From left, Gabrielle Roitman, Kayla Seffing, Maddy Hiller and Casey Myer take a selfie in front of an "Oppenheimer" movie poster before they attended an advance screening of "Barbie," Thursday, July 20, 2023, at AMC. Chris Pizzello/AP Photo.

May the best (Oscar) campaign win

Being an Oscar nominee is like being a political candidate—exhausting—and the core tenets of Oscar campaigns have a lot in common with the political. Stick to your brand. Know your messaging. Don’t peak too soon. 

Woody Allen arrives at the gala screening of  You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger  at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Sunday September 12, 2010. Chris Young/The Canadian Press.

The long, slow uncancelling of Woody Allen

Through it all, Allen kept making films even though they were no longer distributed in North America. Allen now shoots his films in Europe, including his 50th film, Coup de Chance, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year to good reviews.

Pro-Punjabi independence protesters chant outside of the Consulate General of India Office in Vancouver, on Saturday, June 24, 2023. Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press.

Leaving the old country behind

Most Canadians believe immigration is important for Canada, the present difficulties notwithstanding. But polling also shows that most also believe that we must make Canadians of those who come here. It is not enough to leave them alone in the hope that they will quietly assimilate.

 In this Feb. 6, 2007 file photo, an unidentified woman touches the toe of the bronze statue of Scottish philosopher David Hume in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Martin Cleaver/AP Photo.

Lessons from Edinburgh

Canadian cities could learn from Edinburgh that, when it comes to monuments, more is better, and even more is even better. In the end, a country is what and who it celebrates.