Never underestimate the power of a prairie-upbringing on one’s creative abilities. Winnipeg’s own Propagandhi has long been one of the most intense (in studio and in concert) acts around, and this year saw their release of the tongue-in-cheek Supporting Caste (get it?): one part brutal riffs plus one part aggressive percussion plus one part witty and cutting lyrics equals Best Hardcore Album of 2009. Our favourite Winnipeg HxC kids offered sinful delights on Supporting Caste such as a response to Don Cherry’s moral indiscretions (xenophobic/sexist remarks and his heavy-handed support of the “War on Terror”), “Dear Coach’s Corner”, and a social and political statement on the hypocrisy of eating meat, “Human(e) Meat (The Flensing of Sandor Katz)”.

This past year was defined by big change, shocking revelations, and the rampant power of celebrity. We saw underdogs soar, goliaths tragically topple, and watched our favourites say goodbye, whether we wanted them to or not. Without further delay, let’s revisit some of the most interesting stories of 2009.

When Heath Ledger died in January 2008, almost every iota of attention concerning his career was on the final fate of his performance in The Dark Knight. Of course, Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker went on to garner tremendous acclaim and awards, up to and including the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. But when he died, Ledger was on break from making his follow-up to The Dark Knight, a film by Terry Gilliam called The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. When Ledger unexpectedly passed away, the fate of Imaginarium was up in the air. After all, how can a film finish principal photography when its star is no longer available to play his part?

After more than five years and several films created through 3-D computer animation, Walt Disney Animation is returning to the medium it used better than anyone: ink and paint. Disney’s triumphant return to traditional cel animation, The Princess and the Frog, opens this weekend in theatres, making it the studio’s 49th feature-length animated movie. But before seeing if Disney animators have still got it, let’s recount their past achievements with a top ten list presented here in chronological order.

   

Sari Delmar can consider herself both a music know-it-all and a seasoned journalist, two relatively difficult accomplishments before the age of 30. So, it is no surprise the driven and charismatic Delmar would end up founding Audio Blood: a marketing and publicity company aimed at providing coverage for independent (indie) musicians.

The Holiday season is generally regarded as the best time of year for movies and movie-lovers. Here’s a look at some of the films you might be talking about as we approach year’s end.