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Winnipeg Free Press
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Hard time
'Can a man who caused the death of his child ever atone enough to be forgiven?' American author Wally Lamb asks this in his sixth novel, a heart-shattering saga about addiction, trauma, redemption and the healing power of relationships. Heavy themes, but familiar ones for Lamb. He became a household name with his 1992 novel I Know This Much Is True, (made into a limited series by HBO in 2020 and available on Crave) which follows the story of identical twin brothers, one of whom develops paranoid schizophrenia. Shana Sureck photo Wally Lamb's latest was recently selected as the next read for Oprah's Book Club. Lamb is known for his Dickensian-like storytelling — epic, winding stories, sharp criticism of social ills, plentiful references to topical events and deeply relatable characters. The River Is Waiting contains all these elements. The story opens in 2017 in Lamb's favourite setting: the fictional small-town of Three Rivers, Conn., where we meet 35-year-old Corby Ledbetter. Corby thinks he's doing fine. He may have lost his job, but he'll find another one. In the meantime, he's devoting himself to his beloved wife, Emily, and working as a stay-at-home dad to their two-year-old twins. And even though he sneaks booze and sedatives to cope with his growing stress and depression, he knows he can quit when things get better. As Corby says, 'I'm not too worried about my growing reliance on 'better living through chemistry.' It's just a stopgap until my situation turns around.' Corby keeps telling himself this, even after the morning he takes a double dose of Ativan, chases it with Captain Morgan rum — and backs over his toddler son in the driveway, killing him. Sentenced to prison, Corby finds unexpected fellowship with inmates, including an older mentor and a troubled young man desperately looking for a role model. With the help of his new friends, a warm-hearted prison librarian and his mother's unconditional love, Corby begins to hope that he can conquer his demons, forgive himself and come back to his wife and daughter. The River is Waiting Like fellow American author Matthew Quick, best-known for his 2008 novel The Silver Linings Playbook, Lamb excels at creating characters that are lovable even when not likable. Corby is genuinely grief-stricken and remorseful for killing his son. Most of the time, he seems honest and committed to conquering his addiction. By letting Corby tell the story, readers can't help but sympathize with him and, at times, feel his frustration towards his wife when she refuses to visit, or his mother when she offers well-meaning but unhelpful advice. At other times, Corby comes across as self-righteous, such as when he lashes out at his wife for being protective of their remaining child. 'No matter what's going to happen between Emily and me, I'll fight her tooth and nail if she's going to try to screw with my parental rights. I was a good dad before it happened. She knows that. Doesn't that count for anything?' Corby fumes to himself. During his long career as a teacher and novelist, Lamb also taught creative writing to inmates at York Correctional Institute in Connecticut. He draws on his experience to authentically depict the interior of prison life. Guards treat prisoners kindly or cruelly depending on whim, healing programs are limited or inaccessible, personal phone calls are monitored and inmates learn not to speak up for their own protection. As Corby wryly notes, 'The only thing most of the staff is interested in 'correcting' is a new inmate's assumption that he might be something more than a worthless piece of s–t with a felony conviction and inmate number.' Lamb also dives into the racial injustice of the legal system, with Corby noticing the segregation of inmates by race, and how inmates of colour typically receive longer sentences than white inmates, regardless of the nature of their offences. David Kanigan / Silhouette of bird on shore of lake in Cove Island Park in USA. As Corby realizes after speaking with an older Black inmate: 'For the death of my son, they gave me three years. Lester got 50 years because a judge's daughter lost an arm and, I'm guessing, because she was white.' Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Lamb touches on topical elements from 2017-2023, including Trump followers, economic downturns and the COVID-19 pandemic. Several characters from Lamb's previous novels also make appearances, including psychologist Dr. Patel and nurse Maureen Quirk. Lamb handles the narrative skilfully. While the plot drags at time, this serves to emphasize the monotony of day-to-day life in prison. The River Is Waiting is worth the nine-year wait since Lamb's most recent novel. Kathryne Cardwell is a writer in Treaty One Territory.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Disney+ Inks New Deal to Bundle With Crave, TSN in Canada
Disney has expanded its content supply deal with Bell Media in Canada to offer a new streaming bundle that includes Disney+, Crave and TSN, starting later this year. The new Canadian bundle follows a landmark deal between cable giant Charter Communications and Disney to offer Spectrum Select TV subscribers access to Disney+ at no additional cost. More from The Hollywood Reporter New Lena Dunham, Sarah Snook Shows Touted as Universal U.K. TV Labels Execs Talk Sector Cuts Nickelodeon Acquires Animated 'Mr. Crocodile' Series, Based on French Children's Book Locarno Unveils Open Doors Program Projects, Producers for First Edition of Africa Focus Pricing and launch timing on the new Canadian bundles for Bell Media subscribers has yet to be revealed, but the offerings will include original series and content from HBO and Max, the Crave streaming platform in Canada, Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and TSN, the Canadian sports channel. The Canadian deal involving Disney and Bell Media continues an industry trend where streaming services are increasingly combined and marketed to subscribers for savings amid continuing cable cord cutting and consumers and ad dollars shifting online. And Bell Media is looking to offset declining Canadian viewership for traditional linear TV channels with more inroads into the streaming space. 'We're excited to expand our longstanding relationship with Bell Media, through these new offerings, making Disney+ even more accessible across Canada,' Shawn Praskey, vp, content sales & distribution in Canada said in a statement. Bell earlier this year launched new Crave subscription package that bundles in TSN sports content, with pricing starting at CAN$21.99 (US$16.10) a month. And Disney+ is available in Canada starting at CAN $8.99 (US$6.60) a month. The Disney+, Crave, TSN bundle will give subscribers access to original series like HBO's The Last of Us, The White Lotus, Max's And Just Like That and Hacks, Disney+'s Only Murders in the Building and Lucasfilm's Andor. Upcoming series include HBO's A Night of the Seven Kingdoms, the Game of Thrones spinoff, and season 3 of Euphoria. And TSN, which competes north of the border with rival Sportsnet from Rogers, will toss into the bundle NFL, NBA, FIFA World Cup games, F1 races and regional NHL games, among other content. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Stocks in play: BCE Inc.
Said its Bell Media arm today announced a game-changing evolution of its flagship streaming service, Crave. Slated to launch by the end of 2025, the newly enhanced Crave platform is set to offer unprecedented access to Bell Media's vast library of English and French-language content. All accessible within a single subscription, Crave's content portfolio will grow by more than 30%. BCE Inc. shares are trading down $0.08 at $30.00.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The 2025 Canadian Screen Awards Arrive On Crave
Celebrating the arts in Canadian films and TV shows, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television brings the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards to Crave. For those who missed out on the original airing of the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards on CBC and CBC Gem, you won't need to fret anymore, as the showcase is available on demand and on Crave from June 2nd onward. Showing more love to the Canadian creative minds, the partnership between CBC Gem and Crave is quite a big deal, as it unites two Canadian streaming services to increase access to the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards. The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television was founded in 1979 and now comprises more than 4,000 members, comprising both emerging and established industry professionals. The organization is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating Canadian talent across film, television, and digital media. Continuing this mission, the Canadian Screen Awards were launched in 2013 through the merger of the Academy's Gemini and Genie Awards. The Canadian Screen Awards are the biggest night in Canadian entertainment. It brings together icons and emerging stars to honour the country's creative minds. Returning in 2025, the showcase will feature exciting moments, tributes to beloved entertainers who have shaped the film and television industry, and recognition across a wide range of categories. Commenting on the surprise partnership, Tammy Frick, CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, said: 'CBC Gem and Crave coming together to showcase the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards marks a proud moment in Canadian storytelling. For the first time, two of our nation's biggest streaming platforms are joining forces to shine a brighter spotlight on Canadian talent and creativity. Together, we're celebrating the best of Canada – our voices, our stories, and the communities that shape them – and making sure they're widely seen and celebrated from coast to coast to coast.' Following the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards original airing, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television has released a list of the nominees and winners for each category. As a quick recap, check the list below of all the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards winners. Best Motion Picture – The Apprentice by Daniel Bekerman. Achievement in Direction – Matthew Rankin, Universal Language | Une langue universelle. Original Screenplay – Henry Bernadet, Isabelle Brouillette, and Nicolas Krief. Gamma Rays. Adapted Screenplay – Sook-Yin Lee and Joanne Sarazen. Paying For It. Achievement in Cinematography – Gayle Ye, Paying For It. Achievement in Editing – Xi Feng, Universal Language | Une langue universelle. Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design – Louisa Schabas, Universal Language | Une langue universelle. Achievement in Make-Up – Colin Penman, Brandi Boulet, and Sean Sansom. The Apprentice. Achievement in Costume Design – Negar Nemati, Universal Language | Une langue universelle. Achievement in Hair – Michelle Cote, Charlotte DeLaet, and Sandra Kelly. The Apprentice. Achievement in Visual Effects – Brian Huynh, Sophia Jooyeon Lee, Steven Huynh, Justin Perreault, and Michael Davison. Code 8: Part II. Achievement in Sound Mixing – Christian Cooke, Mark Zsifkovits, Trevor Goulet, Peter Persaud, and Daniel Moctezuma. The Shrouds. Achievement in Music – Original Score — Mychael Danna, Seven Veils. Achieve in Music – Original Song — Revolutionary Heart by Torquil Campbell, for the We Forgot To Break Up film. Best Stunt Coordination – Steven McMichael and Leslie McMichael. Wynonna Earp: Vengeance. Achievement in Casting – Marilou Richer and Ila Firouzabadi. Universal Language | Une langue universelle. Performance in a Leading Role, Drama – Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice. Performance in a Leading Role, Comedy – Cate Blanchett, Rumours. Performance in a Supporting Role, Drama – Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice. Performance in a Supporting Role, Comedy – Graham Greene, Seeds. Best Feature Length Documentary – Yintah by Jennifer Wickham, Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano, Bob Moore, Sam Vinal, Doris Rosso, Daniel Cross, and Mila Aung-Thwin. Best Cinematography in a Feature Length Documentary – Michael Toledano, Yintah. Best Editing in a Feature Length Documentary – David Schmidt, Wilfred Buck. Best Original Music in a Feature Length Documentary – Murray Lightburn, Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story. Best Sound Design in a Feature Length Documentary – Marie-Pierre Grenier, Camille Demers-Lambert, Nataq Huault, Olivier Germain, and Alexis Farand. Okurimono. Best Short Documentary – Hello Stranger by Amélie Hardy, Sarah Mannering, and Fanny Drew. Best Animated Short – Maybe Elephants by Torill Kove, Lise Fearnley, Maral Mohammadian, and Tonje Skar Reiersen. Best Live Action Short Drama – On a Sunday at Eleven by Alicia K. Harris and Jeff Chiu. Performance in a Live Action Short Drama – Bryn McAuley, Bibi's Dog is Dead. John Dunning Best First Feature Film Award – Village Keeper, Karen Chapman. What an exciting time to honour Canadian films and the television industry in the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards. The 2025 Canadian Screen Awards are available on CBC Gem and, as of now, Crave.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Charlotte Le Bon is focused on directing, but has ideas for a ‘White Lotus' return
Charlotte Le Bon is seen in season 3 of HBO's 'White Lotus' in this handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - HBO TORONTO — Since her breakout role in season 3 of HBO's hit dramedy 'White Lotus,' acting offers have been pouring in for Charlotte Le Bon. But for now, the Montreal native is just not interested. 'Making films is my main focus more than acting, to be honest,' Le Bon said during a sit-down interview in Toronto Thursday. Le Bon recently returned from the Cannes Film Festival, where she held meetings in search of a financing partner for her sophomore feature — a still-untitled Montreal-shot drama exploring themes of loss. 'It's autobiographique,' says the bilingual actor, reluctant to reveal too much. 'It's a very, very personal movie and I think the goal is to try to make a very light-hearted movie on grief. It's a challenge, but that's what I'm aiming for.' The Montreal-based Le Bon was in town for Bell Media's 2025/26 programming showcase, where Etalk hosts interviewed her during a splashy event for media buyers about the last season of 'The White Lotus,' which streams on Crave. In Mike White's eat-the-rich anthology series she plays Chloe, a socially savvy French-Canadian expat living in Thailand with her much older boyfriend, and the series' main antagonist, Greg, who now goes by 'Gary.' She's seemingly unaware of Greg's history: in Season 2, he pulled off a plot to murder his wife Tanya, played by Jennifer Coolidge, in order to inherit her wealth. Le Bon says she was ready to take a hiatus from acting when she was offered the 'White Lotus' role. Though she'd built a successful career — with roles opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the 2015 biographical drama 'The Walk' and Christian Bale in the 2016 war epic 'The Promise' — her passion had shifted to working behind the camera. Her 2023 horror-romance 'Falcon Lake,' which she directed and co-wrote, premiered at Cannes to strong critical acclaim. 'I was thinking about taking a break from acting because I was like, 'Oh, I don't know if I still like it.' I was just asking myself some questions about it... I sometimes played characters that were not really inspiring for me for some reason,' she says. 'And then 'White Lotus' arrived and I was like, 'There's no way I can not do this. It's just an amazing opportunity'... Between the moment where I sent the self-tape and the moment I was in the plane flying to Thailand, there were probably like 10 days.' Le Bon says the experience of being part of such a pop-culture juggernaut was hard to wrap her head around. 'It's kind of overwhelming when you're taking part in such an important thing in culture. Even when it started to come out, when I started to see memes on it on social media, it was really exciting,' she says. While acting isn't her current focus, Le Bon says she would be down to return for Season 4 — and has some ideas about how it could play out. 'If their relationship is based on true love, which I think it is, then maybe she'll come back with Greg, because Greg has to come back, for sure,' she says. Le Bon muses that Chloe could be Greg's accomplice or even the one who serves him his inevitable comeuppance. 'She could either become Greg's ally and they can be like a duo of villains, or she can maybe be the one who will create the karma for Greg. Maybe she'll give it to him,' she says. 'He has to get it at some point, so we'll see what happens.' While Chloe's relationship with Greg may seem transactional on the surface, Le Bon argues the two share a deeper 'understanding' of one another. 'I think what she likes in this relationship is she thinks she's found a way to be free… just by spending a lot of money and partying and having sex with whoever she wants,' Le Bon says. 'I think they find an agreement by the end of the season where it's clear that's her intention and maybe he can take part in this and have fun with it as well.' If that setup sounds peculiar, Le Bon says that's just the kind of thing that interests her. 'There needs to be a singular aspect to a part that really inspires me in order for me to move my butt and be an actress again,' she says. 'It needs to be weird.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2025. Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press
