He Came, He Saw, He Won, He Left

So, as the entire province must know by now, Coach Kent Austin has decided to leave the Saskatchewan Roughriders organization in favor of his former alma matter, Ole Miss, where he has accepted the offensive co-ordinator's position. Through 1981 to 1985, Austin played quarterback there. There are those who support his decision in going home after an incredible first year of coaching the Riders, and those who say he should've honoured his CFL contract with the organization and stayed.

Both sides make good points, but I can't help but feel that this whole situation is incredibly poetic, and somewhat for the best.

Just hear me out before you start flaming me right away, fellow hardcore Rider fans. Let's look at this from a bird's-eye view for a few moments. Kent, in his very first year as head coach, took our team all the way to the Grey Cup final, and WON IT. In Toronto, at the SkyDome, and 18 years after Austin himself won it as the MVP quarterback for the Riders in the same venue no less. The definite end to a seemingly never-ending swan song for the long-troubled Riders. The team was proud, the club was proud, and the entire province of Saskatchewan was proud. The Riders win the Grey Cup after 18 years, and Saskatchewan elects a new government after 16 years. What a Merry Christmas it was.

So now, roughly two months later, Austin has now made the difficult decision to leave. While many in Saskatchewan are sad and distraught over the news, I for one see this as an opportunity for the Riders to step up, keep the momentum going, and not allow themselves to rest on their laurels after the Grey Cup win. Whoever assumes the position of new Rider Head Coach (many eyes are on defensive coordinator Richie Hall right now) may have some big shoes to fill, but I believe that what Austin did with and for the team will remain there for years to come, even if he was with us for only one season.

As the title says...

He came.
He saw.
He won.
He left.

On behalf of your legions of fans Kent, I'd like to take the opportunity to say "Thank You" and that Rider fans won't ever forget what you've done for the team. Good luck at your former stomping grounds of Ole Miss, and all the best in the future.

Keep 'em laughin',
Derek

Glitz and Glamourless

So the Golden Globes have come and gone; the best in acting, writing & directing for 2007 have all been revealed, and now people look forward to the 80th annual Academy Awards on February 24.

Only thing is: will we see it?

The Golden Globes "ceremony" was nothing more than a press conference that lasted less than 45 minutes, as the winners were revealed one after the other. This is because of the WGA writer's strike that has now been going on for over two months, and now people are left to wonder if the general public will even be able to see the undisputed King of All Award Shows, the Oscars. Right now, the plan is for it to air Sunday, February 24 on ABC, but if some sort of agreement isn't reached between the major studios and the WGA, it may just be another press conference instead of the excitement of wondering if your favorite actor/actress/writer/director/film won. I myself am a huge fan of the Oscars and have had a habit of making my picks on a score sheet for the last five years.

I guess you really have to be a huge fan of film and filmmaking to appreciate the yearly ceremony. Some people like sports, I like movies. I treat the Oscars like the Grey Cup, smiling and shouting when something good happens, like when Martin Scorsese finally got his first (!) statue for Best Director last year, and groaning when something I hate happens, like when "Chicago" when Best Picture in 2003. The movie wasn't even released until December 27, 2002, and that was only in select cities. It didn't get a wide release until mid-January, so in my mind, it does NOT count as a 2002 film! (Plus I thought it was incredibly overrated and boring...)

Though I am strongly in favor and on the side of the writers, my hope is that some sort of deal can be made so that the TV-watching public can be able to enjoy the show. Its one thing to water down the Golden Globes, but the "main event" should not be altered or tinkered with in any way, shape or form.

So just what are some of my own Oscar picks, you ask? Well, I haven't had that much time to think about it, but I will share my own views on a few of the categories. I don't think I'll be able to conjure up a solid four for each of them, just the select few that really caught my attention in 2007.

Best Director
This is a tough one for me because as many movies as I've seen this year, many of them were sheer 'popcorn' entertainment that didn't exactly require someone with the experience and finesse of a Scorsese or Coppola. As well, there are directors being named Oscar-worthy whose films I haven't had a chance to see yet. Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd" and the Coen Bros.' "No Country For Old Men" come to mind. But here are a select few who really impressed me in directing an emotional, gripping picture worthy of that elusive golden statue.

a) James Mangold, "3:10 To Yuma" - The western genre had really grown stagnant and absent as far as feature-length films go, continuing a life on TV mini-series' and direct-to-DVD movies. But Mangold took Elmore Leonard's source material, a story about a poor cattle rancher volunteering to escort a criminal to catch a train to prison (the 3:10 to Yuma, to be exact) and shot it full of life. Those who said Mangold's directing peak had hit with "Walk The Line" are sorrily mistaken. He creates characters faced with numerous conflicts, seaping through them like so many pieces of paper, and finding the courage to do what is right.

b) David Cronenberg, "Eastern Promises" - Canadian director Cronenberg made this film in England, marking the first time he's ever made a film entirely outside Canada. In this, we're immersed in the culture and dealings of the Russian Mafia, all taking place in London. Cronenberg gives us characters that we care for, but its almost as if we don't want to because "they're mobbed up and bad". He almost takes an approach to it like The Sopranos, showing you the inner workings of a Mafia family and giving you that sneak peak before the door closes in your face. Cronenberg is also a master of cranking up the tension, as shown in a violent brawl that takes place inside a bathhouse.

c) Ridley Scott, "American Gangster" - Scott is no stranger to the Oscars, as in 2001 Russell Crowe took the Best Actor statue for "Gladiator" and that film also won Best Picture. With "American Gangster", Scott uses a rotting New York backdrop and the unlimited acting talents of Crowe and Denzel Washington to tell us the story of Frank Lucas, a man who rose to the top of the drug trafficking game in the 1970's by offering a better product at a lower price. Scott gives us the ins and outs of each character. How Crowe's character is going through a messy divorce and is looked down upon by his fellow, crooked police officers. How Washington's character goes from a simple driver to a millionaire drug mogul in almost no time. Scott shows us two leading men with different complexities, yet doesn't confuse us with them.

d) Paul Greengrass, "The Bourne Ultimatum" - The third installment in the complex "Bourne" franchise was marketed last summer as an intense, smart action movie that delivers awesome special FX and great action sequences. That, I'm not arguing. But "Ultimatum" was more than just a $100-million summer action flick. Unlike most summer blockbusters, where everything seems to just happen for no reason, there's true motive and a deep story involved with this film that you really need to pay attention to. Paul Greengrass, who also directed the first sequel, "The Bourne Supremacy", returns to helm the third film, in which Jason Bourne is still searching for his true identity and running from the authorities in several countries. Greengrass differs from other blockbuster makers like Michael Bay by not having the film be one continuous explosion after another. You find yourself immersed in the story and the fancy FX take a back seat to character exploration.

Best Picture

Once again, there are several being talked about that I haven't been able to see yet. "No Country For Old Men", "There Will Be Blood", "Sweeney Todd", these are just a few examples. But again, I'll give you a few which I felt were very impressive and worthy of 'the nod'.

a) "3:10 To Yuma" - This is most definitely on my top five favorite films of 2007, if not my #1. It didn't break any box office records and it wasn't a $150-million FX-infused movie about pirates or robotic vehicles. "3:10 To Yuma" is an incredible piece of filmmaking that I believe was underrated when it was released in theaters last fall, opening to about $14 million on its way to a little over $50 million. But that doesn't matter, because what director James Mangold has created here is a film that reinvigorates the western genre and asks the viewer what their definition of courage is. Christian Bale shows just why he's one of the best actors of this generation as Dan Evans, a lowly cattle rancher who agrees to escort wanted criminal Ben Wade to catch a train to prison. Russell Crowe plays Wade with an alarming calmness that can turn to swift anger at the drop of a hat. Crowe and Bale complement each other well and thankfully share most of the screen together throughout the film. Its climax is emotional, intense, and even tear-producing. Nothing in your world will matter in this film's last 3-4 minutes and you won't be able to look away. "3:10 To Yuma" stays with you long after you've left the theater or turned off your DVD player.

b) "300" - To the normal moviegoer's eye, this violent, barbaric bloodbath about group of 300 Spartan warriors fighting the entire Persian army is just that: ruthless on-screen violence. And to a point, it is. There are severed heads, buckets of blood spilled, and plenty of sword-on-skin action. But I always thought it was more than that. Its a story of one man's fight for his people, defending their way of life and protecting whats their's from overlording emperors and snobbish royalty. King Leonidas, played by Gerard Butler, may be stubborn, but his way of thinking is that if the ship's going down, he's gonna stay on it with his men. In his mind, Spartans never back down and will always refuse to conform to any other King. Leonidas' fate may be sealed in the end, but that doesn't stop "300" from being one of the best films of 2007.

With that, I think I'm gonna stop with all this Oscar talk. I think we may as well halt that in case the entire show gets scrapped in the first place. As well, I still need to see a few of the potential contenders, which I hope to do in the next few weeks.

Keep 'em laughin',
Derek

Merry Christmas, Everybody! Have A Good One!

You ever notice that when you're thinking about the impending holiday coming up, you tend to reflect on the last one? It never ceases to amaze me just how fast the Christmas season can come and go. Of course, I say this every year, but every year it rings more true.

See, when Christmas is getting closer and closer, I think more and more about the last one. So when I think about Christmas 2006, several memories come back to me. Hanging out with the boys in the basement, playing Family Feud and watching "Christmas Vacation" with the family on Christmas Eve, heading up to Warman on Christmas Day to see my other brothers and sisters, and the Boxing Day dance in Outlook. That last one is especially a good memory, because I realize the same thing every year when I go to the dance; it's nothing short of a Class Of 2004 reunion. People have been away for so long - they're working, going to school, whatever, so its great to see them when they all come home for the holidays. Of course, I never forget to carry my trusty digital camera so I can snap some photos of my former classmates and I. All in all its always a fun night. Dare I say that I look forward to the dance more than Christmas itself? BLASPHEMY!! I CAST THEE OUT!!! (well there might be some truth to it...)

I'm not sure if I have a particular favorite Christmas, but here are some random years that I have fond memories of. You may have read these in my Christmas Memories feature in our December 17 issue of The Outlook, but nevertheless, here it is.

**THE HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHT REEL**

1992: My brothers and I get a Nintendo system from our parents, complete with the always-packaged-with Mario Bros/Duck Hunt game. Everything else becomes moot because its time for Mario to eat some 'shrooms, save the Princess, and defeat the evil warlord Bowzer. As well as shooting digital ducks and high-flying clay shells.

1995: My oldest brother Jim comes home for Christmas and hands out gifts to everyone, minus me. He tells me that mine will be coming in the mail, so I go into the living room and watch the WWF on TV. Dad, sympathetic to my disappointment, sneaks into the room and tells me what exactly is on the way - an authentic WHL Calgary Hitmen jersey, the team co-owned by one of my all-time idols, Bret "The Hitman" Hart.

1999: At first, I'm disappointed to learn that my parents didn't buy me the drum set that I hoped to get. I make a feeble attempt to not look devastated but soon learn that Santa must exist, and yet he must have mixed up his lists, because it sits in Ken Blixt's house a couple blocks away as Mom and I go over there. Its a noisy but happy holiday season.

2000: Overdosing on holiday spirit, I buy Christmas gifts for nearly my entire Grade Nine class. Where I got the money I still don't remember. Regardless, my act produces many smiling faces. As for myself, I'm more nervous than I've been in my life, because I have a gift for my crush Janine in my hand. Of course, procrastinating as I am, everybody is watching as I give her my gift. As a result of the unintended "show", I'm sweating like Roger Ebert and nearly pass out in front of my locker door.

2001: I once again buy gifts for people in my class, but drastically downsize the list. I wear a Santa hat as I stroll into English class with Mr. McPhail in our last period of the day, and hand out gifts as we pretty much forget about class and Mr. M reads us some Christmas jokes and stories. Don't really remember a whole lot about Christmas at home that year.

2003: My buddies Chris, Kyle, Mitch, Alex and I get together at Kyle's place after school's out for the holidays. We watch probably about 5 or 6 movies and spend most of the night joking and horsing around, as well as burning candles and seeing who can last the longest with hot wax dripping on them. Can't remember who won but I remember it hurt like Hell. My family celebrates Christmas in Calgary with Jim and sis-in-law Daniella, so we open our gifts the night before we leave. My parents give me the camcorder I asked for, possibly making it the most expensive gift my parents have ever given any of their kids. I guess I'm just that special. Nevertheless, I feel a little bummed that I don't have any more gifts to open on Christmas Day but that feeling goes away quickly. What we all don't expect is the fight that Jim and Daniella have the day before we leave, which sort of puts a strain on the rest of that holiday season. Regardless, its just a lover's quarrel and all is forgotten. Nobody's perfect.

2004: Mom is again in Calgary this Christmas with Jim and Daniella, this time helping in the birth of my now 3-year old nephew Curtis. I do the cooking and cleaning on Christmas Eve, making Shake 'N Bake chicken with mashed potatoes and mixed veggies. Afterwards, family friend Curtis Read comes over and we all play Uno for most of the night, before watching "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" and going to bed. We open our gifts the next morning before heading off to Warman, celebrating Christmas with the rest of our family at my sister Launa and bro-in-law Brad's house.

2005: On my way out to Victoria back in September, I buy my round-trip plane tickets home for the holidays in advance. When it comes time to use them in December, I find myself almost not wanting to go home. Strange. Regardless, I have fun on Friday the 16th, playing Scene It! in screenwriting class, having lunch at Boston Pizza with my entourage of classmates, and seeing "King Kong" at the multiplex downtown. I then get back to my apartment, confirm my ride to the airport, and pack my suitcases while watching Smackdown. Its a long day at two different airports the next day, but I get home at about 9:00 on the 17th, my brother Perry's birthday. We get home, I unpack, and jet over to Outlook where I surprise the Hell out of Chris and Kyle and show up at Kyle's place, walk in without knocking, and casually walk down to the basement, like as if I hadn't been gone for over three months. Christmas Eve is especially good, as I simply drive around Outlook for more than an hour and a half, listening to music and enjoying being home for the brief time. Its a great holiday, and I get a digital camera for Christmas. Saying good-bye on New Year's Day proves to be emotional again but I make it back to Victoria safe and sound.

2006: I pretty much went through last year's way above, but I guess the memory that sticks out the most was the Boxing Day dance. I went with my buddy Alex and we ended up being the absolute first two people there. Things got going quick though and it was a great time. I took a boatload of pictures and loved talking to my old classmates again. I look forward to doing the same this year.

So there you have it. More memories, more secrets revealed in the never-ending saga that is my life. I only hope that this year will prove to be one worthy of remembering.

With that, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Remember that our offices at The Outlook are **CLOSED** from December 24 - January 2. Take care of each other and make sure you have a happy holiday.

If you want something fun to do before your holiday traveling begins, then head on down to the Jim Kook Arena *TONIGHT* for Round One of the "Battle Of The Bridge", as the Ice Hawks play host to my Conquest Merchants. Round Two is going to be on New Year's Eve in Conquest. There's also a good supply of other SVHL games going on around the holidays that should keep you entertained.

Again, Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!

See you NEXT YEAR, and in the meantime...

Keep 'em laughin',
Derek

I'm Already Standing In Line...

Crave Online: Funny Videos, Sexy Videos, Music Videos, Movie Trailers, and More!

This is the newly-released theatrical trailer for next summer's "The Dark Knight", the follow-up to 2005's "Batman Begins", in which the entire franchise was reinvisioned and brought back down to Earth, where the Caped Crusader is more realistic and fighting with his demons as opposed to the loud, bombastic, Batcard-carrying installments "Batman Forever" (1995) and "Batman & Robin" (1997).

"The Dark Knight" has been hyped, anticipated and closely watched virtually ever since people left their theater seats after "Begins". Set for release on July 18, 2008, this is no doubt one of, if not THE most anticipated film of the year. Christian Bale returns as Batman, along with cast regulars from "Begins" Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman. New faces along for this installment are Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart and of course, Heath Ledger as The Joker.

There's a lot to love in this trailer. For the first time, we're shown official footage of some of the characters in the film, not like the voice-over teaser that we got back in August. I think Warner Bros knew that people wanted a big helping of Joker footage and this does not disappoint. Yeah, Batman is the hero and the titular character, but ever since hearing of Ledger's casting as the Clown Prince of Crime, people have been talking, blogging, and imagining just what the Oscar-nominated actor could bring to the role. From the looks of it, he loses himself in The Joker, and finds a man so deranged that he thinks he's the sane one in an insane world. It also looks to be more of a grounded, less-flamboyant Joker, which is what relaunching the entire Batman franchise was all about in the first place. Yes, you can "go there" with some things that are a bit over the top, but you're not gonna see Ledger desecrating expensive art while dancing to Prince.

That's not to say that people still don't love Jack Nicholson's interpretation of The Joker in the Tim Burton-directed "Batman" from 1989. Far from it. I still love that movie, and I grew up watching it. That film had a dark tone to it, even if it was geared towards a younger audience than today's Batman is.

As well, people are looking forward to a possible glimpse at another favorite Batman villain, Harvey "Two-Face" Dent, played by Aaron Eckhart. To my understanding, Dent will simply be his normal, District Attorney self for most of "The Dark Knight", but he'll be scarred and burned near the end, turning into Two-Face. Based on what I've read, Two-Face would be the main villain in a third film if the millions of websites are correct. That leaves the fate of The Joker up in the air. I'm hoping that he isn't killed off in this one because The Joker is almost an immortal character. He'll always be there; lurking in the shadows of Gotham City and never leaving Batman's mind.

Another notable cast member is Maggie Gyllenhaal, playing Rachel Dawes. She takes over the role from Katie Holmes, who played Dawes in "Batman Begins" but left this film for whatever reason. Quite frankly I'm glad, because I wasn't at all impressed by Holmes in the first film. She has no range as an actress and was simply playing the generic damsel in distress. Gyllenhaal has the acting chops to give Rachel a few shots of emotion, and has a confrontational scene with The Joker, as shown in the trailer.

Yes oh yes, "The Dark Knight" is shaping up to be one heck of a film. This is definitely gonna be the one to beat for box office supremacy next summer, so I think that Indiana Jones and Iron Man have their work cut out for them.

Keep 'em laughin',
Derek

Isolation Epic Smarter Than The Average Blockbuster

"I Am Legend" (2007)
Directed by: Francis Lawrence (Constantine)
Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Emma Thompson (cameo)
Running Time: 101 minutes
Rut's Rating: 4/5

Isolation is the key factor in "I Am Legend", the third adaptation of the Richard Matheson story, originally published in 1954. It grips you from the start, with opening shots of a decrepid, rotting downtown New York. And this isn't CGI, folks. What you see is what you get. You feel that sense of loneliness right from the beginning, like you're the only one left on Earth. In Robert Neville's case, he is.

Will Smith plays Neville, a scientist who becomes the last man on Earth after a deadly virus sweeps across the world and wipes out the living. But soon, the living become the walking dead, turning into blood-craving mutants. Much like vampires, they stray from sunlight and hide in the dark. Neville barricades his home and has a supply of guns and ammo ready, and spends his days sending out messages to find any survivors, as well as trying to find a cure for the deadly virus. With him is his dog Sam, a German shepherd that's loyal and stays by his side. Sam is the only contact that Neville has with another living thing, and talks to her as if she were human. You may be wondering what happened to Neville's family. Well, you're just gonna have to see the film to understand. And its not what you're probably thinking, either.

Smith is no stranger to these $100 million epics. "Independence Day", "Men In Black", "I, Robot", we've seen him in all these types of movies where he's called upon to be the hero. But "Legend" is different. Yes, he carries a big gun and fights these mutants when he has to, but its more than that. Will Smith carries this film. In a movie where he's the only human on screen for two thirds of it, he displays an excellent, emotional performance. There's one scene in particular that I found amazing in which Neville thinks that a mannequin is alive in the middle of the street. See, having been alone for nearly three years, he talks to mannequins as if they were real, and even has names for all of them. So when he sees one in the street and can't believe his eyes, he starts to go a little insane. Especially since he didn't move it...

Comparing it to the original Richard Matheson story, there are obviously some differences. Major ones. Hollywood has a tendency to change things and condense material when it comes to adapting written works, and this one is really no different. But in the case of "I Am Legend", I don't see how they could have NOT done some changing. I've read the original story, and in my opinion, it was a little preachy and over-stuffed with scientific jargon. Let's face it: movie audiences don't want to hear that stuff. They want guns, explosions, and a hero. The movie gives them that, but it also doesn't consider the audience stupid. There are some really emotional moments in the film, and you might even need to try and hold back a tear or two.

That all being said, the one miss that I think this movie had was the last act. I won't go into specifics, but it involves Neville coming across two survivors and making a final stand against the virus-ridden mutants (in the film they're called the Dark Seekers). I just think there were some missed opportunities there, but I was still very impressed and pleased with the film. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a big fan of horror films, but this one is more of a sci-fi thriller. It isn't gory, as it's rated PG-13. But that's OK because what you don't get in mutant attacks and a pile of bodies, you DO get a greatly-written story of one man's fight for survival, both physically and mentally. I really think that Will Smith was robbed when the Golden Globe nominees were revealed, because it takes a true actor to be able to unleash the performance that he does, especially when he's essentially the only character in the film.

With that, "I Am Legend" is already a record-setter, having made an incredible $77.2 million over the weekend, and breaking the original December record of $72.6 million set by "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" in 2003.

It also didn't hurt that the highly-anticipated trailer for next summer's "The Dark Knight" was attached to prints of the film. More on that coming up...

Keep 'em laughin',
Derek

Merchants Home Opener *TONIGHT*

Head on down to the rink in Conquest tonight if you have some time, as the Conquest Merchants are holding their first home game of the SVHL season, playing host to the Loreburn 19ers.

As well, look for my review of the Will Smith sci-fi thriller "I Am Legend" next week, as well as a possible one for the movie that every critic has been falling in love with, "No Country For Old Men".

I'll also go into detail about the new teaser trailer for arguably the most anticipated film of 2008, "The Dark Knight", starring Christian Bale again as Batman and Heath Ledger as The Joker. Heck, I may even post the darn thing, because from what I've heard, anybody's who been looking forward for new footage of the "Batman Begins" sequel will not be disappointed with this trailer!

All of that, and much more, next week!

Keep 'em laughin',
Derek

The Cutest Little Man You'll Ever Meet

On December 1, the Conquest Merchants held their Casino Night Fundraiser & Silent Auction. The event turned out to be a blockbuster success, as people piled into the rink from all around. This night was for one special little guy, and his name is Owen.

Owen is 1 1/2 years old, and unfortunately, the little guy was diagnosed with bone cancer. His parents, Shayne and Helen, were teary-eyed and incredibly grateful as several organizations donated thousands of dollars to the family. When a microphone was brought to his little lips, Owen started blowing kisses to the packed rink full of people!

There is absolutely no doubt that nights like these are what the holidays are all about!

All the best go out to the Clarke family, and I've never been more proud to be from a small town!
FULL STORY IN THE DECEMBER 10 ISSUE OF THE OUTLOOK...