Canadian Crossing

2023 CFL Week 8 preview: Touchdown Atlantic finally comes to Halifax

Welcome to the weekend of Touchdown Atlantic 2023, where we finally have a CFL regular season game in the city where the league wants to expand: Halifax in Nova Scotia.

The week starts on Friday with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the nation's capital at TD Place. The suddenly hot RedBlacks team finally won a road game and already has 2 home wins in 2023.

The same teams that played in Touchdown Atlantic 2022 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia play in the 2023 version. The Roughriders are the opponent in a Toronto "home" game.

BC travels to Edmonton for the second half of the Saturday doubleheader. Not quite coast to coast but very far away from Halifax. The Elks don't want to hit on 21, as in the potential for a 21st straight home defeat on Saturday.

CBS Sports Network has the Saturday doubleheader. Glad to see that Touchdown Atlantic will be on U.S. television.

The Calgary Stampeders get to play another Sunday night game, this time in Montréal against the Alouettes. Calgary is likely glad to be away from McMahon Stadium where they haven't won in 2023.

Winnipeg gets its only summer weekend off to enjoy the bye time.

CBS Sports Network

Saturday
Saskatchewan @ Toronto, 4p
BC @ Edmonton, 7p

TSN

Friday
Hamilton @ Ottawa, 7:30p
Saturday
Saskatchewan @ Toronto, 4p
BC @ Edmonton, 7p
Sunday
Calgary @ Montréal, 7p

Bye week: Winnipeg

Touchdown Atlantic 2023 preview: CFL finally comes to Halifax

We ran a preview of 2023 Touchdown Atlantic on Wednesday. Hope you are having a marvelous time in Halifax if you made the trip. I am rarely jealous but will make an exception.

2023 CFL Week 7 preview

2023 CFL Week 6 preview

2023 CFL Week 5 preview

Ottawa and Calgary played the best CFL game imaginable with a pair of 2-3 teams. The RedBlacks had a strong 11-point lead. The Stampeders had a great comeback. Several lead changes. Rene Paredes hit the 2,000 point mark with a game tying field goal to force overtime.

Dustin Crum showed he is not just a runner at quarterback for Ottawa. Crum now goes up against Bo Levi Mitchell, not Taylor Powell, on Friday night. Ottawa becomes the first CFL team to win 2 straight games in overtime.

The Stampeders are 2-4, though 0-2 in overtime this season. Ottawa might prevent another crossover so the loss particular hurts. Calgary had a failed fake field goal attempt, a missed 2-point conversion, and a missed extra point against Ottawa. A punt single did give them overtime but the Stampeders missed the 2-point conversion.

Suns out 🌞 guns out 💪 #BCLions #RoarLikeNeverBefore pic.twitter.com/gYInTvQBHC

— BC LIONS (@BCLions) July 22, 2023

The watermelon celebration in Vancouver before the game was more exciting than the game itself. Dane Evans replaced Vernon Adams Jr. and provided just enough offence to give the Lions the win. BC has now beat every team in its division.

Mason Fine did well, fine, against the Lions. The Roughriders offence was geared with short, high-percentage passes. Fine went 31-of-40 for 278 yards and 2 interceptions. He will have another tough battle with the Argos defence in Halifax on Saturday.

Surprise statistic: this was the first BC Lions win in Vancouver over Saskatchewan since 2017.

2023 CFL Week 4 preview: Canada Day weekend

Calgary may be in bad shape but they are the most successful CFL team in Alberta. The Elks lost the last 4 in 2022 and the first 7 games in 2023. The Elks have made it clear due to the coaches salary cap that Chris Jones isn't getting fired.

Edmonton did get the game to be a 2-point deficit at Winnipeg at 16-14 but didn't score for the rest of the game.

B̶a̶r̶b̶i̶e̶.̶ ̶O̶p̶p̶e̶n̶h̶e̶i̶m̶e̶r̶.̶ ̶

Kenny Lawler: The Return 🍿#CFL pic.twitter.com/dvYSMTpCbJ

— CFL (@CFL) July 21, 2023

Kenny Lawler got away with a catch in his return to the field from immigration issues. Lawler's reputation is so good that might have been why there was no challenge flag.

The unknown factor is CFL teams finally getting players who haven't played so far this season. Montréal signed veteran defensive lineman Shawn Lemon, who should make a big impact for the Alouettes.

2023 CFL Week 3 preview

2023 CFL Week 2 preview

2023 CFL Week 1 preview

Toronto and Hamilton play each other 4 times in an 18-game season. The Argos easily won the first 2 games with Labour Day next on the schedule. In terms of a potential tiebreaker, well not likely to be needed, Hamilton has to win the final 2 games, hoping for a 35+ advantage in points in those games. Toronto has a +34 point advantage in its 2 wins.

We're making broadcast history (again)!

This time we've teamed up with My Radio 580 AM for the first Punjabi football broadcast.

Tune in Saturday, July 29 when we take on the @BCLions.

DETAILS | https://t.co/T5uUcyw5dM#OurTeamOurCity #GoElks #CFL pic.twitter.com/K1aLfZmtC4

— Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) July 25, 2023

Great news to grow the CFL game. Too bad this involves the Elks at home. Seriously, hoping Canadians who speak Punjabi from all over Canada can tune in to hear the CFL in that language.

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

Dustin Nielson and Glen Suitor with John Lu were in Winnipeg to watch another Elks loss. Rod Smith and Matt Dunigan with Matthew Scianitti hung out in Hamilton for the battle of southern Ontario on Friday.

Nielson and Suitor were with Brit Dort for the watermelons in Vancouver. Smith and Duane Forde with Dort spent some time out west for a very exciting game in Calgary.

We are not Nostradamus but we would imagine that Paul LaPolice will make his analysis debut in Edmonton on Saturday night. LaPolice helped out on the panel while Dunigan was working the Tiger-Cats home game.

logo credit and photo credit: CFL
Twitter captures: @BCLions; @CFL; @GoElks

Pascale St-Onge is the new minister of Canadian heritage

Justin Trudeau did a significant cabinet shuffle on Wednesday. For our American readers, prime ministers shuffle cabinet members every so often. Like the prime minister, all cabinet members are MPs (Members of Parliament).

Pablo Rodriguez, who has served 2 terms as the minister of Canadian heritage, is moving over to be the minister of transportation. Prime Minister Trudeau has selected MP Pascale St-Onge as the new minister of Canadian heritage.

St-Onge has only been in Parliament since September 20, 2021 representing the Brome—Missisquoi riding in southern Quebec. She has served in the cabinet as Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec since October 26, 2021.

St-Onge is the fourth person to hold this portfolio since Justin Trudeau became prime minister in 2015: Mélanie Joly (November 4, 2015-July 18, 2018); Pablo Rodriguez (July 18, 2018-November 20, 2019 and October 26, 2021-July 26, 2023); and Steven Guilbeault (November 20, 2019-October 26, 2021).

She is Canada's first openly lesbian cabinet minister.

Changing Canadian content definition should help deserving Canadian films

Pablo Rodríguez is back as heritage minister; What that means for a new Bill C-10

The CMA would like to congratulate the newly appointed Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Pascale St-Onge. We look forward to working with her.

To read the official release, click here: https://t.co/wRLisOnkEE@CdnHeritage @PascaleStOnge pic.twitter.com/OzKVW270Mw

— The CMA | L'AMC (@musecdn) July 26, 2023

The Canada Media Fund weighed in on the new minister.

St-Onge does have cultural experience, being the former president of the Fédération nationale des communications et de la culture. She has a lot of her plate with the ramifications of Bill C-11 (Canadian content) and Bill C-18 (Online News Act).

The bad news is that St-Onge is relatively inexperienced with a lot thrown at her in taking on a major portfolio. The good news is she isn't Pablo Rodriguez, who seemed untrustworthy, particularly on Bill C-11.

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian politics coverage

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All 4 MPs that Trudeau has selected for this portfolio have been from Quebec. That is generally a good sign since Quebec has a better sense of a film and television heritage than the rest of Canada has (sorry).

Our advice to St-Onge is to listen to those who create Canadian content, read our blog, ask Mélanie Joly for her perspective on the portfolio, and don't be afraid to lead.

We wish the new minister bonne chance | good luck in taking on a tough portfolio at a really rough time to be in charge.

photo credit: @PascaleStOnge_
Twitter capture: @musecdn

Touchdown Atlantic 2023 preview: CFL finally comes to Halifax

There is an excitement about finally having a regular season CFL game in Halifax. Then again, Nova Scotia has had extreme wildfires and now, massive flooding in the summer of 2023.

Touchdown Atlantic during the regular season has been in Moncton, New Brunswick and Wolfville, Nova Scotia in 2022. Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium, formerly Moncton Stadium, hosted regular season games in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2019.

Halifax did host a CFL exhibition game in 2005. The city was scheduled to host another preseason game in 2006 but that was cancelled thanks to the folding of the Ottawa Renegades.

The CFL scheduled a Touchdown Atlantic in 2020 in Halifax but we all know what happened to that game.

There were other CFL preseason games out east before the Touchdown Atlantic concept was born. Saint John, New Brunswick, hosted exhibition games in 1986 and 1987. The 1986 crowd was a sellout at 11,463 fans at Canada Games Stadium. The Ottawa Renegades and Montréal Alouettes had an exhibition game in Quebec City in 2003 at PEPS Stadium in front of 10,358.

Touchdown Atlantic 2022 showcased Nova Scotia and its love for the CFL

2022 CFL Week 6 preview: Touchdown Atlantic comes to Wolfville, NS

CFL finally puts a regular season game in Nova Scotia

Riderville at TDA, the Pre-game Tailgate and more.

Events at this month's #TDAtlantic have been announced ⤵️#CFL https://t.co/WFJErssd0Z

— CFL (@CFL) July 20, 2023

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will be the road team and the Toronto Argonauts will be the home team in Halifax on Saturday. These were the same 2 teams that played in Wolfville in 2022.

The CFL has a number of family friendly events surrounding the 2023 version of Touchdown Atlantic.

Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther played his university football at St. Mary's Stadium in Halifax, home of the 2023 Touchdown Atlantic game. Lauther is from Truro, Nova Scotia. Toronto linebacker Hénoc Muamba played for St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Though Muamba will be on the sidelines for this game, being back in Nova Scotia is a thrill for him.

Atlantic Schooners: the mysterious CFL team has a name and an ideal location in Halifax. The success of the Wanderers FC club leads to visions of a shared stadium. If you build it, they will come. Building the stadium has been the most difficult part of a possible 10th CFL team in Atlantic Canada.

Chris Cuthbert picks Stanley Cup final over TSN, jumps to Rogers Sportsnet

Chris Cuthbert called the exhibition game in Halifax for TSN in 2005. Cuthbert got to call a Grey Cup for every CFL team during his time at CBC and TSN. All the boxes have been checked, except for a regular season game in Halifax.

There is a soft spot for sneaking Cuthbert into the booth. We know the rivalry of Sportsnet and TSN wouldn't allow for a kind gesture.

CanadianCrossing.com Nova Scotia coverage

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

CanadianCrossing.com travel coverage

Yes, the CFL wants a 10th team and for that team to be in Atlantic Canada. Nova Scotia should also want the CFL to draw in tourists to visit Halifax as well as elsewhere in the province. Nova Scotia is a gorgeous place to be. More Canadians and yes, Americans, should see how wonderful Halifax is to visit.

Your humble narrator has been to every single CFL city and Moncton. The chase for a CFL game likely led me to Moncton and Regina. I found other great things to do in all of these Canadian cities.

I've been to Nova Scotia a couple of times. There are plenty of great day trips from Halifax such as Lunenberg and Peggy's Cove. I would love to go back for this game.

Touchdown Atlantic is about football but discovery of Nova Scotia is also on the agenda. If you are in Halifax for the game, have a donair, a true lobster roll, and plenty of good fried seafood.

The 2023 version of Touchdown Atlantic airs at 4 pm EDT (5 pm Halifax time) on Saturday from St. Mary's Stadium in Halifax. TSN will have the game in Canada with CBS Sports Network airing the TSN feed in the United States. CFL+ will have the game outside those countries. 

photo credit, Twitter capture, and video credit: @CFL

Canadian film review: Soft

Soft is actually kind of loud: a story of 3 young queer friends in Toronto enjoying summer and wanting to be older so they can get into dance clubs.

Our 3 friends are Julian (Matteus Lunot), Otis (Harlow Joy), and Tony (Zion Matheson). They have different levels of adult supervision, but they seem to spend a lot of time together, especially at night.

We see more of Dawn (Miyoko Anderson), who is not Julian's mother but acts in that role to Julian as well as Otis and Tony.

Julian is definitely the leader of the group. The dialogue of the 3 young people feels partially scripted with some improvisation. Joseph Amenta, writer and director, gives us what feels like real dialogue from gifted young actors.

There is a pool scene that adds a wrinkle where we don't want to give away what happens.

Those in Canada who frown on Toronto should see how exciting the city seems at night. Amenta showcases their excitement that makes you want to dress up and hit a club.

The film turns when Dawn goes missing. They seem to thrive without adult supervision but you see the vulnerability when Julian and the group lose their central adult role model. 

When we finally see Julian and Julian's mother, that scene will break your heart.

The one major drawback to the film is that the characters truly live in the moment so when events, minor or major, happen to them, we don't see any impact on their lives. You won't get that kind of closure in the film. 

2022 WIFF Canadian films in review: English

Soft reminded your humble narrator of the film Something You Said Last Night from Luis De Filippis that we saw last fall. De Filippis has talked about the idea of a film with a trans person where being trans isn't a big deal. We applaud that idea very much.

The world of Soft features a variety of people with different identifying categories and treats them with dignity. The difference between the films is Soft has more interesting characters doing more interesting things than what we saw in Something You Said Last Night. Both films are progress in making different worlds seem "normal."

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Soft places you in a world and you feel like you are there in the apartment, on the street, trying to sneak into a dance club. The film is a little intense, though most audiences should be fine. The main characters are enough to keep you interested in the story.

Soft premiered in the Discovery program at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.

video credit: YouTube/Level Film
photo credit: Soft

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for late July 2023

Welcome back to our coverage of Canadian films on the CBC. We've seen a few new films this summer, even to us, though they are Canadian films in name only.

In late July, 3 of the 4 films are familiar to us. Only 1 of the films in the next 2 weeks (Sleeping Giant) has any sense of Canada within the film.

CBC shows Canadian films on Saturday night before Hockey Night in Canada returns to the public broadcaster in October.

This summer, the CBC presentations are starting at 9 pm local time (9:30 pm in Newfoundland).

We were hoping for 3 Canadian films but the current pattern is 2 Canadian films in most weeks.

Still, this is a nice service from the public broadcaster.

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for early July 2023

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for late June 2023

A recap of CBC Saturday night Canadian films in the 2022 offseason

Here is the CBC Canadian films schedule for late July 2023.

July 22

9p Sweetness in the Belly (2019)
11:30p Funny Boy (2020)

July 29

9p Sleeping Giant (2015)
11p Brooklyn (2015)

Funny Boy disqualified as Canada entry for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars

A follow up to our Funny Boy Canadian film review

Canadian film review: Funny Boy

Our Funny Boy preview with debuts soon on CBC and Netflix

Sweetness in the Belly is definitely a Canadian film in name only. The screenwriter is Camilla Gibb, an English-born Canadian writer in Toronto. The film features Dakota Fanning and Kunal Nayyar.

We wrote a considerable amount about Funny Boy back in December 2020. The first half of the film is delightful. The second half of the film had so many problems. Start watching the film on July 22 and if you fall asleep halfway through, you won't feel so bad.

Canadian film review: Sleeping Giant

Canadian film case study: Brooklyn

Sleeping Giant is the debut film from Andrew Cividino, whom you may know from his work as a TV director on Schitt's Creek. The Cividino film fills the screen with male adolescence.

As we noted in 2016, "The scenes are a bit raw but they need to be to show the rituals of what many young boys go through in figuring out life and their place in it." Too bad Cividino didn't make another feature film (so far).

Sleeping Giant is very much a summer film so that will fit in nicely.

Brooklyn is a Canadian film in name only. Saoirse Ronan is very good in a film that feels more like about going back and forth than moving forward.

CanadianCrossing.com CBC coverage

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Yes, we praise a lot of Canadian films. Watching films with commercials isn't fun. These intriguing Canadian films address issues where Canadians should be familiar, even if they aren't in their regular wheelhouse.

Saturday nights during the hockey season means the NHL on CBC. Otherwise, CBC has Canadian films in store.

Canadians can choose to watch these Canadian films on CBC Gem. For a monthly fee, you can watch them without commercials.

logo credit: CBC
photo credits: Funny Boy; Sleeping Giant

2023 CFL Week 7 preview

Edmonton starts out the week with a trip to Winnipeg for Thursday Night Football. The Blue Bombers came off a tough road loss in Ottawa. Not a guaranteed win for the Blue Bombers but fairly certain.

The battle of southern Ontario gets an early debut at Tim Hortons Field on Friday night. Hamilton is riding a 2-game winning streak and could use a win over undefeated Toronto to contend for a playoff spot.

Saskatchewan gets to spend a late Saturday afternoon night in Vancouver. Mason Fine now leads the Roughriders after the devastating Trevor Harris injury. Saskatchewan needs some momentum but the BC Lions defence will have something to say.

Ottawa goes west to visit Calgary on Sunday night. The Stampeders hope this is a good chance to get their first home win of the season. The RedBlacks are winless on the road in 2023.

CBS Sports Network has the Saturday and Sunday games.

Montréal, like Toronto, gets its second bye week before August.

CBS Sports Network

Saturday
Saskatchewan @ BC, 7p
Sunday
Ottawa @ Calgary, 7p

TSN

Thursday
Edmonton @ Winnipeg, 8:30p
Friday
Toronto @ Hamilton, 7:30p
Saturday
Saskatchewan @ BC, 7p
Sunday
Ottawa @ Calgary, 7p

Bye week: Montréal

Edmonton Elks tie 1953 St. Louis Browns' all-time pro sports record with 20th consecutive home loss https://t.co/dIyOddIP0y#CFL #Elks #GoElks #ElksCharge pic.twitter.com/soZpfM5rsz

— 3DownNation (@3DownNation) July 14, 2023

The Edmonton Elks set a modern record for worst start in franchise history, going 0-6 for the first time since 1938 (the current franchise was founded in 1949). The team has lost 10 in a row in any stadium going back to 2022.

Edmonton tied the 1953 St. Louis Browns for the worst home losing streak in North American sports at 20 games.

Hamilton's Matthew Shiltz won his first CFL game as a starter against a West Division team. Previously, Shiltz had 10 CFL starts at quarterback, going 5-0 against East opponents and 0-5 against West teams.

The Tiger-Cats scored 24 unanswered points on a 3rd-quarter run. Taylor Powell came in for the injured Shiltz, who was placed on the 6-game injured list. Hamilton signed Antonio Pipkin as a veteran backup at quarterback.

The Elks might win by Labour Day, somewhere, but not likely in the next 30 days.

The Taylor Cornelius left-handed throw for a Pick 6 for the Tiger-Cats got Chris Jones to switch QBs to Jarret Doege. We aren't saying Tre Ford is the long-term answer but playing him is a smart move.

DIAL IT UP 📞#CFLGameday | @sskroughriders pic.twitter.com/TRYXclPbIy

— CFL (@CFL) July 16, 2023

This is not the game-winning play and not the team that won the game. This is the play people will claim they saw in person when they watched it on TV. 3rd and 24. Backup quarterback in place. Calgary's Jonathan Moxey going for the interception instead of knocking the ball down. Tevin Jones standing there: waiting for a deflection. Getting said deflection and somehow scoring all on the same play.

Calgary and Saskatchewan have split the first 2 games with the Roughriders having a 1-point advantage in the total points scored. You have to wait until October 13 in Calgary to find out the season series winner.

Mario Alford returned 2 punts for touchdowns to keep the Roughriders closer than they should have been.

Nothing about the play looked good. Trevor Harris was running for a first down. No slide. Harris suffered a tibial plateau fracture of his right knee midway through the 4th quarter. Harris is 37 years old. He will have the surgery with a chance to return sometime late this season.

Mason Fine should do well as the starter for Saskatchewan. The suggestions from 3 Down Nation for Edmonton and Ottawa should also apply to Saskatchewan and Hamilton. Someone sign Michael O'Connor.

2023 CFL Week 6 preview

2023 CFL Week 5 preview

Watched the first half of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Ottawa. The sarcastic cheer when the RedBlacks finally got a first down. As much as the CFL tells us that no lead is safe, you figured Winnipeg would do enough to win in the nation's capital.

Dustin Crum had impressed with his legs. His arm and receivers did a lot better in the second half.

We don't see too many upsets these days in the CFL. Good to see an upset happen that was very unexpected. Ottawa has a 2-game home winning streak.

2023 CFL Week 4 preview: Canada Day weekend

2023 CFL Week 3 preview

The Alouettes made things close against Toronto. This game got pushed down on the excitement list, given how the Saturday doubleheader went. Still, Montréal was tied with Toronto at the 3-minute warning in the second half. The Argos had a lot of penalties but remain the only CFL team to be undefeated.

2023 CFL Week 2 preview

Montréal, Hamilton, and Ottawa got to 2-3 in very different ways. The Alouettes beat the other 2 teams in divisional play, so Montréal has the edge. Figuring the Toronto Argonauts will win the East, the winner gets a home playoff game, the second team might make the playoffs (crossover, perhaps), and the third team won't make the playoffs.

In terms of a potential crossover, Calgary is also 2-3.

2023 CFL Week 1 preview

The CBS Sports Network audience got to see the overtime-winning Dustin Crum run in Ottawa. This is the encouraging sign for potential similar scenarios.

We've seen CFL+ skip past the kickoff winner intro at times as well as the halftime statistics. The CFL+ coverage should reflect every on-air moment from TSN.

2023 CFL preview

2023 CFL preseason schedule

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

WHAT IS HAPPENING!? with Dustin Nielson 😂 pic.twitter.com/ktYHVLJuoM

— JayOnSC (@JayOnSC) July 17, 2023

Dustin Nielson and Glen Suitor with Ryan Rishaug got to watch history in Edmonton on Thursday night. Marshall Ferguson and Duane Forde were with Kenzie Lalonde in Montréal in a much closer game than expected on Friday.

Rod Smith and Forde with Matthew Scianitti were in the nation's capital on Saturday afternoon. This was Smith's first CFL game in the month of July. We don't ask where or why; we hope Smith and his world is in good shape in every way possible.

Nielson and Suitor with Brit Dort finished the doubleheader in Regina on Saturday.

Paul LaPolice hung out with Smith and Forde. Turns out LaPolice will do a few games as a colour analyst. We have talked about the turnover on the play by play side. TSN experimented with Henry Burris as a game analyst before the pandemic; otherwise Suitor, Forde, and Dunigan have been the only 3 game analysts.

We got to see one of the old CFL on TSN play by play guard at the game in Edmonton Thursday night. Gord Miller was talking with CFL commissioner Randy Ambroisie and, in a separate conversation, Edmonton legend quarterback Ricky Ray. Miller is from Edmonton.

Suitor made the joke that Miller would suggest a rule change to Ambroisie. We know Miller has cut back on his workload in recent years. Would be nice to include Miller somehow in the CFL coverage, maybe in the role Brian Williams used to do for the CFL on CBC and later on TSN. Miller and Matt Dunigan were a fun team to watch when you could get them together for a game.

logo credit: CFL
Twitter captures: @3DownNation; @CFL; @JayOnSC

Canadian film review: Barney's Version

You may have seen Barney's Version years ago as a "regular" film and not even thought the film was Canadian. There are prominent non-Canadian actors in the cast. Turns out Barney's Version is sufficiently Canadian that this isn't even a co-production with another country.

Barney's Version is the movie adaptation of the Mordecai Richler novel. You might recall the movie adaptation of another Richler novel The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz.

Barney Panofsky (American actor Paul Giamatti) is a larger than life character. Barney has a best friend Boogie (Scott Speedman). We follow Barney through the path of his 3 wives, including meeting his third wife (British actor Rosamund Pike) at the wedding to his second wife (British actor Minnie Driver).

Barney is a huge Montréal Canadiens fan, getting game updates during his second wedding.

Boogie goes missing part way through the film. A rouge detective is convinced Barney is the suspect.

Barney is a man of many triumphs and failures. We see where he gets some of that from his father Izzy (American actor Dustin Hoffman).

There are quite a few Canadians further down on the callsheet. Besides Speedman, the film features Rachelle Lefevre (as the first wife), Anna Hopkins, Bruce Greenwood, Clé Bennett, Saul Rubinek, Harvey Atkin, and Macha Grenon. There are also cameos by Canadian directors Atom Egoyan, David Cronenberg, Paul Gross, Denys Arcand, and Ted Kotcheff.

Michael Konyves adapted the screenplay from the Richler novel and Richard J. Lewis was the director. They do a good job at sticking closely to the story.

Barney is a rather annoying character and he dominates the film. The story is entertaining, more if you want to see a lot of Paul Giamatti being a jerk. You will be surprised to find out this character has success with the ladies and not so surprised about the failures.

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

The 2010 film was nominated for 11 Genie Awards and won 7 awards. Giamatti, Hoffman, and Driver all won acting awards.  

Barney's Version was available recently on Hulu in the United States and is available on CBC Gem in Canada.

video credit: YouTube/Universal Pictures UK
photo credit: Barney's Version

Checking out the 23 best Canadian film comedies

We think we know Canadian comedy. Canadian television is known for comedy. Canadian film? Not so much.

How can Canadians, a funny people, not translate humour into Canadian film?

Barry Hertz from The Globe and Mail recently compiled a list of the 23 best Canadian comedies. You might be thinking that we are going to rip this list. Normally, you would be correct. For the most part, this is a beautiful collection of Canadian films that have funny elements.

As we noted in our review of The Wrong Guy, the film that was at the top of the list, funny is subjective. Maps to the Stars is not a comedy but has some funny moments.

We have seen 19 of the 23 titles: exceptions being BlackBerry, Psycho Goreman, Hobo with a Shotgun, and The Exchange.

2 of these films — Turning Red and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World — do not technically qualify as Canadian films. Yet they are welcome additions to the list.

Let's see the list:

1. The Wrong Guy (1997) David Steinberg
2. Strange Brew (1983) Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas
3. BlackBerry (2023) Matt Johnson
4. Goon (2011) Michael Dowse
5. Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy (1996) Kelly Makin
6. Le déclin de l’empire Américain (1986) Denys Arcand
7. I Like Movies (2022) Chandler Levack
8. Fubar (2002) Michael Dowse
9. Turning Red (2022) Domee Shi
10. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) Edgar Wright
11. La grande séduction (2003) Jean-François Pouliot
12. Meatballs (1979) Ivan Reitman
13. Psycho Goreman (2020) Steven Kostanski
14. The F Word (2013) Michael Dowse
15. Crime Wave (1985) John Paizs
16. The Twentieth Century (2019) Matthew Rankin
17. Maps to the Stars (2014) David Cronenberg
18. My Internship in Canada (2015) Philippe Falardeau
19. Coopers' Camera (2008) Warren P. Sonoda
20. Hobo with a Shotgun (2011) Jason Eisener
21. Starbuck (2011) Ken Scott
22. waydowntown (2000) Gary Burns
23. The Exchange (2021) Dan Mazer

Michael Dowse has 3 films on this list: Goon, Fubar, and The F Word. Not sure if the last film is a "comedy" but we accept it for this list. Ken Scott wrote La grande séduction and wrote and directed Starbuck.

6 of the 23 films have been released in the last 5 years: BlackBerry, I Like Movies, Turning Red, Psycho Goreman, The Twentieth Century, and The Exchange. Maybe that is hope for more Canadian comedy in film.

There are a few underappreciated titles that tickled your humble narrator's funny bone: 

• I Like Movies (2022) Chandler Levack
• Crime Wave (1985) John Paizs
• The Twentieth Century (2019) Matthew Rankin
• My Internship in Canada (2015) Philippe Falardeau
• Coopers’ Camera (2008) Warren P. Sonoda
• waydowntown (2000) Gary Burns

Hertz left off the Trailer Park Boys, which is fine with me. He left off Guy Maddin, which is a choice. The only Maddin film I would put on the list is The Saddest Music in the World.

Meatballs belongs on this list. Every time I've seen it, I keep asking "why wasn't this film funnier?"

Hertz makes a note about the few films David Steinberg has directed, including The Wrong Guy. We would make an argument for one of those films: Going Berserk belongs on the list. The film is helped by SCTV vets John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Joe Flaherty. Dana Olsen (whom I met briefly many years ago) and Steinberg wrote the script.

Going Berserk is a silly film in many ways. Its Kung Fu U parody, Murphy Dunne as a drug-taking legal defender, the hypnotism sequences. A film where I laugh out loud, which is damn rare, Canadian film or not. 

Adventures in Public School is another Canadian film that would go on my list. The humour is quiet and subtle, very Canadian, and is a wonderful film as well.

Canadian film review: The Wrong Guy

CBC Arts explores the 50 greatest films directed by Canadians

Drive-ins are making a comeback: Here are some Canadian films to show

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

If your funny bone responds better to over-the-top American comedies or the farcical element of French comedies, Canadian comedy films will feel way too subtle for your sense of humour.

If you aren't sure, you have a really good list of Canadian comedies to test your funny bone.

photo credits: waydowntown; I Like Movies

Alex DeBrincat leaves the Ottawa Senators in part to search for a nearby Chipotle

Alex DeBrincat is an American hockey player. The Ottawa Senators had a chance to get DeBrincat from Chicago for 3 significant draft picks. Unfortunately, after a year in Ottawa, DeBrincat had to be traded to try and get some value instead of nothing if he left for free agency. The Senators traded DeBrincat to Detroit (he's from Michigan) for far less than they spent to get him. The Red Wings signed DeBrincat quickly to a 4-year extension.

This is sadly a struggle for Canadian NHL teams to lure talent north of the border. We've heard stories about taxes, difficulties in reuniting families, different school systems, the French language in Ottawa and Montréal. The Alex DeBrincat story includes an odd twist we hadn't anticipated.

The Senators play in Kanata, a suburb well west of downtown. The team would love to build a new arena in LeBreton Flats in the downtown core.

Turns out one of the issues DeBrincat had in playing in Ottawa was the lack of a Chipotle in the west end of Ottawa. There is a Chipotle in downtown Ottawa in the CF Rideau Centre on the map above at 50 Rideau Street. That would be decently close to the new potential arena in LeBreton Flats.

Ottawa GM Pierre Dorion joked about getting another Chipotle location when DeBrincat was not happy knowing there were no nearby locations where the team played and practiced.

DeBrincat, 24 and 25 in all of this saga, might have wondered about this strange land, meaning Canada, where one could not easily score Chipotle food.

DeBrincat will be in the Detroit area, which has a few randomly scattered Chipotle locations. There are no locations within a close range of Little Caesars Arena, where the Red Wings play. Perhaps DeBrincat will live in a Detroit suburb near a Chipotle. Maybe Detroit management will convince Chipotle to have a location near the downtown Detroit arena.

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We are poking a bit of fun at DeBrincat but Canada is a different country than the United States. There are a few Whole Foods and no Trader Joe's. Toronto and Vancouver can offer more "American" options than Winnipeg or Edmonton. You could find more interesting Mexican food in Ottawa than a Chipotle but that would seem foreign in a lot of ways to a young American hockey player.

Your humble narrator lives a mile from a Chipotle. Don't give that too much thought since I mostly cook at home. If I lived in Canada, I would find new places to enjoy certain foods if I were trying to make a new place feel like home. Then again, I am not an American hockey player searching for well-known Mexican food.

Friends of mine have a son who just played American football in southern France. He did very well on the gridiron. There must have been a cultural shock to being in a different country. Maybe he was hungry for Chipotle or some other American food. He was there to get a chance to play the game he loves and have a new cultural experience. Playing football in southern France; Playing in the NHL in Ottawa. Not the same but a new experience for those who can appreciate something different.

photo credit: Google maps

2023 Toronto Blue Jays second half preview

The 2023 Toronto Blue Jays had 5 all-star representatives in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game in Seattle: Whit Merrifield and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (3rd appearance), Kevin Gausman and Bo Bichette (2nd appearance). This was the first appearance for Merrifield and Gausman in a Toronto uniform.

Jordan Romano was a late add to the American League squad, his second All-Star appearance. Romano checks the boxes for Canadian players and Blue Jays players. Guerrero was also born in Canada.

Former Blue Jays player Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was on the National League team from Arizona. Former Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman made the squad from the Chicago Cubs. Former Toronto 2nd baseman Marcus Semien was the starter from Texas.

Freddie Freeman (Canadian) was the starting 1st baseman from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Gausman wasn't able to pitch in the All-Star Game since he pitched on Saturday in Detroit.

Guerrero Jr. went 0-for-2. Bichette added a sacrifice fly, going 0-for-1. Romano only threw 5 pitches before withdrawing to back tightness, going ⅓ of an inning. Merrifield had a single, 1 of 7 hits by the American League. The National League got its first All-Star win since 2012 with a 3-2 victory in Seattle.

Four years later, he came back for the title 💥 #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/QuHVKofk2I

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 11, 2023

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit 26, 21, and 25 home runs to get through 3 rounds to a victory in the 2023 MLB Home Run Derby. After hitting 91 home runs in 2019 and losing in that format, his time in the derby seemed done.

Guerrero and his father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., are now the first father-son to win the derby. The senior player won the 2007 Home Run Derby in San Francisco.

Guerrero defeated Mookie Betts (LA Dodgers), Julio Rodríguez (Seattle), and Randy Arozarena (Tampa Bay) for the win.

We would guess that the ESPN graphic about where Guerrero was born was meant for Arozarena. The graphic said Guerrero was born in Cuba. Not even close. Guerrero is of Dominican heritage and was born in Montréal in Canada.

Omg @tenilletownes 😍 pic.twitter.com/VzhtJyBWp9

— Tricia (@tricia_nh) July 12, 2023

Canadian country star Tenille Townes sang O Canada before the 2023 All-Star Game in Seattle. We searched for vocal proof but settled for visual proof. Once again, MLB (aka Rob Manfred) and MLB on Fox refused to air the Canadian national anthem.

We do want to thank Buffalo country station 106.5 WYRK for labeling this "Massive Mistake? Baseball Fans Blasting FOX Sports' Anthem Debacle."

While WYRK is new to this phenomem, MLB has been this rude to Canada for well over a decade now.

A bit insulting to play only the U.S. national anthem before the Home Run Derby, even with a Toronto player in the mix, who won the derby.

MLB, Rob Manfred, MLB on Fox need to stop disrespecting Canada

The Toronto Blue Jays went into the All-Star Game break with a 50-41 record. The Blue Jays are 7 games out behind Tampa Bay in the American League East Division. Toronto would qualify as a wild card team at the moment. The Blue Jays are 23-18 at home and 27-23 on the road, which also means more home games in the second half of the season. The division is so tight that the Blue Jays are only 2 games ahead of the last place Boston Red Sox.

The last no-hitter (before today) against the @BlueJays was Justin Verlander on September 1, 2019. This is the second no-hitter by the @Tigers of the #BlueJays, also by Verlander. @MLB

— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) July 8, 2023

Matt Manning (6⅔), Jason Foley (1⅓), and Alex Lange (1) pitched the first combined no-hitter in Detroit history and the first one against the Blue Jays on July 8. The other Detroit no-hitter against the Blue Jays came from Justin Verlander, who has no-hit Toronto twice in his career.

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Rogers Centre renovations help but Canada still needs a really good baseball stadium

2023 Toronto Blue Jays preview

2023 Toronto Blue Jays spring training schedule

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The Toronto Blue Jays start the second half of the 2023 season with a homestand with the surprising Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno come back home to Rogers Centre.

Arizona is in July 14-16 (7:07 pm, 3:07 pm, and 1:37 pm) while San Diego is in July 18-20 (7:07 pm, 7:07 pm, and 1:07 pm) before the Jays go west to see Teoscar Hernandez in Seattle and visit the Los Angeles Dodgers.

MLB Extra Innings might run a free preview after the All-Star Game break. Check your local listings.

photos credit: @BlueJays
Twitter captures: @BlueJays; @tricia_nh; @canadian_xing