NATIONAL POST ARTS

How a road trip to Canada in the ’80s inspired Richard Ford’s latest novel
“I loved that landscape,” Richard Ford says. “What struck me was how different it was from just where I was living at the time, across the border in [Missoula] Montana. It didn’t shock me, it pleased me, in a way. There was something about the landscape up in Saskatchewan … that I had such an affinity for. I think it just settled on me in a profound way.

“When an American — this American, anyway — is in Canada, you’re very aware that you’re in a completely different place,” he adds. (Illustration by Steve Murray)

Exception to the ruler
Stick to the script: Sacha Baron Cohen’s The Dictator abandons improv to follow in the footsteps of filmic fanatics. (Illustration by Steve Murray)

Avengers Assemble Day 1: Who will be the greatest members of the Avengers?
Before the superheroes hit the big screen May 4, the Post wants you to build your own team from more than four decades of Marvel-ous masked men (and women, and aliens). Each day this week, we’ll unveil a new roster of heroes according to their era, after which you can vote here for your favourite member.

Read all about each Avenger here, then vote for your favourite in the poll.

SEASON ONE SPOILERS!
Click through for Steve Murray’s tribute to the warriors, weirdos & wolves of the first season of Game of Thrones, but beware of spoilers!

Extremely Bad Advice: Teen Streets

Dear Steve, I have a lovely townhouse on a quiet street. It’s a friendly area where the neighbours always have a smile and a wave, and parents can let their kids play outside from dawn to dusk. My question is this: How can I get those slackass neighbourhood kids out of my alley? They are constantly loitering behind my house and no amount of scolding, cajoling or throwing dead-tree copies of the Post seems to deter them.

Oscars 2012: We can rebuild him — Time to give the Academy Awards a million-dollar makeover
In the interests of livening up — and speeding up — the awards broadcast, here are a few simple techniques for making the Oscars more enjoyable for everyone. I’d like to thank the Academy and remind them that the music they hear is playing for them.

No shorts, please; we’re feature filmmakers
Short films often get short shrift, although they do have their own festivals now. And this year Toronto and Vancouver filmgoers actually had a chance to see the nominated live-action and animated films. The fact remains, however, that most moviegoers know little about the short films and less about those who bear the unfortunate and misleading title of short-film makers. Documentary shorts, this applies to you, too.

More suggestions…

The Force is gone with this one: Why 3D will do little to improve Star Wars
A long time ago, in this very galaxy, Star Wars was a great film. Sadly, after his glorious pinnacle of creativity, George Lucas started a downward slide and ended up hacking away at his own legacy. (Illustration by Steve Murray)

Leonard Cohen: Portrait of the artist as an older man
Leonard Cohen is releasing his 12th album, Old Ideas, on Jan. 31. Born in Montreal, Cohen learned guitar and formed his first band while a student at McGill, but the musician has always been more than just an everyday rock star. He’s a prophet, a poet, a sex symbol, an observant Jew who practices Zen, a businessman who lost his fortune, a muse and, perhaps most importantly, a father. The Post’s Ben Kaplan assembled a panel to dissect the various parts of the 77-year-old icon. (Illustration by Steve Murray)