THE BLIND SIDE: FACTOR OR NON-FACTOR?

You're probably well aware that I am a huge fan of the film The Blind Side if you've been following my blog.  There is some debate building around the film right now in whether or not it will be a factor at the Oscars.  Commercially it is a smash success already making $186 million to-date and critically, the consensus is favourable.  However, family-oriented sports dramas generally don't gain the respect of the Academy and this is the issue.  I for one, feel the film is one of the year's best, and I've seen most of the contenders other than The Hurt Locker.

To date the film itself has failed to receive any nominations in any of the precursor award ceremonies leading up to the Oscars.  Sandra Bullock in the very least continues to bring in the nominations for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy, garnering nods in the important Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild awards.

ABC will be airing an hour-long special this Friday, January 1, 2010 on 20/20 at 8 PM EST all about The Blind Side, in a perfectly-timed push to sway some attention its way for Best Picture consideration.  The special will feature interviews with Tuohy and Michael Oher, whom the film centers around, and the film's cast members.  Should be interesting.

SEX & THE CITY 2 TRAILER AND POSTER. AIDAN'S BACK!

This official poster of Carrie Bradshaw is signature Markus Klinko & Indrani, who were responsible for Mariah Carey's Emancipation of Mimi photography; surreal and Photoshopped to the hilt. Loves it.

Is it possible for a film to look even more glamorous than this trailer below? Didn't love the first movie, but how can I not support anything from this franchise?  The girls and I are like BFFs.  We go way back.  And guess what? Aidan's back!  Sex & The City 2 hits theatres May 28, 2010.

PRODUCT WATCH: GLEE SEASON 1, VOLUME 1 - ROAD TO SECTIONALS

Yes!  It's finally out. If you've been watching it on and off or not at all,

now is the perfect time to catch up on the greatest hour in television.  EVER.

xW$LL

REVIEW: KE$HA - ANIMAL

Nashville-raised Ke$ha has accomplished in a very short career, what many artists will never accomplish in a lifetime.  Having appeared on Flo Rida’s worldwide smash hit Right Round as an uncredited guest vocalist, she has achieved a number one hit in the U.S. and many other parts of the world including Canada and Australia with debut single Tik Tok.  I admit though that I am still not sold on her and don’t quite know why it is.  I will not deny though that her RCA Records debut Animal, has many great moments.  

If I could describe her, I would say that her sound and phrasing are much like that of Katy Perry circa Hot N’ Cold, versus Waking Up in Vegas Perry.  Her sing-speaking cuts a slice out of the cake known as Britney Spears’ already loyal fan base, and her Nashville sensibility comes out in that carefree twang of hers.

Animal see-saws between two elements of Ke$ha’s personality: party girl and introvert.  There is the flirty party girl we hear on the popular first single who brushes her teeth with Jack Daniels in the morning and self-described “lovesick crackhead” who obsesses over boys on the ulta-fun Your Love is My Drug.  Take it Off is one-part electro dance romp with a unique street-smart sensibility.  Kiss N Tell is all sorts of overt, scolding an unfaithful boyfriend for “acting like a slut while she was gone”.  Backstabber calls out any girls who “talk shit”, not appreciating having to find out about her "business" through other “bitches”.  The harsh Dinosaur had me laughing out loud, putting older men who prowl on young women in their place; as she suggests, those dinosaurs need to go back to the museum.  Hey, it’s pop music – it’s meant to be fun, yeah?  V.I.P. cannot be overlooked with its throbbing bassline, as Ke$ha reminds us that she parties with the rest of us, not in the access-restricted section of the club.

CHRISTMASSIVE BOX OFFICE WEEKEND

Avatar holds on a second week on top of the Box Office, eclipsing its performance from last week with $75 million this weekend.  The praise continues to pour in for the film shot in 3-D technology and internationally to-date it has made $615 million worldwide in two weeks alone. Hopefully this will silence Perez Hilton in his claims that this film has "tanked".  Are you serious, Perez?  Get real, girl.

Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr., Canadian darling Rachel McAdams and Jude Law opened in second this holiday weekend with $65.4 million.  The film has received some great reviews overall.  The film broke the previous record set by Marley & Me, with $24.7 million on its opening day - the biggest Christmas Day opening film of all time.

Fox's animated feature Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel opened in third with a hefty $50.2 million in its debut.  I myself cannot believe how impressive this years' opening day numbers are.  I would attribute to this to being a result of Christmas Day falling on a Friday, normally an opening day for new films anyhow, enticing movie-goers with a wider selection of new films.

Universal Pictures' romantic comedy It's Complicated starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin performed very well in fourth, exceeding most expectations, taking in $22.1 million this weekend.  Read my review of it here.

Up In The Air expanded to 1,900 theatres this weekend and it took in $11.8 million alone based on all the Oscar buzz it continues to get.  Best Picture?  Not quite.

The Weinstein Company's musical Nine, which I absolutely adored and saw twice this weekend, performed well below expectations in eight spot, earning just $5.5 million.  The studio takes a severe hit after investing $80 million in this film, although hopefully it will fare better overseas when it gets a foregin release next year.  Perhaps this was an issue of timing because there certainly was enough buzz surrounding the film and the fine performances it features.  Oh well...  Check out my review of it here.

FOOD: GUU IZAKAYA

Often when we think of Japanese food, we might automatically assume Sushi or Chicken Teriyaki.  Both are fine and dandy (I would never turn away a platter of good sushi!), but the Japanese have always been very creative with their culinary vision, using modes of preparation and flavour combinations which are still very unfamiliar to the Western palette. 

Izakaya (pronounced is-a-kai-a)  is style of dining popular with Japanese 9 to 5ers.  After a day at work, one can head to an Izakaya with friends for a beer or a cocktail alongside some intricately created Tapas creations, which can be shared.  After a wildly successful run in various parts of Vancouver, the owners of Guu Izakaya have brought their act to Toronto, setting up shop in a very unlikely location on the southside of the Church x Wellesley Village, Boys' Town.  After having been open just over a week, the line-ups have been out the door literally.  The Japanese community in Toronto has hungered far too long for authentic cuisine versus the many Korean or Chinese-owned Sushi establishments that we often see.  And it was actually my always cutting-edge BFF Fran's idea to give Guu Izakaya a try on Boxing Day.

Upon entering the restaurant, the mood was festive.  Friendly servers and kitchen staff were shouting greetings and well wishes to customers as they entered and left.  The decor was contemporary yet very traditionally Japanese with gray hues, stone walls, dim lights and unadorned wood tables and chairs.  We had to get a picture and one of our servers, Masaru from Vancouver, wanted in on it too!

I myself ordered a Calpico Sawa to start.  The refreshing beverage consists of Vodka and a sweet and slightly tart yogurt beverage, Calpico.  No, it's not thick and goopy. It's hard to come by in these parts as I haven't had this in at least five years.

PRODUCT WATCH: HUNTER BOOTS

Well, this isn't really a new trend but Hunter Boots are experiencing a resurgence in popularity once again.  Created by Henry Lee Norris, who in 1856 launched Hunter Boot Ltd. in Edinburgh, the boots were commissioned later by the War Office during World War I as the British military required a sturdy combat boot for the trenches.  In 1986, Her Majesty honoured Hunter Boots with a Royal Warrant in recognition of their outstanding quality.

Asides from practicality and sturdiness, these boots are fashion now for both men and women and  they look pretty much amazing with a slimmer-fit pair of jeans.  Perfect for the long winter to come ahead.  Sorry, friends in the warmer, drier parts of the world - none of this will make any sense to you, I'm sure!  Wellies are where it's at this winter.

REVIEW: IT'S COMPLICATED

Director and screenwriter Nancy Meyers knows her audience and she caters to them with dedication.  Her latest work It's Complicated stars heavyweights Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin and it is a love story centering around a middle-aged woman, not seen often enough in Hollywood.

Streep plays Jane, divorced mother of four who gets involved in an affair with former husband Jake, played by Baldwin after they both fly to New York City for their son Luke's (Hunter Parrish) graduation.  The catch however, is that Jake is now married to a woman 25 years his junior, Agness (Lake Bell).  As their affair continues, Jane and Jake struggle to keep the affair a secret and question is raised to whether or not things might work around a second time for them.  Jake's wife Agness is controlling and perhaps this is his escape from a life he doesn't want anymore.  Jane perhaps is lonely after having been single for ten years.

A successful bakery owner, Jane decides to have her home renovated and she enlists the help of an architect, Adam (Steve Martin) who is a recent divorcee.  Sparks begin to fly between them both, and Jane is caught between renewed ties to her ex-husband and this new guy she develops feelings for.  The always likable John Krasinski (Away We Go) plays Jane's soon-to-be son in law Harley and by chance, he spots Jane and Jake at a hotel together for a rendezvous.

MR. WILL-W.: POP MAVEN'S BEST OF 2009

All killer, no filler. All fame, no lame. 2009 was overall a year which focused on keeping things light and fun despite some tough economic times. Let's take a look at some of my year's best....

ALBUMS 2009

1. Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster
2. Glee: The Music, Volume 1
3. James Morrison - Songs for You, Truths for Me
4. Whitney Houston - I Look to You
5. Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You
6. Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted
7. La Roux - La Roux
8. Pet Shop Boys - Yes


FILMS 2009

1. NINE
2. The Blind Side
3. Julie & Julia
4. Precious: Based On The Novel "Push" By Sapphire
5. (500) Days of Summer
6. An Education
7. Whip It
8. Obsessed


How about your favourites?

REVIEW: NINE

After having received a number of requests to review this one as soon as possible, I am fitting this review in after a very, very satiating Christmas dinner. Ignore what some critics say about Rob Marshall's NINE, they are idiots and probably don't appreciate musicals to begin with.  This film is just perfect.

Right from the moment the film opens with Daniel Day-Lewis as Guido Contini in the midst of a press conference, I was drawn in to what would turn out to be a nonstop glam-fest.  Day-Lewis is pitch-perfect as Contini, based on a character created by Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini from his masterpiece 8½.  Some critics are insisting that NINE unjustly pays tribute such a great director's work and his own creative struggle, but quite simply, this is not a Fellini biopic.  Contini is Contini and quite frankly 8½ is available out on DVD if people are that adamant about authenticity and honouring Fellini.

Throughout the film we learn about Contini's character through the women who have played a pivotal role to his identity and success in life.  I'm not saying he is likable though - he in fact is egotistical, self-centered, uncommitted and dishonest.  The magic of Day-Lewis' performance under Marshall's direction, is that despite all of these negative qualities, we are still drawn to him.

Inasmuch as I'd like to say that Day-Lewis truly is the star of this film, the attention often diverts to Oscar winner Penélope Cruz, who once again is getting a lot of buzz here for her performance as Carla, Contini's mistress. And who ever would have guessed that Cruz had the ability to nail complex Burlesque choreography and sing decently, as she does performing A Call From The Vatican?  She is captivating as a seductress and there are few actresses in Hollywood today who can do "emotionally unstable" with the level of control that Cruz does.  Although I was never much of a fan of hers before Volver, I think I am finally completely sold now. 

SO LONG, BRITTANY MURPHY

This is really sad news. Brittany Murphy is reported first by quasi-reliable source TMZ.Com, to have passed away this morning in Los Angeles due to cardiac arrest. Her mother discovered her body in the shower. The 32 year-old actress had starred in some of the most important films of our generation including Girl Interrupted, 8 Mile, Clueless and Sin City. A few of her recent films featured some of her best work yet including romantic comedy Love and Other Disasters which never saw a North American release, but fared very well at TIFF '06 and The Dead Girl, in which she won a fair amount of acclaim despite few people seeing it. Above this, she also scored a number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 2006 with her Paul Oakenfold collaboration, Faster Kill Pussycat. A talented young woman and grossly underrated. You will be remembered, Brittany.

ALIEN ATTACK

It's pretty clear which film would top the Box Office this weekend. Opening in 3,400 theatres, James Cameron's Avatar slaughtered its competition taking, in $73 million. Worldwide, the 20th Century Fox film made an outstanding $232 million, almost recouping half of its rumoured $500 million budget as the most expensive film to be made ever. Read my review of it here.

Last week's top film Buena Vista's The Princess and The Frog, slips to second with $12.2 million and Warner Bros.' The Blind Side continues to impress in third, earning $10 million in its fifth week near the top.

Did You Hear About The Morgans the only other new film to open in the Top Ten, debuting in fourth with $7 million. The Sony Pictures film starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant continues to get disastrous reviews, earning back only an eighth of its lofty $58 million budget.

Oscar Best Picture contender Up in the Air continues to pull is some stellar numbers, coming in eighth this weekend with $3.1 million, only screening in limited release at 175 theatres.

Next week's tally should be interesting with all the amazing Christmas Day blockbuster releases arriving like It's Complicated, Nine, Sherlock Holmes and Alvin and The Chipmunks II.

REVIEW: AVATAR

The amount of buzz surrounding director James Cameron's 15 years in-the-making Avatar has been feverish of late. It is fresh off receiving four Golden Globe nominations, as announced earlier this week and surely will be a front-runner in the upcoming Oscars race for Best Picture and technical categories. Visually, it is a stunning masterpiece and the moment the film begins up to the point it ends 162 minutes later, Cameron manages effectively to keep me 100% engaged. The downside is that the story lacks the heart it truly wants to have, being lost in special effects and fancy graphics.

Handsome Aussie Sam Worthington plays Jake Scully, a wheel-chair ridden war veteran who is assigned on a mission to visit planet Pandora after his scientist identical twin dies. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) spearheads a program to create 10 ft. tall hybrid human/Na'vi aliens called Avatars to invade Pandora, which is abundant in its most prized resource Unobtanium. This resource would help resolve Earth's energy crisis. On his assignment, Scully transforms into Avatar form and eventually falls in love with Neytiri, a Na'vi. Colonel Miles Quatrich (Stephen Lang) makes no mistake that he is willing to pull out all the stops in having the miltary kill off all Na'vi should they get in the way of the set mission to obtaining and control Unobtanium. Scully is torn between completing his assignment and protecting the colony his beloved Neytiri belongs to. What results is a gripping war of the worlds between humans and aliens in the last half hour of the film.

In all honesty, I do not do sci-fi, so much of the plot minutiae went over my head. Thus what I was looking for in Avatar was an element of human emotion I could relate to. Metaphorically, the film parallels our times of war with the U.S. military still fighting George W. Bush's war in Afghanistan and makes a statement about the destructiveness of it all. And oddly, we wind up siding with the Na'vi versus the humans through all of this. The love story between Scully and Neytiri had traces of heart, but did not bring the film to the great emotional heights it could have gone to a la Cameron's Titanic. Also, it was refreshing to see a strong female presence as principal, not just supporting characters. Regardless, the film is effectively entertaining as a mindless escape even though the same story could have been told in significantly shorter duration. Avatar, from 20th Century Fox is now in theatres worldwide. Grade: B

PRODUCT WATCH: DAVID'S TEA

28 year-old entrepreneur David Segal spent much of his early '20s obsessing about why it is so hard to find a quality cup of tea in this city. So instead of wasting time thinking about it, he started what is now a very successful chain of tea shops in primary markets like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

David's Tea launched in 2008 and it combines the essence of fashion - that flavours should change according to season - together with the world's second most consumed beverage. It takes away the pretentiousness attached to tea drinking, making it accessible to a demographic willing to try something new. No offense to Bubble Tea. Sorted by variety whether it be Black, Green, White, Oolong, Rooibos, Herbal, Maté or Pu'erh, you will find here the most decadent assortment available anywhere. And I mean decadent.

I myself prefer a cup of Black Tea and I am absolutely in love right now with After Midnight, which combines the flavours of Dark Chocolate, Orange Peel, Pink Peppercorns and Cardamom. The label on my 100g tin claims that it acts as an aphrodisiac and I can confirm that yes, it works. Ditto for the Organic Hojicha Crème, which is a creamy tasting Green Tea. The Cream of Earl Grey also gets lots of compliments every time I serve it to friends. And in the summer I like to make a pitcher of Gunpowder Taffy, which is a citrusy, caramel-flavoured Green Tea. Other popular flavours include the Crème Caramel Rooibos and the just released Tiramisu Rooibos.

David's Tea also sell some really gorgeous accessories like Tiffany & Co.-inspired turquoise tea pots and all sorts of cool infusers for your mug in the event you don't need to make a full pot of tea. The cupcakes they serve in-store are to die for, including one of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup variety. And did I mention that they offer free shipping within Canada and to our friends in the U.S. for orders above $50? Yes. Tea, anyone?

REVIEW: NINE - THE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK

While we await its theatrical release with baited breath, Universal Music Canada sent me the best early Christmas gift - an advanced copy of the soundtrack for Nine. The film, based on the play of the same name, is inspired by the story of legendary Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini and takes place around the time Fellini underwent a creative drought making his acclaimed masterpiece, 8½. Replace Fellini with the character Guido Contini plus a very sexy female cast of award-winning entertainers as his lovers, and there you have the most eagerly anticipated movie musical in quite some time.

Just looking through the album’s track listing, I could not help but be filled with curiosity how Pénelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Dame Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson and the film’s main star Daniel Day-Lewis, would fare as singers. Nicole Kidman, many of us already know is an adequate vocalist as seen in one of her career best roles in Moulin Rouge. And well, Grammy winner Fergie needs no introduction. 

Rob Marshall and John DeLuca arranged for the cast to record the film’s tracks in London late September 2008, about a month before shooting began. The results though are mixed, but there are some incredible surprises to be found. For one, Music Director Paul Bogaev does an excellent job setting the musical landscape of Italy in the ‘60s, when the story takes place. Day-Lewis is first introduced to us on Guido’s Song and although he is not blessed with an amazing voice, he still does a very credible job tapping into the psyche of a man in a midlife crisis. With the abundance of cast members the material is dispersed, meaning at most, the cast members are responsible only for one or two numbers each. 
Producers

GLEE YOURSELF

With the first season of Glee being bloody over already, what else will I do on Wednesday nights until April? The plus side however is that season one, Road to The Sectionals, will be out on DVD Tuesday (December 29, 2009)!

GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Up in the Air and Glee lead this year's pack of Golden Globe Awards nominees. The former garnered a total six nominations from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in the motion picture categories, while the latter earned four in the television categories. Following closely behind Up in the Air with five nods is Rob Marshall's musical Nine, due in theatres on Christmas Day, while James Cameron's Avatar got four. Golden Globe darlings including 30 Rock, Mad Men and Big Love all earned three nominations behind Glee.

The motion picture acting categories are highly competitive this year and notably, personal favourites Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep each received two nominations. Bullock is nominated for her stellar performance in The Blind Side (Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama) and also The Proposal (Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy). Meryl Streep will be competing against herself for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy with Julie & Julia and the soon to be released It's Complicated; her 24th and 25th Golden Globe nominations and surely just two of many more to come.

The match for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama is heated one with some really evenly-matched nominees including George Clooney (Up in the Air), Colin Firth (A Single Man), Morgan Freeman (Invictus), Tobey Maguire (Brothers) and Jeff Bridges (A Crazy Heart). The same can be said about the very competitive Best Supporting Actress category which will be pitting Mo'Nique (Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire), Pénelope Cruz (Nine), Julianne Moore (A Single Man) and co-stars Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air).

REVIEW: ALICIA KEYS - THE ELEMENT OF FREEDOM

I have tried with considerable effort to get into Alicia Keys' fourth studio effort The Element of Freedom. Having received multiple reader requests to give it a go, I really hate to say it, but I'm just not loving it. And this is coming from someone who has supported all of her releases, which have sold a combined total of 30 million copies worldwide.

Keys pulls back a bit this time around and in terms of sound, she ventures into more of a rock direction compared to her earlier work. There are several '80s/'90s sounds as much of the arrangements center around the piano and Moog keyboards. Her vocals are a little less polished on this album, although there is more a feeling of organic raw emotion as a result of this. Thematically, the album is about a deeply-affecting break-up. Song after song, we hear about Keys' love obsession and having to overcome heartbreak, yet still holding onto her feelings of love for her past lover. This perhaps makes the album a little stagnant.

I will not deny that there are some gorgeous tracks on The Element of Freedom. Doesn't Mean Anything, Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart, Wait 'Til You See My Smile, That's How Strong My Love Is are all beautifully understated and melodically sufficient, but none of these siongs have that signature Keys fire that felt so warm to the touch previously. Remember A Woman's Worth, How Come You Don't Call Me?, Fallin' or You Don't Know My Name? There was passion in that. The Alicia Keys featured on this album is indeed a maturer woman, but she is a fraction of what she was. I'm not even going to comment on the let-down of a collaboration with Beyoncé, Put it in a Love Song.

JENNIFER HUDSON AND MICHAEL BUBLÉ: HEATING UP YOUR HOLIDAYS

ABC aired Grammy and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson's hour-long Christmas special I'll Be Home For Christmas tonight, documenting her return to her hometown of Chicago. The program followed Hudson as she went back to her former high school and church, reuniting with friends and family along the way. More notably, she delivered some very soulful renditions of This Christmas, O Come All Ye Faithful, The Christmas Song and Silent Night and we could sense her nervousness in singing alongside some local mentors she looked up to growing up. She remains humble despite having earned her place alongside them.

Although the special didn't necessarily connect us to any deep emotional level with her, America like Hudson, has had a tough run over the past while. Seeing her be strong enough to overcome it all is fitting in these times of hope and change.

During the special, Hudson did a duet medley of Baby, It's Cold Outside and Let It Snow with Canada's beloved Michael Bublé. Hudson made him a first choice to collaborate with in this special, stating that his voice perfectly exemplifies for her the meaning of Christmas. The two playfully bantered back and forth and if you do a search on YouTube, you just might be able to find the performances online.

Bublé also just announced the launch of his Crazy Love Tour, with its American leg kicking off March 10th in Orlando, Florida and wrapping up April 9th in Los Angeles, California. The European leg of his tour begins May 6th also in Sheffield, England, although there are no Canadian dates announced yet. For a full list of tour dates, visit the handsome crooner's official tour site.

As an interesting aside, Bublé revealed to MR. WILL-W.: POP MAVEN readers that he finds much joy in eating some of his favourite comfort foods which include: his Grandmother's homemade Risotto, Velveeta Mac and Cheese, Beef Jerky, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (my Mavenati in Australia don't know what they're missing!) and Cheetos. He also let us know that his most essential item of clothing to bring along while touring is his favourite pair of jeans, which he has had repaired four times apparently. Perhaps, he'll be on Santa's Nice List this year and get a gift card to his tailor.

Don't forget to check out my review of Bublé's Crazy Love album here. Watch a teaser for the Crazy Love Tour below:

*I took the above photo of Hudson during her 2008 visit to Toronto during TIFF. The photo of Bublé was taken 2006 at his Sony Centre show in Toronto.

AVATAR: YAY OR NAY?

I don't do sci-fi movies. I just don't. It's not my thing and never has been. But James Cameron's (Aliens, The Terminator, Titanic) latest film Avatar appears to be getting an inordinate amount of buzz of late. To be honest, the trailer looked terribly boring so I didn't expect much and I don't think I am alone on that. I was watching TODAY this morning and the host would not stop going on about how amazing the 3-D film was and she also doesn't do sci-fi. Critical consensus website Rotten Tomatoes has it at a 91% rating, easily making it one of the best reviewed movies of 2009. So I must say that I'm curious now.

Are you going to see Avatar when it opens this Friday?

REVIEW: ANDREA BOCELLI - MY CHRISTMAS

I am going to go out on a limb here and any risk coolness points that I might have left, but my motto has always been to appreciate art for an artist's craft and the heart put into it. Andrea Bocelli's My Christmas has put me into holiday mode completely and despite the many blockbuster releases that have hit the shelves in recent weeks, this one has preoccupied the Disc 1 tray of my CD player much of late. Inasmuch as a David Foster production can be safe and predictable, I cannot deny that this album is damn good. During the holidays, I want something heartwarming and festive, not cutting edge.

Bocelli tries some new things here, scaling back the operatic theatrics in his vocals for a new audience of pop music listeners like myself on secular classics like White Christmas, the über-cute Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells (featuring The Muppets!) and Silent Night; all epitomizing holiday spirit. The divo arrives in full enchanting force doing what he does best on numbers like The Lord's Prayer, Adeste Fideles, Cantique De Noel and Caro Gesu' Bambino. That is powerful stuff right there.

My Christmas unleashes a few unexpected surprise collaborations, the strongest being the chilling What Child Is This (featuring a subdued Mary J. Blige). Duets like The Christmas Song (featuring Natalie Cole) don't offer anything new we haven't heard prior and one slight veering in the country direction with Blue Christmas (featuring Reba McEntire) is well-intentioned, but the result is one of few non-gratifying moments on the album. Overall, a classic. Grade: A-

Preview What Child Is This by Andrea Bocelli and Mary J. Blige below (courtesy of Decca Records/Universal Music):

THE PRINCESS AND THE RUGBY BALL

Timed perfectly for a holiday release, Buena Vista's The Princess and The Frog hit theatres with a bang this weekend at top spot, earning $27.9 million from 4,800 screens. The film features the voices of Terrence Howard, Oprah Winfrey and Anika Noni Rose, whom many of you might remember from Dreamgirls.

Two Warner Bros. sports-dramas occupy the second and third slot respectively, with excellent The Blind Side which topped the Box Office last week slipping to number two this weekend. Clint Eastwood-directed Invictus opened in third and has been getting excellent reviews. Check out my review of it here.

There isn't much else new to report this weekend with very few movies opening. After many weeks in the Top Ten now, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, A Christmas Carol and 2012 still hang on strong in fourth, fifth and seventh respectively.

REVIEW: INVICTUS

I have no idea how he finds time to do it, but Clint Eastwood has done it again. Invictus won't be winning any Oscars, but it is his third great effort to be released in a span of 13 months, the last two being 2008's The Changeling and Gran Torino.

Invictus is the true story of Nelson Mandela (Morgran Freeman) in his first term as South African President in 1995. He has a plan to unite his people and does so via one thing they are jointly passionate about, Rugby. He enlists underdogs The Springboks, led by Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) to accomplish this. The team had been hovering near the bottom of the league for quite some time, and perception wise, they fared unfavourably with black South Africans and more favourably with white South Africans.

The Springboks are a metaphor for apartheid in South Africa as ethnically speaking, they resembled "the same people" who wrongfully arrested Nelson Mandela. And if the team were able to overcome this negative perception, it could perhaps inspire the people of South Africa, black or white, to come together. Mandela challenges and inspires Pienaar to lead his team by example, setting their sights on the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship. Although seemingly impossible, the team makes it there while Mandela watches eagerly from the sidelines.

REVIEW: GEORGE MICHAEL LIVE IN LONDON DVD

Well, how's this for a surprise? I had no idea that George Michael was releasing his 2008 25 Tour on DVD until I was casually browsing the Music DVD section at HMV the other day. I had to have it.

The two-disc DVD set titled George Michael Live in London documents the pop legend's final London show at Earls Court in 22 tracks on the first disc and behind-the-scenes documentary and three bonus performances on disc two. Having attended his Air Canada Centre show in Toronto, I can say that this recording of the show is possibly even better than the actual performance I saw. The downside however, is that his 25 years of hits which was originally presented in a two act, 150 minute long show, has been pared down significantly for this release.

Michael makes no mistake about making a grand entrance, starting the show on a high note with Fastlove, followed by I'm Your Man from his Wham! days and then more recent hit Flawless from 2004's Patience album. He also updates the classic Everything She Wants in an age-appropriate manner, illustrating why his melodies have stood the test of time.

Although for me, Michael's dance material has always been his strength, his career is marked by many, many outstanding ballads. Father Figure, One More Try and A Different Corner have a very strong presence on this disc. He devotes a good portion of his show to some of his more jazzy material, which seems to have been more of a focus in recent years, including covers of Feeling Good (Nina Simone) and Roxanne (The Police) and his own Spinning The Wheel, which transforms into a big anthemic dance mix. Even though his voice has deteriorated slightly since his prime, having lost a bit of his upper range he once had, Michael's amazing talent cannot be denied still.

REVIEW: GLEE: THE MUSIC, VOLUME 2

Although not quite as amazing as its first volume, Glee: The Music, Volume 2 is an essential from any fan of the amazing Fox television series. Columbia Records has made the clever business decision of splitting these highlights from the show into two separate releases, warranting two purchases. Really, we all know everything could have been packaged into a dual disc set timed for the Holidays.

Among the best on this disc are versatile Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison's Endless Love which actually eclipses its original (Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross); Canadian heartthrob Cory Monteith's just-perfect I'll Stand By You (The Pretenders); versatile Lea Michele's excellent takes on the one of the best pop songs of the '90s Crush (Jennifer Paige) and showstopper Don't Rain on My Parade (Barbra Streisand); and underutilized Jenna Ushkowitz's True Colours (Cindy Lauper).

Soulfully gifted Amber Riley's unforgettable And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going (Jennifer Holliday/Jennifer Hudson), which is only marginally off of Hudson's gold standard set in the motion picture Dreamgirls. Her other solo contribution on this disc Don't Make Me Over (Dionne Warwick) sums up what Glee is all about: loving yourself for who you are and refusing to change for others. And of course, how can we forget those outstanding cast renditions of Proud Mary (Tina Turner) performed in wheelchairs, Imagine (John Lennon) which is missing the hearing-impaired guest cast on this version, and the uplifting My Life Would Suck Without You (Kelly Clarkson) which capped of this stellar first season.

Listen to the cast of Glee perform Clarkson's number one hit below (courtesy of Sony/BMG Records):

I'll admit that I don't care much for Morrison's mash-up of Don't Stand So Close To Me/Young Girl (The Police/Gary Puckett & The Union Gap) and Monteith's (You're) Having My Baby (Paul Anka - also a Canadian!), both which thematically fit in with the episodes they belong to as moments of comic relief, but wind up sounding out of place here. The cast's cover of Jump (Van Halen) also doesn't quite translate as well with Adam Anders and Ryan Murphy's Glee makeover. Overall, the spirited 17-track collection is still an fantastic listen and full of bright moments. April, when season two of Glee begins, cannot come soon enough! Grade: A-

PRODUCT WATCH: GODIVA DARK CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE CRUNCH

God. Somebody please take these away from me before I do something I will regret. I was shopping at Indigo (which is essentially the Canadian equivalent of Borders or Barnes & Noble) and could not resist a package of these while cashing out. And it was love at first bite.

Godiva Chocoiste Dark Chocolate Candy Cane Crunch is not for everybody, but if you adore the combination of Peppermint and Chocolate, you will be in for a delectable treat. These individually wrapped delights have a White Chocolate center with Candy Cane bits thrown in for good measure. They are then dipped in Dark Chocolate and covered in more crushed Candy Cane bits. Only available for a limited time during the holidays, you get 16 of them in a package and they retail for approximately $20.00 (CAN) or $15.00 (US), so make them last. Mmmm.

SUSAN BOYLE LIVE IN TORONTO - CANCELLED

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but as per a press release from Syco Music/Sony Music Canada (thanks Nader!), Susan Boyle's free Toronto performance originally scheduled for Monday, December 21, 2009 at First Canadian Place, has been cancelled.

The Britain's Got Talent first runner-up is responsible for one of the best selling albums of 2009, I Dreamed a Dream. Boyle was slated to do a free performance for 2,000 people and an autograph signing for 500 fans with wristbands. After having been postponed from November, the cancellation is a result of Boyle requiring more time to keep up with her hectic international promotion schedule. She will be back early 2010, although no date has been confirmed yet. I'm very sad.

BILLBOARD MAGAZINE'S BEST OF THE 2000s

Billboard Magazine just released its Best of the 2000s charts today based on the past ten years of chart statistics and there were some surprises among the bunch.

Mariah Carey owns the title to the Number One Song of the Decade with We Belong Together, which charted fourteen non-consecutive weeks at the top of the Hot 100 Chart in 2005. The latter part of the decade however, hasn't been as successful for Carey with her latest album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel only garnering one lukewarm hit with Obsessed. The single peaked at number seven this year on the Hot 100 Chart.

Coincidentally, Obsessed was intended as a strike by Carey against Billboard Magazine's selected Artist of the Decade, Eminem. Beyoncé had the notable distinction of being shortlisted twice in that same category also as both a solo artist (ranking fourth) and in her stint with Destiny's Child (ranking ninth).

Although now defunct, boy band 'N Sync topped was named Best Selling Album of the 2000s, selling over 10 million copies of their 2000 sophomore album No Strings Attached. Sadly, with album sales on the decline, artists posting these type of numbers has become a thing of the past.

The Rolling Stones just edged out U2 as the Top Touring Act of the 2000s, earning $869,471,325, while the latter took in $844,157,925. Madonna, whom you would think would have topped the list, came in third with $801,299,671.

It was announced also that 2009's Top Selling Album was Taylor Swift's Fearless, just re-released in a Platinum Edition format this October. Swift was also named Artist of the Year too. The final sales tally has yet to be announced, although it looks as though Susan Boyle is edging up with her debut I Dreamed a Dream which continues to sell at an alarming pace.

The year's number one song is Black Eyed Peas' Boom Boom Pow, followed impressively by a Lady Gaga double of Poker Face and Just Dance respectively in second and third. Unfortunately there will be no awards ceremony for The Billboard Awards, after having ceased in 2007 due to a behind-the scenes fallout.