bitdepth — 2003 — September

Love That Boy

One thing that I always try to do at film festivals is have the last film that I see be a film that I really like. This year I was lucky and finished off my viewing of festival films with Andrea Dorfman‘s Love That Boy along with a large and enthusiastic crowd. It tells the story of the somewhat uptight Phoebe (Nadia Litz) who makes lists of things she wants to do before she graduates from University. The film is anchored by Litz’ strong performance (who I just realized was in the short “Evelyn: The Cutest Evil Dead Girl” from last year’s Atlantic Film Festival).
Love That Boy is a gorgeous film with colourful, 50s-style production design by Marcia Connolly and cinematography by Tom Harting. The film was cowritten by Andrea and Jennifer Deyell and it builds up a cast of quirky characters and then puts them into situations that could seem improbably at the beginning, but become more logical as you are drawn into the film. It was funny and warm, which is what a romantic comedy should be. It also didn’t have a completely conventional structure as I wasn’t sure what direction things were going to go in and what romantic avenues would be travelled down… that was fun. Andrea Dorfman has a distinctive voice (cinematically as well as in person, but I’m thinking more cinematically right now) that I love to listen to and I’m looking forward to her next adventure.

September 20, 2003 aff2003, andreadorfman, film, lovethatboy, review

Andy Jones: To The Wall

About a year and half ago I was at a conference in New Brunswick that featured a showcase with a great lineup of Atlantic Canadian talent. The highlight of the show was the performance by Andy Jones of the Prologue of his one man show, “To The Wall” which was originally developed for the One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre and directed by Charlie Tomlinson. I quickly Googled Andy Jones and maybe I should make it clear that I’m talking about Andy Jones the Newfoundland actor / performer and not the English postman, the American Mazda Isuzu dealer, the Andy Jones who takes improv classes in Chicago, the BMX racer, PC Party candidate or the animation director.

The Prologue that I saw in person was amazing and I wanted to see the show, but wasn’t able to make it to any of the other live performances. But then when I saw the lineup for the film festival this year I saw the show, which is part of the CBC’s performing arts series, Opening Night and I was excited because I knew that I could see it and also see Mike Jones (who, according to legend, saved my marriage and now may break it up, but that’s another story). It’s co-directed by Mike Jones (Andy’s brother) and Moya Walsh. They manage to capture a stage show that doesn’t seem forced or too showy. I was expecting something like Jonathan Demme‘s Swimming to Cambodia, but it’s not as showy, which can be distracting. A testament to the power of the performance (which won Andy the Best Actor award at the Atlantic Film Festival) and the production is that the audience in the movie theatre actually applauded at points during the film…you don’t see that happening too often.

The show deals with issues of God, religion and Newfoundland… and science! Andy has an amazing ability to hold your attention and take you on a journey through topics that fit together and create a wonderful and entertaining tapestry. It will be broadcast on CBC TV on November 13.

September 20, 2003 aff2003, andyjones, comedy, film, michaeljones, play, review, tothewall

The Saddest Music in the World

Guy Maddin makes the most beautiful films that can sometimes be quite challenging to watch. If you haven’t seen his work, imagine that Eisenstein had moved to Winnipeg in the 20s and started making films…that’s a good way to start to think about what he does. The Saddest Music in the World is a remarkable, perfect film. It’s perfect in the sense that I can’t think of anything that would need to be changed. It’s completely unique and works within an amazing cinematic space that seems to be 70 years old, but also comments in elliptical ways on contemporary events. The film ranges from melodramatic to hilarious with an improbable plot that works.

The beautiful Isabella Rossellini stars as a brewery magnate, Lady Port-Huntley, who decides to sponsor a radio contest to find the saddest music in the world in order to increase the consumption of beer. That’s just the jumping off point and the film moves through a wonderful world that could only exist on film. The visuals and the soundtrack are amazing with loving attention to every detail. A great film makes you look at the world in a different way, but this film makes you look at cinema in a different way.

September 20, 2003 aff2003, comedy, film, guymaddin, isabellarossellini, review

My Life Without Me

Isabel Coixet directs the amazing Sarah Polley in My Life Without Me, the story of a 23 year old woman who finds out that she only has months to live. It’s a beautiful film with cinematography by Jean-Claude Larrieu and camera operation by Coixet. It’s a Spanish / Canadian coproduction that was shot in Vancouver and the solid and moving performance by Polley forms the heart of the film as she decides to make the most of her last days on earth. While it was moving at times, it wasn’t overly moving, but it could be because so many of the films at the festival this year have been dealing with themes of death that maybe when I saw it I was a bit desensitized to that aspect of the story. A beautiful, well-crafted film that is definitely worth seeing. Coixet also has her own site that is pretty neat too.

September 20, 2003 aff2003, drama, film, isabelcoixet, mylifewithoutme, review, sarahpolley