SCUGOG ISLAND ART SHOW
	Mike Strathy, who has been working leather and animal hide since the 1970s, presents his wares at the ninth annual Scugog Island Art Show. The art show's purpose is to celebrate native culture and art on native grounds and to introduce native arts to a wide range of people. Photo Credit: Benjamin Priebe/The Standard

SOME ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEES YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN YET

2012 was an incredibly strong year at the movies both for the studios and the indies as there seemed to be a bounty of great cinema for us out there. I left TIFF last September reeling (sorry) with excitement about what was coming for the rest of the year having seen so much greatness at the festival. Some of these you might not have heard much about, but bear in mind the motto of this column, "every film you have not seen is a new experience."... MORE

JUST WRITE! by Tracey Coveart

Tracey studied journalism at Ryerson University and English at the University of Toronto and learned everything she needed to know about life from her parents, her kids, and dog, Wookie. A writer, editor and workshop facilitator, Tracey has 13 educational books published with The Teaching and Learning Company in the States and her essay 'I am a Mother' was published by Random House Canada in 'Dropped Threads III: beyond the small circle.' But it was her work at The Scugog Standard of which Tracey is most proud. Community news reaches people where they live, and Tracey considers it an honour and privilege to be invited into the homes and hearts of the people of Scugog Township.

A STANDARD BLOG by 'Fixader' Green
	Hello readers! I'm 'Fixader' Green. I like comics, music and books so as you can guess thats what I'll mainly talk about. I am a local teen and look forward to your feedback.

Some Academy Award nominees you may not have seen yet
JOHN FOOTE The Standard

2012 was an incredibly strong year at the movies both for the studios and the indies as there seemed to be a bounty of great cinema for us out there. I left TIFF last September reeling (sorry) with excitement about what was coming for the rest of the year having seen so much greatness at the festival. Some of these you might not have heard much about, but bear in mind the motto of this column, "every film you have not seen is a new experience."

THE MASTER (****) -- Paul Thomas Anderson is the most exciting young director in
American movies today, an original who somehow manages to be himself while paying homage to Scorsese or Altman in his work. His breakthrough film Boogie Nights (1997) was a frank and fun ride through the adult film industry through the seventies and into the eighties, as they made the transition from film to video which allowed them greater profits. He followed that with Punch Drunk Love (2002) a solid love story with Adam Sandler in the first role to test his dramatic talents; he was very good. His masterpiece remains There Will Be Blood (2007) with a towering Oscar winning performance from Daniel Day- Lewis as a morally corrupt oil man who is possessed of a contempt for all humanity.

When Anderson announced he was making The Master, many thought him to be creating a film that spoke about the evils of Scientology, the cult religion with followers in Hollywood. While there is no question he based his film on L. Ron Hubbard and that strange religion, it is not as inflammatory as perhaps people expected. Instead the director made a startling character study of two men, one a desperate solider, Freddie

Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) trying to find his way in the days after WWII, struggling with drink and bad memories; the other, Lancaster Dodd (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) a smart yet equally troubled leader of a cult called simply "the cause." Quell will fall initially under the spell of Dodd before he is told "he's making this up as he goes along" and then looks for greater meaning from the master, honest truths about both men, that the master cannot, or will not provide. Each sees elements of themselves in the other and each knows that very fact.

Joaquin Phoenix gave a simply stunning performance as Quell, transforming his entire body into something oddly defiant of the entire human race. He speaks with a curled lip, places both hands on his hips when he speaks (backwards) and appears to dislike mankind. It is a performance of seething, raw power than in any other year would have won him an Oscar. Equally good in every way is Hoffman as the master of the title, an obvious fraud with the smarts to make people believe him to be something he is not. He himself is ruled with an imperious fist by his wife, portrayed with quiet steel by Amy Adams. All three actors were Oscar nominees, and though deserving of a nomination, Anderson was passed over for Best Director. Beautifully shot, the film is demanding and challenging for an audience but a journey not to be missed.

SKYFALL (****) -- Daniel Craig as Bond is a lethal killer. Being a killer he is also a deeply flawed man, and those flaws bring a humanity to the character that has not been there before, not even with Connery.

In Skyfall, directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, Bond is left for dead after an attack and is enjoying himself recuperating until it is time for him to go back. His boss, M (Judi Dench) believes him fit for a mission (though he failed some tests) and gives him one though he will end up protecting her from Silva, a vicious former agent portrayed with dazzling intensity by Oscar winner Javier Bardem. M knows that Bond's greatest assets are his ferocious loyalty and his natural protective nature towards women; as long as she is with him, she is relatively safe. He goes to the ends of the earth to protect her, finally taking her back to where he knows Silva will come, the Bond family home, called Skyfall.

The action sequences crackle with excitement, the acting is much better than you might expect, and there is a most moving ending that catches you off guard. Dench is terrific as a woman who might have outlived her time, as tough as the men she supervises, and Ralph Fiennes equally good as a man who keeps a close eye on the
agents. Bardem is a deliciously good villain, having a blast while doing a Bond!!! We already know he can do evil well with his Oscar winning turn in No Country for Old Men (2007), so seeing him here as a different sort of bad guy was terrific
entertainment.

And best of all again is Craig, who looks like a man who has taken a life or three. There is a lived in look to him, his eyes cold and dead, a man who knows and understands what is expected of him and gave himself over to his superiors a long time ago. Oddly at peace with who and what he is, I believe him to be the best of all Bonds and with a license to kill.

Since the remake of Casino Royale (2008) they have gone back and have been re-tooling and re-inventing the franchise and doing one hell of a job. It continues within here, and with some tears I might add. Nothing high minded or deep here, just pure entertainment, a fairy tale for action fans, and that opening song Skyfall...rocks.

Readers now can connect with John Foote, and join in on interactive discussions dealing with everything cinema-related through the 'Film with Foote' Facebook group. Simply search 'Film with Foote' on Facebook.

Spotlight shines on Uxbridge this summer
DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

UXBRIDGE: A new music and arts festival is launching this summer at Elgin Park to promote the wealth of artistic talent within Uxbridge.

Leo Gallard made his pitch for the new Uxbridge Music and Arts Festival before council at their meeting on the morning of Monday, May 13.

According to Mr. Gallard, the event, which is scheduled to run on Saturday, July 13, would provide the chance to local artists to share their work with the public and bring awareness to the diverse talent of Uxbridge residents.

"There is so much talent in Uxbridge, and I've noticed a lack of opportunities to showcase. So we came up with the idea to allow the showcase of this amazingly talented town," said Mr. Gallard.

The event will bring together a wide range of performers, including local musicians, artists and theatrical performers. As well, there will be opportunities for local businesses to get involved with the festivities.

The Music and Arts Festival is also looking to give back, and has partnered with Africycle for the event. Admission is slated to be $10, but attendees can get in free of charge with a donation to Africycle, which will have their bus on hand at Elgin Park to collect donations.

"We wanted to do everything we could to support that charity," Mr. Gallard said of the Uxbridge-based group that sends bicycles to Malawi in East Africa.

There will be more than just music and arts to entertain visitors to the festival, as organizers have also included several games on the schedule of events, slated to run between 2 p.m. and approximately 11 p.m. In addition to horseshoes and a bocce ball tournament, those in attendance can take part in a cheese tasting contest as well as a slow bike race.

Councillors were impressed with the proposal, with Deputy Mayor Bev Northeast saying, "this is a great program and an excellent place to have it."

Mr. Gallard added that he has spoke with township staff regarding security for the licensed event, and added that he is aware of what needs to be done to ensure that everything related to the event is done properly.

"Parking will be a main focus, we are aware that it can be a cluttered area," Mr. Gallard said in response to concerns raised by Regional Councillor Jack Ballinger about potential parking issues at Elgin Park.

Organizers expect to have about 200 people through the event at a given time, and acknowledge that the limited size of the venue does play a role in that decision.

"The more the merrier, but we know that we're working with a smaller area. It will have to be limited based on size, but that'll be finalized after the event is approved," added Mr. Gallard.