual master class in acting, this film should be studied by thespians for generations.  Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Viola Davis make up the strongest ensemble of actors I have ever seen in a movie.  That none of them won an Oscar should be a huge embarrassment for the Academy.

17. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)

Sidney Lumet proves with this picture that you are never too old to keep making masterpieces, like many of his colleagues who rest solely on their previous laurels.  This ranks up there with his very best, which is considerable given his best includes the classics Network, Dog Day Afternoon, The Verdict and 12 Angry Men.

16. The Polar Express (2004)

Okay, the motion capture is a wee bit creepy at times; however, it’s the story that matters and this one needed to be told.  And when it comes to storytelling, there is hardly anyone better than Robert Zemeckis.  This crowd pleaser is both majestic and intimate, making it a Christmas classic that will stand the test of time.

15. Man on Wire (2008)

Anyone who needs a reminder that anything is possible needs to witness the joie-de-vivre of Philippe Petit as he proudly recalls the momentous achievement of walking a tight rope between the twin towers of the World Trade Center.  It’s riveting, suspenseful and all together life affirming.

14. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Ang Lee’s romantic tragedy about two cowboys in love is one of the most gut wrenching movies I have ever seen.  My heart breaks merely thinking about the film, especially Heath Ledger’s stolid face as he realizes his true love has gone forever.  It’s not always easy to watch, but it’s a triumph in every way.

13. Julie & Julia (2009)

Nora Ephron rarely gets the credit she deserves, especially considering she’s one of the funniest women working today.  After a string of fantastic movies over the past two decades, she came out swinging with her finest achievement to date.  It’s more than a story about food (and it certainly is that!), but a loving examination on how a complete stranger has the ability to be an inspiration to another.

12. Into the Wild (2007)

Sean Penn directed this mesmerizing drama about one man and the wilderness.  It takes a lot of courage to tell a story that relies so heavily on one actor (who spends virtually the whole movie alone), but thankfully Emile Hirsch was up the challenge.  It’s an exhausting journey, spiked with many emotional payoffs.

11. The Visitor (2008)

Sometimes slow and steady wins the race, as in this searing examination of the US immigration system and its effect on Americans and immigrants alike.  Richard Jenkins received his long overdue shot at a leading film role and knocked it out of the park with barely more than the look in his eye and subtle nod of his head.

Top 50 Films of the Decade (#30-#21)

30. Michael Clayton (2007)

 

You have to pay close attention, as this complex thriller is not served with a spoonful of Hollywood sugar.  It’s also far better the second time around, once you’ve had a chance to digest the shocking ending and its disturbing implications.  George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Tom Wilkinson are in a league all of their own.

29. The Queen (2006)

Playing a public figure is a daunting task for any actor, particularly when that figure is still alive and well.  Helen Mirren embodies Her Majesty with both grace and dignity, and Michael Sheen provides solid support as Prime Minister Tony Blair.  Their subtle and affecting performances are first rate. 

28. Enchanted (2007)

Amy Adams joined a very exclusive club when she signed on to play a Disney princess.  I cannot think of anyone more suited to the role of Giselle, as perky and naïve a princess as ever seen before.  Add Patrick Dempsey and James Marsden to the mix and suddenly you have a fairy tale of the highest order. 

27. Milk (2008)

Director Gus Van Sant always takes risks, whether for good or bad.  After years of toiling away on his pet project, he finally got to tell the story of Harvey Milk.  It’s clearly a labor of love, with each detail meticulously thought out and executed.  Sean Penn gives the performance of his career and certainly deserved that Oscar. 

26. American Splendor (2003)

Innovative hardly begins to describe the masterly structure of this screenplay, adapted from the graphic novel.  This is a difficult film to explain, but I promise it’s one of the most original and peculiar movies ever made.  I also promise it’s one of the best, with eccentric yet poignant characters, and a heap of cinematic pleasures. 

25. The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2006)

Julianne Moore has a knack for playing 50’s housewives.  After tackling similar themes in Far From Heaven and The Hours, she put on the apron once more for this moving and humorous story about a woman raising her family in an era when women were never breadwinners, let alone prize winners. 

24. C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)

This French-Canadian film takes a number of contradictory genres, mixes them all together, and hurls them up on the screen.  The energy is contagious and it’s remarkable how many places this film takes you, all unpredictable and all compelling. 

23. One Week (2008)

Another Canadian film makes the list; this one made me enormously proud to live in the great white North.  Joshua Jackson manages to be sympathetic without ever layering on the schmaltz.  It makes a huge number of profound observations, all wrapped up inside quiet little moments in time. 

22. Hairspray (2007)

This is a high octane musical ride that never lets up for a second.  The entire cast is first rate, each perfectly cast in their roles.  John Travolta is darling as Edna and newcomer Nikki Blonsky lights up the screen. 

21. Death at a Funeral (2007)

Farces very rarely work on film, but director Frank Oz and his daffy cast of characters make this story whiz along at such a rapid pace that you barely have a chance to catch your breath.  This one demands repeated viewing, as you will know doubt be laughing from one scene into the next.

Top 50 Films of the Decade (#40-#31)

40. Chicago (2002)

 

This musical was ahead of its time when it premiered on Broadway in the 70’s to little fanfare. Thankfully its successful stage revival lead to this sensational movie, which single handedly revived the movie musical.  Rob Marshall’s flashy direction evokes Bob Fosse, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that.

39. Dan in Real Life (2007)

 

Sometimes a little sweetness goes a long way, as in this gentle and unassuming comedy.  There are no car chases or shocking bombshells, but Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche capture the same undeniable charm as Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman in another overlooked classic, Indiscreet.

38. Love Actually (2003)

Large ensemble pieces often get muddled, but such is not the case in this hysterical and touching opus from writer/director Richard Curtis.  It’s got an eclectic cast of huge stars and virtual unknowns; thankfully, it spends equal time developing all of the characters, and not just those with better marquee value. 

37. Match Point (2005)

Admittedly, this was not the best decade for my favorite auteur, Woody Allen.  However, smack dab in the middle came this beacon of light; a riveting suspense, chock full of rich characters and startling plot twists to keep you on the edge of your seat.

36. Elf (2003)

  

This one could be dismissed as being silly, but it’s a modern holiday classic that’s destined to become one of the most beloved of all time.  Young fans of Will Farrell will be happy to find his juvenile humor on full display, but it also packs a surprising emotional punch for the adults.  Plus it’s got Ed Asner and Bob Newhart.  Enough said. 

35. Frost/Nixon (2008)

  

Ron Howard’s thoroughly entertaining adaptation of the Broadway stage hit went tremendously underappreciated by audiences, despite its Oscar nomination for Best Picture.  There is something to be enjoyed by everyone, particularly Frank Langella’s uncanny portrayal of one of America’s most notorious presidents. 

34. Billy Elliot (2000)

 

Jamie Bell gives one of the most rousing performances in any film, ever.  That’s quite something, considering he shares the screen with one of the greatest actresses of our generation, Julie Walters.  From start to finish, this is a film that will have you resisting the urge to jump out of your seat and cheer. 

33. The Princess and the Frog (2009)

  

After a decade long slump in their 2D animation department, Disney returned with guns blazing by bringing to life one of the most joyous, exuberant and creative stories in years.  From the sassy voice talent to the unique locales, this is not just one of the best Disney films of the decade, but of all time. 

32. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

 

Casting Renée Zellweger as a Brit in one of the most popular novels in recent memory could have been a colossal disaster; instead, she managed to breathe new life into the character and audiences around the globe fell madly in love. 

31. Notes on a Scandal (2006)

  

Cate Blanchett and Judy Dench star in this controversial and gripping battle of wits.  Its slow pace lures you in to a lurid love triangle until, without warning, you find yourself riddled with anger and your fists clenched.  It’s a breathtaking thriller with surprises at every turn.