Popcorn With Maple Syrup
People who bemoan the state of Canadian film, when compared with the media juggernaut that is the American film industry, would do well to watch
Popcorn With Maple Syrup Read More »
Middle Row Centre Columnist Brian Eaton is a cinema buff who reviews films and writes on other film-related topics
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People who bemoan the state of Canadian film, when compared with the media juggernaut that is the American film industry, would do well to watch
Popcorn With Maple Syrup Read More »
On November 23,The Old Fire Hall will once again host a free mini-festival of Japanese films, hosted by the Japanese Canadian Association of Yukon (JCAY).
Dining on Ramen and Talking to the Dead Read More »
A glance at the credits of a film reveals that it’s a collaborative art form involving a lot of people over a lot of time.
Fresh from one of its most successful festivals to date, the Yukon Film Society presents a trio of superb films in its monthly Available Light
More Quality Films to See on a Big Screen Read More »
The Princess Bride is the ideal post-Christmas movie fare for the whole family. It’ll be playing at the Yukon Arts Centre on the afternoon of
One Day, Ample Big-Screen Film Options Read More »
It’s not too early think about movie fare in the New Year, and one of the highlights of the upcoming season is the new music
On Monday the Yukon Film Society’s Available Light Cinema series presents a little-known but fascinating story in the history of Canadian Labour, with its showing
New Film Highlights Struggles of the Finnish Labour Movement in Thunder Bay Read More »
“I deal with stuff that’s too dumb for people to have bothered to formulate opinions on,” David Byrne says in his 1986 film True Stories.
Just Everyday Life; Through David Byrne’s Eyes Read More »
The Canadian Labour International Film Festival (CLIFF) celebrates its fifth anniversary in the Yukon on Wednesday, November 20. CLIFF is an initiative of the Public
Poignant Labour Docs Screen in Whitehorse Read More »
Each summer the population of Atlin, B.C. swells from its normal 400 to 2,500, as the Atlin Arts and Music Festival swings into gear for
A Front-Row Seat into the Lives of Musicians Read More »
For a novice filmmaker, Moira Sauer has been getting a lot of mileage from her six-minute silent short. The latest victory for her film, The
The Provider heads to Cannes Read More »
Musicians perform Daniel Jankey’s new score for the The Grub-Stake Revisited in Vancouver at the Vogue Theatre. The Yukon Arts Centre presents a live showing
Shakespearian Shenanigans Read More »
The Old Fire Hall in downtown Whitehorse will host the second annual Out North Film Festival on the weekend of April 19-21. Buoyed by last
Pretty and Witty and Gay Read More »
We’re all used to seeing films about broken-down musicians, but broken-down magicians? Based on the evidence of The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, it’s a category best
Please Make this Movie Disappear Read More »
“Dark Skies” was the title of a short-lived NBC series during the 1996-97 television season. It was a smartly designed, intriguing and timely show, which
A Mish-Mash of Cliche’s Read More »
Seth Gordon, director of last year’s comedy Horrible Bosses, and its co-star Jason Bateman team up once again for Identity Thief, also starring Melissa McCarthy,
An Entertaining Comedy Read More »
I wanted to like Silver Linings Playbook more than I did, and really anticipated seeing it when it came to Whitehorse, two months after its
Not Every Silver Lining Leaves You Satisfied Read More »
Jessica Chastain graces local screens for the second time this month, but on this occasion, the redheaded Oscar nominee is scarcely recognizable. Decked out in
This Ghost Story Does A Decent Job of Being Creepy Read More »
American actress Jessica Chastain redeems her loopy performance in The Tree Of Life with her role in Zero Dark Thirty. The film tells the story
Zero Dark Thirty Delivers Read More »
Mike Faughey-Scraggs is an orthopedic surgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospital in England. He’s a former high diver and an experienced mountaineer, having scaled Mount Kilimanjaro
Local Filmmaker Chronicles Extraordinary Journey Read More »
Tickets are on sale now for the Yukon Film Society’s annual Available Light Film Festival, which takes place Feb. 4 to 10 at the Yukon
Indo-Canadian Filmmakers Shine a Light on Contemporary India Read More »
When Whitehorse musicians Kate Weekes and Grant Simpson attended the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals this past fall, they were amazed and touched by a
Harmonica Virtuoso With a Heart of Gold Read More »
Yukon Film Society scores again, with a special double bill at the Yukon Arts Centre this coming Monday, November 1. Featured will be two of
A Brace of Ron Mann Films at YAC Read More »
”I was just a regular guy, no radioactive spiders, no refugee status from an alien world. My only super-power was being invisible to girls,” intones
Steve Carell, from NBC-TV’s hit series The Office, and 30 Rock‘s Tina Fey work well together in Date Night, a screwball-comedy that quickly morphs into
It Takes Two Great Comedians to Make It a Comedy Read More »
For what it is, Clash of the Titans isn’t a bad movie. The battle and action scenes are arresting enough; the computer-generated imaging works well.
This 3-D is Better in 2-D, with 1-D Characters and 0-D Plot Read More »
Rep cinema returns to Whitehorse this week with a vengeance, as the Yukon Film Society expands its Firehall Films offerings to a mini-festival of film.
Firehall Films Gets ‘Real’ Read More »
The Other Guys is another of those films that can’t seem to make up its mind about itself. Is it an action thriller, a buddy
The Other Guys Not as Good as ‘The Other Movie’ Read More »
It looks like perhaps the season of sequels has passed, to be replaced by the season of spy thrillers. After Knight and Day and Inception,
Middle Row, Centre: Salt is the New Flavour of the Month Read More »
I saw an item on TV the other day, showing how there are a number of oil wells and derricks operating in the Los Angeles
Middle Row, Centre: This Movie is a Dream Come True Read More »
I have a theory about Tom Cruise. I think that ever since his episode of jumping on Oprah’s couch some five years ago, and going
Middle Row, Centre: Knight and Day is Just Fun … OK? Read More »
Last week, I heard a fellow named Edward Luttwak talking on CBC Radio, on a program about war. Luttwak knows whereof he speaks — he’s
Middle Row, Centre: It’s Not Interesting, It Just Looks That Way Read More »
Thanks to the Yukon Film Society, Whitehorse has its own de facto repertory cinema, in the form of the once-monthly Fire Hall Films series, shown
Two Worlds, One Film Night Read More »
I feel somewhat the victim of misrepresentation after recently watching Robin Hood. Maybe if the film had been billed as Robin Hood: The Prequel, I’d
Middle Row, Centre: Big Budget and Big Names Cannot Save Robin Hood Read More »
There are no car chases in Charlie St. Cloud. No explosions. No endless battle scenes. No vampires. Just a good old-fashioned love story, set in
Middle Row, Centre: Just an Old-Fashioned Love Story Read More »
The Canadian labour movement has designated November as Labour Films Month, and has put together a package of films highlighting the history and struggles of
Labour Films Highlight Workers’ Plight Read More »
Many movies dealing with the CIA seem to draw from two seminal films for their inspiration. One is the 1962 thriller The Manchurian Candidate, starring
Middle row, centre: Red: Inspired by Two Key Predecessors Read More »
Veteran documentary filmmaker Ron Mann is in Whitehorse this week, hosting workshops through the Yukon Film Society. Mann will discuss the process of making independent
Know Your Ron Mann Read More »
Alpha and Omegais a charming Canadian-made animated feature that’s proving to be a hit with family audiences at the Yukon Theatre. Set in Alberta’s Jasper
Middle Row, Centre: Animated Family Fun — and Canadian, Too Read More »
For moviegoers, disillusioned by the dismal crop of films this summer, there’s hope ahead. The Arts Film Series will soon return to the Qwanlin Cinema
Middle Row, Centre: The Arts Come to Qwanlin Cinema Read More »
The word antihero could well have been invented for the likes of Jonah Hex. His story is yet another in the summertime crop of comic
Three Films in One … But Only One Real Character Read More »
Robert Downey Jr.’s performance is the best thing to come out of Iron Man 2, the second in what looks to be a succession of
Middle Row, Centre: Iron Man 2: Too Much Iron, Not Enough Man Read More »
Inner questioning about how meaningful apologies can be took Whitehorse filmmaker Mitch Miyagawa on an emotional journey that culminated in his documentary A Sorry State,
It’s a good week for film, as the Qwanlin Cinema presents the last in its fall season of the Arts Film series, and the Yukon
Art Film & Firehall Films Preview Read More »
I have a friend, a long-time Yukoner, who returned to live in her native France last year. I plan to visit her next summer in
Middle Row, Centre: Using Food to Make a Village Healthy Again Read More »
Playing at the Qwanlin Cinema this Sunday and Monday is Cyrus, the second-last in this season’s Art Film Series. Featured in its cast are John
The Arts Film Series continues through the month of October at the Qwanlin Cinema, with three more films in what proves to be one of
Middle Row, Centre: Winter’s Bone Bleak, But Worth Watching Read More »
It’s a pretty safe bet that not too many of us will be worrying about peak oil during the holidays. But it’s an equally safe
Middle Row, Centre: The Power of Community Read More »
Whitehorse, September 11, 2001. While a city was transfixed to TV screens that revealed the horror in New York City, its population could take consolation
Middle Row, Centre: Probing the Mystery of Whitehorse 911 Read More »
The subject of cheesy musicals came up in a conversation the other day.Oklahoma was mentioned, as was South Pacific. “You want cheesy, go see Burlesque,”
Middle Row, Centre: Sure it’s Cornball, but Well-done Cornball Read More »
There’s a lot happening in Whitehorse at local community venues for film this upcoming week. The Alpine Film Night series returns with a powerful documentary,
Community Film Showings Read More »
Amnesty International brings its annual film festival to Whitehorse this weekend, featuring an amazing array of films dealing with themes of social justice at the
Amnesty Films at Old Fire Hall Read More »
I went to see The A-Team last week. It was a violent, confusing and moronic mess, and I hated it. End of review. And now
High Quality Meets High Quality Read More »
Graduation time for local high schools is almost here, and with it comes the usual round of bush parties, barhopping and celebrations, too often combined
Middle Row, Centre: Student Filmmakers Get a Crash Course in Moviemaking Read More »
Yukon Film Society’s Firehall Films series has an exciting lineup this month. On Thursday, June 3, the evening leads off at 6:45 pm with Petropolis:
Firehall Films: From Alberta to Jamaica by Sky Read More »
There is passion driving a new set of films about the struggles of workers in Canada and around the world. The Canadian Labour International Film
Free Film Festival Brings Stories of Working Life to Four Yukon Communities Read More »
If you’ve ever wanted to take extreme measures against your employer, then Horrible Bosses might just be your cup of tea. Not that the exploits
Middle Row, Centre: Improbably Entertaining Read More »
Asense of loneliness pervades the atmosphere of The Mountie. Filmed on location in the Wheaton Valley two years ago, with a sizeable contingent of Yukon
Middle Row, Centre: Bucking Mountie Stereotypes Read More »
Asense of loneliness pervades the atmosphere of The Mountie. Filmed on location in the Wheaton Valley two years ago, with a sizeable contingent of Yukon
Middle Row, Centre: Bucking Mountie Stereotypes Read More »
Elizabeth Halsey, played by Cameron Diaz in Bad Teacher, is a woman who knows what she wants. What she wants is a new pair of
Middle Row, Centre: One Ba-a-a-d Teacher Read More »
It’s 1944 in Poland, and a young Jewish boy imprisoned in the Warsaw ghetto watches helplessly as his mother is shot point-blank in front of
Middle Row, Centre: Mutants, Revenge & Geopolitics Read More »
When I went to see Bridesmaids recently, I couldn’t help making the inevitable comparisons to Sex And The City 2, which showed locally about six
Middle Row, Centre: Wedding Day Meltdown Read More »
Throughout the years, films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of The Third Kind, Contact and ET have presented us with thought-provoking perspectives
Battle: Los Angeles Read More »
Rango is a clever, offbeat animated feature from George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic that features the voice of Johnny Depp as a frustrated playwright
Boot Heels and the Beast Read More »
This weekend the Japanese Canadian Association of the Yukon presents a free showing of two excellent films from Japan. Playing on Friday is Departures, a gentle
Aron Ralston is a 35 year-old mechanical engineer and mountaineer who was exploring eastern Utah’s Blue John Canyon in Canyonlands National Park in the spring
Middle Row, Centre: Not for the Squeamish Read More »
Forget everything you thought you knew about the glamour of the world of ballet. Black Swan casts it all aside. This Oscar contender shows us
Based on a series of true events and featuring a gripping performance from screen veteran Anthony Hopkins, The Rite is the story of a modern
As a new year dawns, it looks as if the electric car may finally be coming into its own. Japan’s Nissan Motors is ready to
Middle Row, Centre: Who Did Kill that Car? Read More »
So it’s come to this, and so early in the post-Oscar film season. Not quite the onset of the summer blockbuster season, the most popular
Middle Row, Centre: Reprise of the Stooges Read More »
The magic rule for sequels seems to be: “If it worked the first time, don’t deviate from the original formula too much.” That’s definitely what
Middle Row, Centre: Wedding Day Meltdown Read More »
Bethany Hamilton is a 21-year-old resident of Kauai, Hawaii who says that she was born to be a surfer. On the morning of Halloween, 2003,
Middle Row, Centre: Human Spirit at its Best Read More »
Aremake currently playing in Whitehorse that is in some respects actually an improvement on the original is Arthur. The 1981 version, which starred Dudley Moore
Old Bottle, New Wine Read More »
Recently opening in Whitehorse and fully deserving of its twelve Oscar nominations is The King’s Speech. The film features British actor Colin Firth as King
Middle Row, Centre: The King’s Speech Read More »
Among the 25 international and Canadian features at next week’s Available Light Film festival are four of the films the Toronto International Film Festival ranked
2011 ALFF at a Glance Read More »
A feature voted by film writers in 1984 as the best Canadian film ever and a trio of movies with themes of human and animal
Middle Row, Centre: Humans and Other Species Read More »
In a week when every film playing at the four screens in town was either a remake or a sequel, I flipped a coin and
Bean Goes Bond Again Read More »
When I came home from seeing Source Code on May Day evening, I turned on the TV and heard that Osama Bin Laden had just
90 Minutes Well Spent Read More »
The Lincoln Lawyer has some good things going for it, not the least being a gripping portrayal by lead actor Matthew McConaughey. He plays a
Meatier McConaughey Read More »
I have begun to despair that The King’s Speech was the last we will see of intelligent films until Academy Award season rolls around again.
The Rum Diary should be a better film than it is. The main problem with it is that there’s not one character with whom we
Rum and Loathing in San Juan Read More »
I wasn’t expecting to like New Year’s Eve, not being a particular fan of the artificially-imposed gaiety that can characterize that particular holiday. But after
Middle Row, Centre: Plot Upon Plot as the Ball Descends Read More »
Amnesty International’s annual film festival returns to Whitehorse and Haines Junction this week, with a powerful lineup of feature documentaries. The festival plays December 2
Films of Struggle & Resistance Read More »
In the writing game, plans frequently go awry (or, as Robbie Burns would have it, they gang aft agley). When I embarked on this particular
Middle Row, Centre: Getting in the Loop Read More »
Ben Stiller manages to portray a hyper, driven sort of guy in most of the films he’s featured in. Tower Heist, his most current outing,
Middle Row, Centre: Prisoner in the Penthouse Read More »
In the middle of downtown New York, crowds watch aghast as people leap from upper-storey windows to their deaths, and the building they’ve tried to
Middle Row, Centre: Fire That Sparked a Flame Read More »
Atractor-trailer winds its way along the Alaska Highway from Terrace, B.C. Its cargo is a single gigantic log, 30 feet long, weighing 13,000 pounds. Within
Middle Row, Centre: Fixing Flawed Lives Read More »
The Yukon Film Society offers its Available Light Cinema showings again this Sunday at the Yukon Arts Centre. The varied bill of fare includes an
Ghosts, Bees and Wagons Read More »
Athree-week vacation in France accounts for the recent absence of this column. One of the highlights of my holiday was the Cinema au clair de
I fail to see why films like Safe are made. Nasty, cynical, and of no redeeming social value whatever, its convoluted plot seems only to
Two romantic comedies currently playing locally present two different takes on the institution of marriage. The Five-Year Engagement stars Emily Blunt (The Adjustment Bureau, The
Double Take on Marriage Read More »
The summer blockbuster season has truly gotten underway with the launching of The Avengers onto local screens. A fairly mundane plot-line is helped along immeasurably
Middle Row, Centre: Superheroes in 3-D Read More »
As the summer blockbuster season begins to unroll itself before us, the latest among the current batch of remakes is Dark Shadows. It first saw
Middle Row, Centre: Remake of a ’60s Soap Read More »
Fresh from the success of its recent Out North film festival, the Yukon Queer Film Alliance has scheduled a repeat performance double-bill of the festival’s
Middle Row, Centre: Take 2 for Two Hits Read More »
With the summer blockbuster season now safely and mercifully behind us, it’s time for the major studios to start releasing the films that they’ll be
Middle Row, Centre: Argo Marks an Excellent Start to Oscar Season Read More »
Playing this week is the last of the Qwanlin Cinema’s Filmtastic Films series for the fall season, formerly dubbed the Art Films series. It’s a
Middle Row, Centre: Sparkle a Fitting Swansong for Whitney Houston Read More »
Landmark Cinemas’ Filmtastic Films series reaches its halfway point October 9 with Water For Elephants, a charming period piece about circus life in Depression-era America.
Middle Row, Centre: Charming, But Violent Read More »
The Filmtastic Films series at the Qwanlin Cinema winds up this week with The Devil’s Double, a thoroughly violent and often horrifying film that will
Middle Row, Centre: Impersonating Evil Read More »
When Paris-based film director Patrick Hadjadj needed a crowd demonstration for his short film Le Citron vert (The Lime), playing at the Francophone Film Festival
A Ready-made Crowd Read More »
Landmark Cinemas’ Filmtastic Films series (formerly the Arts Films series) continues October 2 and 3 with The First Grader, a feature filmed in Kenya and
Middle Row, Centre: Kimani’s Determined Quest Read More »
As its title suggests, Cowboys and Aliens is a mélange of western and science-fiction genres. Unfortunately, it is another example of a good idea gone
Middle Row, Centre: They Came for the Gold Read More »
For a summer blockbuster, Captain America: The First Avenger stands up remarkably well. Perhaps it’s the film’s faithful attention to detail as it portrays ’40s
Middle Row, Centre: A Superhero Simply Drawn Read More »
It’s almost as if the summer blockbuster season has started early, with the much-heralded opening of The Hunger Games. Based on a best-selling trilogy by
Middle Row, Centre: The Price of Rebellion Read More »
At the risk of alienating a packed theatre full of 18 to 25-year-olds, I must confess after a recent viewing of 21 Jump Street, to
The last in Landmark Cinemas ‘Filmtastic Films series for this season screens this week at the Qwanlin. A Dangerous Method is the latest film from
Middle row, centre: Therapy and psychodrama Read More »
The second-last movie in Landmark Cinemas’ FilmtasticFilms series at theQwanlin Cinema this week isCarnage, a black comedy with an all-star cast. Academy Award winners Kate
Middle Row, Centre: Polanski’s Carnage Read More »
Now that the Oscars buzz has subsided, with the winners all declared, it’s gratifying to see that at least one Academy Award nominee has currently
Middle Row, Centre: Not for Puritans Read More »
Landmark Cinemas’ Filmtastic Films series (formerly called the Arts Films series) reaches its halfway-point this week with Like Crazy. A shoestring-budget independent feature that won
Middle Row, Centre: Loving Like Crazy Read More »
Landmark Cinemas’ Filmtastic Films series has returned for another season at the Qwanlin Cinema, showing recent independent films and mainstream movies that would not normally
Middle Row, Centre: His Week with a Star Read More »
For Toronto film director Ingrid Veninger, keeping it in the family seems to be a recipe for success. She will be accompanying her newest film,
Middle Row, Centre: All In the Family Read More »
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Yukon Film Society’s Available Light Film Festival, highlighting an impressive array of more than 30 feature films
People and the Land Read More »
what happens to the Homecoming Queen when she’s past her prime? That’s the question posed for Charlize Theron in her new film Young Adult. Theron
Glamour Girl No More Read More »
It was exactly two years ago this week that this column first graced the pages of What’s Up Yukon, with a review of Clash of
Game-style Mythology Read More »
The most recent in Landmark Cinemas’ Filmtastic Films series (formerly the Art Films series) is Canadian director David Cronenberg’s 2012 Cannes Film Festival entry, Cosmopolis.
Middle Row, Centre: A Claustrophobic Ride From Cronenberg Read More »
Clint Eastwood’s new film Trouble With The Curve is the first on-screen featurre outing from the 82-year-old actor since his 2008 appearance in Gran Torino,
Middle Row, Centre: No Harm No Foul From Latest Eastwood Flick Read More »
Summer may be over, but it seems the sequels and remakes are not. Quickly ascending to the Number 1 box office position in its first
Middle Row, Centre: Evil is Back in Residence Read More »
The onset of fall signals the start of a new season for the Yukon Film Society’s Available Light Cinema series at the Yukon Arts Centre.
Stimulating and Varied Line-up Read More »
I’m probably not the best person to review The Expendables 2, not being a particular fan of its genre to begin with, and having a
Expendable Morality? Read More »
The Odd Life of Timothy Green is a strange little sort of movie that borders on being maudlin, but still manages to bring forth its
The Power of Belief Read More »
The Bourne Legacy is the fourth in the highly successful series of films adapted from Robert Ludlum’s spy novels, featuring Matt Damon as renegade intelligence
Middle Row, Centre: Bourne Again (sort of) Read More »
The summer onslaught of sequels and remakes continues unabated, without showing signs of letting up. One of the latest entries in Hollywood’s parade of sameness
The Whitehorse Curling Club will undergo a transformation a little over a week from now, taking on a picnic/drive-in atmosphere for Movie Night at the
Movies with Brooms Read More »
It seems the summer blockbuster season this year isn’t turning out all that badly after all, with the quality of major films already a lot
Middle Row, Centre: Humanizing the Heroic Read More »
Yukon Film Society’s Available Light Cinema series is scheduled for at least one summer showing at the Yukon Arts Centre, although it’s been switched from
Middle Row, Centre: Two for the Summer Read More »
Thirty-five year old Boston rental car agent John Bennett has been dating his girlfriend, Lori Collins, for four years. Lori wants to get married, but
A Bear with a Bong Read More »
Visitors to the Atlin Arts and Music Festival this weekend can look forward to an excellent lineup of films to round out their entertainment schedule,
A Sokolowski Twin Pack Read More »
Adam Sandler’s latest starring vehicle is a crude and lewd piece of low-life comedy that may well offend a certain demographic slice of the population,
Middle Row, Centre: Formulaic, but Sandler Pulls it Off Read More »
Director Ridley Scott broke some real ground in science-fiction films, first in 1979 with Alien, and again in 1982 with Blade Runner. Both films flew
Men in Black 3 doesn’t do badly at all, in a season that’s already beginning to regale us with remakes and sequels. Will Smith and
The Magic & Whimsy Return Read More »
We’re in the thick of it now. Blockbuster season has arrived, with its bumper crop of sequels, remakes and films based on comic-book heroes. Still
Space Race: A Toy Story Read More »