Yesterday we were fortunate enough to attend the Canadian premiere of Quentin Tarantino’s highly anticipated WWII romp Inglorious Basterds. Security was intense–all cellphones with camera capabilities were checked upon entrance–and metal detectors greeted us at the door. Clearly, this wasn’t just another screening. Buzz about Tarantino’s presence was fierce, and after learning that he had done Canadian press earlier that afternoon coupled with a security guard’s mutterings–”the director really wants to get started by 7 PM”–our anticipation had reached a fever pitch. Thirty minutes after the scheduled start time, Canada AM’s resident film geek Richard Crouse took hold of a mic and stood before a packed-to-the-brim theatre, to introduce a very special guest. “I remember when I first saw Pulp Fiction….”
Tarantino was greeted with a no-brainer standing ovation, and was joined by fellow director Eli Roth–who plays basterd Donny Donowitz in the film–two giants of modern cinema standing before an adoring audience. Clearly these men have little to no self-esteem issues. After the obligatory bigging up of Toronto (Eli Roth called it his “home”), Tarantino opted out of the requisite “bonne cinema” and instead belted out “ARE YOU READY TO WATCH SOME NAZIS GET THEIR ASSES KICKED?” And with that, the lights dimmed…
It’s easy to describe Inglorious Basterds as a film about Brad Pitt’s Aldo Raine and his team of rough-and-tumble Nazi killers (who also happen to be Jews), as they plow and pillage their way through occupied France, but it’s so much more than that. It’s an homage to the cinema of the 1940s, to noir films, and it’s classic QT. Long, tense scenes of surgical dialogue are punctuated with explosive, whip-quick instances of extreme violence, orchestrated by a director who has checked into his comfort zone, and shows no signs of vacating anytime soon. Giving major plot points away would spoil all the fun, but let’s just say Tarantino takes a few liberties with historical facts, especially in the film’s blazing final act. I’ve already said too much. Inglorious Basterds opens wide on August 21st, and in case you’ve been hiding out under a floor board (too much?) for the last year, check out the trailer below.
If New York is the Big Apple, then Toronto is a smaller sized plum at best. The self-proclaimed center of Canada is often compared to the universally-elected center of the universe, but as Steve Martin declared in an episode of 30 Rock, ”Toronto is just like New York but without all the stuff.” This was evident at Toronto’s 10th incarnation of its very own homegrown Fashion Week, this time sporting the clunky official title “LG Fashion Week Beauty by L’Oreal.” This year’s theme of “Show Love” was pleasantly optimistic, if not predictably Canadian in its unabashed sentimentality, and the overwrought use of pink and red hearts as the major aesthetic motif was a little much for a celebration of high fashion.
But I digress. Fashion Week, whether it’s in Toronto or New York, is about the clothes, and in this arena the designers did little to disappoint.
On Tuesday, Montreal upstart Travis Taddeo–who’s gained sizeable comparisons to New York “it boy” Alexander Wang–lit up the runway with his unique brand of club wear for the hipster set. The supremely fitted clothing (save for some baggy hoodies for the boys) were made mostly in neutral colours with a few hints of electric blue for flare. Leather patchworks and micro minis elevated Taddeo’s line from casual street wear to futuristic must-haves. Definitely buzzworthy.
The first show with that coveted main event vibe was the Pink Tartan show on Wednesday night.
The chaotic scene and lack of seating was a welcome contrast to the half empty shows that marked days prior. Tartan’s head designer, the striking Kimberly Newport-Mimran borrowed elements from eighties glam and reappropriated them for the modern woman. Skinny leather pants and short pink minis frequented, but the most buzzed-about item was by far a curvy black parka with the oversized shawl collar and stiff ruffled trim. Newport-Mimran showed why her avant designs are the choice of A-listers world over.
Joseph Mimran, husband to Tartan’s Kimberly. was the main attraction on Wednesday night with his hottly anticipated line Joe Fresh Style. Mimran is a true Canadian fashion success story. After founding the popular Club Monaco chain, Mimran has re-established himself as a leading Canadian designer with his line of affordable, casual street wear.
His fall collection played more like a winter collection, with pom-pom topped toques, skating skirts and ski pants. Still the ash, red and black coloured clothes were chic while remaining wearable, so much so that we’re predicting next winter to be the winter of Joe Fresh. Canadian supermodel and Kate Moss bff Irina Lazareanu did her part to upgrade the wow factor of Mimran’s line by opening and closing the show.
Though Toronto may not have the high profile designers showing, and the front row paparazzi magnets that call New York home, there’s still something oddly charming about a fashion world that is contained solely within the city, and thus making it uniquely Canadian. Whether it’s to its own detriment or not remains to be seen.
