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RESTAURANTS
NOVEMBER 16/08
Oct 27/08
Oct 16/08
Sept 26/08
Sept 5/08
July 21/08
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition 08
July 5/08
June 23/08
June 4/08
May 18/08
May 4/08
April 16/08
March 26/08
Head to Head
Feb 26/08
Feb 13/08
Jan 30/08
Jan 17/08
Notables of 2007
Dec 30/07
Dec 8/07
Nov 22/07
Oct 25/07
Oct 4/07
Sept 18/07
Aug 29/07
Aug 8/07
Summer Mysteries '07
July 20/07
June 28/07
June 8/07
May 21/07
May 2/07
April 14/07
March 23/07
Toronto Art Expo 2007
March 8/07
Feb 16/07
Feb 2/07
Jan 24/07
Notables of 2006
Dec 27/06
December 11/06
November 28/06
Nov 8/06
October 14/06
Sept 22/06
Ring Psycho (Wagner on CBC Radio)
Sept 6/06
August 12/06
July 18/06
June 27/06
June 9/06
May 23/06
Me In Manhattan
May 2/06
April 12/06
March 17/06
March 9/06
Feb 16/06
Feb 1/06
Jan 11/06
Dec 31/05
Dec 12/05
Nov 25/05
Nov 4/05
Oct 24/05
Sept 7/05
Sept 16/05
Sept 1/05
Aug 10/05
July 21/05
Me and the Jays
July 10/05
June 15/05
May 18/05
April 27/05
April 18/05
April 8/05
March 21/05
Feb 28/05
Feb 21/05
Feb 4/05
Jan 28/05
Jan 19/05
Jan 5/05
About Me
Dec 20/04
Dec 5/04
MOVIES
BOOKS
RE-READINGS
MYSTERIES/CRIME books
VIDEOS and DVDs
PLAYS
OTHER STUFF: Art Exhibitions, Concerts, etc.


Patrick Donohue's Reviews
 
 

 
Some philosopher -- I forget which one -- said that one of the main purposes of the arts is to give the idle rich something to talk about. That's what I'm doing here. Not that I'm rich, but I'm well qualified with respect to the other aspect of the job description.
 
What you'll find here are personal responses to stuff that I've been seeing and reading lately. These aren't reviews in the traditional sense; I don't include all the bumpf about directors, actors and so on.  Nor do I mark a score card for everybody involved. I mention some aspect of a work only if I think it's worth commenting on.
 
In most cases, I haven't read any reviews of the work in question. I prefer to form my own impressions before hearing what others have to say. What you're getting here is pure, unadulterated PJD. So how do I decide what movies to attend, what books to read? From the buzz, I guess. From knowing which directors, writers, actors are involved. From what friends tell me. From noticing how much press the work is receiving.
 
I promise to reveal only the bare minimum of plot elements. To me, one of the most important aspects of any novel, movie or play is  the way the author hooks me on the narrative by gradually doling out details of the plot. So I wouldn't want to spoil that pleasure for anybody. God spare us from those reviewers who have nothing better to offer than elaborate plot summaries!
 
If you want to know something about me, check the "Who Do I Think I Am?" page (just after "Home" page in the navigation bar on the left). If you think you can figure out who I am, please let me know. My psychiatrist would find the information very helpful.
 

Brand New! Page for Restaurants. Reviews of several North Toronto eateries just posted: Sapori, Ristorante 101, Parmigiano, Soho Bistro, Mezza Misto, The Monkey Bar and Grill, Piazzetta, Trio and Gamberoni (Click on "RESTAURANTS" in the navigation bar on the left.)
 
Also Just Posted (Click on NOVEMBER 16/08 in the navigation bar):
 
In The Land of Long Fingernails (Memoir)
 
Role Models (Movie)
 
Open Water 2008 (Watercolours)
 
So Brave, Young, and Handsome (Novel)
 
Other Movies Recently Reviewed:
 
Oct 27/08
 
Rachel Getting Married
 
Oct 16/08
 
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
 
Sept 26/08
 
Choke
Ghost Town
 
Sept 5/08
 
Amal
Step Brothers
Boy A
The Last Mistress
 
July 21/08
 
Mamma Mia!
 
 
To find a specific review in the archives, click on the appropriate Index in the navigation bar.
 

Want to respond? You can email me at: patrick@dilettantesdiary.com  (If you've sent an email without receiving a response, please try again. Sometimes, when my email system doesn't recognize your address, it sends the letter to bulk mail and it can get deleted acccidentally. It helps if you put a reference to these reviews in the subject line of your email. Thanks)

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