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crowdvscritic · 10 months

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round up // JUNE 23

The best things come in pairs in this Round Up. A few repeat offenders this June:

Jason Schwartzman

Harrison Ford

Brad Pitt

Pixar

Archeological digs

Sports stories

1943 musicals

Tap dancing

‘80s pop-rock records

Two Tales of Cities

And, as always, Crowd and Critic are best when they’re in tandem. These are my top picks for June 2023 in the order I experienced them:

June Crowd-Pleasers

1. Shooting Stars (2023)

As a sports dilettante, I knew nothing about LeBron James’s pre-NBA life. (Full disclosure: I don’t know much about his post-NBA life either.) This sports drama probably sands off some edges (James produced this movie based on a book he wrote), but it hits its marks. It’s inspirational but not schmaltzy, and thanks to great performances (including an always stellar Caleb McLaughlin and I’m-always-glad-when-he-pops-up Dermot Mulroney), this story of five basketball-obsessed kids growing up is much better than you’d expect for a direct-to-Peacock movie. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 7/10

2. Elemental (2023)

Pixar is back to basics with Elemental. In the best way, that means Pixar is up to their old shenanigans, but in another sense, it means this movie is, well, basic. Read my full review at ZekeFilm or watch my segment on KMOV to give you an idea on whether Pixar’s latest is for you. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

3. Flamin’ Hot (2023)

What Flamin’ Hot lacks in heat it makes up for in heart. With its relatable stakes and the comedy it finds in skewering corporate culture, this kind-of-true story of the creation of the Flamin’ Hot Cheeto (yes, really) is about as good as it could be. Read my full review at ZekeFilm. Crowd: 8/0 // Critic: 7/10

4. Coco (2017)

Finally watched after being one of my top “oops, I haven’t seen this yet” titles for years. Yes, Pixar did make me sob again. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 9/10

5. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

Do you love to feel nostalgia or to be surprised? Do you like old school action or newfangled special effects? Do you enjoy historical adventures or stories about modern issues? Then the fifth Indiana Jones episode is for you! Literally the only thing this needed to achieve was to surpass the quality of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but why settle for that when you can make an action-packed adventure better than most summer blockbuster fare? Given that Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade are two of the best adventure movies (or perhaps, just movies) of the 20th century, it’s no insult to say The Dial of Destiny ranks third for me in Indy’s canon with Temple of Doom and Crystal Skull following in distant fourth and fifth places. Crowd: 10/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

6. Bananarama-thon + Bangle-mania + Go-Go-palooza

What says “summer” more than 1980s girl pop-rock bands? (Or really, 1980s pop-rock period?) Bananarama, The Bangles, and The Go-Go’s made excellent summer soundtracks with their respective albums Deep Sea Skiving (1983), Bananarama (1984), and True Confessions (1986); All Over the Place (1984), Different Light (1986), and Everything (1988); and Beauty and the Beat (1981), Vacation (1982), and Talk Show (1984). Also, does Bananarama’s debut album have the greatest cover art of all time?

7. Sports Night (1998-2000)

My binge of short-lived behind-the-scenes shows continues! Clearly Aaron Sorkin and pals like Tommy Schlamme were still learning the ropes of TV, and they were not helped by the fact that premiering in the ‘90s mandated a laugh track in the first season. But the bones of Sorkin’s future are there: Josh Charles and Peter Krause’s bromance feels like laying the track for some of the best of The West Wing, and Felicity Huffman is one of his iconic strong female leads. Robert Guillaume’s elder statesmen of TV (both in front and behind of the camera) is the glue that holds the show together, and the show’s love for sports is so infectious it draws in non-sporty girlies like me.

8. Legal Eagles (1986)

A legal dramedy starring Robert Redford directed with the light touch of Ivan Reitman? This art heist murder mystery co-starring Debra Winger and Daryl Hannah is a hidden gem of the ‘80s...and also an addition to my Favorite Tap Dances list on Letterboxd? Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 7.5/10

9. The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses (1989)

A Rolling Stone article I shared last month got me curious about this band (whom I know nothing about beyond that article), and this album has been scratching The Smiths itch that lives in me.

June Critic Picks

1. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

It’s a visual wonder with stellar voice work, especially Jason Schwartzman’s clever villain, and once we get to the Nueva York universe, everything flies. But boy, does it take a while to get there. I normally reserve my Round Ups for praise, but since Across the Spider-Verse’s nearly universal acclaim won’t be tarnished by my critique, the spirit of transparency compels me to complain this film is at least 30 minutes too long. When you’re trying to be both a Gwen Stacy movie and a Miles Morales movie, the somber first hour slows down even more and delays revisiting the stuff we loved most in the first film. The kids next to me were antsy well before this was over, my dad fell asleep in the middle (which he never does), and then it rivals Lord of the Rings for fake out endings. Here's hoping Spider-Ham and Spider-Man Noir get to make up for their lost time in part 3! Crowd: 7.5/10 // Critic: 8/10

2. Ninotchka (1939)

When Soviet Greta Garbo travels to Paris on Communist Party business, can she resist the city’s charms? She and her fellow comrades find themselves succumbing to the amenities, champagne, and romance they can’t find in Mother Russia. An Ernst Lubitsch-directed rom-com co-written by Billy Wilder can’t miss! Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9/10

3. Little Women (2017)

Another Round Up, another version of Little Women. I immediately pushed this PBS miniseries to the top of my watchlist when I dug into Little Mermaid star Jonah Hauer-King’s past filmography and discovered he performed alongside Angela Lansbury (!!!). Though I expect the budget was smaller than a big screen feature’s, the extended runtime allows for moments we haven’t seen depicted on film before. The cast of ringers includes Lansbury as a delightfully cranky Aunt March and Hauer-King as a lovelorn Laurie, as well Maya Hawke as Jo, Kathryn Newton as Amy, and Michael Gambon as Mr. Laurence in an 1860s Concord as bucolic as ever. Like a warm, encouraging hug!

4. Past Lives (2023)

This bittersweet romantic drama makes me want to call up my boyfriend who moved away the summer after 7th grade and the guy I never dated in college who studied abroad and then transferred and that boy I met at a party a few years ago who said he was moving next week to sail boats in Delaware and then be disappointed none of them are as I remember or imagined who they would become. The best film of the year so far? Crowd: 7.5/10 // Critic: 10/10

5. Double Feature - Silly 1943 Musicals About Marrying for Money: Du Barry Was a Lady + Higher and Higher

Movies today should try being as weird as ‘40s musicals. In Higher and Higher (Crowd: 7.5/10 // Critic: 7.5/10), a one-time millionaire tries to marry off his maid to a wealthy bachelor, though she may prefer to romance Frank Sinatra (playing himself!) instead. In Du Barry Was a Lady (7.5/10 // 8/10), Lucille Ball is trying to snag herself a rich guy, though she may prefer to romance Gene Kelly instead. (This is a much more obvious addition to my Favorite Tap Dances list on Letterboxd.) Both are silly, but when you’ve got Sinatra singing or Kelly dancing to Cole Porter songs, you’ve still got wow moments. More movies today should detour into 18th century dream sequences!

6. Valley of the Kings (1954)

Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker go on a high-stakes archaeological dig in the early 1900s set in front of gorgeous photography in Egypt. A fun prototype for Indiana Jones and The Mummy! Crowd: 7/10 // Critic: 8/10

7. Asteroid City (2023)

Something Wes Anderson does not get enough credit for: The man has never made a film longer than two hours. This spring’s trend of Wes Anderson-inspired social media may have brought attention to the previously unacquainted, but it took only a few of those superficially xanthic posts to exhaust my Instagram feed. Most social filmmaking is ugly and chaotic, but Anderson’s attention to detail when blocking his troupe of players in the golden ratio, designing perfectly-shaped mushroom clouds, and using color theory to select his palette doesn’t just hold up on a big screen—it deserves it. Read my full review at ZekeFilm. Crowd: 7/10 // Critic: 10/10

8. Double Feature - ‘90s Brad Pitt: Legends of the Fall (1994) + The Devil’s Own (1997)

In Legends of the Fall (Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 8.5/10), Brad Pitt’s nonconformist Tristan upends the lives of his family members (including Anthony Hopkins and Julia Ormond) as they strive to keep their Montana estate through World War I, Prohibition, and the Great Depression. In The Devil’s Own (Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 9/10), Pitt’s IRA terrorist Rory upends the life of the family who takes him in (including Harrison Ford) when he escapes to America. One is a soapy historical epic, one is a gritty police thriller, but both show the promise of Pitt’s career.

9. A Tale of Two Cities (1935)

A pretty good adaptation of one of my favorite high school English class reads. Though the nuance and depth of the Mr. Charles “I Get Paid by the Word” Dickens novel can’t be captured in just two hours and the portrayal of Lucie is, well, a lot, Ronald Colman’s Sydney and Blanche Yurka’s Madame De Farge are pitch-perfect, and it’s as moving as its source material. Crowd: 7.5/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

10. Good Reads

The incessant onslaught of more-TV-than-can-possibly-be-watched is reaching critical mass:

“The Idol and Our Backlash Times,” NYTimes.com (2023)

“‘The End of Peak Television:’ Has the Era of Prestige TV Just Ground to a Halt?” TheGuardian.com (2023)

“Peak TV Is Over. Welcome to Trough TV,” slate.com (2023)

“From Warrior Nun to Three Women, TV Shows are Being Cancelled. Yet Somehow Emily in Paris Lives On,” TheGuardian.com (2023)

“Media's Succession Obsession,” axios.com (2023)

Thoughts on our moment in diversity in TV and movies:

“Box Office: Early Summer Tentpoles Cash In, Fueled by Diverse Stars,” HollywoodReporter.com (2023)

“‘Why is Bridgerton’s Race Twisting Acceptable?’ The Real Problem With the Show’s Black Fantasy,” TheGuardian.com (2023)

The Hollywood Reporter continues its impressive breadth of Writer’s Strike coverage:

“Tom Hanks, Baby Jessica and Lessons from a Three Strike Writer,” HollywoodReport.com (2023)

“Guest Column: If Writers Lose the Standoff With Studios, It Hurts All Filmmakers,” HollywoodReporter.com (2023)

And a grab bag of pieces on baseball, basketball, and Beyoncé:

“The Team Trying Very, Very Hard to Be the Worst in Baseball History,” slate.com (2023)

“Beyoncé Caused Sweden Inflation Bump, Expert Says,” politico.eu (2023)

“The 100 Most Significant Political Films of All Time,” NewRepublic.com (2023)

“The Flash Was Never Going to Run Away From Its Problems,” TheRinger.com (2023)

“Employee of the Month Rewarded With More Work,” vice.com (2023)

Also in June…

I’m processing a lot of emotions about what’s going on at Turner Classic Movies, and I’ve yet to figure out how to put them into words. Until I get there, I’m constantly adding to my list of movies I’ve watched thanks to the people who work there, and you can see the almost-350 of them on Letterboxd.

Until the end of July, you can see what I’m watching in real time on Letterboxd. Yes, I’ve seen Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One; no I can’t talk about it until after the review embargo lifts on July 5th.

Pending Twitter doesn’t self-implode before you read this, you can also find me there.

Photo credits: Bananarama, The Stone Roses, Good Reads. All others IMDb.com.

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dear-indies · 2 years

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hi, hello! first off, you're always so much help and the first place i go when i need fc help or just wanna look at new faces. currently, i'm looking to add some age diversity to my potential fc lineup so i was wondering if you had any favorite faces that could portray 50+?

Non-binary - no resources at time of posting!

John Cameron Mitchell (1963) - non-binary.

Justin Vivian Bond (1963) - non-binary - they/them/she.

Two-Spirit - resources at time of posting:

Tomson Highway (1951) Cree - he/him - two-spirit.

Storme Webber (1959) Aleut, Choctaw, African-American, Unspecified White - she/they - two-spirit.

Alec Butler (1959) Métis of Mi'kmaq - two-spirit intersex trans man.

Women - resources at time of posting:

Judi Dench (1934)

Lily Tomlin (1939) - lesbian.

Helen Mirren (1945)

Tyne Daly (1946)

Tantoo Cardinal (1950) Metis of Cree, Dene, Nakoda Sioux, and French.

Sheri Foster (1957) Cherokee.

Angela Bassett (1958) African-American.

Michelle Yeoh (1962) Malaysian Chinese of Hokkien and Cantonese descent.

Ming-Na Wen (1963) Macanese.

Jeanne Tripplehorn (1963)

Marisa Tomei (1964)

Viola Davis (1965) African-American.

Michelle Gomez (1966)

Michael Michele (1966) African-American / European.

Miranda Otto (1967)

Laura Dern (1967)

Melora Hardin (1967)

Jeri Ryan (1968)

Gina Torres (1969) Afro-Cuban.

Neslihan Yeldan (1969) Turkish.

Mädchen Amick (1970)

Octavia Spencer (1970) African-American.

Lee Byung Hun (1970) Korean.

Men - resources at time of posting:

Tobin Bell (1942)

Joe Mantegna (1947)

Wes Studi (1947) Cherokee.

Steven Williams (1949) African-American.

Jonathan Banks (1949)

Gil Birmingham (1953) Comanche.

Mark Boone Junior (1955)

Ernie Dingo (1956) Yamatji.

David Alan Grier (1956) African-American.

Hiroyuki Sanada (1960) Japanese.

Christopher Meloni (1961)

Emilio Rivera (1961) Mexican.

Grant Show (1962)

Kamel El Basha (1962) Palestinian.

Mat Fraser (1962) - has thalidomide-induced phocomelia.

Hiro Kanagawa (1963) Japanese.

Dermot Mulroney (1963)

Benjamin Bratt (1963) German, English, Sudeten German / Quechua Peruvian.

Paterson Joseph (1964) Saint Lucian.

Keanu Reeves (1964) Kānaka Maoli, Portuguese, English, Scottish, at least 1/16th Chinese, remote Dutch / English.

Kadeem Hardison (1965) African-American.

Jeffrey Wright (1965) African-American.

Zahn McClarnon (1966) Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux and Irish.

Michael Greyeyes (1967) Plains Cree.

Ian Harvie (1968) - trans.

Ken Watanabe (1969) Japanese.

Aaron Pedersen (1970) Arrernte and Arabana.

Let me know if you want suggestions without resources too!

#fc help #rph #rpc #age diversity #olderfcs

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popentertainment-moviereviews · 2 years

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UMMA (2022)

Starring Sandra Oh, Fivel Stewart, Dermot Mulroney, Odeya Rush, Tom Yi, MeeWha Alana Lee, Danielle K. Golden, Hana Marie Kim and Mark Kirksey.

Screenplay by Iris K. Shim.

Directed by Iris K. Shim.

Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. 83 minutes. Rated PG-13.

With the likes of Snowpiercer, Okja, The Host, Oldboy and particularly the Oscar-winning Parasite, Korean film (and filmmakers) have been on quite a roll in the last couple of decades. Umma (which is the Korean word for mom) is not exactly a Korean film, however its storyline and background very much revolves around Korean life and traditions.

The film takes place in the United States. Its director is a Korean American who is making her feature film debut. (She had previously directed the full-length documentary The House of Suh.) Star Sandra Oh is also of Korean ancestry, although she was born in Canada and has lived in the US for much of her life. The only other actor who is really known in the film is Dermot Mulroney, who is obviously also not Korean. It was produced by American horror-comic film director Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange at the Multiverse of Madness).

Umma is a ghost story – sort of – and yet it is trying for much deeper resonances. It doesn’t always reach them… in fact it usually doesn’t, really… but it is trying to be a little deeper than the average scare film.

I have to say right off the bat that Oh, who is best known for Grey’s Anatomy and Killing Eve – does a fantastic job in her role, even if it does not always live up to her work.

She plays Amanda, an obviously neurotic beekeeper (yes, you read that right…) who lives on a sprawling farm in the middle of nowhere. Due to some very obscure illness, Amanda becomes violently ill when she is exposed to any kind of electricity (huh?) and thus never leaves the farm, which is completely off the grid. (No electrical appliances, all lamps are flame-based, no cars, no cell phones…) From the very beginning, this malady seems odd, and even though it is eventually explained away in the script, it still doesn’t make much sense.

Amanda’s daughter Chrissy (Fivel Stewart) is home-schooled but reaching college age and considering going off to school. Even though she is sweet and pretty, she has no real friends other than her mother (with whom she is very, very close) and is considered a bit of an oddball by most of the locals due to their spartan lifestyle. Unlike her mother, Chrissy is not afraid to venture into town – in fact she enjoys it – and while she is mostly happy in her life, she is interested in seeing more of the world as well.

The supernatural invades their little plot of the world when a strange man shows up at the farm. It turns out that he is the brother of Amanda’s long-estranged mother. Umma has died, and her last wishes were that her daughter perform a Korean ceremony to pass her into the next realm.

However, there is a dark, secret past between Amanda and her mother and Amanda refuses to abide by her wishes. Amanda feels that she was a cold, judgmental and evil mother – she has done all in her power to be a different kind of mother for Chrissy – so she just avoids doing it. Until suddenly she starts seeing – or imagining she sees – her mother in the farm and in the fields.

And that is basically where Umma falls apart somewhat – and this is coming from someone who is a sucker for ghost stories. It starts to rely on somewhat cliched horror tropes and jump scares, and it loses much of the eccentric energy it had to start.

Umma’s world is a quiet, insular, desolate, paranoid world. In fact, only six actors are listed in the end credits of the film, although there are another 5-10 uncredited extras that pop up periodically in the film, mostly in the early scenes – none of whom have any dialogue, I believe.

Umma had the potential to be a fascinating and creepy look at lives and culture, but it never quite reaches that potential.

Jay S. Jacobs

#Umma #2022 #Movie Review #Sandra Oh #Jay S. Jacobs

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thxnews · 2 months

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Canada to Honour Mulroney with State Funeral

A Nation Pays Tribute to a Visionary Leader

In a heartfelt announcement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared that Canada will hold a state funeral for the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, marking the passing of a titan in Canadian politics and public service. As the country prepares to bid farewell, we reflect on the enduring legacy of Canada’s 18th Prime Minister, a figure whose contributions have significantly shaped the nation’s path. A Storied Legacy Brian Mulroney, whose career spanned law, business, and politics, leaves behind a legacy as a unifying force for Canadians. During his tenure as Prime Minister, he achieved notable milestones, including negotiating pivotal free trade agreements with the United States and Mexico, working to bridge the divide between French and English Canada, and taking a committed stance on environmental, peace, and equality issues. His efforts earned him numerous honors, such as the Order of Canada and the Ordre national du Québec. Honouring Mulroney The state funeral, scheduled for March 23, 2024, in Montréal, Quebec, follows the tradition of honouring national figures who have left an indelible mark on Canada. Preceded by a lying-in-state in Ottawa and a lying-in-repose in Montréal, the ceremony offers a moment for Canadians to come together, reflect on Mulroney’s monumental contributions, extend their condolences, and pay their respects. A Unifying Force Prime Minister Justin Trudeau praised Mulroney as a relentless worker for Canada, a champion of Canadian values, and a force for the common good. Trudeau noted that Mulroney's legacy would continue to influence the country for generations, emphasizing the state funeral as an opportunity for national reflection and homage. State Funerals in Canada State funerals in Canada serve as public commemorations for distinguished Canadians, including governors general, prime ministers, and other eminent figures. Moreover, they showcase the nation's gratitude and respect, underscoring Canada’s commitment to recognizing the profound contributions of its leaders. Engaging the Public Canadians are encouraged to engage with Mulroney’s legacy through a commemorative web page and an online book of condolences. Additionally, these platforms provide spaces for personal tributes and a deeper understanding of Mulroney’s impact on Canada and the world. Sources: THX News & The Canadian Government. Read the full article

#BrianMulroneystatefuneral #Canada’s18thPrimeMinister #Canadianpublicservicelegacy #Canadianvaluesandunity #environmentalleadership #freetradeagreements #OrderofCanada #OrdrenationalduQuébec #PrimeMinisterJustinTrudeau #statefuneralceremony

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wikiuntamed · 2 months

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Top 5 @Wikipedia pages from yesterday: Friday, 1st March 2024

Welcome, добре дошли (dobre doshli), vítejte, أهلا بك (ahlan bika) 🤗 What were the top pages visited on @Wikipedia (1st March 2024) 🏆🌟🔥?

1️⃣: George Galloway "George Galloway (born 16 August 1954) is a British politician, broadcaster, and writer who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Rochdale since the 2024 by-election. He has been the leader of the Workers Party of Britain since he founded it in 2019. Between 1987 and 2010, and between 2012 and..."

Image licensed under CC BY 2.0? by David Hunt from Warwickshire, UK

2️⃣: Dune: Part Two "Dune: Part Two is a 2024 American epic science fiction film directed and co-produced by Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts. The sequel to Dune (2021), it is the second of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert. It follows Paul Atreides as he unites..."

3️⃣: Dune (2021 film) "Dune (titled onscreen as Dune: Part One) is a 2021 American epic science fiction film directed and co-produced by Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth. It is the first of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. Set in the..."

4️⃣: Shōgun (2024 TV series) "Shōgun is an American historical drama limited series created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks. It is based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell, which was previously adapted into a 1980 limited series. The series premiered with its first two episodes on February 27, 2024, on Hulu and..."

5️⃣: Brian Mulroney "Martin Brian Mulroney ( muul-ROO-nee; March 20, 1939 – February 29, 2024) was a Canadian lawyer, businessman, and politician who served as the 18th prime minister of Canada from 1984 to 1993. Born in the eastern Quebec city of Baie-Comeau, Mulroney studied political science and law. He then moved..."

Image by A1C LYNCH

#TopWikiPages #WikiUntamed #WhatWeLookedAt #WhatDoesWikiSay

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olivierdemangeon · 2 years

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LA SEMAINE EN FILMS – WEEK #19

View On WordPress

#Antonio Banderas #Dermot Mulroney #Eiza González #Fivel Stewart #Garret Dillahunt #Jake Gyllenhaal #Mark Wahlberg #Sandra Oh #Tom Holland #Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

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enticingaphrodite · 2 months

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My Type

Timothée Chalamet Milo Ventimiglia (Jess Gilmore Girls)

Penn Badgley Andy Samberg Logan Lerman Dylan O’Brien Tyler Posey Chance Crawford Paul Walker Matthew Perry (friends) Matt LeBlanc (friends) James Marsden Chris Evans with a beard Chris Pine Josh Hutcherson (hunger games) Ian Harding (pretty little liars) Tyler Blackburn (pretty little liars) Julian Morris Tom Holland Gregg Sulkin Tom Selleck Sean Faris Paul Wesley Michael Trevino Joseph Morgan Michael Malarkey Daniel Gillies Johnny Depp (90s) Young pre-ripped Sylvester Stallone Young George Strait (80s) Young Al Pacino Young Robert Deniro Corey Mylchreest Nick Miller New Girl Dermot Mulroney Jamie Dornan Colin O’Donoghue (Hook OUAT) Sean Maguire (Robin Hood OUAT) Brendan Fraser (the mummy) Ardeth Bay (the mummy) Henry Cavill Ben Affleck Evan Peters James Lafferty (Nathan Scott one tree hill) Chad Michael Murray (now that he’s older) Gideon Emery (good behavior) Kevin Costner Pierce Brosnan Steve Zahn (you’ve got mail) Greg Kinnear (you’ve got mail) Bill Pullman Mark Ruffalo

Louis Garrel Jimmy Garoppolo Antonio Banderas (women on the verge of a nervous breakdown (1988)) Diego Luna Pedro pascal OSCAR ISSAC Zayn Malik Fabian Frankel Juan Diego Botto Michelle Morrone

#celebrity crush #celebrity crushes #my type #text post #aphrodisiac text #Enticing Aphrodite

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college-girl199328 · 3 months

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The first days of Parliament in 2024 sounded a lot like the last days of Parliament in 2023. The basic disputes and arguments are by now familiar, even to those who haven't been paying much attention to the back-and-forth over the Liberal government's carbon tax and the Conservative leader's agenda. Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre are also dueling over very different theories of change.

Trudeau used the theme of "change" to begin his remarks at a Liberal gathering just before Christmas last year. Canadians, he said, are living through a "period where we're all experiencing a lot of change."

It's fair to ask whether there was ever a time in human history that was relatively free of change. But that doesn't undermine Trudeau's observation or the unsettled feeling that may now be lurking in the guts of many Canadians.

Political leaders, he concluded, need to decide whether they want to "tackle" the problems facing Canada or "exploit" those problems. The implication behind Trudeau's framing is pretty clear.

Poilievre also talks about change — he did again on Sunday. But he talks about a different kind of change.

He said he spoke recently in an airport with a woman who asked him, "Where's my Canada? What happened to this place to be, Poilievre said, was that this woman could comfortably afford housing and food in a safe neighborhood. His refrain on Sunday was that such things are no longer possible "after eight years of Trudeau."

That wasn't the first time Poilievre has used that particular line—it goes back at least as far as his speech to the Conservative convention last September. It underpins a sweeping thesis that claims Trudeau is not only to blame for some of the bigger problems Canada is facing but that his time in office has marked a departure from the way things used to be.

Poilievre said ordinary Canadians "feel like strangers in their own country, with how horribly things have changed, including crime (the crime rate has increased over the last several years after reaching a historic low) and the opioid epidemic (which continues to defy government efforts). The Conservative leader argues that the Liberal government has made both problems worse.

Much of what's wrong with the way things are can be traced, Poilievre suggests, to higher levels of federal spending under Trudeau. For Poilievre, that spending marked a particularly dramatic break with the past and with a historic consensus.

It's worth noting that the Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney (name-checked by Poilievre in his convention speech) never actually balanced the federal budget. Stephen Harper's Conservative government also failed to balance the budget in most of its nine years in office, and whether the budget was actually in the black when it left office is debatable. The initial spike in inflation was linked to global factors. An analysis published last year suggested that while federal spending could be linked to higher inflation and interest rates, much of that spending was done during the pandemic. (Meanwhile, the impact of the carbon tax on food prices might be small.)

It's indisputable that Trudeau's Liberals broke with the rhetorical and political consensus that treated budgetary balance as the federal government's pre-eminent goal — and the merits and effectiveness of Liberal fiscal policy are up for debate, including among people who consider themselves Liberals.

But if the way things were in 2015 is to be a point of reference, it's equally fair to note how much higher greenhouse gas emissions were projected to be back then, how many more Indigenous communities lacked access to clean drinking water, how many more children were living in poverty and how much higher child care fees were much Poilievre has complained about "wokeism," it's tempting to wonder whether his appeals to the way things used to be are also meant to speak to those who are uncomfortable with broader aspects of some recent social issues and debates.

And given how fiercely the Conservatives have opposed the Liberal government's "sustainable jobs" legislation--previously known as "just transition" legislation--they also might be running against the very idea (or threat) of change changing--the planet's climate certainly is. Trudeau can argue that significant parts of his government's agenda have been about meeting the need for change and preparing Canadians for the future.

But it's on his ability to "tackle" the problems of today that he is being challenged — and earlier action on housing would have put him in a better place now, even if provincial and municipal governments deserve significant amounts of blame for the current situation.

Opposite Trudeau, Poilievre is laying the rhetorical groundwork to do things very differently--even if he frames it in terms of simply changing things back to the way they were. The more he can convince people that the country is in terrible shape and that everything currently wrong with it can be blamed on Trudeau, the easier it becomes for him to justify doing something close to the opposite.

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