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A Deep Dive into the Legendary Film Directors

Published

12 months ago

November 29, 2023

There’s no doubt that Canada boasts a rich tapestry of cinematic brilliance. Several film directors have left an indelible mark on the global stage. These icons have not only shaped the landscape of cinema but have also left an enduring legacy. Through their unique storytelling and visual prowess, they have become true legends in the world of film. And if you’re Live betting odds are as adrenaline-rushing as these directors’ works, you’ll be more than happy to update your watch list.

1. David Cronenberg: Master of the Macabre

Known for pushing the boundaries of the horror genre, David Cronenberg has earned his place among the cinematic elite. From classics like “The Fly” and “Videodrome,” Cronenberg’s films often explore unique themes. These include the intersection of technology, the human body, and societal anxieties. Despite some controversies, his knack for unsettling audiences has made him a respected figure. You’ll definitely love to watch his blockbuster hits when you’re done reading the blog.tonybet.com.

In Cronenberg’s early films like “Shivers” (1975) and “Rabid” (1977), he kicked off the body horror trend. This kind of horror digs into how our bodies go through wild changes, both physically and mentally. Cronenberg was all about the weird mix of human flesh and machines, showing it in strange and surreal scenes, making it a big part of his unique style.

The psychological and existential aspects are evident in “Videodrome” (1983) and “Dead Ringers” (1988). “Videodrome” seeks the disturbing intersection of technology and the human mind. “Dead Ringers” explores the psychological unraveling of identical twins. Both films exemplify Cronenberg’s ability to create challenging narratives within the horror framework.

“The Brood” (1979) and “Scanners” (1981) further solidified Cronenberg’s reputation as a master of body horror. “The Brood” explores the psychological implications of repressed emotions. “Scanners,” on the other hand, introduces individuals with telepathic and telekinetic abilities.

His impact on the horror and science fiction genres is immeasurable. Whatever films you’ve seen by him, they’ve inspired a new generation of filmmakers and critics. In fact, the term “Cronenbergian” is often used to describe works that share his thematic and stylistic preoccupations. His willingness to challenge societal norms has contributed to his enduring legacy in the world of cinema.

2. Atom Egoyan: Crafting Intricate Narratives

Atom Egoyan is a Canadian filmmaker of Armenian descent. He is renowned for his ability to craft intricate narratives that examine the complexities of the human psyche. The director combines a fascination with technology and a penchant for nonlinear storytelling. This, paired with a deep exploration of cultural histories, makes his filmmaking style quite unique.

His career took off in the 1980s with films like “Next of Kin” and “Family Viewing,” which hinted at his unique storytelling approach. Even in these early works, Egoyan demonstrated a fascination with the impact of technology on human connections. This became a theme that would become a hallmark of his filmography.

Egoyan gained international recognition with “Exotica” (1994), a film that weaves a complex web of relationships in a strip club. It explores themes of desire, loss, and emotional connection. The Sweet Hereafter” (1997), based on Russell Banks’ novel, further solidified his reputation. With its nonlinear narrative structure, the film examines the aftermath of a tragic school bus accident in a small town. It earned critical acclaim and Academy Award nominations.

Egoyan’s films often delve into the intricacies of identity and the impact of technology on human relationships. He also uses the concept of the unreliability of memory in his films. In “Felicia’s Journey” and “Ararat,” he explores the interplay between personal and cultural histories. This adds layers of complexity to his narratives. His storytelling is marked by a willingness to challenge audiences with thought-provoking themes.

Egoyan is known for taking artistic risks, including adapting challenging material for the screen. With the willingness to tackle complex narratives, he stands out as a filmmaker unafraid to push the boundaries.

3. Denis Villeneuve: From Quebec to Hollywood Heights

Denis Villeneuve’s ascent to Hollywood stardom has been nothing short of spectacular. With films such as “Arrival” and “Blade Runner 2049,” Villeneuve has demonstrated a mastery of visual storytelling. While controversies are scarce in his career, his ability to tackle genres with finesse has elevated him to legendary status.

Villeneuve’s breakthrough came with “Incendies” in 2010, a film that received international acclaim. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The emotionally charged narrative showcased Villeneuve’s ability to handle complex and powerful stories.

His foray into science fiction elevated him to new heights. “Arrival” (2016), for example, was a cerebral and visually stunning exploration of communication and time. The movie got a lot of love and even scored him a nod for Best Director at the Academy Awards. After that big win, he tackled the challenge of directing “Blade Runner 2049” (2017), a follow-up to the classic original. People praised the film for looking visually stunning and having a deep story.

Villeneuve’s signature style is marked by meticulous attention to detail and atmospheric tension. He also uses a visual language that immerses audiences in the worlds he creates. His collaborations with cinematographer Roger Deakins have been particularly noteworthy.

Villeneuve’s films often tackle complex themes with a nuanced touch. This has earned him a reputation for delivering intellectual depth and emotional resonance.

4. Sarah Polley: A Directorial Force and Storytelling Sensation

Sarah Polley’s transition from acclaimed actress to director has been remarkable. Her impact on Canadian cinema is characterized by a commitment to authentic narratives.

Sarah Polley began her career as an actress, gaining prominence in films like “The Sweet Hereafter” and “Exotica.” Her early success as an actress laid the foundation for a transition into filmmaking. She soon established herself as a directorial force.

She made a striking directorial debut with “Away from Her” in 2006, an adaptation of Alice Munro’s short story “The Bear Came Over the Mountain.” The film explores the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on a long-term marriage. And, of course, it garnered widespread critical acclaim. Julie Christie’s performance earned an Academy Award nomination, and Polley’s direction marked her as a talent to watch.

Films like “Take This Waltz” and “Stories We Tell,” explore the intricate dynamics of human relationships. Polley’s storytelling is marked by its emotional depth and a keen understanding of the human condition. Her ability to navigate the nuances of interpersonal connections sets her apart as a director.

5. James Cameron: The Visionary Blockbuster Maestro

No exploration of Canadian directors would be complete without James Cameron. Renowned for his blockbuster epics, Cameron’s ability to create stunning spectacles is unparalleled. Often hailed as “The Visionary Blockbuster Maestro,” he has left an indelible mark on the film industry. His visionary storytelling and technological innovation have captivated global audiences. And Cameron’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary.

He directed two blockbuster films that became iconic in cinema history. “Titanic” (1997) not only took the world by storm but also snagged 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. “Avatar” (2009) revolutionized filmmaking by introducing groundbreaking 3D technology. It actually set new standards for immersive cinematic experiences.

Cameron also places a strong emphasis on authentic storytelling and character development. Despite the grandiosity of his films, the emotional resonance of the characters remains a central focus. This balance between jaw-dropping visuals and relatable stories contributes to his enduring appeal.

Despite his successes, Cameron’s ambitious projects often come with challenges and controversies. The production of “Titanic” faced numerous obstacles. These included budget overruns and skepticism from the industry. “Avatar” was also a massive undertaking that tested the limits of technology and resources. However, his ability to overcome these challenges speaks to his commitment to his creative vision.

6. Xavier Dolan: The Wunderkind of Quebec Cinema

Xavier Dolan stands out as a prodigious talent in the realm of Quebec cinema. He has earned the title “The Wunderkind” for his remarkable achievements at a young age. Dolan’s directorial debut, “I Killed My Mother,” catapulted him into the international spotlight. It also showcased his extraordinary capabilities as a filmmaker.

The film received standing ovations and three awards. The latter included the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight Art Cinema Award. The movie is about the rocky relationship between a young gay man and his mother. It explores themes of love, identity, and familial conflicts with a depth and maturity that belied Dolan’s age.

Dolan is known for his distinctive visual style, characterized by bold colors and dynamic camerawork. His films often feature intense emotional narratives. This unique blend of visual flair and emotional depth has become a hallmark of Dolan’s work.

7. Jean-Marc Vallée: Crafting Emotional Landscapes

Jean-Marc Vallée is recognized for films that show the complexities of human relationships. “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Wild” garnered critical acclaim for their powerful storytelling. He connects with audiences by capturing raw emotions.

Vallée’s career began in the world of French-language cinema. He gained recognition for films like “C.R.A.Z.Y.” (2005), a coming-of-age drama that explores themes of identity and acceptance. Even in these early works, Vallée displayed a talent for portraying nuanced emotions.

Vallée gained international recognition with “The Young Victoria” (2009). The film is a period drama that explores the early years of Queen Victoria’s reign. Its success demonstrated Vallée’s versatility as a director. It showcased his ability to navigate historical narratives.

“Dallas Buyers Club” (2013) marked a pivotal moment in Vallée’s career. The film, based on the true story of Ron Woodroof’s battle with AIDS, received widespread acclaim. It earned several Academy Awards, including Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. Vallée’s direction was praised for its raw emotional impact and authenticity.

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STD epidemic slows as new syphilis and gonorrhea cases fall in US

Published

7 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. syphilis epidemic slowed dramatically last year, gonorrhea cases fell and chlamydia cases remained below prepandemic levels, according to federal data released Tuesday.

The numbers represented some good news about sexually transmitted diseases, which experienced some alarming increases in past years due to declining condom use, inadequate sex education, and reduced testing and treatment when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Last year, cases of the most infectious stages of syphilis fell 10% from the year before — the first substantial decline in more than two decades. Gonorrhea cases dropped 7%, marking a second straight year of decline and bringing the number below what it was in 2019.

“I’m encouraged, and it’s been a long time since I felt that way” about the nation’s epidemic of sexually transmitted infections, said the CDC’s Dr. Jonathan Mermin. “Something is working.”

More than 2.4 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia were diagnosed and reported last year — 1.6 million cases of chlamydia, 600,000 of gonorrhea, and more than 209,000 of syphilis.

Syphilis is a particular concern. For centuries, it was a common but feared infection that could deform the body and end in death. New cases plummeted in the U.S. starting in the 1940s when infection-fighting antibiotics became widely available, and they trended down for a half century after that. By 2002, however, cases began rising again, with men who have sex with other men being disproportionately affected.

The new report found cases of syphilis in their early, most infectious stages dropped 13% among gay and bisexual men. It was the first such drop since the agency began reporting data for that group in the mid-2000s.

However, there was a 12% increase in the rate of cases of unknown- or later-stage syphilis — a reflection of people infected years ago.

Cases of syphilis in newborns, passed on from infected mothers, also rose. There were nearly 4,000 cases, including 279 stillbirths and infant deaths.

“This means pregnant women are not being tested often enough,” said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a professor of medicine at the University of Southern California.

What caused some of the STD trends to improve? Several experts say one contributor is the growing use of an antibiotic as a “morning-after pill.” Studies have shown that taking doxycycline within 72 hours of unprotected sex cuts the risk of developing syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.

In June, the CDC started recommending doxycycline as a morning-after pill, specifically for gay and bisexual men and transgender women who recently had an STD diagnosis. But health departments and organizations in some cities had been giving the pills to people for a couple years.

Some experts believe that the 2022 mpox outbreak — which mainly hit gay and bisexual men — may have had a lingering effect on sexual behavior in 2023, or at least on people’s willingness to get tested when strange sores appeared.

Another factor may have been an increase in the number of health workers testing people for infections, doing contact tracing and connecting people to treatment. Congress gave $1.2 billion to expand the workforce over five years, including $600 million to states, cities and territories that get STD prevention funding from CDC.

Last year had the “most activity with that funding throughout the U.S.,” said David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors.

However, Congress ended the funds early as a part of last year’s debt ceiling deal, cutting off $400 million. Some people already have lost their jobs, said a spokeswoman for Harvey’s organization.

Still, Harvey said he had reasons for optimism, including the growing use of doxycycline and a push for at-home STD test kits.

Also, there are reasons to think the next presidential administration could get behind STD prevention. In 2019, then-President Donald Trump announced a campaign to “eliminate” the U.S. HIV epidemic by 2030. (Federal health officials later clarified that the actual goal was a huge reduction in new infections — fewer than 3,000 a year.)

There were nearly 32,000 new HIV infections in 2022, the CDC estimates. But a boost in public health funding for HIV could also also help bring down other sexually transmitted infections, experts said.

“When the government puts in resources, puts in money, we see declines in STDs,” Klausner said.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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World’s largest active volcano Mauna Loa showed telltale warning signs before erupting in 2022

Published

7 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Anne Joseph

WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientists can’t know precisely when a volcano is about to erupt, but they can sometimes pick up telltale signs.

That happened two years ago with the world’s largest active volcano. About two months before Mauna Loa spewed rivers of glowing orange molten lava, geologists detected small earthquakes nearby and other signs, and they warned residents on Hawaii‘s Big Island.

Now a study of the volcano’s lava confirms their timeline for when the molten rock below was on the move.

“Volcanoes are tricky because we don’t get to watch directly what’s happening inside – we have to look for other signs,” said Erik Klemetti Gonzalez, a volcano expert at Denison University, who was not involved in the study.

Upswelling ground and increased earthquake activity near the volcano resulted from magma rising from lower levels of Earth’s crust to fill chambers beneath the volcano, said Kendra Lynn, a research geologist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and co-author of a new study in Nature Communications.

When pressure was high enough, the magma broke through brittle surface rock and became lava – and the eruption began in late November 2022. Later, researchers collected samples of volcanic rock for analysis.

The chemical makeup of certain crystals within the lava indicated that around 70 days before the eruption, large quantities of molten rock had moved from around 1.9 miles (3 kilometers) to 3 miles (5 kilometers) under the summit to a mile (2 kilometers) or less beneath, the study found. This matched the timeline the geologists had observed with other signs.

The last time Mauna Loa erupted was in 1984. Most of the U.S. volcanoes that scientists consider to be active are found in Hawaii, Alaska and the West Coast.

Worldwide, around 585 volcanoes are considered active.

Scientists can’t predict eruptions, but they can make a “forecast,” said Ben Andrews, who heads the global volcano program at the Smithsonian Institution and who was not involved in the study.

Andrews compared volcano forecasts to weather forecasts – informed “probabilities” that an event will occur. And better data about the past behavior of specific volcanos can help researchers finetune forecasts of future activity, experts say.

(asterisk)We can look for similar patterns in the future and expect that there’s a higher probability of conditions for an eruption happening,” said Klemetti Gonzalez.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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Waymo’s robotaxis now open to anyone who wants a driverless ride in Los Angeles

Published

8 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Anne Joseph

Waymo on Tuesday opened its robotaxi service to anyone who wants a ride around Los Angeles, marking another milestone in the evolution of self-driving car technology since the company began as a secret project at Google 15 years ago.

The expansion comes eight months after Waymo began offering rides in Los Angeles to a limited group of passengers chosen from a waiting list that had ballooned to more than 300,000 people. Now, anyone with the Waymo One smartphone app will be able to request a ride around an 80-square-mile (129-square-kilometer) territory spanning the second largest U.S. city.

After Waymo received approval from California regulators to charge for rides 15 months ago, the company initially chose to launch its operations in San Francisco before offering a limited service in Los Angeles.

Before deciding to compete against conventional ride-hailing pioneers Uber and Lyft in California, Waymo unleashed its robotaxis in Phoenix in 2020 and has been steadily extending the reach of its service in that Arizona city ever since.

Driverless rides are proving to be more than just a novelty. Waymo says it now transports more than 50,000 weekly passengers in its robotaxis, a volume of business numbers that helped the company recently raise $5.6 billion from its corporate parent Alphabet and a list of other investors that included venture capital firm Andreesen Horowitz and financial management firm T. Rowe Price.

“Our service has matured quickly and our riders are embracing the many benefits of fully autonomous driving,” Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said in a blog post.

Despite its inroads, Waymo is still believed to be losing money. Although Alphabet doesn’t disclose Waymo’s financial results, the robotaxi is a major part of an “Other Bets” division that had suffered an operating loss of $3.3 billion through the first nine months of this year, down from a setback of $4.2 billion at the same time last year.

But Waymo has come a long way since Google began working on self-driving cars in 2009 as part of project “Chauffeur.” Since its 2016 spinoff from Google, Waymo has established itself as the clear leader in a robotaxi industry that’s getting more congested.

Electric auto pioneer Tesla is aiming to launch a rival “Cybercab” service by 2026, although its CEO Elon Musk said he hopes the company can get the required regulatory clearances to operate in Texas and California by next year.

Tesla’s projected timeline for competing against Waymo has been met with skepticism because Musk has made unfulfilled promises about the company’s self-driving car technology for nearly a decade.

Meanwhile, Waymo’s robotaxis have driven more than 20 million fully autonomous miles and provided more than 2 million rides to passengers without encountering a serious accident that resulted in its operations being sidelined.

That safety record is a stark contrast to one of its early rivals, Cruise, a robotaxi service owned by General Motors. Cruise’s California license was suspended last year after one of its driverless cars in San Francisco dragged a jaywalking pedestrian who had been struck by a different car driven by a human.

Cruise is now trying to rebound by joining forces with Uber to make some of its services available next year in U.S. cities that still haven’t been announced. But Waymo also has forged a similar alliance with Uber to dispatch its robotaxi in Atlanta and Austin, Texas next year.

Another robotaxi service, Amazon’s Zoox, is hoping to begin offering driverless rides to the general public in Las Vegas at some point next year before also launching in San Francisco.

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